The Jock, The Nerd and The Geek

23

A part of him got mad at himself for the fact he had stayed away for so long without checking on her and the other part was mad at her. Why was she acting like this? True, he didn't know her Mother. It wasn't a topic they ever discussed but at the same time, he didn't expect her to do this.

He took out his phone, ready to call her again before he heard someone say behind him, "Paris?"

He turned, his heart stopping at that second.

Alex was— Fuck, she looked sick. Dehydrated. Her eyes were sunken now, and she wasn't wearing her big clothes as she used to, just a singlet and shorts. Her back was hunched over and her hair—

All of it was gone.

"You—" Paris tried to keep his breathing calm. "You don't have cancer, do you?"

A look came over her face at those words. A half smile. A half sad smile. A half sad smile that made his heart hurt. "No. I— I couldn't keep it anymore."

"It's not just your hair," Seeing her this close... God, he wanted to hold her. Why the fuck did he stay away that long? "You look—"

Dead, but he didn't say it.

Alex stared at him now, the smile going away as a completely sad one took over. She looked like standing was hard for her. Like seeing him was hard. "Why did you come, Paris?"

"I'm allowed to," He tried to act like that question didn't upset him the way it did. He had missed her. Being away from her... It was like suffering withdrawal from a bloody drug but he also knew why she asked that.

And that pissed him off too. "I know what you want to say,"

Paris turned back to the sink, staring at the dishes. He had never done anything like this before, but he was willing to do anything to skip this talk. "But we need to find you something to eat and —"

"You didn't come here for that."

He let out a scoff. "Well, you've never been the best at reading my fucking mind so,"

"Paris—"

He faced her now. "Can't you just... Stop? Stop trying to be a fucking dominant with your head up your ass for once. Stop trying to tell me what to do. I just want to be of some use for a while before you get rid of me, okay? So please, let me."

She stared at him. Paris knew she was tired. That she wanted him gone, and he wanted to leave too. This was hell. Knowing after this he would probably never see her again.

But he watched her nod, a breath he didn't know he was holding leaving his mouth as he turned back to the sink before he heard her say, "I want to help,"

Paris closed his eyes for a second, Jesus, he had forgotten how stubborn she could be. "I swear to God, someone needs to strap you to a chair to get you compliant."

Alex stood beside him now, staring at the sink. "It's more of me afraid that you would break one of this plates than anything else to be honest,"

He turned to her, feeling his nose flare up. "You know, you're horribly ungrateful."

She wasn't looking at him. "Perhaps, I am,"

Paris found himself staring at her again. She had accepted that so readily, differently than she always was. Usually, she always had something to say. Something to put him back into his place.

Alex looked at him again. "Changed your mind?"

He rolled his eyes now. "You wish,"

As they cleaned up, both stayed silent and Paris knew it was the first time he ever had a comfortable silence situation. He already knew what she wanted to say to him, and she knew he knew that, but for now, they could pretend, couldn't they? Just for a little time.