The Cat and Mouse Chase II
If you haven't read the first part of this fic, here's the link: The Cat and Mouse Chase I.
So, without further ado, here's part two...
The Cat and Mouse Chase II
-
Alex
I quickly came back to Noelle’s bus and I caught her walking away in tight skinny jeans, black sneakers and black tank top. She’s walking with a graceful sway on her hips and I stand there hypnotized.
That girl knows better than to put on a pair of tight jeans emphasizing her ass. Some guy could get distracted on that graceful sway and exploit her womanhood with their dirty gawks.
Wake up, Alex. Wake up.
…
…
Okay, I’m awake. “Noelle!” I shout to her as I ran after her.
She turns around and sees me. At that, she takes up her speed and runs from me.
She’s really making this harder for me.
“Noelle! Wait up!” I shout after her.
It was like this for ten minutes.
Then, I stop to catch my breath. I was panting so hard, the umbrella I brought (the large kind) is propped on the ground, upright and my elbow was resting on it as I caught my breath.
Then, I watch Noelle turn on a curb and disappear.
I’m ready! I stand up straight, rest the umbrella on my shoulder and start running again.
-
Noelle
A diner! A diner! There it is! I run to it and slam the door. I rest my back on the closed door as I pant.
“You okay, young lady?” The owner of the diner asks me. He’s bringing a jug of water but he’s in jeans and a shirt, not in a diner uniform. Hence, he’s an owner or a manager, whatever.
“No. Sir, please help me! That man, is stalking me!” I plead turning around and pointing to Alex who looks so wasted. His hair, his clothes, his everything looks as if he just went sky diving. He looks shaken up. He looks so tired. He was waving his umbrella in the air as he ran to the diner.
“Isn’t that Alex Gaskarth, the dude from this All Time Low band?” The owner asks. I nod. “Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? You know, you stalking him?”
“Well, I’m not the one charging towards this diner with a whacking umbrella!” I reason out.
“Alright. Alright.” The owner says giving in. “You just sit there. Eat some pancakes and I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you!” Noelle says.
“Bruce!” The owner calls. An incredibly tall, bulky, and beefy white man wearing a white apron with stains and a men’s tank top and cargo shorts beneath the apron appears from behind. He has a clean bald shave. He has a tough, angry expression and his arms were covered with scary tattoos.
“Yeah?” Bruce asks in a deep scruffy voice.
“Come here.” The owner says. His eyes glued on Alex. Bruce comes closer.
“Shoo that boy away. He’s disturbing a costumer.”
“My pleasure.” Bruce says.
-
Alex
A creepy looking man walks out of the diner. When I say creepy, I mean creepy. Freakishly large and beefy. Tattoo-covered. Bald. Textbook creepy!
I stop in front of him and put down the umbrella, using it as a crutch as I pant, again. I should really get some exercise to get more fit.
“Stop right there, punk.” He says in his deep, creepy voice. Punk? I’m not a punk. “You turn around and walk away unless you want me to drag you away from here.”
“I will walk away in a second. I just have to speak with that dark haired lady over there!” I said pointing to Noelle and approaching the door.
He steps in front of me and nudges me on the shoulder.
…
Okay, it was a really strong nudge that made me almost fall on my ass.
I back away and stare at him. Then, I make a run for the door but I find myself immobile since my shirt is being held from behind.
Next, I find myself in my ass, on the ground, far away from the diner. I watch that freakishly large man walk away.
Then, women, and some men, crowded around me blocking my diner view.
Words such as, ‘are you alright’, ‘what happened’, ‘oh, Alex’, or just plain ‘Alex’ were heard. I stand up and brush the dirt of my butt.
“I’m fine. See you at our concert tonight!” I say cheerfully.
-
Alex
“Jack!!! What do I do?” I ask my best friend who’s sleeping as I sat at the edge of his bunk bed.
“Court her.” Jack murmurs pulling the covers over his face.
“Do what?”
“You know, woo her. Be a suitor or something.”
“People still do that?”
“Yes, Alex. People still do that.”
“What do I do?”
“Serenade her or something. If saying sorry doesn’t work, make her feel you love her. Woo her!”
“Okay.” I say.
-
Noelle
Fulfilling breakfast. I was so full; I need to take a walk.
The owner was really nice; he even gave my meal for free.
So, I head for the park. After a while of getting tired of walking, I sit at a bench with a nice view of the children’s playground. Children. How cute is that?
I have a habit of watching kids. They’re so cute! I just like watching them. I don’t like taking care of them or being involved with them. They’re a mess! A really adorably mess I love to watch from afar.
Then, a plump blonde boy, who’s probably four years old, comes to me and starts singing.
“Show my cards. Gave you my heart…” He sings off-key in a childish accent. You know baby talk? When you can hardly pronounce the words and it’s so adorable?
