Ch.15

The party ended rather quickly, with Alex texting me later that Haley had no interest in Carlos. As suspected it was because he was a freshman while Haley was in her senior year. At one point Alex left to go to a ranch with her family for a summer vacation, my family wouldn't be doing anything special this year since my sister is only a year old. As for me, I spent that week just playing some video games with Carlos, as we both got Call of Duty. Like my old life, the Call of Duty lobbies were not that different, with many people throwing curses at one another.

The next few weeks I was helping Alex think about what clubs or other activities to join to help her chances of getting into Harvard. For me I already knew what was needed, I joined the cross-country team, knew how to play the piano, had perfect academics, and volunteered at my Dad's hospital. The only thing left for me was finishing Highschool and then writing an amazing college essay.

"You looked at what is recommended to get in right?" I say to Alex to make sure she understands the basics.

"Yeah… though I still don't know if I should do sports, band, or something else," Alex says to me as I nod my head.

"Join cross-country with me, we can run together in our free time. As for an instrument, play something you like since the more you like something, the easier it is to learn it. You are doing great in school so keep that up and pick a place to volunteer at, wth that you'll be on the fast track to Harvard. But just remember academics come first before anything else, however, I can help you in that regard anytime," I say to Alex who nods her head while listening to me.

"Ok… yeah, I do cross-country with you. I'd like to play the violin… could I volunteer at the hospital with you?" Alex says to me and I smile nodding my head. As I would love to help her in any way I could.

"Sure I'll as my Dad to get the paperwork and we can begin running together tomorrow, plus we can play our instruments together!" I say excitedly thinking about helping Alex achieve her dream.

Like that, the rest of summer flew by, with Alex and I spending a lot of time together. Running in the mornings, which I enjoyed very much because I could see my girlfriend who was blossoming into a woman wear tight clothes. We joined the gym where Gloria, Jay, my Mom, and Dad were a part. Afterward, we'd go to the hospital with my Dad, doing whatever they needed us to do for a few hours. Then would end the day at my house with Alex slowly learning how to play the violin as I tried to help her.

Then High School started, with me taking all the advanced classes I could. One of the classes was pre-calculus, which Alex and I took together. Along with some science classes together. As we were walking to the math class, we arrived and like normal were one of the first people in the class. However, what surprised us was when Haley walked into the classroom with some of her friends.

"Haley?" Alex says with surprise as I look between them in surprise.

"Alex?! Gabe? What are you two doing in my class?" Haley says as she takes a seat with the teacher telling everyone to take their seats.

"Being smart," Alex says as Haley glares at her since Haley has only done the classes required of her. While Alex is an overachiever in Haley's eyes.

'This is going to be a long year,' I think to myself as I sigh internally at the future fights between the two sisters.

The class was spent with Alex trying her best to pay attention to the lesson as she was constantly being distracted by Haley. Who was not intentionally distracting her, Haley was just very sneakily using her phone the whole time texting whoever. Making Alex want to lecture Haley on her class etiquette and life choices. While I was struggling to not fall asleep as I already knew everything this teacher could teach us.

"Haley! You could try to learn something instead of texting the whole class!" Alex says after the class ends and we are grabbing our things.

"Whatever, it's not like I'll ever need to know what 'X' equals later in life," Haley says dismissing her sister's attitude.

"Oh, and you'll need to know whatever it is you are texting about?" Alex says as I just watch the two sisters look like they are about to fist-fight each other.

"Just go back to being a loser ok," Haley says leaving without waiting for Alex's response.

"Bitch!" Alex growls after Haley leaves as I go and rub her shoulders to relax her.

"Why didn't you say anything!" Alex says turning her ire onto me, as I just open and close my mouth unsure what to say.

"Whatever! Let's just go to our next class," Alex says as I just nod my head.

'Must be that time of month… maybe I should make a mental note of that so I know when I should be stepping on eggshells,' I think to myself planning on secretly learning Alex's menstrual cycle so I do not place myself into a mess if I don't have too.

