The Soldier's Roommate

Chapter 9: I will make you believe.

Alice

"Is he here?" Felix whispers as I let him into the house, his eyes scanning the area as if looking for a burglar or something.

"No," I laugh as I shake my head, "He left for some doctor's appointment about an hour ago... Usually he takes his time - we should have another hour or so before he's back."

Felix throws his bag and jacket on the couch in the living room as soon as he hears those words, disregarding the coat hanger in the hallway, as always. "Well, good." He speaks in a normal voice now, "How has it been between the two of you?"

I sigh as I lead him into the kitchen, pushing one of the bowls over to him. I woke up this morning with the strong urge to bake something, and Felix now has to be assistant, as he always is.

"You mean since I told him about Dean?" I ask for clarification.

It's been two weeks since our weird talk, and we haven't said a word to each other since then. I can't deny that it hurts sometimes, being ignored like that. Living in a house that is not even my own home, and the sole reason for it doesn't even acknowledge my presence... I don't know what his issue is, but I still have serious whiplash from that day, from the way he obviously wanted to be close to me, only to push me away again... It just hurts. I don't need that in my life.

"Well, what else could I mean?" Felix asks, almost as if he could read my mind, as if he saw how affected I was by Elijah pressing himself against me, feeling his hard body on mine...

For fuck's sake, Alice. Stop!

"What is that?!" Felix gasps.

"What?"

"Your face! You were blushing!" He laughs, pointing his now flour-covered finger right at me.

"What?! No!"

"Yes, you were! And now you're blushing even more! What are you not telling me?"

I bury my face in my hands, shaking my head as I groan, really not wanting to get into this topic.

"Alice..." Felix uses his warning voice, and I instantly look up, knowing the consequences I'd have to face if I didn't. But right as I do that I'm being hit with some flour, the white powder now covering my face.

"Hey! I didn't do anything!"

"Tell me!" He throws another wave of flour at me and I reach for my bowl, throwing a handful of sugar right into his face.

"Ow! Sugar?! Really, Alice?!"

"You started it!" I laugh as I wipe my face, and Felix joins right in, both of us now shaking our heads as we try to lose the baking ingredients from our faces.

"Come on, Liss. Tell me." Felix suddenly looks more serious now. Using that nickname will always get me to open up - and he knows that. My brother used to call me that name when he was still a kid, and Felix and him started making fun of it when he grew up.

And so I sigh while I pour the ingredients into their respective bowls again, telling Felix all about that weird encounter with Elijah in the elevator. I tell him about the crazy tension, that I felt like I couldn't breathe, that he didn't even have to touch me to make me feel alive, to ignite this forgotten fire within me...

"Why exactly did you agree to go on a date with that Dean guy?" Felix asks as I mix the ingredients into a smooth batter, watching me with narrowed eyes.

"Because I like him." I shrug. "And he's insanely hot. And he's a gentleman. And he seems nice."

Yeah, okay, those last words didn't really help my case...