“Wish we could start all over. Nothing’s making sense at all.” An Asian girl, the same age as the boy, in pigtails with fringes on her forehead approaches, stands beside the boy and continues the song.
“Tried to open up my eyes.” A third girl who looks exactly like the Asian girl, same face, same hairstyle, same dress, same everything, comes and sings too.
“I’m hoping for a chance to make it alright.” A fourth boy who looks exactly like the plump blonde boy, same face, same hairstyle, same clothes, same everything, comes and continues the song after the third girl.
It made me smile. It was so cute and adorable!
“When I wake up, the dream isn’t done. I want to see your face and know I made it home.” All four of them start singing in chorus. “If nothing is true, what more can I do? I am still painting flowers for you.”
I am still painting flowers for you.
My favorite line from my favorite song. It’s harsh when you’re angry at your best friend. You never want to see him again but he knows how to please you and make you blush and all that crap. Heck, he even knows where I am at the moment. He knows that I have a habit of walking under the sun after breakfast and watch kids at a buzzing playground. He knows how to make me blush, how to make me smile. Like I said, he knows all that romantic crap but I can’t fall for all that romantic crap now. This is all a stupid trick. That disgusting moron feels nothing in his heart except for his stupid selfish ego.
This is all a trick. I can’t fall for his stupid tricks no matter how romantic it gets because this romanticism is all a front for one of his egotistical tactics. This is nothing but a stupid friendship with a bad friend such as Alex where I’ve got to suffer through it all while he takes advantage of me, while I bear such an ignorant cow such as him. He doesn’t care. He doesn’t care about me. Blah.
Whatever Alex.
“Lady, that mister likes you. Give him a chance.” The fourth boy said as they finished the chorus.
At that, Alex approached me and stands beside the kids.
I smile. Okay, it was so cute, it did make me smile.
“Hi.” He says.
I was about to say ‘hi’ back when the first kid spoke. “Mister, where’s our dollar each?”
I laughed. So did Alex.
“Hold on.” Alex says reaching his back pocket.
Er… Anytime now. Anytime.
He’s taking so long. What the hell is taking him so long? As if that back pocket is so damn big. Wait, could it be? Could it be that his pocket is empty?
Uh-oh.
“Oh my God.” Alex murmurs.
“Where’s our money!” The second girl yells.
“Bring it out, mister!” The fourth boy orders.
“You lied! You lied! You lied!” The third girl joins in.
“Cut me a break, kid, I lost my wallet!” Alex reasons.
“You lied! You lied! You lied!” The third girl continues as she punches Alex’s leg.
The second girl starts to yell and jumps up and down, stepping on Alex’s foot every now and then.
“Bring it out!” The fourth boy says as he pulls Alex’s shirt with all his force.
The first boy, oh, he was the best. He charged towards Alex and bites his hand.
Alex withdraws his hand in pain but the first boy jumps on him and bites his arm.
Alex is being attacked by four four-year olds.
He looks so funny. He doesn’t know what to do. He tried shooing them away but they wouldn’t go.
I smile as I watch in amusement.
At least Alex’s stupidity provides entertainment.
I walk away leaving Alex helpless due to four four-year olds.
-
Alex
“Here, five bucks each.” Jack says appearing out of nowhere, handing each kid money.
Each kid gives Alex their last evil stare and leave.
“Thanks!” Alex says.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s your money.” Jack says bluntly.
“Oh.” Alex says snatching his wallet from Jack’s hands. “Where’d you get it?”
“You left it back at the bus.”
“Thank God I’m saved.” I say and headed to Noelle’s bus leaving Jack.
I take a peek inside through the windows. There’s no one there.
Great. This is harsh. Where could she be?
I head to the bus next to Noelle’s at this RV camp.
I knock. An old man holding a crutch opens the door. I remember my umbrella. Aw. I must’ve left it back where that freakishly large man dumped me. Anyways, back to the old man.
“Good morning, sir.” I say.
“Yeah?” He asks in a gruff voice.
“Have you seen the girl next door, sir? I’ve been looking for her all day. I’m a friend of hers.” I say.
“Noelle?”
“Yes. Yes! Noelle!” I exclaim.
“Well, that nice girl went to do her laundry and she was kind enough to my laundry for me.” The old man says.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I shout as I ran to a laundry shop I went with Noelle for Noelle’s laundry a few days ago.
-
Noelle
I put in the last piece of cloth I need to put in the dryer. I was ready to put in my coins when someone else beat me to it. I look up. Alex.
“Hi.” He greets.
“What do you want from me, Alex?” I ask.
“Nothing. I just want to show you that…” He stops.
“What?”
“That I care about you.”
“Yeah right. All you care about is yourself and your ego.” I say.
I take out the clothes from the dryer. Stash them inside the laundry bag and head for the door.
