Only Ocean

When nostalgia

"You look so different, you guys look good!"
"Us? Laura, you've totally grown up!" I hear Nick speak up finally.

"Not much has changed, actually!"
"Could've fooled me!"
"Hey, when are we gonna eat?" Matt interrupts
"Turners been hogging it in that bag." Jamie answers pointing over at it.

Alex doesn't seem to be paying any attention to us seeing that he's on the phone and a bit turned away.

"Reckon It's Alexa?" Matt pops up.
"Has to be, she's been asking where he's been or sommat." Jamie answers again as they all stare at Alex who's oblivious to the conversation going on about his relationship.

"Who's Alexa?" I finally give into my nosey ways but in that they all fake gasp.

"You don't know Alexa? Jamie perks and I only shake my head in response.

"That's his girlfriend, we thought you knew about her already."
"No, he didn't say a word to me." I eye him and notice he's gotten off the phone, he's also noticed me staring.

"Sorry mate, had a phone call." His voice was dull and I wasn't the only one who noticed, they all gave each other a look of worry and knowing.

"Hey, don't worry. We were good with waiting." Matt goes over and pats his back.
"Who's we?" Nick budded in, "I'm starving!" and everyone laughed at him.

*

"No, no! Do you remember when Alex showed up with a half asleep Laura while he was wide awake?"
"It was 4am!" I protested with a smile and slight laugh.

We were all sat in my living room. Matt sat on the single couch while Alex and I lay together slumped on the couch while Jamie sits at the end of us with nick sitting on the other couch.

"Plus he is always getting up early! I stayed up and fell asleep at like 2am!" I added with the same smile-laugh.

"Yeah, but now he's been late. Always getting up at 4pm asking for a drink." Jamie says folding his arms and sitting back a bit.
"Shut up, you wanker." Alex finally speaks up sitting us up as bit.
We all shared a laugh.

It felt like when were younger again and this was happiest I haven't felt in a while.

"It's Laura who's the one getting up earlier now." He adds looking down at me with a smile.
"Roles reversed, she's grown more mature than you." I hear Matt from across the room.

"We're the same amount of mature!"
"See, you're whining now."
"What? No I'm not!"
"Right, mate."

It's then that Alex gets a phone call and attention is turned to him, "Sorry, I have to-" He shuffled for me to get up so he could. "answer..this."

And I, of course, reassure him. "No, no. It's alright."

Now, I'm sitting on my butt with my legs to the side watching him, like a child. He went into the bathroom.

The mood has switched and I quickly noticed as did the others, why did it always end up like this?

"You know? I think it's starting to get late and I need to head back home, don't wanna fall asleep behind the wheel." I hear Nick say and they all agree, along with me, that it's time to leave.

"Alright, love you guys!" I wave them off as they all greet me with goodbye, I close the door behind me and lean against it sighing.

Running my hands over my face I hear the bathroom door open again and footsteps.

"Oh, have they all gone?" His voice..

When I do remove my hands, I see a puffy, red eyed Alex stood plainly in front of me.

I could tell he could see the worry in my eyes grow.
"It's nothing."

"Nothing is something, what is it Alex?"
"Nothing, it's nothing."

He takes off his coat and hangs it up beside me and I was able to catch his arm, catch his attention.

"Please?"
"I'm going to bed."

He broke free of my grip and went back over to the couch. This time, I don't pry, I head for my room.

This is happening to us again.