He's A Super Freak.

Chapter 19 - ...i'll be there

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Mrs W stroked my arm as I sank into a deep sleep. It came easily to my cried out body. The last thing I remember as I fell asleep was mumbling in a confused haze, "Thanks, ma." As soon as I shut my eyes, they were open again. A few hours must have passed. Being in the winter months, it started to get darker earlier. Snow wasn't far off. Temperatures were lining up slowly. I was adamant to leave before the snow. It was just over four years Alex invited me into his life. How could things have changed so badly, so quickly? And I just left him. After everything, I was still a coward. We were young. I kept justifying myself with those words. It never made me feel better. My yearning for my family came on again. I picked up the phone on the bedside table. I'd give Mrs W money for the overseas call later. As I waited on the ringing tone, I realised it would be about eight in the evening over there. "'Ello?" Ben's voice said the other end of the line. "Hey, Benny, you okay?" "Yeah, you okay?" "Fine. Is ma there? I have to speak to her." "Okay, I'll get her. Ma?" I heard commotion of several voices. Mam's voice finally answered, "Lila? Everything okay?" "Mam?" My voice broke, as I slowly burst in tears. "Lila? Love, what's wrong?" "It's Alex..." I muttered, "Is he okay?" "We..." The hard truth made me clear my throat, "We called it quits last night." "Oh, sweet. What happened?" I sobbed and replied, "We just grew apart." "Aw, Li. I'm so sorry. You want to come home for while?" I'd never even consider it before. But now, I didn't want to waste time to go back. "I think I will. I'll call auntie Ollie. See if I could still go," I took in a deep breath, "I'm just so tired, ma." "Get some sleep, eh? Call me tomorrow." "Yeah. Thanks mam. Love you." "Love you too." Hanging up the phone, I thought I'd try to sleep. It was impossible. The quiet streets made it feel eerie. I was used to noise, distant hubbub of some sort. The urge to call Alex to find out how he was, just destroyed me. I needed to know he was alright. No. Ask his mam later. Corey suddenly came to mind. I dialled his number into the phone. Someone picked up. Nothing. "Corey?" I asked, curiously. "Yo, who's callin'?" "It's Lila. Remember me?" His chuckle travelled down and gave me warm feeling inside again. "Hey, Li! Course I remember you! You sound different. Sorry, I've had crazy fangirls calling me lately." I smiled, "I'm not surprised, you're a heartthrob now, my boy." "It's not what I expected." "No, I guess it must be a shock." "It really is. You okay, Li?" I went quiet a moment, "No, I'm not doing so good honestly. But how are you?" "Oh, you know me. I'm fine. Just off to a party in a minute. What's wrong, Li?" "Alex and I called it quits last night." He went silent, until he replied, "God, I'm so sorry Li. How're you holding up?" "Bad." He groaned tenderly, "I'm giving you the biggest hug, right now. You feel it?" I chuckled, "I feel it," I tensed up, my free arm over my shoulder, "Thanks Corey. You give the best hugs, I swear." "Nah, I think we're both the best huggers. We're hug buddies!" His infectious excitement made me giggle. "Hey, I miss that giggle." I always felt better talking to him. "I love you Corey, you're the sweetest." "Stawp!" I could just imagine him blushing, "You know, I haven't forgotten what I said if you and Alex didn't work out, I'd still be here?" I licked my lips, "That's very sweet of you Corey. Maybe when you're older." "Worth a shot." "Uh huh." "Do you wanna come over and stay with me, in LA?" "Aw, thats real sweet, but I'm going to head back to the UK asap, anyway. Need to clear my head." "I get it, no problem. You take all the time you need. I'll always be here, Li." "Thanks Corey. And I'm always here for you too." "Gimme your number, so I can call ya." "Sure thing." Giving him my number, he repeated it back, "Awesome, thanks. Look, I've got to get going now, Li, sorry." "Yeah no, sure thing. Have a good time, won't you? Love you." "Love you so much. Big hugs." "Bye, Corey." I felt sleepy after the call and drifted off.

September '90.

