Chapter 3 – Never give up hope
Things begin to look clearer, but not before the fight!
Note from Buzzlegirl – Here's part 3. Another part which builds more by way of story than sex, but things with Alex and Draven really start to develop.
With lots of thanks to luvtaread for her superb editing skills.
Alex turned away from Jamie and her past and walked resolutely back down the street. She may not like this, but she had to try and sort the mess out rather than running away. As she got to the house, she could hear the sound of voices from the street. The front door was slightly ajar. She slipped inside and soundlessly dropped the catch.
They were fighting. One problem with this house, poor sound insulation – you could hear pretty much everything.
"How could you just stand there and let her talk about me like that? I mean, what in the hell is wrong with you? We're having a great time at the bar with all the girls, and then suddenly you see HER with that poor guy, lucky escape if you ask me, and you jump up and run off to her. Then...THEN she leaves and suddenly you're not in the mood and want to go too..."
The ranting just continued, she didn't even seem to take a breath!
Alex stood stock still. Clearly she couldn't talk to Draven, apologise to him, now. Suddenly she heard a thud and a moan like someone had been hit. She didn't think Draven would ever hit a woman, but well, that sounded painful, what if he'd lost his temper?
She gingerly walked up the stairs just as the sounds of things being thrown around the room got louder. She couldn't hear him shouting, only Rachel, but damn, she had to do something, she'd feel terrible if things got violent and she stood by doing nothing. Alex hesitated, poised outside Draven's door to knock just as it flew open.
"YOU..." Rachel screamed, flying out of the door towards her. She looked wild, mad and spitting like an angry cat. "How dare you..." Rachel stepped forward as Alex backed away until her back was pressed against the wall. "You're just jealous that he wouldn't look at a dumpy little slut like you and yet you think you have the right to go round bringing me into your sordid little affairs. I'm not surprised Jamie dumped you! Oh yes, I know all about you and the evil Jamie... Poor little Alex begging for the scraps of attention from a man who feels nothing but pity for you" Before anyone could move, Rachel's hand connected with Alex's cheek in a slap so hard that rattled her back teeth.
"Rachel no!" Draven roared as her hand raised again this time using her fist. Alex tasted blood long before the ringing in her ears stopped. "Get the fuck out Rachel, I mean it...I've had it with you, seriously, you are fucking insane!" He grabbed the blonde's swinging arm, spinning her away from Alex and pushing her up the corridor.
It could have been minutes, could have been hours later, she felt him crouching down over her, gently tilting her chin up with one finger so he could look at her face. Alex looked up at him. He had a cut on his cheek and he looked rough; bloodshot eyes and an ashen pallor on his tanned, handsome face.
"God Alex, I'm so sorry. Fuck..." he looked crestfallen.
"You didn't hit me, did you" Alex reached out and touched his face "and anyway, I'm the one who should be apologising here. I realise that you were just looking out for me. You come back to find me crying and Jamie standing there, and I realise what you think of him. I mean, I've thought it too before now. And you really have been the best friend I ever had, could ever wish for. You helped me pick up the pieces and get my life back together and, well that gives you a right to know what was going on. But I was embarrassed at what had happened so I lashed out at you. I am sorry Dray really I am."
It surprised her to realise that she felt so much worse about this than she did about Jamie.
She found herself sitting in Draven's room – the usually neat clutter was strewn all over the room. She caught sight of her face in the mirror; she'd have a nice black eye in an hour or so if she didn't get some ice on it. He disappeared for a minute then came in with a bag of peas wrapped in a tea towel and pushed it firmly on her eye. "Are you ok, you didn't pass out or anything did you?"
"No I'm fine really. Look, I have to tell you, I didn't sleep with Jamie."
"Alex, look, I'm the last person you have to explain yourself to. I'm sorry too you know. I saw you with him and I just saw red" he looked unsure of himself, confusing marring his beautiful features.
"You're not going back to him Al, are you? Please no..."
He sank down next to her on the bed reaching over to move the rudimentary ice pack away to check the damage. She saw him wince, clearly it wasn't good. He looked so concerned for her, she knew that he did care for her at least. Sometimes she could almost fool herself into thinking it was more than friendly concern. His cheek looked painful. She reached out and gently stroked her finger across the gash. At least it wasn't bleeding any more. Draven stilled as her fingers continued to gently stroke along his cheek before threading her fingers into his curly black hair.
"I want you to know Dray, I told Jamie not to come back here. That I didn't want to be with him. And you know, he understood. He even tried to give me some advice about..." she trailed off, how could she finish that sentence without giving away what had made her cry?
"You can tell me anything Al, you know that don't you" he was the only one that called her Al. A sudden memory of his Al Capone impression made her smile. He was a goofy one sometimes. But...
"I can't tell you this Dray, it could destroy everything. I could lose you and I just couldn't risk that. I could live with just about anything, as long as I have you in my life" realising she'd already said too much, she jumped up off the bed, the sudden movement made her dizzy and she swayed on her feet for a second. Draven was immediately at her side, taking her arm to steady her.
"So it is about me then, the reason you were crying? Rachel mentioned a few times...ahem.." he coughed and looked anywhere but at her "that you were, you know, interested in me. As more than a friend...that you might even, well, have feelings for me." He looked up at her, his piercing blue eyes shining looking stormy, full of emotion.
She felt her face burning with shame "Dray, please, I don't want to talk about this now. I'm tired. Tomorrow yeah?" he was getting too close to something that could be the truth and Alex knew she wasn't ready for that.
He let her go. She crawled into bed moments later, her prayers not to cry herself to sleep were answered; sleep didn't come.
A week later, Alex peered carefully around her door down the hall, listening for any signs of life, hoping that Draven had already left for work. She had done a fairly good job at avoiding him since "that night" and had buried herself into work and going out with her friends. She'd even been out with Justin again, just to the cinema and they were both quite clear, just as friends. But it did seem a step in the right direction.
She had noticed that Rachel hadn't been round since then either. In fact, now she thought about it, she hadn't seen nor heard anything of Draven's usual parade of women, which in all the time she'd known him was a first, save for the time he had chicken pox and he'd been too sick to get out of bed for two weeks. He'd been so sweet when he was poorly, letting her feed him chicken soup and begging her to cuddle up in bed with him whilst they watched TV. She sighed, she was going to miss him, that was for sure.
The house was still. Alex relaxed and wondered downstairs still in her pyjamas to get some breakfast. She'd taken a couple of days leave from work so she could start the search for a new flat. She couldn't really afford to move out, but she couldn't stay either. It was all too complicated. Walking into the kitchen she came to a dead halt. Draven was sitting at the table, his eyes bloodshot, his hair a mess and, from the state of him, still wearing yesterday's clothes.
