Smile

Chapter 7

Alexia

Once we got home Max helped me out of the car and to the front door. When we stepped through the front door I was attacked into a bear hug by both Jason and Olivia.

“We missed you so much.” They both said at the same time.

I hugged them back just as tight as they were hugging me.

Once they let go Logan came up to me and gave me a quick hug before he walked over to Max and told him he was ready to leave.

I tried to get myself up to my room but failed as I hit my hip on the side of a table near the stairs. Once again I was getting frustrated as Bella came up to me and helped me the rest of the way. I couldn’t help but think I was being a big burden to them once again.

When Bella walked me over to my bed I took off my shoes and laid on top of my pillows that engulfed me. I heard her leave my room and soon after my aunt came in.

“Sweetie, how was school?” She asked.

I just put up a thumbs up to show her it was good.

“That’s good Sweetie. Are you hungry? I can make you something to eat if you’d like?” She said.

I just shook my head no. 

I felt the right side of my bed dipped and I knew it was her. I heard her sigh before she started to speak.

“Alex how are you doing with us moving back?” I heard worry in her voice as she spoke.

I quickly sat up in my spot and tried to find her hand. Once I found it I held onto it with both of mine. I turned to where I thought she was and smiled a genuine smile. I could feel her look at me and next thing I know I’m being pulled into a hug. 

☀️☀️☀️

“Alex! Bella! Sofia is here!” My aunt screamed from downstairs.

I got off my bed and headed towards my door when it was suddenly opened by none other than Sofia herself with Bella being dragged right behind her.

“So let's cut right to the chase. How come Alex had a faint blush when she came out of the school building?” Sofia said. I could feel her wiggle her eyebrows while saying it.

I began to think back to what happened earlier today. No one has ever been that close to me what’s wrong with him. Why would he do that? Who does he think he is?

“Well someone had their face mere inches away from none other than your older brother.” Bella said.

“Whatttttt!!!!” Sofia said.

“What’s wrong?” Bella asked.

“I specifically told him not to try anything with you guys because I don’t want any of you guys being his next target. Don’t get me wrong I love my brother but I can’t help but hate his player ways. I honestly don’t know how he turned from being the sweet caring boy to the player he is now. He used to treat girls with respect but now all he does is use them.” Sofia said with her voice cracking.

I felt around for the whiteboard my brothers got me a while back when I wanted to say something but didn’t feel like making gestures. Once I found it I started writing, Now I’m glad I punched him earlier today during lunch but I can’t take my slice of pizza back. Both Sofia and Bella started laughing at what I wrote down. 

When their laughter died down they decided we should head to the kitchen to eat a snack before we had dinner later today. I suddenly felt the need to pee and grabbed onto Bella’s hand and pointed towards my bathroom.

While I was heading towards my bathroom I heard the doorbell downstairs. Once I was done doing my business I headed out of my room towards the stairs. As I was heading downstairs I bumped into something more like someone. 

“Woah there. Watch where you are going.” said Alexander as his hands wrapped around my waist to keep me from falling. 

Once I was stable and wouldn’t fall I pushed him away. As I made my way down the stairs into the kitchen I could hear him calling my name and following behind me. Just as I was about to step into the kitchen I was pulled back into a chest and arms wrapped around my waist once again.

“Where are you going in such a rush? Trying to get away from me?” whispered Alexander.

I shivered as I felt his hot breath next to my neck. I just shook my head while trying to get out of his tight grip. 

“ALEX HURRY UP UP THERE WE NEED YOUR HELP DOWN HERE!” Yelled Bella from the kitchen.

I tried again to get out of his grip while I heard Sofia ask, “What’s taking her so long? I’ll go check if she’s alright.” 

I guess Alexander also heard his sister making her way towards us as he let go of me all of a sudden and sprinted up the stairs. Weird.

“Hey Alex, I was about to go up and check up on you.” Sofia said.

I didn’t want to keep anything from her after how she reacted when Bella told her about earlier. So I decided to take her hand in mine and lead her to the kitchen island where Bella was waiting without knocking anything over or crashing into anything and tried my best to gesture to the both of them what happened from when I was heading down the stairs to when Sofia went to look for me.

Sofia was quiet until she got up and hugged me and told me “I’m glad you told me and didn’t keep a secret but if anything more happens that can scar my life I would rather not know.” 

