Sensing this as a good as a moment can get, I sit down on the edge of his bed.
He turns his chair to face me when he sees me struggling with what to say.
"I just…I wanted to thank you. I’m guessing you don't have a great relationship with your father but you went to him to help me. I know I didn't show it before but I am truly grateful for everything you've done for me."
Alec's eyes grow softer with each word. Rising from his chair, Alec sits beside me on his bed. He gently knocks his knee against mine.
"I'm glad you're here with us, Rory." He smiles, making butterflies explode like fireworks in my stomach.
"Me too," I say simply.
He looks at nervous for a moment before he says, "I wanted to–"
"Lunch is ready, guys," Mason interrupts, leaning against the doorway.
"We'll be right there," I tell Mase.
"What were you saying?" I turn back to Alec once Mason's gone.
Alec’s already shaking his head. "It doesn't matter," he says before standing. He pulls me to my feet.
As we walk, I realise that although Alec is a little shorter than the other guys, he's still way taller than me.
We sit at the two empty seats at the far end of the table.
Maverick hands me a plate and I murmur my thanks.
We eat in a very uncomfortable silence. I'm not sure what the deal is but nobody's talking. Did something happen while I was gone?
Luc stabs his food aggressively and I spend five minutes working up the courage to say something.
"Luci, are you okay?" I ask tentatively.
"I'm fine!" Luc snaps and my eyes quickly go back to my plate.
There's a bang as someone is kicked under the table. The noise scares me after already being on edge and I jump. Mase rests his hand on my knee.
I stare at my food, my stomach churning.
That's the first time one of them has snapped at me. I shouldn't have expected they'd be perfect all the time but I didn't think it would come from Luc.
There's a small part of myself that thinks I should have said something. Fought back.
"I don't need you to fight my battles for me," J snapped, storming away.
"Hey! J, wait." I ran after him. He stopped, kicking the ground. I saw him trying to control his anger as he took deep breaths, not meeting my eyes.
"I wasn't trying to fight your battles for you. It's my battle too," I said to him quietly.
"He's my friend and I kissed you. I have to tell him," Jace told me before walking away.
I let him go. I never said what I wished I had. He was my brother…and I didn't get to tell him that I’d fallen—
A foot gently taps mine. Alec's soft, saddened eyes flick from mine, to my plate then back up.
I start eating again. It's really good. Apparently Jace has picked up a few things from his Mum.
Jace's mum, Helen, is a genius in the kitchen. I'm not sure why she didn't go into the food profession. She's a teacher—a good one at that. I had her for third grade and she was always bringing in homemade sweets and lunch for the kids who didn'thave their own. I think they purposely didn't bring lunch so they could have her food.
