Fall For You (EDITING + UPDATING)

(24)

The movie actually wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Mostly because I spent some of the time watching as Alex's expressions changed as he became more and more caught up in the narrative.

It was a bit cute. The way his face lit up when he saw Bumblebee come on the screen is my favourite of his reactions. His green eyes shone and his smile was beaming. He had his attention connected to the screen at all times so he didn't notice that I was watching him.

The credits roll down the screen and the Netflix app does that thing where it puts the movie screen in the upper left-hand corner while showing a suggested Netflix Original production on the main part of the screen.

I was beginning to realise that there's more to Alex. There's so much more underneath the surface. He's like a puzzle that I just can't seem to find enough pieces to begin to put together.

Any questions?" Alex asks as he turns to look at me. "Or can we watch the next one?"

"We can watch the next one," I say and Alex nods moving this hand to type in the name of the next Transformers movie into the search bar.

"Alexander! Are you here?" A voice screeches from the doorway as she opens the door and enters the room.

I recognise her from the day I met Alex for the first time. Her outfit is nearly identical to the one she wore then, highly professional looking.

"What the hell are you doing here?" The woman says, placing her attention on me. This probably isn't a good picture for her. She probably has a million conclusions she's taking from something that's purely innocent. Alex and I are really just watching movies.

I open my mouth to tell her that I don't like the tone she's using with me but I'm cut off.

"Gemma and I were just watching a movie," Alex says calmly.

His mother looks shocked. "A movie?" She gasps. "When you're supposed to be studying? Alexander, what has gotten into you?" She asks him.

I'm beginning to see why Alex doesn't like being called Alexander. His whole life, that's probably all he's heard this woman screech whenever she wants something from him.

By now, Alex and I are both sitting up on the bed, our legs over the side of the bed like we're children being told to sit on the bed while we get scolded for misbehaving.

Alex's mother looks at me once more and it's like a lightbulb goes off inside her head. "Oh, I see." She says like she's figured out all the answers. "You're the one that's having a bad influence on my son. Where is it, Alexander?"

"Where is what?" Alex asks, confused.

"Your tattoo or piercing. I know you've got one. Just like she does." Alex's mother says.

"I don't have one." Alex replies.

"Don't lie to me!" Alex's mother snaps at him. I know that she has persuaded you to get one. I just wantto know where it is so that i can arrange an appointment for you to get it removed."

"Mum!" Alex exclaims. "I promise you, there isn't a tattoo."

Alex's mother stares at him, using her maternal instincts or whatever to tell if her son is lying to her.

"You should leave." Alex breaks the awkward silence that has filled the room.

I don't know why I do, but I think that Alex is talking to his mother, asking her to leave after showing up to his dorm without any warning and causing a scene. So I make no effort to leave the room.

"I was talking to you, Gem," Alex says gently. What? He's asking me to leave rather than his mother who just came into this room, screaming like a fucking banshee?

"You can't be serious, Alex," I say. "She literally came in here and started screaming but you're kicking me out?"

"I think it's better if you leave." He says and I look over to his mother. Her arms are folded over her chest and she's wearing a satisfied smile on her face like she's proud that Alex told me to leave.

I move my eyes back to Alex. He gives me a small and apologetic smile. "Please, Gemma."

"Well," Alex's mother snaps. "You heard him. Leave now."

"Fine." I snap. "But Alex has an assignment to finish, so you might not want to stay either. Since I know how much you hate Alex being distracted and it would be you distracting him." I tell him.

"Excuse me?" Alex's mother says. "I don't know who you think you are but how much time I spend with my son is none of your business. I suggest you leave before I call security to escort you out."

"Actually," Alex intervenes. "She's right, mum. I do have an assignment that I need to finish. It's probably better if you leave too."

"Alex, we need to have another conversation about the decisions that you're making."

"Mum, we don't need to have a conversation about anything. I know that you're right. Gemma is a distraction but she won't be a problem because I'm not going to see her anymore."