Chapter Six: A walk with Mia
Alex's POV
Stuyvesant High School – Later That Morning
The moment I stepped back into the classroom, the air changed.
Not dramatically.
Not loudly.
Quietly.
Like someone had dropped a pebble into still water.
Mike stopped moving.
Liam's hand froze mid-scroll on his phone.
I could see the reflection on their screens—a video of me beating up Brandon.
Kids who never looked at me before stared openly, eyes wide and full of questions.
It wasn't fear.
It wasn't awe either.
It was confusion—the kind people get when something familiar suddenly changes.
Mike finally broke the silence.
"Dude… tell me that video is fake."
I dropped into my seat, leaning back, eyes half-lidded. "Probably not."
Liam turned his phone around. "It's everywhere. Someone recorded everything."
The hallway.
Brandon charging at me.
Me ducking smoothly.
My elbow striking.
His legs buckling.
The caption said:
"ALEX???"
Mike whistled. "Bro, you knocked out Brandon. Captain of the basketball team Brandon. Never-lost-a-fight Brandon. Walks-like-he's-God's-gift Brandon."
Liam frowned. "Since when do you fight like that? You've never been good at fighting, but this was… different."
Different.
That was the theme of the day.
"I learned a few things," I said casually. "Needed them."
Mike leaned forward, voice dropping. "So… you okay? Did something happen?"
A lot happened.
Dying.
Coming back.
Seeing betrayal in full clarity.
Seeing my family again.
Seeing an entire world collapse and rebuild before my eyes.
But I simply said, "I'm good."
Liam exhaled and leaned back. Mike looked relieved. But I saw something in both their eyes—something sharp.
Respect.
Suspicion.
And curiosity.
A good combination.
Hallway – Between Classes
The second-period bell rang. Students poured into the halls like waves. But the usual noise seemed hushed, like people were trying not to draw attention.
The moment they saw me, whispers spread like smoke.
"He dropped Brandon."
"No hesitation."
"He dumped Amanda at the same time?"
"Brandon swung first but Alex finished it instantly."
"He wasn't like this before…"
Girls looked at me differently—some curious, some impressed, some whispering behind their hands.
The cheerleaders were less subtle.
Three of them glared openly.
Another muttered, "Amanda's gonna lose it."
The basketball guys were tense. Not because they wanted revenge—just shaken. Brandon was their star. Their leader. Their pride. And now he was lying in the nurse's office with a bruise on his temple and a dent in his ego.
Teachers eyed me cautiously, sensing drama brewing.
I wasn't interested.
I walked.
Calm.
Steady.
Unbothered.
The more I ignored them, the more they stared.
Good.
Let them.
Although I said I didn't want to draw drastic attention, I couldn't let Brandon walk over me—especially after his betrayal.
Cafeteria – Lunch
The cafeteria was a warzone of gossip. I could practically hear my name echoing over the hum of voices.
"Alex."
"Alex said this."
"Alex did that."
Irritating, but useful. I needed presence. Something commanding. Something that would let me move in the shadows without being pushed around.
I got my food and sat alone.
Mike and Liam weren't here—probably checking on Brandon.
Thirty seconds.
That's all the peace I got.
Then someone sat beside me—close enough that her sleeve brushed mine.
Mia.
She exhaled like she'd been holding her breath.
"Okay," she said. "What happened?"
The tone wasn't judgmental.
It wasn't angry.
It was worried.
Soft.
Warm.
"Handled something," I replied, poking at my food.
She leaned in a little closer. "Alex… you don't just drop Brandon like that unless something's wrong. And since when did you learn how to fight like that?"
"Internet."
She stared at me, eyes searching. Mia always had this calm aura—the opposite of chaos. Sitting next to her felt grounding.
"You ended things with Amanda?" she asked quietly.
"Yes."
Her lips parted slightly in surprise. She tried to hide it with a slow nod, but I saw something flicker—relief.
"Good," she murmured before catching herself. "I mean… good for you. She wasn't really… you know… good."
She fidgeted with her straw, then added, "You deserve better."
Her voice was soft enough only I could hear it.
The cafeteria didn't stop watching.
Mia noticed but didn't pull away.
Instead, she slid her chair a little closer.
"I don't care what they say," she said quietly. "Are you okay? Really?"
Her concern hit deeper than it should.
"I'm alright," I said.
She relaxed, shoulders easing. "Then I'm glad."
Silence settled—comfortable, warm. She ate quietly, but her eyes kept drifting toward me like she was checking if I was okay.
Mia cared.
She always cared.
And I wasn't going to forget that.
After School – Front Gate
Mike and Liam caught up quickly.
"Hey—so what's the plan today?" Mike asked. "Games? Gym? Food?"
Liam added, "You seemed… heavy this morning. Maybe we should chill for a bit."
They weren't wrong.
But I had six months to build a fortress out of ashes.
"Not today," I said. "Got things to take care of."
Mike looked disappointed but nodded. "Alright, man. Just don't start acting like a lone wolf. We're still your boys."
"I know."
Liam waved. "We'll be around if you need anything."
They walked off, still talking about the fight like I couldn't hear them.
Walking Out – Mia Waiting
As soon as they left, she appeared.
Mia stood by the gate, backpack low, hair falling across her shoulder in a loose wave. She looked at me with a gentleness that made the world quiet for a second.
"You're going home?" she asked.
I nodded. "Yeah."
She walked beside me naturally. The silence wasn't awkward—it was peaceful.
After a minute, she spoke softly.
"Alex?"
"Yeah?"
She slowed, gathering her courage.
"Take me out."
Not a question.
Not shy.
A quiet, confident statement.
I blinked. "Right now?"
She nodded. "Yes. I… want to spend time with you. Just us."
Her fingers brushed mine—intentionally. Her face flushed, but her gaze stayed steady.
She wanted this.
So did I.
"Where do you want to go?" I asked.
"Anywhere," she whispered. "As long as it's with you."
Her sincerity hit unexpectedly deep.
"Alright," I said. "Let's go."
Her smile was small but bright—glowing in the afternoon sun.
Downtown – The Walk
We walked through a small neighborhood street—cafés, bookstores, bubble tea shops. Mia kept trying not to stare at me, but failing adorably.
She stayed close. Our hands brushed again and again until I finally took hers, threading my fingers through hers.
She inhaled sharply but didn't pull away. Instead, she squeezed.
"You're different today," she said quietly.
"I know."
"It's not a bad different," she added quickly. "It's just… you feel more sure of yourself. Stronger. More… present."
She struggled for the right word.
"More like the real you," she finished.
If only she knew how real everything was now.
The Café – Quiet Warmth
We ended up in a small café—wooden tables, warm lights, soft music. I ordered for both of us; she didn't complain.
She rested her chin on her hand, watching me with soft eyes.
"Why are you so quiet?" she asked.
"I'm thinking."
"About what?"
"Everything."
She hummed. "If you ever need to talk, you can talk to me."
That hit a soft place inside me.
Mia was never loud. Never dramatic. Never manipulative. She was steady. Loyal. Honest.
Exactly who I needed in the future.
We talked about small things—teachers, classes, random students. But something shifted between us.
Something deeper.
Something unspoken.
Something warm.
Heading Home
By the time we walked home, the sky was gold. She walked slightly ahead, then slowed so I would stay close.
When we reached our house, she stopped and turned to me.
"Today was… nice," she said softly.
"It was."
She looked at my hand like she wanted me to take hers again. So I did.
She squeezed once—soft, warm, meaningful.
"Alex?" she whispered.
"Yeah?"
"I like this version of you."
Her words stayed with me long after we went inside.