Who K N E W It Would Be &&You, All [ALONG] 
 

 

It was the turn of the season and the orange autumn leaves had just begun to hit the ground. North Gate Academy’s grounds were swarmed with both old and new students alike. The usual social groups were scattered about, the popular group, the not so popular group, the fearful freshmen, the rockers, the skaters, with the random loners scattered around, like any normal high school. On one side of the aviary, was Alyson and Rocco, her best friend. Everyone looked up to Alyson, all the guys wanted to Alyson, all the girls wanted to be Alyson, and she knew it. Rocco knew it too and absolutely despised it. Secretly Rocco wanted Alyson all to himself. They had been the best of friends since they were kids, but there had always been a growing attraction towards her. To Alyson, he was simply her best friend. She couldn’t see herself dating her best friend while he.

      “Look at all the little freshmen,” Alyson said to Rocco, chuckling quietly. Rocco grinned gently at the sound of her amusement.

      “That’s not very nice, Aly,” he said, with the gleam in his eye that said he was joking.

      “And whoever said I was nice?” She replied smugly, but quickly flashing him a gentle smile. Hers made his own smile grow wider, it was the affect she always had on him. The two of them stood along side their friends, in their neat Prussian blue uniforms. Their eyes surfed over the growing crowd of students and authorities, and ever so often Rocco’s eyes fell upon his best friend. His eyes were filled with longing, and desire.

      “Who…is that?” Alyson asked, curiously pointing from across the aviary to a boy with chin-length blonde hair and bright blue eyes, who to her seemed rather uncomfortable in his new blue sweater and khakis. Alyson grinned to herself, this new boy looked interesting, looked like someone she was interested in getting to know. Rocco caught the expression on his best friend’s face, knowing everything there was to know about Alyson, he could tell what was going through her mind.

      “I don’t know,” Rocco said nonchalantly.

      “What’s with the attitude, Rocco?” Alyson asked her tone shifted from an enthusiastic to a seemingly bewildered tone.

      “What attitude?” he retorted, unaware that what he was feeling had shown. Alyson simply looked at him questioningly. She didn’t like nor did she feel like arguing with him.

      “Never mind…” she said, shrugging her shoulders gently as her voice trailed off. Rocco hung his head a little, feeling bad. He didn’t know what to say or what to do, that wouldn’t make her mad.

      “Sorry…” he mumbled almost inaudibly, as he ran his hands through his brown shaggy hair. Rocco could tell that Alyson was still looking across at the new kid, who was standing with a girl who had been in Rocco’s class since their first year of attending North Gate. But at the same time he could tell she was still questioning him. “...I’m sorry.”

* * *

      Sophie’s mom had made sure to get Sophie and Alexo ready for school, they had new supplies, new clothes, new everything. For Alexo, it was the first time he’d ever been given new items. In the foster care system he’d never been given anything new, nor had to wear uniforms everyday. This was the first time he was sent to a private school. None of his previous homes had bothered with even trying to get him more than just a public school education. Alexo appreciated it, of course, but he wasn’t so sure about the uniform. Being independent his whole life, he wasn’t used to wearing such things.

      “Do I really have to?” Alexo protested as his new foster care mom held out the Prussian blue sweater before his torso.

      “Oh, quit complaining. Now go on and try the uniform on.” She said pushing him gently into the dressing room. Sophie came over and stood beside her mother, holding a pair of khakis for him.

      “You’ll get used to it.” She assured him, smiling as he dragged his feet into the dressing room with the sweater and khakis.

Alexo grimaced as he closed the door behind him with the sweater and khakis. The mirror showed him someone almost unfamiliar. Surely it wasn’t him holding what he would classify as preppy, the blue sweater and the pleated khakis.

      “How are you doing in there, dear?” a voice asked from behind the door, breaking his trance.

      “What? Oh yea, I’m fine.” He replied quietly, as he began changing out of his slim-fit ripped jeans. Alexo looked into the mirror before him the reflection he saw was as if he were someone else, someone completely different.  He knew for a fact, he wasn’t ready for the transition, to North Gate from the various ghetto schools he was used to.

      “Alexo, dear,” the voice of his Foster Mom, “try this on underneath hat sweater.” A white button-down shirt slid underneath the door, he stared at it for a minute before picking it up. No, he wasn’t ready for the change.

      “Okay.” He said as he pulled his worn out t-shirt over his head. He buttoned the shirt to his neck, nearly choking himself to death. He pulled khakis over his legs, before pulling the sweater lazily over his head. He gave himself a quick one over, feeling embarrassed, before stepping out of that little box of a dressing room.

