5. Upset

The afternoon sunlight creeped in through the window, casting a golden halo over the boy sleeping with his head on the table. He looked unreal. A few strands of his tousled dark brown hair fell over his eyebrow, almost covering it.

He scrunched up his eyes a little, the gesture making her move forward to block the sunlight without a second thought.

She got up from her seat beside him, careful not to wake him up and closed the windows of the corner of the library they'd taken over.

She then slowly laid her head beside his, a few inches space between them and closed her eyes, completely unaware of his lips curving up in a beautiful smile.

Unknown to her, he was awake the whole time. He brought his hand up to her cheek, barely even touching it before he retreated it. He was awed by her beauty. The way a pale pink flush adorned her cheeks, the small strands of escaped hair from her band and her serene expression. She was breathtaking and Xander would stop breathing at all if it meant she would drown him with her beauty.

He was definitely crushing hard on her that's for sure.

For the first time in days, he was finally able to sleep well last night. Thoughts of her clouded his dreams, chasing away those haunting whispers and screams of torture. She'd been his dreamcatcher last night and maybe, just maybe she could chase away his pain too.

He smiled humourlessly. Why would she even want to do anything with him after finding out who he really was?

For the first time in a really long while, he was afraid of loosing someone because of who he really was. That's something coming from him as he was really prideful of it. Being the heir to the Knights not just because he was the oldest but because he'd proved himself worthy was not an easy task. Especially since his brother and cousins could challenge him for it.

Xander felt himself sigh. If he was planning on letting his feelings grow for the girl beside him, he would eventually have to tell her everything.

The loud shrill of the bell startled her awake and Xander found her so adorable as she stifled a yawn and rubbed her eyes. Her face brightend up when she saw him, just like a moon reflecting the sunlight.

"Hi." He whispered.

A smile on her face, she whispered back. "Hello."

Xander noticed how the escaped strands of hair reached up to her chin. As she was about to tuck them behind her ear, he found himself raising his hand and trailing his fingertips from her temple to her chin, his touch so featherlight as if he was afraid to leave a mark on her skin.

Then he tucked the strands of hair behind her ear. She released a breath she'd been holding after he removed his hand, looking away.

"...sorry. I don't know what came over me." He apologized, still not looking at her.

"It's okay." She said, suddenly feeling the heat on her face. She cast her eyes downwards, interlinking her fingers, the feeling of his warm fingertips etched in her brain. She liked it.

"One more class right?" She asked, trying to ease the awkwardness. He looked at the books in front of them and nodded. Then he groaned, raising his head up. "It's electricity today, isn't it?"

She nodded, trying to hold in her own groan in."Let's get this over with."

"Hey what do you think of the Mafia empires?" Xander finally voiced his question as they made their way to class half dreading her answer. He didnt know how he was going to tell her. He wasn't even sure if she'll continue to stay his friend, much less something more. Hell, he wasn't even sure if he liked her that much or not.

But he wanted to know.

She narrowed her eyes, an almost dreamy grin overtaking her face. "I think they're really cool."

He stopped walking and stared at her, taking in her expression and words. She gave him a sheepish smile. "I mean sure they're really dangerous too but I just think it's... I don't know, thrilling? It's like you're in a action mov-" she continued to ramble on as a slow grin broke out on his face.

'She might not know how dangerous it actually is but she likes it.' Was the only thing he could think of. So maybe she wouldn't reject him? That gave him hope.

"-and the whole- why are you grinning?" She asked, snapping him out of his giddy thoughts.

He shook his head, unable to wipe off the smile. "It's nothing. Tell me more." He just wanted to hear her talk.

She pointed to their physics teacher entering the class. "I wish. Electricity remember?"

He sighed, bumping her leg with his gently and opened his book. Just like he expected, she bumped it back.

And just like that, the boring lesson on electricity wasn't that boring anymore as he felt a different kind of electricity in his heart whenever their hands touched or legs bumped.

At one point, Alexandra stepped a little too hard on his foot. Her panicked apologetic expression almost made Xander laugh.

