The Other Roommate

4 - People Surprise You, People Let You Down

Callie was aptly thrown off.

Hugging Alex did not make her skin crawl. She expected to hesitate, to allow herself enough time to weigh out the pros and the cons of crossing the intimate line of having as much of Alex pressed against her body. She would try to reason that it was all an act. Felicity was there and she was supposed to be the current girlfriend, asserting her territory to her lady’s ex.

But those were lies to appease the wound of her pride.

She was supposed to dislike Alex, her crude mouth and her inconsiderate behavior. But her thoughts were clouded by the shroud of empathy when all she could see was the storm wreaking havoc in those green eyes and the heartbreak that stole their luster.

Alex’s reticent touch was pleasant. It was warm. And when her muscles relaxed as their bodies merged, Callie felt her arms tighten around her, like it had been a while since she felt secure enough to be vulnerable.

Their convergence always generated a spark but it wasn’t the kind Callie was used to this time, and it freaked her out.

Try as she might, she couldn’t understand the pull.

But Callie needed someone to hold her, too, and she cursed her legs for taking her to Alex, and her arms for drawing her closer.

And she hated that she found beauty where her ire once blurred.

Her mind was an ocean overcame with a hurricane, the depths of her thoughts and the chaos of her emotions crashed like waves creating irrational exasperation to surface. She needed to be alone, relieved to find that she needed something from the storage room. She made an escape before Alex could return to the bar, hoping to delay their inevitable reunion but as luck would have it, the very woman she was avoiding joined her not even a minute later.

“What do you need?” Alex missed the way her shoulders tensed at the sound of her voice, too busy looking around the shelves for a bottle of grenadine syrup. It wasn’t where they usually stored it.

Somebody moved it again. She’d have to have a word with Randy.

“I can find it myself. Thanks.”

Alex heard more than her words, prompting her to look at Callie with ample scrutiny. Her back was on her but her stance was stiff, cagy. Confusion settled in as she wondered what happened between the time they last saw each other and now.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” Callie said, a clipped, dismissive mumble.

“Are you sure?” Alex knew she shouldn’t pry. That one word from Callie meant she was done talking and to leave her alone but her curiosity was piqued. And something in the cold crevice of her chest worried something might have happened.

“Damn it, Alex! Just take what you need and go.”

Alex recoiled at the sound of her voice pouring with contempt and the sudden movement brought them face to face, and by the look on Callie’s face, she was taken aback by her outburst, too.

“Didn’t think you’d be that good of an actress, hugging me like that.” Alex scoffed, turning away to look for the syrup again.

For a moment, Callie just stood there, debating against herself because she knew she wasn’t dreaming the hurt she hear buried in the snide comment. Guilt gnawed like dog chewing a bone but she couldn’t allow herself to apologize just yet. And it was one more thing to be frustrated with.

In silence, they continued their search, pretending to not notice each other. That was the intent until Alex’s peripheral caught Callie’s body, her gaze dropping to the part that inspired the admittedly stupid nickname that had given her much entertainment. The sight of her ample backside sparked lustful desires and the fog kept her from noticing Callie pivot and caught her inappropriate ogling.

"Are you seriously staring at my ass?" Callie crossed her arms, fighting the blush that prickled under her skin.

"Grenadine. It’s right next to you." Alex beamed a ready smile, victory danced in her eyes when she caught sight of the clear bottle holding the red tinted liquid she’d been looking for. It was right next to Callie, conveniently on the shelf at the level of her hips. “Callie, you’re pretty and all, and I’m gay and all, but I can’t just let pretty girls walk all over me. I have standards, too.”

That was the spark Callie was thinking about, the one that didn’t unnerve her. But she didn’t count on the stinging burn that came from it after that little embrace. She needed air and there was none where Alex was involved. As much as she denied it, she was hurt by the implication that she may not be good enough for Alex and she needed to get out of there. She grabbed the nearest item she could, a bottle of Belvedere Vodka and headed for the door but was halted by the hand wrapped around her wrist.

She spun around from the broken momentum and tried to wrestle her hand from Alex’s grip but to no avail. She refused to meet the knife-like stare of the forest green eyes that were eyeing her intently.

But there was a prickle where her palm was on her skin and she pretended that it did not exist.

She pretended it didn’t bother her.

