Chapter 2
Alex
A new rumour was making its way through the school halls when Alex arrived.
The only surprising thing was that, for once, it wasn’t about him.
Knowing that most of the time rumours were more fantastic than reality, he tried not to listen to them.
If the ones about him were anything to go by, Alex was a vampire who only drank the blood of virgins.
His pale skin and dark hair didn't work in his favour.
Or he was mixed up with a gang. It was absurd, of course, but he'd heard it before.
“Alex.”
Alex turned to Yves and shook his hand.
“Is it true what they say?” asked his friend, a morbid curiosity shining in his brown eyes.
“What are they saying?”
“That a girl in our year had an accident. Elena.”
This news left Alex speechless. He didn't know her that well, but she was a sweet girl.
Since they'd been in high school, they'd only spoken once. At a wedding, no less. Even though they’d never spoken again after that, Alex had always felt a certain sympathy for the girl who, despite her shy looks, had a funny, energetic personality.
He'd never admitted it to anyone, but Alex had had a crush on Elena when they were in elementary school.
He couldn't help feeling sorry for her if the rumour was true.
Yves gave him a funny look, so Alex shrugged. It didn't matter if it was true or not; it wasn’t his business. He couldn't start worrying about someone else. He could barely manage his own life and problems.
Throughout the morning, Alex managed to carry on as if nothing had happened until he was approached by a petite brunette at lunchtime.
“Hi, Alex!”
It was Kelsey, Elena's best friend. She had big green eyes that always seemed to sparkle with mischief.
For someone whose best friend was in the hospital, she was in an oddly good mood.
Unless it was really just a rumour. He hoped so.
Kelsey tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with the greatest carelessness one could summon.
“Can I ask you a favour? I'm supposed to bring Elena's notes to the hospital, but I can't make it. Could you go in my stead? Your mothers are close, so she knows you better than the rest of the class.”
What could be more important than seeing her best friend in the hospital? Alex shook his head and decided not to judge her too harshly. He agreed to go, even if he had a funny feeling about it.
***
“Hi.”
Elena looked up from her magazine before raising an eyebrow. She hadn't expected Alex to show up at the hospital. He hadn't expected to be here, either.
Her complexion was slightly greyish, and dark circles dug into the skin below her blue eyes. The ballerina looked terrible. Once, she'd been so smiley and full of life. Now she just looked irritated and hollow.
“To what do I owe this honour?”
Her voice was deeper and colder than the last time they'd spoken, which was over a year ago.
“I came to bring your notes.”
“Why are you the one bringing them?”
“Why not?” Alex shot back.
Elena clicked her tongue, shaking her head. “We're not friends, so I don't see why you're going to all this trouble. Don't you have anything better to do?” She turned her attention back to her magazine and pretended he wasn't there.
Alex was caught off guard. Unlike the young Elena of a few years ago, the person in front of him was angry. Aggressive. He let it go and decided to stay positive. She’d just had an accident; a little compassion for her wouldn't hurt. He could do it. As long as she stayed calm, too.
“We could be friends, if you want.”
The words were out before Alex even had time to think them through.
With calculated slowness, Elena turned a page. “You're telling me this now that I'm in the hospital, when we used to see each other at school every day without ever talking to each other? Save your pity, I don't want it.”
“It's called compassion.”
“It's the same.”
For a moment, Alex hesitated to simply hand over the notes and walk away as if nothing had happened. “Could you try to see the glass as half full instead of half empty?”
Seeing the young woman's attitude change, Alex knew he'd gone too far.
“They told me I may never fully heal, and you expect me to be positive? That’s what you're saying?”
Alex sighed, running a hand through his hair.
He'd known it was a bad idea to come. He should have followed his intuition and pretended nothing had happened.
Why had he agreed to come when he knew full well he couldn't waste time on other people's bullshit?
He could barely handle his own. Then again, he didn't manage that well, did he?
Alex drew a deep breath to keep his cool.
“Sorry, I didn't know.”
“Of course, you didn't know. You don't know anything about me!”
Angered, Elena threw away the magazine. Coming here had been a mistake.
He'd thought that because they knew each other, his visit might not bother her too much.
But Alex was facing a caged lion who wasn't going to hesitate to rip him to shreds.
He placed the teachers' papers on the table and headed for the exit.
“Get well soon.”