Chapter 6 – Daph's POV

The Inner Light

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I could have skipped my first day back to school. I was still a little woozy after my flight and I barely slept three hours last night. I want to snuggle in bed, preferably with a sexy warm blooded companion.

Unfortunately, Kevin is still home and there is no possibility of peace and joy if we're less then one mile away from each other. My mother and my step dad left this morning to go to work, but, Despicable-Kevin doesn't have a job so he's always there.

When I walk into the kitchen to grab myself a Poptart to go, he's sitting there in the kitchen at the table playing some useless game on his phone.

"Good morning, Freak Show," he greets me.

My response is immediate, "fuck off."

He's used to it, so he's not fazed anymore. Instead, he has the audacity to ask me, "hey, would you mind passing me that apple? And cutting it in pieces for me."

I could cut you in pieces. "Do I look like your personal servant?"

He snorts. I think about the fact that I could totally survive in prison if I killed him. I'd be an alpha bitch because I would be there for murder so people would be scared of me, and I plan on dismembering him, so people would run away from me. "you look like a girl, and isn't that what girls are supposed to do. Speaking of which, I threw my dirty clothes in the washing machine, if you could start a load for me, that'd be great."

"Kevin, if I had enough food inside of me right now to vomit I would keep it in my hands and then shove it down your throat and make sure you choked on it."

"Jesus, you really are Freak show. Thank god we're not related."

He walks out of the room and I grab one of the biggest knives in the cutlery rack and just raise it over my head, ready to stab him in the back.

Relax Master Dadaphnoo. Think happy thoughts. Think sexy shirtless boys. Think about kissing strangers in bathrooms.

            I get to school relatively earlier because I want to get to the library and see Miss Pumpernickel to see which days I could work at the library. It's not the most amusing way to spend a lunch break but it's really good on a college application. Technically, I know I want to go study to be a nurse when I get out of high school, but sometimes I let myself dream bigger dreams, like maybe actually go to college and become a doctor. I don't think I have it in me though. It's still a nice thought and I'll still do a bunch of useless shit to keep the dream alive, even if I know it's unreachable. 

            Dealing with Miss Pump in the morning is kind of a pain though. I think she's sexually frustrated. She's either not getting any, or if she is getting some, it's really not any good.

            Sometimes I think I should write a book for boys so they can know a thing or two, it'd probably be called something like The Clit is Your Friend. But then my whole good girl cover would be blown.

            Miss Pump looks her usual furious self when I walk in the library. I put on my best fake smile and walk up to her.

"Hello Miss Pumpernickle, I just wanted to inform you that I'm back from my trip and I'm available if you ever need me to do any shifts at the library, f you haven't made the schedule yet, or even if you just need me to replace people," I say as enthusiastically as I can muster.

She scowls at me. I'm thinking about Solange slugging Jay-Z in an elevator. Problem with that vision is that Miss Pump would need to be Jay-Z and bitch ain't no Jay-Z. "Oh yes, right, your holiday right at the beginning of the new school year, because you were too important to go during the summer, like everybody else. Good thing you came today actually. Miss Grayson isn't working at the library anymore, so you can fill in her spots."

Huh? Okay, that made no sense. Why would Lexi quit? "But, Lexi would never quit?" I tell her.

"Oh, I fired her."

"How can you fire someone from a volunteer job?"

"It's none of your business, actually, but Miss Grayson's work is seriously lacking, and I don't need her around anymore."

"Wow, okay..." I mumble and just walk away.

Sure, Lexi is out of it, and she's often late, but firing her is a little bit over the top.

I'm majorly confused. Might as well find her and ask.

As I walked to my locker, I hear over the school intercom, "Noah York please report at the principal office... Noah York... and Tyler Grayson needs to come to the reception immediately to pick up his ovaries."

What the... Okay, seriously, what's going on with this school? I leave for two weeks and everyone goes crazy. Who managed to get the school secretary to say that?

"Hey my bitch," Lexi announces while I'm taking things out of my locker. 

I laugh and answer back, "No, you're my bitch," and then happily hug my friend. I missed her. And I have to admit, I was worried before leaving. Lexi's been in a bad place for the last couple of months, since her mother left.

"How was Morocco?" Lexi asks.

"Oh it was simply yummy, the guys I mean," I answer teasingly. I mean, I did see a lot of yummy boys, so no point in telling her that they all paled in comparison to Hot Flea Market Guy. That none of them turned me on as much as Hot Flea Market Guy had and we'd just kiss. Ugh!

"Any memorable moments?" Lexi presses. Like she could handle any of my memorable moments. It's cute.

"Oh so many my bitch, so many, but that's not the point right now," I tell her, changing subject.

"What is?" Lexi asks with a frown.

And then I give her a play by play of my little interaction with Miss Pump.

It was safe to say that Lexi was not happy, and she left me right away to get answers.

I sigh looking at her walking away.

It's fine. I know she has to deal with this. I know she has a lot on her mind... but... too often it feels like Lexi is the main character of this story and we're just her sidekick that she uses and interacts with when she feels like it. Sometimes it feels like we give and give and give, and listen and help, but she doesn't give as much back.

