Welcome to New Haven

by Dawn Doyle

  Alex’s heart leaped with the thought of Holly getting territorial over him. He liked it…a lot.

  He looked down to his phone when he received another message.

  B: Had lots more texts from the others asking the story. Like I would know before Dev. : Holly told me what happened. Has Dev said?

  A: Yeah. She also said the rumors would have us on our 4th kid by lunch.

  B: So they’re just rumors? ;)

  A: For now. :D

  B: Don’t waste time dude.

  A: I won’t.

  They never gave their number out to anyone. After Stacey had gotten a hold of it, she’d constantly called and texted him. After a few days of her getting it, he’d changed his number and didn’t tell anybody, other than his family, and friends. Especially the school, because that’s how she’d gotten it in the first place. Afterwards, she’d started to text Ben and he’d changed his too. Now, none of them had their numbers registered in the school system because of it. Anything that was passed, like the video from Spanish, was sent via Bluetooth or Airdrop.

  “I should text Holly.” Said Dev. “Let her know everything’s ok.”

  “Why wouldn’t it be?” Asked Alex.

  “The whole school thinks you’re dating, but you’re not…yet. She’s finally gotten over some of her nervousness to talk to you, and she probably thinks that you’ll think she told them.” She said as if Alex should already know that.

  “Oh.” He said. “Let me text her, Dev. I’ll tell her. Ok?”

  “Ok then, if you’re sure.”

  “Positive.” He said as he tapped the screen.

  A: Hi :)

  H: Hi :/

  A: Are you ok?

  H: Yes. Apart from 4 girls in this class shooting me some serious daggers.

  A: What? How dare they do that to my wife?! Don’t they think of the kids?

  Alex showed Dev what he had said to Holly.

  “Oh my God!” she squealed. “She’ll have a fit!” she laughed hard.

  H: :o

  A: New Haven High. I guess we’re already on our 4th. ;)

  H: Does everyone spread gossip that fast here?

  A: Actually, no. Not that fast. We’d just be on our 2nd. XD

  H: I’m glad you think it’s funny. :P

  A: Don’t you?

  H: Clare shouldn’t have made assumptions.

  A: The person she told probably did.

  H: Sorry.

  A: For what?

  H: For her starting a rumour. I’ll make sure she knows the truth.

  Dev had been watching the conversation from beside Alex and she was grinning.

  “Aww, she’s protecting you.” She said sweetly.

  “I don’t need protecting, Dev.” He said. “I don’t want Holly to say anything.” Alex decided to tell her just that. No need to squash the rumors. It was nobody else’s business anyway.

  A: Don’t tell her anything.

  H: Why not? Don’t you want them to know the truth?

  A: I couldn’t care less what they think. Besides, is it really that bad?

  H: Is what bad?

  Alex thought for a moment before replying. He needed to be tactful.

  Direct is best.

  His Dad had always told him ‘if you want to know something…just ask. It’s that simple.’

  Here goes.

  A: The thought of dating me?

  “I’ve just explained everything to Kay and Riss.” Said Dev. “They want to know if they should deny the rumors.”

  “No. Don’t deny or admit it.” He said. “They should tell people it’s not their business to comment.”

  Alex wanted more than anything to be able to say ‘yes, it’s true.

  H: Most of the girls in this school would say no to that.

  A: I’m not interested in what they think. Just you.

  Oh my God! Why did we have to be in school? We could be talking about this face-to-face and then kissing. Kissing her lips. Her full lips that she pursed in concentration. The lips that she licks when I speak to her… Beep!

  H: What’s a Holly haze?

  Oh shit. I am going to kill Ben!

  A: What did Ben say?

  H: He said to ask what a Holly haze is.

  A: Tell me what you think first.

  H: Hmmmm.

  Alex smiled when he realized that Holly was teasing him. Maybe he wasn’t going to kill Ben after all…much.

  A: :o

  H: I’ll tell you at lunch. X

  A: Agh!

  H: XD xx

  A: xx

  Alex turned to Dev who had a huge grin on her face and a small tear in her eye.

  “What’s up?”

  “I’m just so happy for you.” She said as she hugged him tightly. “You deserve to be happy.”

  “Seriously Dev…need to breathe.”

  Holly received lots of stares and whispers as she walked down the hallway with Ben.

  As she got to her locker, she heard two girls having a conversation about her.

  “Do you think it’s true?” Said the red haired girl.

  “I don’t know. Has anybody actually seen them together, like, holding hands?” Said the dark haired girl.

  “Gary said he saw Alex holding Holly around the waist in gym yesterday. She almost fell off the cross trainer.”

  “Well that doesn’t mean anything, then, does it?”

  “I guess not. But Devon told Clare; so there must be something to it.”

  “Ahem” Holly said, interrupting them.

  “Oh. Holly!” Said dark hair. “We were just saying…”

  “I heard.” Holly replied flatly, cutting her off.

  “We didn’t mean anything by it.” Said red. “We were just wondering if it were true.”

  “Is it that important to know?” Said Holly, getting annoyed.

  “Well…um…I guess not.” Said dark.

