ARI

"You're late." My mother glared at me when I walked into her office.

"Sorry, I had to clean my face." I said glancing at Alex, giving him the evil eye. "You know, because of all the sauce and blood." Alex tried to smother his laughter but failed. I walked towards the only chair in my moms office but found papers stacked on it. I groaned and took a seat next to Alex on the couch who scooted far away from me. I too hugged the end of the couch trying to get as far away from him as possible.

My mother, who watched us with a frown, cleared her throat and narrowed her eyes at me. "Are you okay?" She asked, still concerned.

"Uh, yeah." I said touching my now healed nose. I had to reset it in the bathroom but it did the job.

Through my peripheral vision, I could see Alex's face. He was looking at me with guilt but as soon as I looked at him, he turned his head and looked at my mom.

"Are you okay?" She asked actually concerned for him.

Alex nodded in response.

"Now, Alex, I don't know what happened but I know that Arianna is not responsible, therefore, I am sorry to say but I have to suspend you for 3 days time." My mother pursed her lips and I couldn't help but smirk at Alex. I almost screeched in victory.

Alex stood up, balling his fists and stepped closer to my mothers desk. "Excuse me? You can't do this to me. Do you have any idea who my father is?"

I stood up too and stood next to my mother. "Step back now." I threatened him.

My mothers heart rate spiked. She stood up as well and placed her hand on my shoulder, squeezing it. "Honey, please, calm down."

I shrugged her hand off. "I'm fine, mom."

Alex spoke again, making my blood pressure sky rocket. "My father owns you."

"Excuse me young man?" My mother asked appalled.

"I said, my father literally owns you. He owns this school." Alex pulled out his phone and punched in a couple of numbers. "Oh." He pretended to be shocked that we were still there. "Would you like to speak to him."

My mother and I looked at each other.

"Well?" Alex asked, waiting for our answer.

"Yes, I would actually." My mother stepped closer to Alex but pulled out her own phone and started to dial a number. "Oh." She said mimicking Alex. "Would you like to talk to him first."

I snickered.

Alex shook in his spot. "You cant do this, it's not fair. She still hit me."

My mother sighed and looked at me sighing again. "Fine."

"Wait what?" I asked confused.

"Well Ari, you did hit him and he's right, both of you should be punished." My mother sat back down on her desk and wrote something on a paper.

"But mom-" She cut me off.

"I'm sorry honey but I have to punish you both but I wont suspend you."

She handed each of us a pink slip. I scanned it and scoffed.

"Three weeks of detention?! What the hell mom!"

"Ari! I'm only doing this to protect you." She clasped her hands together and pursed her lips. "Now, I want you to report back to my office after school starting today for the next three weeks, and no excuses."

"My father will hear of this." Alex left in a huff, slamming the door closed.

"Mom-"

"No Ari, this is bad. As much as I want to bail you out, I can't. Alex is right, you're both at fault."

"He hit me first! But fine, whatever." I stormed out of her office, feeling bad for yelling at her already.

Its not fair what she's doing. I slammed open the girls restroom door and turned on the faucet running my fingers though the cold water.

I propped myself up onto the counter and pulled out my phone, browsing through my apps. I didn't feel like going back to class so I just stayed in the restroom for a couple of minutes. The door to the restroom creaked and I craned my neck to see who it was.

"Hey!" I yelled at the him. "You can't be in here! This is the girl's restroom."

Alex just smirked and walked closer to me. "Then what are you doing here?"

I scoffed at his response. "Har de har har. You're so funny." I continued to scroll through my phone, ignoring Alex's presence.

"You know, I called my father and apparently your mother got to him first." Alex stepped even closer and I squirmed on the counter. All I wanted to do was leave but Alex was standing in the way.

"Okay?" I said pointedly.

"Tell your mom to back off or I will have her job." He stepped closer, making him only a foot apart from me.

I hopped off the counter and crossed my arms, trying to put some distant between me and him. "Excuse you? Who the hell do you think you are?"

No matter what I did, it seemed like Alex thought it was an invitation to get closer to me. I stepped back but hit the counter behind me. I hated feeling threatened like this.

"Who I am is someone you should be very afraid of." He placed his left hand onto the counter by my hip. I tried to move away but then his other hand landed on the counter next to my right side, caging me in.

I looked up into his eyes snarling. I expected him to be doing the same but he was looking at my lips instead causing me to freeze. My heart beat a little faster watching him trace my lips with his eyes. Something deep down opened up and couldn't help but like the feeling.

My lips parted and I swear Alex's eyes grew darker.

With a quick jerk, I pushed Alex away and stepped away from him, my back to the door. "What the hell man."

Alex didn't say anything but look at me with his dark eyes. "Whatever you want to do, you can. Just know that my mother and I, will never go down without a fight. You were in the wrong, not me. Why are you singling me out anyways? I didn't even know you existed until like three months ago!"

He was still quiet and after a minute I rolled my eyes and turned around to leave but stopped when Alex grabbed my hand. My heart raced in my chest. His touch sent electricity through my body. "Wait." Alex said in a soft voice.

"Why? So you can throw some more food in my face? Why do you want to hurt me so much? You don't even know me."

Alex let go of my hand and I walked out the door, not wanting to be next to him.

The bell rang and the hallway flooded with students. I sighed, wanting to go home and lie down for the rest of the day.

I dug the pink slip out of my pocket and glared at it. I can't go home, I had detention and who knew how long that was going to last.

I waited in the library until the last bell rang for the last class of the day. I skipped Gym because I didn't want to deal with Alex and his mood swings. I thought I had issues but clearly the guy surpassed me.