Am I taking this too far? Maybe I am. But why does he have to irritate me and follow me everywhere just to mock me? I don’t want to see him for a while. All I want is to be alone for a while. So that I could think and calm down because I’m so angry at him and I don’t think I can ever forgive him!
Then, I hear a thump. I turn around and from outside, I see Alex on the floor with all sorts of clothes all over him. Beside him, is a middle-aged lady, on her behind. Beside the lady is a basket of once carefully folded clothes now on the floor.
I turn my back to the scene and walk away.
I think he’s going to be stuck for a while in that laundry shop doing that lady’s laundry. I chuckle internally.
Okay. This has got to end. I’m taking it too far. I’m going to talk to him and listen to his explanation and maybe reason to him that I need some time apart and talk to him and blah. It would be unfair for him if I won’t listen. What kind of a friend am I?
I just have to meet with our editor-in-chief. Apparently, that moron doesn’t trust me on his biggest story, the road show. Stupid him. The fact that I just graduated college doesn’t mean some old dude is a better writer than me.
Whatever. I have to meet him and tell him my progress or I’m done covering this story. He even drove all the way here to ‘check on me’. Whatever. He should know something about older dudes doesn’t mean better writers; he himself is a young and new editor-in-chief.
Okay, stop rambling about the irritating boss.
I just have to get that meeting over with then I’m going to Alex.
-
Alex
Okay, now where is she? I wonder as I walk the streets.
…
…
…Bingo!
Found her!
Wait, who is that attractive man, as attractive as I am, sitting in front of her?
It’s not true, I’m just hungry and delusional, and after all, it’s time for lunch.
No, a waiter approached the imaginary man and talked to him, that means he’s not imaginary at all! No!!!
Without fully knowing what I’m doing, reacting to all the impulse in my body, I charge in the restaurant.
“Noelle!” I shout. “I’m sorry, okay? Please!”
I am now standing beside the man, facing Noelle. The man stands up.
“Who do you think you are?” He asks in his macho voice.
“I’m the one who’s supposed to be asking you that, mister!” I say giving him a push in the chest. A pretty hard push for it made him step back and hit a waiter bringing a pitcher of iced tea that the waiter managed to spill all over the man and the pitcher to smash into pieces by the man’s feet.
“Noelle, do you know this person?” The man asks.
“Yes. Yes! But… But…” Noelle stammered.
“That’s it. The story’s out of your hands!” He says and walks out of the restaurant.
I stare at Noelle. She stares at me with rage in her eyes.
She stands up. “Do you have to ruin everything for me?”
“I… I…” Now, I’m the one stammering. What did I just do and who was that man?
“That’s it!” She says and runs out of the restaurant crying.
I run after her.
“Noelle!” I shout.
We reach the RV camp and she runs in his camper and slams the door to my face.
“Noelle!” I call.
“I’m going home and you better not be there because I don’t want to see you again!” She shouts from inside.
“I’m sorry!”
“I am not talking to you!” She shouts.
What have I done? And I ask again, who was that man?
There was silence. I start to leave but the door of the camper opens and there she is, standing and staring at me, teary eyed but now, she looks calm.
-
Noelle
My dear Noelle,
I know this is so cliché.
I know it’s been done by Shakespeare.
But please follow my directions so clear.
Meet up with me.
Let me make you twee.
Because I live to show you I care.
So follow my directions
And when I see you there,
It’s a cause for celebrations.
Those beautiful words of poetry, it seemed rushed and haphazardly done but still, they’re beautiful. They were written at this piece of paper I saw taped at my camper door.
I open the door and look at Alex. I swear if he’s the one who wrote this, I’m not following the directions and I’ll turn the paper in a ball and throw it to his face!
“Did you write this?” I ask as I wave the neat parchment in front of him.
“I was with you just a while ago, how could I have done that?”
True. With all that happened, he doesn’t have time to do that.
“Okay. Leave me alone.” I say going back inside and slamming the door.
I look at the other side of the paper to look at the directions.
Get out of your humble abode.
You’ll be facing a ‘Pub du Rhode’.
Turn to your right.
And start your trek.
Oh what the heck.
Just head to the rooftop
Of Sundance Apartment.
Need more directions?
I think not
So meet you there at five pm.
And here’s a token
To help you unlock the portal
To a magical evening.
Who could that be? I’m so excited to find out.
Maybe it’s the attractive barista at Starbucks. I’ve been going there at a regular hour, during his shift and sometimes, I’ve even caught him on a coffee break and we’d talk. I’ve met him for around eight times now.
Or maybe it’s that also attractive, but not as attractive as Mr. Barista, law student I met at the park that’s been asking me to go out on a date with him.
Or maybe Mr. Jenkins next door whom I offered to do his laundry for him. Okay, just kidding. I’m running out of ideas.
