In your Arms

Chapter Twenty Nine

She'd been holding onto his arm for quite awhile now, and she couldn't help not to stare at him once in awhile to see his face. He looked radiant, and with that pretty boy smile of his along with that eye smile he's definitely an eye-catcher. Amity noticed a lot of girls look at him with admiration on their eyes while her with resentment. Somehow Amity felt she's the most prettiest girl in the room but she didn't like all the attention they're getting. She was too conscious and hadn't noticed that they stopped in front of her painting.

"So this is your work."

Amity was startled with Alexander's voice. She saw him leaning on her painting with creased eyebrows, as if inspecting it's details. It's a picture of a family, with the mother looking like she'd just given birth with her husband beside her and a young boy who's a toddler. All of them are looking at the newborn baby with smiles on their faces as if the infant is a chest full of treasures and their hands and fingers were holding it.

"Is it a baby girl?" Alexander asked her while still looking on her painting.

"Yes it's a girl." She simply answered.

"They all looked happy.. Her mother, her father, her brother.. It looks like she's really wanted.. And loved.." Alexander softly spoke, Amity saw a bit of sadness in his eyes. She wanted to ask if he's okay but she might sound too concerned, and she made herself believe she isn't.

"Well that's what this painting tells anyone who will look at it. It's about family, and the unconditional love that binds them all together. Nothing compares to the kind of love the family gives a person.." Amity felt a disturbing feeling of longing as she finished her last phrase. It was now Alexander looking at her.

"You miss your family do you?" He asked her with a thoughtful look in his eyes.

Amity nodded slowly, "Every single day.."

"I miss mine too.."

Amity looked at him staring back at her painting. He doesn't look like the annoying Alexander she'd come to know, right now he looks like an abandoned child who has nothing. Her heart sank for a moment.

"There you are!" A voice came from Amity's back and she turned to see that it was Therese. Mikael and Nikolai were following her, the latter greeted her with a peck on the cheek.

"Nik, I'm glad you made it." Amity hugged and told him gleefully. Alexander wrinkled his eyebrows and Nikolai must've noticed it.

"And who is this handsome man?" Nikolai tried to sound gay and it made Alexander looked shocked.

"Yeah who is he Jordin?" Therese also asked looking suspicious.

"He's--" Amity broke off then glanced at Therese who's face looked at her expectantly. I cannot tell them who he is.. Therese will hit him.. Amity became uneasy all of a sudden.

"He's.. Uhm.." Oh no.. Patty and Uno approached their group.

"Patty!" Therese beamed and greeted Patty. They kissed each other on the cheeks and they introduced Nikolai, Mikael and Uno to each other.

"So he's you're cousin. The one who owns La Belle's?" Patty asked Therese glancing at Nikolai.

"Yes he's the one." Therese answered smilingly.

Patty took Nikolai's hand, "You sell the most delicious caramel macchiato I've ever tasted!"

Nikolai went wide eyed and was clearly flattered. "Why thank you for such a lovely feedback!" And the both of them laughed.

"Hey Xander, I see that the two of you are getting along quite well this time." Uno suddenly remarked to both Amity and Alexander.

Amity went wide eyed and turned her attention to Therese who's face hardened in an instant.

"You're Alexander?" Therese's words were firm and her eyes went wide. The rest of them looked at each other nervously.

"Therese it's okay--" Amity softly spoke.

"You.." Therese hissed and looked at Alexander with slitted eyes and the latter took a step back. Just as Therese was about to sprang at him Nikolai went in the middle and announced that they should all go to La Belle's for a celebration. The rest of them agreed and Nikolai and Mikael grabbed a grumpy Therese by the arms as they walked out.

Before they went out, Amity and Alexander approached Franco and Elise telling them they had to leave. Amity thanked both of the painters then excused themselves and followed their friends outside.

Uno and Patty were waiting inside the red convertible and Therese and Mikael were in Nikolai's Black Mini Cooper.

"I'll ride in Nikolai's car. See you at La Belle's, Patty knows the place." Amity told Alexander as they went out. Alexander looked at her like he doesn't want to be separated with her but he just nodded.

"Alright. Take care." He muttered and Amity smiled. He watched her as she entered Nikolai's car before going for the convertible.

"What in the world was that?!" A furious Therese asked her as soon as she entered the Mini Cooper. She sat in front beside Nikolai.

"Oh c'mon Theresey don't shout." Nikolai told his cousin as he started the engine.

"Nik! That's the dude who made her life miserable for crying out loud!" Therese shouted exasperatedly.

"Is it true?" Nikolai asked her.

"Well, y-yeah.. But.. He already apologized to me.."

"And you believe it?!" Therese scoffed. "C'mon!"

Mikael placed an arm around Therese, "Hey relax.."

"I couldn't!" Therese looked like she was going to cry because of anger. "I couldn't. I'm sorry. I can't do this. I'm going home."

Amity looked at her friend with pleading eyes. "Therese please.. Don't do this.."

Therese bit her lip and shook her head. "How come all of a sudden you don't hate him anymore.."

Amity reached out for her friend's hand, "I still don't trust him, Therese.. But I thought it's not that bad to give him a chance to prove himself.. So please.."

Therese looked at her with disapproval in her eyes but she managed a nod. "If I ever knew that he'd treated you wrongly, I would break his neck in front of you."

Amity laughed, "Of course, I know you will.." Therese answered her with a smirk.

"You girls scare me you know that?" Mikael butted in and Therese punched him on his side.

"Ow! That hurts!" Mikael cringed.

Amity faced front and sat with her head rested on the car seat. The thought of her defending Alexander struck her consciousness and she couldn't even believe what she just did. The only thing she knew is that there's something in his eyes the moment he stared at her painting, and it made her feel that something's wrong with him. Amity told herself that whatever it is, she hoped to know soon.