Masked Facade

Chapter 35: The Beginning of Us

Alice's POV

At times of crisis, a simple talk with that one person is all it takes to get through the fucked up situation. The same thing happened to me after that one phone call. The place I swore off this morning, I found myself standing at its door again. I didn't know how I'd be coming clean to anyone, but I did know that Ryan was the first one to know about me. Call me crazy but my intuition never let me down.

The same man from earlier led me in without any judgment in his eyes. But I'd bet, he'd been awaiting this very moment from the looks of it. Instead of being welcomed by utter silence, I was met with two voices​​​. One belonged to Ryan without any doubt but the other was quite difficult to identify, though it sounded quite familiar. It wasn't Carol so that gave me the power to barge in through the doors and see for myself who it was.

Just when I was about to intrude on them, I heard the woman say, "Do you seriously think that was the reason?"

What the hell is going on? What are they talking about? I was hung up on curiosity that I desperately wanted to eavesdrop on their conversation. And that's what I did.

"I don't know what to think." Ryan sounded dejected. I smelled his fear, his uncertainty.

There was a silent war raging between the two of them that they spoke nothing for the next few minutes. For a split second, I thought they'd been making out. It was just a thought but it alone crushed my heart. Even after all these years, I couldn't withstand the idea of him with anyone else but me.

"How is she now?" And just like that, I knew.

Jesus Christ!

"She's goddamn fierce, strong, and confident enough to hold everything in her fingertips without an ounce of doubt." Out of nowhere, his choice of words made my lips twitch in a smile. It's good to know that some chosen people do respect you for whatever you are. Judgment comes with a burden and issues. Respect, on the other hand, comes with pride.

"Seems like you're her fan." She sang mockingly and then she was concerned as hell. "How is she doing?"

Ryan heaved a huge breath while I sucked in a huge one and held on to it, expecting his thought.

"Well, she is a mother of two kids. You tell me, how do you think she is doing?" He was angry, that part was clear as crystal. And I knew for a fact where I stood in his life. Me telling him the truth wouldn't earn me the right place nor the desirable one for that matter. But it was the right thing to do. This must come to an end.

"Whoa! Did not see that coming. I mean, she went AWOL and bam! Six years into the future, she is... Shit, she's changed. Good change, I mean." This time it was the surprise that I witnessed in her tone.

"Will you do it or not?" Ryan asked her without beating around the bush. I badly wanted in on it.

"I don't have anything to lose. You on the other hand..." She trailed off, clicking her heels against the floor.

He said in a heartbeat, "I know. So, will you?"

There was no point in wasting my time by letting them decide over something that I already knew. It was show time when I waltzed into the room and said, "You can but you don't have to."

"Excuse me?" When she turned around, I saw the change in her. She looked like a model material but in a sophisticated manner. Her striking black eyes told stories about her. But I wasn't here for that. So I got to the point straight on. "It's okay Blair. I got it from here."

"Alice?" The question fell from her lips, expecting some validation for the same.

"Yeah. I'd love to have a chat with you but right now, I need to talk to him. So can you excuse us?" I motioned between me and Ryan, politely asking her to give us the much-needed space.