Chapter 8

                Hayden dropped me off at Alex’s front steps after we spent the day together in town. I pulled my duffel bag from his backseat, as I gave him a smile before he drove off.

                I took in a deep breath, as I walked up to Alex’s front door, clicking the doorbell. I waited a good two minutes before the door opened, revealing Alex. I couldn’t help but noticed how messy his hair was, and how tired his eyes looked.

                I licked my lips, wondering what I was supposed to say to him.

Was I supposed to just invite myself in?

Was I supposed to say that Hayden allowed me to stay at your house for the week?

“You look like shit.” I finally said, feeling my cheeks flame up with embarrassment right after the words escaped my mouth.

Alex rolled his eyes, as he stepped aside, letting me inside. The place no longer reeked of weed, which I was glad of. But, the living room was completely trashed with beer cans, shattered bottles, and basically- trash. There was even a hot pink thong lying on floor.

“What the hell happened in between the hours that I left?” I asked, kicking over the thong with disgust.

Alex shrugged, as he flopped himself down on the couch, closing his eyes. “I don’t know.” He muttered. “I was fucking high.”

I shuddered as I thought of all the possible things that they could’ve done while they were stoned and high. “Whatever.” I sighed, taking a look again at the mess. “I’m taking a shower.”

Alex grumbled something under his breath, as I disappeared upstairs. I laid my duffel bag in his mother’s room, where the bed was still messy and unmade from when I slept in it. I unzipped my bag, taking out a pair of plaid pajama shorts, and a plain black tank top.

I took a warm shower, lathering my hair in the sweet strawberry shampoo that I was assuming was used by Alex’s mother. I used the same white towel as I used last night to dry myself off, as I got dressed in my soft sleeping clothing.

                When I came out of the bathroom, I noticed that Alex was no longer in the living room. I heard the shower that was downstairs start to run, and I assumed that he went to take a shower.

                My stomach began to rumble, remembering that I had forgotten to get dinner with Hayden tonight. I made my way over to Alex’s kitchen, flickering on the lights, as I began to rummage through his fridge. I took a carton of half eaten vanilla ice cream out of the freezer, grabbing a spoon out of the dishwasher.

               I took a seat on the stool that faced the counter in the kitchen, lifting the cover off. I dug my spoon in the ice cream, as I let the sweet flavor melt in my tongue.

                The ice cream brought back memories from when I was a child, where I was still innocent, and things were perfect. My mother and father took me out to the boardwalk two hours away from home for my birthday. We spent the entire day there, and my mother said she would buy me whatever I wanted at the amusement park. I ended up asking for an ice cream cone every hour, each time asking for a vanilla with chocolate fudge. It got to the point that whenever I came to the same ice cream parlor each hour, the worker there didn’t even have to ask me for my order anymore.

                “Are you enjoying my ice cream?” a voice suddenly startled me, making me jump from my seat.

                I turned around to see Alex standing behind me with an amused expression. My heart beat calmed down from the sudden surprise, as I handed the carton over to him. “Do you want some?” I asked.

                Alex stared down at the carton, before back up at me with an unimpressed expression. “You ate all of my ice cream?” he asked, irritated.

                I shrugged, throwing out the empty carton, and quickly washing the spoon I used. “There was only half left before I ate it.”

                Alex rolled his eyes, as I muttered something under his breath.

                I upstairs to sleep after I brushed my teeth from eating all that ice cream. After an hour, when I was finally actually getting some sleep, I felt weight being pushed down on the mattress.

                I opened my eyes, and found Alex’s eyes staring back at mine. “What are you doing here?” I hissed, rubbing my eyes.

                “I’m sleeping here, duh.” He grunted.

                “I’m not having any nightmares.” I mumbled, pulling the covers tighter to my chest.

                “That doesn’t mean I can’t sleep here, does it?” he asked me. Even in the dark, I could see that stupid smirk that was plastered on his face.

                “Yes, actually. It does.” I snapped.

                Alex closed his eyes, ignoring me. “Just shut up and go to sleep.” He grumbled.

                I glared at his sleeping figure, cursing under my breath, as I turned my back to him. With one arm, he pulled me into him, just like he did last night. Only this time, my back was pressed against something warm and bumpy.

                I frowned, as I pulled his arm away from me. Alex stirred in his sleep, as I turned to face him. Hands shaking, I held them up under the covers, pressing them against his chest. A gasp escaped my lips when I realized that he wasn’t wearing a God damn shirt. Immediately, my hand jerked away, as Alex flinched in his sleep.

