Chapter 27- Project Make Her Smile
Alec's P.O.V
Now I don't want you guys to think that I was being a softie, but what can I do? I was certainly being a softie. It's Tori we're talking about. She was that girl that hurts me so much by just being so far away from me. Then she could just make me so happy and make me forget about the pain by just seeing her smile. Knowing she was happy, made me happy. I've always thought that was just some stupid cliche shit people make up in movies, but it was real. I was really happy when I see her happy. But that also meant that I get hurt by just seeing her hurt.
And right now, it was just so damn painful.
She was in pain. It was obvious. I mean duh. It was... well, surprising.
Ever since Tori showed up in my room at the party, my heart literally skipped a beat. I didn't know what to do. I started to contemplate whether to run to her and just kiss her, hoping that could make up with my whole dumping her and being a jerk. But then a part of me told me no. That by just looking straight into her eyes, I knew she was gone. She had built walls around her that kept her emotions locked up.
So seeing her like this, snuggled up in my arms, it shocked me. I never thought I'd live to see the day that she will, once again open up her heart to me.
And I knew, I couldn't screw this second chance she was giving me.
That was if she was certainly giving me a second chance...
"Exactly how much collateral damage have I done to our final project?" She asked suddenly.
I looked at her as much as I could in our position. "Well, not so much."
But to be honest, A LOT.
She pulled away from my hug and looked at me. I could see her face fully now. She was certainly a mess, but that didn't mean she wasn't beautiful. In fact she really did look beautiful. How can she rock that messy hair and 'I haven't slept for days' kind of look?
"Tell me honestly," she urged.
I sighed in defeat. "Look, we're just behind the schedule."
Her head hung low.
Shit.
"But," I quickly added, "have you forgotten that I'm the team leader in this project? You just have to have a little faith in me. We're winning this."
Cockiness may or may not be my best talent. Fortunately, Tori snorted a small laugh. That's progress.
She pulled away from my hold and got out of her bed. Next thing I knew she was rummaging in her closet and clothes were flying everywhere.
"What are you doing?" I asked as I stood beside her.
"Looking for something to wear. We're going to shoot," she stated determinately.
I couldn't help but chuckle. It was rather cute to find her like this. There was no ounce of bitchiness. I grabbed her hand which clutched a white Mickey Mouse shirt. At the sight of the shirt, an idea sparked in my mind. Oh this will make her smile for sure.
"Alec, let go. We need to shoot like right now."
"It's a Saturday. Everyone's probably asleep or catching up with homework."
"Or partying," she whispered.
I smiled at her. "It's 10 am. No one's partying."
Her arms were folded against her chest with my hand still wrapped around her hand which held the shirt. Slowly, I took the shirt from her hand and held it up for her to see. Her green eyes followed the shirt with a questioning look upon her face.
"Wear this," I said and started to look for something in her closet.
It didn't take me much time to find a red denim shorts. I passed the shirt and the shorts to her and grabbed a white Nike cap.
"Meet me at the lobby when you're finish preparing," I quickly said.
I didn't even let her reply. I was already out of her door right after I placed a chaste kiss on her lips.
The thought of my plan was already exciting me. I was too excited that I completely forgot about what I did. Once I was in the lift, it synced in.
HOLY SHIT.
I kissed her.
I started to feel tons of emotions. My cheeks were suddenly hot from embarrassment and my head feels light from nervousness. Was I even allowed to kiss her right after what happened? I mean, yeah we already kissed, man we already did more than just kissing. But I was starting with a clean slate here. I was planning on taking her on dates, courting her, bringing her some chocolates and pizza. Then maybe on our third date I could kiss her. Not too fast and certainly what a gentleman should do. But kissing her seems like the most natural thing to do. I just want to show her my love.
Hold it, Alec. Last time you told her you love her, she had a full mental breakdown. Except for the time when I told her that right before she fell asleep. I mean, she could have been really asleep by that time.
Slow down. I certainly need to slow the fuck down.
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"So?" Tate asked like I was just blabbering shit.
"I kissed her, dumbass," I hissed at him.
Yes, I was still bothered by what I did. I may or may not be overacting. But right now, I can't be bothered.
Tate sighed like he was irritated and placed down the football he was playing with.
"Alec, get a grip. I mean you two have done way more than just a peck on the lips," he pointed out.
True. But like I said, everything's different now.
"That was just lust taking over and us letting our frustrations out."
A smirk made it's way on Tate's face. Obviously, something dirty will come out of his mouth in 3...2...1...
"You mean sexually, right?" he asked while wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Leo cleared his throat with a glare directed toward Tate.
"Why are you freaking out?" Leo asked like he was a lawyer trying to get a statement from a witness.
I felt hesitant to tell Leo. He used to like Tori. Well, I'm not so sure if his feeling for her was gone, but I'd like to believe that. Besides, it seems like he was back together with Georgina. Which reminds me, what the hell is happening with them and how the hell did that happen?
"Oh come on, Alec. Leo's over her," Tate chimed.
Only Tate. This boy seriously has no filter in his mouth. He just blurts out everything.
"It's okay, mate," Leo said with a soft smile on his face.
"I kinda told her I love her and that was the reason why she broke down," I muttered but it obvious they heard.
