Chapter 2 Stranger at Home

Alexandra stretched her arms and released a deep yawn. She removed the night mask she used for sleeping. It was still a bit dark outside. She checked her alarm clock. It's only 4:00 am.

She moved out of bed and changed her pajamas to an exercise suit. A pair of black jogging pants with pink linings paired up with a black pink jacket. She combed her long black hair and wore it in a ponytail. After grabbing a pair of socks, she walked on her white fluffy sleepers and went to the front door, and changed into her running shoes. While she was changing on her shoes, Smarty was by the living room door waiting for her.

She always has Smarty to join her on early morning jogs. They would run up the hill where her house is twelve streets away from. It took an hour to reach the top and another to go down.

When she went out, the sun has barely risen. It was still dark but the pinkish sky could be seen on the horizon. The sun will rise soon. Maybe in the next ten minutes, she thought. Smarty was on her side wagging his tail.

"Let's go, Smarty. Time to stretch our legs for a morning jog," she said brightly to the dog as she did some arm and leg stretching and started to run on the edge of the road.

As she ran to the second street, she saw a man who was jogging rather slowly.

"Morning, Max!" Alex cheerfully greeted the man who was wearing a white band around his head as she caught up to his pace.

"Oh, hi there, Alex!" he replied turning to face her. He has a somber look on his face. He saw Smarty and greeted the dog, too. "Hello, Smarty!"

St. Bernard changed to his side and Max stopped for a second to pet the dog, then continued his pace.

"Why are you running so slow today, Max?" Alex asked joining his pace. She's not used to Max's slow jog pace. Usually, on early morning jogs like these, they ran more energetically checking each other pace.

"Did you twist your ankle or something?"

She asked looking at his feet.

"No, silly girl," said Max brushing her off. "Hangover."

He said simply.

"Why didn't you invite me last night?" she asked. "I could have joined you."

"I was drowning my sorrow."

"Did you and John fight?"

"Yes. I found from his phone last night which I accidentally found when I checked it that he was still dating his former girlfriend when he is supposed to be with me now."

"Oh…" Alex said speechless, thinking what she has to say next. She patted his shoulder for comfort instead as they entered the third street.

"He was being unfair to me," sobbed Max dramatically, but sadness was showing his face. He was crying as they were jogging.

Alex was used to Max being dramatic and more but she's accustomed to the loud happy dramatic gay than this somber soul joining her on a morning ran.

She turned to look at him sympathetically.

"You'll get over it."

"But I love John, Alex. It's not easy to get over something like it."

He admitted.

"Well, you're quite right, Max. You two should talk it over then. Forced him to admit it to your face so you don't wallow over it."

"I'll think about it."

Alex stopped her pace and put her hands on her waist. Max also stopped.

"What now?" he asked annoyed.

"You don't think it over. You talk to him about it."

"I said I'll think it—"

Alex gritted her teeth in frustration.

"You're being awfully bossy to me right now, Alexandra."

Max said raising his right arm and scratching the back of his head.

"You should empathize with me since I'm feeling down."

"I do understand how you feel Max but it would be best if you talk it over with John fast so you get over this dilemma. I hate seeing how one of my friends down because of such things. He either breaks up with his former girlfriend or you break up with him."

She said straightforwardly.

Max looked at her for a full minute as if she turned into a beast or something.

"Did I grow horns now?" she asked with a drop of humor.

"No you did not," said Max smirking. "But you've definitely grown fangs."

"Well, I'm glad about it, Maxwell Cordale."

She smiled triumphantly, her arms crossed.

"Maybe I should just fall in love with you, Alexandra Diaz."

Alex suddenly shivered at the thought. She felt ice-cold wind embraced her for a second. This time she's the one who looked at him for half a minute then shook her head.

"I would burst into flames and turn into ashes, Max."

Laughter then burst out of Max. Alex laughed with him.

"Yeah, you are so right, Alex. Even my urn ashes forbid me from such hideous thought."

Suddenly, she gave him a peck on his cheek and a quick hug.

"I'm glad you're all cheered up now."

She restarted to jog ahead of him. He wasn't following. Alex turned back.

