Chapter 3

I can imagine the dimples on his cheeks right now.

* Are you still down in the dumps? * - I laugh when I read his last massage, blushing as I reread his words again and again, but I delete everything before someone - and by someone I mean Juliet - can take my cell phone and 'by mistake' read the messages I exchanged with her father.

"Clara, are you okay?" »-John's voice makes me jump as soon as decide to leave the bathroom behind and close the door.

I nod, as if he could see me, then without answering Alex, I open the door and clear my throat when I find myself in front of my best friend.

«Er ... Yes, why? - I give him a kiss on the cheek, greeting him and thanking him for being always so protective towards me.

"I saw you get in and I've been waiting for you outside for half an hour. You were sexting with Alex, weren't you? »- he gives me a mischievous look, while I blush violently and act like I'm disgusted by his supposition.

He laughs before I could even open my mouth, then I nudge him and start talking:

«Stop it, anyway ... No! »-I complain shamelessly-« On the contrary, I'm trying to teach him a lesson, since lately he seems to be annoyed by my presence. »-I admit, nodding at my same words to convince him.

"Why do you think that? "-his face goes from happy to serious in a second, watching me while we walk into the huge hall of the hospital.

"He told me 'are you leaving?' right after we had sex! Who tells his girlfriend to leave two seconds after he entered in her vag ... "- I start saying without controlling my self for the anger, while some patients put their eyes on me, so he instantly interrupts me with a serious tone:

"I agree! "

I feel the blood boiling in my veins again and I return to hate Alex again as if we weren't doing what we did few minutes ago, but I decide not to stress my friend with my private love affairs with that asshole.

"No patients so far? »- I snort at John, trying to change the subject and to understand if his day is being more boring that mine, but as soon as I open my mouth my cellphone starts to vibrate in my hand, so I smile and jump for happiness as a child.

"Forget it! »- I say when I read the message from my colleague, then I start running to reach the third floor, without even saying him goodbye.

I've always loved my job, mostly the part when I run around the hospital like crazy as someone that needs help arrives.

I had to work hard to get here, but it was worth it: my job is something I feel proud of in my life and I am finally ... relaxed, after so many years of study and anxiety.

***

I get home at 10pm, but I'm not tired at all, quite the contrary. I feel like I've just woke up from bed and ready to start the day even though it has been a really busy afternoon.

I didn't have to work the night shift, as I expected, so I just wante to take advantage of these hours.

I slowly reach my room, thinking I will find Alex asleep there, but I get disappointed when I find the bed made as I left it this morning.

He usually warns me before going out.

I don't want to go into Juliet's room in order not to wake her, but I would like to ask her if she knows where her brother is, so I pass by and push the door lightly getting amazed when I don't see her in her bed, so I forget about Alex and immediately pick up the phone.

God, Alex will kill me!

It's late and she's still not at home... I open my eyes wide when the idea of Alex searching her comes into my mind.

After three rings, she answers, and from the tone of her voice she seems quite annoyed, which really relaxes me:

"Before you start scolding me, I'm with my brother at a business dinner. »- I raise my eyes to the sky, but at the same time I get even more relaxed, knowing she's with that idiot that didn't tell me anything.

"You could have told me at least. »- I sigh in frustration.

"I thought you had the night shift today. "- she says, making me roll my eyes for the tone of her voice. She seems she's not having much fun there, but why would Alex take her with him today if he knows she hates formal dinners?

"There has been a change in the schedules. "- I limit myself, but not hearing any answer, I continue:" How is it going? "

"I'm getting bored as hell."-she starts complaining and she is the one who snorts this time.

And I believe it: how could a girl have fun in a dinner with adults, but above all old people, who talk about business?

Even Alex would be bored.

"When are you coming back? »- I clear my voice.

I have a crazy desire to see Alex again, even if we haven't seen each other only since this morning.

"Dessert has just been served, so I think we'll get up from the table in a little while. "

I simply nod, as if she could see me, then greet her and end the call.

I look around and only now I notice that the house is upside down, so I immediately start cleaning, before they come home.

I feel a weight on my stomach thinking about the fact that Alex is detaching himself more and more from me: he hasn't told me anything about this dinner.