"Cal," Alex began. She acted on impulse and hadn’t fully comprehended why but she had the urge to apologize. "I'm–"

"What did you just call me?" Callie interrupted. She knew she was nitpicking but there was nothing else she could pin her anger on. "We’re not friends. I don’t want you making up nicknames."

She glared at the link between them, hating that she wanted it severed and glued at the same time. But to Alex, the nasty look only meant one thing. Her reluctance to let go was obvious in her defeated sigh.

Callie chose to ignore it and was about to head out when a familiar voice called for her.

“Callie?”

It was Felicity and by the volume, she was closing in. She glanced at Alex, rolling her eyes when there was that smile where a frown used to be. Of course, she was soaking it all up. That had always been the intent, revenge. But Callie had to look away because she was beginning to mirror that grin.

"Damn it." She grumbled under her breath.

“Where are you?”

"Dry storage, Flea." She said, loud enough for the Felicity to hear. To her side, she heard a chuckle slowly transform into a full belly laugh.

“Flea? Like a dog’s flea? Really?” Alex clutched her belly, the fair skin of her cheeks touched by a faint crimson. Her eyes were squeezed shut, head thrown back, the image of happiness and Callie couldn’t help but find her beautiful. “You can judge me for my nickname making skills, Cal, but Flea?”

“It’s her childhood nickname! It’s sweet.”

“Well, I’m glad I dumped a tick, then. Wanna help me squish it?”

Alex was more than surprised to hear the nickname. They had become closer than she thought and that didn’t sit well with her. She felt possessive almost, like she needed to assert her territory like Callie did earlier. Anticipating Felicity, she brushed a warm hand from Callie’s back until it rested on her waist. She pulled her close until their bodies were firmly pressed together.

The excitement she felt was too enormous for it to just come from watching Felicity’s reaction. Callie was giving her something she had never expected. There was thrill and excitement with Callie, the kind of rush she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Being with Felicity hadn’t been fun in a long time.

“How are you this annoying?” Callie fought through the tingling sensation irritating the skin beneath Alex’s hand. She hated that she welcomed their close proximity that she allowed Alex to turn her slightly so they were face to face.

She could only hope she didn’t notice how acquiescent she was.

They were so close that she could see the freckles dotting the bridge of her nose and the warmth of her breath wafted against her lips. She could pick out the colors that made the rainforest hue of her eyes. The faint smell of lemons infused with the aroma of spirits and liquor from hours of working assaulted her nostrils but Callie still could pick out the smell of Alex’s detergent, her shampoo and Alex herself.

Having Alex that close was unnerving but she didn’t have the power to tear herself away from her.

“I’d ask you the same question but you’d just roll your eyes.” Alex said and when Callie did just as she predicted, she breathed a soft almost fond laugh. “See.”

"I’m helping you with this dumb ruse. The least you could do is make it bearable."

“I could butter you up with some kisses.” Her gaze dropped to Callie’s lips and followed the tongue that poked out, tracing the bottom one.

"Hey—” Felicity’s smile dropped as soon as she found the pair and Alex couldn’t help but be reminded of the night she found her with her legs wrapped around Marvin. But whatever gratification she hoped to feel from the pain glistening in her eyes didn’t come.

Instead, she was sympathetic even if Felicity didn’t deserve it.

“What’s up?”

"Callie, can you come and help me with something?" She kept her words terse but she couldn’t keep her gaze on either of them. She couldn’t watch Alex stare at another woman with such intensity, the spotlight that had been beamed at her for two years. And when Alex didn’t let go of Callie, she grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her loose.

"Uh…sure?" Callie was stunned, unable to form coherent words. Her mouth hung open as she tried to speak but to no avail. She looked towards Alex as if to ask her what she was supposed to do but she was too busy slaughtering her ex with her eyes.

Alex didn’t understand the audacity to force someone away from her girlfriend, albeit fake. She’d never seen that side of Felicity before. She was always so sweet, so gentle up until she started working long hours and refusing to go out to restaurants and pay for overpriced meals when she was perfectly capable of cooking herself.

How had she loved so blindly?

"We're kinda busy, Tick." Alex reveled at the way Callie pursed her lips as if that would keep them from curving into a smile and she adored the breath she released, the ghost of the laughter she forced down.

"I'm sure you can finish it later. You work in the same booth." Felicity’s contrived smile oozed with malicious intent, her grip on Callie unwavering as Alex finally dropped her arm to her side.