                “Alex!” I hissed, shaking his shoulder.

                Alex groaned. “What the fuck do you want now, Aerial? Just go back to feeling me up.”

                My mouth dropped, as I punched his shoulder. Alex winced, as his eyes finally snapped open. He sat up, as he stared at me with a glare.

 “I wasn’t feeling you up, bastard!” I spat.

Alex rolled his eyes. “Oh really? What do you call your hands roaming all over my chest?”

I balled my hands up in a fist, lashing it out on his shoulder. “I was feeling to see if you were wearing a shirt!” I paused, glaring at him accusingly. “Which, you were not!”

Alex shrugged. “Who cares? I always sleep shirtless.”

                I bit my lip, refusing to stare at the way his pale skin looked against the moonlight that was coming from the window.

                “I-it’s weird.” I admitted.

                Alex groaned, falling back, as his head hit against his pillow softly. “Just go back to sleep. I’m tired.”

                I hesitated before going back to sleep with a shirtless man.

                Alex probably thought I was so pathetic for not being able to sleep with him shirtless. He probably thought I was some low-life virgin- which I guess I was.

                Again, Alex’s arm snaked around my waist, pulling me in to his chest.

                This time, I didn’t oblige.

*

                There was just one stray hair that my fingers were itching to brush.

                Alex was still sleeping, but I’d been awake for a good fifteen minutes now. I stared at Alex’s sleeping figure, and couldn’t help but notice a stray hair that was hanging over his forehead. I was debating on whether or not to brush it out of his face, or leave it there.

                I licked my lips, as my fingers finally pushed the strand of hair away. It made Alex stir in his sleep, as his eyes opened gently, still looking tired. He rubbed his eyes, as he stared at me before clearing his throat. “How long have you been awake?” he asked.

                I couldn’t help but notice how deep his voice sounded in the morning. It made shivers go down my spine, as I bit my lip. “Around fifteen minutes ago.” I said.

                Alex turned over to me, smirking. “Have you been staring at me since?”

                I blushed, as I glared at him. “Of course not, idiot.”

                Alex chuckled, a small grin spreading across his face. “I’m just teasing you, Aerial.” He flicked my nose with his fingertips. “No need to be so defensive.”

                I swatted his hand away, mumbling something under my breath about how irrational Alex was being.

                The both of us lay back on the same comforter together in silence for a little while longer. I suddenly turned to him, licking my lips. His eyes traveled down to my lips, before slowly making their way back to my eyes. I cleared my throat, as Alex reached out to twirl a piece of my dark hair.

                “You never told me that Natalia was your ex-girlfriend.” I said suddenly, surprised at my boldness.

                I felt Alex’s entire body tense up, as he closed his eyes for a brief second. “I didn’t tell you, because it wasn’t really any of your business.” He said, nothing at all nice in his tone.

                I narrowed my eyes away, as I let his cold and harsh tone sink in. Suddenly, his fingers that were playing with my hair stopped, as I felt a hand gently tracing my left cheek. I glanced over at Alex, who looked guilty and regretful. “I didn’t mean it like that.” His soft fingers stroked my cheek.

                I sighed, pushing his hand away from my face. “Whatever.” I mumbled, tossing the covers off of me, as I got up from the bed. “It wasn’t my place to ask you, anyways. So, sorry.”

                I grabbed a change of clothing from my duffel bag. I could feel Alex’s eyes following my back, as I exited the room.

                When I finished taking a quick morning shower, I went downstairs, where Alex was nowhere to be found. I assumed he went back to sleep or something after I left.

                Taking my phone out of my bag for once since I ran away, I noticed many missed phone calls and voicemails from my father, and my home phone.

                I bit my lip, and reluctantly opened one of the voicemails he left me. The date that it was left was two nights ago, the night when I ran out of the house.

                “It’s midnight, Aerial. Where the fuck are you?” my dad’s drunken voice angrily slurred.

                I gulped, as I licked my chapped lips, opening another message; one from yesterday morning.

                “You didn’t come home last night. You’re going to be in so much fucking trouble once you get back!” he shouted through the phone.

                My hands trembled, as I clicked the last voice message; one from late last night.

