Chapter 2

Alexa

“Everett can you hand me the other shirt, please? The pink one?” I shouted through the closed door of the dressing room. I turned to view myself in the mirror and grabbed a bunch of my hair and pushed it to the top of my head. I studied over each slight curve at my hips and twisted to the side to see any bulges. I was wearing a jean skirt and purple cardigan that seemed to be a bit to small. However, I knew I would find some way for it to fit me.
I heard the doorknob begin to move then turned around to face Everett’s beautiful face popping between the door and the wall. I grabbed him inside and shut the door behind him, loudly. He looked behind himself, acting as if he were nervous. He had been acting jittery lately. I don’t know if it was because we were becoming a little more intimate or if he was just scared to be in a girls dressing room at the time. Either way, I tugged him towards me by his collar and began to kiss his silky lips. He pushed against the wall behind us with his hands heavily then pulled away. I stomped my foot on the ground and yanked on the edge of my sweater.
“Why’d you stop kissing me, baby?” I muttered, my bottom lip sticking out.
“I’m in a girls dressing room and here’s the pink shirt you wanted.” Everett stated uncomfortably, handing me a pink t-shirt with yellow sequence. I grabbed it and threw it on the chair in the corner by the mirror. He backed up towards the door, reaching for the knob. I quickly pulled on the bottom of my shirt and slipped it over my head, revealing my whole upper half and my violet lace bra. I could see him swallow quickly as I walked towards him, sticking my chest into his stomach.
“Making out in a dressing room is sexy, though.” I whined, wrapping my arms around his waist. He laughed and pulled my arms away.
“Not when it’s pretty much illegal.”
“Don’t you love me?”
“Of coarse! You’re my girlfriend. I’ll be sitting out there.” Everett said. He quickly opened the door and scooted out. I stomped my foot and then turned to face the mirror. I touched the skin on my stomach, pushing it into my ribs. I poked at my ribs, wishing more of them could be visible. The long jogs every morning this summer hadn’t helped a single bit with my goal of losing fifteen pounds before school. I had other ways of helping the pounds erase and I needed to work on those.
I slipped the pink shirt over my head, my golden hair becoming static. It fit pretty well. It was a little over my belt and the yellow sequence shone on the edges of the v-neck. I turned to open the door and saw Everett, sitting slouched over his knees. I leaned against the door, grinning slightly.
“Do you like it?” I asked in a hushed tone.
“Every bit of it.”

“What do you want to eat?” Everett asked, gazing up at the glowing signs from the China Dragon Buffet. His hands flew through his blonde curls and then onto his hip as he leaned on his right foot. I stared at the signs that read sentence after sentence of food; of fat.
“I don’t know. Maybe some rice.” I muttered, putting a strand of hair behind my ear. Quickly, Everett’s face turned to me.
“Honey, you have to eat more then that.”
“Do you want a fat cheerleader girlfriend? I don’t think so. I’m getting rice.” I exclaimed walking to the counter and ordering a small dish of white rice. Everett shook his head then ordered orange chicken, vegetables and pork-fried rice. I grabbed my tray, ordered bottled water then paid for my meal. Once we both held our trays, we walked to a two-person table with a magnificent view of Clint-Savory Harbor. The sun was just setting and it’s golden orb twin reflected off the surface. I turned to look at Everett then down at my plate. I poked the rice with the tip of my chop stick and each little grain rolled onto each other like miniature bowling ball hitting unstable bowling pins. Everett’s face was staring right at me, I could feel it.
“So have you started cheerleading yet? You haven’t talked much about it.” Everett said, chewing into a piece of broccoli. I quickly pasted a smile onto my face, close lipped.
“Try-outs were last Thursday and the squad should be pretty incredible this season. Have you started any, you know, singing things?” I said, taking a couple pieces of rice and squishing them into my mouth. My taste buds were screaming ‘stop!’ yet I continued chewing. Everett set his fork down and looked me straight in the eye. One of those looks where you know something is about to happen.
“Well, Alexa, my ‘singing thing’ is actually the musical “Guys and Dolls” and our director called me to let me know that auditions are two weeks once school starts.”
“Guys and whats? I still think you should play football, sweetie. It’s such a rush once you get out there and you know I’ll always be right there cheering for you.” I said in a whiny tone. I took another forkful of rice and shoved it down my throat. Everett shook his head.
“I’ve told you time and time again that I’m not the football type.”
“You can become the football type…”
“No. I’ve been singing and acting since birth and I would never give up my passion for some sport where guys shower together.” Everett explained, biting into his chicken briskly. I looked down at my rice and began to play with it again then looked up at my boyfriend.
“Okay. I believe in you so don’t think I don’t. Last year you were an amazing Concord Bernie with your wig and all. You sure were styling, babe!” I laughed, reaching over the table to touch his face. He grabbed my hand and pushed it harder into his skin, rubbing it gently.
“I was Conrad Birdie and yes, my wig was pretty sweet.” He whispered. Then, he clutched onto my fingers and kissed each one. A chill flew up my back and my face began to grow rouge. I loved when he kissed me. I loved the feeling of his lips against my own. I loved him.

