NOT AN ACTUAL CHAPTER

Alex sat in the car staring out the window. Yawning, he pulled out his phone. He then put his earbuds in and turned on his music. He looked around the car, beside him was his little sister Addison. And on the other side of the car was Justin, his step brother. Alex's dad was driving and Jess (his stepmother) was sitting in the passenger seat on her phone. Alex was mad at his parents because they were moving again. Alex had just started high school when they had to move. Of course moving meant they got to have a fresh start. Alex could try to be normal even though he is not normal. He hates his hair. It was white, gray, and had random black hairs in it. That was only one reason he struggled at being normal. There were so many things that made him different. But it didn't matter he would just keep moving till there was nowhere else to go. He even sat in the same spot in the car every time they moved. 

The car jerked suddenly and Alex’s head slammed against the window. “Is everyone ok?” his dad asked, stopping the car.

“I am,” Addison said quietly. 

“Yeah,” Justin said, annoyed. 

“Uh yeah” Alex mumbled rubbing his head. As his dad nodded and started driving again.

“Aww did Connor get a boo boo” Justin teased.

“Shut up” Alex mumbled glaring at Justin. He hated being called Connor, even if that was his first name he always went by his middle name of Alexander or Alex.

“Justin, don't bully Alex,” Addison said, crossing her arms.

“You can't tell me what to do your only nine” Justin noted getting in her face.

“All of you stop fighting!” Jess yelled, turning around. “And if any of you say something else you'll be grounded for a month.” she added glaring directly at Alex. 

“Yes ma’am” the three of them said at once. After Jess had turned around Alex put his head against the window and drifted off to sleep. 

Alex was suddenly shook awake, “hey we’re here” he heard his dad saying. Alex looked up and saw that he was the only one left in the car.

“COME ON CON...ALEX!¨ Justin yelled from the porch. 

“I'M COMING!!” he yelled back. He sighed and opened the door to the car. As he closed the door to the car he looked around at the new house. It was two stories and wasn't at all fancy. It looked kind of shabby. He started towards the porch as Justin walked towards him. “I thought you wanted me to come inside” Alex said, confused. 

“Nah I just wanted to get you to come out” Justin said smirking.

“Why?” Alex asked as he stopped walking.

“Oh I have my reasons” Justin said, getting in his face.

“Uh” Alex said nervously, stepping back.

“Aww are you scared,” Justin teased. Alex could feel his heart racing; he took another step back.

“Leave me alone Justin,” he said quietly.

“Why should I? Huh?” Justin said, stepping closer. Alex backed into the car and leaned against it. “Got no one to protect you now huh? Not even your shrimp of a sister.” Justin added.

“Don't talk about Addison like that!” Alex said with his hands at his side in fist.

“Aww what you going to do” Justin said pushing Alex by the shoulders knocking him back. Alex stood there not saying a word as he stepped away from the car. “Come on, what you gonna do huh?” Justin said, stepping towards him. Alex punched Justin in the jaw then kneed him in the gut. Justin fell over groaning.

Alex got in his face “that's what I can do” and before walking off he kicked Justin in the gut. He heard someone cheering and turned around fast to see a group of guys standing in the street. Alex quickly turned and walked into the house. As soon as he closed the door behind him Jess walked up to him.

“Where's Justin?” she asked.

“He said he forgot something in the car” Alex lied calmly. Jess glared at him before going back to where she was before.

“Your room is upstairs to the left,” she called behind her. Alex saw the stairs and walked quickly up them. He found his room and looked out the window where he could see the driveway. He saw Justin limping towards the house. Alex cussed under his breath and closed his door, locking it. He then turned off his light and stood by his door. He heard the front door close and heard muffled voices. 

“ALEX!!” Jess yelled up the stairs. Alex opened his door and walked towards the stairs when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned and saw Addison following him. He started down the stairs and Addison waited at the top. When he reached the bottom of the stairs he saw Jess glaring at him and Justin smirking. “Why did you attack justin?” Jess asked him. 

