Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 13:09:42 -0700 From: Alex Bright Subject: Broken Facades Chapter 15 Broken Facades By Alex Bright Chapter 15 Reunited...and it feels so Good Alisa "Don't worry. Don't my plans always work?" The three of them looked at each other, then at me and said "NO!" "What are you talking about? my plans always work out." "Yea right, like the time you tried to plan Justin's mom a surprise birthday party." Alex said with a grin "Hey, that's not fair. How was I supposed to know that Justin's dad was taking her on a surprise trip to Europe? We didn't stay in the dark that long." "Well, what about the time when you had the brilliant idea to build the tree house in my backyard and then camp out in the tree? " Brad asked. "Well, you finally got the pool in your back yard that you always wanted build, didn't ya?" "Yea, only because you burnt down the tree house....the tree...and Brad's entire backyard," Justin said with a smile. "And then there was the painting of Alex's room," Brad said, laughing so hard he bent over. He looked at Alex and stopped, then straightened up with a smirk. "Hey! Alex got all new outfits because of me." Alex turned to me, but didn't say anything. "Yea, well what about..." Alex started to say. "OK...Ok...Fine. So maybe sometimes my plans fall through a bit, but this is a sure fire, nothing could mess this up plan, guys." The three of them just looked at each other, then at me and started to walk out of the room. "Ah, guys....guys... Come on, just give me a chance. I'm telling you this plan will work. Please....Please...Pretty Please?" They stopped before opening the door and turned around. After looking at each other, Brad finally said, "Fine. What do we have to do?" "Well first, everyone has to promise to do everything I say for this plan to work." Justin "God Alisa. Fine we promise," Brad said, looking like he was starting to get annoyed. "No, not that kind of promise." she said as she suddenly reached into her purse. "The only way I know I can get you to hold a promise is to get you to promise on this." And with that she pulled out something square and white. As soon as it was out we all knew what it was. The Cast "I want you to swear on The Cast." Anytime we had a secret or needed to keep something secret we used to swear on the cast. God it had been a long time. "I can't believe you still have yours." I told her. "I still carry a piece of it around with me," she said with a smile. "See Alex, I didn't forget...I'll never forget." She was still smiling as Alex looked like a wave of pure calm had come over him. We all touched the piece of cast and promised to follow Alisa's directions. "Now, Alex you have to promise first that you wont get into anymore fights." After looking at Brad he said, " Fine." "One more thing. If you find out who started the rumor you can't do anything," she told him before taking a quick look at me. "No way...Alisa... that's not fair...you tricked me." Alex was getting upset again. "Alex you promised...." Brad said to him. "FINE!" he said, gritting his teeth together. We continued to walk out of the empty class and into the busy hallway. "Ok...see my plan is coming together already. Now, Alex and Justin, here's what you guys are going to do. You guys are going to meet me in the lunchroom during lunch, and Brad, you're going to meet me before lunch in front of my classroom...ok?" "How's meeting the two of you in the lunchroom going to help Brad?" Alex asked with a look of doubt on his face. "This is how," she said as she walked over to Brad. She gave him a long kiss right on the lips, right is the middle of a crowded hall full of students. Alisa Suddenly I saw stars. Everything went black, then lit up with fireworks. "Oh boy," was all I heard from Brad, and it was in a tiny little squeak of a voice. He still had his eyes closed and his lips puckered . When I turned around Alex, Justin, and just about everyone in the hall had stopped to watch us with their mouths wide open. All I did was smile. "See you later," I said as I walked away with everyone still looking at me, but I could care less at that point. "Justin, are you coming?" I asked, not stopping. "I'm right behind you. I'll see you guys later," I heard him say as he caught up to me. Brad "Shit, she forgot to tell you what class she has before lunch," Alex said. "Business and Economics, Building 103, Room 213, Mr. Leesburg," I said slowly. I felt like I was coming out of a trance. Alex looked at me with a smiles and said, "Bro, I always knew she wanted you." "Yea, right it's just her plan. I get it now." "Brad, did Tony hit you in the head that hard? Stevie Wonder could see how that girl feels about you." "Na, it's just her plan. We're just friends" "Well from the way she just kissed you, it looks like she want to be more than just friends. And