Tayla Story - 005

"What about we play a game?"

Kayla asked, though I don't know where she's heading with this.

"A game?"

"Yeah, we can get to know each other, and have fun at the same time."

"I guess… okay, what game?"

"How about, we ask each other questions about ourselves, but we don't necessarily answer truthfully. The questioner… (is that a word?) …will guess whether what they've said is true or false. If they guess correctly, then they're safe; if they're wrong, they have to do a dare."

"Okay, sounds good."

A simple enough game.

It'll help us to get along and be friendly. Being a game, it's a little bit competitive, but still not too serious. And we can learn more about each other, which I'm sure is something we're both interested in. Both out of curiosity, and for Alexander's sake. But, mostly curiosity.

And on my part… no, I can't do that. Forget that I was going to think anything just now.

"You can start Tayla. It's your house after all."

"Okay, let's see…"

I still don't really have anything to ask her other than things related to Alexander, because that's my only point of reference. Well, that can just be a starting point. I'll go from there, and then ask other questions.

"How long have you known Alexander for?"

"Hmm… only about a year before he ran away."

"Really?"

"No. You're supposed to guess whether it's true or not, remember?"

"Oh, right."

It had slipped my mind.

"So, you've known him for longer than that?" I asked.

"Actually, we're childhood friends," Kayla replied, "though we weren't in contact from about the end of primary school till a year and a half ago."

I see. A lie with an element of truth to it.

Whilst they did already know each other, they didn't have any interaction for years. They weren't friends until a year and a half ago.

"My turn," Kayla announced, "how did you meet Alex?"

"He held a bus for me when I was running to catch it."

"I don't believe you. You said before that he saved you. I don't think that's enough to say that he saved you."

Damn, I had been trying to get back at her. That's something that Alexander would do though, so I thought she might believe it. That kindness even to strangers; though if you were to ask him, he would say it isn't kindness but self-satisfaction.

"I used to be part of a religious order. Some members from the order tried to assault me. Alexander fought them, even though most people would've just walked by without saying a word."

"He fought them off? Alex did?"

"Well, no… he got beaten up. There were three of them and they were all bigger than him. But he refused to give up and go down. Fortunately, a cop car came down the street, and the three of them ran away.

Afterwards, I tried to just ignore the problem, but Alexander wouldn't let me. He did the right thing, but at the time I was pretty mad at him. He went behind my back to tell my parents what had happened. That's when we left the order. We didn't press any charges, but that's because we knew they wouldn't find anything. That the order would protect their own."

"That's horrible."

…

I don't have any response. Yes, it was horrible. It was a terrible ordeal, and I'm glad that it's all over. I'm thankful that Alexander was there when he was, and did what he did, even though it made me mad at first. He certainly did the right thing. And he most certainly saved me.

"But… I don't get it. The Alex that you're describing, sounds like a completely different person from the one that I knew."

"What do you mean?"

"Alex Acland, the one that I know, wouldn't do anything like that, ever. He's not the kind of person to get involved in the affairs of others. Not people he knows, let alone a stranger. He isn't the kind of person who could."

"That… can't be right."

It isn't possible.

Who she described… can't possibly be the same person that I know.

That just isn't possible. It goes against the very fibre of Alexander's being. Alexander Giovanna would not leave a girl alone on the street when she is quite clearly distressed. That isn't something that I could ever imagine happening. His entire personality and mindset just wouldn't let that happen.

I know that, according to himself, he's a completely different person now than he was then, but it still doesn't seem possible that he would ignore someone in need like that. That's what makes Alexander special. It's such an integral part of his personality and lifestyle that I can't imagine him without it.

"Anyway, I'm sure he's changed. It's been a while since I've seen him. It's your turn."

But that was only a few weeks, a month at most, after you last saw him, wasn't it?

"Did you ever feel the same way about Alexander that he felt about you?"

"No," Kayla replied coldly and swiftly.

I didn't even need to ask whether that was true or false. The way she responded made it clear enough. There was no ambiguity or hidden meaning behind that sharp response.

It was Kayla's turn after that, "sorry, maybe this isn't working," but she didn't take her turn, "all you ask me about is Alex."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to," I really hadn't noticed that I'd been doing that, "I guess… I just can't keep him out of my mind when I talk to you. I mean, you told me that he was in love with you, but he's never mentioned you once."

"Wait, seriously?! Not once? You'll have to slap him for me next time we see him."

Kayla's furious reaction made me feel a little better about the whole thing. It made me smile to see her upset at Alexander for not mentioning her to me.

"Maybe we should just give up the game, and focus on Alex. I'm only staying the night here, and I kind of forced you to let me stay."

"No, you didn't. It's no trouble at all for us to have you stay here. No one's used this room for a couple of years anyway."

Even though it's our guest room. Most of the people we have over are family or close friends who know that it's my sister's room. A lot would rather not sleep in there. If I have my friends over, we all sleep together in my room or the lounge.

"Okay, well… I had an idea that I think might be more fun."

"What is it?"

"What if we tell each other the things about Alex… that we don't like?"

"You have my attention."