When she went back to sit next to Bella she burst out into a fit of giggles with Bella and they started whispering back and forward between themselves not letting me know what they were whispering about.

“I think someone caught the action of my brother and he doesn’t want us to know. I don’t even think he knows he’s falling for her. We are going to keep an eye on him from now on. Maybe she’s what he needs to change him.” whispered Sofia.

“I’m surprised she didn’t punch him though.” Bella whispered back.

“I know right. Maybe she was just really surprised. But does she have feelings for him as well?” Asked Sofia.

I felt their eyes on me while I just stood there wondering what they were talking about. Soon enough I heard my brother and Alexander walk into the kitchen.

“Hey guys. What are you doing here?” Asked Max.

“I was about to convince Alex to bake us some of her famous cookies.” Bella said.

I faced her and couldn’t believe what she said.

“Really?” questioned Max. “Alex are you? Please tell me you are. I miss eating them.”

I faced towards the voice of my brother and thought about it and thought it couldn’t hurt to make them. I haven't made them in a while and they will surely enjoy them. As I was nodding my head Max came up to me and engulfed me in a tight hug.

“I’ll help!” Max said excitedly.

I couldn’t help but smile a real big genuine smile seeing my brother this excited. When he pulled away from the hug he whispered to me what I needed for the cookies. He pulled me into the hall and I started to make gestures of what I needed. Once I was done telling him we headed back to the kitchen where he started to grab everything we needed while I washed my hands. 

“What kind of cookies are they?” asked Sofia.

“We don’t know what they are exactly called. Alex learned how to make them with her grandma and mom when she was younger.” Said Bella.

“Yup my little sis here loves to bake. She used to spend her time in the bakery with my mom and grandma back in Seoul whenever we visited. From what I remember, they were making up new recipes and some turned out to be really disgusting but some just like these cookies turned out good.” Max said.

Sofia and Alexander just nodded their heads to the knowledge they gained from us. Max came up to me with everything we needed and placed it on the kitchen island.

“All wet ingredients are on your left and all the dry ingredients are on your right.” Max whispered. 

“From left to right is flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, butter, vanilla extract, and eggs”

I just nodded.

I gestured behind the kitchen island to Max if he could get Alexander out of the kitchen. I could feel his confused look until he realized he didn’t know about my blindness like everyone else. 

“Hey Alexander, you want to go to the living room and watch some tv. It’s gonna take awhile.” Max asked him.

“Sure why not.” Alexander responded as they headed towards the living room.

Once they were out of the kitchen Bella came up to me and asked what she could help me with. I gestured towards her all the measurements for each ingredient. As she helped me Sofia went to turn the oven on.

☀️☀️☀️

As I took the cookies out of the oven I heard footsteps entering the kitchen.

“Are they ready?!!” Asked Max.

I just nodded as I placed them on a cooling rack. I could feel something moving near my hands. Just as a hand was getting a cookie I hit it and the hand dropped it.

“Ouch. What was that for?” Max asked.

I turned towards the direction of his voice and pointed my finger straight at him while giving him a glare. He soon stepped back and went to the fridge to grab the milk to make hot chocolate. 

“Are you going to make the hot chocolate as well?” Asked Max excitedly.

I just shook my head while putting the cookie tray in the sink.

“How come?” Max asked with sadness in his voice.

I gave him a pointed look even though it broke my heart a bit but I promised myself I’d bake more often for him. I guess he figured out why as he let out a long sign. 

“I’ll help you make the hot chocolate.” Offered Alexander.

Everyone stared at him in shock while he had a small smile tugging at his lips. 

“No it’s fine I’ll make it.” Max replied.

☀️☀️☀️

Once everyone was settled in the living room Max pressed play on the movie. Although I couldn’t see the movie it felt nice being able to hear their laughter as something funny happened in the movie. It made me believe we’d finally be alright after all this time.

Later that evening Alexander and Sofia headed home as Logan got home. When I was heading towards my room I was pulled into a hug by Logan as he was making his way to his own room as well. As he pulled away he said “That smile on your face looks beautiful.”

I couldn’t help but smile even bigger. As I was going to sleep I thought back on today and thought it couldn’t have gone better and with that I fell asleep with a smile on my face for once in a really long time.