The Tables Have Turned

Chapter 19

"The test better be easy," I muttered as I finally closed my book and copybook. I have been studying for the past five hours.

The twins left and the rest came back and I was still studying.

Surprisingly, Alex was still here. I expected him to leave after an hour or so but he remained all five hours! He must've gotten bored since I was studying the whole time and he was either playing with his phone or just looking around my room. He barely even talked to Chase when he got here.

"You'll do great even if it wasn't easy," Alex reassured me. I wished I were that confident with my math knowledge.

"I hope so," I replied as I put my stuff in my bag.

"You've been studying for the past five hours and you knew the answers to everything so obviously you'll get a good grade," he reasoned.

"But what if I forgot everything?" I asked. When I panic, I instantly forget everything and it will be ten times harder for me to do the rest of the test.

"Just don't panic and do the ones you know first," he said and I sighed. I wish I could understand math easily like he does.

"Now enough talking about math," I then said, grinning. "You must be dying of boredom!"

"Boredom? Why?" he asked, tilting his head in confusion. I gave him an incredulous look. Was he serious?

"You've been sitting here for five hours just watching me study! How could you not be bored?!" I said.

"I enjoyed watching you study," he said simply.

I ignored the way my heart beat accelerated and said, "You sound creepy."

He laughed loudly and I joined him.

"I didn't mean to sound creepy," he replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I just find your expressions while studying amusing."

"I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult," I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Hmm," he looked thoughtful for a second before saying, "It's a compliment. It makes you look cute."

"Aww you think I'm cute?" I joked, fighting the blush that was taking over my face.

"With that blush, you're definitely cute," he said and I didn't miss the smirk on his lips.

"I'm not blushing," I denied it. "The weather is hot."

"Really?" he said, raising an eyebrow at me in disbelief. "A few hours earlier you said it was cold so how come it's hot now? You know, at night the weather becomes colder."

"You're such a geek," I said, shoving his shoulder.

He grabbed my hand and grinned at me. "You love it."

Yes, I do. "No, I don't," I said, crossing my arms.

"Now, now, Hailey," he said, sounding so much like his mother it got creepy. "Lying is a bad habit."

"You sound so much like your mom, it's not even funny," I said, staring at him wide-eyed.

He laughed and shook his head at me.

"What can I say? I guess I'm a mommy's boy," he joked.

"I know you are," I said, winking at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

"Oh nothing... Just that you should man up a bit," I said, trying to contain my laughter.

"Are you calling me gay?" He asked, his eyes flashing dangerously. But I knew better than to believe his act.

"Maybe," I said, shrugging.

Suddenly, I was pushed down on my bed. I let out a squeaky yelp as Alex pinned me on the bed.

"You know I'm not gay," he said, hovering above me with his face dangerously close to mine.

"Is that true?" I said, trying to calm my racing heart.

"Mmhmm," he murmured. "Do you want me to refresh your memory?"

I swallowed as I looked up into his blue eyes. He leaned in, his blue eyes still staring intently at me.

I almost screamed in frustration when I heard a knock on my door.

Alex immediately jumped off me and I sat up as I called out 'come in'.

Chase came in and he grinned at me.

"You're done with math?" He asked and I nodded.

"Yep," I replied. "You?"

"Yeah," he answered as he sat on my chair. He frowned slightly and seemed deep in thought. Before I could ask him what was wrong, he spoke.

"Hailey, can I talk to Alex alone for a second?" He asked and I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Are you kicking my out of my room?" I said.

"Well it's my house," he said and I don't know if I had the right to feel that way, but I was hurt.

He's right, I then told myself. This is not my house. I'm just living here now till I am allowed to move out and live on my own.

My house is not here. Home is not here.

I stood up and left my room.

"Wait, Hailey!" I heard Chase call after me but I just closed the door behind me and ran downstairs. I didn't want to be angry at him for saying that. I just didn't expect him to say it.

I went to the kitchen and drank a glass of water as I looked around. It was different from my real home. Everything here was different.

I sighed and scolded myself for being such a stupid drama queen.

