Her Forever

Chapter 6: Instant Love

Quentin was shocked and felt a hurt that he had never felt before. He was so sure that Alicia was the one but the way she continuously tried to distance herself from him left him with a number of feelings and doubts. A few weeks had passed after that incident at the auction but Quentin was hoping that there was still a chance for him to make things right.
Somehow Alicia Marie Cowan had a way to make him feel like an unconfident fool.
While Quentin was busy planning ways to make Alicia his. Alicia had different plans for herself.
To her surprise the clinic had really benefited from the auction. She almost couldn't believe the changes around the clinic were even possible. Her father had now given full control of the clinic over to Nathaniel Langston, whom he believed was his son in law to be. He himself was travelling abroad.
After the incident at the auction Alicia needed a friend to confide in and seek comfort from, and Nathaniel was quick to respond. Soon enough Alicia had gathered the courage to confess her long standing feelings towards him. He was still confused by the turn in their relationship that Alicia wished for. But he was willing to explore.
After a short episode of Alicia being stubborn and desperate about her feelings for him, and him giving her various reasons for their relationship not being a possibility. They both came to a decision that most young people make.
"Let's give it a try. Let's Fake Date." Nathaniel had told Alicia to which she could only agree. Alicia was recalling his words while getting herself into a chic sleeveless bodycon dress that had a modest slit down the middle, for one such fake date that Nate had planned. They were going on a cruise. Too fancy for a fake date, one might think, but the two had been friends for a long time and Nate knew that Alicia had a cruise on her bucket list. He was amused to see the sparkle in her eyes the second he mentioned a cruise. Alicia was only planning on a wonderful night of classy champagne, a fancy dinner and Nate finally confessing he wants a 'real date'. And she could finally begin her new life of endless possibilities and certain absence of Quentin Walsh. But Quentin had other plans for her.
One look at the cruise and Alicia was left completely spellbound. She had never seen anything more luxurious in her entire life. Infront of her was a majestic almost extraterrestrial vessel. It was almost nineteen feet tall. Somewhere in the crowd gathered on the pier she had spotted Nate and called out to him while making her way towards him.
The pier was filled with an excitable bunch of people who were in expensive attires. The expressions were all of anticipation and bliss. Every person was already impressed by the cruise and people had just started crossing the gangway into the open atrium. There was a queue to the purser's desk. While Alicia waited there she looked around the massive atrium. People had already started gathering there. There was a bar, a huge piano, a performance stage for live music, elevators and spiral staircases that lead to different floors. The vessel had a muted color scheme going with a mix of gold, purple and magenta. It had a quiet, understated elegance. The staircases were perfect pantone with a fading rose colour scheme. Each guest was welcomed with a complimentary glass of wine or champagne.
Alicia and Nate made their way to their suite, which was only a floor below the main deck.
The suite was a decent size with a balcony that had the best view of the ocean. A massive bed that had beaded drapes, a small piano, aureate lights that made every surface in the room clinquant.
After putting their luggage away they made their way to the bar. Alicia ordered herself another glass of wine while Nate asked for a tequila on the rocks.
Nate’s expression had suddenly changed a bit. He was refusing to make any eye contact with her. While she was busy telling him stories and how impressed she was by the Cruise he was barely listening to her and would often look away towards nothing.
“Is everything alright?” Alicia demanded to know.
Nate remained silent for what seemed like an eternity to her but was only a few seconds and then continued to talk.
“We’ve been on these fake dates for the past few weeks. And during this time I’ve learned that you and I are great friends. We know each other so well and we almost have the same mentality, but despite these similarities I just don’t feel an attraction let alone a connection”
This was far from what Alicia had expected him to say. But there was still a part of her that was preparing her heart for rejection.
“You’re breaking up with me?’ Alicia remarked
“We were never together so no I’m not breaking up with you. I just don’t see us in a relationship.”
Alicia knew the rejection was coming but she didn’t want to accept it. And now that it had finally happened, she still wanted answers as to why he didn’t feel even a little attracted towards her.
“You can’t tell me that there is no attraction between us Nate. I mean how in the world can you not be attracted to me?”
“Because, I think, I might be gay.”
Alicia was in utter surprise and almost didn’t believe him.
“That’s not true you’re just saying that to get rid of me.”
“It is true. I have never felt attracted towards any woman. I just can’t accept that because if I did my family wouldn’t look at me the same.”
Alicia had several feelings but she understood her friend and without continuing her debate about him liking her, she switched to being a friend to him.
“So why ask me to fake date you?”
“Because I’m still confused and I’m sorry but I used you to fool my parents into thinking I had a girlfriend.’
“So do you have a boyfriend?”
“No!”
There was a moment of awkward silence between them which was then broken by Nate's confession of liking someone.
