Collateral Damage

chapter 13

Things with Alexis went back to how they were. It was almost like nothing happened. Which was in a way true. He was still the same distant man that I had stumbled upon.

It was Saturday night and a week after my disastrous first day at my job. The following week was relatively dull which was just as fine. I didn't see any more of Noah or Jill which I was grateful for.

Alexis was in his room doing who knows what and I was lounging on the couch, watching a rom-com. We were like roommates who were forced to live together, which was true for me, and who only talked when it was absolutely necessary.

The doorbell made me sit up, I glanced down at my clothes and cursed. I was wearing a really unattractive pair of pajamas. I debated running to my room and changing into something more presentable. Before I could settle on an option, Alexis came out of his den, dressed. Sometimes it felt like he was an angry teenager and probably listened to metal or something to drown out the world.

His eyes flitted to me and I raised my eyebrows.

'Date,' he mouthed.

'Oh,' I mouthed back and slumped back on my seat.

He opened the door and my position made it impossible to not see who it was. I wished I had run to my room.

It was Chloe, dressed to kill.

I felt all the more inadequate about wearing lousy-looking clothes.

'Hey babe,' she came in, kissing Alexis full on the lips.

I was glad he took her straight to the kitchen. Not much, though since it was all open and I could still see her which meant she could see me too. As soon as her eyes fell on me, she gave me the stink eye.

I made it a point not to look at her after that. I focused my eyes on the television.

Alexis disappeared back to his room, to bring his coat. It was chilly outside. I wondered when it would snow.

'So, you're still here?' a voice accompanied the sound of heels clicking on the marble floor.

She paused a little distance from me.

'Apparently,' I said without straying my eyes from the screen. I knew women like Chloe. They took pleasure in putting others down. I also knew how to stand up for myself.

'I don't know what you think will happen if you stayed here, but I'm still going to tell you that it's not going to happen,' she said.

I was so baffled by what she said that I momentarily forgot about my not looking at her rule and directly looked at her. She was smirking, with her hands on her hips.

I rolled my eyes. 'Are you sure?' I raised an eyebrow. I didn't know why I said that. Maybe I wanted to show her I wasn't less from her or something.

She slowly moved her eyes down my form, appraising me. 'Yes, I'm sure,' she said.

My cheeks turned red and I turned my face away.

'Alexis,' she sang. The heels clicking away. 'Don't make your girlfriend wait.'

I think it was for my benefit she said that. Whatever.

They left soon and I stretched horizontally on the couch, still watching the dumbass movie.

I must have fallen asleep because I woke to a movement near my legs.

I blinked my eyes open, the faint light coming from the television illuminated Alexis' face.

He glanced at me and smiled. He actually smiled at me. He never smiled at me.

I was left staring at him.