So, hey. This chapter is dedicated to Zombieattack123, who died about eight months ago. I didn't know her, but all the people that loved her is clear. It sucks to die so young. Go to her profile and leave a nice message or something, because the friends that did know her are hurting.

Song of the chapter is Alone, by Sleeping With Sirens featuring MGK. It makes sense, just listen to it while reading the chapter (: Their new album, Feel, literally just came out on the fourth! So go buyyy itttt.

xxx.

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(Back To Alexxa's POV -Forever-)

I hopped into Gabriel's truck with the same struggle I'd always had getting in. He snickered, watching me with an amused gleam in his blue eyes. I flipped him off and made it into the seat, slamming the door shut and watching him wince with a smirk. Sucker.

"Don't hurt Chelsea. . ." He muttered, patting the hood affectionately. 

I rose a brow. "You named your car?"

His eyes popped open wider. "And so she speaks!" He cried, pumping his fist in the air triumphantly. "I knew you couldn't stay away from my charm forever."

"Yeah, yeah. . ." I decided not to fight him, as he was completely stubborn and would only get his way anyways.

I got a text from Hunter, the boy we met at wal mart. He, Danny, and their band were going to America for their freshman year in college, and were constantly sending me pictures. This one was of them laying on top of a sleeping fat man, who didn't even wake up. It looked like California. There was a brunette girl and an emo boy behind them, piling sand on the man and burying his neck. 

I laughed quietly, putting my phone back into the pocket of my skinnies and looking out the window. He looked over at me through the corner of his eye, the blue color making me want to stare. 

I soon snapped out of it, however. Gabriel was off limits, even for eye candy. He was strictly Kiras, that much was clear. She seemed head over heels for him, and I don't blame her. . .

Dammit, stop thinking like this!

"So tonight," he started nonchalantly, pulling into the school. "There's this thing. . ."

I rose a brow, glancing over at him. "Go on. . ." I mumbled, pulling the earbud out of my right ear to hear him better.

He cleared his throat. "It's a party, at Nick Graph's house. You know him?"

I shrugged. "Football guy?"

He chuckled, nodding. "Him. Yeah, he invited me and told me to bring someone." Looking at me expectantly, I leaned farther in the seat and wrapped Chase's hoodie around me tighter. Why I still had this, I didn't know, but it was comfortable.

"Oh." I got what he was implying- He wanted me to come with him to that party. "Um, why don't you ask Kira?"

I swear, he visibly flinched. But it was probably just a figment of my imagination. . . Right? "She's busy helping, um, Georgia with homework."

"Who's Georgia?" I perked up immediately.

He flushed. "Just one of her friends."

God, he was a horrible liar. I let it slide, trying to change the subject. "I'm not the partying type." I settled for.

He rolled his eyes. "That's not what i've heard."

My heart skipped a beat. How did he know about my past? Was it that obvious? Who told him? "What did you hear?" I asked carefully.

Smirking, he parked the truck by the entrance and unlocked the doors. "Just that when you were younger, you had a lot of fun." He wiggled his brows, leaving the car. "I'll pick you up at eight!" He called out over his shoulder, jogging up to his friends and leaving me gaping at his muscled back.

What did I get myself into?

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I frowned at myself in the mirror. Wearing a tank top and ripped jeans, I felt so under dressed. But if I wore a dress, would I be to classy? Sighing, I wiggled out of the pants. This is why I don't go to things like this- I think too much, and my head hurts.

Digging in my closet, I found exactly what I wanted. A pair of ripped, teal, high waisted shorts, and a white tank top with Lana Del Rey printed in bold letters down the side. Since it was cold, I stole Luna's nylons, putting my feet in my combats and running a hand through my hair. "Dammit," I hissed, accidentally cutting open part of my arm with the blade of a knife.

What the hell?

How the fuck did I get a knife?

Panic coursed through me; I only ever had a knife unknowingly in my hands after hallucinations. But I remember what happened- I went to school, came home, watched television, and fell asleep until now. . .

Fell asleep.

Oh, god. Dropping the knife, I locked myself in the bathroom and stared at my reflection. My heart felt as if it was about to burst from my chest as I felt a pain run through my stomach, right under where my breastbone was. I gasped, squirming, and dropped my eyes from the mirror to my stomach.

Fuck.

Slowly, I lifted up the tank top, noticing it was stained with blood. A gash covered the spot, bleeding angrily and protruding crimson waterfalls. I started breathing heavily, having to hold back tears pricking my vision from the pain, and racked my brain to figure out how to stop the bleeding. A week of babysitting camp wasn't for nothing, though, and I took action on myself.

Taking off the tank top, I wrapped it around my stomach for now, dabbing at the blood and applying enough pressure for it to stop bleeding. As I tied it tightly, I winced at the pain and reached up with shaky, bloody fingers to grab gauze off the counter. It seemed long enough, although it was for only an ankle sprain, so I stripped off the makeshift dressing and wrapped this one around my trembling form.

The blood soon ceased, but the pain didn't. I popped asprin in my mouth, swallowing them dry and taking out my pack of cigarettes from my pocket to calm me down. The vanilla tobacco flavor soothed me, making it possible to limp to my room and grab a plain, striped tank top. It hugged my curves, which was strange, because I didn't think I had any, yet was loose enough to hide the dents caused from the gauze.

