Unexpected

Gabby the Reject

On a bright Saturday afternoon I find Alex hunched over on my porch and reaching for a package.

"Put that down, thief. That's my latest manga shipment."

He hands me the package after examining the address on the label, then looks to me with a puzzled expression. "You read manga?"

"Why, yes I do, Alexander. I also watch anime." I take the package in my hands and after glancing at the company listed I tuck it under my arm.

He shakes his head at me, shaggy brown hair accompanying the action, and gives me a disbelieving grin. "Always full of surprises. Anyway, our new toaster hasn't come in yet, so I just came over to check for it."

"What is it with everyone's toasters lately? First Robert's now yours?"

"Actually, we had the same toaster. The company issued a major recall recently because of all the fires. We ordered a new one as a precaution." He informs me, looking less amused than I am about it all. I should probably check that I don't have the same toaster.

"Since I'm already here, I might as well ask," Alex starts, drawing me out of my toaster related thoughts. "Would you maybe want to hang out? Just the two of us? Other than the times I take you to school, we haven't hung out much since you first moved here."

I find myself slowly breaking into a smile, warmed at the notion that Alex has missed the one on one time we had the week before school started.

"Yeah, that sounds like fun."

At Alex's, I find myself watching an anime Alex and his brother have been getting into. It's a nice change from the videogames I'm usually forced to become familiar with. There's also significantly less cursing and pillows being thrown.

Six or seven episodes in, Alex's brother goes to his room to begin packing for an academic competition in Jacksonville. I stretch my arms and legs out, having forgotten about their existence during our marathon.

"Hey, listen..." Alex says hesitantly, leaning in a bit closer and lowering his voice. "I didn't mention it earlier because of all that's been going on between you and Austin lately, but I'm having the boys over to drink tonight and I'd like it if you could come. I know you'll probably say no because of Austin, but it won't be the same without you."

I contemplate my options for a moment then think to ask, "Can Elijah come?"

"Hell yeah Elijah can come. We're always trying to get him to join us, if you're here maybe he finally will." Alex grins, nodding his head once in excitement.

Right as we're about to start up another episode, Alex's mom enters the living room, positioning an earring into her right earlobe.

"Gabby, so nice to see you! Stay as long as you want, we're about to head out for our hotel. We appreciate you keeping Alex company while we're gone, I know the house can get dark and lonely without us."

Alex's mother is an elegant woman, and a trusting woman at that. Too trusting for a mother of two boys. Although I can understand the instinct to assume the best of Alex when he is by far one of the sweetest people I've met. The one thing conflicting with that is the fact he's a teenage boy that's going to do what teenage boys do.

I've grown closer with her from all the time I've spent over here, but still not nearly close as the others in the group who comfortably refer to her as mom.

"Of course, I appreciate you letting me visit so often." I smile back politely, feeling the slightest twang of guilt that not long ago I was drunkenly flirting with one of Alex's childhood friends while leaning against the wall right next to her.