"It hurts." He whispered, completely serious as he wrote down the notes. Alexandra gave him a look. He nodded, his face seemingly looking innocent... too innocent.

Alexandra snickered. "Want a chocky to kick your boo boo away?" She mimicked a kiddish voice, making Xander crack up. He coughed with his hand on his mouth to cover up his laughter.

"Are you all right there Mr. Black?" Their teacher, Miss Janet asked, raising her eyebrows.

Alexandra cast her head down, diligently writing down the notes. Xander kicked her leg gently below the table. "Nothing, just need some water." He lied, grabbing his water bottle.

"Oh so you don't want a chocky after all." Alexandra whispered, barely keeping her smirk at bay. The moment their teacher turned her back to them, Xander took a few strands of her hair fallen over her shoulder in his hand and twirled them around his finger while bringing his face closer to hers, his eyes boring into hers deeply.

The seemingly innocent gesture didn't seem so innocent anymore as Alexandra felt the heat creeping up her cheeks when he leaned even closer to her. "There's something else I want." He whispered, briefly flicking his eyes to her lips. "Something much more sweeter I imagine."

"Wh-what?" She asked, her heart beating a rythn that she wondered if he could hear.

His lips curled into a killer smirk that made her feel things she couldn't understand. "You'll know soon enough."

Then he went back to writing his notes as if nothing happened. Alexandra elbowed him lightly, his smirk curling into a smug smile.

"I want two chockys."

As the two of them were walking out of class together, hands almost touching, Xander wondered how she'd feel if he intertwined his fingers with her's. He'd noticed she was a bit cheerful than usual today. He'd been meaning to ask her what happened but classes on classes piled up and he didn't get the chance to.

"You looked cheerful today." He said as they exited the school. "Did something good happen?"

She looked at him in surprise but then smiled to herself. "My cousin is leaving today."

"Finally huh?"

She chuckled. "Yeah. Finally."

Xander had a smile on his face as he watched her get lost in her thoughts again. Whatever she might me thinking must've been something good as her lips graced another smile.

As he roamed his eyes across the parking lot, he stiffened as he found a familiar pair of green eyes staring at him. The person's lower part of the face was covered with a mask while a black hoodie hid his top. Only his eyes, which Xander had gotten so familiar with were visible, sizing him up and then they drifted beside him... towards her.

Xander immediately stepped in front of her, taking her by surprise. She gave him a questioning look which he was too late to notice as his eyes drifted back to the person, only to find him gone.

' Fucking damnit.' he cursed internally, his hands going to his pockets for his phone. He felt Alexandra sidestep him and gently touch his arm. "Xander what's wrong?"

This was the first time he heard her say his name. Her concerned gaze brought him out of his thoughts. It was so different from his mom's he realized.

He ran a hand through his hair. "That's...I...I think I saw someone I used to know." He said, choosing not to lie completely. "Someone I...used to love-"

He was interrupted by his phone ringing suddenly, leaving Alexandra hanging on that last line he'd said.

It was a private number.

Xander answered the phone, already suspecting the person calling would be the one he'd just seen.

"The great Xander Knight...talking with a girl." His voice was the same rasp of mockery and amusement, lighting up the spark of hatred and fury in Xander's heart. His phone was in a death grip as his other hand holding the strap of his bad tightened it's hold.

"I never thought I'd see the day." The person said, "It almost makes me want to take her away and fuc-"

Xander's phone was snatched away from him before he could hear the rest of the sentence, or before he could throw his phone down in anger.

"Liam?" Alexandra asked, completely confused by the actions of the two brothers.

Liam quickly disconnected the call in Xander's phone before greeting Alexandra. "Hey Alexandra, how are you?"

Xander snatched his phone from Liam as Alexandra replied, "Good?"

Liam clasped Xander's hand as he went to call back the number. "Don't." He said, his tone showing a bit of nervousness.

"Track it." Xander demanded, "I need to know."

Liam shook his head. "No."

"Do your fuc-" he stopped himself from snapping as he remembered Alexandra standing right beside him, completely being ignored by the two of them. He took a deep breath, his hand on his phone shaking.