"Hailey?" I heard Chase's voice call. The guilt in his voice was hard to miss.

"Yeah?" I said as I focused my attention on the kitchen door where Chase was entering.

The first thing he did was hug me tightly. I smiled slightly as I hugged him back.

"I'm sorry, Hailey, I didn't mean it. I mean it's not even my house, it's my parents' house and yeah I do realize that I'm making the situation worse but what I want to say is that I love you and you are family," he said and I smiled.

"That's like a scene from a movie," I said, chuckling and he frowned.

"I was being serious," he replied and I sighed.

"I just wish I could go back home. Don't get me wrong, I love you all, but I really miss home and my par-"

I shut my mouth when Alex came in. He looked between Chase and me trying to figure out what was going on. I kept my face blank and looked at Chase instead of Alex.

"I know," Chase said softly as he hugged me again.

My eyes met Alex's blue ones and I desperately raked my brain for something to say because the calculating look on his face was not very reassuring. I didn't want him asking questions I definitely didn't want to answer.

I pulled away from Chase and blurted out the first thing that came to my mind.

"Did you talk to Alex or should I leave so you can do that now?" I asked Chase.

"I talked to him," Chase replied and Alex added, "I'm the one that's leaving."

Stupid, I know, but I was sad that he was going to leave. I'm so pathetic sometimes.

"You're leaving? After five boring hours you're not going to stay a bit and have fun with your friends?" I said and he smirked.

"I already did," he replied and I don't know why I blushed. Maybe it was because I remembered what happened earlier or maybe it was just the look on his face.

"As you wish," I said, trying to sound as casual as possible.

He smirked again and a scowled at him. I was busy glaring at Alex that I didn't notice that Chase had left the room and was now watching T.V.

"I'm going to leave," Alex said.

"You already said that. Just leave," I joked, giving him a smirk of my own.

"I was just giving you another chance to beg me to stay," he replied, shrugging.

"And why would I do that?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Because I know you want me to stay," he answered smugly.

"No, I don't," I huffed even though I knew it was a lie.

"You're cute," he said, chuckling.

"I already know that," I replied.

"Arrogant too," he said.

"Well I learned from the best," I said.

"Aww I'm the best?" he said. "I'm touched."

"Who said I'm talking about you?" I said and he laughed, shaking his head at me.

He then grinned at me and said, "I've missed you, Hailey."

He knew how much I loved that smile. My heart skipped a beat as I stared at him.

"I guess you still love my smile," he joked and I laughed.

"Yeah," I replied, not bothering to deny it. "I do."

His phone suddenly beeped and he sighed after reading the message he just got.

He kissed my cheek and gave me a hug before saying, "I have to go, bye."

"Bye," I replied a few seconds later.

I could feel my heart rate increase and my cheeks turn red.

He left but I stayed in the same position for another couple of minutes. Why the sudden change? I asked myself again but I didn't think of it much. I was just happy because that change was good-really good.

I sat next to Chase and watched with him an episode of 'Friends'. I swear this is one of the best series ever made!

"You like him," Chase stated out of the blue.

"Hmm?" I said, taking my eyes off the T.V to look at him.

"Alex," he said. "You like him."

"What?" I said as if it were the most absurd thing in the world.

He laughed and shook his head at me. "No need for lying, I know you do."

I sighed and didn't reply. I just looked back at the T.V.

"I think he likes you too," Chase told me almost reluctantly and that caught my attention.

"What made you say that?" I asked but my heart was actually swelling with hope and happiness.

"Just a hunch," he said shrugging. "But that's not why I said it."

I gave him a questioning look because his serious look was confusing me.

"Alex does not have a good reputation when it comes to girls and I don't want you to end up getting hurt," he said and realization hit me.

"Oh," I said. "But you don't have to worry. I know him more than you think."

"He's not the same Alex anymore," Chase said.

"You never know," I answered because I thought that the whole player thing is an act.  

"Hmm," he said thoughtfully but he didn't add anything else. We carried on watching T.V in silence but I wasn't concentrating on the show anymore. I was thinking of the possibility of Alex liking me.

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