Kindness

Alex got her phone from the bag and called her sister.

"Hi, Alex are you okay" she asked.

"Am fine, did you guys leave already?"

"Yeah, mom said she had a terrible headache and since Dad has talked to all his friends we decided to leave"

"But you left me behind, how am I going to leave"

"We thought you left after you disappeared and Mom claimed to have seen you leave the party. So we also left" Cynthia said.

Alex sighed, "I was in the washrooms but it's okay I will grab a ride back home. Tell mother I will be sleeping at my apartment tonight" she said feeling her body get colder.

"Okay, take care love you" Cynthia let out.

"Love you too" she hangs up. Nathan and Becca had left the room to leave her to her call. Her eyes kept on her hand holding the phone and then slowly moved to the swollen ankle. The image of her being pushed down to that dirty floor surfaced back in her mind and tears formed in her eyes.

She sniffed trying to hold them back but failed the pain in the chest felt heavy and suffocating and it tripled the pain she was feeling already. And soon she found herself crying.

Nathan heard her crying and walked back to the room.

"You can leave, for now, Becca," he said.

Alex's head was down as tears flowed down her face to her clasped hands. He poured some water and walked up to her offering it.

"Have some?" he said.

She heard his voice and hurriedly wiped her tears and looked up to see the glass of water at her face.

"Thank you," she said taking it. Slowly she took little sips of the water as it helped her calm down.

"I didn't eat a lot at the party, am going to order some food do you want anything," he asked.

She shook her head, "No thank you"

"Okay," he got up and left.

She sniffed wiping her still-flowing tears away.

This was the second time he had seen her crying, and it was still connected to her family.

He returned and she looked up, "Can I get someone to help me leave?" she said when he returned.

"You're leaving already? " he asked.

"Yes, I need to get home" she answered.

"Not in that condition, you can barely walk" he pointed at her ankle and bruised knee.

"Am fine, I will take care of it when I get home?" she said.

He sighed, "Did I do something to offend you?"

"What?.." she blinked.

"Am asking 'cause it looks like you rushing to leave my presence?" he said.

"That's not it, I just don't want to look like am taking advantage of your kindness," she said

"What kindness, I haven't even done anything and am worried you can't do anything in such a state but all your doing is trying to run away from me"

She looked at him, "Am not running away am just not used to being treated this way. I always have to do everything on my own even in tough situations so when I get such help I can't seem to worry that am imposing on someone" she explained.

"Well your not, am glad I was the one who helped you again. So please relax and let me help" he said

She sighed, "Okay"

He smiled, "Thank you".

"I should be the one saying that" she giggled.

He watched her smile and his eyes lit up at the moment.

After he shared his food with her he asked if she was okay now so they could leave together.

"I can get a taxi," she said.

"And who will help you get to your place after you arrive?" he asked

"I can manage" she lied.

"Still playing stubborn" he smiled. "Am driving you home and make sure you are safely inside your place"

Alex didn't object and let him grab her things and then carry her out of the room. No one had been interested in her like this before she kept taking at his side in the car wondering what he wanted from her exactly. Was it what her stepmother had said, he wanted her body. But he would have taken it back to the hotel. And he was nice to her it scared her a little too.

She sighed and laid back, the pain in her leg was enough for one night to even think about other matters.