What time is it? Oh my God! 4pm! I have half an hour to take a shower! Just half an hour since it would take me the other half to walk to the Sundance Apartment.
Must go take shower and choose dress now!
Okay, so I didn’t choose a dress.
So I’ve settled with my denim shorts, blue sneakers, and a green floral sleeveless top that’s a bit tight. He didn’t say the dress code, his fault! Wait, I hope the mysterious poet is a ‘he’.
I hope my top is attractive enough because it has to cover for my denim shorts and sneakers, after all, I hate wearing skirts. Skirts would make me fidget the whole time and wearing heels or something is out of the options. I’m walking to the Sundance Apartment, remember?
I hold on to the nice parchment of poetry as I head to the Sundance Apartment.
Wow. It’s a five level high building. I wonder what I’ll see on the rooftop. The paper said magical evening. I sure hope the mystery poet made it magical, I’m getting all excited here!
I get the key that’s taped beside the poem directions and open the door. I then head to the stairs.
As I ascended, my heart beats faster. I am so excited I want to be there immediately and yet, I’m nervous that it might not turn out as I expected.
Then I open the door leading to the rooftop.
I can hear a slow tune of a song by the All-American Rejects. From the doorway, there are two lines of short stout candles bordering a pathway covered with rose petals to a table.
I see Alex Gaskarth, yes, Alex, right there, standing beside the table that’s a bit large to accommodate dinner for the whole night from the salad to the slice of cake.
My smile turns to a frown as I approach the table.
When I’ve reached it, he opened his mouth but I didn’t allow him to speak.
“You lied.” I said.
“Okay, please sit down and let me explain myself.” Alex says. I replied with silence. “Please?”
“Okay. You can explain once so make it good!” I say sitting down.
He sits down too and starts. “Remember when we were bored and we played this game where we get to ask random questions alternately?”
“Uhuh.” I say as I put some of the salad on my plate. I’m not looking at him. Just at my food as I ate.
“Well, I asked you if you would live a lie a boy you terribly love told you just to be with you. You said…”
“I would because it doesn’t matter for I love the guy. So?”
“You also said that even though you’re willing to live a lie, it would be better if he said the truth and said sorry because you’d forgive him otherwise because you love him.”
“Yeah. Get on with it, Gaskarth.”
“Well, I don’t know if you love me and if you’ll forgive me but I’m here telling you the truth now because you deserve better than to live a lie and I’m giving you better because I love you. I love you Noelle and I don’t care about my ego or blah… I love you.” He says trailing off when he realizes that I have a blank expression in my face.
“Uhuh. You cost me my job. I’m leaving because I’m not following the road show story for the magazine anymore.”
“I cost you your job? When did that happen?”
Typical Alex. Ignorant and childish. But hey, that’s what I love about Alex, he’s Alex.
I smile and chuckle softly. “That man in front of me during lunch a while ago is my editor-in-chief. When you showed up, he thought all I did was fool around boys and that I can’t do the story so he took me out of the assignment.” I explain.
“That was your editor-in-chief?” He asks with shock. He blushes.
“Yeah. Why? Who did you think he was?”
“I thought you were dating him and I got a bit jealous and I angry and…”
“Awww! That is so sweet!” I say.
“Really?”
“Yeah.” I say.
And we ate and talked and had fun and laughed. He played an AAR album even though he hates AAR just because I like AAR. Being with him made me forget why I even hated him in the first place. I did forgive him because nothing else matters because I’m in love with him.
Yes, he can be ignorant, irritating, childish, careless, and really really shallow but I don’t care. He’s just Alex being Alex and that’s why I love him because he’s him.
“Hey, how about you tell him you’d get a super intimate and personal interview with All Time Low and maybe with that, you could prove to him that you deserve the story?” Alex suggest as we were eating dessert.
“That could do! You’re a genius! Well you’re sometimes dumb but sometimes, you can be a genius too! Hey, wait a minute!”
“What?” Alex asks.
“Don’t you have a concert tonight?” I ask.
“Oh right! I almost forgot!” Alex says speeding up his eating. “Finish that quickly! I didn’t attend practice all day; I can’t be late at the concert, too!”
“You know, you’re already late.” I say drinking my water. I’m done eating. I smile and stare at him. He’s so adorable.
I can’t believe he missed practice for the concert and now, he’s late for the concert itself just for me. Isn’t that sweet?
He finishes his champagne, drinks his water and stands up. He grabs my wrist and drags me through the candlelight bordered path. He stops by the door of the rooftop.
“What? Why?” I ask.
“I don’t regret being late at the concert nor I regret not being able to practice because I got to spend time with you.” He says. I was about to reply another ‘awww’ but I wasn’t able to because he kissed me and that was the most romantic and sweetest and most wonderful kiss I’ve had my whole life.
