Chapter nineteen:

 " How are you liking your new school Mira?" Mom asked, washing the raisins off Stacey dish. Ian clattered around with the dad's favorite mugs, playing some re-make of star-wars. Stacey trumped up and down every stair, yelling about hair gel one minute, eye wand the next and a lip pencil. I tucked my pen case into my bag, grabbing a few novels I'd taken off my shelf as well as the new one I'd bought the other day. Too bad I wasn't able to read it. My mind felt cluttered. Cluttered with crazy thoughts of Alexander. 

Thinking about him made me shiver, shiver with the thought of how close he'd been to me at the book store, close enough to reach up and kiss me. 

Enough of that! Remember. You HATE Alexander cage. You HAVE to. 

" Whatcha thinking about Mira?" Ian asked, twirling a table knife expertly around his fingers. I shook my head and went on with my bag. 

" How's school anyway? Having tough times there?" 

" No. Its been… nice actually. everyone is really welcoming there" 

" She's in our clique now!" Stacey squealed, skipping down the stairs with her hands around her hair " Isn't that just amazing?!" 

" Yeah it is. Just not surprising, considering the fact that you'd probably dragged her all the way there" 

" What? No!" She yelled, pouting. She linked hands with me and swung her hair back " Actually, josh, Lucy and Katya knew her way before I could tell them and she's cool with them already" 

" Is that so?" Mom asked, placing the last can of radishes back into the cupboard. 

" It definitely is" Stacey chimed. A loud thump ran down the stairs and we looked up to see Mona stomping down the wooden panels, face twisted in a permanent perpetual frown and eyes sour. She stopped mid-stomp and glared at every face. 

" What's wrong with your eyes dip-shit?" She spat at Ian. Ian leaned back and let out a soft chuckle. 

" You look terrible" 

" Yeah. You have eyes. Hallelujah!" She scoffed and strolled down to the fridge, slamming it open " What're you both still doing around here?" She shot at Stacy and me, glaring mostly at me. I looked away. 

" We were on our way actually" she said, stealing a pie of meat from Ian's plate. He yelled and made a dive at her. Laughing mockingly, she tossed it into her mouth, giggling and dancing up to the door. I zipped my bag hurriedly and made my way up to her. 

" Mira" Mona called and I froze. She'd never called me by my name before. Was I supposed to feel safe or scared?

 I turned to her " Yes?"

" You've got a stain…" she made a face at my back and my breath hitched. Ian looked away and Stacey skipped up to me. I looked down, panicking. 

" A… a what…" 

" Mona!" Stacey yelled, glaring. Mona fell in fits of laughter, mean laughter. " That is SO not funny" She patted my hair " There's nothing on you. lets go." 

" Sure" I whispered, red-cheeked. 

" Have a great day!" Mom yelled through the door and Stacey winced.

" Sure mom!" 

" Love you!" 

" Love you too mom!!" She yelled. And we walked down the sidewalk in silence. She looked at me, running to keep up with my pace. 

" So how was your first day?"

" Oh, you know that already. We're in the same school" 

" But not the same classes. I've only got history with you." She leaned close " Hey how many classes did you have with Alexander yesterday?" 

" Eng lit? Why?" 

She shrugged " Nothing. Hey, I just wanted to give you a heads up. Alexander's a player. That's why he thinks every other girl in school is too good for him. Cause he's dated all of them" 

I reeled back. so he was a player? The freaking bastard " Why are you telling me this?" 

" I…I don't know. I just wanted to warn you, you know, cause you seemed interested in him" She said and I scoffed. 

" Yeah right. Like I'd ever be." Stacey laughed and nudged me playfully on one arm. 

" Total badass huh? Hey we're hanging out at some cafe today. Wanna come?" 

We neared the school gate and I paused to gulp. Hang outs. Count me TOTALLY out. 

I tucked a stray strand of my hair back " Yeah I'll think about it" 

" What's there to think about you cute old woman?" She said, pinching my cheek with a grin " alrighty then. Think all you want." She backed away from me " Cause you're coming" 

" Do I have a choice?" I mocked, smiling back and she beamed. 

