Coming Home

Chapter Three

Jace and Alexa promised to catch up at some point over the weekend, she thought that maybe this place wasn't as bad as she remembered. Her mind wandered back to the old times when Jace and her would sit below a car park, and share a smoke. She smiled as she lay on her bed, allowing herself to slip away into a nap.

Eventually the shouting started again, waking Alexa from her slumber. She didn't care about what they were arguing about, she just wanted it to stop. She stomped down the stairs and got between her mum and Philip.
'Do you mind?' She shouted, eyes darting between them. 'Do you honestly think this is a good environment for Steph to grow up in?'
'Oh, shut up! You don't know anything about what it's like here - not since you left your mother here for me to look after! You ungrateful swine!' Philip had been drinking.
'Alexa, go upstairs.' Her mother demanded.
'You need to stop screaming at each other for five minutes! If it isn't working, leave! You're a pompous prick!' Alexa pointed to Philip. 'And you're nothing more than a gold digging whore!' Alexa pointed to her mother this time.
'How dare you?!' Philip went for Alexa, swung his hand around and connected with Alexa's face. She stood there, stunned.
'You bastard.' She muttered. 'You fucking bastard.'
She ran upstairs and started to pack her things. She pulled her phone out and decided to call the only person in the area that she thought she could trust. 

'Hello?' A familiar voice spoke.
'Jace, it's Alexa - I know we've only spoken once since I got into town but can I please stay around your place for a night? Phil is being a proper prick.'
'Er, yeah, sure.' Jace replied. 'Do you need me to pick you up?'
'That'd be great, I'll be reading in fifteen.'
There was a knock on the bedroom door.
'Alexandra.' A timid voice spoke.
'What? Come to defend him?'
'You shouldn't have spoken to him like that, especially when he's putting you up for a while.'
Her mother moved a strand of hair behind Alexa's ear.
'You are a very pretty girl.' She continued. 'If you didn't have such an attitude problem then I'm sure you'd be able to find a man who can make you happy.'
'Why is that something everyone is obsessed with? What if I'm not the problem? What's so wrong with speaking my mind and not letting people walk over me? Just because it's right for you - doesn't mean it's right for me!'
'Alexandra Jones!' Her mother took a step back in shock.
Alexa rolled her eyes and continued to pack.
'You need to learn some respect young lady!'
'You need to learn to respect yourself!'

Philip burst through the door.
'Do not speak to your mother that way!'
'I'd rather talk to her like that than hit her! I'm not the only one you've laid your filthy hands on am I Phil?! I wouldn't be surprised if you've beaten the whole fucking family into submission!'
Philip's knuckles went white with rage as he pulled his hands into fists.
'Get out.' He spoke, his voice unnervingly calm.
'Already planning on it, don't worry.' Alexa replied as she closed her suitcase and zipped it up.
As they walked down the staircase, Phil had one more comment to make.
'And don't think you're welcome here anymore. Once you walk over that threshold, that's it - you're not a part of this family anymore!'
'Do you not get it Phil? I don't want to be a part of your fucked up family! I really hope that Steph grows up the same and gets out when she can!'
Philip went towards Alexa again, ready to inflict more pain on her - but his wife held him back and let her daughter go.

Jace was waiting outside, the drive to his place was full of rants abouts Philip and his disturbing ways, Jace threatening to go back and kick his ass, Alexa telling her friend he isn't worth it.
'She just doesn't get it, she doesn't understand how much of a piece of shit he really is! She's just slowly becoming more and more like him. I forget why don't come back and then I get here and nothing changes!'
'Well, you're welcome to stay with me for as long as you need.'
'Thanks Jace.' Alexa smiled at her friend. 'I really appreciate it.'

There were three rooms in Jace's apartment; the living room/kitchen, bedroom, and the bathroom. The light beige walls and mismatched furniture gave the room a humble atmosphere. Alexa threw herself down on the blue, fabric sofa that sat against the far wall. Jace took the wooden chair not far from where she sat.
'So what are you going to do?' Jace grimaced.
'I don't know,' Alexa sighed. 'I feel like I had no choice but to apologise. I don't want to lose my mum, I especially don't want to lose Steph.'
A three second silence went on for an eternity. Jace shifted and rubbed the back of his neck, rolling his eyes over Alexa.
'Do you want a drink?' He asked.
Alexa, biting her nails, nodded and smiled awkwardly.
Jace was at the kitchen counter within ten paces - the apartment was quite small, with only added to the humble feel of the home.

Two kegs of beer later and the two of them had lost all inhibitions, they spoke of secrets they hadn't spoken of since they'd last gotten drunk in each other's presence.
'Why didn't you and I ever end up together?' Alexa slurred.
'Because you decided to run off and live in a city far away from this shit hole.'
'Yeah that's true.'
Alexa put the weight of her head on her palm and exhaled loudly. Then she came to realisation.

'Wait... Are you saying that you were interested in me?' she said.
Jace shrugged, half smiled at his friend and looked away to hide his flushed cheeks. Alexa punched her friend playfully in the arm. He pushed her to the floor and began tickling her, she squealed in response.
'Jace! Stop it!'
'You going to stop bullying me?' He smiled.
'Jace!'
The young friends rolled around, play-fighting for half an hour - it finally ended with Alexa pinned down on the floor, laughing hysterically.
'You finished bullying me?' Jace asked, panting, wide smile on his face.
'Maybe.' She replied, biting her bottom lip.
Jace watched Alexa's nostrils flare as he inched closer to her face. The beige walls, the blue sofa, the kitchen counters all disappeared for a brief moment in time and there was only Jace, there was only Alexa. Her palms began to sweat as her heart raced with excitement and her stomach curled.
'Alex.' Jace's low voice was smoother than silk.
'I'm sorry.'
Alexa pushed herself free and ran to the bathroom, hand over her mouth. Heaving could be heard from behind the bathroom door. Jace pulled a face of disappointment, knocked on the door and asked her if she was okay.
'Yeah, can you get me my toothbrush please?'
Whilst waiting for Alexa to finish up in the bathroom, Jace pulled a duvet and a pillow out of his bedroom closet and threw them onto the sofa. He called to Alexa that if she needed anything then to feel free to knock on his bedroom door.

They slept through the night oddly well, she awoke to the smell of fresh coffee and a cigarette waiting for her on the small, black coffee table that was clearly designed to be a night stand. She drank the milky coffee waiting for her and put the cigarette behind her ear. Stomach rumbling, Alexa made her way to the refrigerator.
'Ali-bear, left for the gym. I'll be back before 12:00. Help yourself to anything. - J'
Alexa smiled and made herself some eggs for breakfast. Jace was back within a few hours and Alexa couldn't apologise enough to him.

Eventually, Alexa decided she should probably go back to the battlefield she left behind.