The Italian Catalyst -CASTELLANO SERIES: ALEXANDER’S STORY

Chapter 3

Andrea wanted coffee, I wanted food.

So we made a mutual decision—one without an argument involved to head to our favorite café—Joe’s. Andrea has changed into a different set of decent clothes, well they were my clothes since she didn’t have time to go back to her place to pack.

I always kept spare toothbrushes for my ‘guests’ because come on, I certainly don’t want any girls to be using mine, that’s just nasty. Andrea did a half up, half down hairstyle (not sure if that’s what girls call it), donned on a white cotton shirt of mine and a pair of grey sweats that belonged to Lucy—my sister when she came visit.

Although, I’m not sure if Andrea was wearing any underwear down there.

“If by you squinting at me trying to figure out if I have underwear under your clothes, the answer is yes. For some reason, I always bring a spare in case I need to crash at a man’s house.” She said flatly as I pushed the door open to the cozy café and the familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee beans wafted through the air.

“The only man’s house you ever been to is your brother’s apartment.” I corrected.

“Again, there’s still a lot of things you do not know of my secret personal life.”

“Oh pray tell, please. Because the last I remembered after breaking up with that sleazy ex of yours, you’ve never dated for some time, you acted as if boys gave you cooties or something.” I frowned at her, eyeing on our usual spot outside the café.

“Still feel the same way about that, all except for Bryan.” She made a face and I rolled my eyes at her. “Roll them harder and perhaps you’d find a brain back there.” she parroted me.

“Wow, so you do actually remember the things I tell you.” I probably looked impressed and she smiled.

“Believe it or not, as much I try to filter your nonsense out of my head—and I try hard, really. But sometimes it just sticks, you know? Like an annoying old chewed gum.”

“It’s either that or you do think I’m absolutely humorous and that the things I said actually made a lasting impact on that brain of yours.”

She and I were observing the array of pastry that were behind the glass display but we both somehow eyed on the same thing. “I want that.” We both pointed to the last croissant that had a pretty decent amount of avocados, salmon and a whole other bunch of goodness.

“I’m sorry, that’s the last one we have out for today; you could try those scones.” The cashier smiled at us, almost feeling bad—well, she’s new, I wondered what happened to Nancy? Damn it Scott, he clearly did not take me seriously when I told him not to sleep with her, now there goes my free croissant on the house.

“Its’ alright, we’ll share it, a plate of hash browns with scrambled eggs, a latte with two extra shots of espresso and a piccolo latte for the lady.” I gave my order and Andrea stared at me but said nothing.

I held out my card to the cashier and turned to Andrea. “What is it baby?” I asked. “How do you even remember what was my favorite drink?” she leaned her hip against the counter and that’s where I realized her waist was much thinner, toner and curvier than before. Her arms were solid but still small enough for me to circle a finger around her wrist but her hips although...had gotten significantly rounder—she looked really good.

“Course I do, it’s all you ever drank here before you left to London.” I said before turning my attention back to the cashier for my receipt. The croissant will be sent over with our coffee in a bit so we took our seat outside the café.

Scott, Andrea and I came here to Joe’s pretty often, we still did even after she left to London. Whether it was to nurse a hangover with the great breakfast they served or to hang out after classes or even after football practices where we just wanted a good cup of ice cold latte.

The weather was of clear blue skies and the clouds were floating around without a care in the world. I watched Andrea messed around with the little menu display that was on our table and I paid a closer attention to her features. Why haven’t I actually realized she has gone down at least a size, she looked like she lost so much weight and her jaw bones were much more defined, her hair redder than before.

She looked different—she looked much colder than before and for some reason I could feel like, although we were talking as usual, she always held me at an arm’s length—metaphorically speaking. It’s as if she was afraid of something.

“What time is your class today?” she asked and dragged my eyes from her hips and looked up to her face. “At 11, advanced calculus.” I answered as I watched the waiters go back and forth, table to table serving coffees. “And you?” I asked.

