It all started with a game

Chapter 13.1

He returned the gesture.

The next dress got about the same reaction, nothing special. The last dress however, was a ten out of ten in Alexia's eyes.

I returned the unwanted dresses, taking my seat beside Ryder on the couch who didn't seem to care that he was stuck in a very small dressing room watching his sister try on a million dresses. Did he look like he was having the best time of his life: absolutely not, but it could be worse.

Alexia ran through all the dresses, which all looked stunning on her. I think she could have showed up with a trash bag and no one would think anything of it, she'd be able to pull it off. But twenty seven dresses later, she was still not satisfied and returned to the rack to find more.

I'd always wanted to be one of those girls who had enough patience to shop for hours, maybe then I'd have nice clothes, but I did not have the patience. I got irritated quickly and taking on and off each outfit was way too much energy for me to exert. How Alexia had this much stamina, I had no idea.

"So," I tried to start a conversation with Ryder who had been acting off the entire evening, "when is your birthday?" I tried the first question that popped into my head.

He didn't bother looking at me, his attention preoccupied by the analogue clock, which was clearly only for design since it didn't even work, on the wall. "December 22nd."

I nodded, surprised he actually answered me instead of trying to avoid the question. "So who's older, you or Alexia?"

The corner of his lip curled in distaste. "Alexia. She was born the 21st."

This got my attention. I sat up, taking a more active stance. "Really? Were you guys born around midnight then?"

Ryder nodded. "11:57 and 12:08."

"Twins with different zodiac signs," I said more to myself than to him. Maybe that was why the two were so different.

"Your birthday?" He asked, trying to pull the subject away from him.

"March 18." I changed the topic, "So why doesn't Alexia go to our school?" I already knew the answer but I figured this way I could get him to talk more. I mean I'd prefer it be about himself but, baby steps.

"She goes to Winchester academy for the arts. It took her years to get in, but they finally let her in on a dance scholarship."

Scholarship. So Tenshi was wrong, she wasn't using her mother's money. I wondered what else Tenshi might have been wrong about.

I draped my legs across Ryder's, laying back on the couch. He wasn't even phased, resting his hands on my calves to keep them from sliding. "That suit looks good on you," I commented, staring at the ceiling.

I could practically hear him smirking. "Everything looks good on me."

I pushed his face with my knee, too lazy to sit up and do it with my hand. "Don't get cocky, we all know I'd look better in it," I teased.

"That, I don't doubt, gorgeous," he replied like it was nothing.

I turned my face away, feeling my cheeks heat up. I hate when he calls me that. But I loved it at the same time.

Alexia walked back into the changing room, another dress in hand, which she promptly threw at me. "What do you think about that one?"

I nodded. "It's cute."

"Great, I'm gonna need your help getting it on though." She grinned the stunning smile that could get anyone to do about anything.

I followed her into the dressing room, leaving Ryder in his spot. Alexia unclipped her heels, stepping onto the bare ground, her height decreasing by about eight inches. My eyes widened as I was now staring directly down at her. I had been taller than her to begin with but I guess after all this time I'd never realized she was wearing heels.

She caught wind of my look, her lip curling pouting slightly. "Yes, I'm short! I know, alright. I didn't get the tall gene. Ryder stole it from me in the womb, okay? It's his fault."

Short was an understatement, this girl didn't even reach my shoulders.

"That is not how that works!" Ryder yelled from outside the dressing room.

"It is too!" She shouted back.

I giggled, helping Alexia get the dress on, which, no shocker here, looked amazing, before taking a seat on the small, wooden bench while Alexia examined herself in the mirror. "This is one," she confined, falling into the seat beside me with a long sigh.

My features dropped as I stared at her with a curious eye. I had never really had friends before but as she sat down beside me, too far into my personal bubble to be casual, I wondered if maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something.

I stared at the gap between our thighs, ever so minuscule as though she wanted to be in my company, as if she didn't mind the way I laughed louder than most people, or trailed behind her like a newborn puppy because I knew nothing else to do. As though she liked the way I thought, the way I spoke. As though maybe, just maybe, she wanted to be my friend.

A/N
Hi lovies!
What do we think of the chapter? I hope you enjoyed it :)

I got to say, my least favorite so far, it just wasn't too engaging and not much between Ryder and Beatrice but the next chapter should be really good.

This chapter was actually supposed to go in a very different direction but I decided against it last minute. So now it's just kind of a filler chapter.

Someone commented this earlier but, if y'all had to ship Alexia with someone, who would it be? I'm really curious bc I actually have Alexia's whole story planned out as well.

Lots of love,
Rachelle <3