      “Oh, you look so handsome!” He had to take a step back as he was attacked, pulling the collar from beneath the sweater and tucking the shirt in.

      “Um…” He stood, confused and even a bit scared. The only thing he heard was Sophie’s gentle giggle.

      “Aww, look at little Alexo!” she teased, receiving a death glare.

      “Shut it, Sophie.” He muttered through gritted teeth. With his collar pulled out and shirt tucked in, Alexo felt as though he wouldn’t recognize himself. He quickly shoved his hands into the pockets of the khakis nervously. He watched his sister and mother give nods of approval. They liked it, but obviously he didn’t. He couldn’t stand the change. He’d gone through too many changes. So when it came down to changing anything, especially his style, he always tried to steer clear. 
 

      Sophie gave Alexo an innocent smile, as if to say a halo were gleaming over her head. She couldn’t help but tease him, though she would never tease him to the point of hurting him.

      “I think he looks great.” She said smiling reassuringly, nodding gently with her Mom.

      “Yes, he looks great!”

      Sophie could tell when Alexo shoved his hands into his pockets, that he wasn’t very comfortable. But what could they do to make him feel more comfortable, but give him the time to?

      “I think he’ll fit in just fine at school. My friends will love him.” She said smiling with a gleam in her eyes. She noticed that he squirming with embarrassment with all the non-stop chatter, and smiled.

      “You okay over there, Alexo?” she asked with her brown eyes fixed on him. She subconsciously ran her hand over her brown hair which was in a pony tail. She chuckled as Alexo simply shrugged his shoulders.

      “I think you two are all set.” Their mom chimed in, as Alexo slipped back into the changing room. Sophie laughed, knowing he had to get out of the clothes.

      “I know I am, Mom.” She said, smiling eagerly.

* * *

Sophie definitely did well in school, but she wasn’t always so interesting n being there, but who would believe her? Who would believe the girl that most people just walked all over or didn’t even know existed? There were some days where she couldn’t wait to get there, but most days she just wanted to stay home and hide underneath her sheets just so she wouldn’t have to deal with real life. Not have to deal with everyone at school and all the whispers. Sophie was far from popular, which was the biggest difference between herself and that popular clique. But she didn’t always mind being unpopular, she liked being herself. The only reason she ever considered wanting to be a part of the popular group was to get closer to Rocco. From the beginning of their High School journey, Sophie had the biggest crush on him. Ever since the day he strolled into their freshmen math class late, as he ran his hand through his medium length brown hair and his deep blue-green eyes sparkled. It was hard though, having such strong feelings for the best friend of the most popular girl in school.

      Sophie’s encounters with Rocco were merely small and meaningless things. They would bump into one another in the halls or in class. And being as they sat right beside one another, she was nothing more than a homework helper.

      “Hey, it’s Sophie right?” Rocco asked as he leaned over in his seat with his paper and pencil in hand.

      “Yes.” Sophie hadn’t expected any more than that. He had always forgotten her name unless he needed the help, but even so her heart skipped a beat as he graced her with that sparkling smile.

      “Can you help me out with question number 13?”

      “Sure…” She said before leaning towards him to explain the question. She knew it was bad to let him use her like that, but she couldn’t help but to say yes to those eyes, that smile, that handsome face.

* * *

      It was lunch Alyson’s favorite social hour, gossip here, gossip there, gossip everywhere. Gossip came to her, and it was obvious she wouldn’t turn it down.

      “No! She did what? Oh my god, no way! I can’t believe it!” She exclaimed as she sat at the usual lunch room table beside Rocco and their other friends. She held her phone to her ear as she giggled and gawked about what didn’t seem to make much sense to anyone but her. It was the normal lunch routine though. The phone calls usually came from friends that were heading outside somewhere, who just happened to spot something gossip worthy. Alyson was who they called to know the gossip and inform her of it. When she finally hung up the phone, she giggled once again before she leaned into the table just a little and naturally everyone else around would follow her lead.

      “So I was talking to Katie, and she totally just saw JT and Kelly making out behind the…” Alyson could go on for hours and hours spreading the latest gossip about people. She really didn’t see the harm in it, and kind of found it fun to do so.

      “And she said they were totally going at it, like they were about to…” 
 

      Rocco couldn’t really careless, about what everyone else was doing. He didn’t care who someone was making out with, how far people were going with someone or how long they’ve been dating. He wanted the gossip to be about her being with him. Everyday he pretended to look as though he were interested, when all of his concentration was surround her, until his trance was interrupted.

