Chapter 5: A Cheeky Surprise

"Thanks again," Birdy said in a genuine tone as she, Kit, and Alex walked down the hallway toward her new home.

Each of them was carrying bags and boxes that contained, basically, Birdy's whole life. It had definitely been very sobering when she'd been packing and realized that she didn't have much to her name.

"You've got to stop thanking me," Alex said with a chuckle as they reached her door. She shot Birdy a smile and put down the box she was carrying, pulling her key out of her jacket pocket.

Alex unlocked the door and picked the box up, leading the way into her apartment. She stopped dead in her tracks as she stepped into her living room and noticed that Ravyn was still there, smoking a cigarette by the window - completely naked.

"I was wondering when you were coming back," Ravyn drawled in a seductive tone.

"Oh!" Birdy uttered in shock as she entered after Alex, completely unprepared for the sight of the beautiful but naked stranger in Alex's living room.

"What?" Kit asked as she walked in. Her question was answered when she saw Rayvn. She put the box she was carrying down and turned around. "This is my cue to leave."

Birdy watched Kit leave and close the door behind her, wishing that she could leave with her. She felt incredibly awkward and didn't know where to look.

"What are you doing here?" Alex asked with a sigh as she put the box down, slinging the bag on her shoulder onto the ground next to it.

"I didn't know you were bringing anyone home," Ravyn commented, her eyes locked on Birdy - very obviously looking her up and down with a blank expression on her face.

"That doesn't answer my question," Alex said impatiently. "Would you put something on? You're making Birdy uncomfortable."

Ravyn turned her gaze to Alex and smiled with a shrug before flicking her cigarette out of the window. "We'd hate to make Birdy uncomfortable."

She sauntered past Alex and blew a kiss at Birdy before disappearing down the hall, leaving Alex and Birdy alone.

Alex exhaled and turned to Birdy with an embarrassed smile. "I'm so sorry about that. I had no idea she was still here, let alone naked."

"It's okay," Birdy rushed to reassure Alex. "It's your place after all. She doesn't have to leave on my account."

"I'm the one who wants her out," Alex said with a dark expression. "Don't feel guilty."

"That almost hurts," Ravyn commented as she breezed back into the room, dressed in her outfit from the day before. "I have to leave anyway, so I'll let that comment slide."

Alex rolled her eyes, unsurprised and annoyed by how flippant Ravyn was being about the whole thing.

"Nice to meet you Birdy," Ravyn said with a fake smile as she came to a stop in front of Birdy, adding emphasis to her name.

Ravyn moved past Birdy and pressed her body into Alex's, planting a kiss on the corner of her mouth. "Text me."

She peeled herself off of Alex and strutted out of the apartment, leaving the two remaining women in an awkward silence. Alex was feeling a little embarrassed about Ravyn's very territorial behavior and she could only imagine what Birdy was thinking.

For her part, Birdy was just surprised because she hadn't expected Alex to be into women - she hadn't gotten that vibe. Not that there was a specific vibe she was looking for but it just felt completely unexpected. She'd just assumed that Alex was straight, like Gemma and Kit although…thinking about it now, it wasn't something that had ever come up so maybe they weren't.

"So," Birdy said, breaking the tension. "I take it that's your girlfriend?"

Alex snorted in amusement and shook her head. "I wouldn't even call us friends. We're…coworkers that hook up sometimes."

"That's very…modern," Birdy commented, unsure of what to say.

She'd never had that kind of arrangement because she'd only ever been with Dale. Truthfully, she couldn't see the appeal in an arrangement like that. She'd always wanted to just settle down with one person and be with them forever - casual had never crossed her mind.

"It's very messy," Alex commented wryly. "Let me show you to your room."

Alex picked up the bag and the box again and led Birdy to her new bedroom. The two bedrooms were across from each other, with the bathroom in the middle at the end of the hallway.

