Before I knew

Chapter 3

School the next few weeks were not what I expected for what was supposed to be the best senior year ever we had all planned the full awesomeness of this year since the group was made complete in sophomore year. However, now the group was walking on eggshells since Alex and Chrissy now seemed to be a thing and she was always with us. Lunch? She was there. After lessons? She was there. She even once came shopping with me and the girls on our monthly trip. Alex seems so different now he is with her, he hardly ever speaks to me and if he does it’s about English work and that’s only because we share a class. What happened to my friend? No one changes that much because of a relationship, do they?

Chrissy wasn't in today and for the first time in weeks our group felt kind of normal, we all felt it but none of us would dare say anything in front of Alex.

“So guys I'm having all you lot round tonight, it's 2 weeks till my Halloween party and I want you all around helping me finish making some decorations and finishing up the guest lift and invites, You all in?"  Esme asks us all, “There will be booze and I'm ordering pizza” She finishes off.

We all suddenly seem very interested and excited to help. Zack starts talking to Esme about some ‘Halloween cocktails’ he wants to make but he is soon interrupted by Alex.

“Actually, Chrissy is meant to be coming to mine. Can I bring her along? She’s not sick guys she’s only not in because she had to go visit a college today” He says giving us more information than we care about.

“Yeah sure whatever Al,” Esme replies going straight back to her conversation with Zack, Maybe it’s just me who’s being bitter about Chrissy and Alex? And with that note my phone buzzes off. The sound of Edward’s ringtone playing loud in our lunch hall. I take my phone out and run outside into the parking lot away from the noise and click answer.

“Hello Darling, how is your day going? This is the only chance I will get to call you today.” Edward’s voice is husky through the phone, he clearly only just woke up.

“It’s fine babe, messy night last night? You sound so tired.” I can’t help but feel cautious about his new college life, what if he forgets about me?

“No darling, I’m just tired from a lecture I had late last night.” Why must he lie to me, I don’t care if he was out last night, he’s at college I know what I was getting myself into when I agreed to keep our relationship long distance. What is he hiding from me?

I decide not to argue or question it and avert the topic of conversation.

“You’re coming down in a couple of weeks for Esme’s Halloween party right? I don’t think I can do another party on my own.” I laugh whilst honestly just needing him around to keep myself from getting drunk and sharing an awkward moment with Alex again or feeling bitter about Chrissy.

Am I jealous?

What of? He's just a good friend and, I have Eddy.

“Of course I am, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ve got to go now. Bye, I love you” Edward says too fast before hanging up, not waiting for my response.

“Yeah… me too” I mumble, knowing full well he cant hear me as the line goes dead.

But you don't do you, Maddy?

The Little voice in my head screams at me. She has no clue what she is talking about. Of course, I love him. We have been together nearly a year now and always says it to me so yes of course I do.

Walking back over to my friends I find that Alex has left the table.

“Where is Al gone? I wanted to know what costume him and Chrissy were going to wear to the party so Edward and myself don’t accidentally wear the same couples one. What about you rach? What are you and Zack going as?” I ask Trying to not look too desperate about wondering where Alex was.

“We haven’t decided yet, might to pulp fiction. I think we would rock a really cool mia and Vincent, I just got to get Zack to agree to wear a suit,” she says, not answering my first question.

Where is Alex?

I was hoping to somehow manage to get him alone away from the group and Chrissy and this seems like the only chance, so can one of my friends please answer my question. I need to confront him about why he has been so distant towards me and so different. He is never like this with me. Not me.

“Alex has gone to the library to print out an English essay due in next lesson, mads I thought you were in that lesson? Don’t you have to print off that too?” Zack says finally telling me the information I need and giving me a clear slot to go and find Alex. Of course I have printed it off, I gave it in yesterday and I’ve already started next week’s assignment but I’m not going to tell these lot that.

“I always thought it would be you and Alex doing the couples costume thing this year now that Edward isn’t here. I mean we all can clearly see Alex has a thing for you that’s why we are all so confused as to why he’s with Chrissy” Nina mumbles looking down onto her science homework, never giving any of us eye contact, especially not me.

“Edward will be there at the party,” I say feeling defensive, before replying to Zack.

“Thanks, zack yeah I’ll run to the library now to print it off,” I say over my shoulder, whilst trying to cram the rest of my books back into my bag and run off trying so desperately to ignore Nina’s previous comment. It’s not fair for me to put me in that position.

It would explain his behavior.

I get to the library and find Alex standing at the back of the line to the printer.

“Hey Alex, thought I’d come to find you and we could go to English together, also can I ask you something?” I spit out trying not to sound so nervous.

“Sure, go ahead.” His response very cold, he hasn’t even looked at me yet.

I start to feel slightly nervous to ask now, scared of his response. I bite my lip and manage to work up enough courage to ask my friend why he is being so off with me.

“Alex…”