Trust

I'm not going down

When Alex arrives home the only thing she can do is think about Chip. He has always been there for her, they started together and now, she is betraying him just because it benefits her.

Slowly she walks towards her bedroom, she feels numb, her heart it's broken because of Mitch. He was her best friend, her partner and even if it's hard to admit, her lover. She loved him, she loved the Mitch she used to know, the kind friend who used to make jokes, bad ones yes, but she loved him. Now she hates the side of him that is now visible for everyone, the predator, and not just because for what he did to all the women, but for what he did to her.

Slowly Alex gets undress and puts on something more comfortable to sleep in. She just wants to sleep, not because she is exhausted physically, but because she needs to forget about everything, she needs the world to stop even if it's just for a couple of hours.

The sound of her alarm wakes her up, 3:30 reads the clock. Another day, same way, same routine, different emotions. Her body starts following the same steps it has followed for the last fifteen years, but her mind is running like crazy.

When she finally arrives at UBA, she is hit with the loneliness, even surrounded by people she feels extremely lonely.

Bradley doesn't want to talk to her, each time she sees Chip the only thing she can feel is guilt, and right now she feels like there's not a single soul on her side.

She makes her way to the stage, literally a stage, where she has to play the role of a woman who has everything under control, a woman who's kind and humble, who puts America first, but she's the opposite. She's this narcissist woman who is putting herself before everyone and everything.

"Does she know?" Her thoughts are interrupted by Daniel.

"Soon" Alex says faking a smile.

She keeps walking, getting ready to play the role she has been playing for so long, and even if she wants to keep playing it she's not enjoying it at all.

"And five" get ready

"Four" make sure to look good.

"Three" make sure to look happy.

"Two" get in character.

"One"

"Good Morning everyone..." Don't forget to smile, don't forget to pretend, don't forget to play the role.

After hours of reading the copy of the day, pretending to be happy, the play is over.

Alex makes her way to her dressing room to get ready for her meeting with Fred, the only person who is "on her team".

"Alex" it was Chip, who is following her.

"Yes Chip?"  She keeps walking, not only because she doesn't want to be late, but it's her way to run from the truth.

"I really want to talk to you about something"

"I'm sorry but I'm running late to a meeting with Fred" Fuck, just as she said those words she turns around to face Chip, almost colliding with him.

"Oh, ok then" the hurt in his eyes hurts her more than it hurts him.

"Chip..." she is interrupted not with words but his hand.

Chip takes her hand and gives it a squeeze while giving her the saddest of smiles.

"It's ok" and with that he leaves, not looking back.

Alex closes her eyes and takes a deep breath to keep her emotions under control, but it's not helping. She can feel the tears pooling in her eyes and she rushes to her dressing room before it's too late, of course earning a couple glances on her way.