Stay with me

Chapter 5: Alec

Once we had made it to the apartment it felt like I could breathe again after being in that suffocating car. It was silent the whole entire ride but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. It was more of an 'We understand each other' silence, if that makes any sense.

I want to say something but I don't know what.

    "Dad's supposed to be home soon. Do you want to go to dinner with us this evening?" She asks. I could tell she was trying to cover up her nervousness by pulling her sleeves down over her finger tips. She only does that when she's nervous or she nibbles on her fingernails (Which is actually really cute because even though she's nervous she never bites them)

"Are you sure? You don't want that time to talk to your dad?" I ask.

"No, I'm not sure. That's why I invited you." She snaps. 

    "Never mind, I have some stuff to do. Mateo and Nate need some help moving Mateo's mom in down by the water. I'll see you later." I say hurt and trying not to let her see.

I tilt my head downwards and turn away opening the door and heading out.

    I didn't expect her to snap at me. I mean, she rarely does. I just figured that she might want to talk to her dad. They haven't talked to each other in a while. Maybe it's for the best, if I'm not there then her dad, I know, will try to make conversation. But if I am there then her dad will usually not talk much.

I press the elevator button and head down.

I just hope she has a good night. When, I make it to the car I head straight for Mateo's mom's apartment complex.

    I know Addie isn't on her period because her period was a week ago. And before you say that I'm one of those guys that blame girls for being on there periods and I don't understand, just hold up for a second. 

    You're right. I don't understand what it's like. From what Addie's told me, it's like hell for a week with nothing but a sea of red and intolerable pain. I used to be one of those guys who didn't think that it was a big deal but I've known Addie long enough to know that she doesn't fake pain and she doesn't like spotlight. 

    A while ago, when we were in like 7th grade in Mr. Smith's class, Addie fell off her chair suddenly holding her stomach. I thought that she was dying so I called an ambulance only to find out that it was period cramps. I called my mom to ask if we could go back to my house and watch a movie with ice cream to make her feel better.

My mom agreed which I knew she would because she loves Addie.

    Once we got to my house and settled on watching "Gnomeo and Juliet" I decided to ask her what it felt like. I knew she wasn't faking, so I was naturally curious.

"You know getting kicked in the balls hurts like hell right?" She had asked.

"Yeah..." I said.

    "Well, being on your period is like getting kicked in the balls twenty-four hours a day for a full week. Not only that but you have to put up with the embarrassment of thinking that everyone knows somehow and that you can't wear white for the problem that you might accidentally bleed through them. And trust me red stains are really hard to get out of white clothes. It sucks." She said.

I pull into the parking space now, take the keys out of the ignition and just sit there for a few minutes.

I want to make her feel better and to help her but it's not as easy as giving her ice cream and a movie any more.

I sigh and get out of the car slipping my keys into my pocket.

Mateo comes down the stairs and straight toward me.

"Hey, man! How have you been? I haven't seen you in a little while and how's Addie?" He asks.

I decide to answer the first question and then the second afterwards. 

    "I've had better days. Addie's okay, today's her birthday so we went out for ice cream." I say, knowing full well that Mateo forgot her birthday even though we've all been friends for years. 

"Oh s**t! Today's her birthday?" He asks.

That's what I just said...

    Nate comes out with Mrs. Culeo and he's smiling bright. I've always liked Nate. He has that kind of personality that makes everyone in the room lighten and smile as if the world is a big happy and shiny place.

"Hey Nate, How's it going? I heard you've just moved in the floor above mine." I say.

He pulls me into a half hug. If it was any guy other than Nate who just tried to hug me I'd punch them.

"I've been good and yeah. I moved in a couple of days ago. We should hang out sometime." He says with a hopeful glint in his eyes.

    We haven't hung out in a while. Actually, I just realized, we haven't hung out since graduation and it's already August. I really miss hanging out with the guys, so that would be fun.

"Yeah, that would be great. I've been busy with Addie and I haven't really had time to do other stuff but maybe next week?" I ask. 

Both Mateo and Nate raise an eyebrow at me with a knowing look.

"No no no. Not like that, I just like hanging out with her." I say trying to make them see that I am not trying to get in her pants.

    "Whatever you say dude. You've been trying to get her since the third grade. Sleep with some other girls, get her out of your system." Mateo says.

    God, what kind of animal does he think I am? Only Mateo would tell me to sleep with other girls in order to get Addie out of my system. See the thing is, I don't want her out of my system.

I don't ever want to give her a reason to walk away. Ever.

"Really?" I ask. Not in that "really?" like "you think so?" type of way but more in that "what the f**k do you think your trying to say?" type of way.

    He raises both eyebrows to the point where I can barely see them hidden under his hairline. Like he expected me to actually go f**k some girls. He should know I'm not going to do that by now.

"Chill, man.. I was just trying to give you options." He says backing away. 

Options? Seriously? I don't want options. I already have them and I already chose a long time ago. 

Nate comes between us, well Mrs. Culeo's just standing there like "Did I just hear my son correctly or is my hearing messed up?"

I wasn't going to fight him but he just aggravates the hell out of me.

I feel my phone buzzing against my pocket and take it out.

Addie's calling.

"Hey" I say answering the phone call.

"Hey, I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. If you still want to- I would like you to come to dinner with us Alec." She says. I hear breathing on the other side and then she says "I know you want me and dad to talk but I need you there." Vulnerability laces her words and I know she already won this argument.

"Okay, I'll be there in a couple of hours" I say. I check my watch and see that it's already four o'clock. My eyes widen. There's no way it's already four. 

"Okay bye" She says and I hang up.

I walk back towards Nate and Mateo and tell them that I'm going to go eat dinner with Addie and Matt (Addie's dad) and that I'm sorry I couldn't help.

"Do you still want to hang out next week?" Nate asks.

"Yeah, I'll just text you."

I start to walk away and then turn around and ask Nate "Hey, what time is it?" 

He gives me a weird look but answers anyway.

"Four O'two" He says. 

"How?" I ask completely bewildered.

"Time change." Mateo answers simply.

I glare at Mateo, I wasn't asking him.

"How is there a time change in the middle of the day?" I ask.

"I don't know, there just is." Nate says. He looks at me concerned as if I'm going crazy but I just say my goodbyes and walk back to my car.

I get in the car, start the ignition and head back to my apartment to change.