  “Then that’s all.” Said Holly as she closed her locker.

  “Come on Hol. Alex and Dev are waiting for us.”

  The girls’ mouths popped open as Holly and Ben walked away.

  “Why did you say that?” she asked.

  “Because it’s true.” He smirked. “They are waiting.”

  “You know what I mean.” She scowled playfully.

  “It keeps them guessing.” He said. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  As they got to the courtyard, they saw Ryan and Kyle.

  “Hey Hol! Hey Ben!” they said.

  “Holly, can I talk to you for a sec?” asked Ryan.

  “Yeah sure.” She said. “We’ll catch up.” She said to Ben, and they left, heading towards the principals office.

  “Where’s Holly?” asked Dev as Ben and Kyle arrived.

  “Ryan asked her to talk to him for a sec.” Said Ben.

  “Ryan?” asked Alex. Ryan had asked her for something the other day too, and he wondered what he wanted this time.

  “Do you know what’s going on?” asked Riss.

  Alex thought she looked a little concerned. Maybe she thought Ryan liked Holly too.

  Holly’s laugh caught his attention, and he turned to the doors that she and Ryan had come through. Alex made room between him and Dev for her to sit down. It was sunny, and Holly was wearing her sunglasses. Even though they looked great on her, he wanted to see her beautiful green eyes.

  “Is everything ok?” Dev whispered to her.

  “Yeah why?” Holly asked when Dev glanced to Ryan and then back to her. “Oh that.” Holly said with a smile. “Just some details to figure out.”

  Ryan started laughing again.

  “He mentioned her, like, five times. I said that to him, and he was like ‘Shut up, Ryan. She’s just some wacko chick’.” Ryan said as he put on a Nick voice, laughing and Holly giggled.

  “What’s going on?” Alex asked as he began to feel a little jealous.

  “I was telling Holly about Nick’s mini obsession with her sister. That’s what we were laughing at.”r />
  “Oh.” He replied and Holly gave him a ‘see?’ expression. Alex understood.

  Either really liked, or really hated each other.

  As the conversations changed to other things, Alex turned to Holly.

  “So?”

  “What?” she asked.

  “You’re not making this easy are you?” He asked as he gave a lopsided smile.

  Holly smiled back.

  He didn’t know where she was looking because of the sunglasses. All he could see was the way he was looking at her and he realized just why everybody else could see it.

  “Are you going to tell me now?” He asked.

  “No.” She said.

  “What? Why?” He asked frowning.

  She’s not going to tell me?

  Holly licked her bottom lip and blushed.

  “That’s what I think.” She whispered.

  Alex felt relieved, and he couldn’t stop himself. He grinned.

  “Awesome.”

  “Now.” She swallowed nervously. “What’s a Holly haze?”

  It was Alex’s turn to blush.

  “I…um…can’t really tell you that.” He said anxiously.

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s embarrassing.” He said as his face flushed even more.

  “I could just ask Ben. He said he would tell me if you wouldn’t.” She teased. “Hey Ben…”

  “No!” Said Alex as Ben turned to them.

  “Yeah?” Ben’s eyes were alight and smiling with intrigue.

  Alex knew he would be dying to say something.

  “Never mind.” Said Holly, and Ben gave Alex a knowing smile.

  “I think you can guess from the name.” Alex said quietly. Holly didn’t say anything. She just sat still with her mouth lightly open. “Holly?”

  Holly was staring at Alex. She was trying to avoid eye contact so she could manage a conversation , but when she looked into his eyes…his chocolate button eyes looking right at her, strong jaw, perfectly sculpted cheekbones, and lips made specifically for her to chew on.

  He’s so perfect it hurts.

  “Holly?” she heard him say.

  “Oh!…um…what?” She said and Alex covered his mouth with the heel of his hand as he smiled at her, his eyes twinkling.

  There were a few giggles from the girls, and she heard the words ‘Alex fog’. Holly put her hands over her face and her elbows on the table. She shook her head in embarrassment.

  “That’s his version of a Holly haze.” Dev not-so-quietly said as she leaned in to speak to Holly.

  Then, it was Alex’s turn to hide his heated face as they all laughed. Alex turned his head to Holly, clasped his hands together resting his cheek on them.

  “Now you know.” He mouthed. Gazing into her covered eyes.

  Holly felt her body tense under Alex’s gaze.

  How does he do that?

  He would look at her and she would switch from relaxed to ‘on fire’ in an instant. She wanted to reach out and touch him. Heck, she wanted to wrap herself around him again. He seemed to be getting closer to her, or was she moving towards him?

  “Are they…?” she heard from somewhere.

  They both sat up suddenly, when the bell sounded for end of lunch. They looked around, and the group were staring at them open mouthed.

  “What?” they both asked in confusion.

  “You don’t know?” asked Dev.

  “Know what?” Alex asked.

  “Seriously.” Ben said, more of a statement than a question.

  Riss and Kayla were giggling.

  “You looked as though you were going to start making out at the table!” Kayla laughed.

  Holly was stunned, and Alex looked a little embarrassed.

  “We…did?” He asked as everybody stood up.

