Mack's (POV)

"Why we're you afraid of that group in the arcade?" My hands pause underneath the running water.

Turning my head, I stare over at Alex who's still washing his hands like he didn't just ask a question.

Did he?

Never in the five days I've known him, have I heard him ask a single question.

Not one.

I continue staring at him, my mind not comprehending.

   Flapping my lips around, I try forming an answer that seems to be stuck somewhere in my mouth. "I-I'm not afraid of them." I harshly say, squaring my shoulders as I try to make it seem like the question doesn't bother me.

But it does.

He turns his head, dark emotionless eyes staring straight into mine. "Then why we're you avoiding them?" His voice comes out dead serious, a shiver running down my spine at how dangerous he suddenly sounds.

I try holding his unwavering gaze, not wanting to back down.

And as I'm staring into his eyes for the split second I can, I notice something about them I'd never noticed before.

His eyes look.....wrong.

That's the only word I can think of to explain it.

They look like they've seen, witnessed, and experienced way too much for his short span of life.

There's no emotion, no nothing. Just darkness. But as I'm staring into them, I suddenly catch a glimpse of something unexpected, the hair on my arms standing up.

Cold.

Scarred.

Broken.

Hate.

My breath catches in my throat.

  Darkness.

Not able to look anymore at what's starting to become a horror show, I tear my gaze away, heart hammering in my chest.

That was....uncomfortable.

  Sighing, I let my shoulders drop.

Might as well tell him something.

I run a hand through my hair. "You could say the leader of that little....parade, doesn't really like me."

That's an understatement.

I grab a couple towels from the paper towel dispenser, drying my hands off.

I can't tell Alex the main reason I was avoiding them was because....of Alex himself. Because I opened my big mouth.

But they forced me.

You see, that little 'gang' is the schools' bully and his little pack of minions.

Somehow they'd already caught-wind that there was a new kid in town.

And knowing that I'd personally met this 'new kid,' they cornered me at the Fourth of July picnic while everyone was busy packing things up to leave.

Said they wanted some information on him, some leverage.

Knowing it was either get a bruised rib, or tell them something good about the person I was jealous of. I told them the one solid thing I knew at the time.

He's afraid of fireworks.

And I regret it now.

Because sooner or later they're going to corner him. And when that happens, they're going to teach him his place in this town.

It'll be disastrous.

Thinking quickly, I perk myself up. "But there's no use moping around over it! lets go see if it's time to eat. I'm starved." I try sounding carefree, but one look at Alex who's still standing there, I know he's not convinced.

Moving around him, I head out the door.

Sitting back down in my seat, I see our drinks have already been delivered, Lucy looking over the menu.

Don gets up. "About time y'all finished up." He mumbles out, heading towards the restroom.

Alex sits down beside me.

  He's back to his normal self now. Eyes staring down at his lap, arms around his stomach.

No sign of the unwavering, serious boy in the restroom.

I look over my menu, my mind on everything but eating.

~*~

It's now ten P.M.

Since getting back from supper around seven, I've showered and brushed my teeth. I'm now currently sitting in the living-room, watching some TV.

Lucy and Don being the early birds they are, have already gone up for bed.

Alex had gone into the bathroom right after I'd gotten out ten minutes ago. And knowing him, he's probably going to stay up there.

No company from him I guess.

Sighing, I lay my head back against the sofa.

After half an hour of mindlessly watching colors on the screen pass by, I get up, deciding to hit the hay.

As I reach the top of the stairs, I look over towards Alexs' bedroom door.

It's shut, no lights evident.

Going into my room - which is positioned on one side of the bathroom, while Alexs' is on the other - I shut my door, laying down on my bed as I let the day catch up to me.

~*~

I slowly blink my eyes open.

Why'd I wake up?

I'm usually a very deep sleeper. As-in it would take a lot to wake me up.

Yawning, I sit up, looking over towards my digital clock.

4:47 A.M.

I groan. Not even Lucy or Don would be up at this horrible hour. Getting up, I head out the door and into the hallway.

As I'm about to walk into the bathroom, I stop.

What was that?

I position my head to the side.

There it was again.

I feel my heart jump in my chest, goosebumps popping up along my arms. It sounded like a...muffled scream.

