Welcome To Alexandria

chapter 6

ALEX’S POV

  Even though the drive was short Josh managed to talk the ENTIRE time. I rub my temple wishing for silence. When I had him pull off to the curb of the street he looked at me like I had grown two heads.

  “What?” I asked

  “I thought you said we were getting food? There’s nothing here Alex.” Josh said scanning the area.

     “That’s because you’re not looking in the right places my dear friend.” I replied hopping outta the car hearing Josh get out as well. I didn’t wait for him as I started walking, I’m hungry and he was being slow sue me.

  “I’m looking where you told me to go.” He said as he caught up to me. I rounded to corner glancing at Josh chuckling at his “o” face as we approached the food truck stationed next to the park.

  “ chica hambrienta que es tu amiga?”(hungry girl who’s your friend?) The cashier Zack greeted me. yeah I eat here a lot.

  “este es Josh” (this is Josh) I said looking back at josh he looked between Zack and I then shook his head with a smile.

 “Josh what do you wanna eat?” I asked directing his attention to me.

  “ I’m not picky and you seem to know what’s good here.” He said with a smirk and I just rolled my eyes.

“tres tortas con todas las obras y dos aguas por favor y gracias.” (Three tortas with all the work and two waters please and thank you). I told Zack, he nodded his head and repeated our order to the cook. I went to hand Zack my money but Josh pushed my arm away handing Zack his money smirking at me. I wasn’t about to argue with him but he still irritated me so I punched him in the ribs with my free hand. Zack laughed as Josh took a couple steps back coughing. I took the opportunity to shove some money in Zack’s tip jar before turning towards Josh seeing him rubbing his side.

  “f**k you hit hard Alex, I was just being nice. You didn’t have to hit me.” He said coming back to his previous spot.

  “Thanks but Im’a big girl and can take care of myself.” I said crossing my arms over my chest.

  “I know you can take care of yourself.” Josh said smirking while getting to much in my space pinning me between him and the truck. “hungry girl” he said in my ear before gabbing our food from Zack. “Gracias, senor que pase una Buena noche.(Thank you sir have a good night) Josh said to Zack before walking to one of the wooden benches food in hand. I stood there stunned for a minuet before grabbing our water bottles and following him to the table.

 “I didn’t know you knew Spanish.” I said sliding my tray with two sandwiches my way.

  “woah woah why do you get two?” He asked raising a brow

“I always get two that’s why he calls me hungry girl.” I laughed taking a bite outta my sandwich. “You didn’t answer my question.” I said as I stuffed my face.

  “that’s because you didn’t ask one.” He smirked at me before taking a bite of his. I rolled my eyes getting a drink.

  “Um yes I did.” I deadpanned, Josh continued to eat. He wiped is mouth with his sleeve before speaking.

 “No, you said you didn’t know I knew Spanish.” He said making me give him an annoyed look. “But yeah I know Spanish I mean my last name is Martinez.”

  “Okay so my last name’s Johnson and I know Spanish.” I said finishing my sandwich.

  “Well I learned from my family my grandma doesn’t speak English so it’s the only way for us communicate with her. So how did you learn?” he asked bringing back warm memories for me, before everything got so f****d up.

  “Do you remember when I first moved here?” I asked

  “Yeah like freshman, sophomore year how could I forget Ira basically replaced me with you.” He said chuckling as I went for the second sandwich. Josh gave me puppy dog eyes telling he wanted it, I sighed and ended up giving him half.

  “Okay, not true but that wasn’t my first time being here, I started spending summers up here before that. My dad wanted to reconnect with his side of the family. I never really liked it too many people for me, so I would walk to this park.” I looked up from my food to see josh looking really interested in my story. “I made a friend you could say my first day some boy there. Anyways I don’t really remember how it came about but he taught me. He must have came to that park a lot because he was there every time I came down for the summer.”

  By the time I was done talking both of us had finished our food. Josh looked like he was in a deep conversation with himself. Kinda gave me an uneasy feeling but what doesn’t these days so I shook it off drinking what was left of my water. I sat there for a minuet waiting for Josh to notice I had to clear my throat to snap him outta whatever he had going on.

  “My bad you ready.” He said clearing our trash taking it to the trash. I bite the inside of my cheek wondering what to say as we go back to his car.

  Remember how I prayed for silence? I take it back, other than the occasional directions from me there’s not a word from Josh. I want to say something just to break up the quiet but I keep stopping myself. Why is this so weird to me? When we finally make it to my aunts house Josh pulls up to the curb, I glance at him looking like he’s still at war with himself.

  “later, I guess I’ll see you at the gym or at school Monday?” Why it came out as a question I don’t know. I didn’t even want to train Josh nor did we talk on the regular for me to wonder when I’d see him next he’s just always kinda there, unless I’m staying the night at Ira’s house he’s there, school hanging out with or without the other guys Josh is there but this is the first encounter being just us. I went to grab the door handle and Josh grabs my wrist making me tense up and look back at him.

 “Alex I’m sorry for being weird the whole ride just… your story of learning Spanish it reminded me of someone else’s “He explains while I take me wrist back holding it to my chest.

  “And who would that be?” I ask

  “I don’t know for sure yet… but I’ll let you know when I do.” He turns full facing me then grabs my face in his hands. I sucked in a breath as my heart picks up while I freeze in my seat. Quickly he pulled my forehead to his lips and placed a hard peck on top before letting go and looking at me. I’m stunned for a minuet with my mouth slightly open just staring at him, I close my mouth c*****g my head to the side not sure what to say.