      “I’ve asked around. His name is Alexo.” Alyson said as the girls in the group all watched the new kid walk by awkwardly with a full lunch tray in his hands, “He moved in a few weeks ago, with some girl named Sophie.” She said rolling her eyes, showing she didn’t know nor did she care about who this girl was. Alyson always kept her eyes on the prize and the winning place was having Alexo in her clutches. She’d get him; she was so sure she would after all she always got what she wanted. No matter how she had to get it, she would find the way.

* * *

      Alexo had known this scene all too well. He was the new kid once again carrying his damned tray trying to find someplace to sit. Everywhere he passed, was a full table or an empty seat that was quickly taken by a backpack or a foot. He didn’t even want to sit there anyway. It was the same as every school he had been to before, different social groups with designated tables. The preps, the jocks, the nerds, the band geeks, the Goth and emo table, everything you can think of. The tables were separated by class, race, popularity, you name it. He had been sick of trying to fit into to a group, higher than the freaks.  

      What worried him though was that out of the corner of his eye he saw the girls at what seemed like the poplar table staring at him. What? Did he have something on his clothes? Did he have something in his hair or teeth? They weren’t giving him ice cold glares, which had to be a good thing. Whatever it was it, it confused the hell out of him.

      “Alexo! Alexo! Over here!” He heard his named being shouted from ahead, the voice familiar but with the mix of chatter he couldn’t be too sure. He looked around, to find Sophie waving him down like an airplane to a runway. She had saved him a seat just like she promised.

* * *

      “I don’t know what to do with you, Aly…” Rocco muttered to himself as he sat in class. He had to watch his best friend and crush talked about the new guy all lunch period. He had to hold back his jealous rage, to withstand the havoc he could cause.

      “Rocco, are you okay?” A gentle voice from beside him swam through his ear. It wasn’t Alyson. It couldn’t have been her anyway, it was someone else. He looked up, with an obviously distraught expression.

      “Yea, I’m fine.” He replied, with a hushed tone. Before him was Sophie, he didn’t understand why she was talking to him. No one cared when he was in moods like this. He stopped to think for a moment.

      “Why do you even care? No one else does.” He said, not meaning to be rude but he was curious.

      “That’s not true, Rocco.” She replied, not moving an inch, “I care and so do a lot of people.”

      He couldn’t help but laugh at her comment, “Like hell they do.” He said, still laughing, “If they did I wouldn’t even be feeling this way.”

      He watched her shrug as though she was at a loss for words. Why did she care? He never thought much of her, she was just the girl he asks questions.

      “Did you want to talk about it?”

      “Does it look like it?” His tone was crude and it didn’t seem like he cared. He hadn’t meant to, but at the moment he didn’t really care about anything or anyone. It was just that bad.

      “No. Sorry.” He felt bad now, as he watched Sophie move into her seat staring   

embarrassingly at the table top.

      “Smooth…” He thought as he slammed his head, into his folded arms on his desk. Whatever if didn’t matter…right?

* * *

      Alyson had taken five minutes to form an ingenious plan. Alexo was in her class, and she vowed she get him somehow within the hour. It was their Physical education class, the biggest slacker class in the school. No one actually did anything that period, not even coach.  

      “What is he doing?” She thought as Alexo made his rounds around the track, didn’t he understand by now that no one actually did anything physical in that class? It was okay, he was a newbie, he’d learn. But who better to learn from than the great Alyson. At the edge of the track she waited for him to near where she stood before shouting.

      “You know, you can just sit all period.” She said, flashing him that perfectly white smile as she stood with one hand on her hip and the other shielding her eyes from the sun. Alexo just kept going, leaving Alyson in his dust. She growled, stomping her foot hard into the ground. No one dared ignore her like that, no one.

      She gritted her teeth, as the she thought. “You’d better be lucky you’re cute.”

* * *

      “I cannot believe he just blew me off like that! Can you?” She asked clearly pissed.

      “No one blows Alyson Cooper off, and I mean no one!”

      Rocco agreed with yeah, uh-huh, and absolutely. Why didn’t she understand that he couldn’t stand all this chatter about Alexo? He was beginning to despise him. All that ran through his head was the hope that there was someone out there that didn’t think of him as just their best friend. Someone who wouldn’t dare call him, just to rant about some other guy. Rocco loved Alyson, but it was getting out of hand. But at the same time, he couldn’t hate her. He hated feeling this way, why did it make things so difficult? 
 

* * * 
 

      The next morning, he decided he wouldn’t talk too much. He figured since his word didn’t matter, that there was no point in trying. Alexo this, Alexo that. He couldn’t take much more of it.

