I could see the hurt in her eyes and I felt like the worst man in the world. I couldn't tell her that I remembered that sloppy kiss I gave her, I couldn't tell her that I wanted it badly and I even told her that I wanted to kiss her for a long time.

And I was a god honest drunk.

I don't know why I didn't just tell her, she was obviously offended so I should have taken that as a sign right? That she cared about me too? I had been out of the dating game a long time and hadn't dated anyone seriously since sophomore year when an African exchange student named Zuri came to our school.

But she left and it broke my heart. I know I was only sixteen but still. I had gone on dates with about four girls in between then (all in varying degrees of success) but I hadn't wanted anything serious until Alexandria. I mean if Finn hadn't dragged me away I would have spent an eternity with her, letting me drunken self spill my heart out to her.

Three weeks that's all it took for me to fall for her.

When we finished our rehearsal, Alexandria couldn't wait to get out of that studio, so much so that she didn't even bother taking off her ballet shoes, she just ran out. No eye contact or goodbye... just gone.

---
Nearly three days, I had been pacing around my room staring at my phone for the last hour. Why was I staring at my phone? Because I was contemplating calling Alexandria, to tell her the truth about Friday night. But I kept telling myself that maybe it was a conversation that we needed to have in person.

But how do you have a in person conversation when that person won't even look at you?

I had a hectic few days, football and rehearsing for Alexandria. That and also doing schoolwork and of course there was college acceptance letters coming out in a few months. So everyone was on edge about that. I had applied to heaps of colleges but my top three were Columbia, CIT and UPenn. I got good grades so I knew this was plausible and my SAT scores weren't something you scoffed at but I was stilling hoping for a football scholarship.

"Lincoln!" I snapped out of my trance due to my mothers shrill voice. Running down the stairs I could see my mother bent over the stove cooking something that I hadn't smelt in a long time: chicken pot pie. Even more surprised was my mother wearing a bright yellow dress compared to her usual cooking in pyjamas.

"Mum?" I stepped towards her and she jumped at my voice. "Oh Link, could you set the table? Dinner won't be for at least another two hours but I wanted it done now because I won't be able to" I shrugged and grabbed the plates from the drawer. "Not those ones...the good ones" she pointed to the good China we use on birthdays, Christmas and Easter.

"Mum who's coming over?"
"No body..." she whispered and I put the plates on the counter. "Mum...don't lie to me who's coming?" She mumbled something under her breath "mum?" I walked closer to her and she looked up at me.

"Your father is coming to dinner"

I almost dropped the China. "MUM WHY IS HE COMING!?" I roared and she shook her head at me. "Don't you take that tone with me Lincoln Archer Valentine, he's coming to dinner and that's final" he looked back down at her pots and I made my way upstairs, passing my sister on the way up.

I hated my father. He left us last year and like to coward he was he left to another town so 'we could live without shame and have a good life' yeah all I heard was bullshit too. I slammed the door to my bedroom and lay on my bed. I wonder if I just lay here he wouldn't know I was here.

Katie wouldn't understand all she knows was that dad left. She was six when he left she only knew what she was told and most likely for a long time she wouldn't know the rest.

I couldn't stay here.

Opening my window I looked down in dread at the drop. I shut my window and walked across the hall to Katie's room which happened to have a large tree nearby, opening the window I swung one leg over the ledge and grabbed the tree branch with my outstretched hand.

Somehow without dying or breaking a bone (or six) I managed to climb down the tree and touch safely on the ground. Putting my phone on my back pocket I began to walk, I had a destination in mind and I hoped that I wouldn't be turned away. Walking towards the dance studio ( an hours trek mind you) and I could hear the soft music playing.

Bingo.

Pushing open the door to the studio I couldn't see Rosie but that didn't matter because I needed to see Alexandria. Running up the stairs I threw open the door and I could see Alexandria practicing her dance. Her skirt twirling around her and it was weird seeing her out of her sweats.

"Lincoln?" She stopped suddenly and looked at me. "Cairo..." I walked towards her and she stepped back. "I know your mad at me but..." the next moments were last thing I ever wanted to relive.

I crumpled in a heap in front of her and tears silently slipped down my cheeks.

I didn't care if it made me seem weak or if Alexandria thought I wanted her to feel sorry for me. I just needed to get it out.

And I trusted Alexandria enough to do it in front of of her.

---

That was a hard chapter to write...

L xx