Ignited ✔️

1:14

-EMERY-

I had been ignoring Reed for the last week. He didn't get to be a jerk to me and then expect me to fawn all over him. Granted he was my boyfriend and I shouldn't just ice him out without a valid reason.

He's been texting me nonstop over the last week and he's stopped by the coffee house a few times when I wasn't there. I wasn't hiding from him, I just wasn't actively searching for him.

"Why do you look so sad?" Alex asks walking up to me.

I take my attention off burying my feet in the sand and towards the tall blonde boy towering over me.

"I'm not sad" I mumble.

He chuckles and stuffs his hands in the front of his hoodie.

"I was just getting ready to open the bar. You wanna tag along?"

I shrug my shoulders and lay my chin atop my knees.

"It won't be as fun as watching the waves, but I know a few cool tricks that the ladies love I can perform for you" he says with a smile.

I roll my eyes with a smirk on my face and stand up before dusting off my pants.

I pick up my sandals and walk with Alex towards the bar on the other side of the beach.

"How have you been?" He asks breaking the silence.

"That's a loaded question."

He glances at me and raises an eyebrow.

"Okay. How are things with Reed?"

"Fine I guess. I mean we haven't really talked much this last few weeks. I was actually going to stop by his place this weekend." I ramble.

Alex remains silent as I continue to rant.

"Reed just has this mentality that he's my boss and he owns me. He thinks he can control me and if I don't do what he wants he tells John. You'd think with him knowing me for as long as he has, and knowing the situation that he would be a little bit more loyal to his girlfriend versus to her stepfather. It just gets old and I get so mad but I can't leave him without a legit reason."

"Doesn't your happiness count for anything?"

I don't respond and that seems to be answer enough for him.

"It's pretty obvious that you're unhappy. You have been for awhile. I can see that and I don't hang out with you nearly as much as they do."

I stuff my hands in my pockets as I contemplate what Alex just said.

"It doesn't matter to John. I don't matter to John. If I did he wouldn't-" I trail off.

"He wouldn't what?"

I shake my head.

"Nothing. Just forget I said anything."

Alex glances at me out the corner of his eyes as the bar comes into sight. I take a seat at one of the stools as he rounds the bar and starts wiping it down. He turns on the speaker and it starts playing an old Taylor Swift song.

I pull out my book and begin reading where I left off last. It doesn't take long before I'm lost in the world of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

**

"Emery? You okay?" Alex asks breaking me out of my daze.

"What?"

"You've been zoned out for the past hour. Are you okay?"