Hard Feelings

Five

// The Morning After //

Alex had woken in a large warm bed. She was still in the clothes from the night before, but the bed was unfamiliar. Her mind wandered to remember Nate and how he had carried her out like a true gentleman. Alex knew she could have made it to her own house. She could have saved herself some embarrassment that she would surely feel this morning. Her situation right now was worth the slight embarrassment that she rarely felt. It would pay off for Alex soon enough.

"Good morning." Short, but kind.

"Hi..."

"Well, hopefully this won't become a common occurrence."

Alex just starred at Nate in slight surprise that he would be so blunt. She thought that maybe he did this more out of caring for her than just being a good person.

"You didn't have to help if it was such a burden, Nate."

"Of course, I did! How could you think I would just leave you there with a guy like that?" Nate stared with another one his raised eyebrows, but this one more accusing and frustrated. He sighed deeply, running a hand through his dark hair and just shook his head.

"I don't know, but you didn't have to, I could've handled myself."

"Oh yeah, that's why I had to carry you out of there then."

"Look Nate, I'm not going to argue with you! You don't think that kind of thing happens all the time? You don't think I've never been put into a situation I didn't want to be in like that before?"

"Alex that's not what I meant–"

"Then what did you mean?"

"Like you said, I don't want to argue either. Last night was not fun for either of us, so let's just forget it okay?"

"Fine, where did you sleep then? I'm assuming this is your bedroom."

"Mhm, just on the couch."

"You didn't have to sleep on the couch."

"Of course, I did! I can't sleep in the same bed as one of my students. And for god's sake Alex, you were passed out." His words were loud but changed midway through upon looking at Alex's face.

"I just meant that you should have put me there." She whispered.

Nate moved towards the bed and sat down. He had been running his hands through his hair. Alex moved closer to him. She put her arms around his torso and just sat there for a moment. Nate had frozen completely. Alex waited impatiently and finally Nate put his arms around her. They sat there for a moment in this embrace. Alex was pleased even though Nate seemed to be uncomfortable. She knew she was breaking him slowly and his walls seemed to be falling.

"Thank you."

Nate had taken her home after getting her some water and a coffee. They had chatted about random things on the drive. He liked his coffee with two sugar and one cream, he liked the colour red, and he had aspired to be a writer. Alex asked about any girlfriends and received an answer she was not happy with.

"There is this one girl I've been seeing, nothing serious yet, but I do really enjoy her company. She's a very nice girl. I think she's someone I could have something serious with some day. That's my main reason I feel uncomfortable with you. She has already committed to me and I thought I had with her."

Alex felt a little angry about this other girl in his life and decided that she had to do something about it.

The week went by and Alex missed all of her classes, including Nate's English classes, but she was very hard at work. Nate seemed to notice Alex's absence and emailed her about it, which Alex did not reply to. Nate sent another then on Friday when she had not come as well that read: 

Alex, I hope this weekend has not prompted you to miss my classes. There are no hard feelings or judgements from my end. 

Best regards, 

Nate

Alex did not answer this either but was grateful he emailed the assigned materials and topics that would be due in the upcoming weeks.

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A little awkward place to stop but I promise the next part makes up for it ;)

Hope ya'll had a good day

~Lyss