“There is someone I have a crush on. And you happen to know him.”
Alicia was now thinking about all the men that she knew to pinpoint the one Nate liked.
“Who is it?”Alica begged to know.
Just as Nate was about to break the suspense she heard a familiar voice behind her say “You’re here too?”
Alicia started breaking a sweat, the voice sent chills down her spine; it was like she had seen a ghost. She finally turned around and saw Quentin Walsh standing with a grin on his face.
"Are you following me?" Alicia teased him.
"I'm here with a couple of friends. We all needed a break."
"You have friends?!!"
"More than you Alicia."
The two started bickering like a couple of teenagers making Nate feel like an ignored third wheel, so he made an excuse and slowly slipped away.
Just like at the auction they were soon able to get into a never ending conversation. It surprised them both how much they had to talk to each other. But that's just how it is. Some people you just can't seem to even start a conversation with but some people you can just talk to endlessly. Some people are just meant to be friends. They were able to realize how good of a friendship they could have but Quentin wanted more. And Alicia, even though she had a clear attraction towards him, was having a hard time seeing a future with him. So every time Quentin would bring up anything related to dating she was quick to express her disinterest and would change the topic. Although she was uncomfortable with the thought of being with him she didn't mind spending time with him as friends. She knew that sooner or later he would bring up his feelings into the mix and she was having a hard time coming up with answers to give him when that happened.
Quentin soon realized that he had made her uncomfortable and started to deliberate over his actions. He didn't know what he had done to offend her or if he just wasn't her type. After having given his actions a thought he couldn't contain himself from interrogating her.
"Have I done something to offend you or do you just not like me?"
"Like is a strong word, Quentin." Alicia chimed in.
“I do like you but I don’t like you enough. I take relationships very seriously unlike yourself.” said Alicia
“You've never even been in love. So how can you act so high and mighty and lecture me about love? ”
This really surprised Alicia.
“I cannot believe that the person who is never photographed with the same woman twice has the audacity to accuse me of being loose with my affections!” Alicia said, almost shouting by the end.
She was horrified with herself as she saw Quentin take a step back and realized what she had said.
As she opened her mouth to apologise, Quentin saw it in her face, then putting up his hand, he said, "I deserved that. I am sorry. That was out of line."
"You know, you are only making me feel worse." Alicia inquired.
"Worse enough for you to give me another kiss?" Quentin asked, winking at Alicia, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
“I’m not too sure about the nature of our relationship. To be honest with you I’ve always dreamed about having a perfect relationship. I’ve always dreamed about falling in love with someone I belong with. And from what I’ve seen and what I know about you, I really don’t think I belong in your world”
“I fail to understand what you mean by not belonging in my world. My world isn’t that scary.”
“I don’t think you’re capable of falling in love Mr.Walsh.”
“Do you think you know me that well Alicia?”
“I think I know enough.”
“Walk with me.” Quentin said as he led her to the atrium.
“My world is a lot more than what you’ve seen. I survived through the worst and that’s what has made me who I am today.”
Quentin’s face showed distress. Alicia could almost see a pain behind his eyes but refused to be let on.
“I’m sure we all have struggles in life. I'm sure even someone like you must have been through difficult times. But really I don’t think that you telling me your story is gonna change anything.” she said as she started to walk away from him again.
“My mother died when I was fifteen and I was in that car with her.”
Alicia froze in her steps. The words that came out of his mouth hit too close to home with her. What are the chances that Walsh had the same pain as her? She could only think about how insensitive she had been towards him. Putting labels on him when she barely knew anything about him.
“I grew up blaming my father for it. I still do.”
Alicia approached him and looked him in the eyes. She could only see agony in those eyes. Something that she had failed to notice. His eyes were the same as hers. The eyes of someone fighting a trauma.
“I..I’m sorry..I Just..”
“It’s okay. I don’t need consolation. I’ve had enough of it. I just assumed that someone like you, someone who’s been through the same as me would see me differently than others.”
“You’ve always put up this act like you’re happy like everything is perfect with you. There’s no way that people would be able to see the real you.”
“But you do. You do see me differently.” He said, as he started taking his suit off and then his shirt.
“What are you doing?”
He turned his back towards her to reveal his bare skin mangled with long, thick risen welts. Possibly the aftermath of a whip.
He turned around teary eyed and sighed in a broken voice. “Aren’t you glad you were in a coma after the accident and not abducted, beaten and tortured for days.”
She became speechless and couldn’t believe what she had just witnessed. She couldn’t help but leap on to him and embrace him as tight as she could. He was now in tears and held her back with the same intensity burying his face in her neck. She could feel his tears touch her skin and it broke her heart. She couldn’t let go of him anymore.
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