"Welcome home," Alex said cheerfully as she flipped the light on and walked into the bedroom, setting what she was carrying down near the bed. "Sorry about the mess."

Birdy laughed at what Alex was referring to as a "mess", which was dozens of shopping bags and boxes. She assumed that this was some of the free stuff that she'd need to sort through.

"This is the kind of mess I like," Birdy answered as she put down the bags she was carrying and looked around the room. Aside from the clothes and shoes that were piled up in one corner, the room was quite large. It was decorated in the same white as the living room but the bed looked very comfortable.

Alex put a hand up as Birdy turned to her. "Do not thank me again!"

Birdy clapped her hand over her mouth and giggled. "I'm sorry, I just really appreciate this and I'll be out of your hair as soon as possible."

"Take your time," Alex said sympathetically. "Heartbreak is a b*tch."

"Is that why you have a co-worker with benefits?" Birdy asked curiously before she could think twice about it. She clamped her lips shut as soon as the question had left her lips, immediately feeling that she'd been too intrusive and hoping that Alex wouldn't be offended.

Alex smiled at Birdy sadly and nodded. "That's exactly why."

Birdy exhaled softly, feeling relieved and touched that Alex had opened up that little bit. "I can totally understand that."

"Speaking of, if Ravyn ever comes back here, she will be clothed in the common areas," Alex assured Birdy.

Birdy laughed. "If I looked like that, I'd walk around naked too."

Alex rolled her eyes. "Don't let her hear you say that. Lord knows she's conceited enough as it is."

"Noted," Birdy quipped with a cheeky grin. "I was hoping you'd let me make dinner for us tonight."

Alex nodded eagerly. "Please feel free! I hate cooking and she hates me too."

Birdy laughed at the excitement in Alex's eyes. "Do you have any special dietary needs or anything? I'm not really sure what models eat."

"I love to eat, I just hate cooking," Alex said seriously. "I will eat pretty much anything, I'm blessed with a crazy metabolism."

"Good to know," Birdy said as they walked out of the bedroom and out into the kitchen.

"Feel free to explore," Alex said with a wave around the kitchen. "I haven't cooked at all so I have no idea where anything is."

"How do you survive?" Birdy asked with a broad grin and genuine interest.

"I eat out and order in," Alex answered. "I also plan on going to Gemma and Kit's often, that should cover it."

Birdy laughed and shook her head. "Do they know about that part?"

Alex shrugged and smiled innocently. "It's been that way since college, they should expect it."

"I think I'll do them a favor and make sure there's dinner for you here," Birdy joked as she started opening cabinets and examining the fridge.

Alex frowned. "You don't have to make dinner for me every day Birdy, that's way too much."

Birdy shrugged. "I want to, it'll make me feel better about living here for free."

Alex studied Birdy's face for a second and found nothing but sincerity. She mulled over it for a minute before sighing and nodding - it seemed like it would be mutually beneficial so why not? She just hoped that Birdy was a good cook.

"Great," Birdy chirped. "I'm glad that's settled! Now, do you have any food, anywhere?"

Alex looked confused. "What do you mean? There's stuff in the fridge and the cabinet."

Birdy gave Alex a dubious look. "Since when does a variety of snacks and a dozen bottles of champagne count as food?"

Alex chuckled and gave Birdy a toothy smile. "Right, so I was going to get around to doing 'real' groceries but then I remembered I don't cook."

"I've seen bachelors with a better spread than this," Birdy commented playfully.

"Are you going to judge me or are we going to get groceries?" Alex asked with an amused laugh. "You can't do both."

Birdy grinned and shook her head. "I guess we'll go and get groceries since those are my only two options…apparently."

"Awesome!" Alex clapped enthusiastically. "Do you know where we can get groceries around here? I'm still figuring out where everything is."

"I totally forgot you just moved here," Birdy said with a sympathetic smile. "I'll be your unofficial tour guide."

"I look forward to it," Alex answered with a warm smile.