Groaning, I marched towards my mothers office ready to begin my punishment.

***

"Mom it's been ten minutes, he isn't showing up. Can we just go home?" I was laying down on the couch feeling sleepy but my mother was being stubborn.

"No, lets give him a little more time."

I groaned loudly and sat up, leaning into the sofa.

I heard footsteps outside of the office. My ears perked up when Alex's angry voice reached my ears.

"You seriously can't do this dad. Why can't you snap your fingers and get me out of this mess? You used to do it all of the time with Anthony!"

A man's voice through a phone, answered Alex, "Alexander, Helen was very clear about what you did and after all this time training you to control your anger, you go and bully an innocent girl? That is not acceptable. Your brother was troubled but he was never a bully." The man said, in a strict but soft voice. He sounded very familiar to me and something in the back of mind tugged at a memory but I chose to ignore it.

My brain was an idiot and I learned I was happier if I just ignored it. I've had too many "déjà vu" moments around this town and it was freaking me out.

"But Dad, the Vice Principal is lying!" Alex said in an unattractive whiny voice.

I looked up at my mom as she looked at her watch. She didn't know that Alex was standing by the door.

"Alexander James Lockwood, do not lie to me! Stop wasting time and finish your detention for today. I will see you at the pack meeting tonight." His father hung up on him.

Alex groaned loudly and huffed. He slammed open the door and entered the room.

"Nice of you to finally join us Mr. Lockwood." She motioned at the couch for Alex to sit. I scooted over and made room for him but Alex continued to stand stubbornly. My mom looked at him and then the couch pointedly.

Alex sighed and finally sat down.

My mother leaned on her desk, observing us. I was scowling at Alex when she cleared her throat. "Now, I don't know why you guys don't like each other but as your Vice Principal, it is my duty to resolve it. So-" She grabbed some papers from behind her and gave us one each.

I scanned over the paper scoffing.

"What the hell mom? I don't want to get to know him? Can't I just do some homework or something?" I leaned into the couch, angry.

"No." She grabbed her bag and packed up some of her papers. "I will be leaving for about thirty minutes but that does not mean I want you guys to leave or not do anything. When I get back, I want every single question done or I will keep you even longer."

Alex rolled his eyes. My mother narrowed her eyes at him and placed her hands on her hip. "If you want to cut your sentence short, meaning taking off two weeks then I would do as I say." She looked at me, winking and then left.

What the hell was that! Why is she winking?!

It was dead silent in the room, until Alex cleared his throat. I pulled out my headphones and stuck them in my ear. I was scrolling through my songs when Alex spoke. "Hey, why are you ignoring me. I want you to answer these so I can leave."

I stood up and sat behind my mothers desk, ignoring him. He followed me and sat down in front of me, slamming the paper down onto the desk.

"Fine!" I said loudly.

I rolled my eyes again. "Question number one: Name."

"Alexander James Lockwood." I scribbled down his name, feeling stupid playing twenty questions.

"Ariana Peterson."

"Birthday?" He asked.

"April 14. I'm 17." 

"August 18, I just turned 18." Alex rubbed his head annoyed and then asked the next question. "Favorite Movie? Mine is Stars Wars : The Empire Strikes Back."

I giggled. "Really? Star Wars?" I giggled again. Alex was smiling wildly at me, watching me laugh. I stopped, feeling weird all of a sudden. "Uh, mine is Fight Club."

Alex nodded approvingly. "Cool, I would expect you to pick The Notebook or something but that's a good movie."

I crossed my arms and glared at him. "Not all girls like sad movies. And that movie was good. Let's just move on. Favorite Song?"

Alex pursed his lips. "Still Dre."

"Really? Dr. Dre has so many better songs! Why this one?"

"I don't know, it brings back a good memory or something like that." He shrugged. "And yours?"

"Well it depends on the genre. I like anything except for Country." (A/N. Country fans don't hate me! 😰)

Alex nodded with me. "Yeah, I don't like Country either. What song do you like though? I'm sure your mom will check my answers since she already knows them."

"I don't know man! I guess What Goes Around Comes Back Around?" I said shrugging. I had too many favorite ones.

"Why that one? Have you been cheated on before?" Alex got angry for a moment then frowned waiting for my response.

I blushed. "Uh, I've never had a boyfriend before." Alex smirked then blanked his face. I continued. "I just like the beat and the music of the song. Justin Timberlake has a beautiful voice. Do you have a girlfriend?" I almost choked when the words left my mouth. That's not a question on the list! Oh god, what if he thinks I like him.

Alex watched as different kinds of emotions flitted across my face. "Yes." He said slowly.

"Oh." I said, dissapointment clear on my face. I looked down and read the next question feeling sad all of a sudden. So what if he has a girlfriend! I don't like him, he doesn't like me. "Favorite Food?"

"Pizza." We both said at the same time. Alex laughed making me smile.

The more questions we asked, the more I realized we had in common. His favorite place to hangout were the woods like me, his favorite color is red. Mine is Maroon but the colors are similar!

By the time my mom came back, we were done with the questions and listening to Linkin Park. My mother gave us a wide smile.

Alex jumped out of his chair as soon as he saw her and handed her the paper with the questionnaire. He sprinted out the door, not even looking back.

I slumped disappointed that he left without saying goodbye. I straightened my back and pretended like it didn't bother me. My mom gave me a knowing look that confused me.

"Ready to go home?" She asked me grabbing her coat.

"Yeah." I said dejected. He could have at least waved or something? Was I really that bad to be around that he couldn't wait to leave?

I slapped myself mentally. Stop assuming shit!

Walking out the door I still couldn't help feeling rejected.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.