it looks like there's someone else who wants to be more that just friends." "What?" I looked down and, sure enough, little bear was ready to play. I turned red while Alex just laughed. "That's not funny, Alex." "I think it is," he said, still laughing, but he saw how embarrassed I was and said, " I'm sorry, bro." "Not a problem bro," I said, smiling back. "Now I definitely know that you're straight," He said with a grin. "Are you going to be ok?" "Yea, I'll be fine, but you better get to class." I looked around before adjusting myself "Ok, see you at lunch," he said after hitting my fist with his own. "Hey Alex!" I shouted. He turned back around. "Thanks." He just nodded, then turned to head for class. Justin "He's not gay. He's not gay. I can't believe he's not gay," was all I heard as I walked with Alisa down the hall. Then it hit me that Brad wasn't gay. "Wait a minute...He's not gay," she said as she stopped and looked at me. "If he wasn't gay all along. Why the hell did you think he was?" "I ...I... I don't know I just..." I started to say, but before I could finish she hit me. "Ouch! What the hell did you do that for?" "That was for starting the rumor." She started to walk away, but after taking a few steps she stopped and turned around and walked back to me. "I can't believe you did that to Brad. Do you know how much pain you caused? Didn't you know I had..." She stopped short, then walked away again. I rushed to catch her. "What? What did you have?" "Nothing." She said, not looking at me. "Nothing. Never mind." She quickened her pace. "What?" then it dawned on me. The concerns today, the questions yesterday and the kiss today, "Holy shit! You have feeling for Brad!"" She stopped and smiled "Justin, don't be silly. Brad and I are just friends." "What about the questions yesterday and the kiss today?" "I did that because I am trying to help a friend out of a problem, which you caused by the way." "Bull shit...Alex and I are your friends, but I've never seen you kiss us like that or look at us the way you look at Brad." "Alex is my friend. You, on the other hand, are on thin ice." She was getting serious and losing her smile. "I think you need to come clean and tell them that it was you who started the rumor." "Look I know I messed up. I messed up big time, but now that I just got everyone back in my life I can't tell them, not yet, not until I figure out how to, and a good time to tell'em." "Justin you have to tell them, I don't want them to find out from someone else. If you wont tell'em, I will have to tell'em." "You can't tell'em! Please ... you can't! Promise me you won't!" I was starting to panic. "Justin...Fine, I won't say anything, but you're going to have to tell them soon. I still can't figure out why you would say something like that about Brad?" "I can't tell you why." "You can't or won't?" "Both, Alisa. I have some things to work out first, then I promise you'll be the first person to hear the whole story." Just then the late bell sounded and I started to rush off. "Just know that you aren't the only one who deeply cares about Brad." "What's that supposed to mean?" Alex I reached my seat as the late bell sounded. Mike walked through the door just as I sat down. "Class," was all he said, and a few people responded. I could tell he was in a very bad mood. The room was still a-buzz with talking and movement. It seemed as though it was taking longer to settle down. I suddenly got the feeling that everyone was looking at me and talking about me. I just slouched in my seat. "EXCUSE ME!" Everyone started to settle down right as the last bell rang. "I don't know what has everyone all riled up, but I would like to start class! Thank you." The door opened quietly and Justin walked in slowly. The funny thing is, normally someone late would bring a bunch of oh, ah, and laughter. Today it was as quite as a graveyard. I couldn't figure if it was because Mike had just yelled or if it was something else. "Mr. Kemper? I would expect that from your partner in crime, but you?" Again there was no reaction from the peanut gallery. "I'm sorry sir. It won't happen again." "Make sure it doesn't, or I'll be having a talk with Coach Davies," he said as he made his way to the back of the room. "Speaking of which, where is your other half?" Shit! "I'm right back here Mi...Mr....Sir..." I said as I raised my hand and sat up in my seat. "Wow, you're on time and sitting quietly in the back. I'm amazed." "Yes sir! I'm trying to start fresh and turn over a new leaf, so to say. Be on time for all my classes." "Well Alex, I don't think today is going to be a good day to start that. I think you're going to be late for your next class." "Why, Sir?" "Because I am going to hold you after this class," he said, not even looking at me but instead in his lesson planner. "Oh boy," I whispered under my breath.