"Oh, you're right." Alex exclaimed in feigned excitement. "We happen to live in the same apartment, too. But that doesn’t mean I like being away from her."

"You mean the same apartment complex, right?" She looked towards Callie, her eyes pleading but she had no words to appease her.

“Alex, that’s enough.” Callie reprimanded. “I’ll help her.”

As proud as she was of Alex, she didn’t want to cause Felicity more pain. She would never take a cheater’s side but if Alex had no intention of taking her back, she didn’t see any point in making her suffer.

“You weren’t this clingy before.” Felicity scoffed, unaware that her grip had tightened around Callie’s wrist.

“Let’s not compare what’s in the past with the present.”

“Alex.” Callie stepped in and for a moment, Alex looked like she had more to say but decided against it. She freed her wrist, surprising Felicity and sauntered to her fake girlfriend. "Can you please take this to the bar with you?" She lifted the bottle of vodka, which Alex accepted without a word. “Thanks. I’ll see you there in a bit.”

Without much thought, she leaned in to kiss her soft and glowing cheek but was taken aback when Alex swiveled, facing her, confusion marring her face. It was too late to back down. Her momentum was pushing her forward. She was conflicted, the elation and trepidation wound together to rev up her pulse.

Callie held her breath until their lips collided in a gentle kiss, the very moment she released a sigh. On instinct, she closed her eyes as she endured the commotion stirring her chest. Kissing Alex felt like losing control, like riding a car downhill and the brakes were not working, and all she could do was brace for the inevitable crash.

It was dangerous but Callie was excited.

It didn’t make skin crawl, too.

She didn’t despise it.

But she wasn’t willing to admit that she liked it.

And as the ride came to a stop, Callie was still safe. She took refuge in the breath Alex took and the sigh she released when Callie pulled away. And when her eyes opened, she found conflict staring right at her, like Alex was debating something but it wasn’t the kind of struggle Callie had within herself. She dropped her gaze, finding Alex’s grip on the neck of the vodka bottle tighten, her fingers paling with the steely hold.

Behind them, Felicity was boiling with jealousy, her mouth gaping at the audacity to kiss right in front of her. Any other day, she could have appeased herself. She could still claim that Alex was still hers, that she could forgive her eventually. But there she was, kissing her new girlfriend in front of her.

“You did that on purpose.” Callie mumbled loud enough for only Alex to hear, surprised to hear her own timid voice.

“I did not.”

There wasn’t a devious smirk where she expected it. No sly comment. No innuendos. Not even a scheming look in her eyes. And she didn’t understand why.

“Sure.” She dismissed, creating more space between them. “I have to go now.”

"Okay."

-

Denise was in her room when Alex came home. The sound of the blow-dryer signaled that she was still awake. At times, Denise came home later than her, especially when nearing the end of a project, which always paid off handsomely. Working at an advertising agency had its perks but it required a lot of Denise’s time.

Alex took a detour and traded her clothes for a bathrobe, and grabbed her loofa and body wash before heading to Denise’s knowing Callie liked to have a long, hot shower after work. She decided she could give the bickering a break and shower in Denise’s en suite bathroom instead.

She pushed the door open and found Denise in front of a full body mirror, eyes closed as she brushed her hair while her other hand gripped the blow dryer. The moment she shut the deafening machine off, Alex took the opportunity to scare her, speaking in a low, eerie voice.

"Hello, Denise."

Denise jumped in her place, swiveling to reveal the horror in her face. She clutched the dryer like she would a gun, pointing it at the perpetrator while getting ready to hurl the brush at her. Her surprise soon turned into a scowl aimed at Alex, who was leaning against the door frame ever so casually.

"Are you trying to kill me?"

“Are you trying to blow me away with that?” Alex jerked her brow towards the dryer, her smile widening with her amusement as Denise coiled the cord around its handle, getting ready to put it away. “To answer your question, no. But I was trying to scare you and it worked. Did you just get in?”

“Yeah. Boss wanted to celebrate. Not because we finished the project but because we got rid of that client.”

“I’ll make sure to include that in my AdInitiative review on Yelp. ‘Does not like business. Go to their competitor.’” She made her way over to the double bed and sat, the only thing she didn’t envy about the room with her queen covered in black silk sheets in her smaller room with no windows and no en suite bathroom.

“I’d worry if you actually went on the internet with that mouth of yours. But you don’t. I’m surprised you even know about Yelp.” Denise said, disappearing into her bathroom to deposit the dryer in one of the drawers.