He turned to her, trying to control his irate tone of voice and expression. When his eyes met hers though, he didn't need to try that hard at all. It was gone for the moment, as if it was never there in the first place. Then he looked back at Liam. "Wait for me."

Then he grabbed Alexandra's hand and walked to his motorcycle parked not too far from where they'd been standing.

"Are you all right?"

Her soft voice caressed his ears like a gentle breeze. He closed his eyes, wondering what games his heart was playing because the way he acted a few seconds ago was equally surprising to him like it was for Liam. Not his heart, the culprit was her. It was her that was making him...gain control yet send his heart in a marathon.

"Yeah." He answered, giving her a small smile. "Just...tired?"

Alexandra bit her bottom lip, looking up at him with a look that said she wasn't convinced. Xander couldn't bring himself to not stare at her lips. "Okay." She said, not pursuing the matter further. Xander strangely felt a little guilty.

He took the helmet, about to place it on her head like yesterday and today morning, only to feel like being hit by a truck as she took it from his hands before he could so much as raise it above her head.

He gaped at her as she quietly waited for him to start the bike. He didn't know what to say to her. He didn't even know why she was upset. She was definitely upset. Was it because he lost his cool? Or was it because he momentarily ignored her? She doesn't seem like the type to get upset over something like that.

Just what did he do?!

"Are we leaving?" She asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. Nodding, he put on his helmet and got on the bike.

The moment he started the motorcycle, he released a breath of relief. At least she still held onto him. God he was turning into a mess. Well at least he wasn't thinking about him.

He watched her eyes building up the cold wall that she'd let down with him as she saw a white car parked outside her house. She closed her eyes, clenching her jaw.

"See you tomorrow."

He could tell that she was trying not to let her anger seep into her voice nor show it on her face as she gave him a quick smile and made a move to leave.

Before he could stop himself, he grabbed her hand. "Wait."

When she looked at him questioningly, he asked. "We're still on for that meteor shower watch right?"

The smile that broke out on her lips had him wanting to capture it and hide it away somewhere safe so it wouldn't ever go away.

"Of course."

He let her go. His eyes followed her every step as if imprinting them in his mind. A rain drop fell on his nose, the moment she turned back to look at him. He smiled and the blowing gentle breeze flew the leaves on the ground, just like how their hearts soared their emotions little by little high in the sky, tangling along in the invisible string of fate.

And slowly, liquid pearls began to pit pat on the ground, bringing along their soaring emotions and crashing down on them gently, the impact ever so small and harmless yet leaving a tiny mark of hope inside their caged hearts, hope of the wings they could have back, stronger and more beautiful than ever.

And then it poured. Loud thunder boomed, just like their heartbeats demanding to be heard.

___________________

Xander was drenched by the time he reached Red Wolf. He found Liam waiting for him in their secret meeting place - an underground bunker below an abandoned safe house which used to belong to the Knight family.

"Where is he?" Xander asked as he began unbuttoning his wet shirt.

"...the old hideout by the lake."

Liam watched nervously as Xander hurriedly changed out of his clothes into a black sweatshirt and black ripped jeans. Black for Xander meant blood. He was going on a hunt.

"Don't go." Liam said, blocking his way. "It's obviously a trap."

Xander sidestepped him. "I know."

"Then you're not going-"

"I'm just merely fulfilling the agreements of the treaty. He fucking provoked me."

Just then Xander's phone buzzed with a text from Tobias.

'Jordan Villin was seen going inside miss Alexandra's house with his wife.'

Xander narrowed his eyes at his phone. He had sent Tobias to keep an eye on Alexandra as he was worried about that bastard trying something just to get to him. Xander did fell guilty about not taking her permission first but he couldn't ask her without revealing everything about himself.

"What happened?" Liam asked, peeking at his phone. When he read the message, Liam frowned. "Jordan Villin? Why the fuck would he go there?"

'Investigate.'

Xander texted Tobias. ' Keep it mum.'

"You're coming with me." Xander put on his mask.

Liam was taken back. "Really? Where are we going?" There was undeniable excitement in his voice. Xander almost smiled. Liam was always like this. He would do his best to stop Xander from doing anything dangerous yet whenever he was asked to tag along, he would do it like a kid eager to go to an amusement park.

