Invisible String

Chapter 48 - Exile

Jaiden had purchased an apartment nearby, about halfway between our two apartments, a week later, and we were already packing up and getting ready to move. We wouldn't be able to get into the place for another week while the redecorating was being conducted, but we were getting as prepared as we could be. It was late in September and just a few days before October. Jaiden was out of town in Los Angeles, doing a few interviews and meetings with people. He'd nearly finished up his album and was just having the finishing touches done to it at that point.

I was staying back at my apartment, feeling safer there lately. I was packing up kitchen items late into the night, it was nearly one in the morning, and I'd been at it all day.

Walking back into the living room, someone knocked on the door, and I dropped the box of very breakable items to the floor, startled.

"Shit!" I said, bending over to see if anything broke. The knocking persisted, and I gave up on the box and walked over to the door, startled until I heard his voice.

"Hannah?" he asked, leaning up against the door.

My heart felt like it had stopped entirely until it was suddenly in my throat beating as loud as it possibly could.

I kept the chain locked on the door, but unlocked the bolt and opened it slowly, the chain keeping it from opening completely.

"What do you want, Alex?" I asked, irritated and not wanting to do this with him.

He leaned in close to the door, smelling strongly of liquor and cheap perfume. "Open the door, Hannah," he said, his eyes bloodshot.

"You're drunk," I said plainly.

"Open the door," he repeated, upset.

"Why should I?"

"Because I need to talk to you. Please," he said, putting his fingers through the crack and laying them on my hand, which was braced against the door frame. "Please," he repeated.

I shook my head, knowing that I was making a mistake, and pushed his hand out the door, then unchained it. Alex rushed in immediately, and I shut the door then followed him into my living room.

"Are you okay?" I asked while he paced around my coffee table.

He looked up at me quickly, and I shivered. I hadn't been this close to him for a while. Almost eight months, actually.

"Alex?" I asked as he turned towards the wall. He sat down on the couch and looked up at me again. "What's going on?" I sat on the chair kiddie-corner from him.

"I..." He shook his head. "I'm drunk."

"I can see that," I said. "But what are you doing here?"

"I'm getting married tomorrow," he said, slurring his words again.

I looked down at the floor, sighed quickly, and nodded. "Yeah, I heard."

"We didn't invite you."

"No, you didn't." I continued staring at the floor.

"She didn't want you there."

I nodded and looked up at him. "I figured." He didn't say anything for a moment and finally irritated, I asked, "What are you doing here, Alex?"

"I can't do it."

My heart skipped, and I shook my head slowly, "Alex, don't do this. Don't do this to me." I tried to stand, but he grabbed onto my hand and pulled me closer to him. "Stop it, Alex. I won't. I can't do this."

"Please." He shook his head, and tears welled up in his eyes. "I can't marry her, Hannah."

"Alex, stop, please," I begged him, trying to loosen his grip on my arms.