Summer Love | TLOS

Ch. 2

14/9/12

Oh, he's wonderful! I love everything about him! He's so kind and sweet!

Alex and Bree walked into Conner's gigantic hotel. It was embellished with beach paintings and exotic plants lined the main entrance. Alex looked up at the ceiling in awe. Draping from the marble dome was a large chandelier. It glistened when the California sun hit the crystals and shot rainbows onto the walls. The two walked straight forward to the recreation area. Near that area was the pool. Alex and Bree walked into the humidity and walked around the pool.

"Aren't you going to get in? People usually swim in the pool, not walk around the perimeter of it," a blond lifeguard said.

The lifeguard was tall and muscular. His eyes were a sparkling blue and his blond hair was styled. He wore a white tank top and red shorts. When the lifeguard spoke, he had a thick European accent. On his shirt was a pin that read, Arthur.

Alex's stomach did a quadruple flip. Her heart fluttered but her mind went straight to denial. There was no way she was going to fall, again. But her mouth went dry and she couldn't speak.

"No, we're not going to get. Maybe later, though!" Bree said, saving Alex.

"Alright, well, have a nice day!" Arthur replied and waved to the girls.

Bree grabbed Alex's arm and pulled her into the hotel. As they walked down to the counter, Bree's grip on Alex's arm grew tighter. While they waited for someone to come to the desk, Bree broke the silence.

"What was that back there? I thought you were good at talking, at least that's what Conner said."

"I just couldn't find the right words," Alex replied.

"Uh-huh, sure you did," Bree said. "Come on, you thought the lifeguard was cute. I saw it in your eyes."

Alex scoffed. "I don't think the lifeguard is cute!"

Conner walked in and rang the bell at the front desk. A lady scurried over to the desk. She was tall and thin. The woman seemed very frail as if she hadn't eaten in a week. Her hair was dark burgundy, but it was tied back into a small tight bun at the nape of her neck. She wore big cat-eyed red glasses that were too large for her face. On her navy uniform was a name pin that said: Paisley.

"Give Alex and Bree a tour," Conner ordered.

"Yes, Mr. Bailey," Paisley trembled.

Paisley turned to the girls and said, "Come with me."

Paisley lead Alex and Bree to an area that looked like a gigantic kitchen. There were four refrigerators, four freezers, two pantries, and many cupboards with who knows what inside. Numerous coffee pots lined the walls along with tea pouches and hot chocolate packets nearby.

"This is the dining hall. You can help yourself here or call room service instead," Paisley explained, her voice shaking.

She turned her back to the girls and lead them to another room. There was a pool table and a foosball table.

"This is the billiard room. For your own entertainment."

They continued around the hotel to all the different rooms, including the pool.

Alex couldn't let go of the way Conner had treated Paisley. He hadn't even addressed her or bothered to say please or thank you. Over the years Conner had become rich and famous, he had also become rude and vain. Her mother must have done the same. Alex knew that her jerk brother needed help. She knew Conner and that was not her Conner. The Conner she knew was kind and loved everyone(except for maybe some of his teachers). Alex's way of knowing her brother had changed. Drastically. She thought she knew the twin she grew up with. The boy who gave her a hug when she cried. The Conner who did not forget his family. He never left anyone behind, but this time he did. Alex should've known that when Conner forgot to send money, he would've relished in it and became vain.

Alex decided to ask Paisley about the new and unimproved Conner Bailey.

"Paisley, does Conner always talk to you that way?" Alex asked.

"I cannot answer that question," Paisley replied, shortly.

"Okay, does he usually degrade you?" Alex asked.

"Degrade? I don't think to degrade is the correct term."

"Humiliate?"

"We shouldn't be having this conversation, Miss Bailey," Paisley concluded.

With that, Paisley turned on her heel and walked away. Alex was determined to find out.

***

Conner invited Alex to join him, Charlotte, and Bob for a family dinner at a fancy restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles. Alex didn't feel like eating after Conner's actions. In fact, she felt too sick to eat with him. She kindly refused and found herself reading her old diary, again. Eventually, her stomach started gnawing at her sides. Alex decided it was maybe a good idea to take a break and get some food. She called Paisley to bring her some food to eat. When Alex used please, Paisley seemed shocked, but obediently did what Miss Alex had asked. Paisley knocked on Alex's door and entered her room.

"Here is your food, Miss Bailey," Paisley said, weakly.

"Thank you, Paisley. Now that Conner's not at the hotel can you please tell me?" Alex pleaded.

"Tell you about what?"

"Does Conner normally dehumanizes you like he did this afternoon?" Alex asked.

Paisley was quiet. She was usually quiet, but not like this.

"I cannot say," she answered so softly it was almost a whisper.

"Why not?"

"Mr. Bailey would not be pleased," Paisley informed.

"So in that, you are saying yes?" Alex asked.

"Yes, Miss Bailey," Paisley replied. "Yes, Mr. Bailey always speaks to me like that."

Paisley quickly walked out of the room, closing the door loudly. Alex was mortified. She felt betrayed by her brother's two-faced personality. Nothing made Alex feel more lied to.

For the rest of the night, Alex stayed up in her room, eating her food and rereading Pride and Prejudice because she felt she needed a little Elizabeth Bennet in her life.

Hope y'all liked this second chapter! I think we all need an Elizabeth Bennet in our lives. Have a nice day! ~Flora:)