-
Noelle! It's done! Hope you liked it. I hope you comment too.
So, without further ado, here's part two...
The Cat and Mouse Chase II
-
Alex
I quickly came back to Noelle’s bus and I caught her walking away in tight skinny jeans, black sneakers and black tank top. She’s walking with a graceful sway on her hips and I stand there hypnotized.
That girl knows better than to put on a pair of tight jeans emphasizing her ass. Some guy could get distracted on that graceful sway and exploit her womanhood with their dirty gawks.
Wake up, Alex. Wake up.
…
…
Okay, I’m awake. “Noelle!” I shout to her as I ran after her.
She turns around and sees me. At that, she takes up her speed and runs from me.
She’s really making this harder for me.
“Noelle! Wait up!” I shout after her.
It was like this for ten minutes.
Then, I stop to catch my breath. I was panting so hard, the umbrella I brought (the large kind) is propped on the ground, upright and my elbow was resting on it as I caught my breath.
Then, I watch Noelle turn on a curb and disappear.
I’m ready! I stand up straight, rest the umbrella on my shoulder and start running again.
-
Noelle
A diner! A diner! There it is! I run to it and slam the door. I rest my back on the closed door as I pant.
“You okay, young lady?” The owner of the diner asks me. He’s bringing a jug of water but he’s in jeans and a shirt, not in a diner uniform. Hence, he’s an owner or a manager, whatever.
“No. Sir, please help me! That man, is stalking me!” I plead turning around and pointing to Alex who looks so wasted. His hair, his clothes, his everything looks as if he just went sky diving. He looks shaken up. He looks so tired. He was waving his umbrella in the air as he ran to the diner.
“Isn’t that Alex Gaskarth, the dude from this All Time Low band?” The owner asks. I nod. “Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? You know, you stalking him?”
“Well, I’m not the one charging towards this diner with a whacking umbrella!” I reason out.
“Alright. Alright.” The owner says giving in. “You just sit there. Eat some pancakes and I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you!” Noelle says.
“Bruce!” The owner calls. An incredibly tall, bulky, and beefy white man wearing a white apron with stains and a men’s tank top and cargo shorts beneath the apron appears from behind. He has a clean bald shave. He has a tough, angry expression and his arms were covered with scary tattoos.
“Yeah?” Bruce asks in a deep scruffy voice.
“Come here.” The owner says. His eyes glued on Alex. Bruce comes closer.
“Shoo that boy away. He’s disturbing a costumer.”
“My pleasure.” Bruce says.
-
Alex
A creepy looking man walks out of the diner. When I say creepy, I mean creepy. Freakishly large and beefy. Tattoo-covered. Bald. Textbook creepy!
I stop in front of him and put down the umbrella, using it as a crutch as I pant, again. I should really get some exercise to get more fit.
“Stop right there, punk.” He says in his deep, creepy voice. Punk? I’m not a punk. “You turn around and walk away unless you want me to drag you away from here.”
“I will walk away in a second. I just have to speak with that dark haired lady over there!” I said pointing to Noelle and approaching the door.
He steps in front of me and nudges me on the shoulder.
…
Okay, it was a really strong nudge that made me almost fall on my ass.
I back away and stare at him. Then, I make a run for the door but I find myself immobile since my shirt is being held from behind.
Next, I find myself in my ass, on the ground, far away from the diner. I watch that freakishly large man walk away.
Then, women, and some men, crowded around me blocking my diner view.
Words such as, ‘are you alright’, ‘what happened’, ‘oh, Alex’, or just plain ‘Alex’ were heard. I stand up and brush the dirt of my butt.
“I’m fine. See you at our concert tonight!” I say cheerfully.
-
Alex
“Jack!!! What do I do?” I ask my best friend who’s sleeping as I sat at the edge of his bunk bed.
“Court her.” Jack murmurs pulling the covers over his face.
“Do what?”
“You know, woo her. Be a suitor or something.”
“People still do that?”
“Yes, Alex. People still do that.”
“What do I do?”
“Serenade her or something. If saying sorry doesn’t work, make her feel you love her. Woo her!”
“Okay.” I say.
-
Noelle
Fulfilling breakfast. I was so full; I need to take a walk.
The owner was really nice; he even gave my meal for free.
So, I head for the park. After a while of getting tired of walking, I sit at a bench with a nice view of the children’s playground. Children. How cute is that?
I have a habit of watching kids. They’re so cute! I just like watching them. I don’t like taking care of them or being involved with them. They’re a mess! A really adorably mess I love to watch from afar.
Then, a plump blonde boy, who’s probably four years old, comes to me and starts singing.
“Show my cards. Gave you my heart…” He sings off-key in a childish accent. You know baby talk? When you can hardly pronounce the words and it’s so adorable?