" You certainly don't" She waved " See ya!" 

" Yeah. See you too" I waved back and she squealed, skipping away. Students miled around the cold wet parking lot, hanging out and talking, making out even. I let out a sigh, pulled my bag off my shoulder, and reached deep within for the trig assignment I'd done two days earlier and my favorite iPods. A loud screeching sound scraped the garage floors behind as an engine revved through my ears. Then it happened, happened almost too fast to believe but right there and at that very moment Alexander grabbed me by the waist and pulled me out of the way, holding me close to his chest. The truck skidded to a stop by the right and everyone held their breathes, watching us. I gasped, reeling in the shock of having almost escaped death and being in Alexander's all too warm arms. I could feel the hard-packed wall of muscles laid within his chest, his heart beating too fast to be normal, his hard sturdy arms wrapped around my waist, sending jittery shivers down my spine. I stepped away from his too comfortable embrace, patting my hair down. 

" Wh… what are you doing?" I spluttered. His brows quirked and he stared at me, amused. 

" Saving your life. Obviously" 

" Yeah. It didn't mean you could hold me like that" 

" Hold you how…" I stalked close, letting my anger wash the desire and need burning through my skin. 

" What happened at the library should NEVER repeat itself. Do I make myself clear?" 

He folded his shoulders, standing back with the laziest expression " On what?" 

" Don't you ever touch me. Ever" 

" Why is that?" He stalked even closer " How special are you for me not to?" 

" Cause I'm not like every other girl you like to play with ok?" I yelled and he laughed, a long but annoying laugh. His face turned sour and he gripped my shoulders. 

" I asked you to stay away from me. In what way is that synonymous to me wanting you like the… I don't know… air that I breathe?" I shrugged my arm off. 

" Course not. I'll practically choke you. I can't and will never be your oxygen. Think of me as… carbon dioxide?" 

He scoffed " I think I can live with that" 

" I think not because it is physically and scientifically impossible to" 

" I'm way beyond the understanding of your puny little science." 

" Yeah? Like what? Some James Bond asshole…" 

" Chill you two" the tall long haired blondie dude from the cafeteria said, pumping Alex on his shoulder. " You're not trying to bite yourselves are you?" He turned to me, eyes bright and deeply mesmerizing. A mesmerizingly strange yellow. I cleared my throat and shot Alex one final glare. 

" Stay away from me. And" I reached into my bag and took out the book, shoving it against his chest " you can have this back. I don't need it" I shot as more boys crowded him, tall huge and beast-like in matching jean jackets and ripped pants. I felt the hard intensity of his stare piercing through my back and I flipped my hair back, trotting off as quickly as I could. 

 Maths, trig, English and history was long and trying and the whole hustle left me exhausted and famished. I literally ran all the way to the cafeteria, clutching my stomach. 

" Hey there honey bee." Josh said, grabbing me by the shoulder and pulling me close. 

o…k? Weird but fine. 

" How's things buzzing so far?" He drawled in some weird Scottish accent. I stared at him strangely. 

" What did you have for breakfast Josh?" 

" Nothing. Maple syrup and some pancakes with your face drawn across" He said, bopping my nose. I smiled and he let go of my shoulder to my relief, beaming. " Heard of your scuffle with the famous Alexander cage" He nodded and I rolled my eyes " I knew I had a good feeling about you Miss feisty." 

" Well, he's an asshole and he deserves to know it" I said, folding my arms defiantly. he pumped his fists in the air. 

" Girl power!" 

" Ok Josh like, eww?" 

" What? I stand by every woman in the world. Outside and in bed too" he said with a twinkle. I shoved him aside and he laughed. 

" Ass" 

" Its good to see one girl who isn't all ice-cream and bananas over" He made girly squeals " Alexander, Alexander oh Alexander! his eyes! And his hair!! OMG I WANT TO KISS YOU!!!" 

I laughed hysterically, bumping him on the shoulder " Josh stop gosh you're SO embarrassing!!" 

" I know, I know." He chuckled " But hey, where's the fun in life without one or two cranky moments?" 