The rest of the week it seems Alex and Haley have ignored each other while we sit in class together. Though at the same time, it appears they are taking their annoyance out on each other at home. As one day Alex came in and started helping Haley by not so subtly helping Haley cheat. In return, Haley has been slowly introducing Alex to popular life.

"That is not going to end well," I say to Alex once the class is over and we are walking the halls to our next class.

"What isn't?" Alex says as I give her a look of 'really' and she just turns her head pretending to not know still.

"Helping Haley cheat," I say to Alex who sighs and shakes her head.

"No, it won't end badly. Haley is doing bettering class now, plus she has introduced me to her friends. I am finally starting to have some girlfriends," Alex says as I just sigh and shake my head.

"I still feel it is going to end badly," I say while Alex shrugs.

As I suspected the teacher caught Alex not so subtly letting Haley cheat on our first Math quiz, while Haley also not so subtly is cheating off Alex. The teacher then calls them out on it, while taking them to the principal office once the class ends. Later that Alex told her Mom was informed of the cheating, with her being very upset with them. At the same time, Alex is worried about how it will affect her getting into Harvard later.

"Did they put it on your permanent record?" I ask Alex who shakes her head no.

"Then you have nothing to worry about, it was a slap on the wrist. Though for what your Mom has planned for you, that is a whole nother situation," I say to Alex who sighs in relief and then remembers her Mom is pissed.

Speaking of which her Mom pulled up picking Haley and her up. The three then break out into an argument in the car. As I am heading home with them since my family car pulls with the Dunphys. My Mom would take us to school in the morning with Claire picking us up in the afternoon. I've known the family for several years now, so Claire has no issue showing her 'Mom' side in front of me.

"Ma'am I talked about this with you the other day. I need to give you a ticket today now," the school crossing guard says to Claire who turns to them in extreme annoyance.

'This is going to escalate quickly,' I think while watching this all happen.

"What! No way! This is an unnecessary ticket!" Claire says becoming extremely annoyed as we all watch this with wide eyes and suspense.

"Calm down," the crossing guard says to Claire who is becoming increasingly annoyed.

"I am calm! I'm just annoyed because of my daughters and now this!" Claire says as the crossing guard instead of deescalating, only annoys Claire further.

"Take the ticket," the crossing guard says with a determined face while ushering Claire to move her car.

"I'm not taking this ticket!" Claire says while getting out of the car, as we all watch this with Haley beginning to film it on her phone.

The crossing guard then grabs Claire and turns her around while pushing her against the car, with Claire's face pressed against the window. We all just sit there too stunned to talk or say anything, with Alex taking her phone out and snapping a picture of her mom in this position. As Haley is still filming and I am sitting there wondering how today ended up the way it did.

"I'm calm! I'm calm!" Claire says with the crossing guard staring at Claire for a few seconds determining whether or not she is calm and then releasing her.

"Then please move your car and make sure to pay the ticket," the crossing guard says as Claire just nods her head quickly getting into the car and driving off as we all sit there in silence for a few minutes.

"Today never happened," Clarie says as we all nod our heads.

"So neither did our talk with the principal?" Haley says capitalizing on the moment Claire had. Making Alex smile, while Claire shoots Haley a very annoyed look.

"That… Today never happened," Claire says seeming to think about it and sighing then giving into Haley's demand.

'Seems you got away with messing up,' I text Alex who smiles seeing the text, since I was not stupid enough to say that while sitting in the car with an extremely annoyed Claire.

As we pull up to my house dropping me off, I walk inside to Rome who is very excited to see that I am home. After playing with him outside for an hour, my Mom and sister who was at my Aunt's house, come home. As my sister is either at my Uncle and Aunt's house or at my grandparents' house during the day. Once everyone is home, I couldn't help but tell them what happened as Claire picked us up from school. Making everyone laugh, though my Mom does think about it for a few seconds.

"Mamá… sé lo que estás pensando, pero creo que la Sra. Dunphy solo quiere olvidar lo de hoy," (Mom… I know what you are thinking, but I think Mrs. Dunphy just wants to forget today) I say since my Mom is thinking of helping Claire by suing the school for the issue Claire went through today. Thankfully my Mom let the issue go, and we all just enjoyed the rest of the night together.