Player vs. Player II

Chapter Four (4)

I don't need to go over to the table straight away, do I? It's not like we'll be discussing some life-or-death issue so I hang my head down and go over to the cashier table. "Hot chocolate with foam on top, please," I tell the woman behind the counter. She punches some buttons on the cash machine and points to the price, I hand her the money and stare at the menu.

"Alexandra?" a familiar voice says coming up behind me. I grumble under my breath, turn around, and flash Keith a cheeky smile,

"Hi!"

"Didn't you see me? I was just sitting there at that table," he turns and points to the window seat. 

"Oh! No, I'm sorry I didn't realize you were there." I lie just as the cashier comes back with my hot chocolate. I take and immediately start drinking it so I can't speak it. I allow the hot liquid to burn my throat as punishment for not coming up with a better excuse. When I look up Keith is looking at my ring with an odd expression.

"If you want to go now . . ." he said trailing off as he removes his burning eyes from my finger to the table he was seating on. I nodded and followed behind him, clutching the cup in my hands. When we sit, Keith's eyes are immediately out the window; watching people walk past like it's the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen.

I suddenly feel guilty and fake and I don't know why, I just do. In an attempt to make friendly conversation I say, "So, how are you?"

"Same old."

"Oh, what about Olivia?" I say remembering back to junior year in boarding school, "What ever happened with the case?"

His eyes are more cold than I've ever seen them. His jaw presses tight and he plays with his coffee cup, "I won, but I had to give the child back to Olivia. Geoff didn't really give me time, what's the point of keeping her if I can't even be there?"

"Oh, I didn't realize--"

He ignored me, "She visits during weekends, and holidays, those are the only times I can see her anyway."

A long silence is draped over us again and I don't know what to say. Keith is staring out the window and I'm suddenly cross with him. I didn't arrange this meeting, he did. I didn't come here to let this man make me feel like I've done something wrong. 

"What about you?" Keith says, interrupting my mental rant.

"Huh?"

"How are you?"

"I'm fine."

"It seems things are going well for you," he motions toward my ring. I look down at it and watch it sparkle under the ceiling lights. I nod seeing as no words can form in my mouth. I remember Amy's words, You'd be able to go up to all your exes, throw your ring in their faces and walk away but looking at the ring is making me feel wrong.