What If

The Split

Maria's POV

I'm cleaning the bartop when Alex and Forrest walk in. "Hey, boys. What's up?"

"Hey, girl! Forrest and I are going to Planit 7. You want to come with," Alex said with a big smile.

"Thanks for the offer, but Liz and I are still recovering from Friday."

"Friday?" Alex questions.

"Ya, Friday. Remember, your knee was bugging you, and you had a headache. I told you the girls invited us to go out, and I said you couldn't go." Forrest said. But I'm confused because he asked us to go out.

But then he gives me a pleading look as if saying, 'please don't tell him the truth.' so I don't. "Yay, was the headache that bad" I laugh.

"Oh ya, it was a bad headache." Alex pauses. "And... Umm... Why is Michel on the roof outside?"

"He is? Yes, that means he fixed my sign. And he said it was unfixable!" I exclaim. And then Alex gives me a look. I sigh and say, "yes, you can go out the backdoor to avoid him."

"Thank you. I love you so much." Then Alex runs out the back door.

Forrest waits for him to get out of earshot. "Thank you for not telling him about Friday night."

"No problem Forrest. But what are you going to do about it?" I ask

"I don't know. But I got to go bye." He goes out the door.

Five minutes later, Michel walked in. "Hey Michael, are you done fixing my sign?"

"Ok, so listen, I know you want me to fix the sign, but I had a lot of spare time, so I redid the lights and refinished the original wood." He pulls out his phone and shows me the new sign. "What do you think?"

"I think it looks the same as the last one but better. I love it! Thank you! You want a drink on me?"

"It's no problem. And ya, I saw Alex and his perfect writer and poet boyfriend, so yes, I NEED a drink," he sounds so sad.

"So, equal part acetone and club soda, with a shot of vodka on the side. Or, as I'm calling it, an Alientini, and before you say, "that's nothing like a martini," I didn't care. Ok."

He does the shot. "How about you leave the bottle of vodka," he said after giving him his drink.

"It's that bad seeing them together?" I question and pour him another shot. He nods, "Well, I need to go to the back and get more acetone. You are lucky I like you because the health department will soon start asking questions." I smile.

__________________________________________________________________

In the back room, I can hear something from the open window. I look out the window and see Alex and Forrest making out against the wall. And can see what's about to happen, but before I leave, I see Forrest push Alex away. "What? What's wrong?" Alex inquires.

"Why every time you see him, you try to have sex with me! At first, I didn't mind because it was good sex, but WHY!!!" Forrest yells.

"What are you talking about, Forrest?" Alex is trying to act like Forrest is crazy, but he's right. Every time they see each other, Alex gets all touchy-feely with Forrest.

"FOR FUCKS SAKE, ALEX!!!" Forrest screams.

"Seriously, what are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about? I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH MICHAEL GUERIN!!!" He's on the verge of tears. "Everyone knew it. Everyone but me that is. And don't even try to deny it."

Alex is silent for a minute. "So what do you want then?" He paused. "Do you want to backup" he looks mad.

"No, I don't, but you love him." He's barely holding himself together. "I moved my book tour up. So I'm leaving tomorrow at 12, if you want to be with me, come. And if you want him, then goodbye." He walks away but stops, "Whichever you choose, I want you to be happy, and I don't think you can be happy with me."

He's walking back to the back door, so I run back to the bar. "Why are you running?" Michel inquires.

"Forrest is coming back here. And I overheard their conversation." and then SLAM.