Broken Facades By Alex Bright Chapter 17 Friend and Enemy
Brad
"Oh shit!" was all I could say when I saw Alex in the back of the lunchroom with JC and Tony.
"The two of you stay right here, don't move," Justin said, a look of concern crossing his face as he made his way over to Alex and the two thugs.
"Brad," Alisa called as I looked away from Alex and into her eyes, "can I ask you something?"
"Sure," I said, a smile slowly crossing my face "you can ask me anything."
"Were you ever afraid of me?"
"No, why would I have been afraid of you?"
"Well, were you ever mad at me?"
"No, should I be? What's with all the questions?"
"Well I'm just trying to figure out why you never told me you weren't gay."
"I don't know, maybe I was afraid of the reaction."
"What reaction? Did you ever try to tell someone?" I only nodded yes. "Who?"
"Justin, I tried to tell him once...and it wasn't very pretty," I said with a chuckle.
"Why, what happened?"
"Well, it was about the time we just got into the 9th grade and people started looking at me funny. Justin was at his locker with Tony and a few of the other football players, and when I walked over to him and tried to say hi he told me to get away from him. But not in those words."
"Oh Brad...I'm so sorry," she said as she reached for my hand and held it. "But why didn't you try to talk to Alex or me?
"Alisa, what would you do if number one, the whole school thought you were gay and, number two, one of your best friends told you to get the fuck away from him and then called you fag?"
"But you still could have tried to talk to us."
"Why? So you two could yell at me too? No way. And besides, Alex was hanging with the Bros and you, well you thought..."
"I thought what? What did you think I thought?"
"Nothing...forget about it. We're back together now so it doesn't matter anymore," I said with a smile as I kissed her hand. She just looked deep into my eyes and at that moment I just about melted.
"I can't believe Justin said that to you. Up until that point how had he acting? Was he acting funny towards you?"
"I don't know ...he was acting like Justin, I guess. Alisa what are you trying to get at? Why do you want to know how Justin was acting when the rumor came out? Do you know something about Justin that I don't?"
"Well...I...he...oh nothing...never mind," she said.
"No, what is it?" Just when she looked as though she was about to say something, Justin waved to us to come over. The coast was clear.
Justin
"Yo, what up fellas?"
Suddenly they turned around "Hey Just, what's up man?" Tony asked as he walked over to me. JC stood next to Alex and nodded his head at me. I give them both a hard look.
"Hey don't be late for practice, this is going to be the most important practice before the game tomorrow."
"I wont be bud, and oh yeah Alex, remember what I said about you and me getting together after Football season," Tony said as he started walking away backwards while still facing us.
"Can't wait..." Alex said with a serious look on his face.
"See ya!" Tony says still smiling.
"O." JC said right in Alex's ear, then laughed as he walked away with Tony.
"What was that all about?" I asked, as I quickly signal to Brad and Alisa to come over.
"Nothing, nothing at all."
"Bull, Alex. I can say something to them and keep them off your back all..."
"NO JUSTIN!"
"Fine...I'm sorry for trying to help. I 'm sorry that you think I forgot about you. I'm sorry that I turned on Brad. I'm sorry that it looked like I had it easy for the past three years, which I didn't. Alex, you're not the only one who has problems. I had it hard too. A lot harder than you think, and I'm slowly realizing that I can't do this by myself, so when you're ready to accept my help it'll be there."
Brad and Alisa reached the table. "Alex wants to be alone guys. Lets eat somewhere else."
"Wait, Just. I'm sorry...I'm really sorry," He said as he grabbed my arm tight and smiled at me.
"Well it's about dam time," Brad said.
"Yeah Alex, The Angry Black Man doesn't fit you," Alisa said, smiling at Alex.
"Yeah? Do you guys think it's time I try a new look?"
"Hell yeah," we all said together.
"I like the prep look," Alisa said.
"I kinda think you should go Goth," Brad said with a grin and a laugh.
I said, "I think the rave look would be cool."
"Well, I was thinking of going more on the lines of the All-State, All-Star High School Soccer Player look."
The three of us just looked at each other with our mouths open while Alex smiled.
"I take it that look would work for me, then?" Alex asked with a big smile.
Alisa jumped into his arms, almost causing him to fall down. "Gee Lizzy, what's your new boyfriend going to say?"
"You...you called me Lizzy," Alisa said as tears formed in her eyes.
"Yes I did, didn't I.?" he said, wiping his face. "Guys I'm so sorry I've been such a prick. I've been so mad at the world for the past three years that I forgot who I was and that my friends will always be there for me no matter what. Can you guys forgive me?"
We all looked at each other, then at Alex, then at each other again. "Naaa." We laughed and pulled him into four way hug.
While still laughing, I noticed Tony out of the corner of my eye. The look on his face told me that at I would have to watch out, that I had just became prey.