“Not until after lunch.” She said. “I’m heading to the library for a bit to do some reading, don’t you dare bug me in there.” She pointed at me with a long, slender finger and I caught it, biting it gently and she smacked my shoulder. “Castellano! Will you behave yourself in public and stop being a kid?” she scolded as she massaged the bite mark on her finger.

“I just wanted to check if you’re really human and not an alien.”

She sucked in a deep breath of annoyance before calling me an insufferable person. I all but chuckled, watching her face contort into scowl but it disappeared soon enough when our food came to the table.

“Enjoy your coffee.” The waiter nodded and us before turning away. “Oh god I’m starving like crazy.” She said as she grabbed her fork and knife and was about to dig into the overly stuffed pastry but I pulled the plate from her. She groaned, “Do you always have to do that? I’m a full grown adult, I know how to cut it up myself.” She complained.

“No you can’t. Because all you do is just mess up my croissant and get everything spilled out and all you end up eating is the salmon itself.”

It was a habit of mine. I liked to cut up those giant croissants into smaller pieces for her if we ever had to share it, and today was that day.

“Because you steal all the avocados slices! Doesn’t that make us even?”

“No.” I made a face and she rolled her eyes, reaching for her coffee and angling her phone above the cup. “What are you doing?” I asked.

“Just wanted to get a picture of this. Bryan’s a big fan of coffee and he was the one who told me to take a photo of every coffee I ever drank, serves as a good memory album kind of thing.”

“So my guess is that you have at least 700 over pictures of the same piccolo latte, considering if you were to drink at least two cups of that a day…”I trailed.

“Wow, I’m so proud of you, your math isn’t all bad.”

“Are you being sarcastic?” I narrowed my eyes at her, sinking my knife into the last section of the croissant before slicing it.

“Can’t you tell by now?” she smirked, reaching a fork for the cut up piece, stuffing it into her mouth before sighing in content with her mouth closed while chewing. “I’ve missed this croissant. London’s cafes have got nothing on Joe’s.”

“That’s why you shouldn’t have left in the first place.” I said quietly and there was a pregnant pause between the both of us.

Truth is, I have no idea why Andrea had left Harvard in the first place, I’d like to think it was because she wanted time and space to figure herself out and Harvard doesn’t exactly provide that sort of experience for you, I mean, didn’t you hear what the librarian said just yesterday?

‘Harvard’s a sacred place where all geniuses and noble prize award recipients are born.’

After translation, that pretty much means: Sorry, we can’t help you in case if you have a mental breakdown or emotional problems, but we can connect you with one of our many strings of therapist—here’s a brochure, take that hallway on your left, hope that helps.

“So aside from your usual charity hook-up work, are you seeing anyone exclusively?” she asked, as if unsure if she should be even asking that in the first place.

“Aren’t I seeing you?” I smiled, taking a bite of the scrambled eggs.

“You i***t. I meant as in going out with someone exclusively.” She explained.

“Nope. Not at the moment.” I said, pushing around the eggs and she gave me a look saying that she most certainly did not buy that.

“Hm, guess you still think flings are better than the real things?” she went in for the hash browns, taking a small chunk of it.

“Nah, I just think it’s way too much of work. Me and commitments don’t go well together, you know that but…I do dig that whole no strings attached policy of mine.”

“Good luck with that, I genuinely hope you don’t magically contract some weird disease by the end of this year.” She pointed at me with a fork and I snagged that chunk of egg on it.

“These are pretty good.” I commented and she nodded in agreement.

“Alex?”

I turned in my seat to see who it was. “You don’t call me in a week and next thing I know, I see you out here having coffee bright and early?” Lexi Stone smiled at me. At the corner of my eye, I noticed Andrea was paying attention more to the scrambled eggs now than she was to the scene unfolding in front of us.