      “Hey, I have to go do something. I’ll see you later okay?” He said, before giving Alyson a hug goodbye before he headed off in a random direction. He knew if he had stayed there much longer, he would’ve lost it with all the mindless boy chatter. And he definitely didn’t want to hear anymore about Alexo. Rocco continued to walk. He didn’t care where he was going just as long as he was gone, he didn’t care who he saw, what he said. Just as long as he didn’t have to hear… 
 

      “Alexo!” Sophie called from far behind. She had been late, so her ‘brother’ had left her behind. Luckily for her, he was still in sight as she ran behind to catch up with him.

      “Hey wait!” She called, as she ran into the school gates colliding into someone calling on her backside. She looked up, a deep crimson blush burning her cheeks from the inside out. She had just collided into Rocco, she felt like the biggest idiot alive now.

      “Sorry…” She said obviously embarrassed as she began to get up. He held his hand out to help her up and she grabbed it with her tiny hand. As soon as her hand touched his, all of her muscles tensed before relaxing as it realized it was in its heaven. Now that she was back on her feet, the muscles in her hand just completely stopped as she actually felt his hand in hers. Both Rocco and Sophie’s expressions were full of utter embarrassment. Rocco held back the fact that he was beginning to notice her, that she wasn’t just the girl from his class anymore. Rocco didn’t understand what he was feeling, but it wasn’t like things were before. 

      “Um…” Rocco began to say.

      “Yes?” Sophie’s hopeful eyes looked into Rocco’s beautiful blue-green eyes.

      “You can let go now.” He hadn’t meant to sound rude, but it was getting a little awkward. Sophie’s blush became even darker than before.

      “Sorry…” before letting go of his hand, hoping that that moment had been real. It was a moment that Sophie would both cherish and dread to remember. As she flashed an apologetic smile, something made Rocco wonder why too was so embarrassed that happened. Any other time he’d find it weird, but this was different. What was going on?

* * *

      Alexo had heard Sophie’s called and turned around only to see the moment. He didn’t know what to think of it, so he simply thought of just turning around and continuing. As he turned on his heel, a girl stood close before him.

      “Hi, I’m Alyson.” She said almost flauntingly.

      “Hi…”

      “You’re Alexo, right?” She asked. He was kind of scare to find out how she knew his name, but figured she had heard one of the rumors about him.

      “Yea.” He nodded; he didn’t know what to think now or what to say. Maybe he would leave the talking up to her.

      “You’re new?”

      “How’d you guess?” He asked, as a joke. She laughed along with him, but it made him think about if she was really laughing with him, or just at him. Their conversation went on until the first bell rang; Alexo was kind of able to figure out what was going on, as she simply flirted her way through the conversation, with playful hitting and laughing.

      “I’d better go,” he said, “See you in class?”

      “Maybe even during breaks or lunch.” She said before waving flirtatiously. As she walked away, swaying her hips violently he caught her turning back just to make sure he was still watching. He was watching, but he was more so confused.

* * *

      “I’ve got it in the bag.” She whispered to the table, just as Alexo began to walk past them. Alyson waved again, smiling.

      “Alexo, we’ve got a seat for you over here.” Today Rocco’s seat was supposedly ‘saved’ for someone. There was no question as to who it was for. Alyson smiled as Alexo shrugged, and carried his tray over to the table.

      “Right over here.” She said smiling as she patted the seat between her and Rocco. He sat down, feeling uncomfortable already with the glare coming from Rocco and the giggles from the rest of the girls at the table. He was introduced to everyone and he could only nod to each one of them. He was more concerned with Rocco, why was he acting like this?

      “Hey, you’re the guy that helped my sister this morning right?” He asked Rocco to try and break the ice between them. He only received a nod and ‘yeah’, while the rest of it was Alyson making fun of him. It was almost like prodding him with a stick.  

      “Um, that was really nice of you. Thanks.” He said.

      “Sure. No problem.” Alexo was trying but still nothing was working, he didn’t understand why he was being treated so poorly, he had never met the guy and never did a thing to her. 
 

      Why wouldn’t he just go, already! Rocco was sure that his cold-shoulder act would make him go away, but he was being so persistent. Out of the corner of his eye, Rocco watched as Alyson’s eyes wandered over every inch of Alexo, he grimaced every long moment he had to watch her smile grow as each moment passed. The smile that was obviously wasn’t for him and he couldn’t stand it. Rather than trying to be the center of her attention, he simply sat there with his elbow propped up on the table top and his head rested upon his opened palm. Why couldn’t they just shoot him through the roof of his mouth now, it would’ve been less painful and annoying than being forced to watch them. He was beginning to get fed up; he wasn’t sure how much more he could handle. 
 

