Waves, Sunsets, & Coffee

Chapter 9.0

    "Alex, we're going to the cafe for lunch. Do you want to come?" Madds says as she fixes her makeup.
     Two days ago, Ares admitted that he likes me. It was also two days ago that he told me to open up, which everyone knows, that's not a simple thing for me to do.
     I've been staying at the cottage since I lost all energy to go out, and also to avoid the risk of seeing him.
     "I'm alright here. Thanks Madds." I say as she gives a slight nod, leaving me in the room.
     Luckily, my friends didn't force me to talk about it and neither did Enzo.
     I didn't want to talk about it because I know what they were going to tell me.
     They'll just tell me to let him in and it's really easy and I just gotta listen to my heart. Well that's simple bullshit to me.
     Last time I listened to my heart, I let Andrew in and got cheated.
     My brain's more trustworthy. It also doesn't want to let any other people in.
     I managed to survive on my own before. Besides, I got my friends so what's more to ask right?
     I sigh, hating Ares for making me feel like this. I hate him for making me think about these things when I don't have to. Why can't he just understand that I really don't want to open myself up to the world.
     Fuck the world and the stupid people in it. Fuck them all for making people feel vulnerable and hate themselves.
     "Alex?" I heard Liam's voice from the other side of the door and told him to come in.
     "Coffee?" He offered with a smile and I shaked my head.
     "I already had enough for today." I said.
     "That's not the Alex I know." I rolled my eyes, not really caring.
     "Come on Lex. Let's take a walk at the beach." He offered and I shaked my head.
     "I don't want to go out Liam. So it's either you walk out of this room or I make you!" I say harshly and I see the pain in his eyes as he walks away.
     Right now, I didn't care about anything.

