Chapter 2 – Things can only get better after they've got a damn sight worse!
An unexpected blast from the past rocks Alex's world, in more ways than one...
Note from Buzzlegirl – this is part 2. Things start to heat up now and get moving. please do vote and leave comments, I'd love to hear what you think about how things are developing!
With lots of thanks to luvtaread for her superb editing skills.
"So how come I haven't seen you in here before" Justin shouted over Nicola's warbling karaoke rendition of 'Hit me baby one more time' at Bar One. Alex had begged the girls to go to some other bar in town, knowing that Rachel and Draven were meeting here, but having already been to several pubs and a rather up market bar, they were running out of places to finish the night. And, since Nicola was insistent that Bar One was a must, off they went. Besides, after that many vodkas, nobody dared argue with her! That said, Bar One was one of the most popular hang outs for locals and the best place to meet new people.
So that's how Alex found herself talking to Justin, a friend of a friend of a friend. He seemed nice enough, and in her opinion far too good looking to be interested in her, but he seemed to be paying her the right amount of attention. She hadn't seen Draven or Rachel but had heard from their other mutual friends that they were around somewhere. She kept looking around nervously, half expecting to see them going at it on one of the cosy sofas somewhere in the vast club.
"Sorry, what did you say?" she looked at Justin, realising that he was looking at her expectantly – he'd clearly asked her a question.
"I asked how come I haven't seen you in here before?"
"Oh, erm, I've been erm, I've been busy, erm, well you know" Alex trailed of lamely.
"Sure, of course. Would you like another drink?"
"Actually, I was just waiting for my..." Alex was trying to politely end the conversation with him before things got out of hand when out of the corner of her eye, she saw him. Her head started to spin, and it wasn't the vodka either, but now, in front of her was Draven, looking stunning in a jeans and a sexy 'Bench' t-shirt which hugged his chest and arms perfectly. Wrapped around him was an equally stunning Rachel, looking sultry, sexy and possessive.
"Hey Al, you ok?" Draven looked at her concernedly as she jumped up and pushed past him towards the door.
"Yeah sure Draven, why wouldn't I be, I just need some air is all" Alex said "and Justin and I were just leaving anyway to go somewhere a bit more peaceful and with a nicer atmosphere" she added cuttingly, as an afterthought directed at Rachel who was staring daggers at Alex for even daring to talk to Draven.
"Oh sure, have fun" Draven looked confused, unsure, like he was going to ask something else, but Rachel wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and drawing his attention easily. Soon, Alex was forgotten.
Alex stood outside heaving in great gasps of air as if she'd been choking. What the hell was she thinking? She knew what Dray was like, why had she reacted so badly at seeing him with Rachel? She'd spend a year wasting her life, and months pining for a man who would never feel anything remotely romantic about her. Suddenly she felt angry. At Dray, at Rachel, at herself.
Justin was at her side his hand hovering over her shoulder in an endearingly uncertain fashion. "Are you ok?" he asked her, looking concerned.
"......yeah....." her voice croaked out, no more than a whisper. She cleared her throat. "Yes" she said more clearly. "I think I'd like to go home".
"OK I'll walk with you..."
He seemed so sweet, concerned for a girl he'd only just met. Alex took the opportunity in the quite still of the night air to really looked at the guy in front of her, the one she was brushing off...he was funny, interesting, good looking, good job, his own hair and teeth! Why wouldn't a girl be overjoyed to be with him? Alex was resolute, she was not going to spend her time moping around anymore. She was going to live her life just as she planned.
"I'd, erm...well, I had a good time, I'd like to see you again sometime, you know...if you wanted to perhaps..." God that sounded so confident and convincing! Justin turned to her, looking surprised but, at least not repulsed. "You look surprised?"
"I didn't think you were that interested, that's all. But I'd like to see you again. How about dinner?"
She nodded, offering Justin a shy smile, "I'd really like that.".
"So was that an ex or something?" he enquired "I don't mean to pry of course, you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to."
"No its fine, no, Draven's not my ex, he's my housemate actually. There is nothing going on there, honestly. I've been single for about a year."
"Oh ok" he looked like he was contemplating this. He really did seem to be a decent guy, not pushy or anything. She knew that jealousy wasn't the motivator of his questions, he wasn't Jamie. Taking her hand he pressed a kiss to the palm of her hand, just enough to feel intimate without being too full on.
"I'll call you."
Alex walked up the path to the house feeling better than she had in ages. Maybe she really could do this. No Jamie, no Draven just her on her own, meeting new people, getting out of this prison she'd built for herself. The feeling carried her forward humming as she got her keys out.
That's when she noticed the figure sitting on the little bench on the porch covering the front door. He stood up just as she froze, too frightened to move, run or do anything but stare like a deer caught in the headlights...
He was a good foot taller than her, not bulky but toned, somehow he looked familiar. "Alex".
The security light came on.
"Jamie?!" she gasped. He looked thinner than when she'd last seen him, he'd definitely lost that slight spread around his middle that he'd gained whilst living with her. His eyes were still the same stormy grey colour, his blond hair was longer. Her eyes travelled down, he was wearing the winter coat she'd given him a few years back, it looked great on him then and still did now. She was shocked she even noticed.
"What are you doing here?"
"I badgered Tasha" (she was going to kill their one last mutual friend when she next saw her) "took me ages but finally she let slip where you were living now. I've been wanting to talk to you for ages, to say I'm sorry, to try and make amends. Not that I think I can. Not that I even deserve it." His eyes dropped to the path in front of him. "You look good Alex, great in fact." his eyes met hers again "Please all I want to do is talk to you" His hand reached out for her and, as if someone else was in control of her, she stepped under the porch and placing her hand in his.
Bending slowly he moved to gently kiss her cheek following that with a gentle brush of his thumb over the same spot, his gaze holding hers, the sorrow mixed with longing clear in his eyes. Alex was shocked at the spark of desire that seemed to radiate from the path of Jamie's touch. She turned to nuzzle her face into the palm of his hand before meeting his gaze again for a second as his lips descended slowly to meet hers, giving her time to pull away if she wanted to. His tongue reached out to gently sweep over her lips, probing for entry. A shiver raced down her spine. It felt good to be kissed again, to be desired. The touch was familiar yet so different to anything that they had before.