                “Baby,” my dad croaked on the other line of the phone, “I just got home from the bar, and I found half of your stuff missing. Please don’t tell me you’re actually leaving me. Please don’t go.”

                I felt my heart crack at how desperate my father sounded on the other line. I understood the way he felt, being left and abandoned. He lost my mother, and now he was losing me. But, I couldn’t go back home; not just yet.

                I was too afraid to.

                My phone suddenly buzzed in the palm of my hand, and I thought it was going to be another call from my father. But, I was both relieved and disappointed that it wasn’t. It was just Clarice.

                “Clarice? Why are you calling me so early today?” I asked, glancing over at the clock that hung in the kitchen.

                I could hear Clarice’s voice trembling on the other line. I knew something was wrong. “Aerial, c-can you please come over?”

                I sighed, biting my lip. “I don’t exactly have a car, Clarice.”

                Clarice sobbed on the other line. “Fine, then I’ll come pick you up. Are you home?”

                “No,” I paused, taking in a deep breath of air, “I’m actually over at a friend’s house.”

                “Give me the address.” Clarice said, voice breaking. “I just need to see you, now.”

                I told Clarice the address to Alex’s house, and she said she was coming immediately. Whatever she needed me for, I knew it wasn’t going to be good, judging by the way she was bawling on the other line over the phone.

                Moments later, the doorbell rang, alarming the entire house. I jumped from the couch, as I ran over to the door. I swung it open, revealing Clarice, who looked distressed and tired. Her hair was a complete mess, her eyes were bloodshot red, and she didn’t have the ‘happy’ aura around her like she usually did.

                “Aerial, who’s at the door?” Alex came down the stairs, in nothing but the same pair of boxers he wore last night.

                I watched as Clarice’s red eyes flickered to Alex, and back to me. She raised an eyebrow, before introducing herself with a hoarse voice. “I’m Clarice. I’m just going to borrow Aerial for a few hours.”

                Alex frowned. “Aren’t you one of Aubrey’s friends, though?”

                Clarice shrugged. “So what?”

                “Well, if you haven’t noticed, Aubrey is a major bitch who seems to be on her period every fucking day.” He paused, looking angry; as he came down to hold my arm protectively. “What the hell do you want with Aerial?”

                I rolled my eyes, ripping my arm away from Alex’s grip. “Alex, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ll be back in a couple hours.”

                “Wait, Aerial-“

                I closed the door on his face, following Clarice out to her pink Bentley.

                “He seems to be protective of you.” Clarice said, as we got in her car.

                I shrugged, putting on a seatbelt as Clarice began to drive. “It’s no big deal.”

                Clarice gave me a weak smile. “I’m not so sure about that. I think he likes you.”

                I gave Clarice a bland look, shaking my head. “No fucking way. Alex wouldn’t like me, never.”

                Clarice shook her blonde head of hair, pulling up to an empty parking lot outside of a local coffee shop. “I see your stubbornness hasn’t changed over the years.”

                I rolled my eyes, following Clarice into the coffee shop. Immediately, the fresh scent of brewed coffee beans filled my nose, waking me up instantly. “That’s not what you took me out here to talk about.” I paused, sitting us down at a booth.

                A waiter came by our booth to get our order, as Clarice ordered two mocha lattes for the both of us.

                “Now tell me, what’s wrong? Because you didn’t sound too happy over the phone earlier.” I said, frowning with concern.

                Clarice sniffled, as she stared out the window. “It’s Daniel.”

                I already knew what she was going to say. She was going to tell me that Daniel didn’t want the baby.

                “I-I told him that I was pregnant with his baby.” She paused, struggling to keep her voice from breaking. “He told me that he didn’t want to deal with me anymore, or the baby.”

                I was right.

                A tear slid down from Clarice’s eyes, as she took in a deep breath of air. “He left me, Aerial. He didn’t even care.”

                I reached over to the other side of the table, cupping my hand over hers. “Clarice, God, I’m so-“

                “I’m going to raise a fucking kid by myself.” She cried.

                I shook my head, giving her a small, reassuring smile. “Trust me, Clarice. I’ll be here for you.”

                Clarice remained silent, as the waiter set down our drinks.

                “You know, I thought he was the one.” She whispered softly.

                “There’s going to be someone out there, who would love to raise that child with you.” I smiled.

                Clarice gave me a small smile, sighing. “What if it’s him that I want?”

                I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “Honey, you want him, but you actually don’t need him.”