|| 𝐴𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 || [𝙆𝙖𝙧𝙡 𝙃𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙜]

Part 24

The man standing in the doorway smiled gently at Aless.

He looked at her with baby blue eyes. His shiny curly hair rested on his brow, and white teeth gleamed as he smiled.

"Oh.. Hello..?" Aless said with uncertainty.

"Hey." The man smiled. "Do you remember me?"

It took Aless a moment. He was dressed well, in expensive clothing. Finally, she was able to put the pieces together.

"Oh!" Aless exclaimed. "I remember you!! You're that guy from the ball!! We danced together!"

The man chuckled softly.
"Yeah, that's me. I've been looking for you."
"Can I come in?"

Aless nodded. "Oh, yeah, sure! Come in, come in!" She piped a little nervously.

He exhaled as he stepped in, brushing off any dust on his clothes. Their eyes met again after Aless closed the door.
He gulped.

"So, um, why have you been looking for me?" Aless asked softly.
"Oh, uh, I just wanted to get to know you better, Y'know? Your name is Aless, right?"

Aless nodded. "Yeah." She sighed.
"Oh, I never did catch your name."

The man chuckled.
"My name's Charles. It's nice to finally get to know you." He smiled, shaking her hand.

"Oh, who's this?" Angie's voice rang out. The two turned around to see Donna holding Angie.

"Oh! This is, um, my friend, Charles." Aless said.
He bowed.
"I'm sorry to intrude, Lady Beneviento."

Angie gasped.
"Oooooh, I remember you, you're the cute guy from the ball!!"

Aless blushed.
"Er... yes, this is him."
Charles let out a nervous chuckle.
"Oh.. I see."

"Would you like a cup of tea?" Donna offered. Charles shook his head.
"Oh, no, no. Thank you though." He said.

Aless asked for a cup, so Donna went into the kitchen to make it.
"So... how are you?" Charles asked, trying to make small talk. Aless shrugged in response.
"I'm okay. You?"

"The same. You know how it is, life, I guess."

The two got to talking for a while, until Donna came out with tea.
Sitting down at the table, they continued talking.
"Are you with anybody? You know, romantically or anything?" Charles asked curiously.
Aless went silent, thinking of an answer.
"It's.. complicated." She sighed, looking at her reflection in the tea cup.

"Oh."

///

The two of them sat there, talking, getting to know each other. Angie was singing loudly as Donna sat in the living room, sewing, letting them talk.
When the sun went down, and the sky was painted with darkness and stars, Charles stood up.
"It's quite late. I should go."

They said their goodbyes, and Charles left quickly.
Aless sat down on the couch, sighing.
"What are you making?" She asked, leaning over to see what Donna had in her hands.

"Oh, just a dress."
Donna sighed.
"You know.. something seems off."
Aless raised a brow. "What seems off?"

"Charles. Something just... isn't right.
Don't you think it's a little strange how he suddenly showed up? I don't know.. I just feel like something's not right."