ice and sugar dust (alex turner fanfic)

Chapter Three

Chloe eyed herself critically in the mirror, tilting her head to the side as she ran her fingers through her hair nervously. She was wearing leggings, knitted socks and her favourite cozy sweater that was deep blue and far too big. She wanted to be comfortable and not dress up too much because as Alex was coming over, it'd be strange to not wear something she'd be cozy in at home, just as she didn't want him to think she was being weird by wearing a lot of make up if she was just going to be inside so she just tied up her hair and walked downstairs to lay out the ingredients they'd need for the cookies.

When she saw movement outside the window from the corner of her eye, she turned to push the curtain aside, seeing Alex and Matt at the end of the driveway, playfighting and covered in snow. She bit her lip, hoping that he hadn't brought Matt along to hang out with them. Even though she liked Matt's company, she had hoped that her gathering up the courage to ask Alex to hang out meant that she'd get to spend time alone with him. After all, that was barely ever possible and while she loved hanging out with everyone from school together, he was always a little different when they talked just the two of them. He always shared more about himself and it made Chloe want to find out more.

She headed into the hallway and opened the door, leaning against the frame on the side. "Guys?" She asked with a grin as she watched Matt rub a ball of snow into Alex's hair.

They both stopped and their heads snapped to look at Chloe standing in the doorway. "Oh, hey, Chlo" Alex muttered, ruffling his hair to get the snow out, shooting Matt a glare who just waved to Chloe with a grin.

"Are you coming too?" She asked Matt, not wanting to be rude as she couldn't simply send him away if Alex had brought him.

Alex raised an eyebrow at Matt who looked back and forth between them for a moment before shaking his head and burying his hands in the pockets of his jacket. "No, I'm off to me nan" he said. "Just down the road so weh figured weh'd walk together."

Chloe nodded, breathing out with relief. "Right. Have fun" she smiled, gesturing for Alex to come in as she was starting to get cold. "Freezing" she mouthed.

"See yeh tomorrow, Matt" Alex said and Matt nodded, waving to them both before wandering off while Alex jogged up the driveway, leaving traces in the fresh snow until he reached the door. "Sorreh 'bout tha" he said and spread his arms out to hug her.

"Please come in first, you must be freezing!" She said and stepped back quickly to let him in.

Alex blushed, closing the door behind himself as he followed her in. He was only wearing jeans and a black longsleeve with a black scarf and dark blue adidas jacket.

"Let me hang those over the heater" she said, gesturing to his scarf and jacket.

He nodded and rubbed his hands together once he'd handed her both items and put down his backpack and guitar, stepping out of his trainers. "Thank yeh, Chlo."

Chloe hurried into the living room to hang up his clothes before returning to lead him into the kitchen where he stood awkwardly for a moment. She giggled before stepping forward toward him. "Now I can hug you" she said and wrapped her arms around him for a moment as she hadn't meant to reject him like that earlier.

A quiet sigh left his lips when he hugged her back and squeezed her gently in his arms for a moment. She was warm and the scent of her strawberry shampoo once again surrounded him. He felt her pull back after a while he wished would have been longer and let go as well. "Oh, yeh've prepared everehfin alreadeh" he said.

She smiled. "Yeah. Should I make some tea first though?"

"Tha'd beh loveleh" he nodded. "I also brought ... eh ... some snacks" he told her and pulled a bag of jelly beans from his backpack. "Yeh like those, reyht?"