“Wish we could start all over. Nothing’s making sense at all.” An Asian girl, the same age as the boy, in pigtails with fringes on her forehead approaches, stands beside the boy and continues the song.
“Tried to open up my eyes.” A third girl who looks exactly like the Asian girl, same face, same hairstyle, same dress, same everything, comes and sings too.
“I’m hoping for a chance to make it alright.” A fourth boy who looks exactly like the plump blonde boy, same face, same hairstyle, same clothes, same everything, comes and continues the song after the third girl.
It made me smile. It was so cute and adorable!
“When I wake up, the dream isn’t done. I want to see your face and know I made it home.” All four of them start singing in chorus. “If nothing is true, what more can I do? I am still painting flowers for you.”
I am still painting flowers for you.
My favorite line from my favorite song. It’s harsh when you’re angry at your best friend. You never want to see him again but he knows how to please you and make you blush and all that crap. Heck, he even knows where I am at the moment. He knows that I have a habit of walking under the sun after breakfast and watch kids at a buzzing playground. He knows how to make me blush, how to make me smile. Like I said, he knows all that romantic crap but I can’t fall for all that romantic crap now. This is all a stupid trick. That disgusting moron feels nothing in his heart except for his stupid selfish ego.
This is all a trick. I can’t fall for his stupid tricks no matter how romantic it gets because this romanticism is all a front for one of his egotistical tactics. This is nothing but a stupid friendship with a bad friend such as Alex where I’ve got to suffer through it all while he takes advantage of me, while I bear such an ignorant cow such as him. He doesn’t care. He doesn’t care about me. Blah.
Whatever Alex.
“Lady, that mister likes you. Give him a chance.” The fourth boy said as they finished the chorus.
At that, Alex approached me and stands beside the kids.
I smile. Okay, it was so cute, it did make me smile.
“Hi.” He says.
I was about to say ‘hi’ back when the first kid spoke. “Mister, where’s our dollar each?”
I laughed. So did Alex.
“Hold on.” Alex says reaching his back pocket.
Er… Anytime now. Anytime.
He’s taking so long. What the hell is taking him so long? As if that back pocket is so damn big. Wait, could it be? Could it be that his pocket is empty?
Uh-oh.
“Oh my God.” Alex murmurs.
“Where’s our money!” The second girl yells.
“Bring it out, mister!” The fourth boy orders.
“You lied! You lied! You lied!” The third girl joins in.
“Cut me a break, kid, I lost my wallet!” Alex reasons.
“You lied! You lied! You lied!” The third girl continues as she punches Alex’s leg.
The second girl starts to yell and jumps up and down, stepping on Alex’s foot every now and then.
“Bring it out!” The fourth boy says as he pulls Alex’s shirt with all his force.
The first boy, oh, he was the best. He charged towards Alex and bites his hand.
Alex withdraws his hand in pain but the first boy jumps on him and bites his arm.
Alex is being attacked by four four-year olds.
He looks so funny. He doesn’t know what to do. He tried shooing them away but they wouldn’t go.
I smile as I watch in amusement.
At least Alex’s stupidity provides entertainment.
I walk away leaving Alex helpless due to four four-year olds.
-
Alex
“Here, five bucks each.” Jack says appearing out of nowhere, handing each kid money.
Each kid gives Alex their last evil stare and leave.
“Thanks!” Alex says.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s your money.” Jack says bluntly.
“Oh.” Alex says snatching his wallet from Jack’s hands. “Where’d you get it?”
“You left it back at the bus.”
“Thank God I’m saved.” I say and headed to Noelle’s bus leaving Jack.
I take a peek inside through the windows. There’s no one there.
Great. This is harsh. Where could she be?
I head to the bus next to Noelle’s at this RV camp.
I knock. An old man holding a crutch opens the door. I remember my umbrella. Aw. I must’ve left it back where that freakishly large man dumped me. Anyways, back to the old man.
“Good morning, sir.” I say.
“Yeah?” He asks in a gruff voice.
“Have you seen the girl next door, sir? I’ve been looking for her all day. I’m a friend of hers.” I say.
“Noelle?”
“Yes. Yes! Noelle!” I exclaim.
“Well, that nice girl went to do her laundry and she was kind enough to my laundry for me.” The old man says.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I shout as I ran to a laundry shop I went with Noelle for Noelle’s laundry a few days ago.
-
Noelle
I put in the last piece of cloth I need to put in the dryer. I was ready to put in my coins when someone else beat me to it. I look up. Alex.
“Hi.” He greets.
“What do you want from me, Alex?” I ask.
“Nothing. I just want to show you that…” He stops.
“What?”
“That I care about you.”
“Yeah right. All you care about is yourself and your ego.” I say.
I take out the clothes from the dryer. Stash them inside the laundry bag and head for the door.