Alex.

Walking a little further down the hallway, I stop in front of his door. Leaning in closer, I hear a rapid breathing on the other side, the rustling of sheets before there's  another muffled scream.

My eyes widen.

He must be having a nightmare....?

Before I know it, the door flings open and I'm left staring into the fear-stricken face of Alex. His breathing comes out in short rapid spurts, arms wrapped around his stomach, eyes wide open.

He quickly looks down at the ground, pushing past me as he makes his way towards the stairway.

I'm left standing there, stunned by how much raw fear I saw in those eyes.

Should I go get Lucy and Don?

Before I've even made up my mind, I find my feet already walking me down the stairs. When I reach the bottom, I decide he's probably gone outback where it's more open.

I step outside the backdoor, looking around I find I can barely see anything due to the darkness of the night.

Stepping down into the grassy yard, I start walking towards the tire-swing.

Halfway there, I stop.

Alex is sitting beside the oak tree, knees pulled up to his chest, arms wrapped around them, head sitting on-top of his knees.

Walking closer, I watch as he tenses up at my presence.

Why am I even out here?

Guess there's no point in going back inside now.

I walk over to the tire-swing, placing my elbows on top of it as I cup my head in between my hands. Then I just stare out over the orchard like Alex.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see he's slightly trembling, breathing still rapid.

He's not about to have another panic attack is he?

I would never admit it out-loud, but he actually scared me when he had that one I witnessed. I'd never seen a panic attack before in my life, never even really thought about it.

But watching someone have one in person, made me realize something.

Anyone that goes through something like that, must be the strongest people in the world.

And he might not realize it, but he's gained my respect.

Never again will I think he's some snobby-brat that's out to completely ruin my life.

      No, he's much more than that.

Maybe eventually we can even be friends...? But friendships always start with one person making an effort.

I look over at him. "What's wrong?" I quietly ask, even though I'd already guessed about the so called nightmare.

I watch as he brings both shaking fists up to his eyes, rubbing them.

He'd been crying.

Alex keeps his attention out over the fields. "Nightmare." He mumbles so quietly I barely make it out.

Even though I'd assumed it was that, it still leaves me concerned.

How in the world do you sleep when your fully aware that you could have a nightmare that reduces you to this?

Then I notice for the first time.

Dark circles mark the skin underneath both his eyes, face drawn with exhaustion.
 
       Maybe he doesn't sleep much.

What happened?

What's with that odd mark on his wrist?

How'd his stomach get to be that way?

A thought pops up in the back of my mind, a thought I'd been trying to keep back.

Sighing, I slide my head and my shoulders through the hole in the tire, looking over at him.

"Alex." I say, trying to get his attention.

Slowly, he turns his face over towards me, eyes downcast so they don't meet mine.

I take a big breath, letting the question spill out. "Alex, were you...abused?" I lightly ask, waiting for what I hope is a answer.

For a second his eyes widen and they meet mine, the shield completely gone as I watch transfixed as more emotions then I thought possible, reflect in his unguarded eyes.

Guilt.

Pain.

        Terror.

        Insecure.

Humiliation.

Sorrow.

       Dejection.

I try to look away, but I can't. It's almost like he's trying to tell me something, something important, I just don't know what....

I'm broken from my thoughts as I hear his voice. "Not in the way your thinking." He answers my question, eyes leaving mine as he looks back out over the orchard.

      I pull in a deep breath I hadn't even realized I'd been holding.

What does that even mean? And that doesn't even qualify as an answer.

So no parents or foster parents abused him.....a teacher?

Then what?

Settling back down, I decide to just leave the subject alone for the rest of the morning.

I'll figure it out eventually.

       And that's a promise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N

Hmm, looks like both Mack and Alex are going to try figuring each other out. Wonder who's going to figure out who first??

Hello y'all!!

So guess what??

I'm sick with a bad cold now.😱it's great just great!! (Hint the Sarcasm)

Hope this chapter doesn't suck to much, remember I have a cold. Sadly it makes me not think as clearly.

Anyways......VOTE and or COMMENT!!!!!

     Next update: Tuesday.

      Maggy

Edited: 6/10/17