The Alpha Prince Next Door.

Gateway To Forgiveness.

Asteria's POV.

Today had been a toy to my emotions. I could not describe what I felt when I watched Lara kiss Xavier and the smirk that followed.

I didn't know when I excused myself to go to the little garden I found upon moving in.

Mandy was a blessing to me; she knew exactly how I was feeling and followed after me. I assured her that it was simply a flimsy crush and it would be gone with the same speed it came, of course she didn't believe me, I didn't even believe myself but I had to make it happen.

I needed to get a grip on myself and when I thought I had, there stood Xavier. I wondered if he followed me or he actually came to take water like he said.

I couldn't get ahead of myself and think the former so I settled on the latter.

When he came into the garden I was indeed perplexed, just like I had been doing, I invited him again to join me. I didn't expect him to agree but he did.

I was also surprised and extremely excited that he had noticed my absence from the group. All the while I was sat in the garden, I could not help but imagine all type of scenarios in my head of what he and Lara could be doing, so seeing him inside my garden really helped my f****d up mind.

I again invited him to join me after my friends had left, and when he turned me down, I could not help but feel a little hurt and pathetic until he clarified that he didn't drink. That raised my curiosity about him more. A young guy like he was, an attractive one at that not drinking turned heads and raised questions. I wasn't going to ask though.

After my friends left, I didn't think he would come. I waited and waited and after I couldn't wait anymore deciding to go knock on his door, there he stood behind it.

My stomach flipped and my chest thumped loudly when I saw him. I had not felt this way about any guy in a long time and it was even more sad knowing it was one sided. I know Xavier did not like me especially with the way he was towards Lara.

Seeing him sit here so relaxed and carefree made all the emotions in my body to rise.

The tension coming from us just being in a house together could be cut with a knife. I was attracted to Xavier no doubt but right now, it was even worse. I didn't want to make a move and make a bigger fool of myself so I asked the question I had been wondering the answer to all night. If he was a flimsy one night stand, we would have being doing something else other than talking right now.

" Are you interested in Lara?" I asked folding my hands over my chest to reduce my nerves. Like a flash Xavier's eyes moved to my chest before it moved back to my face. My cheeks flared at his subtle movement, a smirk threatening to come out of my lips.

Clearing his throat quietly he replied.

" Why do you ask?"

" I mean you would right?, she's pretty" I whispered more to myself, the talk about Lara had once again dampened my mood.

" Do you like Landon?" He asked me.

My eyes must have shown my surprise at his question because they widened on their own. I didn't expect him to ask something like that.

" Not really"

" Not really?" He fired back.

" It's complicated" I replied honestly

" That's what you humans say when you are trying to tell a lie" he commented without missing a beat.

" We humans?" Why would he use a phrase as that.

" Err... I mean, women in general" he clarified, eyes widening slightly.

Weird.

" It really is complicated" I retorted feeling the need to explain to him.

" Seems like an easy question to me" he replied.

" Have you ever been attracted to someone that you fear if you tell them how you feel, it might ruin the friendship you have?" I asked. I was no longer talking about Landon because I liked Landon as a friend, however I knew how he felt towards me, I just didn't know how I would respond if he actually told me how he felt. So yes it was complicated.

" No."

" Figures" I said looking down to my lap. I didn't expect him to understand. He was up there and I was just here.

" Figures?" He asked his face morphed into a scowl.

" I mean. I didn't expect you to under---"

" Why?"

" Sorry?"

" Why didn't you expect me to understand?" He asked his intent gaze making me squirm in my seat. His face gave no emotion so I didn't know if I got him upset.

" I mean. Looking how you do---"

" How do I look?"

Fucking let me finish my sentence dammit.

" If you would let me finish?" I asked staring up at him as I waited for his interruption, it didn't come so I continued.

" I just mean that you would not understand looking the way you do, not in a bad way but as attractive as you are, you'll only be on the receiving end of such attraction, not on the giving" I clarified speaking gently.

" Is that what you think?" He asked still not giving out any emotions.