     I decided that I don't want to rot in this room so I got up and went out to the fire pit, only to see Liam there.
     I sigh, going back to the room when he held my hand.
     "Stop Liam." I say but he doesn't let go.
     "Let go Liam."
     "No. You stayed in your room for three days straight now, barely eating anything." He said, offering me a plate.
     "I don't want that. Let me go. I'm going out." I said.
     "And do what? Do stupid shit again?" He says and now, my anger's rising and I know I'm close to bursting if I don't get out of here.
     "Alex, talk to me! Don't shut me out!" He says and I couldn't contain it.
     "Don't shut you out? Don't you remember what you did years ago? Huh Liam? Have you forgotten what you've done to me?"
     "Alex..."
     "Don't tell me to not shut you out because you did the same to me! I told you I liked you and you fucked me up. You ignored me and played me like a fool! Yes, it was my fault for agreeing to have sex with you but you fucking broke me when you left me alone in that bed after telling you that I liked you! What kind of shit is that?"
     That was the very first time I got my heart broken by a guy.
     I do admit that it was my fault for going to bed with him when I knew he didn't like me back but he left me hanging like I was some kind of object. I remember that night clearly.
     I told him I liked him more than just fuck buddies and he walked out of the room and even slammed the fucking door. I didn't hear from him for weeks.
     "I'm sorry Alex, please..." He says but I shake my head.
     "I don't want to hear anything more Liam." I said and walked back to the cottage, deciding I needed a drink.
     "Alex, you okay? We heard all that..." Keith says as the whole group stares wide eyed aside from Enzo.
     For fuck's sake.
     We never told the group about Liam and I and now they heard all that. Great.
     "Doesn't matter." I said and walked back to the room, changing into my pants and putting on a hoodie. I grabbed my phone and wallet before walking out of the cottage and going to the bar for a drink.
     "I'll have a Vodka." I say to the bartender and not a minute later, he places the glass of alcohol in front of me, and I drank it all at once like it was beer.
     "Another one." I say.
     The music was blaring around as people were dancing and drinking.
     I didn't know anyone here and it didn't matter. I'm here for a drink, and drink only.
     "Rough day?" The bartender, whose name is Harry says.
     "More like rough days. You got anything stronger?" I asked and he nods.
     "Here, eighty five percent alcohol." He says with a smirk and I smile, thanking him.
     I drowned the drink and I felt the burn pass my throat.
     "That was good."
     I continued to ask for more shots and soon, I felt my head spin as light kept on flashing around. The loud music was making my head hurt more so I dropped my head to the counter, trying to drown the noise.
     "Drink this." Harry, the oh so cute bartender hands me a glass with transparent liquid and ice.
     "What... what's that?" I asked.
     "It's just iced water. It'll help." He says and I shake my head.
     "I want alcohol Harry..." I say and he chuckles, not giving me any more of the vodka unless I take the water he says.
     "Drink this first then I'll give you more vodka alright?" He says and because I find him cute, I do as he says.
     "Fwine."
     "Hey, my shift's ending soon. Wanna get a drink together?" He says and I debate whether it was a good idea or not. But then I was getting drunk so why not spend time with this cutie right here?
     "Sure." I said.
     "Cool. Wait for me here, I'll just go change." He said and I nod.
     A moment later, he shows up in casual clothes and offers me a drink.
     "Sangria. Bar's best seller. Try some." He gives me a glass with purplish red liquid. It looks pretty so I took a sip.
     "Woah. This is the best drink I've had." I say as this wine is not like any other. It has a fruity taste which makes it a whole lot better.
     "Can I have this dance milady?" He asks in a weird old accent used by royalties and I chuckle, accepting his offer to dance.
     He pulled me on the dance floor and we started dancing as the DJ hit every beat, giving life to this place.
     "Not bad!" He says.
     It wasn't like me to dance with strangers but this time, it's different.
     We kept dancing and talking for hours until I felt the air thicken, making it hard for me to breathe. Harry notices my distress and offers me to take me out.
     "Thanks, I needed fresh air." I said.
     "You know, I didn't get the chance to ask for your name." He says.
     "Xela." I giggle as I feel the full effects of drinking too much alcohol for the night, but I couldn't stop.
     "Xela hmm. That's a unique name."
     There was silence after that as we both stared into each other and I waited for what he was about to do.
     I saw him glance at my lips a couple times and I took control, slamming my lips into his as I aggressively kissed him and he responded.
     He takes his hand around my waist, rubbing my back up and down.
     I waited for my heart to start beating faster, to start feeling what I felt when Ares kissed me, but none came.
     I suddenly pulled from the kiss, realizing what I've done.
     "You want to come to my place? It's not that far." Harry says as his hands were caressing my face and I shiver in disgust.
     "No... this is wrong..." I said as I stood up away from him and my sight started to blur as I felt the tears start to come out.
"Alex?" I heard a familiar voice and looked behind me to see the person I've been ignoring.
     "Alex, are you alright?" Ares asks as he walks closer to me.
     "Don't come closer Ares." I warn.
     "Alex? You said your name was Xela?" Harry then says and the two guys argue.
     "Who are you?" Ares asked Harry.
     "I'm with Xela. And you?" Harry says and Ares laughs.
     "Xela? Really? Come Alex, you're drunk. I'm taking you home." Ares argues.
     "No..." I say, not wanting to go home just yet.
     "Alex let's go!" Ares pushes and I stand my ground.
     "She doesn't want to go with you. Leave her alone man." Harry tells Ares and I smell a fist fight about to happen.
     "Don't tell me what to do. She is mine to protect." Ares says and I just watch the two men argue, not knowing what to do.
     "Yours? If she was yours, then why did she kiss me huh?" Harry taunts and I felt the tension in the air as Ares closed his fists, trying not to throw the first punch.
     "Alex, you're coming with me." Ares puts his hand in front for me to take but I just stare at it.
     "She said, she doesn't want to go with you! Get lost man!" Harry shouts, pushing Ares away, which was just a big mistake as Ares was the bigger man and started to walk towards Harry when I walked in between them.
     "Ares stop!" I say, but it was his turn to not listen to me.
     "Move Alex!" He says and I shake my head no. I couldn't allow anyone to get beaten up because of me.
     Ares circles around me and I grabbed his arm, only for him to push me off as I fell to the ground.
     I groaned at the impact, and just as I looked up, Ares and Harry were in a bloody fist fight that won't end well as people started to crowd the two.
     I got up and pulled Ares away from him.
     "Fucking stop Ares!" I say but he wouldn't listen so when I saw an opening, I got in between the two men as Ares was just about to throw a punch. Luckily, I knew how to counter and I blocked his punch, kneeing him in his stomach.
     "Stop Ares!" I beg and he only looks at me with pain in his eyes.
     "I said, get out of the way Alex." I felt the threat in his voice as he stood up but I stood my ground once again.
     "Move Alex, I mean it!" Ares says and I shake my head no.
     "You don't get to tell me what to do Ares! So just leave me be!"
     "I can't leave you Alex. Can't you see that? Believe it or not, I'm drawn to you and I can't let you go!" He says and tears started to fall again.
     I'm done with this shit, so with the tears blurring my eyesight, I ran away. Anywhere my feet would take me.
     I heard the two guys shout for my name but I ignored them.
     I wanted to get away.
     I ran and ran, not stopping until I was far away from them.
     I looked around to where I was, and in that moment, I felt lost. Not only because I didn't know where I was, but because I didn't have anyone with me here now.
     Just to make matters worse, it started to rain. Hard. Drenching me in my clothes, and luckily I was wearing a hoodie.
     I hugged myself, trying to keep myself warm and started to walk down towards the road, hopefully it would lead to somewhere.
     Thousands of thoughts raced through my mind, when I heard a loud honk.
     I looked behind to see a car fast approaching, and it seemed like my senses suddenly went out of me as I couldn't do anything but stand there as the light started to come nearer.
     Next thing I knew, I flew from the impact, shouting from the pain.
     Then black clouded my eyes.
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A/n picture is Keith as Caitlin Stasey