She asked about my vacations, but she didn't really listen. She didn't really care, I think. And she doesn't ask me how I'm doing in general. I know I will have a play by play of all her emotions, but I won't be granted the same right.

I love Lexi, but to keep my sanity I need Alex. I love Lexi but she's out of it sometimes. Alex knows what's going on.

That's why instead of whining on my own in the school hall, I go in search of my best friend.

He's actually talking with Fred when I catch up with him.

"Oh my god, two yummy men, standing there, just for me," I tell them.

"Keep it in your pants Harrison," Fred tells me, rolling his eyes and then he picks up his backpack, gives me a smile and walks away, catching up with Peter.

            Alex grins at me. I grin back.

            And then we hug. "I've missed you," he tells me.

            "Me too," I whine.

            "Did you have fun on your trip? Did you kill Kevin?" he asks, keeping me at arms length.

            I shrug. "I had fun. Unfortunately I didn't kill Kevin. The Human-Trash actually tried to trade me for camels."

            Alex looks contemplative, stroking his chin. "How many camels?"

            I flip him off. "Shut up."

            "You know, you look good, but you don't seem happy. Is it because you're back to school?"

"Wow, way to go to make a girl special. Makes sense that you don't like them, you really don't get them."

Alex gives me big shut yo mouth eyes. The diva. I know he's not out of the closet. I know I shouldn't be butting in. He has to do this at his own pace. He has to do it when he's ready. And I completely support him. I just don't understand why he's doing this to himself. The boy's still a virgin. He knows he loves boys but he's only ever kissed one and it wasn't even a good kiss and he ran away the second after.

We're at the age where we should be having summer flings and silly crushes and kiss boys under bleachers and he's not experiencing any of that because he's scared of what his friends might think and that just makes me so sad.

But then again, I shouldn't be judging. I'm not walking around with a big sign around school telling everyone I've had sex with more guys then there are on a basketball team. And I've made out with probably as many guys as there are in a football team. Like as many as a NCAA team allows. That many.

So I guess, both Alex and I are living a lie.

"Now, I know something must be up, if you're making sure to distract me by freaking me out," Alex says as we walk side by side to our first class.

That boy knows me so well. "Nah, it's stupid..."

"What?" he presses.

"I don't even want to admit this, but Flea Market Guy?" I shake my head, staring at my converse. "Yeah... I can't seem to get him out of my head."

Alex bumps his shoulder against mine. "And that's a bad thing because?"

"I don't know. It just kind of feels wrong, the way I'm still thinking about him. I just like him because he's pretty and that's a little pathetic," I admit.

"So what?" he shrugs. "You should only fall in love with his soul?"

I grab Alex's arm. "Woah there. No one said anything about love."

Alex laughs at me, shaking his head. "You really shouldn't make yourself feel miserable over this. You have a little crush. It's cute."

"Whatever, what about you? Catch me up with all that I've missed with you while I was gone."

"Nothing much really. We went to the Creek while we were gone. It was fun. Fred and I are pretty sure Lexi and Blake are going to start dating soon."

"Oh yeah, Fred mentioned that last night," I answer.

"Oh, so you went to see Fred last night, but not me?" Alex says teasingly.

"Ah, but you see, Fred fucks me in commenrcial size freezers. You wouldn't."

Alex gives me an I-am-not-impressed look. "Seriously?"

I roll my eyes. "Alright, fine. We didn't bang in the freezer."

Alex shakes his head at me. "Fred is more than a piece of meat."

"What? You want a little piece of Fred." I wiggle my eyebrows.

It's Alex's turn to flip me off. "Shut up."

I just laugh at his shock face. Deep down he probably kind of wants to. Fred's hot. Anyone with decent taste in human beings would want to tap that.

We're almost to our class now, and Alex starts texting beside me. He smiles a strange little smile as he does.

"Who are you texting?" I inquire.

"Oh, no one," he quickly answers and hides his phone in his pocket. I narrow my eyes at him.

What's this about? Missing two weeks of school could really get a girl out of the loop. Did Alex find himself a boyfriend?

"Stop looking at me like that," Alex tells me with a nervous chuckle, his hand cupping the nape of his neck.

I let him walk ahead of me into class and stare at his back as we do.

Yeah, I definitely had a lot of catching up to do.

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A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you're enjoying all the uploads so far. All of my Blake/Lexi related stories had a new chapter today! It's to celebrate my nine year anniversary on Wattpad and I Sold Myself... seven year anniversary.

Oh, I have a little something to clarify too. Technically, this chapter happens before the last chapter. So this is what happens during the day and the previous chapter was what happens the night of that day. I confused my time line a little. Sorry. Too many things happen in my stories. XD

Also, friendly reminder that if you want to read a chapter in Jayden's POV, Blake's brother, you can check out my Wattpad Block Party that will be up tomorrow. Follow the external link and check for my post! :D

So, I think that covers it. I'll go back to writing now. Keep your eyes open, the day is not over yet. ;P