venture • lrh

one

COLD LONELY NIGHTS
*

While his arms are firmly wrapped around her body, it remains freezing. Michael came to Alexis' house after school and has held her ever since. Not necessarily because she's feeling sad but just because it is cold. They double-checked if the heater was on, and to their surprise, it was. It is almost like it is snowing inside this house.

"Listen, there's a game Saturday. D'you wanna come?" He asks his best friend, softly raking his warm fingers through the brownish hair. A soft hum of comfort leaves her lips as his fingers cause her to feel tickles on her scalp. "Is that a yes?" Michael asks for clarification, needing a verbal answer. Another hum is hearable in the room they're in.

Honestly, Alexis has never really missed one of Michael's games. He keeps asking her if she wants to go there but also knows she'll be there. His games are pretty exciting; as much as she hates to admit it, she's grown to love soccer. Not to do per se, but to watch. Michael knows she's very fond of it, but he's never heard her say it. She closes her eyes as his fingers are now tickling over her arm. 

She doesn't want him to have a girlfriend if he's doing this to her now. 

He's had some girlfriends over the past few years. He has gained the looks as he grew out of puberty. The girls loved him. Don't all girls love a man that sports? As I was saying, he had a few relationships. Some were messed up. They noticed that he hung out with Alexis more than with them, accusing him of cheating because of that. Michael is not the cheating type, and nor will he ever be. Some made Michael choose between them and her; his choice was easily made.

Michael is like family to her and vice versa. He will never pick a girl over his family. He's loyal to his family, team, and Alexis.

"You're still freezing, Al." He whispers. "Maybe you should take a shower to warm up a bit. I have to leave for practice." Alex pouts as she sits back up on the couch. It was way too comfortable not to keep on laying there.

"I don't want you to leave yet." She remains to pout as he stands up from the couch.

"We'll see each other at school again tomorrow, and considering how late you were home and how long your day has been, I recommend you just go to sleep. I don't want you to get sick." He says, putting his coat on and grabbing his car keys from the table. "Love ya, Alex." He says, his hand messing up her hair. With those words, he leaves the house.

Alexis sighs deeply when she looks around her. It's still not sure when or if her mother will return home, but this house is too big for just two people, let alone just one. This house has been quiet, annoyingly clean, but mostly? It has been empty. Looking at all the corners of the house makes her feel several shivers.

This household had always been friendly, sweet, and kind. Anything you could ask for. Until my parents started to fight, it wasn't fun to watch at all, to hear them scream every night. Eventually, there was a time when they became quiet once again. All their discussions were blamed on her moms' use of drugs. She tried to deny and lie about it, but her dad knew.

Eventually, when her dad was out for work, and she was alone with her mother, she blamed Alexis for their fights. Alex never had anything to do with it. When her dad was still alive, he often said their daughter kept them together. Alexis' mother used her anger and drunken behavior on her kid. She abused Alexis, and what started with a simple corrective tap ended up in her beating the crap out of the little girl. But what was she supposed to do?