Okay let me explain. So when Andrea left a year ago and for some time I felt pretty lost without her since the three of us hung out together all the time but Scott was out with his then girlfriend that night. So I went out for the night on my own and I met Lexi at a bar—she was playing pool and she was really good. We hit it off immediately—we all but flirted but that was it. We decided that we didn’t see ourselves going down that road by doing all that so we just remained good friends till this day.

Although the downside was that she was studying in Berklee—art major and I was in Harvard, so our schedules were pretty messed up sometimes, we only met up once every week.

Scott Bennett knew about our status but still doesn’t believe how did I actually manage to keep my hands off her? I know, my self-control surprises me as well but I guess I just don’t see Lexi that way. But she knew my history with Andrea and she promised not to tell anyone—guess you could say this girl and I had a pretty tight friendship.

“Andrea right? You’re Scott’s little sister? The one who just got back from London?” Lexi asked a silent Andrea and I turned to her, watching her facial reaction. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, Lexi was a British Jamaican, father’s last name, Stone, as in Stone corp. that works with my parent’s company in publishing.

“Hi, yes. And you’re…?” Andrea asked, clearly she was blocking out the whole conversation I was having with Lexi. Someone’s jealous.

“Lexi, Lexi Stone. Although…I’m not from Harvard, I go to school at Berklee.”

“So you’re a music major then?” Andrea asked, her brows raised and she looked impressed and Lexi nodded, impressed. “As a matter of fact, I am. I play the guitar and the saxophone, I have my own gigs at the local bars here downtown which you should totally come with—Alex will bring you.”

Andrea turned to me with a sly look on her face—I knew what she was thinking, that Lexi was my latest conquest and was trying her best to get to know her man’s friends. Only except this time, Andrea was wrong. I did not have feelings for Lexi and the feeling was mutual.

“Sure, I would love to. You play Jazz?” Andrea asked.

“One of the many.” Lexi smiled. “Don’t worry, since you’re Alex’s friend that makes you my friend now too. I’ll make sure I’d get you front row tickets.”

“Sweet, looking forward to it.” Andrea smile, a real genuine smile that cause a pang in my chest.

How does that still affect me? I had no idea.

“Alex, you still coming over this afternoon?” Lexi asked, now turning her attention to me. “Yeah sure, 4pm right?” I asked.

“Yeap, and please don’t be late.” She gave me a little fist bump before turning to Andrea. “I’ll see you soon for my next gig?”

Andrea nodded. “Sure.”

“Great, well I’ve got to get going, I have a class starting soon. And Andrea, it was so nice meeting you.”

“Likewise.”

“Wow, your girlfriend is nice.” Andrea said, catching me off guard. “Really? You think so?” I asked, stirring the paper straw in my cup and taking a big sip not sure why I didn’t bother correcting her.

“Sure, love her accent by the way. So you have a thing for music majors now huh?”

I smiled, not wanting to answer that one. “She plays pretty good music.” Was all I say.

**

Andrea’s POV

I flipped open my textbook and re-read the first line of the same paragraph at least 30 times now and that was 15 minutes ago. I tapped my pencil against my book as I recalled the incident of Lexi showing up at our table earlier.

What was it that I have missed after being away for a year? Lexi was definitely Alex’s type and she was a music major who played the saxophone, and jazz? Dang.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt the familiar ache in my chest. Something about Lexi screamed different than all the other girls on campus— she dressed well, she spoke well. She wasn’t all that touchy feely kind of girl and she stood with such elegance and poise and her accent was hard to miss. And did I mention she has the most beautiful pair of blue eyes? Don’t get me started on her beautiful tanned skin color...

God Andrea stop it. Why the hell did you even care who Alex associated himself with? It has got nothing to do with you.

The doors of the library opened and I saw a familiar face walk in—Bryan Trevors. He looked a little lost with his new surroundings but when he spotted me, the confused face broke out into a smile that did a little summersault in my stomach.

Although, it was nothing compared to the elephants running wild in my stomach whenever I was in a close proximity with Alexander Castellano.

