#Chapter 10 First Kiss


    I stare at his closed eyes, processing the sensation of lips against my own.


    They are soft, unchapped. He doesn''t open them, pressing our mouths together like puzzle


    pieces.


    It takes me a minute to realize what we''re doing. Even after I realize it, I''m frozen


    in ce,


    my thoughts running wildly. A single thought sparks.


    I don''t feel the need to reject this kiss.


    When Alex backs away, hisshes rise to reveal warm brown eyes. The golden flecks astound me with their vibrance, my mouth dropping open just slightly. He gives me a smile


    and a wink.


    My face immediately heats like a furnace. Then I remember that we''re not alone and hide my mouth behind mmy fingers.


    Danielle seems to be turning an interestingly pale shade as Oliver''s expression darkens ominously.


    Alex meets their dissatisfaction smoothly.


    "Do you think this is a deal? What would even make you two lovebugs think that, huh?"


    They suddenly remember that they''re supposed to be dating, their expressions crumpling in embarrassment.


    "I thought you guys would be supportive, but instead you''re harassing my girlfriend. Hah. Let''s get the pizza to go, babe."


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    #Chapter 10 First Kiss


    "Wait, Alex, bro-"


    One of his teammates try to reason with him, but he slides out of the booth, forcing Danielle to back up. The stink eye he gives her... Is he actually angry right now?


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    I quietly take his offered hand and scooch my way out as well. Without another word to the others, we go to the counter to get our iing pizza put in a box. Then, we leave Mozzy''s hand in hand.


    A part of me wants to ask him what that was about. Suddenly kissing me...was that to make ''us'' more realistic? I mean, PDA definitely could do that.


    Still, it feels like he got legitimately angry at them. I look up at him, ready to ask about it.


    But I pause, finding the tips of his ears tinted slightly red.


    ...It''s cold out. Maybe they just got too cold. But he could also be...embarrassed? Surely not, though... I''ll just keep my question to myself this time.


    Though I work as a shadow in the drama club, I''m doing my best to be a gust of wind.


    Ever since our more recent show, fewer club members want to talk to me. After all, the bullies are targeting me, not the group. If I just left, it''d make it easier on everyone else.


    But I don''t want to quit. I can at least make things less ufortable. So, I try to be as invisible as possible.


    I still make posters, help fix props, fill water bottles. But talking to others or speaking up about anything is a no-go.


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    It''s alright. I don''t mind working in silence. If I know what I''m supposed to do,


    there''s no reason for anyone to remember that I exist.


    Moreover, after the kissing incident, the bullies have been appearing less frequently and viciously. Danielle hasn''te back at all.


    Since I''m technically the problem... Well, I should take care of the problem I''m causing.


    "... You''re...disrupting practice. Please leave," I say, looking at the three girls who came this


    time.


    They''re quick to stand up and start to tower over me, ready to really dig in.


    "Ugh, who is this ugly bitch talking to?"


    "You''re a gremlin. Or maybe just a slut.”


    "You stutter so much... Maybe your mouth''s only good for sucking dick."


    ...I''m not so thick-skinned that their insults don''t hurt. They''ve been getting rather


    creative, and the fact they circle around me, corner me, always makes my back itch.


    But I''m still motivated. I won''t let them ruin my paradise, especially not for anyone else.


    "If you...continue. Uhm." Huff. Breathe. "If you continue...t-this, we...we will have to call


    someone to remove you."


    I look up at them, hoping my message gets across. And it seems like it does, their faces twisting in anger.


    "Did you just fucking threaten me?!"


    The middle girl rears her hand back. With the other two so close to me, I can''t back away


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    #Chapter 10 First Kiss


    like I want to.


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    ...This position triggers ufortable memories quite harshly, to the point I just


    close my eyes on reflex.


    But the p neveres.


    Instead, the girl yells, only to choke her own voice off. I feel an oppressive energy suddenly weighing me down like amand.


    Uneasily, I peek my eye open... Then both shoot wide.


    "... Having a problem here,dies?"


    Alex holds the girl''s wrist with a single hand. But there''s no warmth in his gaze,


    making


    the golden flecks in his irises look brighter.


    His usual, jovial demeanor is absent, no smile on his face.


    The girls freeze up. Only then does he let go of the girl''s wrist, which she pulls


    close to her


    own chest.


    "If there''s a problem, well... I''m sure we can talk about it. Right?"


    When he smiles, it''s very unkind. It doesn''t reach his eyes at all.


    "...No. Nothing," one of the girls manage. She grabs the girl who almost pped


    me and starts pulling her away. "We were just leaving."


    "I see. Get home safely."


    They stumble out, and I watch in dim awe. Apparently, so are the other club


    members, who have since paused their practice to watch.


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    "...Why are you here?" I ask. "Don''t... Practice. I mean. Don''t you have...


    practice?"


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    When he looks at me, that warmth returns immediately. Moreover, he-honest to


    God-


    pouts.


    "Why didn''t you tell me you were getting harassed?"


    "Hah?"


    "Aren''t we supposed to look out for each other?" He looks up at the other drama


    club members, waving at them kindly. "You don''t have to face this stuff alone.


    Though, I will say..."


    He grins at me.


    "Pretty nice to see that backbone of yours again."


    I glower at him, but that seems to only make himugh.


    He also, apparently, takes this incident as an invitation to keeping back.


    Alex startsing by on days he doesn''t have practice. Just calls out a big "Heyo!" and waltzes right in. Once, he purposefully took a seat right beside a shifty group of hecklers,


    causing them to flee immediately.


    Of course, all the drama club members start seeing him as their savior.


    While I''m working in the background, worrying whether he haspany, I end up hearing him and a few othersugh.


    Right. Why would I ever worry whether he has enough people to socialize with?


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    He''s Alex Hewlett.


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    "Hey, how long have you been practicing? I bet it takes a lot of work," Heather


    says, her dimples on full disy.


    "How''d you grow so tall? Are all your family members as tall as you?" Maggie


    raises a hand to try measuring hìm.


    "Oh! I''ve seen that sweater! It''s from Andrew & Firs, right? Mind if I touch it?" Charlie touches him before he gives permission.


    All the while, Alex patiently answers their questions with a charming smile. Sure, I


    get some information about him and his family this way, too, but...it''s diforting. All he has to say are a few words, spread his peacock feathers,


    and the gaggle of girls are more


    focused on him than practice.


    I can almost feel their hearts skipping beats in my own chest.


    Once club ends, the girls still surround him. Some are even taking pictures.


    ...Is he an idiot?


    "...Hey."


    Alex looks up, as do the others. I cross my arms, eyes narrowing at them.


    "Let''s go."


    ?


    Alex''s brain dings with realization first. He smoothly sits up from his lounging stance against the wall and walks over to me, a handnding on my shoulder and


    hugging me


    close.


    "Right, right, sorry, babe. Alright, I''ll see you galster!"


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    Theyugh a little then say their goodbyes, probably realizing they shouldn''t drool


    openly over someone else''s boyfriend. I huff as we walk out, ring up at him.


    "What?"


    "Am I supposed t-to be your girlfriend o-o-or what?"


    "I mean, we''re ying it, yeah-"


    "Then m-m-maybe you should hold off on t-talking to girls so much."


    But Alex just shrugs. "It''d be rude of me to reject them without cause, you know."


    "D-Didn''t you make me y-your cause?"


    Instead of answering though, he just grins at me in that irritatingly teasing way. "Aww, getting jealous? Remember, don''t fall for me," he sings.


    Hah! As if he can scold me! My nose wrinkles and I shove my way out of his hold,


    quickly walking ahead.


    "I w-won''t!"


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