For You

Apology Not Accepted

I was about to get out of the car but dad ceases me , "Ellie! Are you okay ? You can talk to me. "

I laugh a bit not allowing him to worry , "Dad I am fine . I am just.."

I release a breath cleansing out the anxiousness out of my lungs," Just having a bad day ."

He assures me ,"You know you can talk about it . If it's about the morning, I am sorry for not talking to you . "

I smile listening.

Dad never forgets to apologize.

"It's okay dad . You are allowed to do that when I am out of control .That's your job."

"Yes. But you know how I hate being mad at you . I mean, you are my only daughter."

My dad can be really emotional at times and also really angry . I guess that's how Leo's are.

"Dad, don't worry. I am okay."

I get out of the car and bend myself through the half opened window. "Anyway since mom's leaving tomorrow, you know we are having a movie night, '' I tell peaking a terrible fake smile.

"Definitely! " he says as he restarts the car . He vanishes smoothly for work as I get the keys ready to enter inside the house .

After freshening up, I wasn't expecting anybody. But who knew someone would care . Who knew someone would come by .

The bell rings when I was in the kitchen warming up the food mom kept for me . I place the plate on the dining table and then rush to open the door. It wasn't the exact face I had quiet imagined.

"Hey!"

He had a sheepish voice and by the look colored on his face I can tell he's here for something important .

"Hey Alex," I say not being impolite .

"Can I come in ? It's really windy outside ."

I turn my gaze aside to look at the breezy weather. It looked like the air grown outside was unbearable. Alex was holding himself, his coat draped all over his body which didn't seem to be that effective. With shivering hands, I watch him fixing his hair as I opened the door little wider explaining , "Yeah sure. The weather's been bad since the morning ." I close the door as I step into the living room to turn on the lights.

My house is usually awfully quiet and edgy when my parents aren't home. The lights beam growing attention to the artistic living room designs. Alex walks past me when the pictures on the wall stole his attention , "Wow! That's you ? " He asks scanning the picture as he runs his finger across one of them.

"Yeah, that was a haircut I regret ," I say conventionally .

Alex and I have been friends for a long time and even though we were pretty close before. I don't seem to recall him ever being inside my house. Since, Abby doesn't like sharing her best friends.

He was smiling surveying the pictures while I stood there confused by his meticulous actions. Nothing was making me smile .

"Why are you here, Alex?" I come to business .

He faces me as he uncharacteristically stutters, "I came to say sorry." And in a whoosh my anger washes away .

"Really ?Why?"

He steps closer , "Because, she was probably the one to start it but now everyone thinks it's your fault . "

I pause with perplexity , "Everyone ?"

"Yeah, the school."

My voice gets higher all a sudden , "How does the whole school know ? I am not that popular . "

I arch an eyebrow crossing my arms across my chest.

"Oh you are .....now. "

I could feel myself tensing up . I drink some water grabbing the bottle from the table beside me.

"You are kidding me right ?"

I gulp a huge amount of water while he continued,"I wish."

I keep the bottle down audibly breathing.

I was hyperventilating.

"Huh? Okay. If you are here to scare me then it probably worked. But, I don't really care. Trust me ." I was lying to my own self obviously.

"No! Who said I was here to scare you? I just wanted to help ." He gives a wary smile.

"Help ? Really Alex ? " I mouth tossing my palms up in the air.

Alex was shocked to see my reaction as if he didn't know .

I hear mom's voice and promptly I move away from Alex. Since, we were standing too close . Mom comes in and the moment she sees me and Alex together she says , "Another boy?"

Alex stares at me bewildered.

"Mom this is Alex . Alex this is mom." I introduce them saying , "Alex, you probably never met my mom before. Since she never comes to school and never stays at home that much. Because well... she's married to her workplace . "

"Honey?" Mom gives me a glare while I wear a instant smile on my face .

"Mom, why are you early today ?"

"Because, I am leaving tomorrow."

She turns around to Alex, "Nice to meet you Alex. Make yourself at home," saying that she goes to the kitchen while I astounded , "Wait it's tomorrow?"

Dad enters the room to give me a hug , "You seem okay now. " He gives a genuine smile.

"No I don't ," I talk to myself . He looks at Alex , "Wait, you are the retro kid ." Alex laughs , "The what ?" Dad explains , "I mean you buy all the 90s cars and clothes that's why I thought." Dad keeps the pizza packets on the table and turns on the TV .

From the other side of the room he says,"Alex, you staying for dinner?" I was mad in that spur of moment . He never asked Dave to stay for dinner. Then, what's wrong with him suddenly . "Yeah sure, Mr. Daniels ." I view at Alex again. What's wrong with him now? Why is he trying to be my friend ?

"Do you really wanna stay ?" I ask in hesitation . I wasn't sure of this sudden love from my 'friend' .

"Yeah, why not? If you don't have any problem of course ."

I say instantly , "Why would I have a problem?"

I went to sit on the sofa .

"Ellie, can you find a movie while I make the plates ready?" Dad says as I grab the remote . Alex sits beside me and watches me searching on Netflix .

"What kind of movie are you looking for ?"

I was getting a feeling that he was a trying to make a conversation.

"I don't know... action I guess . " He laughs , " I thought you would watch something like chick-flick ."

I don't say anything but he speaks again , "You know, they always watch chick movies all the time ."

I finally spoke looking still at the screen , " By they as in Susan and Abby right? " He adds , "and...Maggie"

"Yeah," I say sounding not interested. Since, that's something I am aware of .

Dad comes after a while with pizzas as we start the 'The maze runner: The death cure' . Handing us our food he sits in the middle position as usual being a typical protective dad. I notice Alex glancing at me in the middle of the movie scenes. But, I don't look back . I was eating the pizza . I don't know what was he trying to do this time . Why was he being so nice ? Honestly, he has been always nice to me. But not when the group was around, which is why I eventually forgot how he used to talk to me and well now I don't think I even know him anymore .

After the movie ends, he was about to leave. I go to the door with him to bade him goodbye. At least, I can do that .

"Thanks for the food El."

"You're welcome ." I say without a smile.

Because trust me, I was bewildered at that moment . The door was open and before leaving he turns back to say, "By the way, Dave sent me here and I am glad he did . It was nice hanging out with you. "

I was surprised to hear that . Now Dave is too scared to even face me ?

When he says the 'glad and nice' words I say abruptly , "Oh really ?"

I laugh a little but not too much. I was being sarcastic. But, he cunningly shuts my mouth replying, "Of course, you are my friend. "

And just as that, he walks out of the door with his hands on his pocket protecting himself from the shaky wind. I close the door and reach upstairs . Before entering my room I stop at mom's to check up on her . I walk to her bed to give her a light kiss on her forehead. After that, I turn my feet around to leave the room turning off her bed side lamp. I come to realization that she missed dinner probably because of the early flight tomorrow . I enter my room as I lie down on my bed . I check my phone eagerly wishing to see something. But no, there's no missed calls , no texts . How could he not talk to me ? I was expecting an apology which never really visited.