      Sophie watched from the distance, as Alexo was reeled into the popular table, right beside Rocco. From where she sat, she could tell Alexo was feeling slightly awkward. It seemed like it was too much to him, to say that he wasn’t ready to be pulled into such an extravagant group. But oh how she wished it were her beside them at that special table. She wished it were here to be there beside Rocco. It would be a dream come true to be able to sit beside him. As she watched him from afar daydreaming of everything that she wished would be, when her concentration was broken by someone jolting up and storming out of the lunch room.

      “What..?” she mumbled to herself before noticing Rocco had left, Sophie had already risen to her feet to see what was wrong. Of course as she left the room, no one bothered to look up and see. Whatever. As she ran out of the room she looked down the hall in search of where he went. He was no where in sight, which was almost frustrating because all she wanted to do was help him.

      She bolted down the hall, as she heard only a loud crash.

      “Rocco…” She said, as she came to an abrupt stop. Rocco’s balled up fist had still been held on the locker before him, “Rocco, what’s wrong?”

      Rocco only shook his head, “Nothing.”

      The silence between the two was unbearable even for only five seconds. On the inside Sophie was screaming. ‘Damn Rocco why won’t you give me the chance? Why do you hurt yourself over her, she’s not even worth it.

      “Don’t tell me that. Tell me the truth.” She demanded softly, as she tried to step closer towards him. She was surprised to see that he didn’t move, and stepped as close as she could possibly get. Her eyes were fixed on his, and vice versa.

      “It’s her.” Rocco said. The entire school knew about his crush on Alyson, so he figured there was no need to an explanation, “She’s always flirting with that new kid…the guy you were with on the first day of school.”

      Sophie seemed confused until finally she realized, the guy was Alexo but for the sake of Rocco she would avoid saying names.

      “I can’t take it anymore, I’m sick of it,”

      “Then look for someone else.” She said quietly, almost like an inaudible whisper. What was going on? Why was he being pulled in like metal to a magnet? He too stood forward a bit to see how far she would let him move.

      “There’s no one out there for me.” He said sadly.

      “Yes. There is,” she informed him. She replied again with the same whisper, “There is always me.”

      This moment left the both of them clueless, what was he doing? His feet moved closer to do the same thing, and move closer until they couldn’t anymore. Before he knew it Rocco and Sophie kissed. The kiss was short, but it was all she could’ve asked for. Sophie could feel her head becoming lightheaded, as though the mere thought of the kiss was a drug.

* * *

      Back at the table Alyson and Alexo still sat, it was dead silent though. She was so sure she would get him, but this just wasn’t working out. She was getting fed up, fed up with the fact that it was moving too slow for her! She leaned forwards, just as Alexo turned to look at her. She was being bold but since when was that new? She planted a kiss on his lips, making the kiss last before pulling back. She could only smirk, until she noticed Alexo’s disgruntled look.

      “I’m sorry Alyson.” He said before standing up, “I just can’t do that.”

      Alexo walked away from the table leaving Alyson, the Queen, alone at that cafeteria table. She was confused, had she just been turned down? She gritted her teeth, holding back any emotion as all eyes had been on her.

      “What? What are you all staring at?” She screamed angrily, she stormed out of the room and down the hallway before bumping wildly into people.

      “Get out of my w-“, Sophie and Rocco? What was going on? 

      “Rocco…” She said whining, as she tried to give him a hug, “I can’t b-“

      Rocco gave her a short hug and a pat on the back before stepping back to get out of her clutches. Rocco was fed up and now that it seemed as though she’d been given a taste of her own medicine, he wasn’t all too interesting in being there to comfort her.

      “Sorry, Aly, but we have to go.” He said as a matter of factly as he took hold of Sophie’s hand and led her down the hall. Alyson stood in awe, what had just happened? She had no where to run to now, before she could always rely on Rocco to be there when she was down and now he wasn’t? Alyson ran out of the nearest exit and running into the street. She didn’t understand anything anymore. 
 

* * *

      The next year had been the beginning of their college lives. A new beginning. Sophie and Rocco were still happily together. Even Alexo had found someone, someone that wasn’t trying so hard to be the queen of the world. They sat in the field together, in a small circle all with smiles.

      “Hey Rocco, Hey Sophie,” They heard from all around them, “Hey Alexo.”

      It was a wonder as to how the former North Gate Queen had become so angry, that her doctor and therapist suggested she join a sports team. Alyson, the former Queen was a part of the schools soccer team, varsity captain. Sophie was with the guy she had only dreamed about. Rocco was finally happy, not having to be the third wheel anymore. And Alexo, Alexo had broken out of his shell. This year was just the start to their new lives. Funny how things worked out.