SKY

Avoiding Alexander was not the easiest thing to do this past week, especially when I felt like he kept taunting me every step of the way.

He actually showed up to all the classes we had together all week, and tried to get my attention at every single one.

Monday he sat behind me and tapped me on my side. Tuesday he full on grabbed a strand of my hair and lightly pulled it. Thursday in psychology class, he made a presentation about the psychology behind ignoring, while staring at me the entire presentation. Friday he gave up finally and I didn't see him in class.

That Friday, I told Aasiyah to find Alexander a new tutor and to find me a new student. She was upset at me but accepted.

The next few weeks were much better.

He did not show up to many classes, and when he did, he sat at the back and didn't pay attention to anybody. I could tell he was angry at me, I could feel it coming off of him. It was intimidating at times, how he would stare at me angrily in the hallways or in class. I tried my best to not even give him a single glance, but failed every time.

"Earth to Sky Williams." Elena laughed, taking me out of my trance.

We were now walking out of the baseball county. Our cheer team went to cheer on a town game of soccer with police officers and teenagers playing, in downtown Santa Barbara. It was a great day filled with happiness and smiles.

Suddenly out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that familiar black pick up truck and felt my heart drop to my feet. This was his side of the city, and the fear of seeing him prevailed. I hated that he could control my emotions this way, and I felt angry at him about it.

"Do you want to go to dinner?" Elena asked me, hooking her arm with mine.

I could not even concentrate for a second, because all my focus was on Alexander getting out of his truck and leaning on the side of it. The sun was setting behind him beautifully, and his dark hair was slightly messy, but only added to his handsomeness.

He lifted his back from off the truck when he spotted us, and waved at me.

I looked back to make sure that perhaps Evil Angela wasn't behind me, and she wasn't.

"He's motioning for you to go over." Elena whispered in my ear, and I internally groaned.

"Huh? Who?" I pretended that I couldn't see Alex, and locked arms with her.

"Alex Scott. Look." She pointed at him, and I had to look.

Alexander sent me a wave accompanied with a boyish smile, the sun and him a beautiful scene.

Honestly, I wasn't sure which was more beautiful.

I sighed and smiled at Elena. "I'll talk to you later?"

"Sure. You don't need a ride?" She hugged me then protectively eyed Alexander when we pulled away.

"It's fine. I'll walk." I smiled.

"Okay. Talk to you later." She said then walked towards her car.

I adjusted my duffel bag on my shoulder and walked toward Alexander who was now smiling boyishly.

"Hey." He greeted me, and I didn't realize how short I was compared to him until now, seeing how his neck was bending slightly to look down at me.

"What do you want?" I crossed my arms, and stood kind of far away from him.

"You really quit being my tutor huh?" He asked and I nodded.

"Yeah. You should be getting a new tutor soon though." I told him, suddenly regretting simply not just letting Elena drive me home.

"Fuck the new tutor." He placed his hands in his pockets. "I want you."

I raised an eyebrow and leaned my shoulder against his pickup truck. "Should have thought of that before acting like a jerk."

Alexander gave me a guilty smile and leaned against his car as well.

"Well I'm sorry." He apologized.

"Why did you talk to me that way?" I asked him the question that had been bothering me since it happened.

"I don't know."

I turned my heel, prepared to start walking home until he grabbed my arm lightly and lightly pushed my back against his car.

"It's just. . ." He paused to sigh, then placed a hand behind me on the car. "The basketball team isn't the type of people you want to hang out with. Any guys sports team, actually."

"Why? Because they're so popular?" I squinted my eyes at him.

"No." He shook his head. "Just trust me when I tell you they're not people you want to be friends with."

I looked down and it was now my turn to shake my head at him, which just made him kind of angry.

"You're mad?" I asked, analyzing how his features were a perfect indicator of his mood.

The furrow of his eyebrows, and the darkness of his stare.

"You're being kind of difficult." He stressed, removing his hand propped up on the car and crossed his arms.

"I have every right to be, you were really an ass." I said, feeling myself start to forgive him silently.

"You're right, and I'm hoping you'll forgive me and be my tutor again." He gave me that side smile that showed his one dimple on his left cheek.

I shrugged my shoulders while readjusting my duffel bag again, and Alexander saw my discomfort and took my bag and held it.

"Thanks."

"I got you something in hopes that it would convince you to be my tutor again." Alexander informed me while looking so innocent and shy, a combination that was unusual for him.

I waited for him to show what is bribery was, and he took my silence as an indicator that he could show me.

He opened his car door, placed my bag on the driver's seat then grabbed a cup from the cup holder. It was a white styrofoam to-go cup with a red straw.

"What is this?"

"The best thing in this town." He informed me nicely. "A Nutella milkshake from Chubbies."

I looked down at it then back up at him, eyeing him like he was an evil man.

I placed the straw between my fingers and looked up at him. "I don't know if I like bribing."

"Think of it as a peace offering." He smiled. It was crazy how nice he could be.

I took a sip out of the drink while he was still holding the cup, slowly waiting for the beverage to meet my tongue. When it did, I looked up at him in bliss.

Not only was the coldness of the shake so refreshing against the hot climate, the taste was amazing.

"Mhm." I moaned with my eyes closed, not realizing what I was doing until I looked up at Alexander and saw him looking down at me deeply.

"Does it taste good?" Alexander asked lowly.

"Really good." I chirped.

Alexander then cleared his eyes by blinking and his throat. "So what do you say?"

"Sure." I smiled confidently and he flashed me a smile. "But you made me lose a ride, so drive me home."

"Can you tutor me tonight? Test is on Monday." He asked me.

"Yeah." I sighed.

"Your house or mine?" He asked.

"Mine."

Alex shook his fists in victory then got in his car. I went around to the passenger seat and got in his tall truck with the help of the door.

"There's a party tonight." Alexander mentioned as we started to drive off.

"A party? Where?"

"On the beach." He answered. I noticed him driving with one hand, and found some alluring in that.

"Oh." I sipped my cold drink and hugged it against my chest like I never wanted to let it go.

"You should come with me." Alexander suggested. Like a date?

"I'd rather not."

"Why is that?"

"I. . Uh. . . Have plans."

"So believable." He rolled his eyes. "Half the school will be there. It'll be fun."

"We'll see." I told him, just so I could stop him from asking any more questions.

* * *

After tutoring Alexander, Elena texted me and asked if I was going to the party. I told her I was going with Alexander, and she pretty much freaked out.

While Alexander went to go buy beers to bring at the party, I got ready as fast as I could. I wore a pair of Jean shorts and a white crop top over my bikini. I put my hair up into a ponytail and did a very light makeup. I hadn't worn anything like this in a while, but I felt really happy doing so.

I heard Alexander honk from outside of my house and grabbed my shoulder bag before leaving. At the entrance, I checked myself in the mirror one last time, the only thing in my stupid mind being Alexander liking the way I looked.

I quickly slid on a pair of sandals and jogged over to his car. He got out and opened the passenger door for me, the gesture sending butterflies in my stomach.

I felt both uneasy and happy about going to this party on a Friday night, with Alexander. It was both exciting and scary, because deep down I knew that anything associated with Alexander would welcome misfortune.

Looking over at him, my hair flying from the wind outside the window, I silently prayed I would only get the nice side of him tonight.

* * *