Chapter 2 Caught crying

Days passed and Scarlet couldn't help but steal glances at Alex whenever he wasn't looking. Same went with Alex. He was too nervous to get closes to the girl that made his heart skip every time he laid eyes on her.

Of course, he wanted to approach her and get to know her but, she seemed to have a wall stopping anyone from getting close to her. She was distant and tough. Really tough.

Alex watched her for a while and discovered that she only communicated with people when necessary.

Like when she practice roller skating and she has to give out few pointers as the leader. Or when a teacher talks to her, but of course, she doesn't care about the teachers or anyone at all. She had no friends to talk to or keep her company. She kept to her business, roller skating.

Alex felt sad for her. She may look tough and arrogant in everyone's eyes but to him, she was pitiful. How could there be such a situation where a girl has no one to talk to and is at the same time a bad ass. She was so antisocial.

'Doesn't she feel lonely?' Alex thought as he thought of her.

Just then, he heard a loud slam from Scarlets house. She had shut her door so hard that anyone would guess that she had a fight with her mother, again.

Scarlet leaned against her door, tears whelming up at the corner of her eyes. She slid down the door feeling dejected and completely worthless. She stared into space as her tears fell down without control but she made no sound at all.

She wanted to be strong and not let anyone know that she cried so there was no single sound coming from her as she cried.

For so long, she had lived like that. Shutting herself inside her room and crying silently.

Alex watched as this scene unfolded before his eyes. He felt pain in his chest just watching her cry so miserably. He wanted to go to her and hug her, assuring her that everything was going to be alright but...who was he to have such thoughts.

He was no better off than her anyway. He had his demons to fight as well and what good would it do him to add someone's demons as well.

Alex analyzed his thoughts and hit his head.

"What am I thinking about? She really needs someone right now and there's no one to care for her. So what if I have my own problems? I can fix mine as well as hers."

With that thought, Alex ran out of his room and moved to her house. Of course he wouldn't act foolishly and knock on her door. He decided to climb her window and succeeded due to his years of experience trying to escape his parents bickering through his room window.

As soon as he got to her window, he let himself in and that startled Scarlet a great deal.

Scarlet saw this intruder climbing inside her room through her window and noticed it to be the boy next door. She was startled at first but seeing him here made her wonder what his purpose was. She immediately wiped her tears to hide the fact that she was crying.

"What do you want?" Scarlet asked, her tone was cold but also had a hint of sadness.

Alex looked up and saw that she had already wiped her tears and was giving him the cold gaze.

"I'm sorry to intrude but..." He took a step towards her but she evaded it by moving backward. No matter who he was, she still had to be at alert. Seeing this, Alex retreated as well seeing it was a little inappropriate to be so close to her when they clearly just met each other. "Ah, sorry! I shouldn't have intruded like that but I couldn't help it. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." He said

"What do you mean? Do I look like I'm not okay?" She asked, her tongue as sharp as a spear.

"That's not it!" Alex said. He looked so worried that he himself did not notice how worried he was. "You were crying, so I..."

"Who said I was crying?" She interrupted him rudely. 'I cleaned my tears before he saw my face so how did he know?' She thought.

'Of course, she wouldn't admit it' Alex thought. "I saw you," he pointed at his window "...and I couldn't help but worry."

Scarlet looked at his window. Indeed, he could see everything from over there. She turned to look at him.

"Mind your own business. You shouldn't be sticking your nose into other peoples business." She looked away a bit annoyed at herself for letting him see her cry.

"You're right. I should mind my business but, how can I when it has something to do with you?"

Scarlet turned her head to him on hearing those words. What did he mean by that?

Those words stung her heart as she felt it race, it was truly pleasing to hear that. 'What am I thinking about? He is clearly joking with me. There's no way he would be concerned over a person like me, he's toying with me. How dare he?'

Feeling that way, Scarlet thought that he really had guts coming over to her room to make fun of her situation. Even if she had a crush on him, she wouldn't let him make fun of her.

"Who do you think you are to come up here and pretend like you care? I don't need your fake sympathy!"

This was the exact reaction he expected from her but he didn't think it would hurt him so much.

"You think I'm joking, right?"

"And then? This is my room. If you don't get out, I'm gonna beat you out, you hear me?" She warned.

"I knew you wouldn't believe me. I only came here with you in mind and didn't think of what would happen if you actually took me as a pervert." He turned to leave but stopped in his tracks. He turned and smiled at her. "I am Alex by the way. If you ever think it through and accept my concern, I'll always be a block away. Maybe then, we can be friends." He turned around looking sullen all of a sudden. "...or maybe more than that." He muttered to himself and got out through the window.

Scarlet was perplexed. She didn't know what to think about now. Somehow, the anguish she had felt from the heated argument with her mom had turned into a sweet feeling as she remembered the words 'friends'.

He was truly remarkable and if he was really serious, she was ready to try it out with him.

Scarlet couldn't sleep as thoughts of Alex filled her head. His warm smile and amusing voice. Her insides were overjoyed.

'What is this feeling?' She thought to herself.

Alex was a little disappointed that he didn't get to show his concern and care for her, but at least he had told her his name and had proposed friendship with her. That was one accomplishment.

He felt satisfied for the night and couldn't think of anything but her all through the night. But on remembering how miserably and dejected she looked earlier, he couldn't help but feel sad. He wanted to be there for her and comfort her in such times.

He wanted to hold her in his arms and protect her from any harm that would come her way, and the only way to do that was to be friends with her and gain her trust. If she entrusted him with her heart, he would definitely not let her down.