"I'm rubbing off on you." Xander said, taking out his phone as Liam stopped the car at a red light.

Liam smirked. "I mean, you are my older brother after all."

Xander smacked him on the back of his head. "I didn't say it was a good thing."

"Oww!" Liam gave Xander an offended look. "I'm gonna complain to your girlfriend."

"Since when did I have a girlfriend I didn't even know about?"

Liam smirked. "You'll have one though."

Xander rolled his eyes at Liam but internally he was thinking about a certain brown eyed girl who hadn't left his thoughts once. He texted her.

Why was she upset?

Before he could ponder more, Liam stopped the car. They'd reached their destination.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Liam asked as they got out of the car.

Xander roamed his eyes across the cemetary, his eyes stopping on the church located at the centre. Vines and plants covered the gravestones and statues, acting as a sign of passed time.

"Yes." Xander said, taking out the dagger he'd stolen last night. He unsheathed it, moonlight dancing on the wicked blade.

Xander threw the sheath of the blade in front of a newly erected gravestone, the name 'Connor Donovan Callaghan' carved in bold letters.

"You know, I have half the mind to just destroy the fucking grave."

"What if we steal the coffin?" Liam suggested.

Xander looked at the grave in thought. Then back at the church. He dialed a number in his phone.

_____________________

'...someone I used to love.'

So he had a girlfriend? When he'd seen her, he looked ready to bolt after her. But she didn't understand why he stepped in front of her. Did he not want his girlfriend to see her? She was probably his ex right? Then why did he not want her to see her?

Alexandra groaned into her hands. Loud sounds of laughter could be heard from outside her door, no doubt her dad probably cracked another joke. Or her uncle narrated something funny about her dad's childhood.

She couldn't have one single day of happiness. Not one.

First, the thoughts of Xander having a girlfriend wouldn't leave her mind. Then as if that wasn't enough, her uncle and aunt had shown up suddenly and decided to stay upto the weekend. On top of that, Olivia decided to stay here and go to Cole's middle school.

And on top of that all there was a fucking test tomorrow on fucking electricity. It wasn't that hard but it was a hassle to study when she had no interest at all.

As if on cue, someone knocked on her door. "Yo Alexandra dinner!" Her brother Cole yelled.

"Coming." She yelled back, closing the books and keeping away the papers. Her eyes drifted to the vase right beside the window on the desk. The flowers were still the same beautiful roses, a reminder of... what? His gratitude? Just gratitude?

Probably. She'd looked into things a little too much like always and got hit by disappointment.

Everyone was already at the table by the time she got there. Olivia was beside Alexandra's dad, like always while Cole was beside their mom. Alexandra took the seat on Cole's other side, which was the furthest from her dad's.

She ate silently as her dad and uncle continued their talk about politics. She would've been interested in it too if only it wasn't with her uncle.

"...still staying here?" Her uncle asked suddenly, causing her dad to stiffen up.

George put down his fork. "We'll stay here until Cole's done with highschool."

That's what he's always been saying. Right after Cole enters college, we'll go somewhere quiet, much like the country side.

Like nonno's farm? Cole used to ask.

Alexandra's maternal family owned a pretty big farm in the country side, which had been passed down from generations. They would often go there when she was younger but it's been a few years since they've been there.

'Nope. It's a secret.' Her dad would answer.

"Why not come to London?" Alexandra's aunt asked.

Alexandra noticed her mom clenching her hand in her lap. It was trembling. Her expression gave away nothing yet Alexandra felt her mom was...scared? No that's not it. The moment her aunt said London, her mom looked...hopeful before she masked her expression.

"I bet Sophia would like it." Alexandra's uncle said, winking at her.

Before her mom could retort back, George spoke. "Moving now would only disturb the kids' education. We'll see after Alexandra finishes highschool."

"George what-" Sophia gave him an incredulous look, only to be interrupted by him. "We'll talk later about this. But now," he looked at Olivia with an excited smile. " Why didn't you tell me you were staying?!"

Alexandra suppressed a groan.