I raised my hand halfway and did a little awkward finger movement. God, did I just wriggle my fingers at him? I wanted to pull every strand of my hair out. I mean, the guy has pretty much seen you, you need not to wave at him. Okay what was it that Castellano was trying to teach me yesterday?

Something about some stupid vending machine and him calling me a snack, not that’s not it. Think Andrea think, what else? Laugh at his knock knock jokes? No, I’m pretty sure he told me not to laugh at his jokes? Or was it the other way around?

Fuck I can’t remember a single thing!

“Hey.” Bryan smiled, dropping his bag quietly on the carpeted floors while he took a seat next to me. “Hi.” I breathed, still trying to recall the nonsense Alex had taught me last night. Ah screw it, I was just gonna wing it as I go.

“What are you? I mean, how are you?” f**k! What are you?

Did you honestly just ask him that? Are you that stupid?

“I’m human and yes I’m good, how are you?” he asked, stifling a laughter. Oh god, Bryan probably thinks I’m English illiterate now and my brain’s damaged.

And at the moment, I pictured Alex laughing at me so I may or may not have told my imaginary vision of Alex to shut up.

“Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” Bryan began and my jaw dropped slightly. “Oh no no, I meant, oh god, I was saying the sun’s up and the weather’s really good today.” I tried but I felt my insides shrinking and right now, I felt like digging myself a hole and bury my head in there for the next three days just until this embarrassment wears off.

“Good god, Andy.”

My eyes widened and I slowly turned my head around to see a smirking Varsity Captain staring right at me, both hands in the pockets of his jeans—shaking his head. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in class?” I hissed.

“Sorry Trevors, gotta borrow this goon for a minute or two, or even more, who knows?” he said to Bryan who only had a brow raised. He grabbed my elbow and plucked me right out of my seat. “A word please.” He said to me and I was scowling so hard wondering why he was here in the first place. “I’ll be right back.” I told poor Bryan.

“Stop pulling me like that, people are looking.” I tried peeling his fingers away and at one point he let go but then intertwined his fingers with mine as we disappeared behind a row of shelves. “People were already looking at you when you asked poor Bryan what species he was and told him to shut up, god, and that little finger wave? What are you? 3 and in a daycare center?”

“Shut up Castellano. It’s not like I had your dating manual with me. My mind just went blank the minute he walked in and oh god, at one point I imagined you laughing at me…”

“You imagined me? Was I very naked? Or semi naked?” he taunted as he pushed me against the shelf and slammed a hand just above my head.

“Neither, I pictured you 6 feet underground.”

“Ah, maybe try picturing me being naked the next time.” He smirked. I poked a finger against his chest, attempting to push him further away from me when I was acutely aware of what he could do to my little fragile heart.

“Why are you really here? Did you come all the way just to see me make a fool out of myself in front of my crush?”

“No, who even has that kind of time? Although, you suck at it, I’m giving you an ‘E’ for that little wave, and telling him about the weather? Come on Andy, even a blind person could tell the sun’s up.”

“f**k I don’t need you to remind me of that, it’s already embarrassing enough and I absolutely can’t find the guts to go back there right now.”

I watched him chuckle at me and shake his head. “Okay, now about the real reason as to why I’m here, I need your help. I want to impress this really smart girl in my class but I can’t f*****g figure out how to use the equation on this question. I tried googling for an answer but apparently I can’t find the stupid symbols on my phone calculator so I thought of the next best thing—you.”

“Oh god Castellano. All this just for a girl?” I complained.

“Hey, she’s not just a girl, she a super-hot nerdy chic who I intend to …”

“Okay I don’t even want to know the rest, give me that question.” I said, clamping his mouth before I felt him lick my palm.

“You are remotely the most annoying piece of…”

I never saw Alex moved so fast before, not when he grabbed a book right out of the shelf, flicking it open and pretended to point something at me. “We need to figure out the dynamics of this machine. It’s so complex that I don’t even know my way around it, would you teach me? It’s for a project.” He said a little more seriously this time and it was the picture of a woman’s ovary that led to her… well you know the rest.