“He attacked me and I defended myself,” Alex replied calmly. 

“DON'T YOU LIE TO ME!” she yelled at him. 

“I told the truth,” he said calmly.

“YOU LITTLE LYING-¨ she started but noticed Addison standing at the top of the stairs. “Go to your room addison” she said calmly. 

“Alex was defending himself,” Addison said camly.

“I said go to your room!” Jess repeated. Alex was about to say something when his dad walked in glaring at Jess.

“Don't yell at her,” his dad said to Jess. 

“I'm sorry Addison,” Jess apologized. “Now all of you go to your rooms” she added and walked away. Alex walked to the top of the stairs and hugged his sister. Justin kicked Alex from behind before walking to his room.

“Just ignore him Alex,” Addison whispered, then walked to her room. Alex stood up quietly and walked to his room. When he got there he laid down on his bed face down. He heard footsteps enter his room then his door closed. He sighed as someone sat at the foot of his bed. 

“Alex… why did you hurt Justin?” his dad asked.

“He asked for it,” Alex mumbled as he sat upright.

“Still, you shouldn't have hurt him,” his father sighed, shaking his head. “He is just trying to get you in trouble,” his dad added.

“I know but I don't know what to do, I can't just let him run over me like that” Alex said defensively.

“Alex, you're going to have to compromise somehow.” his father said standing up. “Suppers almost done so you should come down stairs in a few” his father said as Alex nodded.

After a few minutes Jess called up the stairs “DINNERS READY!” and Justin ran down the hall to the stairs. Addison walked up to Alex's door and beckoned him to follow her. He nodded and stood up walking out the door and down the steps. His dinner was a blur for he did not pay attention to anything going on as his mind was elsewhere. 

After dinner he went straight outside and grabbed his bike. He rode down the road and slowed down when he reached a large white house. He gaped at it for a few minutes before he noticed someone watching him from the large window by the door. He could only see a hand moving the drapes and the shadow of someone but he knew he was being watched so he pedaled till he was far past the house. He spotted a worn down shack that looked deserted. He hopped off his bike, set it down in the yard, and walked toward the house. He looked in one of the windows and saw an empty room. He walked to the front door and turned the knob. It was locked. He jiggled the doorknob more trying to force it open. “Open you stupid” he muttered to himself.

“What are you doing?” he heard Justin call from behind him.

Alex turned around quickly “Nothing!” 

“Uh huh sure looks to me like you're trying to break into that...house” Justin said, raising an eyebrow.

“One it is hardly even a shack and two I was just looking” Alex said walking to his bike and picking it up he noticed that Justin had also rode a bike. “I mean I don't know why you were following me,” he added.

“I had to make sure you weren't going to do something stupid.” Justin said, getting in his face. 

“I'm going home,” Alex said, getting on his bike and heading off. Justin soon followed him. Alex feared Justin, why wouldn't he justin was a year older and alot stronger because he plays football and makes Alex seem weak. As soon as Alex reached his house he rushed up to his room and sat on his bed breathing heavily. Justin came pounding up the stairs and into Alex's room closing the door behind him. “What are you doing in my room?” Alex asked, crossing his arms. Justin turned around and shrugged putting his hands in his pockets. “Alright this is very weird” Alex said watching Justin.

“Look, co..Alex uh” Justin started awkwardly. “I'm sorry I said that about Addison, I'm not sorry for anything else though” he finished.

“Alright, don't ever say anything about her again. Ever.” Alex said sternly. Justin nodded and walked out. Alex sighed and started to unpack his stuff. He only had a few boxes, one full of clothes and the others filled with small personal stuff. He went to a small box and dug through it till he found a picture of his real mom. He sighed and put it on the desk beside his bed. He picked up his phone and saw it was ten o'clock so he walked over, turned off the light and walked back to his bed as he laid down he fell asleep.