Well, We're Not Alone Now - Book One - Alex Turner

You Don't Know What a Hot Toddy Is?

-You Don't Know What a Hot Toddy Is?-

"So we all go back to yours and you sit and talk to me on the floor

There's no need to show me round baby, I feel like I've been in here before"

17th Of December 2011

The cold hit me with a stinging vividity, making me pull my hood up and clutch my coat tighter against my once overheated body. The snow swirled around Alex and I, unconsciously we moved closer together, brushing shoulders, as if to gather heat between our bodies. Winter was upon us with vengeance this year. For once it looked like we were going to have a white Christmas. Turning to Alex, catching his eye in the darkened London street, I took a deep breath. "You know it is a little while to where I live, you really don't have to come with me" I bit my lip and looked down at the icy stones of the pavement. I did want him to come back with me, even if it was just to walk back to my house and then say goodbye, but at the same time I was scared that he might expect more. Don't get me wrong, I do like a bit of a casual one night stand sometimes, I am just that sort of girl, but I just didn't think I could do it tonight. I felt worryingly fragile. I didn't know what had gotten into me.

"Hey, it's ok, I really don't mind Darlin'. I 'ave nothin' better to do, an' I'm in the mood for a walk." He chuckled and took my hand, tugging. "Come on, which way is it? I don't know 'bout you, but I'm bloody freezin' 'ere."

All at once I was filled with a warmth. I wasn't sure if it was his hand in mine or the joy which had filled my body when he said he would come back, whichever it was, I was happy. "Come on then." I said, pulling his hand, directing us towards a dimly lit road that lead away from the pub, into the night. Where the orange glow from the lights on the road shone, snowflakes twirled and leapt, almost like the butterflies in my stomach. I pointed at them, smiling at their beauty. "Look Alex, aren't they beautiful? Have you ever seen anything so wonderful and free as a dancing snowflake?" Abruptly, I realised how weird that sounded and seriously hoped I hadn't scared Alex away with my wildly strange imagination. Not hearing anything from him as we walked past a snow laden apple tree, I peaked up to see his face. He was staring at me, laughter played in the creases of his eyes, grinning. I snatched my hand out of his. "Are you laughing at me? I was just expressing my delight in the surroundings" I snapped at him, as I sped up walking. Yes it may have sounded a bit weird and it would have been ok if he had looked at me like I was a little crazy, but there is no need to laugh.

"Wait. Wait. I'm sorry." I could hear his feet on the pavement as he ran to catch up with my march along the slippery stone. "I weren't laughin' at you in that way. I were laughin' in delight at your ability to express what you see so freely."

I stopped in my tracks. Ok so we had, had a conversation, but to be quite honest it was quite one sided. I had just talked and he offered his opinions in small sentences, nods and noises. He had seemed perfectly fine just to listen to me, even when I apologized for talking so much he urged me to carry on, and I was happy to oblige. So when he sprang this rather long and lovely sentence on me, as you can guess I was surprised. Before I could turn and reply, there was a shove from behind. My foot skidded on the perilously unstable floor. With an "umf", I landed on half stone and half something else. My legs and arms tangled with some unknown being, there was a groan and I struggled to untangle myself when I realised who was below me. It seemed I had stopped just a bit too suddenly. So suddenly that poor Alex hadn't had time to halt before we collided, "Oh my fucking god. Alex, are you ok?" I lent over his face. His eyes were closed, brow scrunched up.

He opened his eyes, looking slightly bewildered. "Yeah, nothin' seems broken. You're heavier than you look you know."

Before I could help myself, laughter bubbled over my lips. I slumped down next to him on the freezing concrete and laughed. Thankfully he started to laugh too, as snowflakes fell on our glowing faces. What the hell was going on with us, with me? When the chill started to seep through our layers of clothing and our laughter subsided, Alex sat up and looked down at me, brown hair falling over his eyes. "You know, you 'ave amazin' eyes. Very blue an' black."