Am I taking this too far? Maybe I am. But why does he have to irritate me and follow me everywhere just to mock me? I don’t want to see him for a while. All I want is to be alone for a while. So that I could think and calm down because I’m so angry at him and I don’t think I can ever forgive him!
Then, I hear a thump. I turn around and from outside, I see Alex on the floor with all sorts of clothes all over him. Beside him, is a middle-aged lady, on her behind. Beside the lady is a basket of once carefully folded clothes now on the floor.
I turn my back to the scene and walk away.
I think he’s going to be stuck for a while in that laundry shop doing that lady’s laundry. I chuckle internally.
Okay. This has got to end. I’m taking it too far. I’m going to talk to him and listen to his explanation and maybe reason to him that I need some time apart and talk to him and blah. It would be unfair for him if I won’t listen. What kind of a friend am I?
I just have to meet with our editor-in-chief. Apparently, that moron doesn’t trust me on his biggest story, the road show. Stupid him. The fact that I just graduated college doesn’t mean some old dude is a better writer than me.
Whatever. I have to meet him and tell him my progress or I’m done covering this story. He even drove all the way here to ‘check on me’. Whatever. He should know something about older dudes doesn’t mean better writers; he himself is a young and new editor-in-chief.
Okay, stop rambling about the irritating boss.
I just have to get that meeting over with then I’m going to Alex.
-
Alex
Okay, now where is she? I wonder as I walk the streets.
…
…
…Bingo!
Found her!
Wait, who is that attractive man, as attractive as I am, sitting in front of her?
It’s not true, I’m just hungry and delusional, and after all, it’s time for lunch.
No, a waiter approached the imaginary man and talked to him, that means he’s not imaginary at all! No!!!
Without fully knowing what I’m doing, reacting to all the impulse in my body, I charge in the restaurant.
“Noelle!” I shout. “I’m sorry, okay? Please!”
I am now standing beside the man, facing Noelle. The man stands up.
“Who do you think you are?” He asks in his macho voice.
“I’m the one who’s supposed to be asking you that, mister!” I say giving him a push in the chest. A pretty hard push for it made him step back and hit a waiter bringing a pitcher of iced tea that the waiter managed to spill all over the man and the pitcher to smash into pieces by the man’s feet.
“Noelle, do you know this person?” The man asks.
“Yes. Yes! But… But…” Noelle stammered.
“That’s it. The story’s out of your hands!” He says and walks out of the restaurant.
I stare at Noelle. She stares at me with rage in her eyes.
She stands up. “Do you have to ruin everything for me?”
“I… I…” Now, I’m the one stammering. What did I just do and who was that man?
“That’s it!” She says and runs out of the restaurant crying.
I run after her.
“Noelle!” I shout.
We reach the RV camp and she runs in his camper and slams the door to my face.
“Noelle!” I call.
“I’m going home and you better not be there because I don’t want to see you again!” She shouts from inside.
“I’m sorry!”
“I am not talking to you!” She shouts.
What have I done? And I ask again, who was that man?
There was silence. I start to leave but the door of the camper opens and there she is, standing and staring at me, teary eyed but now, she looks calm.
-
Noelle
My dear Noelle,
I know this is so cliché.
I know it’s been done by Shakespeare.
But please follow my directions so clear.
Meet up with me.
Let me make you twee.
Because I live to show you I care.
So follow my directions
And when I see you there,
It’s a cause for celebrations.
Those beautiful words of poetry, it seemed rushed and haphazardly done but still, they’re beautiful. They were written at this piece of paper I saw taped at my camper door.
I open the door and look at Alex. I swear if he’s the one who wrote this, I’m not following the directions and I’ll turn the paper in a ball and throw it to his face!
“Did you write this?” I ask as I wave the neat parchment in front of him.
“I was with you just a while ago, how could I have done that?”
True. With all that happened, he doesn’t have time to do that.
“Okay. Leave me alone.” I say going back inside and slamming the door.
I look at the other side of the paper to look at the directions.
Get out of your humble abode.
You’ll be facing a ‘Pub du Rhode’.
Turn to your right.
And start your trek.
Oh what the heck.
Just head to the rooftop
Of Sundance Apartment.
Need more directions?
I think not
So meet you there at five pm.
And here’s a token
To help you unlock the portal
To a magical evening.
Who could that be? I’m so excited to find out.
Maybe it’s the attractive barista at Starbucks. I’ve been going there at a regular hour, during his shift and sometimes, I’ve even caught him on a coffee break and we’d talk. I’ve met him for around eight times now.
Or maybe it’s that also attractive, but not as attractive as Mr. Barista, law student I met at the park that’s been asking me to go out on a date with him.
Or maybe Mr. Jenkins next door whom I offered to do his laundry for him. Okay, just kidding. I’m running out of ideas.
