Chapter 4

I slowly calm down as we drive down the road and turn down the highway. I couldn’t keep talking to him. It’s like my body was feverish. I was shaking but my body was hot and sweaty. 

“Are you okay now Connor? Do you wanna talk about it? Why were you running away from him?” Alex seems concerned. I take a deep breath and explain everything. How he tried to talk to me, how he didn’t know his friends were bullying me, how he’d forgotten that he hadn’t given me his new number and how I got upset. She worries about me even when I’m just sitting there sometimes. I really appreciate how much she cares. 

“I had a panic attack as soon as he tried to speak. He didn’t even know that his friends had been making fun of me. Granted, they only do it when he’s not around. I don’t know, I thought maybe he did know and just didn’t want to deal with it.” I shake my head and look out the window, listening to the music faintly play on the radio. Alex swerves off the exit next to us, nearly hitting another car. We get to the bottom of the ramp where the street is lined with gas stations and truck stops. 

“Everyone knows they bully you! He’s either stupid or they cover it up pretty damn good.” she says as she pulls into the truck stop on the right of the ramp. The interstate usually has these joint truck stop/fast food restaurants, so she gets in the drive thru of the taco bell. “You need something to eat, I’m paying.” The line is really long so we’ll have to wait a while before we’re able to order. As we slowly creep up behind the cars in front of us, she suddenly slams on her brakes, flinging me in my seat. A frog hopped in front of us… I ball up my fist and slam it on the dash.

 “What the hell is wrong with him? We were all so close just a couple years ago! I don’t understand why he thinks it’s okay to abandon me like that!” I realize that I am now sobbing like a little bitch. She reaches for my other hand and squeezes it tight. “Like what the fuck? Why did I have to choose that idiot to be the first and only guy that I form a connection with? This is bullshit!” I run my remaining hand through my hair and sigh. “Why him…?” She grips my hand harder.

We finally get up to the menu and she orders me a soft party pack to myself. Yeah, she’s definitely my best friend. She then orders herself a box meal, ordering neither of us drinks. Hell yeah, milk tea. She knows me. We pull past the menu board and she finally says something. 

“I’ve been here through all of it Connie. I know, I’m sorry. You know I’d talk to him if you’d let me.”

“I know, I just don’t want you to literally beat his ass. I know you Alex, the moment he denies anything, you’d send him to the hospital.” she rolls her eyes and pulls next to the window. The lady inside tells her the total and she hands her the bank card. We wait patiently for our food. “Seriously, I don’t think he’d survive ten seconds of a conversation with you babe.” I giggle as she agrees proudly. I’m glad I have her though, I don’t think I would’ve made it this far without her always taking up for me when Chad and his lackeys start at me. She’s honestly the only reason I’m still here. 

The taco bell lady opens the drive thru window and hands us our food, simultaneously asking us what sauces we want. We always get a little of everything. “Thank you!” Alex says as we drive away. “Milk tea?” I already know the answer.

“You know it sweet bun.” she winks at me and we return to the interstate highway. “Do not eat any of those tacos until we get home.” She says home, but she means my house. I mean, she practically lives there. She comes over almost every day at this point. We get off a few exits down and stop by our favorite boba shop. We pull into the parking lot and she stops at the first one by the door. “You already know what I want.” I say excitedly as she throws the car into neutral and yanks up the parking brake.

She blows a kiss at me and winks all while grabbing her wallet and opening the door. “Thank you!” I shout as she climbs out and shuts the car door. I hook my phone up to the aux and swipe through my phone until I find spotify. Evidently we need something to listen to on the two minute drive from here to my house. I start our playlist and patiently await her return. I find myself closing my eyes and dozing off to the music. 

I’m startled by the car door opening opposite of me. It’s only Alex returning with our drinks. “No one eats or drinks anything until we get there!” I groggily nod and we head to the house. As we arrive in my driveway, I notice that Nathan has already gotten home. I’m not really surprised if I’m honest. He drives like a fucking maniac. That’s really saying a lot considering the fact that I’m almost positive my best friend here has a damn death wish. We shuffle out of the car and head inside. Of course, Venus is already home and greets us as we walk in. I don’t think she even notices if Alex is with me anymore. I’m pretty sure that she just expects me to either ride home with her, or that we tail each other here. “Yo, I left my car at school, so I’m gonna ride with her in the morning.” 

“Alright babe. Alex! Make sure you grab my soaps and shit from my bathroom when you shower, you don’t gotta use Connor’s.” Little does she know, I use the same exact soaps she does, so Alex uses mine anyway. Then again, even she doesn’t know I like the flowery scents. We start up the stairs when my phone buzzes. I stop to check, but It’s just the tuba chat, so I keep walking up the steps, it’s probably nothing important. My room is on the left second door down the hall. The first door is the linen closet. We walk into my room and sit our food and drinks on my desk, backpacks on the floor next to my bed. I slide over to the closet and throw Alex some clothes to sleep in and we get changed. Finally I get to sit in my bed. Today has been probably one of the most stressful days since junior AP finals. I felt like I was melting all day long.

“Oh my god, I can’t wait to eat. I’m so fucking hungry.” Alex sits our food on the bed and grabs our drinks. She finally flops on the bed next to me and we both get to relax. Before I know it I’ve finished the entire box of tacos and I lay back on the bed. Alex finishes soon after and turns the T.V. on. We haven’t talked since we started eating, just silently enjoying each other’s company. She turns on our favorite movie, Avatar. Not the shitty live action Avatar: The last airbender. I mean one of the best CGI films ever made; James Cameron’s: Avatar. 

She pauses the movie before it even starts. “I gotta shower dude; I feel fucking disgusting.” She laughs and hops off the bed. She opens the door across the room and turns on the shower, leaving the bathroom open so we can talk while she’s in there. My phone dings, but assuming  it's just the tuba group chat again, I flip my ringer switch off. Before we can even start a conversation, I fall asleep again. This time, I start to dream.