Bill and Ted had been released over a year ago. People loved them. I watched it by myself. It made me cry. I know, what a loser, ha. It was just seeing Alex, I was so proud of him. I still missed him. Back to September '90. I walked back and forth my room. I argued with myself whether to call him or not. Mrs W had given me his new number. I had to hear his voice again. Know how he was doing. Just once more, I promised myself. And that would be it. "Hello? Is that Alex?" "Lila? No way, is that you?" "Hi Alex." "Hey, Lila." "How've you been?" "Can I ask why you're calling?" I understood why he seemed so distant. Almost cold. He was worried. The call was so sudden. "I had to. How're you doin'?" He gave a sigh of relief, "I thought something was wrong. Well, I'm on a bit of a downer today. I don't wanna depress you or anything. But, I was just thinking about you. Weird." "Well, I'm glad I did call, then. I nearly didn't." "I miss you." His words were so out of the blue, it took a second for me to answer, "I miss you too." "Yeah?" "Of course. You still have to ask, don't you?" He scoffed down the line. "I still love you Alex. Course I'm going to miss you." I whispered, cradling the phone. "I know. I still love you too, Lila. What're you doing now, then Li? You a journalist, or still a photographer?" "Well, I'm in Colorado, living with my aunt and I travel for my photography, but I'm a part time accountant in the meantime. So... I guess it's a living?"I chuckled nervously. "Nice one, damn right its a living. Woah, Colorado, cool! I hear they're making people who, like you, know how to have a good time, legal over there soon." We both laughed, "I've never been there, though. Whats it like?" "Beautiful, Alex. You'd love it. I know you're a true city boy, but you'd love it." "Yeah, sounds good. Maybe one day." "What about you then, come on. What are you doing?" He clicked his tongue and replied, "I can't tell anyone but I know I can tell you... theres a new Bill and Ted coming soon." "No way, really? That's awesome! I won't tell no one. People love Bill and Ted. See, I told you, huh?" He chuckled. "You did. Those with little faith, I know." "So hows the film making going?" "Yeah, it's good. I have an idea of what I want to do, with Tom. You remember Tom?" "Oh yeah sure, crazy Tom," The memory of them filming in NYU flooded my brain. "I'll keep on lookout for you guys." "I knew you would. I have to be honest with you Li, I keep the photos you take in The River Song." "How'd you know I work for them?" "I have my ways." I chuckled. "You're the one that got away, you know." He blurted out. "Woah, where'd that come from?" "I'm just so sorry, Li." By his tone, I needed to pick him up and tell him it was going to be okay. "Hey, hey Alex. Don't blame yourself. Please. Please. Alex promise me. You're too precious and good to let that get to you. Its water under the bridge. Promise me." "I promise." "You better. We're learning to be friends. Its going to take time. A wise person once told me that I'll look back one day and understand how much we really did love each other. And that day'll come." "Was that my ma?" "Yeah, how'd you know?" "She told me the same thing." We both chuckled. "Its true. Your mother is a wise person." I heard him laugh, "I know, I know!" "I just feel privileged to have known you, Alex Winter." I could feel him smile. "I was just going through my old photos yesterday. I found the polaroid you took of both of us. You know, the one you only got a shot of our mouths! If I remember rightly, it was on the wharf, on The Lost Boys set." "Oh yeah! Course, I remember." "I had that Polaroid on my wall for ages wherever I went." I heard him sniff. "Sorry." He was crying. "It's okay. Don't worry Alex. I still cry. Heartbreak is never going to be easy. Just let it out." "Thanks Li. You always did say the right thing." "Well, I'm always here for you... So come on, now we're friends, have you got anyone?" "Well I have got my eye on someone, yeah." "What's her name?" I asked, ignoring my heart tugging in pain. I wanted to be happy for him, more than anything. "Sylvia." "Oh, she sounds good." He laughed "Why'd you say it like that?" He sniffed. "She sounds like silver. Sylvia." I laughed he did too. "Silver? Like Sylvester Stallone?" We both burst out laughing. It was happening. The beginning of our friendship. "It's just good to hear your voice, Alex. Talk some more." "So, you going out with anyone?" "Yeah I am actually... You remember Chris, you introduced me to in NYU?" "Oh yeah, that Chris." "Well, it was kinda strange really, we bumped into each other at JFK a couple of months back. And we've been calling each other every day. He's coming to stay here for a few days next week, and I'm going back next month." "Nice. He's a good man, Chris. You deserve a good man." I squeezed my eyes shut, it was painful to hear him say that. "You're a good man." "I failed you. Big time." "That's not true. At all. You gave us your everything," He hummed, trying to accept my words, "Can I ask, Alex... Did you find closure?" He thought a moment. "I want to say yes. But I have to say no." "I'm sorry I just left you that morning. I didn't want it to be more painful than it already was." "No, don't be. I half expected it anyway. I held you that night, knowing it would be the last." "I hope you find closure though. I really do. You're a good man, Alex," I desperately wanted to say what my heart yearned to say. That it was always going to be him. But I couldn't. I loved him too much to hurt him like that. Not again. "Love you." Was all I could say. Even though we were on the phone, I knew he was thinking like me. He was restraining himself from saying anything he'd regret. "Love you. I hope you find some closure too. Maybe this is part of it. Speak soon, yeah?" "Sure thing. Bye beautiful." "Bye Li." That was the difference between us. He had more restraint to just say plainly "Bye." He couldn't get attached to me like that again. The line went dead.

Ay, mamma mia.

Thanks for reading dear duder.

Next chapter is the finale.

Smell the anticipation 👀

Have a good one, be excellent to each other, S. Rose Hunter x 💖