Not that he usually informs me about everything he does, but I'd like to be aware of where he is, also because he knows better than anyone how much I hate being alone at home.

At this point my attitude seems ridiculous to myself to, also because it doesn't seem to have any effect on him: if in these two days I planned to avoid him and not be clinging to him, he did it better than me.

I open the fridge more frustrated than before, looking for something to eat: suddenly I find myself hungry, so I take out the cup half full of ice cream, and then go back to depress myself in front of the TV.

In fact, I forget about the disorder that surrounds me, passing from one channel to another, but I don't know why my attention is captured by Dora the explorer, so I find myself following the entire episode, even answering Dora's questions as an idiot for hours, until I hear the door open.

I look for the remote control between the covers to immediately change the channel: it is not the first time that Alex catches me watching cartoons, and it will not be the first time that he will make fun of me, but in vain I change the channel.

"I learned to accept Naruto, but Dora ..." seriously? - I throw my head back, snorting at his hoarse voice coming from the main door of my house.

Asshole!

He makes me feel like a child even after five years of relationship!

I feel him approach from behind, and then take my cheek between the index and middle fingers without saying another word.

I look at him from below and mentally hope that he comes over to kiss me, but I am disappointed when he just winks at me, and then moves away from my presence.

"Haven't you ever watched cartoons in your life?" »- I stick my tongue out to justify myself.

"I left them when I was six. »-he replies and rolls his eyes-« And it's time for you to do it too. - he goes to the kitchen, most likely to eat some crap, even if he has just returned from one of those expensive dinners.

"How did it go? »-I turn to Juliet this time, realizing that it isn't worth wasting my breath with Alex.

"The food was good. "-she sais in a low tone, avoiding watching me.

"Were there so many old folks?" - I ask without succeeding in not laughing, but she just nods in response.

"Catherine too? "-I insist to make her talk to me, but my question makes her jerk her head up, then she whitens her face, repeating with a strange tone of voice:

"The food was good." - she nods again and then flee to her room instantly, making him get up from the sofa and cross my arms.

"Alex."-I call him, while he throws himself at my side on the sofa.

"Mh? »- he hurries to change the channel, acting indifferent while I seat again next to him.

I take the beer from his hand and turn off the TV: he gives me a bewildered look, then approaches me with the intention of taking the remote control from my hand.

"What have you done to Juliet?" - I cross my arms, and then get up from the sofa again.

"What the fuck do I know?" - he starts to get closer, but I take two steps back, threatening him with a finger as if I could really hurt him.

«Don't be a child, you are exaggerating. Give me that fucking remote! »-he raises his voice, a sign that he is getting angry.

He even said 'fuck' twice.

He stands up, approaching and making me feel small in front of his body, but I try not to look scared in front of threatening eyes.

He raises a corner of his mouth, seeing me insecure and with my back against the wall:

"You're hiding something from me. »-I explain, but he doesn't seem to want the remote control anymore and his objectives have changed, so I get alarmed instantly and my hands start shaking.

I had decided to be indifferent to force him to submit, but if he gets so close, I know how this will finish.

"You are hiding something too. »- He also raises an eyebrow with a bully grimace, while I find him two centimeters from my face, so much that his tuft tickles my forehead.

I lose myself in his dark eyes again, forgetting how we came to be in this position and what I wanted to know from him.

He runs his tongue between his lips and that gesture urges me to do the same.

"What do you mean?" - I frown my eyebrows at his words, trying not to get distracted by the hoarse tone he uses to seduce me.

"You are avoiding me."- he goes straight to the point, and then continues with the same grimace on his face-"Why? "

"You're changing the subject!" - I take him back when I realize what he's trying to do, but at the same time I feel guilty and I would like to explain him the reason of my attitude towards him.

He doesn't reply: he brings one hand to the hem of my shirt, while with the other he takes a lock of my hair.

His fingers sneak under my shirt, making me stiffen for his cold touch.

"You can't avoid me, little girl. Put it right in your head." - he sais with a seductive expression and his eyes darker then usual, but I don't have time to say anything, that his lips intertwine with mine.

He moves them slowly, driving me crazy and forcing me to let myself go, unable to detach myself.