“It’s a waste of time.” Alex was quick to refute like Denise expected. She lied down, hugging her body wash and loofa, gaze set on the ceiling. “I work twelve hours, six times a week. I’d rather spend my free time sleeping than posting pictures of my lunch.”

She had a point, Denise conceded. She leaned against her desk, regarding Alex with a scrutinizing gaze. There was something off about her, the drab aura she lugged around seemed brighter and the vengeful spark that lit it up like lightning in the dark sky in the past weeks subsided. It broke her heart that she couldn’t remember the last time Alex pulled a prank on her or just laughed without the weight of her problems holding her back.

“You look different."

“I do? How?” Alex lifted her head enough to acknowledge her but dropped it almost immediately.

Denise could tell she knitted her brows with conscious effort not out of curiosity or her usual stubborn defiance. She was hiding something.

"I don’t know. You just look happy almost.” A thought crossed her mind, something that should have been unthinkable if she had said it just a few weeks ago. A knowing smirk grew on her lips, watching Alex squirm beneath her gaze. "Does this have something to do with Callie?"

"No." Alex winced, the heavy cadence of her voice did nothing to discourage Denise. She fought against the urge to touch her tingling lips, the reminder of Callie’s sweet strawberry lip balm danced on her taste buds.

“Where is she?”

“In her room. Ignoring me.” She answered without missing a beat, only growing Denise’s suspicion.

She didn’t understand why Callie went back to ignoring her after that kiss. It wasn’t like she did it on purpose and she knew that. They barely tolerate each other, that kiss didn’t have to mean anything to Callie even if it gutted her to think it didn’t. Because Alex felt something stir when they kissed. She felt a drop of water from the ice melting in her chest.

It was a ridiculous notion.

It was stupid and hopeless, a road with an imminent end.

But she felt something.

It was for an inexplicable reason that she believed Felicity didn’t have anything to do with it.

Alex was forced out of her reverie when she heard Denise laughing, a loud, mocking sound that sent her heart hammering. She had to suspect something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t bring up Callie. Denise had been there through the most tumultuous moments of her life, it wouldn’t surprise Alex that she did but it didn’t mean she wanted her to.

"What's so funny?" She scowled in an attempt to salvage what was left of her pride.

“You seem bothered.” Denise divulged as she gasped for air, cheeks flushed and eyes alight. “Her silence should be a blessing to you. But yours is a miracle. Why aren’t you fighting her with bathroom time right now?" Her gaze swept Alex’s ensemble from her bare feet, her bathrobe wrapped body and the loofa in her arms.

“I’m tired. I didn’t want to waste time arguing.” Alex despised the incredulous hum but she hated the lie rattling the stability of her voice more.

“That’s a first.” Denise dismissed with a wave of her hand. “You fight her on everything, on the smallest, most insignificant things. You two act like an old married couple but worse and more problematic. This isn’t kindergarten, Alex. You don’t bully girls you like. You woo them.”

“I don’t like her. I like annoying her.” She corrected but to no avail, briefly debating on chucking the loofa at Denise and her obnoxious smile but decided against it. Heat swirled around her head and settled on her cheeks. The thought of her other roommate and her endless tirades sparked a smile to tug at her lips but she managed to suppress it before Denise could see. “She would have fought me all night if she was you with the dryer. It’s entertaining and annoying at the same time.”

There was a sigh, the soft whir of an exhaled breath rattled Alex to her core. The gentlest of winds could destroy the sturdy walls she built around herself because Alex was the weakest when it came to the people she loved. Denise sounded defeated, concerned without even uttering a word. The playfulness was gone and the woman who approached her and sat next to her wore a grim expression, prompting her to sit up.

"Alex, you know I love you, right?" Remorse danced in Denise’s eyes but her love shined the brightest. She laid a hand on her knee and squeezed. "I know you want revenge but that will only prevent healing. I know you want to be happy, too." She offered her a small smile, a quiet reassurance that everything will be alright. "Don't be the only thing that's standing in the way of your happiness."

She didn’t wait for Alex to say something, she just brought her in a warm embrace to remind her there were still people who loved her, people who will never give up on her. Alex was never one for talking, not even about her deep affections. Her love language came in her thoughtful actions and the messages embedded in the grumbles and grouses.

“I saw you smiling when you talked about Callie.”

