The Lone Survivor

Chapter Four: Alexander's Advice

I came to after an hour of sleep to the sound of Stuart's sweet, singsong voice.
I opened my eyes groggily, drool seeping from the corner of my mouth. It took me a minute to notice who it was. I gasped, wiping my mouth and straightening up, my coloured pencils hitting the metal ground.
"How long were you watching me sleep?..." I asked the Brit in an embarrassed tone.
"Not long, luv." He chuckled. "C'mon, let's get you to bed."
He ruffled my soft ginger hair. I blushed and stood up, watching him walk away.
"Hey Clem," Alexander touched my shoulder. "I need your advice." He told me.
"Sure," I stopped to yawn. "On what?" I looked at him.
"Well, I was working on the speech for when we get back home and I needed to know if this was good." Alexander took a breath, handing me the paper.
"I know you took a writing class in college."
I took the paper with care, reading through the several paragraphs of how it's going so far.
I smiled, shifting my weight from one foot to another.
"This is amazing, Alex..."
I said in awe, handing the paper back to Alexander and watching him smile.
"Thanks!"
He chirped cheerfully.
"Hey, uh, Alex?.." I reached for him before he skipped off in joy.
"Hm? What is it, Clem?"
He turned to me. "Well, uh, I kinda need your advice now..." I cleared my throat.
"I just realized how much I like Stuart. I think he likes me but you know how British people are and the whole 'Love' thing."
I admitted.

Alexander laughed a bit.
"It's about time you opened your eyes!" He told me.
"Stuart's had a crush on you since freshman year in college!"
Alexander looked around.
"You should see what he writes about you in his journal."
He whispered.
"I say just go for 'em!" He told me with a giggle. "
Oh really now?" I put my hands on my hips.
"You know what he would give for you to hug him?"
Alexander chirped.
"Nothing, 'cause I'm going to do that right now!" I said confidentiality.
I ruffled Alexander's soft brown hair with a smile.

I skipped cheerfully to the living quarters where I confronted Stuart.

"Stuart?" I touched his shoulder and he turned around at me.
"Yea?"
His nose twitched as took a breath.
"I.... I, uh...." I gave myself a pep talk in my head. "I, uh, wanted a hug... Before bed..."

I held my arms out awkwardly to him. He looked at me for a moment, the look of hesitation in his deep blue eyes. He took a breath before pulling me into a loving embrace.

I smiled, fighting the urge to squeal.
He backed away, scurrying to the bathroom, Alexander ran after him, falling to the floor on his knees.
"Oh no! British people take so long in the bathroom!" He cried.

I looked down at my jumpsuit, a large goofy smile on my face. I pulled up the collar of my jumpsuit, taking in a deep inhale, Stuart's sweet scent still lingering on the cloth.
"Someone's hittin' it off with a certain blue banged Brit, eh?" Violet teased, rounding the corner.
"Hey everyone! Clementine's gotta boyfriend!" She shouted. I hid my face with my hands.

I heard Amelia laugh. "Who is it? Who is it?" She asked practically bouncing off the walls.
"A certain blue banged Brit who's name is Stuart!" Violet announced.

I did nothing but run away like a stupid little kid.
Violet and Amelia and even Alexander laughed. Stuart came out the bathroom and Alexander rushed in, his laughter stopped. I sat against the wall in the seating deck, my knees to my chest and my head in my hands. I cursed at myself and Violet. I sensed a disrupting of the still, calm air in the seating deck.

I look up to see my favourite blue banged Brit.
I looked at him for what seemed minutes until I looked away.
"Yea.... I get it.... I'll leave you be...." I watched as the tall, lanky Brit walk away into the chatter and dramaticness of the living quarters and he didn't come come out for hours. I got up and went into the quiet living quarters where I saw that everyone was eating food and on the floor when Stuart was laying in his sleep station, sound asleep.

I glanced around before going over to him and placing a kiss on his forehead then getting into my sleep station as well.