There was a knock at the door right when I had finished washing my hands. After examining my arms and legs for bloodstains and finding none, I stashed the knife in my knapsack and tossed it on Luna's bed. "Alexxa?" A male voice called out. 

I rolled my eyes- Damn Luna, giving him his own key. "I'll be right there!" I called down, slipping a jacket on over my tank top and slowly making my way down the stairs.

How do I breathe again?

The moment I saw him I forgot how to, as cliche as that may sound. His eyes seemed brighter than usual with the gray button down he sported, dark black jeans complimenting his hair. He had the sleeves rolled up to his elbows artistically, exposing the lean muscles that even protruded on his forearm.

Inhale, exhale, inhale. I thought, forgetting about the pain for a second. "Nice," Gabriel commented, eyeing me. I blushed, looking away at the wall and swallowing the pain down. Alcohol would definitely help me in this situation. . .

"You ready?" He broke me from my thoughts.

I smiled, but it was forced. "Yeah."

His eyebrows furrowed and he took a step closer to me, getting into my personal space. Inches away from me, I almost melted at the intense look in his ice blue orbs. How is it humanely possible to have such intensely gorgeous eyes? They seemed to captivate you, swallowing you whole. . .

His thumb caressed my cheek slowly, eyes shielded from all emotion. My heartbeat sped up and all pain fled me, replaced with a need inside me I never thought could come out. "Um," I mumbled.

Smooth. Real smooth.

"You had something on your face," He smiled warmly, taking his hand off my face and putting one in his pocket. The other was outstretched to me, or was it to me? 

I eyed it for a full minute, at the least. My hand was shaky and dry from nervousness, and besides, why would he want to hold mine anyways? It's not like he has feelings for me, just for Kira. Maybe he wants a high five?

So, like the 11 year old I am, I flat palmed his hand. He rose an eyebrow before laughing, running a hand through his hair and intertwining our fingers. I let out a slightly audible gasp-Why the hell is he doing this to me?- which he clearly took notice of. I hated myself for boosting his sky- high ego, blushing like a cherry and not meeting his eyes.

He led me out of the house; quite painfully, I might add, and helped me into the truck instead of watching me struggle. I was thankful for that, as my stomach would probably fall apart if I attempted it myself. "So who's our designated driver?" A random voice asked from the backseat.

I looked behind me to see a guy with black hair and blue eyes, who looked exactly like Gabriel, only a little younger. Clearing my throat, I nudged Gabriel. "Who's the kid?" I whispered.

"My little brother," he answered.

"Hey, hottie," the boy smirked, leaning forwards in the seat. 

 "Kayden," He said with a warning glare. The boy, Kayden, seemed as invincible as Gabriel's ego, though, and pushed forwards.

"Man, Gabriel, you never told me she was so-"

"Kayden, " He repeated, louder and firmer this time. I'd never seen this possessive, protective side of him before, but to tell you the truth. . . It was kind of sexy.

What the hell? This nuisance is not sexy.

Only when he's angry.

"Aw, c'mon, Gabe! I'm just teasing." Kayden winked at me, making me roll my eyes.

"You just started drivers ed, Kay." He started. "I don't think you should be driving two drunk people home. Besides, you're not even legal."

Kayden rolled his eyes, running a hand through his hair. Jesus, this kid was even more cocky than Gabriel! "You aren't either."

"Kayden, you aren't getting drunk tonight."

He pouted. "What's the fun in that?"

I rolled my eyes, but a spark of deja vu fluttered inside me. I was just like him at fifteen, wanting to get drunk and drive all the time. To live a little. Chris prevented me from doing that, and I knew how iritating it was. "Gabriel," I said quietly. He turned to me, expression softening. "Let him have a couple drinks. I'll drive." 

He bit the inside of his cheek, a smile breaking out on his face. "You'll kill my truck," Gabriel protested. 

I shrugged. "Then you can be our driver. Unless you want to crash at Nick Graph's house. . ." I let my voice trail off, leaving room to the imagination.

He visibly shuddered. "Okay, okay, fine. I'll drive."

On instinct, I pecked his cheek. His face flushed a bright red as I did so, earning my inner thirteen year old to squeal silently knowing that's how I made him feel. 

Kira diminished my inner happy dance, but she couldn't bring me down right now. I just kissed Gabriel's cheek, and he liked it.

Things were going pretty well.

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Author confession #2:

Luna and Al (The guy from the beginning of the story that used to be close with Alexxa's family) Were supposed to end up together, not Luna getting a teenaged crush on Sam. But, you know, Al got forgotten somewhere in my mind and Luna and Sam just seem like a better match <3

Sorry if this chapter was short and uneventful, I need some fillers. And stopp messaging mee about how slow they're going! I get it, they haven't kissed! But seriously, man, go read a porno or something to calm your nerves. She's not ready for a damn relationship- would you be, if everyone you loved left you?

^^^Sorry for that rant ^^^^

Summerr! I dyed my hair cotton candy pink for the next three months, and some little girl came up to me and asked if it was edible .-.

Oh, the imaginations of children....

xxx