My eyelids felt heavy yet I forced them to open. I frowned as I saw the dimmed light entering the room through the grey curtains. I felt weight on my waist as I gently turned around. I was in Alex's arms. He pushed against me still breathing deeply. He seemed fast asleep.
My heart skipped a beat as I stared at his sleeping baby face. The most defenceless version of him. If you'd have told me that I'd wake up in Alexander Norman's arms, either I would have beat the shit out of you or simply laughed at how foolish you were. But right then, It was true even if it was just for one day. Even if it was insignificant to him, it aas true for short time at-least.
I gently pushed his hair aside and I knew he was fast asleep since he didn't even flinch. His face was a mere inch away from mine. I could smell his cologne. Cold, just like he'd turn after a few hours of waking up. Bastard. He looked beautiful just like that, laying beside me with his arms securing me by his side. I clearly remembered last night. The way his soft lips felt against mine. He wasn't the playboy I knew but a man I was attracted to.
I smiled lightly at how pathetic my thoughts were because I know, Alex would never think of the kiss more than a body reaction because he was horny? Yea. I was quite sure. I sighed as I closed my eyes again, pushing the thoughts behind my head, convincing myself that I wasn't hurt a bit. But deep down, I knew what I felt. I was overthinking and that wasn't good for either of us.
"Good morning." I heard him mutter and a chill broke down on my skin. I opened my eyes and saw him smirking. That smug look early in the morning. Aghhhh!!! Jerk. "You're really in love with me aren't you. The way you were caressing my hair and all." Fuck Him.
"Dream on Alex. Love? Takes years of practice. I was just holding myself back from plucking your hair out of that scalp early in the morning." I retorted as I held back the blush, instead faced him with a bold stare. I continued, "What about you, the way you did't let go of me all night like a lover ready not to let go of someone they love." I raised a brow and I noticed his smile drop.
Ironically, none of us moved. He didn't take his hands of me and I didn't stop my fingers to graze the back of his head. The tension accompanied with the morning laziness made my head swirl gently. What a good morning and the worst. We were back, the masked Alex and the masked Me.
"Peach. Let's pretend last night didn't happen alright?" He said looking in my eyes with a weird emotion flickering in them. Worry? But my heart sank immediately. Even though I had foreseen this, why was it hurting me. Why?
"I knew you would say that." I muttered my thoughts out loud as my fingers stilled.
"Wouldn't you?" He asked and my heart ached gently. Maybe not? Or maybe yes? Given our circumstances, Maybe I would have done the same in a few hours if he didn't. But he did it the first thing in the morning.
He still held me and it made everything worse. "You never know." I answered him as I pulled away, turning around and then stepping out of the bed, making my way to the bathroom. "But you are right. It shouldn't have happened." I smiled at him when he turned to look at me as I made my way to the bathroom.
My eyes stung as I leaned against the closed door. And then I turned on the shower as I let the running water drown my tears. I knew one thing, it'd never be the same anymore. I didn't know what to do or what to feel.
It was the start of an ending I wasn't prepared for.
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I stood their with my back turned to the kitchen. I watched the news flashing on the TV, nothing better to do. I heard footsteps behind me as I stilled. Fuck, I wasn't ready for the awkwardness.
I turned my head. "Chef made some spaghetti for breakfast. Heavy." I said and Alex just nodded. I walked to the table as we both seated down. The dish was already served. I quickly got a hold of my fork as I swirled it around and then munched onto the deliciousness of the fresh Italian breakfast.
"Ashley." Not my name Alex. I looked up and he didn't even look up while he talked to me. "I already told you this was going to be a long stay, didn't I?" He finally glanced at me and I nodded.
"Well the following Monday, we'll be leaving for a nearby town. There is this organisation that supports aspiring writers, you will be giving the students lessons on how to write romance for a full two weeks. I will be there with you since I would teach them the importance of subplots and other stuff that they need to know before they go on publishing their books."
My heart skipped a beat. It was one of my wishes was granted. I was too surprised to even blink. "What? Are you serious?" I gulped and he nodded, filling his mouth again. I couldn't hold back the smile. "That's-" I paused, not knowing what to say.