"I wanted to surprise you Uncle George!" Olivia said, swinging her legs from her chair.

"Staying?" Cole asked, as if he couldn't believe what he just heard.

Olivia nodded cheerfully. "Yup! I'm gonna go to school with you!"

"Oh great." Cole said with a monotonous voice. Alexandra could've swore she saw his eye twitch.

"We can have lots of fun!" Olivia gave Alexandra a smile she'd come to hate. "Right Alexandra?"

Now it was her eye that was twitching.

Alexandra pushed her chair back and got up. Ignoring what Olivia said, she looked at everyone at the table except her dad and Olivia. " I have an exam tomorrow so I'll be leaving. Excuse me."

Family dinner sometimes felt like dining with the fucking queen of England. Wait, no. Comparing her uncle and aunt with the Queen would just be an insult to the Queen.

Alexandra flipped the pages of her physics book for a few minutes. Releasing a deep sigh, she began scribbling down the important points and problems. By the time she was done, it was half past ten.

Stretching her hands above her head, she tilted her head back. She yelped out loud after her brother's face came into view.

"Dude! What the hell?!" She threw a rumpled paper at him, only for him to wheeze. "Your face!" He clutched the sides of his stomach. "Priceless!"

"Shut up."

He laughed even more. Alexandra rolled her eyes. "Do you need something?"

Cole leaned on the table beside Alexandra's chair. "....I heard mom and dad arguing about something. I think... it's kind of serious this time."

Alexandra bit her lip, her brows creasing in worry. She plastered on a light-hearted smile on her face. "Isn't that pretty normal every single time uncle and aunt come here?"

Cole shook his head, his grey eyes so similar to their dad casted downwards at his feet. " This was different."

Alexandra put her arm across his shoulder and pulled him close to her. "Hey. Don worry about it. They'll be fine and joking by morning, you'll see."

Cole didn't look convinced but nodded anyway. "I guess."

"Now go sleep before mom comes up."

After making sure Cole was in his room, Alexandra went to their parents room. "Mom?" She called as she knocked on the door.

After a few seconds of silence, Sophia answered. "Come in honey."

Alexandra found her mom sitting on the bed, her eyes puffed and red from crying.

"Mom what happened?!" Alexandra rushed to her and sat beside her, clasping her hand.

Sophia gave her a small smile. "It's nothing. Just a minor disagreement between your dad an I."

"Minor disagreement that made you cry?!"

"It wasn't because of George. It was-" Sophia sighed, the words barely out of her mouth. "Irs nothing serious-"

Alexandra squeezed her hand. "Please tell me what's going on. I saw the way they were throwing words at you on purpose and how you looked so...dull. Talk to me-"

"Promise not to tell George."

The sudden request threw Alexandra off guard. Just what did they fight about that was so serious?

"Okay." She nodded.

Sophia stood up and walked to her closet. She rumaged through it before retrieving a small box. She placed it in Alexandra's hand.

"Open it." She said as she locked the door.

Alexandra found a ring inside. It was a platinum band with small vines carved on top. On the inside of the ring, the letters J and S carved inside in cursive.

"Before I met your dad, I used to have a...really good friend." Sophia started, gently rubbing her thumb over the ring. "He was...an amazing person. Always ready to do anything for the people he loved... He hated George and his family."

"Gee I wonder why." Alexandra muttered making Sophia chuckle. "You would get along with him really well."

"I would?"

Sophia nodded, a melancholic smile on her face. "Yeah...he would treat you like his own daughter. But I don't think he could ever forgive me-"

Before Sophia could finish her sentence, a knocked sounded out on the door. "Sophia, can I have a moment?"

It was Alexandra's aunt.

Sophia hurriedly slipped the ring into Alexandra's finger before getting up to open the door.

"Oh Alexandra." Her aunt said, raising her eyebrows as she scanned the room. "Done preparing for the exam?"

"Yeah." Alexandra answered, curling her lips into a tired smile.

"So what were you mother daughter talking about?" Her aunt asked, walking inside. "Behind closed doors?"