"Oh, come on, boyfriend. Let's get going."

--

Alex returned to her house after the two hours jog with Maxwell Cordale, her neighbor friend on Second Street. As they jogged close to his house, they saw John standing by the patio looking glum. When they reached his house, she saw how John straightened his back and relaxed upon seeing Max.

"Goodluck. Fix it fast, Max."

"Yeah. See you around."

Max walked over to where John was standing. They started talking. John saw her and waved at her and she waved back at him and went to continue her jog until she reached home.

She took a quick shower, changed into a yellow top and jeans, dipped under her bed to get her red suitcase, then went back to her closet and pulled some clothes from it and folded them into her suitcase. She brought the suitcase down and left it at the foot of the stairs then went to the kitchen. She took a pitcher filled with aloe vera juice and poured it on a tall glass. As she drank the juice, she opened the fridge again and took the milk carton, and got Smarty's bowl. After pouring the milk, she placed it close by the kitchen exit door where Smarty was sitting waiting.

She prepared four sandwiches on her plate. Scrambled some eggs and fried hams sliced some cheese, then placed them on the bread. After she ate one sandwich she placed the remaining three inside separate Ziplock plastic wraps.

She got her bag from a stool and put the sandwich wraps inside. She filled a jug of aloe vera juice, then took one big water bottle, cleaned Smarty's bowl, and got out of the kitchen.

It was 7:30 am on the wall clock she saw. She took the silver chain red collar on the wall pin and put the collar around Smarty.

"Alright, buddy," she said talking to him as she was putting the collar around his neck. "We're going for a long drive back to my old hometown in Avery Hill. So, be a good dog while I drive okay?"

Smarty barked in reply.

She picked her suitcase, took the key from her front pocket, opened the main door and locked it. She went to the garage to her car and before she got inside, Smarty hopped in.

After a half-day drive, Alexandra reached Avery Hill. It was a bright and warm afternoon when she arrived. The house looked empty but the yard was clean. It used to be her grandparent's house but when they died, they gave it to her though sometimes her parents usually stay in the house whenever they feel like just staying over for a weekend or a month.

She looked at the house across the street but there seemed to be no one inside it. Maybe Daniel St. Claire was out. She could check about him later.

She opened her car and Smarty jumped out heading to the back yard of the house. She went to the front door and picked her key from her pants to unlock it but was surprised to find that it was open.

"Mom? Dad? Are you there?"

She called upon entering the house. She put her suitcase on the living room floor and dumped her bag by the nearby sofa. She heard Smarty barked by the kitchen and thinking there must be a cat he was unfamiliar with went into the kitchen.

She was surprised when she saw an unfamiliar man sitting by the kitchen table, occupied with his laptop while comfortably eating at the same time. He seemed to be so at home. He has jet black hair and was wearing a dark navy sweater and a pair of black pants she noticed as he stood up from the table then went to the refrigerator to get a pitcher and put it on the table.

He didn't seem to have noticed that she was around. She waited for another minute before she made a coughing sound.

Just then, the man who have already settled back on his chair and was drinking Coke on a tall glass put it back on the table, then reached for his glasses placed near his laptop and put them before his eyes.

"Oh, I didn't notice you. Alexandra Jane Diaz?" he asked smoothly as he looked at her standing by the doorway. "You can have a seat and join me. I have lasagna. Your mom baked this by the way."

He said nonchalantly.

She crossed the room and peeked to his side, noticed that Smarty is lying lazily close to him.

"Is this your dog?" he asked while looking at the dog. He closed his right hand to Smarty and the dog raised its head, sniffed him, and licked his fingers.

She nodded and looked at how the dog already softened up to the stranger.

"So, who are you and what are you doing in my house, Mr. Stranger?"

Alexandra asked hiding her surprise mixed with irritation but was forcing her smile at finding a stranger worst than a burglar feeling so at home at her abode.

The man patted the dog on his head first before looking back at her. With a nonchalant shrug, he looked at her impassively and square in the eye.

"I'm Daniel St. Claire, the new owner of this house, Miss Diaz."