  “Yeah.” Said Kyle. “If you’re gonna do that, go elsewhere.” He said as he shook his head in amusement.

  Dev grabbed Holly’s arm in a link.

  “We should all get going to class.” She said as she and the girls led Holly away.

  “Did we nearly…?” Asked Holly, not finishing her sentence. Dev nodded.

  “In a few more seconds, maybe.” She said.

  “What happened? I didn’t realise.”

  “You both just started to lean towards each other. It looked kind of… automatic.” Said Dev.

  “I really didn’t realise.” Said Holly.

  “I guess it’s fate giving you a little help along.” Said Riss as she and Kayla caught up.

  “Dude, you were so going to make out back there.” Said Ryan.

  The guys were a few feet back from the girls.

  “I can’t believe I just did that.” Said Alex as he ran a hand through his hair.

  “You couldn’t help yourself man.” Chuckled Ben.

  “Actually, you’re right.” Said Alex.

  “I am?”

  “Yeah. I wanted to, and next thing, I’m moving towards her. It felt like an automatic reaction.”

  “There’s no coming back from that now.” Said Kyle. “Holly did it too. We all saw it.”

  “Soon you’re going to be down each other’s throats.” Said Ryan. “But do us a favor and do it before we’ve eaten, okay? Thanks.” He said playfully as he patted Alex on the back.

  Chapter 16

  They took their seats when they got to Social studies class and Holly looked to Alex, as he sat on the front row. He looked back at her and sucked his lower lip into his mouth and slowly released it. Her lips parted when her jaw slackened.

  Realising she was practically drooling over him, Holly snapped her mouth shut and swallowed. She began to fidget in her seat from the waves of heat travelling through her body. Holly had to use every ounce of her control to stop herself from getting up and jumping at him.

  What happened at lunch had never happened to her before and she had never felt so compelled to do that with anyone. She had wanted to Kiss Alex so much, even from the day they met, and it had only gotten stronger each day.

  Holly could hear Dev giggle from beside her and she knew it was evident she was in a mess.

  Stacey walked through the door and Holly’s stomach lurched. Instant nausea. She glared at Alex and walked over to Holly, keeping a few steps back.

  “Do you think you’ve won, little girl?” she spat.

  “Won?” asked Holly. There was no way Holly was going to let Stacey speak to her like that. “I didn’t realise I was in a competition.” She said calmly.

  “You know what I’m talking about, you British bitch!”

  Everyone had turned to see what was happening and from the rumours, everyone knew Holly wouldn’t stand for Stacey’s crap and were expecting a retaliation of some sort.

  “Stacey, what the fuck!?!” shouted Alex. “Don’t you dare speak to her like that!” He growled as he walked to Holly.

  “You pick that over this?” Stacey asked, motioning her hand to Holly and then herself.

  “Always.” Alex said icily as he snarled at Stacey.

  “You’ll be sorry.” She said through gritted teeth.

  “Oh really?” asked Holly. “And how’s that?” Holly was trying to remain calm, but she had folded her arms to stop herself from smacking Stacey. She didn’t want to cause a scene any more than there already was.

  “I’m going to take him from you, and when I’m done he won’t want you, and I’ll throw him away like the trash you are.”

  Holly had had enough. She lunged at Stacey, but Alex grabbed her back.

  “I’ll punch your fuckin’ face in if you talk about him again you slut!” Holly shouted.

  Stacey’s face had turned white with fear. Like she hadn’t expected Holly to fight back in front of everyone.

  Alex had his arms around Holly’s waist, her back to his front.

  “Shhh Hol. It’s Ok.” He said gently as she was snarling at Stacey.

  “No it’s not.” She said angrily. “I don’t give a crap what she says about me,
but she’s not getting’ away with sayin’ any’in about you.”

  Holly’s accent had thickened in anger, and the students were looking at her as though she had sprouted a second head.

  “There’s nothing she can say to change how I feel, babe.”

  Holly paused and turned to face Alex.

  “Did you just call me babe?” She asked. Her heart thrumming in her chest.

  “Yep.” He said. He placed one hand on her cheek and leaned in…

  “Ok everyone, take your seats!” Shouted the teacher as he walked in.

  “For fuck’s sake!” Alex muttered. He swiped his thumb across her cheek bone and smiled, before he went back to his own seat.

  Dev stared at Holly, as did Riss and Kayla.

  “You. Are. My. Hero!” Said Dev excitedly.

  “That was amazing!” Said Riss and Kayla together.

  “Alex was about to kiss you…again!” they whispered.

  Holly blew out a breath she didn’t realise she was holding. She lifted her hands and she was shaking. Not from Stacey, but the close proximity of Alex.

  He’d held her close to him, again. He’d held her face. He’d almost kissed her. Her heart was still pounding in her chest.

  “Holly are you ok?” asked the teacher. “You look a little flushed.”

  Oh no!

  “I’m fine.” She said as Alex turned to look at her. He saw her reaction and shot her a smile…and another wink.

  Oh my goodness!

  If she got any hotter she’d need to leave, or have everybody else, but Alex, leave. She rubbed her face with a hand and took a calming breath.