"When? What smile?" Alex was aware she sounded defensive and if that didn’t make it clear, the way she withdrew herself from Denise like she was burned did. She averted her meaningful gaze and kept her back on her, knowing she was blushing.

"Oh, come on! You’re not slick.” Denise stayed on the bed, the look of utter victory overwhelming her face as her laugh followed Alex like a shadow.

“I’m going to shower now.” Alex said as soon as she stepped into the bathroom.

"You like her."

"I do not!"

But as she shut the door, she found herself leaning against it, wondering if Denise was right.

-

Callie was ignoring her and the fact was clearer as the days went by.

She seemed to be stuck in her head most of the time. A range of emotions would flicker in her eyes but she always settled for indifference or that friendly professionalism she regarded bar patrons with.

The hot and cold suddenly became a perpetual blizzard.

The fire burning in Callie seemed to have extinguished as autumn slowly took over. There wasn’t any attempt at lighting up a fireplace to provide Alex a sliver of warmth, and it was driving her insane.

And it wasn’t for the lack of trying. Denise had been right, she was picking fights like a school girl with a crush. The more failed attempts piled like snow, the heavier she felt.

But neither dared to bring up the accidental kiss. As far as Callie was concerned, it did not happen and Alex was not going to contest the notion with the broken pieces of the heart she was still mending.

As much as Callie would like to keep the distance, to repel the similar end of the magnet that was Alex, they orbited around the same universe. And they were bound to collide.

Alex was in her usual seat in the dining room table one morning, her back against the floor to ceiling windows to make use of the natural light. Underneath the table, her sock-clad feet were propped up on the opposite chair. She was writing on her journal again, isolated from the room through the music playing in her ears.

The usual.

But the words the ink inscribed were not of poetry or a narration of her day, or any attempt at improving her sketch. It was filled with numbers and equations and a calendar to see how long she had to work for twelve hours to be able to support a year of her sister’s college education while keeping a roof over her own head.

She briefly looked up to Callie who was on the couch, her chin on her palm and her gaze set on the direction of the foyer. She was oblivious to the object of her fascination, the painting of a wilted rose mounted by the doorframe. Her brown eyes were empathetic, almost as if she wanted to gather the painting and its artist up in an embrace to appease their tormented soul.

It was nearing noon and Alex was getting hungry, forgoing breakfast to get some more sleep. Working over seventy hours a week was taking a toll on her body but she couldn’t fail her sister. She took her earphones out, her ears instantly overwhelmed by the soothing cadence of Callie’s humming. The sound caressed Alex like an affectionate lover, filling the cracks of her heart with warmth that it made her regret plugging her earphones in while ignoring the music blaring from it.

“Hey Cal!” Alex reluctantly started, putting Callie’s humming on hold, causing a sense of longing for the inaudible words of her singing to flourish in her.

It was only the second time Alex had used that nickname. Although externally nonchalant, Callie was exhilarated. Her facing away from Alex was an advantage which allowed for her to grin to her hearts desires before rehearsing a casual look that hid her feelings. Her heart was spewing rainbows and sparkles despite her trying to mask the positive feeling with her dwindling disdain for her.

Callie was starting to care about Alex but was keen on hiding it, convinced her feelings towards her roommate was only to cause havoc and eminent destruction just like her previous relationship.

That was where it all started. Smiles and fluttery stomachs, that same old giddy feeling until the phase is done and over with, and masks start to unravel and reveal the evils of every human being. Suddenly, the gentle hands that used to caress her skin with delicate care were the same ones that were bruising them.

“Yes, Al?” She swiveled her entire body to acknowledge Alex’s eyes momentarily.

“Look at us. Matching nicknames.” Alex was on her feet, her notebook and pen set aside but still on the wooden dining table. She brushed her hair back as she stated, “I’m going to make lunch. Do you want anything?”

Alex fought long and hard not to immerse herself in what Callie was wearing. It was a revealing tank top matched with white shorts. She stealthily darted glances around her roommates toned physique but focused on those big brown eyes of hers. Her pulse was quickening from the intensity of the situation and the sight in front of her but she remained her cool and collected conduct.

“The last time you made me lunch, you forced me to pretend to be your girlfriend.”

“There’s no ulterior motive this time. I swear.” She raised her hands in surrender, one drawing a cross over her chest.

Callie shrugged, selling the casual behavior without noticing Alex’s stolen glances. “Sure. What do you have in mind?”

