what happens in Maine, stays in Maine.

10.

december 30th
alex's stomach fluttered as the woman beneath her returned the moan, just as enthusiastically.
after a minute they pulled away, partly for air, partly because they were lying in a field literally covered in snow.
however despite the bitter cold, both womens faces were burning red as they stared intensely at each other, alex smirked slightly as bradley licked her lips.
"we should err...get moving" alex said awkwardly as she reluctantly pushed herself off bradley and then onto her feet.
"oh- yeah, that's probably a good idea" replied bradley, as alex offered her a hand, pulling her to her feet.
they walked the 7 minutes back home in complete silence, their kiss had sobered them up for the most part and now both of them were almost in a trance, replaying the kiss in their minds.
they reached the dark house, alex fumbling with the front door before stepping to the side and letting bradley enter first.
alex is painfully aware of the silence between them as they tug their boots off, and then their coats.
at the top of the stairs they turn to each other, hesitancy obvious as they almost avoid eye contact all together.
"ok well..." alex pressed her lips together tightly "goodnight" she finally whispered.
not knowing what to do and feeling flustered in the moment, she stuck her hand out, grasped bradley's and shook once before turning on her heel and heading down the hall to her own room.
"yeah, night" bradley said quietly, finally finding her tongue.
she saw alexs silhouette turn towards her, and could've sworn she saw a wink.
but before bradley could even be sure, alex had stepped forward and the door had shut behind her with a soft click.
bradley turned and headed into her own room, her legs feeling like jelly as she lent her back against the cold wood.
unbeknownst to the younger woman, down the hall alex was stood the exact same way, her hand pressed against her forehead, eyes closed, smile wide.
"what just happened" both women whispered to themselves, laughing slightly.

the entire night bradley sat up in her bed, arms hugging her knees, as she tried to figure out what the hell she wanted.
she didn't even know what she wanted to happen tomorrow, how was she supposed to decided what was to be done about her and laura?
she shed tears as the guilt of kissing another woman washed over her.
what was she thinking?
this was so unfair to laura.
all her girlfriend had done was be there for her, be calm and offer stability instead of lashing out at her.
and here she goes and ruins it all in one week, by falling for her co anchor.
but then that offered up a new problem...
what was gonna happen between her and alex?
sure she'd been attracted to alex, even when she first saw her, that first interview they'd had ; alexs fierceness and confidence was so thrilling.
but what if she woke up the next morning and alex decided to avoid her all day like last time?
or worse...what if alex pretends it never happened?
she shakes her head, sighing loudly as she finally lays down, at 5am, and tries to get some sleep.

beep beep beep beep
alex groaned, pushing her face further into the pillows.
"no no" she mumbled as her hand reached out onto the bedside table, she patted it around rather heavily trying to find her alarm to hit the snooze button.
after a few moments of not finding that darn clock, she finally opened one eye, squinting.
realising quickly she wasn't at home in her newyork apartment and it wasn't 3am confused her even more.
"what-?" she mumbled as her lit up phone screen caught her eye, somehow it had ended up on the floor in the night, she lent down and picked it up.
her eyes were barely open, her head pounding from last nights drinks as she swiped across the screen.
"hello?" she asked, her voice rough.
"alex...it's jason"
alex sat up straight in bed, eyes suddenly wide open as her frazzled mind started trying to piece together what was happening.
"alex?" the british voice crackled into her ear.
"ye- ahem, yeah i'm here" she lay back down slowly, the room spinning slightly.
"what ermm what's up? is liz ok?"
"oh yeah lizzys fine...i do need to tell you something though"
alex exhaled a breath she hadn't even realised she was holding.
"go on..." she said slowly, eyes screwed shut.
"natalie's pregnant"
alex's stomached dropped, her nose tingled as her eyes stung.
she bit her lip as she tried to compose herself enough to ask the millions of questions flying through her mind.
finally she choked out "what?"
"yeah" jason laughed awkwardly "we found out last-"
"why are you telling me over the phone this early?" alex started to come around as her anger started replacing her confusion.
had her ex husband really just told her he'd knocked up another woman mere months after their divorce?
"this early? alex it's half one in the afternoon"
"oh" she said quietly.
"i'm telling you over the phone because lizzy told me to not wait-"
"lizzy already knows?"
jason was silent, alex could've sworn she heard him sigh though.
"yes...she knows. we told her when we got back from the doctors"
alex nodded, sucking her bottom lip between her teeth, surely bruising it but she didn't care.
"well congratulations i guess"
"th-thankyou" jason did awful at hiding his shock at alex being so calm and reserved about the whole situation.
"erm i'm gonna go"
"ok, bye alex"
however alex didn't return the politeness as she forcefully ended the call.
as soon as her hand dropped onto the bed beside her, still clutching her phone tightly, she let the tears spring hot to her eyes, her other hand moving to rest across them. almost trying to hide herself from an imaginary audience.
that "imaginary audience" would soon be the whole of america as the news broke that her ex husband was starting a family so quickly with his (very new) girlfriend.
she heaved great sobs as she tried to hide her pathetic crying.