  “Goodnight Alex.” Josh says with a smirk.

 I nod in response getting out of the car quickly. As Josh pulls away, I walk up to the gate stopping by the mailbox. I sort through what is mostly bills as I walk through the front door to the kitchen. I’m about to throw the stack on the counter when one envelope gets my attention. It’s got my dad’s, my little brothers, and my name on it. I open it wondering what it could be since they’re both dead. It’s a check for $4,000 I read the paper attached to it thinking someone made a mistake but sadly there’s no mistake just lies and more family secrets. It basically says that since my dad and brother died their life insurance has been sent to me monthly. Man, mom must be pissed, seeing is how I’m the ONLY beneficiary and getting the full payments. But that’s the thing they’ve been gone for years why am I just now seeing this? It doesn’t take long to realise that my aunt must have been cashing the checks and keeping them for herself. That really pisses off thinking of how many times we’ve had to live with the lights off, no water sometimes. How many times I couldn’t pay for my lunch at school, so Ira did. Hell, if my grandma didn’t pay off the house before she died we’d probably be homeless. I hear the front door open breaking up my thought process, it’s my cousin helping my semiconscious aunt into the house, they probably had to drag her out of the bar again. I’m not really feeling sorry for her now marching up to them pushing her hard against the wall waking her up a bit more. She looks at me confused till she see’s the check in my hand then her eyes go wide and she actually smiles at me.

  “You got my check baby girl let me have it so I can go get a bottle for bed.” She can’t be serious right now, right? In the corner of my eye I see Malik and Myles looking at my like I’m crazy but they’re not stopping me though knowing I couldn’t bring myself to hit her.

 “You’ve been getting money this entire time and just been feeding your stupid habit with it! Letting us go without so you can drink yourself to death and who knows what else, what the f**k is wrong with you?” I scream in her face.

  “Momma what is she talking about?” Myles asks coming closer. My aunt glances at him with hurt in her eyes but doesn’t say anything.

  “Oh don’t act ashamed now, you don’t wanna tell them fine.” I let her go to show my cousin the wrinkled-up papers. “She’s been getting money from MY dad and brothers life insurance since they died and keeping it for herself instead of taking care of us!” My cousins look at the paper, while Myles looks hurt Malik looks like he’s on the same level as me. He glares at his mom.

“What the f**k mom?” He asks shacking the papers in her face. Her shame turns to anger real fast.

  “You two are both grown, I did my job taking care of you and as for you.” She starts to get in my face. “My brother and nephew wouldn’t be dead if it weren’t for your stupid ass so miss me with all that s**t. I only took you in because your momma didn’t want you and it’s what MY brother would have wanted. I lost my brother because of you so yeah I took those damn checks, you shouldn’t benefit from what YOU caused.”

 The memory of putting pressure on Damian’s bloody chest flashes through my head before rage swallows me. I push my aunt to the ground hard and straddle her, pulling her up by her shirt I c**k my fist back but as I’m about to bring it down on her face I stop just short of its destination. Instead I pull her shirt till her face is inches from mine and I can see the fear in her eyes.

  “You know what? You’re not even worth it I don’t even know who the f**k I’m looking at now. f**k you.” I spit in her face before shoving her hard back down. “keep your distance from me, I won’t stop myself next time.” With that I run up my room and start packing my bag. I hold my phone to my ear with my shoulder calling Ira as I throw clothes in. Ira picks up after a few rings.

  “What’s up Andrie?”

 I didn’t notice I was crying till I go to speak and can’t Ira hear my whinny hiccup.

    “Hey Andrie what’s going on, are you okay?” He rushes out. I wipe my face taking a deep breathe so I can talk.

  “Ira can you come get me from my aunts?” I ask trying not to let my voice break.

  “Yeah I’ll be there soon” I can hear him putting clothes on and gabbing his keys. “ I’ll be there soon okay?”

“Yeah just hurry please I gotta get outta here.”

 “I’m gonna be there as soon as I can Andrie kay? Love you bye.” He hangs up before I can say anything. I don’t really dwell on the fact that he said he loves me I let it go to the back of my mind as I shove more clothes in my bag. Soon I hear my phone buzz Ira texting me he’s here. As I walk down the hallway Myles stops me at the stairs and looks at my bags.

  “Alex you know momma was just drunk right she didn’t mean any of that.”

  “I couldn’t care less but I’m not staying here tonight to much s**t has popped off.” I push past him going down the stairs Myles right behind me.

  “Myles let her go she needs a breather.” Malik says from the top of the stairs. “Right Alex you just need some time to think but you will be back?” I bit my lip not wanting to lie but I know he just trying to make Myles let me go without a fight.

“Yeah I just need to clear my head.” I open the door seeing Ira standing at his car.

  “What about the money?” Myles asks

  “Let your mom drowned herself in liquor with it for all I care.” I shout as I open the gate. I glance back seeing Malik shaking his head then closes the door. I throw myself in Ira’s as he gets in to. He doesn’t hesitate pulling away from the curb and driving off. When we get to his house he shuts the car off and looks at me. When I look at him I see the concern in his eyes and I break hard and just cry. Ira pulls me to him and I let him hold me as I break as he’s running his hands through my hair kissing the top of my head telling me it’ll all be okay.

  “No it won’t” I croak out.

  “Why wouldn’t it be, look we don’t have to talk about it tomorrows a new day and we’ll figure it out Andrie.” He coos trying to calm me.

  “Tomorrow my dad and brother will still be dead and it’s all my fault.”