The Eighteen Year Fallout

Chapter 29

Two weeks of school passed fairly quickly, and both Taylor and Carson had kept their distance from Alexa. Using Kaydie as their go between, they'd come to the agreement that Carson would see Isabella for a couple of hours every Sunday and so far the plan seemed to work perfectly. Kaydie would take Isabella to the park close to Alexa's house, where she'd be met by Carson or if she was in luck; Daniel. Alexa was certain now that her childhood friend had a crush on Daniel Jacks and she tried to encourage her to interact with  him more. 

During this week of school, Kaydie and Alexa had spent a lot of time with Everly Andrews, who had become quite a good friend to Alexa in the last few weeks since their talk in science. Maybe Alexa was being extremely trusting, especially as she hardly knew Everly but in the short time they'd been friends, Everly had been completely honest with both Alexa and Kaydie, proving that Taylor really had been a bad friend from the start.

It was now Sunday and Kaydie was out meeting Carson to handover Isabella, although she had no idea that Alexa had interfered in the hope of getting her to face up to her crush on Daniel Jacks. The previous evening Alexa had rang Daniel after getting his number from Everly and had basically asked him up-straight if he had feelings for Kaydie, to which he'd said he had. Being the wannabe cupid that she was, Alexa had then concocted a plan for Daniel to collect Isabella and then take Kaydie out for a coffee. Hopefully it worked.

While all this was happening, Everly had come over to Alexa's house to help her catch up with her science work. Being off for so long had left her at a major disadvantage but luckily Everly was on hand to help.

"So I assume the evil queen has kept her distance?" Everly asked curiously as Alexa copied down the notes Everly had brought over with her.

"Hmm yeah" Alexa muttered, as she tried to concentrate on what she was writing, "I half expected her to try and approach me, beg for forgiveness you know?"

Everly nodded, understanding what she meant. "What about Carson?"

"He sends me these looks across the cafeteria sometimes and it makes staying away from him hard," Alexa sighed, putting her pen down and turning to face her new friend, "I hate how much of an effect he has on me"

"You can't help you're feelings though Alexa. He might have wronged you, but there's no doubt that boy has some kind of feelings for you. You just have to get to him before the evil one does."

Alexa sniggered at the nickname they'd given Taylor, "I'm glad that you and Kaydie understand and don't think I'm mad. I know most girls would have stopped his visitations with Isabella and told him to go to hell but I can't. It's so frustrating.

"I think this needs to be sorted once and for all" Everly suddenly stated, "I think you should ring him and tell him how you feel about him."

"I don't know what if..." Alexa started but she was interrupted by her eager friend.

"'What if' nothing" she scoffed, "You need to make him see just how much he needs you and Isabella. Call him and tell him how you feel!"

Alexa pondered the idea for a moment. She already knew that keeping her distance from Carson was doing nothing to discourage her feelings for him so maybe Everly was right; she should just lay all her cards on the table before it was too late. Of course, it could go terribly wrong but at least when her daughter grew up she could honestly say that'd she'd tried to make them a family.

"I'll do it" she announced, grabbing her phone off the table and abandoning her schoolwork.

Everly motioned to the living room, as she left Alexa in peace to make the phonecall. Scrolling through the contacts on her phone, Alexa came to a halt at Carson and quickly pressed 'call' before she could chicken out.

After a couple of rings, Carson's voice echoed down the phone, "Hello?"

"Hi Carson, it's Alexa"

"Lexie, is something wrong?" Carson's voice sounded worried but Alexa assumed it was because she'd told him not to contact her and yet here she was ringing him.

"Nothing's wrong" she told him as she jumped up onto the kitchen counter, "I just wanted to talk to you about something, if you're not busy with Isabella..."

"She's with my mom, so I can talk" he replied coolly as Alexa's stomach churned with nerves at what she was about to tell.

"Okay..."Alexa muttered nervously, "I'm just going to come out and say this Carson, because things are getting way too complicated. I've fallen for you. I can't say when it started exactly but all I know is that I have feelings for you and I need to know how you feel. God, Carson...we could give Isabella the perfect family but that all depends on you."

Alexa let out the breath she'd been holding as the line went silent, with only the sound of Carson breathing.

"Carson?"

"I need time, Alexa. There's so much unfinished drama from Taylor and I's past, that I don't know how I feel. About you, about her, about life. I thought I was fine until I read your letter but that's when everything fell apart."

Alexa let out a sigh of relief. At least he hadn't right out rejected her. Yet at least. Why was she always so weak when it came to Carson Michaels?

"I think I understand" she muttered, her voice weak, "But I can't wait much longer. This needs to be resolved. This is torture for everyone involved."

"I know, and it will be Lexie. Just give me a few weeks away from both of you to get my head together. We'll stick to the arrangement for collecting Isabella until then. I promise you that this will be all over soon."

"Okay..."Alexa replied but she was cut off by the sounds of Isabella's cries echoing down the hallway and into the kitchen, "I have to go now. Bye"

"Bye Lexie."

The line went dead, and Alexa dropped her phone onto the table before quietly composing herself. Her mind was flooded with thoughts and worries but she knew she had to push them to the back of her mind and go sort out Isabella. It wasn't fair to expect Everly to watch her while she was having an emotional breakdown in the kitchen.

Opening the kitchen door, the sound of Isabella's screams became louder as Alexa quickly made her way into the living room where a distressed Everly was attempting to calm the baby down. 

"Thank God!" Everly chuckled as she handed Isabella to Alexa and plopped down onto the sofa, "She's got a fair set of lungs on her"

Alexa laughed as Isabella's screams came to a stop as she cradled her in her arms, "I know! Not exactly her best trait at 3am when she's screaming the house down though."

Everly nodded understandingly before carefully asking about Alexa's phone call with Carson. Alexa could tell that her new friend was curious but was trying not to be full on, but she understood her curiosity and was happy that she had someone other than Kaydie to talk to. Smiling weakly, Alexa relayed the conversation between herself and Carson as Everly listened carefully, giving her opinion every so often. 

After a good half an hour talking about the situation she'd found herself in, Alexa and Everly both agreed that she should do as asked and give Carson time to get his head together. In saying this, they'd set a deadline; if Carson hadn't made contact within two weeks, Alexa would have to confront him. It was the only way to resolve this situation.

Feeling drained from the conversation she'd just had, Alexa suggested that the girls watch a film but just as she slipped 'The Notebook' disc into the DVD player the door flew open, banging against the adjacent wall to reveal a giddy looking Kaydie.

"I think I'm love" she gushed as both Alexa and Everly burst into giggles.

It was time to focus on someone else's love life for once