Graffiti

Chapter Nine:

I jumped out out of the bed, sweating from the horrible nightmare I had just had. I was on Alex's couch, a thin purple blanket draped over me.

From what light came in through the windows I guessed that it was probably midday. I'd dreamed that Max had tried to rape me, right here on the sofa.

If I moved the blanket, his blood would be stained there. With shaking hands, I moved the blanket not daring to believe that it wasn't a dream; that it had happened.

I shuddered, pulled the thin black cardigan that Alex had gave me around my shoulders and walked to the kitchen.

The black tabletops gleamed in the light, I boiled the kettle and watched the water bubble.

He'd touched me, where no one should've been able to touch without my permission.

I snapped out of it as I opened the wooden cupboards and pulled out a plain red mug. After I made my cup of tea, I couldn't face going back to the sofa; I didn't even know how I'd managed to fall asleep there last night.

I stayed away from Alex's door and sat, instead, in the corner of the kitchen, the hard floor biting into my behind.

I sipped the tea. I had to leave, staying wasn't an option any more. Too much had happened, Max had frankly scared the s**t out of me, I was falling for Alex a little too much and I'd just had enough.

Yeah, that's it. Do what you always do; what you do best, Luna. Run away. A snide voice said in my head. I ignored the voice, knowing that if I listened I'd become more upset.

"Morning," a husky voice said.

Alex. He was wearing a white vest, black jeans that brought out his pale skin. His long black, shaggy hair fell into his eyes.

"Hi," I said quietly.

"Any plans for today?" He inquired.

"Yeah. I'm going to pack." I'd reached a decision, if I didn't get out now, I never would. I'd travelled to get rid of the bad memories, to become carefree again... I didn't want this looming over me. 

Alex froze. He was just reaching up to grab another red mug, presumably to make himself some tea, or even coffee. I couldn't see his face, but the muscles in his back were tight. 

"Packing as in leaving?" He asked, his voice was thick and he had to swallow. 

Some sarcastic replies came to mind like: No, I'm packing simply for the pleasure of it! But somehow, he really didn't seem like he was in the mood for that. "Yeah. I think it's for the best," I said honestly.

Alex made his tea and sat in front of me. His green eyes stared into mine. Even though I hadn't dared to look into my eyes, I just knew that somehow they'd become duller. 

"The best for who? You?" Alex asked softly. I was so confused, when I'd first arrived, he'd been the biggest dickhead around...and now, well now he seemed like he actually cared.

"For everyone," I muttered. Denis could finally stop chasing me and get on with his life, maybe find someone who would love him, Alex's 'gang' could get back together, without me getting in the way. Alex didn't reply for a while, I'd just finished my tea when he spoke up.  

"It wouldn't be better for me," he whispered. My eyes widened. This is exactly what I'd been afraid of. 

"Alex..." I said softly, "We don't even know each other!"

"I know. I just..." Alex took a deep breath. "I feel different... around you," Alex grumbled.  

At that particular moment, Denis happened to storm through the front door. He had on his long trench coat again, his hair had gotten shorter, and his dark jeans were ripped. He still wore the shoes I had gotten him. I cursed under my breath, I was just getting somewhere with Alex. 

"There you are!" Denis breathed. 

I gave him a questioning look and then, all of a sudden, I was encased in Denis's arms, the sweet smell of honey filling my nostrils. I backed out of his grasp. "What was that?" I asked warily. 

"I heard. About Max." 

Well, s**t. Now he wouldn't leave me alone, which meant that I wouldn't be able to leave. I didn't want him to follow me, I wanted him to find a new life, and I didn't feel the same way about him as he did me. 

Denis stared deep into my eyes. "I know you. You're going to do something rash." His eyes flicked behind me, to Alex. "What's she said? What's she going to do?" I whipped around and urged, with my eyes, Alex not to tell. Son of a b***h wasn't even looking at me. 

"She's going to leave," Alex said in a levelled voice. He'd put both our mugs in the silver sink. 

"Well, let me pack my things then," Denis said, starting to walk towards the door. 

"No." It came as a shock to me, I'd never thought that I'd ever say 'no' to Denis. 

"What?" He asked in a gruff voice. 

"I'm going alone," I said slowly.

"No you're not." It's funny, because Denis's mouth hadn't moved. That had come from behind me. Alex. Why wouldn't either of them let me go alone? 

"What?" I asked, wide eyed as I turned to face him. "No! You have a life here! I'm not going to just let you throw that away over some stupid crush!" The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them. I slapped my hands over my mouth. I needed to rephrase. "No, that came out wrong. I know you don't like me in that-"

"I do, actually." Alex said. Well, this hadn't gone how I'd planned. At all. There was a fuming Denis behind me, an expectant Alex in front of me, and then me... a very flabbergasted, confused me. 

"I...What?" Alex came towards me, and slowly reached out to grab my hands. 

"I said I do, I like you. You're funny, a bit rude at times, but funny. You're hot headed, and once you have your mind set on things, nothing or no one can get in your way. You hate running and being forced what to do. You can drink beer and eat pizza like a guy. You hate grammatical errors. You embrace change, hating how mundane and boring everyday life is.  And... you think I'm a terrible kisser," Alex explained. I'd never said any of this, but, surprisingly, it was all true. Every last word.

"What?" Growled a voice. s**t, I'd forgotten that Denis was here. "You two have kissed?" He asked incredulously. 

"Yes?" I said, my voice getting higher at the end, making it sound like a question. 

"But... I thought that... we..." Denis actually looked heartbroken. I stepped towards and then faltered. I was torn. I didn't know what to do. I was caught between what I usually did and what I wanted to do. I usually gave a bitter retort and walked away, but I wanted to comfort him. Instead, I bit my lip and stood back.

"I'm sorry," I whispered after he'd left. 

Two hours after Denis had slammed the door behind him, Alex and I were sitting on the couch, I didn't know how he'd done it, but he had, he'd convinced me not to leave. Some random film about a girl and her journey through a hard childhood was playing. I wasn't really paying attention, I was - with my eyes- tracing the lines on Alex's face. 

The soft crinkles at the corners of his eyes. The scrunches on his forehead when he raised his eyebrows. The crinkles on the corner of his mouth when he smiled or laughed... and he just had to turn around at that point.

He didn't say anything, instead he came closer, leaned in and kissed me. 

Sparks ignited in my body, his tongue entered my mouth, he explored my mouth and I did the same with him. My heart was beating so fast, I was surprised it hadn't burst out of my chest. We had to come up for air, and as we did, I leaned into him, my face against his chest. We lay down on the sofa like that for a while. 

As I was drifting off into a blissful sleep, I heard Alex say: "Still think I'm a terrible kisser?"