“I don’t know if you’d like it but I was thinking Cuban food.” Alex wore a wistful smile. “It’s going to take around an hour to make but I miss my abuela’s cooking.”

“You’re Cuban?”

“Yup.” Alex beamed an easy grinned, her heart swelling at the sight of Callie’s apparent surprise. It was as if it was second nature to her to smile to match her roommate’s. “Rice, beans and chicken sound good to you?”

“Hell, yeah. I’ve never had anything that resembled a Mexican dish in a while.”

“You’re Mexican? Aren’t you a Maxwell?”

“Half. Mother’s side.” Callie clarified, nodding as if that would make it truer as Alex hummed.

“This is new.” Alex smiled, walking towards the kitchen. “We’re getting along for once.”

It was a start, the first stone to the bridge they were building. Callie decided to help Alex with lunch, cutting vegetables according to her roommate’s preference and then tossed them in a pan while she added spices and seasonings.

Satisfaction overwhelmed Alex knowing that it was her who caused Callie to laugh or smile. Her little jibes somehow became funny when it once used to rile her up. Alex didn’t question why Callie’s happiness made her happy.

Callie made sure to tell Alex how delicious their food was, never lacking in gratitude. After their meal, she brought some strawberries out on a plate and offered some to Alex, who was back to being buried in the white blank pages of her notebook, clutching onto a blue pen.

“Wait, these are yours?” Alex stared at Callie in search for clarity, guilt creeping into her system. “I thought they were Denise’s.”

Finally, the mystery of the strawberry thief was unraveled. Callie chuckled, easing the tension stiffening her roommate.

“It’s alright. I don’t mind.”

“Are you sure? I can buy you some more.”

“It’s okay. I’ll get some more when I go shopping for groceries again.” Callie reassured her, smiling at her as she settled on the chair in front of Alex. She regarded the notebook with a nod, a strawberry hovering close to her lips. “What are you writing there?”

“Stuff.” Alex said, her evasive answer whenever anyone asked about her journal. “If you’re lucky, you could be here.” She winked at the girl in front of her to lighten up the mood she was feeling.

“I don’t think I’d want you to write something about me.” Callie jested after swallowing a piece of the fruit. “It would all be really mean.” She scrunched up her features and beamed almost instantaneously.

Alex couldn’t help but chuckle. After all their squabbles, Callie would have been right. Except she wasn’t. Her mind already gathered all her terrible memories, there was no need to taint her journal with them. She shut her notebook and took one strawberry, holding it between her index finger and thumb.

“I’m not mean, Cal.” She said, her serious sentiment clouded by the joking lilt she spoke with. “It’s better to keep people away to know who cares enough to break the walls down. Even if sometimes, the wrong ones manage to slip in.” She confessed, trying to act casual about it but was failing miserably with eyes of empathy appraising her.

To her surprise, anything she felt for her ex, even the contempt and anger was somehow nonexistent.

“I know the feeling.” Callie mumbled absently, glancing down at her hands for a moment. She lifted her gaze to meet Alex’s curious ones. “I guess we started off on the wrong foot.”

“I don’t think we’ve met before.” Alex kept a straight face as confusion marred Callie’s pretty face. Determination kept the stoic expression, extending a hand across the table. “Hi, I’m Alex. What’s your name?”

“Callie.” She said, accepting the waiting hand.

And as soon as they made contact, they both smiled.

It was a good start and both have raised prominent white flags up to signal their surrender. It was a needed truce, one that should have been kept for a really long time to allow for something to bloom, something deeper than friendship.

But things weren’t easy when it came to them. All the glory of peace was quickly stolen by one careless conversation later that night.

“So, you and Callie, huh?” Mason said from his office chair, typing something on his computer as Alex stood by the door, impatience written across her crossed arms. “You know the policy about dating your coworkers, right?”

Alex sighed, dropping her arms to her sides in defeat. “We were dating before she worked her, Mase. There’s no policy about that. Besides, you knew about Felicity. Two years, man. You never even said anything about this stupid policy. You did warn me about her.”

Callie had just stepped in through the back door but decided to drop by her boss’s office to formally request a day off. She was about to turn the corner when she heard Mason’s laughter. She paused and waited for the conversation to end, she was about to plug her earphones back on but was intrigued by his next set of words.

“You got me there. But tell me. Is it serious? What about Felicity?”

