She Was Hard To Ignore

III.I. Approaching Your Throne

// The next time that I caught my own reflection
It was on its way to meet you
Thinking of excuses to postpone
You never looked like yourself from the side
But your profile could not hide
The fact you knew I was approaching your throne  //

- Crying Lightning by Arctic Monkeys  -

I helped Alex and Alma carrying the bags which brought the food and all what was necessary to produce a meal for ten or so folks. Their flat was just right next to an amazing Art Gallery, I had had the pleasure to visit when I was younger, but due to lack of time and money, I had never got back. Their place was enormous, white plain walls, some others decorated with grey toned wallpaper, with a black flora theme. There were frames on the walls, placed on cabinets and small tables. Most of them were Alex's, from his childhood, adolescence, with his parents, some of them just him alone, other with his mates. Curiously there wasn't a single one of him in stage, unless one Polaroid where it was written 'The Grapes, Sheffield, June 2003'. There was him laughing with his bandmates, completely oblivious to the camera. Their living room had a huge TV screen attached to the wall and columns on each corner behind the lounge. Under the TV there was a stereo, DVD player and an old vinyl player. Supporting them was a long cabinet, with small glass doors, which protected collections of records and vinyls.

"Earth calls Alice!" Alma giggled from the kitchen observing my blank expression. I shook my head and walked towards the kitchen, posing the bags on the isle. "I was jus' admirin', your house is really pretty! I very much enjoy the decoration, was it yer?" Alma smiled and nodded, taking some six packs of the bags and putting them on the fridge. "Yer 'ave a really nice taste then!" She thanked me and told me to put some music on and I gladly took the order. I sit down in front of the cabinet and looked through the CD's and vinyls. "They're all Alex's, so take good care of them, otherwise he might kill you!" She laughed, I chuckled and raised my brows in awe. He had massive collections of great bands, groups I adored since ever. The Stone Roses, Doors, Beatles, Rolling Stones and even older stuff, like Blues Classics and Rock 'n' Roll. I found Rubber Soul on vinyl, one of the best records ever made, in my opinion. "Good choice!" I heard from behind me. Alex had sauntered downstairs and watched me flicking through his music, passionately. I stared at him and mirrored his smile, then proceeded to place the vinyl on the player, so it could start filling the silence. I stood up and asked him if he was coming to help on the kitchen, to which he replied "D'yer need me help?" I nodded and brushed past him "Of course, we do!"

Hours flew by and I was enjoying myself. While, Alma kept cooking a tasty and toilsome meal for everyone, I opted for cooking myself something, since I am vegetarian and didn't want to break my routines. Alma found it pretty amazing that I had been rejecting meat and fish for almost eight years now and she said herself had tried to do it, but she couldn't resist a good eggs and bacon dish in the morning. Alex didn't talk much, but I forced him to help and set some space, lucky him that Matt and Breana joined us earlier than expected, so he got himself some extra hands. Meanwhile, Katie and her two beautiful boys, Jamie and her baby showed up and I had the pleasure to meet them all. Yes, because I was a pure stranger in the middle of all that people, but unlikely what I had thought they were all very welcoming. Finally, Nick, Kelly and their child came and we all joined on the living room to eat, not just because it was more approachable and cozy that way, but also because Alex's kitchen's table wasn't that big.

Everyone was having a good time, chatting, commenting some things that had happened on the past days, and sharing opinions, while you sometimes would hear the crying of  Jamie's baby. I'd never been very comfortable with kids; I had always been someone who got easily annoyed and irritated, kids seemed to be experts on turning on those feelings on me. I had made myself noodles mixed with broccoli, mushrooms, some cube-shape-chopped cheese and soya beans. I was sitting on the floor, alongside Kelly, Nick and Hearst; adjacent me sitting on the sofa were Alex, Alma, Breana and Jamie; Matt and Katie were occupying the two opposite armchairs. Music was still playing, this time it was Is This It by The Strokes. I was sitting very close to Katie and I was enjoying chinwag with her, I came to discover that she was a fan of art and draw, being herself an artist with a little known and short profitable clothes' line, where she decked clothes out with draws made by her. I found it pretty interesting and we got along very well. During my whole conversation with Katie, I couldn't help but take notice of Alex constantly observing me, I didn't know if he was just having blank mind moments, carried by his train of thought or if he was actually scouting me.