Alex's POV
I walked out of school slowly, one hand gripping the strap of my bag while my mind spiraled with a thousand tangled thoughts. The afternoon sun was warm on my face, but I barely felt it. My head was still spinning from the chaos earlier—the fight, the anger, the adrenaline that still hadn't drained from my system.
I tried to shove it down, to focus on the next thing.
My feet moved on autopilot, taking turns I didn't think about, until I found myself outside a small convenience store. The bright neon "OPEN" sign buzzed faintly as the door slid open with a chime. Cool air slapped against my skin, a jarring contrast to the heat outside. I stepped in, letting the hum of the store's quiet calm wrap around me.
I wandered the aisles like a ghost. My fingers brushed over bags of chips, boxes of chocolate, those little sour candies June sometimes picked during lunch. I picked things up. Put them back. Nothing felt right.
What do girly girls even like?
"Excuse me, sir. Can I help you with something?"
I blinked, pulled out of my spiral by a soft female voice. I turned and found a young store attendant watching me with a gentle smile. And there it was again—sir. Right. Mistaken identity. Cute boy, short, androgynous—been down this road before.
I cleared my throat. "Ah... I-I... I don't really know what to get."
She tilted her head. "Shopping for someone special?" she teased.
My face instantly burned. "No! I mean—uh—she's not my girlfriend. We're just... friends."
She chuckled, clearly amused by how flustered I was. "Relax," she said. "Why don't I help? What's the occasion?"
I scratched the back of my neck. "She's been... feeling down lately. I thought maybe snacks would cheer her up."
Her smile softened. "You're a sweet guy, you know. Most boys wouldn't think to do something like that."
I didn't know what to say to that, so I just nodded, cheeks still hot.
She guided me down the aisles, grabbing things off shelves—chips, chocolate bars, sour candies, a small box of cookies. "Girls usually like a little bit of everything when they're upset," she explained. "Sweet, salty, crunchy."
After placing the last item in my basket, she beamed. "There. That should do the trick."
"Thank you," I said quietly, bowing out of reflex.
She giggled. "Your girlfriend's lucky. You're thoughtful and cute."
"She's not my girlfriend," I said again, a little louder this time.
She winked. "Sure, sure."
Mortified, I rushed to the counter, paid, and got the hell out of there before she could say anything else.
Minutes later, I found myself standing in front of June's house, heart pounding like a drumline in my chest. I stared at the door, fingers tightening around the plastic shopping bag. I didn't know why I felt nervous. This wasn't the first time I'd been here.
But something felt different now.
I hesitated—just a second—then knocked.
The door creaked open. June stood there, eyes red and swollen, skin pale from crying. She looked broken, like she was holding herself together with nothing but sheer will.
Something twisted in my chest.
I stepped forward, didn't say a word, and pulled her into a hug. My arms wrapped around her as she froze in place, caught off guard. But after a moment, she melted into me, burying her face in my shirt as the sobs came crashing back. Loud and messy and raw.
I rubbed her back softly. "It's okay," I whispered. "Just let it out."
She trembled in my arms, shoulders shaking with every breath. Her tears soaked through my shirt, but I didn't care. We stood there like that, surrounded by silence and pain, until her sobs started to fade.
Then, gently, I lifted her into my arms and carried her inside.
I laid her down on the couch. She curled up tight, hugging her knees to her chest. Her red-rimmed eyes flicked up at me.
I didn't say anything. I just reached into the bag and began pulling out the snacks I'd bought.
"What's this?" she asked, her voice hoarse.
"Well..." I scratched the back of my neck again. "I heard girls like sweets when they're upset, so... I figured I'd give it a shot."
June blinked, then offered a weak smile. She reached for a bag of chips, tore it open, and began munching quietly, tears still glistening in her eyes.
"That jerk Jason..." she mumbled through bites. "He's such a loser. He's not even that cute. After everything I did for him? What a total idiot. I hope he regrets it."
I sat down beside her. Didn't speak. Just... listened. That's what she needed. Not words. Just someone to be there.
After a while, she shoved the open chip bag toward me. "Here. Eat."
"I'm okay," I said, waving my hands. "I don't really like sweet stuff."
"They're chips, dumbass. Not candy. Come on."
With a sigh, I took one, chewed slowly. "It's... okay, I guess."
She gave a soft giggle. "Told you."
Then, out of nowhere, she stood up and started stripping.
"I'm gonna take a shower."
"W-wait! What are you doing?!" I turned my head so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash.
June burst into laughter. "Relax, Alex. It's not like you're gonna get turned on."
"E-even so! You should at least consider my feelings!"
"For someone so scary, you're pretty shy," she teased, grinning. "It's kind of cute."
She vanished into the bathroom, and I sank deeper into the couch, trying to burn the image from my brain and focus on whatever random show was playing on the TV. Anything to distract myself.
Some time later, she came back, freshly showered, wearing a light dress that clung to her in a way I tried really hard not to notice. Her hair was still damp, her cheeks rosy. She looked... beautiful. Radiant. Like the storm had passed and left something brighter behind.
She spun in front of me. "How do I look?"
I glanced at her briefly. "You look... nice."
"I'm not staying in here crying anymore," she declared. "I'm going out. Drinking. Meeting new people. I won't waste my tears on someone like Jason."
"Good," I said, keeping my eyes on the screen. "You deserve better."
She plopped down beside me and linked her arm through mine. "You're coming with me."
"I don't drink."
"Come on, please?" she leaned her head on my shoulder.
"No."
She pulled away, narrowing her eyes. "You leave me no choice. I'm gonna have to blackmail you."
I turned, raising a brow. "You wouldn't dare."
Her lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Oh, I would. Either you come with me... or I tell everyone about your little secret."
My eyes narrowed. "You won't."
She leaned in, eyes glinting. "Try me."