Desolation // l.p.

Chapter XXX

"So what are we doing?" Alex asks as he tucks his hands into the pockets of his dress pants. I push a lock of my hair behind my ear, it fell out of place thanks to the slight breeze that the city is blowing.

"We can do whatever you want." I comment, gracious to the fact he was so willing to leave with me. I couldn't stand the idea of being there for a second more, not without deciding how I feel about this whole joining-companies thing.

The whole point of me quitting Payne Industries was to avoid Mr. Payne but yet again, like many things it has deemed itself an impossible task. How is it possible that every time I try to leave this man he finds a way to keep me within his reach.

"Want to go to the market?" Alex suggests and I shake my head. I'm not in the mood to be somewhere that is just as crowded as the inside of my head. "Okay... Do you want to go see a movie, I heard there is this new comedy that's-"

"How about we just go back to my place? I've been itching to get out of this dress." I interrupt him and pull the bottom of the dress down my legs that seems to have ridden up at some point during our walk.

"Oh. Uhm-" Alex laughs as his hand rubs over the back of his neck. A blush creeps onto his cheeks and I retrace my words, trying to figure out where I went wrong. All I said was. . . Oh no. Oh god.

"I mean- I'm sorry." I flush in embarrassment. "I meant only that I can change into something else, not. . ." I trail off and hide my face in my hands. I can't believe I said that so bluntly, and that I didn't think it through before I said it.

"It's okay." Alex says, laughing at my dispense. I'm not going to lie, I like the way his green eyes light up and a dimple appears on his right cheek when he laughs. It's really cute.

"No, it's mortifying." I correct him as I begin to laugh with him. He shakes his head in amusement as we continue down the side walk. We've walked far enough that we are only a few blocks from my apartment. I assume that's where we decided we're going to go, even if it was a silent agreement.

...

"I don't think I'm going to stay, I have some things that I need to go do." Alex says when we get to my apartment. I haven't even opened the door and he already wants to leave?

"Oh okay, yeah." I say slightly disappointed. I'm not going to force or beg him to stay. Especially since he is really nice and I would like to get to know him, I think having a friend at my new job would be good for me. I struggle with my key, fumbling with it in the lock as I try to unlock the door. Finally it unlocks and I breathe a sigh of relief. I'm not sure if it's just me, or the key, or the lock but something has to be broken when it comes to the tedious task of opening this door. I push it open slightly as I turn back to Alex who was watching me, a small smirk on his face. I almost believe that he will make a comment about it.

"I'll see you tomorrow, yeah? It'll be an interesting day." he mentions and I nod, it's not like I can just skip out on work, no matter how appealing of an idea it may be.

"It certainly will." I agree. An awkward moment settles between us and I look everywhere but at him. He looks hesitant, as if there is something he wants to say but can't manage to.

"I'll see you." He says finally as he backs away.

"Yep, see you tomorrow." I wave as he turns and heads for the elevator at the end of the hallway. That was a bitter and awkward way to end the night but I can't dwell on it. It won't help with everything else going on right now. After watching Alex disappear through the elevator doors I push my door open the rest of the way and walk in, kicking my shoes off as I close the door behind me.

That so-called-dinner didn't even serve dinner. And if they did then I left before it was served. That's more likely what happened. I was in such a rush to leave that I ignored the hungry growling in my stomach.

I go to the kitchen, ready to dig through the refrigerator in search of leftovers or anything remotely edible. I'm so hungry at this point I could eat anything. After a few seconds of rummaging through some things that are so old they should probably be thrown out, I find some soup that my mother made a few nights ago and sent over to me. Aside from wondering how it got so far back in my fridge I'm curious as to why she always makes food for me. I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that she never thinks that I get to eat home cooked meals because I don't know how to cook. What she doesn't know is that the joke's on her because I can make a killer grilled cheese sandwich. If I'm correct the soup should be potato which is fine with me, cream-based soups have always been my favorite.

I open the microwave and place in my soup, humming along to an imaginary song that is playing in my head. I'm pretty sure it's something that I've heard on the radio, I just don't know the name of it. I'm way too excited when the timer goes off telling me that my soup is done being reheated and I waste no time getting it and eating right away.

As I sit my bowl down on the table, and sit myself down in a chair a knock sounds at my door. I involuntarily grown, just wanting to be left alone with my delicious soup, but alas someone has to ruin my dinner.

I am in no way in a rush, so I stand up slowly and shuffle to the door, somewhat dragging my feet and making the person on the other side wait, a punishment for interrupting my leftovers.

As far as I know I'm not expecting anyone anyway. I'm guessing that it's probably just a solicitor or one of those church groups that always come to the door and ask for money, not that I really have any to give to them. A small part of me kind of wonders if it may be Alex, returning to say the words he couldn't muster up the courage to earlier.

I peek out the peep hole to the door, and see the sandy hair and bright green eyes that left only moments ago. My stomach flips at the idea of him being back, but at the same time I'm amazed that I was right.

"Alex?" I say as I open the door, revealing his smiling face. "What are you do-" I begin to ask when I'm cut off by him grabbing me, pulling me to him and kissing me. Hard.

A/N: hey, so what's up? I know this is a bit short but I wanted to update so I could talk to you guys about something.

So I have a chance to enter this story into the 1D Watty Awards and I was wondering what you guys thought about that? I'm asking because my decision is based solely on you. I don't want to enter my story if no one will vote for it but if you guys will then I will gladly do that. It would be so cool if this story could win something as cool as the 1D watty award.

So let me know what you think and dpending on that will determine if I enter it, and if I enter it that will also determine when the next chapter is posted :)

Luv u - Rachel Xx