One Summer, One Goal

t w e l v e

Zoë was right all this time: Alex is something else underneath those strong barriers of his.

But I couldn't help but wonder that it looks like his family is trying to hide a top secret.

I have no intention for that right now. Although, one thing is straight up clear: I'm making a stand for the both of us.

The pain both of us are dealing is too much to bare that I never knew we actually shared the same burden that was stitched to my skin ever since the beginning.

Maybe this step of mine could take everything to a whole new level? Or maybe I could get closer to Alex? Probably once and for all I could prove my parents' assumption are wrong about me?

Probably, I could open Mom and Dad's eyes to the brightest of stars and let this in on Mr. and Mrs. Cooper?

I just want to talk this one out to someone I could trust...like Ian. But it might serve another point of view and I don't think he is ready to know Alex.

Sighing, I got out of bed to start my everyday boring routine. My eyes adjusted to the brightness of the pools of light the sun left out.

Last night, I arrived past 7 in the evening which was too early for my own good.

I glanced at the alarm clock to read that it's already 6 AM. Somehow, I planned on resting my head again to avoid the headache I was getting until something caught my eye.

There sat Zoë on the counter in her typical skull dead pajamas with the tabs of the Cheerios box wide open along with her mouth as bits of cereal came pouring down her mouth and onto the floor.

I was on my way to get a tall cold glass of water when the emo kid noticed my presence. She eyed me carefully before continuing to stuff herself, "Hey..." She paused, "Happy Fucking Morning!"

"Hey," I replied back with a half smile, my eyes still kind of droopy and sleepy from everything last night.

She blinked at my direction, asking, "What the fuck did Satan do to you?! Rape you or somethin?'"

I rolled my eyes at that girl with sarcasm lacing my voice, "Hahaha, very funny, Zoë."

"I walked past Cooper's cabin and his place was a mess," Zoë said with a curt nod, satisfied with her full stomach, "I assume you know something about it since you were there last night," Zoë finished her sentence, putting away the teared open cereal box.

I folded my arms across my chest, hesitating whether if I should tell Zoë what happened, just have a long nose every word I spit out, or just stay silent.

Technically, she knows Alex way more than I do. Maybe I could spill my guts to her?

Biting my lip, I answered, "Well, Alex had a call with his parents and they flipped out when they overheard Ben and Dennis exposing them," I explained everything to her.

"Typical Alex," She shook her head in utter disbelief, "Tsk, tsk, tsk."

"It was a rough time for him, you know?" I said, tipping my head back and craning my neck.

Zoë leaned against the counter, "Tell me about it; Ms. Anderson, you left me with those squealing human-are they even human?!" She whined and complained about my friends' behavior.

"Sorry about that," I shrugged, "To be honest, it doesn't really bother me since we've been together for the longest time."

"Anyways, I assume you've learned more than you need to know, watching Alex have a chat with his parents?"

"Yeah... actually, I knew too much for my own good, Zoë," Beneath that bad boy type of his, there is this insecure and soul crushing back story of his."