"Then we have an international writers event- where all world famous writers and you, will be attending the event. It'd be in Vegas and we get back here and stay another week. Then the trip would be over. You and me we will go our ways like agreed." He said and that last part pinched me somehow. He sighed as I couldn't help but feel the drop in the atmosphere which just lightened.
"Okay." I said as I looked down at my food. I didn't feel like eating anymore. I stopped as I got up abruptly. "I don't feel like eating anymore. I will go take some rest."
I walked upstairs to my room as I threw myself on the bed. I was numb and I wanted to stay like that, so I did. It reminded me of us, from the past. The things he made me feel back then, were much better than this numbness spread inside me.
I tapped my foot on the ground, waiting for Elina, my best friend and her brother. We were supposed to go for a movie and she said her parents were not home and her brother wanted to accompany me. What a nuisance, ruining the girls night. I had met him a couple time at my highschool, he was senior while I was freshmen, and now that we are starting college, he is in his last year yet again.
The weather was getting weirder by time. The cold wind blew on a hot summer night. I could see the clouds covering the sky slowly. I was standing in front of the theatre. A black mustang pulled up and I made sure not to gawk at it. I wondered if it was Elena and her brother. A Six feet tall figure stepped out of the car, his broad shoulders and muscles flexing under his half sleeve black t-shirt as he pulled something out from the driver's seat. I watched his every movement as he walked to me. His expressionless face signified something wasn't right. I was partially right, it was Alexander Norman. Dressed in his casuals also displaying the tatted forearm. I felt my heart shiver. I turned my eyes to the car. "Where's Elena?" I raised a brow. Formalities were never my thing.
"She's at home, sick actually." He said and a sigh followed. I could feel how uninterested he was to be there with me. I smiled lightly as the thought amused me. "Why are you here?" I paused. "Alone? To accompany your sister's friend?" I was just testing the waters, messing with him seemed fun.
He flexed his jaw and smirked. "Yea, she said you really hate being lonely, cause you barely have friends. We had a deal, so here I am." Ouch, so he is an asshole just like he seems. Predictable, but his face screamed that he was getting annoyed and I was loving it. I crossed my arms over my chest and nodded. "Okay, let's go."
I had already bought the tickets, so maybe I needed a bit of a company. He followed me inside and we checked in. I bought the largest tub of popcorn and coke. We had nothing to talk about and the movie was romantic. AWKWARD ASF.
I looked at him and he leaned back on his seat, with his arms crossed on his chest. He stared at the screen and his eyes slowly moved to me. My heart jumped in my chest. The movie was nearing the interval and I knew it. I offered him popcorn and he accepted the whole tub. "Thankyou." He muttered.
And boom, the interval was there. The first half was boring and awkward, all thanks to Elena who didn't accompany me.
"Ashley, that's your name right?" He said and I nodded, leaning against my seat as we stared at each other. There was this tension between us since our first exchange of words and I could feel it as the crowd buzzed away to get a refill of the snacks. I gulped lightly as he just stared, saying nothing for a few seconds. "That name doesn't suit you." I heard him analyse me before he smirked. "You should be called Peach. And I will call you that, Peach."
I frowned. Was he giving me a nickname? A peach? That is my favourite colour. He wouldn't know that would he? "Are you kidding me? Peach?" I frowned and he nodded. "Seems like a cute name to others and reminds me of the colour I have always hated." He said and I scoffed.
"You know what I think you should be called Alex? An asshole." I smirked at him and he chuckled. "Feel free to call me that when we are alone." He shrugged. And my frown deepened.
"Why do you think, we'd be together again? And that too alone?" I raised a brow at him and he stilled, and just looked at the screen.
I kept staring at him , waiting for an answer but the lights dimmed again and the movie continued after a few advertisements had passed. I looked back at the screen and I heard his voice just then. "Because you crossed a line you weren't aware of, and now we are acquainted. Worse than friends, better than enemies." He closed his eyes and leaned back on his seat. "Also you have poor choice of movies. So shit." He added and I was offended by the last part.
"Asshole." I muttered under my breath, chewing on the leftover popcorns. My head was nowhere near the movie but on Alex's words. I wasn't even aware of what I did yet his words made my heart skip a beat. I bit my lower lip gently, I was anxious. Because of him. As soon as I got home, Elena was the one who was gonna hear a series of curse words that night. But who knew, we weren't going home the whole night.