I wondered what the whole pretense was for and the librarian, Mrs. P—that’s what Scott and Alex called her and I realized I don’t even know her actual name, walked past us, scrutinizing every shelf as if to see if there was unholy activities going on in between the shelves of the scared library of Harvard.

“Really? The female mechanism confuses you? You’re like the god of all things perverted. Castellano get this book out of my face or I swear to god I will not even bother helping you on this question.” I laughed, much to my chagrin.

“And that’s exactly how I do it when I’m out here making out with the ladies, trust me when I say I appreciate books more than ever now.” He said, shaking the book before stuffing it back into the shelf.

“You are so disgusting there are no better words to describe you.”

“Playboy, sexy, intelligent and good in bed—those are a few examples for you.”

I ignored him as I worked out the equation quickly and slamming the paper and pencil into his chest. “Here, and I hope this doesn’t happen again—you sneaking up on me and watch me embarrass myself like that.”

“Why not? You’re my daily source of entertainment. Seriously have I taught you nothing last night?”

“I couldn’t get my head straight earlier. In exchange for that,” I pointed my chin towards the solved calculus question. “Give me something, a tip, anything so I can fix my mess back there, although I don’t think I’m gonna ever recover from this.” I sighed, tunneling a hand through my hair.

“Okay, here’s a tip. Go back out there, hold your chin up high and strut those hips like you mean it.”

“Need I remind you that this is a library and not your personal stage for a strip show?” I said, shaking my head and the corner of his lips tilted, flashing me a lazy smile. “Oh baby, men love a confident woman—I believe that was what I taught you last night. Just because you slipped up once, doesn’t disqualify you from this game. Go out there and pretend like nothing happened, pull yourself together and ask him for his number for crying out loud, then can I only I teach you the next step.”

“You better guarantee this works Castellano, or so help me god…”

“Baby come on. I’m the best bet you’ve got when it comes to things like these. I’m not the one who’s single and miserable, remember?” he raised a brow and I rolled my eyes for like probably the 100th time today.

“Fine, I’ll try my best. You get out of here quick, I don’t want Bryan to think we’re back here lip locking or that kind of stuff.”

“If we really were doing so, I won’t do you dirty here in the library. Not especially when we have ourselves a library cop s***h nerd staring right at us. I watched Alex point his chin towards Evan—was that even his name? Who also happened to be the biggest nerd in our class. He was glaring at us, distaste evident on his features and Alex flipped him the bird.

I smacked his finger before I watched him grin at me. “Laters baby, oh and I can’t make it for our tutoring today, got some business to do downtown.”

“Say hi to Lexi for me.” I said, wriggling my fingers and he chuckled.

“Will do.” He winked before turning around and left.

**

Alexander’s POV

I was 10 minutes early this time, parking my car at the designated carpark, I went inside the building, registered myself and got my name tag on. “Wow, you’re early today for a change.” Lexi said, holding a tray of those little mini vanilla cupcakes she’d bake every Wednesday for the elderly folks.

This was how I spent most of my Wednesday afternoons volunteering at a home for elderly folks. It all started late last year when Lexi and I met up for our usual hang out and she brought me here. Loved it here and I have a soft spot for elderly people.

“I thought you’d bring your friend, Andrea.”

“I guess she’s busy with that new guy on campus.”

“She still trying to keep a good chunk of space between you and her?” Lexi asked. Lexi knew about Andrea and my past but we hardly talked about it—especially when Lexi knew it was sort of a touchy topic but with Andrea returning from London, suddenly it felt okay just to mention it once or twice.

“She’s been awfully careful around me.” I shrugged. I may be a boy but I’m not oblivious to how different just Andrea was acting towards me. Still just as annoyed with my antics but I felt like she was holding back.

“Give her some time, she’ll come around. Besides like you said, she just returned from London and you didn’t exactly send her off on a good note.”

