Day Out

Alex's POV.

After Skyler left, I went home after spending some more time on the cliff.

I took a shower to freshen up.

"It's still early."

(I have nothing to do. Come to think of it all I ever do nowadays was either think about Skyler or sleep or do college work. I should change my schedule a little.)

Just then my phone rang, It was a message from Alissa.

(Alissa? Oh, I remember we exchanged numbers in the cafeteria.)

[Hey, Alex! I had fun today hope you and your cousin got home safe :)]

(Aw, she is so nice.)

[Hey, Alissa! Thank you for checking up we got home safe :)] I replied.

Her reply came almost immediately.

[That's good to hear!]

[you're awake early though, an early riser?] I had nothing to reply so I just texted her whatever came to my head.

[haha I could ask you the same thing and no I just couldn't sleep much today for some reason,]

[mhm is that so.]

(Should I ask if she's up for hanging out today? I don't have anything better to do anyway.)

[Alissa are you free today?] I asked.

[YES!] she replied almost immediately after I sent the message. [ughum sorry for the umm caps lock...my cat stepped on my phone yeah... I'm not busy!]

I stared at the message for a while then burst into laughter.

"Haha! cute"

[Are you up for a meetup today? We can go to the movies if you want]

[YES!! LET'S GO] she replied [ugh sorry again]

[It's fine let's meet at 11?] I replied.

[yes, let's meet at the Xx park?]

[sure]

It was 8:30 right now and xx park was not that far away from my building so I decided to take a nap.

After waking up, I put on my casual clothes, washed my face, and went to the park. I got there early so I just started using my phone leaning against a wall.

"Alex!" a sweet voice called out to me.

Alissa came over waving her hand. She was wearing a beautiful dress, her hair was in a bun. She was wearing these earrings that were adding up to her appearance. Her makeup was also done beautifully.

I, on the other hand, was just dressed… normal. Looking at Alissa I could tell she put the effort into her outfit.

(Woah. She looks better than yesterday.)

"Sorry for being late Alex, I was just umm looking for my bag yes!"

She said blushing lightly.

"No worries Alissa, you look good though"

When I said that, she just went entirely red.

"is...is that so. Thank you"

(Girls sure do love compliments huh.)

"Do you want to go anywhere, in particular, Alissa?" I asked her.

I didn't do much homework to know which place to go to.

"Nowhere, in particular" she replied " but I've wanted to go bowling with someone, we can go to a bowling alley if you want to go?"

She was asking me a question but I could see that she wanted to go there.

"Sure! let's go," I said.

She beamed with excitement as we took our route to the bowling alley.

"2 players please"

I paid for the game and walked in.

We played for about an hour. It was fun, an intense game though. I was just a rookie; Alissa on the other hand was really good. She seemed so into it. She looked like a tiny penguin enjoying herself.

In the end, of course, she won.

"YAY! I won!" Alissa said with excitement.

"You barely won," I said pouting to myself.

"haha don't cry little boy you'll win next time," she said as we made our way outside.

By now we both were quite frank with each other. Our personalities clicked quite easily.

"Little boy? a shrimp is calling me little?" I said jokingly.

"yeah, and what you gon' do about it!" Alissa said coming closer to my face on her tiptoes.

"Not you calling me small while you have to get on your toes just to look at me face to face," I said puffing her face.

"ow ow ow stop it, it hurts"

"haha" I looked straight ahead after letting go of her cheeks. A familiar face was in my line of sight.

The blonde guy from yesterday at the movies was there with that woman who came to pick Skyler up from school the other day.

(They know each other...?)

Someone came towards them running, holding 3 ice creams in his hand.

(Skyler...)

It was Skyler. Looking at him I could feel a lump in my throat.

(That girl's probably his aunt. Is he dating that guy now? introducing this guy to his family?)

The guy I liked was introducing his boyfriend to his family in front of me.

"Alex?" while I was sulking thinking about them, Alissa called out to me. "Is something wrong are you ok?" she said worryingly.

(Something wrong?... I don't have a right to call all this wrong.)

"No, nothing at all" I replied, burying all the emotions inside and looking at her with a smile.

"Are you sure? you look pale all of a sudden."

"No I'm just-" my words stopped coming from my mouth when I saw that blond guy put his arm on Skyler's shoulders pulling him close.

(I don't have....a right...but it's so hard to control my emotions here)

"ugh… I'm just thirsty let's go to a café to get something to drink"

(They all looked so happy. I can't tell Skyler I like him while he is so happy with that guy.)

In the end, I decided to bury my feelings in my heart. Even though it hurts so much I chose to ignore everything.

I and Alissa went to a café nearby. We gave our orders and started to talk.

"Your cousin from yesterday. She was really pretty, my brother won't shut up about her now"

(Yes, everyone should just fall for Skyler.)

"Is that so? unfortunately, she just got a boyfriend." I said, looking out the window.

"oh, that's a bummer. Though she looked so much like someone I know. I can't put my finger on it though"

"Oh, let's not talk about them," I said hoping she would change the topic.

"Hmm yeah let's not". She did eventually.

I took a glass to drink some water when my hand bumped into Alissa's hand. She blushed a little but didn't move her hand. But I moved mine though.

"oh sorry," Alissa said looking embarrassed.

(I know I'm in a bad mood now but what is Alissa's fault in all this? She was nice enough to come here with me.)

I looked at Alissa. She looked beautiful gazing out the window. She did have an expression of disappointment on her face though.

(Ok Alex you know what let's forget about Skyler. Focus on Alissa.)

I looked down while thinking about all this.

When I turned my head back up, she also turned to look straight at me.

A flashback of Skyler came to my mind.

He looked so beautiful under the candlelight. His hand on my hand his foot going places; everything came to my mind.

All my thoughts were about Skyler again.

"Your order is here, sir." The waiter snapped me out of my mind by placing our drinks.

"oh yes, thank you" I replied.

Alissa looked at my expression again.

"you look so down Alex …is there anything I can do to lighten you up a bit," she said touching the tip of the finger of my hand.

I looked at her hand and then looked back at her face.

(What's so different about his touch?)

(I'm making her worried. I have to do something, I have to stop thinking about him)

I grabbed her hand and brought it close to my face kissing the tips of her fingers.

"I'm ok Alissa, thank you"

I tried to look up with a warm smile to ease Alissa up a little.

But when I looked up she was red as a tomato.

I looked at her with a shocked expression which, in a split second, turned into laughter.

"pfft you look like a tomato," I said laughing.

"I-it's your fault idiot who the hell just grabs someone's hand and kisses it!" she said hiding her face.

"Haha, my bad. I'm sorry drink your coffee it'll go cold"

In the end, Alissa's reaction and company did stop me from thinking about Skyler.