Leo's mouth hung open and his eyes were wide in shock. Then Tate, well he had a different way of showing shock. He stood up on my couch and started to jump up and down. Soon enough he was laughing his ass off.
"That is the worst! THAT IS THE WORST!" he screamed with bits of laughter in between.
I looked at him in horror. What have I done?
Leo grabbed Tate by the ankle which sent him falling off the couch then face flat on the floor. A satisfied smile was on Leo's face as Tate groaned with some cursing in between.
"Maybe there's more to it, you know? Maybe the reason why she broke down wasn't because you told her you love her. I mean, that's Tori. She's strong. She wouldn't be breaking down just because someone told her they love her. Maybe something happened in those two years that you were gone," Leo suggested.
Something clearly did happen. I have my own suspicions, but there was one suspicion that seems like the right one. I just hope that, that guess was wrong. I don't know what I would do if I was right. Mostly, I don't know if I could ever forgive myself.
Before I could even answer or even before Tate could make a stupid comment, my phone beeped. It was a personalised kind of vibrate, the one I made just for Tori. I could feel that vibration even if it was under my mattress. It could even wake me up. It's purpose was for me to know when she texted me no matter what I was doing or where my phone was. I will be just a text away from her. And if she will need me, I will be there for her.
Tori Adams 👑
I'm ready! I'll be at the lobby in a few.
And that was my signal. I stood up from my couch, grabbed my black Nike cap and car keys. Soon I was by the door, ready to leave and get my girl.
WAIT. Not my girl.
Yet.
What? I'd like to keep my hopes up.
"Bros before hoes!" Tate called after me right before I was fully out of my door.
I just shook my head. Nope, Tori wasn't a hoe. She was more than that. So so so much more.
"Clearly Tori isn't just a hoe to him," I heard Leo say.
That, he got right. And I was fully out of my dorm.
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I love how everything seems to be going according to plan. The traffic wasn't that bad and I'm guessing we would be at our destination before one in the afternoon. The weather was also cooperating with us. It wasn't that sunny, but just the right amount of sun to keep us warm and the right amount of clouds to keep us cool. It was a perfect day to try and make Tori smile.
I was playing some All Time Low in the car stereo. But Tori was just silent. She just stared out of the window and would just answer the questions that I would ask her. The silence that loomed over us wasn't uncomfortable. But her being silent while an All Time Low was playing clearly meant a code red. She was still not fine.
"What do you want IN-N-OUT or McDonalds?" I asked her when I saw that it was already 12 noon.
She turned her head to look at me. She had a passive look on her face but she was thinking.
"McDonalds," she answered silently.
I raised one of my eyebrows in surprise. When it comes to burgers, Tori always chooses IN-N-OUT ever since she tried it here in the States.
"Chicken nuggets?" I asked, silently wishing that I was right.
If she chooses McDonalds, that clearly meant she wants chicken nuggets and fries.
"And fries," she added.
I drove us to a McDonalds drive thru and ordered. Once we got out order, I was back on the road with the paper bag full of food just sitting on Tori's lap.
"You know, food is meant to be eaten. It's not for just putting it on our lap," I joked.
Tori just looked at me blankly. But her lips curved up just a little. Thats'r progress. Instead of her taking our the food and eating it, she just stared at me. It could be flattering, but I really did want her to eat. She lost a lot of weight. It was very evident. And I knew that was unhealthy. I didn't want that.
"Eat up, Tori. The food smells so mouthwatering."
"Delicious," she said as she was taking the food out of the brown paper bag.
I glanced at her with a smile that signalised that I didn't get it.
"What?"
She took a bite from her nuggets. "You said mouthwatering. Keep it simple. Delicious is enough for me."
Only Tori.
"You should eat too," she said with her mouth full after a few minutes of silence.
"I will but I'm driving," I answered.
She took out my burger and placed it in front of my mouth just enough for me to bite it. The distance between us was already non-existent. I took another glanced at her. And by just that mere second of looking at her straight in the eyes, I couldn't help but just fall for her. Everything about her just seems so perfect even though her flaws were laid out in front of my eyes. And her beauty, my gosh her beauty was certainly a bonus for me.
"Eyes on the road an bite," she ordered.
I snorted but took a bite on the burger. My god, did that taste great.
"See? It tastes a lot better if it's still hot," she said.
"That's what he said."
That's when I received a slap on my shoulder. That's progress.
"Perv," she muttered.
Tori was too preoccupied with what I just said and with feeding me that she didn't notice that we have already entered a huge parking space. She only noticed our surroundings when I stopped the car. I took the burger from her hand and let her take in the surroundings.
One...Two...Three...
"Oh my gosh! Disneylaaand!!" She screamed in join.
Next thing I knew, she was out of the car with a huge smile on her face as she admired what was in front of her.
It was a success.
I walked right beside her with a matching smile but this time I had my eyes locked on her.
"You like it?" I asked.
She turned to me with the beautiful smile on her gorgeous face.
DAMN MY HEART.
"I love it. Thank you so much, Alec," she whispered.
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HEYA
Tried my best to make this a good one. I think I'm losing my touch. Yikes!
Vote? Comment? Promote? Follow?
Thank you!
And seriously, thank you A LOT for staying even with the slow updates!
Love you all to bits!
Always smile :)
xx