I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Seeing him snap at Alex and Nathalie and Constance had fortified my resolve not to crumble, I resisted the inclination to break his reptilian gaze, 'I didn't want to get locked out.'

He sighed and continued in a sugary tone, 'Why would you think you'd get locked out?

'I didn't know if the door would automatically lock behind me.'

'Yes, because locks of that age often do that.' Unwilling to admit that I hadn't thought of that, I didn't respond. He asked, 'Why were you out there in the first place?'

'I wanted to take a walk. It looked pretty.'

'Oh, well. That explains it.' He put on a high-pitched voice, '"It was pretty."' He smiled coquettishly and batted his eyes in a girlish way.

'Don't you mock her,' Alex's tone was as threatening as I'd ever heard it.

Anthony turned his attention to his sister and sneered, 'And you taking her part, couldn't let her speak up for herself. Nathalie, Constance, you may go.' The maids left one after the other.

Alex spoke in a low monotone, 'We went for a walk. It was beautiful.' They gazed at one another in steely silence and I suddenly saw the similarity between the two of them. Alex continued, 'If you have a problem with something I've done then take it up with me.'

Without breaking their staring contest he said coolly, 'I don't have a problem with anything you've done. It's more your choice of...acquaintances. You really should try a bit harder to find people who won't...use you.'

'Someone more from my position, you mean? Don't you think that view a mite out-dated, Anthony?'

'I'm merely stating the fact that if you take on every hard luck case that crosses your way you mustn't be surprised if you're taken advantage of.' I'm not a hard luck case!

'I don't know to whom you're referring, but I am not being taken advantage of by anyone.' Go Alex!

He snorted, 'You would have me believe that the...relationship...you have with that child is a relationship of equals?' Oh. He had a point there.

'Simply because you're incapable of being close to anyone doesn't mean I'm the same way.' Uh oh.

That must have cut pretty close to the bone, as he remained quiet for a bit before responding in a dangerous tone, 'Nineteen eighty was a rather difficult year for you, wasn't it?'

Though I couldn't see the relation between that sentence and Alex's before it, it obviously meant something to her, as she grew quiet, her mouth drawing into a thin line. When she finally spoke all she said was, 'You bastard,' he smirked and she pushed her chair back and stood. She didn't look my way as she left the room and I wasn't sure if I should follow her or if she wanted to be left alone. I looked at Anthony and knew immediately that I didn't want to be with him and so excused myself and went out into the hallway where Alex was striding toward her room. I lagged behind, figuring I wouldn't be able to help, as I had no clue what had just transpired, though I figured it had nothing to do with me.

After she crossed the threshold for the first stairwell I didn't see her again, all night I fretted over whether or not to go to her, but figured that when I was angry I wanted to be left alone so no one would see me that way. I wasn't sure I'd know what to say to her anyway.

I had a horrible night, worrying over Alex and wondering what her brother had meant. What had happened in nineteen eighty?

I hoped to see Alex at lunchtime, but she didn't show. I decided to have my sandwiches in my room and tried to work on my story, to no avail. I wandered around, examining portraits and knick-knacks. The house seemed so quiet. Usually I was a big fan of silence, but this was not peaceful and serene silence, it was oppressive. Loud silence. Small sounds seemed amplified to nerve-jangling proportions, the grandfather clock ticking in the library seemed intrusive, my footsteps on the marble in the foyer seemed to echo off for eternity. Nathalie and Constance went about their jobs without a word.