I shook my head philosophically " No fun at all" Someone brushed past me rudely, squeezing my hand softly and I spun round to glare at Alexander's fleeting stare. His bright blue eyes crinkled in mock-shock and then amusement. I heaved deep within, balling my hand into a fist. Josh watched me glare at him, laughing. I turned heat on him and he flinched. 

" Whoa, whoa feisty I'm not the bad guy here. Its just amusing. You must really hate him" 

" You got that right" I muttered, stalking into line. Josh tried to snake his way into the line behind me when Alexander bumped him off, standing right behind me. 

" What the F Cage" Josh yelled from behind. I heard Alexander chuckle. 

" Yeah. Get used to it" 

" You're cheating…" 

" Big deal" 

" I was here first so…" 

" Go cry a river" He fired, keeping Josh shut. I peeked at him, shocked. Josh couldn't stand up to him? What?

He leaned close, stretching out and the cuff of his jacket brushed against my back, making me shudder. I was responding to the cuff of his jacket? Seriously?

 I cursed at my fast-thumping rebellious heart, pulling on the longest face and trying to stay focused on the cheese etched against the floors. 

" You don't have to be so rude" I muttered, folding my shoulders. " He got in line before you" 

" Oh really?" He sneered " What do I do? Apologize to your whiny little boyfriend?" 

" He's not my boyfriend you crack head" I whispered hotly. " And what part of stay away from me do you not get?" 

" I don't know. Guess I didn't hear you the last time princess shortcake" I reeled, spinning round to stare at him. 

" What did you just call me?" I asked, glaring into those surprisingly cold icy embers of blue. His lips quirked into an amused smile and he tucked his hand into his jacket pocket. 

" The name suits you." His face turned bright and his eyes twinkly " Or wait, you don't like it?" 

" Don't call me that" 

" Why not? Your stature doesn't seem to betray it" He said, running his eyes through me in a way that made me feel like he was undressing me bit by bit. " What are you?" He huffed as the line moved " 5'2?" 

" And is that supposed to be a disease?" 

" No. I'd like to call it a condition'' 

" A condition of what?" 

" One that gives super tall hunks the excuse to grab girls that short by the waist with the excuse of helping them reach out for book in a book…" 

" Oh shut up!" I whispered, casting nervous glances around. I stared at the stretching never ending line and let out a low groan. I was supposed to stand with Alexander through this? 

Open ground. Open and SWALLOW me! 

" Don't you have something to do? Besides annoying the hell out of me?'' I shot. He laughed and leaned into me. 

" I'm open to suggestions" 

" I don't know how jerks like to spend their day but I'll try" I looked up in thought " You should be with your girlfriend for starters, considering the fact that I can't think up any reasonable thing you could possibly do with your time" I feigned a smile " So why don't we start with that? She must be awfully lonely with no one snaking their hands through her clothes in broad day light" He stared at me for a moment in silence and I froze at the serious look on his face. Then the laughter came. Loud and heavy, echoing through the halls. People stopped to stare at us and then back at their phones and I groaned. Just great. 

" Is that what you think of me? Some creepy skin-crawler?" 

" That is what you are. Or do you want to prove me wrong?" 

" No." His lips were on my ears, tingling the skin behind it as he whispered " I want to prove to you that I can run my hands through your skin this very moment and that you would enjoy every single bit of it" his hand brushed against mine and I shivered and he let out a low chuckle. " Do you want to have a try?" I kept my lips from quivering, biting my lower lip hard and strong to hold back the urge to slap him and kiss him at the same time. 

" Take your hands off me, right now" I said through gritted teeth and he chuckled deep within my ear, biting a lobe softly. I moaned, shutting my eyes in the sheer delirium of the soft contact. He leaned back, laughing. 

" I didn't think so" He whispered, sauntering off in those proud walky steps. I groaned, looking around. a few girls looked away while the others stared at me defiantly but mostly in shock and trying to process what they'd just seen. 

 Kimberly leaned against the doors leading to an art room, glaring at me. She shook her head and stomped off. I looked down. 

Shit.