Know You

2.

Ali groaned at the sound of the phone ringing on her bedside table. Her alarm was set for seven but her body couldn't respond.

The phone went off. Almost right away, it started to ring again.

"Oh God…" she patted the table all around until her hand found the phone. 

"Hello?" The voice sounded like Paul's so she opened her eyes and squinted at the screen. Her palm had answered what was apparently a call.

"What time is it?"

He hesitated before answering. "Almost six thirty."

Ali felt the words on her tongue but her eyes betrayed her. She started to doze off.

"Alison?"

"Yeah? Oh God, Paul I should be sleeping right now. You know I'm pregnant, right?" She pouted and brought her knees up. It helped her to stay awake.

"It's Christmas morning and I have a present for you."

"What is it?" After a few failed tries, she sat up. "Did you even sleep?"

 "I've been working all night. It's normal for me."

"I should have known you're a workaholic." She put her feet on the ground and put her table light on. "What's the present na?"

"I decided to watch the sunrise on Christmas morning. I've always wanted to but never got around to it. Wanna go with me?"

"Umm."  She wasn't sure if she wanted to. It was too spontaneous, even for her. "I don't know, Paul. It sounds a little too... intimate."

"Watching the sunrise with a semi stranger? People do it all the time."

Ali thought she heard an engine rev. Her thoughts started to run but she shook it off. "That's not true."

"Sure it is. They just do it at different locations, that's all. Don't you want to be a trailblazer?"

She smiled at that. "You're an idiot. Are you driving?"

"Uhh, yeah. I was coming to where I dropped you off but now I'm parked on the side of the road. What's your final decision?"

Ali shut her eyes tight. Can't believe I'm doing this. "How far away are you?"

"Ten minutes or less. More, if I drive any slower."

"Good. Snail's pace. I'll be ready in fifteen or more." She got up and went into her bathroom.

"Are you sure you want to watch the sunrise or you want it to watch you? It should be up soon."

"Ughhh. Okay, fly then. Let me just brush my teeth. I hate you for doing this to me."

"You could always decline the invitation, you know?" She rolled her eyes at the laughter in his voice.

"I'm up already so let's do this. Call me when you get there."

After the call, she brushed her teeth quickly and changed out of her pajamas. If her mom was here, she would try to sway her from going. But then again, once she knew that the person was a Brighton, she'd send Ali on her merry way. Always trying to find a man for me.

In some minutes, Paul and Ali were together and headed towards the beach. She'd told him that it wasn't the only place to watch the sunrise but he said it was the closest.

The clouds were getting lighter and orange fingers were trailing through them. Because it was early, the roads were clear so they got there in no time. 

Throughout the ride, neither of them said a word. She didn't know why he didn't but she was starting to feel vulnerable and weak.

When words are shoved down your throat enough, it tends to have the desired effect. The night before, she hadn't given herself time to think about what her mom had said. She was distracted.

At the moment, the distraction was silent and focused on the road.

Sigh.

They got to the beach and walked over to the dunes to sit on the sand. The sun was already coming up but it wasn't visible yet.

"You don't look too good." She glanced at him when he spoke and saw the worry in his eyes. "Are you comfortable?"

"I guess... yeah. Just tired." Ali looked up at the skies and where the sky met the water. "Are you always taking strangers to beaches to watch the sunrise?"

"Nope. You're the first."

Ali laughed. "Oh yeah? What makes me so special?"

"I don't know, to be honest. It's Christmas, talking to someone new is relaxing and you're pretty cute."

"Which one? Pretty or cute?"

He didn't reply until she looked at him. "You're beautiful. You know that?"

Ali nodded with gusto. "I'm aware of that fact."

"Are you okay, Alison? You look really burdened. If you can talk to me, please do. I'm all ears."

"Nah, it's...it's okay. Just family stuff." Ali managed a smile. 

"Can I ask a personal question?"

"Is it about my baby?"

"Your baby's father...I know it's none of my business but—"

" But you feel like a pregnant woman needs to be with the father of the baby in order to be alright. Right?"

"No. I was going to say that he's an idiot. I don't know what the situation is but you look sad. It must be his fault."

"Not really." She sighed and played with the sand beside her. "For three months,I've been feeling like I can do this. I can raise the baby all by myself and I don't need anyone. The baby's father wants to do right by me but I'm not ready to get married. And not for that reason too. But...my mom is scared for me and she's been trying to get me to change my decision. Last night, I preached an inspiring message on being a strong, independent woman who needs to leave a good example. Now I feel weak and incapable of anything."

She shrugged and watched the waves roll on to the shore. "I'm okay. I shouldn't have said all that I just did to a stranger but...that just shows my lack of judgement."

"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, you know? It's okay to not be strong all the time. And being adventurous and daring every once in a while is quite healthy. A doctor has actually said this to me."

Ali laughed at that. "Thanks. I'm sure I'll be okay. It's the baby I'm worried about."

"Your baby is going to be just fine. Having a mom who has an adventurous side but can also scream for Africa is a wonderful thing."

"You're not serious," Ali laughed and shook her head. When she looked at the skies again, the sun was already up. "Oh crap, we missed it."

"There are other sunrises."

He smiled at her and she responded. They stared at each other until she cleared her throat and turned away.

"You're staring at a pregnant stranger."

"A beautiful, pregnant stranger." He pointed out.

"Right."

He checked his phone and saw the time. "Oh. You wanna get some hot chocolate? Since you can't have coffee. The Hub serves the best ones."

Alison looked at him. Oh what the hell. It was Christmas and the company wasn't bad at all. And there was time to know him. 

"Sure."

THE END