Begin Again [Alexander Skarsgard fan fiction]

Chapter Two: Begin Again

Song Influence: Begin Again by Taylor Swift

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"I don't think I'll answer if he calls, though."

Maja slapped my thigh, her mouth full of toothpaste and the toothbrush hung out the right side of her face. She ripped it out and spit in the sink, glaring at me, "What the fuck, Hadley! You have to answer if he calls. I don't care what happens, you are not missing out on seeing him again."

"Why do you care so much Maja? I won't be in Sweden for much longer." I was trying to convince myself and I knew it.

It was noon the next day, but I still couldn't stop thinking about him or his playful banter. It was just a crush, and I was acting like a 16 year old girl about it, not a 26 year old.

"So! It can just be a fling, you know. He's a man, he won't care." Maja pointed out, spitting and rinsing her mouth.

I sighed, considering it briefly. I wasn't sure my heart could handle a fling, after all it had been through, but I decided not to tell Maja that. She would argue until her very last breath. Before I could snap back though, Lena poked her head in.

"You girls awake? I need help downstairs in the bakery." Lena spoke apologetically.

She was looking older than usual, with her gray hair piled on top of her head erratically and her apron covered in flour and chocolate stains. I nodded immediately, "Yes ma'am. We'll be right down."

Her bakery was right next to our apartments and where I met Maja. We learned we went to the same university and the rest was history. I pulled on my apron hanging on the post of the bed and threw Maja an extra one, and we bounded downstairs.

"I'm just saying," Maja began again, "you should just call him."

I sighed, rolling my eyes as we entered the bakery, "it's kind of hard to call whenever he's the only one with the phone number."

Maja looked at me, horrified, "What the fuck!" She repeated, slipping behind the counter and helping Henrik, one of the new people, bag pastries and ring people up.

I jumped to the kitchens, helping Gran and the other baker Freddy finish icing and preparing. I wondered for a moment why I hadn't taken Alex's number too, or why he didn't offer his up for that matter. Maybe he didn't want me to have it, and he was just being polite.

"Earth to Hadley! Take these loaves of bread out there, please." Lena handed me a tray, and I obeyed, my mind echoing Alex's name.

The afternoon passed quickly, and Maja caught the red line back to her home while I trudged back upstairs without Lena. She had to close down and count the money, and I was exhausted. Once there, I collapsed in bed and pulled my phone off the charger. Suddenly, all exhaustion was gone. I had a voicemail from a phone number I didn't recognize. Sitting up in bed, I listened to it.

"Hi Hadley, it's erm... Alex. I was wondering if you wanted to catch that drink. Maybe tomorrow night? Let me know, thanks."

My heart was pounding, and I felt a light sweat break out across my forehead. Should I even call him back? I paced the apartment, cleaning up a bit as I chewed on my fingernails, trying to decide if I should. Finally, I pulled the phone out and redialed his number. It rang and rang and sent me to voicemail, so I took a deep breath.

"Hey, Alex, it's Hadley... I'm returning your call. I would love to grab a drink with you. Just text me the details, and I'll meet you at whatever time? Bye." I hung up, staring out the window. The colors seemed more vibrant, the rain splashing against the pavement seemed more beautiful too.