I simply shrugged sinking back into my sit.

" Thought you were different" he said glancing down at his ringed fingers.

" What?" I asked

" I said I thought you were different?" He clarified louder this time.

" I don't under----"

" I'm gonna go" he said standing up to leave.

I rushed up Immediately chasing after him.

" Already?" I asked feeling saddened that I must have said something I wasn't supposed to.

" Yeah. If you think the way you do, we can't be friends" he said hand turning the knob of my door.

" What... What did I say?. That was supposed to be a complement" I said still not getting why he was angry.

" Didn't sound like a complement to me Asteria. Sounded like you are blaming me for my looks just like everybody else" he said already out the door and walking towards his own apartment.

" I'm sorry. " I blurted out when he was about entering his own house.

" I'm not angry at you. I'm only tired of having to hear the same thing over and over again" my heart hurt at his statement, at having ruined what would have been a good night.

I didn't mean it the way he thought I did but I understood his anger. It would not be fair that people thought he had it going well for him because of how attractive he was. I felt disappointed in myself for thinking that way even if for a second.

" Please don't go" I said barely above a whisper.

His movement seized and his hand remained on the knob of his door. I know I sounded pathetic but I really wanted us to get to know each other this night.

He turned to me and immediately his eyes found mine, I could not describe the utter heartbreak I felt. This was the first time in the little we had known each other that I saw true emotion in his eyes. His eyes was sad and held pain, but as quick as it came it was gone.

" I'm sorry." Was all he said before he turned his back and walked into his house.

I exhaled loudly, my heart breaking and lips trembling as I struggled not to cry.

Asteria why did you say that f**k wit!

With shame and pain, I walked into my own house. Xavier's scent welcomed me in my own home and where I should bask in his scent, it on broke my heart even more.

All hope that he was going to like me was washed away now.

I needed Mandy.

__

Mandy rushed back immediately opening the door with her spare key and rushing towards me. She crouched down to my body laying on my sofa.

" Hey. Hey. Hey. Are you okay?"

The tears I had been controlling rushed out like the flood gate had finally opened.

" Aster doll. What happened" Mandy cooed. She hugged me tightly as I cried into her shoulder.

" I ruined it Mandy bee. I f*****g ruined it" I said, my voice groggy from all the tears in my throat.

" What did you ruin doll?" She asked, talking to me as she always did, calm yet sternly like a mother to her child. The way my own mother had never spoken to me.

" I ruined any chance of Xavier ever liking me Mandy. Why did I do that?" I asked pilling my head off her shoulders so I could look at her, maybe she could give me the answers I could not give myself. She always had them.

" Okay doll. I need you to calm down and tell me what happened from the beginning. Did he do something to you?" She asked, now sat beside me on my sofa.

" No I did something. He actually came over for the drinks like he said he would and then we were having a conversation. I asked him if he liked Lara but then he asked me the same question with Landon. I told him it was complicated and he said it seemed simple to him, so I went ahead and---, and-----" I sniffled before I proceeded "I then said something like he would never understand the feeling of liking someone from a distance because he looked like he was always on the receiving end of such attention and never giving it. Why did I say that Mandy. I wasn't even talking about Landon for f**k sake" I finished, crying even more on Mandy's shoulder.

Mandy cooed and shushed me muttering it wasn't my fault to me. But it was though, he was only beautiful, he didn't do anything wrong by being that, but I went ahead and said what I said.

" Have you tried apologizing?" She asked, after so much soothing I had finally stopped crying, just the occasional sniffing here and there.

" I did but he didn't accept" I replied, sniffing again.

" No I mean, with your cupcakes" she said. My eyes shoot up to her confused at what she meant.

" What do you mean?"

" You know how your cupcakes got him to actually come out of his house?, You could use that and apologize to him properly. No one ever said no to your cupcakes doll" Mandy clarified.

She indeed had all the answers.

" Yes Mandy bee. I'll do that thank you" I gushed hugging her like my life depended on it because it actually did.

My life depended on Xavier's forgiveness.