“Lexi you know why I can’t. I made a promise to her brother and I don’t intend to break it.” I sighed, running my fingers through my hair.

“Yeah but you made that promise on a whim Alex, maybe you could find your way around it.” She reasoned.

“How can you possibly find your way around such things?” I chuckled. “Scott Bennett isn’t somebody you want to mess with. When that kid gets mad…” I trailed.

“All I’m saying is, you’re a smart kid Alex, and I certainly do not believe you’re not one to break the rules for an exception—at least if you see this going somewhere and I know you do! Not all promises are meant to be kept and it sure as heck should never be the reason as to why you should forgo your happiness.” Lexi sighed, handing me the tray of cupcakes.

“She think I’m sleeping with you.” I looked up from the cupcakes and she laughed out loud. “Good god! While the rest of the girls on campus are interested in getting in your pants, I certainly do not feel the same way, in fact you repel me more than anything.”

“That’s makes 2 members of the I-hate-Alexander club—you and Andy.”

“You still calling her that after all these years?” Lexi said, not looking very pleased.

“What? I love it when she reacts to that.” I shrugged.

“Let’s get these cupcakes inside shall we? It’s time for their tea. Nana Johnson can’t wait to see you.” Lexi said as she led the way.

Lexi sang an old classic while I played the guitar for her. We accompanied the folks for a round of Bingo—where I had to keep a lookout for Mr. Buckett who was always cheating on the game, especially when it came to Black Jack. Our two hours were soon up and it was around 6 in the evening when we got to our cars.

So our usual routine was dinner after this where we’d hit up a local diner where we’d have burgers and fries—it was Lexi’s favorite cheat day meal after eating healthy all week. I on the other hand just wanted a good ol’ milkshake after all that back to back football training.

Lexi and I sat in our usual booth after we ordered. It was in this booth that sometimes I just listen to her brainstorm her next score sheet or she’d try out a million different tunes and forced me to listen to them—not that I ever complained about it but it was something fun to do for a change.

Being around Lexi allowed me to be to be honest and vulnerable for once, where I didn’t have keep up with the pressures of being Captain of the Varsity team or the playboy on campus. There was only one other person that I could think of besides Lexi but now she too, seemed like she’d drifting further and further away from me.

Before she left to London, Andrea and I were tight. I mean, her brother and I were best friends for years and that instantly made me close with her too. The three of us did everything together and then somewhere along the lines, things took a different turn. I will never deny I knew we had something going but then, there was her brother to think about.

Years ago I made a promise and another time before she left to London, he made me promise him once again. What was I supposed to do? Was I supposed to say no to his face? This was my best friend we’re talking about, we’re both the same, same character same likes and dislikes. And if the tables were turned, and that if he was onto my sister, I would’ve…

I don’t know, I really don’t know what I would’ve done myself.

**

“How did the volunteering go? Everyone good?” Scott asked and Lexi nodded. I had asked her to tag along tonight— it was Sam’s birthday today so I think it’s the perfect excuse to just kick back and relax tonight.”

Scott knew about the volunteer work at the old folk’s home since he’s tagged along a couple of times before he got a part time job tutoring middle-schoolers. “Yeah, everyone’s fine, Nana Johnson has asked me twice about you though.”

“Yeah I’ll make some time the next round.” Scott hooked an arm around my shoulder. “Dude, the boys are already waiting for us at the bar.

“Think I could use a drink or two.” I shrugged as we walked further away from my car. “You okay there bud?” Scott asked, catching me off guard. Lexi didn't say anything while falling into step next to me—she already knew the reason why.

“Dude I’m fine, just a little stretched out today.”

He didn’t seem to buy it but he didn’t press on any further either.

Scott scoffed as he pushed open the doors of the local bar we always went to. “Any idea how Trevors' and my sister got to know each other?”

Scott has clearly no idea that his sister has a big fat crush on that kid.

The dressed up red head turned around in her seat, her big green eyes staring back at me and I sucked a deep breath.

Andrea.