Page 52 of Tell Me Everything
Was I going to have to fight for him? The idea seemed a little absurd, but we were talking about high school. Anything was possible here. She looked up at the clock above the blackboard. The bell rang in the corridors, indicating recess. Nina cocked her head to one side.
“We have a past.”
“Please don't tell me you're a jealous ex who wants to see me suffer,” I joked.
“When I said a past, I meant a purely physical one.”
Ah... She was one of his former sex friends. That made the whole thing a bit awkward. Nina shrugged as if she'd just told me what the weather was like outside. Her excessive honesty was disconcerting.
Seeing my face, she smiled. “Sorry, you probably don't want to know about all this. We're friends now. It's just that I've noticed Alex is different with you.”
Nina had piqued my curiosity. It was strange to talk aboutAlex with someone I hardly knew; it also allowed me to know a bit more about Alex. No matter how close we'd become in recent months, there was still a part of him that he tried to keep hidden.
“What do you mean?”
“He used to hate touching people, and it always felt like I hit a wall whenever the conversation got too personal. But now he’s laughing and following you like an enamoured puppy. It's a good change.”
Her words puzzled me. The Alex she knew seemed different from the one I knew. Sure, he's a little taciturn and moody, but Alex is genuinely sweet. And funny.
“Alex is really nice, but it's true that he's very distant when he's suspicious.”
“I wish you happiness,” she said, one hand on my forearm.
“We're not together.”
Nina raised an eyebrow, a small smirk on her lips. Of course, she didn't believe me. “I only wish you happiness. It's up to you whether it's platonic or more.”
***
Alex
When Alex headed for the park at lunchtime, he was surprised to find Elena and Nina eating together. Nina was part of his past. Elena was part of his present and, he hoped, his future. Seeing them together was like mixing two parts of him that weren’t meant to coexist. Elena turned to him, smiling. It was the first time she was at ease with others. Alex sat down on the grass beside her and listened to the girls talk, without ever taking part in the conversation. Once Nina was gone, Alex’s skin prickled from the nerves.
“Does it bother you that I've...”
“That you...?” she repeated.
For once, Alex was at a loss for words, which amused her. He ran a hand through his hair. No matter how much he wanted to become better for her, she already knew his reputation. A reputation he wanted to erase, but couldn't.
“That you had sex with Nina?”
Elena's voice was calm. Too calm, even.
“With Nina and many others.”
“Why would it bother me?”
Alex smiled to hide his disappointment. He didn’t want Elena to judge his bad old habits. Still, he was hoping for a little possessiveness from her. Alex had stopped going to parties, had stopped the one-night stands, the drinking... He'd stopped it all because he loved her. Did she really not care? Elena must’ve noticed his internal turmoil, given how her gaze softened.
“Let's say I'd mind if you still did it now.”
***
As he got home, Alex spotted his mother sitting at the kitchen table. He quickly tried to turn back until she beckoned him to come closer. Did she know about Elena? Despite all the mistakes he'd made, he'd never snuck a girl in.
“Are you going to explain why Elena was here last night?”
Shit.Alex sat down next to her, knowing he couldn't escape the conversation. “There was trouble at her place. She panicked, and I picked her up.”
