In your Arms

Chapter Thirty

Amity felt relieved when finally, after a few minutes, the tension that build up awhile ago at the gallery had dispersed and was replaced with a light atmosphere. They were now having coffee in one of the tables at La Belle's and their moods miraculously shifted to sudden perkiness. She was thankful that Therese had tried not to be aloof with Alexander and it made her happy to see that her friend also tried to talk to him if there's a chance. If she weren't in the group and saw them, she would think that they were a just a group of friends who are happily hanging out with each other.

Nikolai is telling a story about how he started with his business and the others were actively listening when Uno whispered something to her. She was seated in between Alexander who excused himself and went to the comfort room and him, and since Nikolai was very animated with telling his story they didn't notice Uno leaning on her.

"I'm glad that you gave Xander a chance to make up for his wrongdoings." Uno told her, Amity smiled at him as if saying she's listening to what he's saying. Uno continued, "When you left, there hasn't been a single day that Xander didn't look for you. All the time he just wanted to find you, even by his own. We searched the whole city only to find you, and boy, you should've seen him look very much worried. I don't even think he slept well at night or eat properly." He added. Amity suddenly felt guilty and imagined Alexander miserably alone at home and troubled because of her. All of a sudden her hatred towards him become lesser and lesser by the minute. She smiled at Uno.

"It was nice of you to look for me, I'm sorry if I also made you worry." She whispered.

"Nah, it's nothing. It was an eye opener for him. I even reprimand him every time." He answered. "I just thought you should know about it." He smiled. "But let me tell you, Alexander is not a bad person. He has his reasons why he acts that way to anybody. Eventually you would see the real him."

Amity wanted to ask what is he talking about when Alexander came back to his seat. Uno smiled at her and paid attention to Nikolai's story.

The whole time Amity half listened to whoever was talking and threw glances at Alexander. He seemed to enjoy the company of her friends and if they hadn't been enemies she wouldn't think that this guy sitting beside her is an evil and obnoxious prick. The Alexander she's seeing now is flamboyant and always had a smile on his face.

She thought that he looked good when he smiles, rather than looking grumpy all the time. He really looked like a bad boy every time he's serious, this was the only time she ever saw his face lightened up.

Maybe he's not such a bad person after all.. I hope I wasn't wrong in giving him a chance.. Amity thought to herself.

"Hey Jordin! Are you deaf?! Why aren't you talking?!" Therese shouted at her, she was seating in front of her with Mikael and Nikolai on both of her sides.

"I prefer to just listen, Therese." Amity responded to her.

"She talked! I thought you weren't here with us!" Her friend told her and all of them laughed. And then it was Patty who started talking about something.

Alexander looked at her, "Are you alright?"

Amity flinched when she heard his voice and found him staring at her, "I'm fine.. I just don't have anything to say.." She half smiled.

"Are you tired? We can go home if you like." He asked her.

"No it's okay, I'm fine." She answered. Alexander nodded.

After an hour they decided to go home, it was already 9:30 and some of them are tired now, maybe because of all the talking. Mikael will walk Therese home and Uno and Patty offered her and Alexander a ride back to the condominium building but they decided they prefer to walk. They said their goodbye's and headed home.

Both of them were quiet for awhile until Alexander broke the silence between them.

"I had fun tonight." He said not looking at her, he just walked straight.

"Yeah me too.." She answered.

"You're friends are nice." He told her with a smile. "Even though that friend of yours, Therese, looked like she hated me the first time she saw me. I thought she was going to punch me."

Amity laughed, "She was really going to punch you. She'd been planning to do so." It was Alexander's turn to laugh this time.

"She must've hated me so much."

"Yeah, I've been telling her about you. But she's actually nice. She's a very good friend."

"So it seems.. I can't blame her though.. I've been really mean to you after all.."

Amity went suddenly quiet.

"Jordin, I meant what I said before at the art exhibit.. I'm really sorry.."

"You're friend Uno told me something, about how you wanted to find me when I left.." Amity looked at Alexander who suddenly went uneasy.

"That bastard, he couldn't keep things by himself."

"You should thank him you know, if he hadn't done that I may still be hating you until now." She let out a soft chuckle. "I'm sorry too, that I've worried you. But I have to say, you deserved it." She joked.

"I guess I do." Alexander laughed as well. "I promise I will be a little nicer this time."

"A little? Well I guess I have to be equally the same with you then." She smiled.

"Just no more of you letting me drink a glass with salty water."

"And no more of you hiding any of my stuff and destroying my paintings."

"No more nagging." Alexander emphasized his last word.

"No more dirty clothes strewn everywhere."

"Deal." Alexander answered.

"Deal." Amity answered back. "Oh! Another thing, no more smoking inside the unit."

Alexander scratched the back of his head, "That would be hard, but okay, it's a deal."

"Good." Amity grinned.

"So does this mean we could now be friends?" Alexander asked her smugly.

Amity shrugged, "We'll see. You still have to work on it."

"No fair!" Alexander pretended to protest.

"Yes fair!" Amity laughed and Alexander smirked while shaking his head.

"I never thought we would be having this kind of conversation, but I'm glad we did." He looked at her with a sincere smile on his face.

"I never did too. All I ever felt for you was hate. At least now everything would be peaceful between the two of us." Amity told him knowingly.

Alexander stopped walking which made her did so as well. "What's wrong?" She asked with creased eyebrows. Alexander held out a hand.

"Let's make a new start." He told her, "Friends?"

Amity smiled and reached his hand, "Friends." It was all it took for them to forget all the fighting they had and start anew.