“What about Felicity? I don’t even think about that cheating b***h anymore.” Alex grumbled, averting the eyes that were appraising her. There was nothing but truth in her words and Callie could hear it loud and clear.

“So, Callie’s special to you?”

Somehow, Callie felt nervous about the question Mason had just asked. She often wondered how Alex spoke about her to other people, expecting disdain to bleed from her comments but since their truce, she was hoping for some sort of change. She was hopeful but the small flame of hope was easily put out the second Alex opened her mouth.

“No.” Alex lied through the betrayal that nearly choked her, her tone was steady, filled with conviction. She didn’t expect for daggers to shoot in her chest, hurting her when she forged ahead to cap the lie she started spouting. “She’s nothing. Just another girl I enjoy kissing.”

Callie’s heart was shattered which made her question why it was still beating. She didn’t understand why Alex’s words hurt as bad as it did. She clenched the cord of her earphones with tight fists as she leaned on the white wall, hiding herself, hoping it would swallow her.

“Be careful, Alex.” Mason warned her, disappointment at his friend. “I could tell there are vultures waiting for her the moment you let go of your prey. You and I both know how genuinely nice she is, everyone can see it, even Felicity. You don’t take good people for granted.”

Without thinking about anything further than the lie she had elaborately created, Alex let words flow out of her mouth.

“Whatever. I don’t care. If she falls for Felicity, great. I still got her first.”

Whatever hope Callie found in Alex and their budding friendship was crushed by what she heard. Her mind ran wild with a surging new form of revulsion towards her roommate. She didn’t think it was possible but it was worse than when she first met her. Perhaps it was because they had formed a bond and no matter how premature, it was a bond.

It was one that Callie would have cherished but was prevented from doing so the moment Alex chose to lie which Callie perceived to be the truth.

The problem with deception was it was always posed as the truth.

“What’s up, Cal?” Alex greeted like nothing happened as she joined her at the bar where patrons were already propped on stools. She nodded towards Randy, who was busy serving them.

Callie was polishing glasses, ignoring Alex. She had mustered all the strength she possessed to create white noise to drown out her voice. Confused, Alex moved towards her, waving a hand in front of her in the hopes of getting her attention and finally latched it on her shoulder.

“Cal?”

“Didn’t I tell you not to call me that?” Callie snapped through gritted teeth, catching both of them off guard. She wriggled away from Alex’s grasp, throwing the polishing rag on the crate with the shot glasses and stormed out to the back with Alex hot on her heels.

“You seemed fine when I left for work just four hours ago.” Alex tried to think of all the conversations they had, the subtle changes in her temperament but found none. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“You don’t care, remember?” She faced her roommate with such ferocity in her eyes, forcing Alex back a step. “You shouldn’t care if I ignore you.” She mustered an eerie smile void of happiness and warmth, hiding all the pain that was plaguing her heart. “God, I can’t believe even women treat other women like some worthless conquest. But then, it’s you. So, I don’t really know what I expected.”

“You heard it.” Alex deflated, lowering her shameful head.

“I damn sure did.”

There was still surprise flickering within her when she didn’t back down, turn away from the conflict. It was as if she was making it up to herself, fighting all the battles that she should have fought in the past and Alex was just collateral damage even if she hurt her.

“You weren’t supposed to hear it.” She muttered silently, guilt was apparent in her creasing forehead. She winced at the implication of her words, scrambling to fix what seemed to be unfixable. “And that wasn’t supposed to sound like it did.”

“So what? So, you could brag about it to the rest of the club?” Callie bellowed a sarcastic laugh, clapping her hands with such malice she almost looked like a different person. “I f****d the new girl before my ex could. Nice going! Do you want a high five? Ice cream?”

“Callie—”

“Don’t worry, our act is tight. That’s all you’re worried about, right? I told you I’d help you out and I keep my word. I don’t owe you s**t and I’m still playing along. It’d be nice to have it returned with a little decency.” She took a deep breath as her nose flared with her hands balled into tight fists. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”

Callie marched back into the bar, fabricated smile already in place, blinking away the tears that were pricking her eyes. She never looked back despite how many times Alex called for her.

Alex was left standing there contemplating on her actions. Her walls did crumble down but nobody was there to help her pick up the pieces.

White paper flags were raised and the heavy rain drenched the symbol of peace, breaking down the thin fabric into remnants of what it had previously meant.

[CB1]CHAPTER 6