All Boys Summer School

(3) Exes

“How was it?” Mom asked as she picked us up.

“Good! I met two cool guys,” I replied.

“What about you, Elliot?”

“My roommate is quiet, but I think joining Alex and me with the two guys will bring out his social side,” he said.

“So where to for lunch? I’m starving,” I stated.

“Well, I have some things to do, so I'll drop you off at the mall to grab lunch at the food court,” Mom announced.

I really need to get my driver’s license. I hate the mall since it’s where most of my schoolmates hang out, and with school just closed for the summer, it's going to be crowded.

Mom handed me enough money for lunch, some shopping, and a taxi ride home for Elliot and me.

“Let’s hit the food court, then we can check out the video game store,” I suggested.

“Sounds good,” he said, stuffing his hands in his pockets while I pulled on my headphones. As we entered the food court, a sea of teenagers sat around talking and laughing—definitely a popular hangout spot.

Elliot tapped my shoulder as we got in line. I ordered two chicken sandwiches with onion rings and a drink. Turning around, I slid my headphones down, “What?”

He pointed across the court, and I saw my ex-best friend Olivia laughing with my longtime nemesis Brianna.

“Are you okay, Alex?” Elliot whispered.

“Yeah, I got my revenge on her car, but with her wealthy dad, it was probably replaced already,” I said, moving up in line.

“Looks like your problems just multiplied,” he said as I spotted my ex-boyfriend, Christian, with two friends. They glanced at Olivia, and one elbowed him to lean in her direction. He strolled over, and Olivia’s face lit up.

“Are you sure you don’t want to leave?” Elliot asked again.

“I can handle it,” I replied, pulling my hoodie over my head.

I placed our order, then chose a table near them. “What are you doing, Alex?” Elliot whispered as we sat down.

“Eavesdropping. I want to hear what they say about the vandalism,” I mumbled.

“She did that?” Brianna gasped.

“Yeah, but my dad forgave her and got me a new car. I was tired of the old one, so thanks for the excuse, Alex,” Olivia retorted. I rolled my eyes.

“Glad you dumped her, Christian. She was boring anyway,” one of his friends said.

Boring? Far from it.

Christian sighed, “I didn’t dump her; she dumped me over a text and blocked me on social media.” Serves him right.

“What a cold-hearted b****. Don’t worry, Chris, I’ll treat you better than she did,” Olivia said, rubbing his arm as I clenched my fist. When I lifted my head, Brianna met my gaze and turned pale, tugging at Olivia’s shirt.

“What?” Olivia frowned, and she pointed at me. I took off my hoodie, and the group gasped. “Hey b******s,” I smiled, meeting Christian’s gray eyes, which darkened with regret.

“Oh, so you’re out of jail,” Olivia snickered.

“Yes, and without bail.” I stood up with my smoothie while Elliot shook his head.

“You’re lucky we didn’t press charges—you should thank Christian for being generous,” she continued, and I laughed. “Thank him? He went behind my back and hooked up with a walking STD,” I shot back, and she gasped.

“That’s enough, Alex,” Christian finally said, and I glared at him.

“You have no right to order me, Christian. I hate you!” I yelled, then dumped my smoothie over him, splashing the girls as they shrieked.

“You’re a b****, Alex!” Olivia snarled.

“Takes one to know one,” I shot back, then stormed out of the food court with Elliot following closely.

***

“We watched that the other day. I want to see something else,” Julian complained as he and Kayla bickered over the remote. Dad was at work, and our older siblings were probably secluded in their rooms texting or watching movies.

“Let’s go play soccer,” Aiden suggested, coming down the stairs with a ball.

“The TV is mine later,” Julian told Kayla, who stuck her tongue out at him.

“Hey, how was it?” Ally came down in her bikini, texting.

“Good. I ran into Olivia and Christian at the food court, and it didn’t end well,” I sighed.

“We all know you didn’t leave without causing some drama,” she smirked.

“Let’s just say Christian will have a sticky situation with his hair.”

“There’s my savage sister!” she said, giving me a high five.