“So how did your visit at Grandma Albadoh’s go last night?” My mother asked me as I walked in the doorway of my house. I shuffled my boots against the rug and then slipped them onto the shoe holder next to the door. I un-buttoned my coat, swinging it over the hook and began to walk towards my mother’s office. I set my hands on her shoulders and kissed the top of her graying hair slowly then twisted to face her.
“It was nice, I guess. It was good to see Grandma Albadoh again.” I said, leaning against the door. My mother took off her glasses and set them on top of her papers then turned in her swivel chair to face me, her legs crossed.
“How is Mila doing?”
“Fine. She’s in need of some major foundation though. The bags under her eyes were tragic!” I exclaimed, laughing under my breath.
“I would believe that, darling. She has been going through a lot in the last two months. It’s very understandable.” My mother said. She spun back towards her desk, swung her legs underneath and dove back into her papers. I walked out of the office and into the family room, where my father sat smoking his pipe and reading a newspaper which was way to close to his face. I tried to tiptoe around him, tiptoeing around any more questions, towards the stairs going up to my room.
My room was always my place to be. It was there where I would study. It was there where I would think. It was there where Everett and I shared our first kiss together as well as going to second base. My room had light pink walls with bright pink lights scattered alongside them. I had a clear glass desk opposite my bed and a walk-in closet where all my clothing items were stored.
I tracked in and set my bags of clothing onto the floor near my closet. I clicked on the radio and jumped on my bed, stomach first. I breathed in my pillows; breathing in the cotton and the case. I twisted onto my back to face the ceiling, staring at my Brad Pitt poster that I had taped there since the seventh grade.
“Brooke called. She said it’s urgent.” I heard a voice hum from the door. I looked towards my sister, Catherine, who stood leaning against the doorway. I swung my legs over to the side of my bed. Catherine’s hair was curled to a slight golden wave just above her shoulders and she had the beginnings of makeup painted onto her small, tanned face. Her shirt was showing so much midriff that it was almost illegal and her white, see through, skirt could barely be called an item of clothing. I rolled my eyes and sighed.
“She can wait. Where are you going?” I asked, scooting to the end of my bed. Catherine marched in and sat on the stool in front of my armoire.
“Stacy’s. She’s having a get together. Why do you care?” She asked, attitude spilling out from her lips. Just looking at my fourteen-year-old sister made me want to tear. She was becoming more like me day by day and it was hard to think we would both be at Clint-Savory High School this year; freshman to senior. It seemed like just yesterday that she fell off her little red tricycle. Yet, I guess growing up is just part of existence.
“I don‘t care. Just don’t hook up with too many boys and only drink until you are a little dizzy, you’re still young.” I insisted. Catherine rolled her eyes and stood up, walking towards the door. Yet, she halted right before the doorway, twisting her head of golden curls to face me.
“Don’t worry. I will.” Catherine said and then vanished into her room with a slam of the door. I laid back onto my bed, my legs still dangling off the side. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Yes. Catherine was becoming more like me every day, and that’s what frightened me the most.