I blink in confusion, my mouth falling open. Timothy has never spoken to me this way. I swallowair, suddenly feeling cold.
He looks into my eyes, silent. His fingers on my chin grip me tighter, until it hurts.
I nod, too fast. He lets go; a knock sounds on the door. I try to force a smile, but my lips don't turn up.
I look at him, feeling hurt more than just physically, and whisper, "What am I supposed to do, then?"
His eyes widen, then soften within a second. He mouths, "I'm sorry," as I go to open the door.
I hold the door open by an inch, darting my eyes across the hallway before I notice Alexander.
"Hi," he says, and is that a smile I see on his lips?
"Alexander," I say. My face reveals nothing, or at least I hope so.
"Sorry to bother you but I need some of your notes. Um, can I just come in?"
I look behind me, stalling. I can't think of a non-weird way to tell him no.
I wait a few seconds before letting Alexander in. Timothy leaves as Alexander settles into my bed, and I watch him as he leaves, my shoulders relaxing for the first time in minutes. What just happened?
"You can call me Alex, by the way," he says and I realise his voice rises and falls with his words, like he's always about to break into song.
I like it.
His eyes hold mine all through the time he is in the room, going down my body before landing on my eyes again. "What's that on your chin?"
"What?"
"It's a little red spot," he says, coming closer and touching my chin softly. My body heats up, my mind blank for a second.
"I… must have hit a wall or something." The lie looms between the two of us, his eyes meeting mine knowingly before he looks away.
He coughs, "Um… okay, whatever."
I can't look at him when I speak. "What notes exactly did you need?"
"Just your Trigonometry and Biology, for now."
"Okay, they should be here… somewhere," I say, standing up as I start searching for the books.
For some reason, I feel antsy, like I'm itching all over. I can't stop thinking about Timothy. Would he really tell everyone? He'll also be imprisoned, won't he?
I breathe out, pretending I'm calm, "So why'd you transfer?"
His smile doesn't meet his eyes, "I was expelled."
A laugh bubbles out of me, his words catching me by surprise. "What for?"
He looks at me for a long second, silent, then, "Don't worry about that."
His voice is light, almost unbothered, but I can sense the warning in his tone.
I let it go.
"Here you go," I say, holding the books out. They were buried under a small pile of my clothes, and as I try to step away from them, I trip over it, my foot catching in the folds.
Alex moves to catch me, but misses by an inch, leaving him standing above me with his arms stretched out as I land on my behind. I groan, embarrassed, and I hear a small chuckle coming from him when I try to stand again and fail.
"Is this funny to you?" I frown, looking up at him. The smile on his face is easy, and I can't resist it. My anger dissolves. I stretch my hand out to him, and he pulls me up. My fingers twitch, heat travelling from the tips of my fingers to every part of my body.
I take a step away from him as soon as I am standing. I look around the room, anywhere but him.
I walk slowly over to my roommate's bed, and sit down. My legs feel like rubber.
"If you have any other questions, you can always ask me," I say, still not able to look at Alex.
"Can I get your number to text you if I have questions?" His smile drips with so much mischief, I almost blush. I take his phone and put my number in.
"If that's all, I have a class now." I just want him to leave, I don't like the directions my thoughts take with him here. I don't need any more complications in my life right now.
Alexander looks at the number, nodding before leaving, a small smile still dancing on his lips. I'm starting to think he can't stop smiling—at all.
The door closes with a soft bump.
I go immediately to lock it, and sink to the floor, afterwards.
My phone vibrates. I pick it up, looking at the message on the screen. Finally. Jasmine's sent a text.
I open it, my heart skipping. One line. Meet me at the school gate now. I need you.