It Started With a Dare

Chapter 20

Buzz. Chatter. Clank. Ring.

Those were the noises that could be heard all throughout the diner. Except our table though. That was because our table was engulfed by a bubble of awkward silence once Hailey decided that she and Alex's father share a table with us.

I was forced to sit beside Alex since apparently Alex's father, Peter as he wanted me to call him, wanted to have a good look at us both along with Hailey. So even though our orders were delivered — the waitress was weirded at the abundance of silence on our table — Peter and Hailey stared very closely as if we were not from this universe.

Since none of us were talking anytime soon, I took a strip of crispy bacon and took a big bite out of it. However, Peter thought that that was the right time to talk.

"She's not like your other girlfriends, Alex."

The bacon got lodged in the middle of my throat, causing me to have a fit of coughs. Alex patted my back and handed me a glass of water. I drank the water and felt my air passage function smoothly again.

"Dad, I told you she's not my girlfriend," Alex said. "She's a friend," he followed, to which I snorted. Alex glared at me, "You know what? You try explaining then."

"No offense, Sir—"

"Peter."

I sighed, "No offense, Peter, but your son is a pain in the ass. I don't really want him as a boyfriend. Even our friendship is not within the normal level."

"Are you friends with benefits?" Hailey asked curiously.

"Hailey!" Both Alex and Peter cried, looking appalled and attracting the attention of other customers in the diner. I just merely stilled, already prepared of the fact that this conversation was going downhill.

"What?" Hailey shrugged.

"Where did you learn that, young lady?" Peter asked his daughter. "And Alex, I swear to God, if you and this other young lady here have that kind of relationship, you will—"

"I assure you we don't," I interjected. "Honestly, I have to interest in your son, or having a relationship in that matter. I'm actually here just to study."

"Here?" Hailey asked.

"She's from England. She got sent here for school," Alex explained.

"Don't British people have those funny accents? It's like they got something stuck under their tongues," Hailey said, making me laugh out loud.

"I got used to the American accent, little girl," I chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Do I really sound like I got something stuck under my tongue?" I asked her in my natural accent to which she giggled and nodded.

"I don't really get the British and their way of bringing up their children," Peter mumbled.

"Dad," Alex said in a slight warning tone. He glanced at me for a split second, hoping I wouldn't catch him being slightly worried, but I did. I didn't like it.

"It's okay," I said to both Alex and Peter. "I actually envy how families here in America watch out for their kids. Well, some of them. But I can assure you that not all British families are like mine."

Peter nodded. "I meant no offense, Anna."

"Don't worry about it," I gave a slight smile. "Well, let's eat. The food is getting cold."

~

"Walk her home, Alex," Peter said. After breakfast, we had a short chat then we decided that they should get settled in and I should go home. Peter was nice enough to pay the entire bill for our breakfast, despite my attempts to pay for my share.

"I live right across the street," I said. "It's not a problem."

"Hailey and I still have to check in at the hotel, and Alex doesn't really like waiting for the room to get prepared," Peter said, lightly pushing Alex forward. "Might as well hang out with her, son."

"Dad," Alex said again in his warning tone while giving him a long stare.

"See 'ya, Alex," Hailey waved.

~

"That went well," Alex said once we were in the elevator going up to my floor.

"They're nice," I said.

"And nosey... and annoying," Alex added.

"It's not really that bad."

"Yeah," he agreed.

The elevator dinged and stopped at my floor, but one step out of the elevator, I suddenly had a dizzy spell and stumbled. Luckily, I quickly got hold of my footing, but that didn't stop from Alex wrapping an arm around my waist.

"Hey, you alright?" Alex asked, half-dragging, half-carrying me to my door.

I wriggled out of Alex's grasp and walked by myself in quick, short steps. "I'm fine," I said, putting in the door's passcode out of his sight. "It happens. Thanks for walking me. You can go now."

I entered my flat and moved to close the door when Alex pushed himself in. I didn't try to resist since it had become a habit for him to barge in. Him pushing my back against a surface is also becoming a habit of his too.

"What's your problem?" Alex said.

"Me?" I snapped. "You're the one who has me against a wall right now!"

"I mean medically," Alex rolled his eyes and looked at me like an idiot. "All those pain killers, that dizzy spell."

"I could've just tripped?" I snorted. "And since when were you so worried about my well-being?"

"What if I'm just trying to be a good friend?!" Alex raised his voice. "You're just so — ow! Let go of me, you motherfu—"

"Leave him alone," I sighed and picked up Puppy Alex who had his teeth latched on Alex's ankle. Puppy Alex released a fury of high-pitched barks at Alex and wriggled in my arms in attempts to escape. "Please leave," I said. "I wanna go back to bed."

"Anna..." Alex looked like he wanted to say more. In the end, he just shook his head and left my flat.

~

Votes and comments are highly appreciated (more like needed). Come on, guys, I see you reading, but neither comments nor votes are appearing. Help a writer out, loves.

Anyways, any guess on what Anna's coming down with?

I promise to finish editing the story. Nothing much will change though. It's still the same plot. Although I will take away the cringy parts. Thanks for sticking 'round.

Love 'ya!