"You know, lady talk." Alexandra lied, lifting her shoulders in a shrug. "Cramps hav been really terrible lately. I was thinking of skipping school tomorrow."

That part was slightly true.

Elizabeth gave Alexandra a coy look. "Is that it? Or was it about a boy? Perhaps the one who dropped you home today?"

Gritting her teeth, Alexandra gave her a tight lipped smile. "I'll let you be the first to know if there's any progress between us." Alexandra winked, standimg up. She had her thumb on her ring finger in an attempt to hide the ring. But of course, her aunt noticed.

She lifted her brows in surprise. "My my. Is the world ending? Since when is our Alexandra wearing jewelry?!" The comment was supposed to sound like a light-hearted tease. That's what she thought of her aunt's every single comment before. But ever since growing up, after getting some proper understanding of things, Alexandra understood that she was merely trying to take a jab at her mom and her, to show them how simple they are compared to herself.

Elizabeth thought of herself like a fucking queen and if Alexandra could, she would tell her to just go fuck her so called royal self out the window instead of yapping at them.

How satisfying would that be?

"It was a gift." Alexandra smirked, knowing the obvious shock and displeasure she was gonna give her aunt at her next sentence. "From the boy who dropped me off today."

Her smirk turned into a satisfied grin at her aunt's sudden drop of her fake smile. "He said it was a family heirloom." She added, just to add more fuel to the fire. Sophia stiffened at first, then her lips slowly curled upwards into the beautiful smile that Alexandra loved.

"Good night mom." Alexandra smiled at her mom, then she walked out, leaving behind a very displeased Elizabeth.

The reason why Elizabeth was making so much of a big deal was because apparently in their family, accepting a ring from a boy would mean you're accepting his proposal. Real old fashioned, yes. And on top of that, the moment Alexandra turned sixteen, her aunt had been pestering Sophia nonstop about how Alexandra was coming of age and how they're gonna have to look for her future husband soon.

Sixteen! She was just sixteen!

Stomping up to her room, Alexandra collapsed on her bed right after changing into her nightwear. An oversized t shirt and shorts.

This was another thing she hated about her uncle and aunt. She had to be dressed "properly" and "look dignified" or else her uncle and aunt would eat her mom's ear off for not teaching her daughter"manners."

God she hated them so much.

Laying properly in her bed, she unlocked her phone. There were a few texts from Julian which she ignored, along with some more texts from Julia.

Her heart raced at the sight of Xander's name and five texts from him. They were sent three hours ago.

She opened them with her racing heart, only to close her eyes in an attempt to control her overflowing emotions.

'Hey.'

7:03 pm

'Are you preparing for the test tomorrow?'

8:09 pm

'You obviously are. Sorry I won't disturb you.... Al though a chocolate would be nice now.'

9:00 pm

She chuckled at that.

'Okay stop me before I mess up or make you cringe.'

9:43 pm.

'Please tell me why you were feeling upset before I dropped you off. Don't lie because I know you were definitely not in a good mood.'

9:43.

She had a bittersweet smile on her face. Here, most of her family couldn't even tell the difference between her being upset and her being normal. Then there he was in his glory...reading her like an open book.

'The audacity of this boy," she thought, 'Who does he think he is? Walking into my life like that? Does he not know how much of an impression he's leaving on me? Always sneaking in my thoughts, slowly making a place in my heart?'

She stared at his profile picture which was a sketch of a boy wearing a hood on his head with his head tilted up to the sky. The background was dark, as if the shadows were cloaking his body. The small part of his face that was visible were his eyes. Those fiery orbs of blue with their signature look of coldness.

Whoever made that sketch really captured his eyes.

She hovered her fingers over the keypad to type her reply. She didn't know how to respond. She wasn't the one to have many friends nor did she ever experience love. Hell she couldn't even get back her father's love, how could she ever love someone else?

But now... Could she do this? Did she have the strength to pick herself up again after getting heart shattered again?

' I'm scared.' she realised, ' I'm scared of the power he couls have on me if I let this continue.'

She was afraid of becoming her old self again.

But why did she have a feeling things would be different this time? Was it becaise he resembled herself a lot?

The next instant, her phone rang.