What time is it? Oh my God! 4pm! I have half an hour to take a shower! Just half an hour since it would take me the other half to walk to the Sundance Apartment.
Must go take shower and choose dress now!
Okay, so I didn’t choose a dress.
So I’ve settled with my denim shorts, blue sneakers, and a green floral sleeveless top that’s a bit tight. He didn’t say the dress code, his fault! Wait, I hope the mysterious poet is a ‘he’.
I hope my top is attractive enough because it has to cover for my denim shorts and sneakers, after all, I hate wearing skirts. Skirts would make me fidget the whole time and wearing heels or something is out of the options. I’m walking to the Sundance Apartment, remember?
I hold on to the nice parchment of poetry as I head to the Sundance Apartment.
Wow. It’s a five level high building. I wonder what I’ll see on the rooftop. The paper said magical evening. I sure hope the mystery poet made it magical, I’m getting all excited here!
I get the key that’s taped beside the poem directions and open the door. I then head to the stairs.
As I ascended, my heart beats faster. I am so excited I want to be there immediately and yet, I’m nervous that it might not turn out as I expected.
Then I open the door leading to the rooftop.
I can hear a slow tune of a song by the All-American Rejects. From the doorway, there are two lines of short stout candles bordering a pathway covered with rose petals to a table.
I see Alex Gaskarth, yes, Alex, right there, standing beside the table that’s a bit large to accommodate dinner for the whole night from the salad to the slice of cake.
My smile turns to a frown as I approach the table.
When I’ve reached it, he opened his mouth but I didn’t allow him to speak.
“You lied.” I said.
“Okay, please sit down and let me explain myself.” Alex says. I replied with silence. “Please?”
“Okay. You can explain once so make it good!” I say sitting down.
He sits down too and starts. “Remember when we were bored and we played this game where we get to ask random questions alternately?”
“Uhuh.” I say as I put some of the salad on my plate. I’m not looking at him. Just at my food as I ate.
“Well, I asked you if you would live a lie a boy you terribly love told you just to be with you. You said…”
“I would because it doesn’t matter for I love the guy. So?”
“You also said that even though you’re willing to live a lie, it would be better if he said the truth and said sorry because you’d forgive him otherwise because you love him.”
“Yeah. Get on with it, Gaskarth.”
“Well, I don’t know if you love me and if you’ll forgive me but I’m here telling you the truth now because you deserve better than to live a lie and I’m giving you better because I love you. I love you Noelle and I don’t care about my ego or blah… I love you.” He says trailing off when he realizes that I have a blank expression in my face.
“Uhuh. You cost me my job. I’m leaving because I’m not following the road show story for the magazine anymore.”
“I cost you your job? When did that happen?”
Typical Alex. Ignorant and childish. But hey, that’s what I love about Alex, he’s Alex.
I smile and chuckle softly. “That man in front of me during lunch a while ago is my editor-in-chief. When you showed up, he thought all I did was fool around boys and that I can’t do the story so he took me out of the assignment.” I explain.
“That was your editor-in-chief?” He asks with shock. He blushes.
“Yeah. Why? Who did you think he was?”
“I thought you were dating him and I got a bit jealous and I angry and…”
“Awww! That is so sweet!” I say.
“Really?”
“Yeah.” I say.
And we ate and talked and had fun and laughed. He played an AAR album even though he hates AAR just because I like AAR. Being with him made me forget why I even hated him in the first place. I did forgive him because nothing else matters because I’m in love with him.
Yes, he can be ignorant, irritating, childish, careless, and really really shallow but I don’t care. He’s just Alex being Alex and that’s why I love him because he’s him.
“Hey, how about you tell him you’d get a super intimate and personal interview with All Time Low and maybe with that, you could prove to him that you deserve the story?” Alex suggest as we were eating dessert.
“That could do! You’re a genius! Well you’re sometimes dumb but sometimes, you can be a genius too! Hey, wait a minute!”
“What?” Alex asks.
“Don’t you have a concert tonight?” I ask.
“Oh right! I almost forgot!” Alex says speeding up his eating. “Finish that quickly! I didn’t attend practice all day; I can’t be late at the concert, too!”
“You know, you’re already late.” I say drinking my water. I’m done eating. I smile and stare at him. He’s so adorable.
I can’t believe he missed practice for the concert and now, he’s late for the concert itself just for me. Isn’t that sweet?
He finishes his champagne, drinks his water and stands up. He grabs my wrist and drags me through the candlelight bordered path. He stops by the door of the rooftop.
“What? Why?” I ask.
“I don’t regret being late at the concert nor I regret not being able to practice because I got to spend time with you.” He says. I was about to reply another ‘awww’ but I wasn’t able to because he kissed me and that was the most romantic and sweetest and most wonderful kiss I’ve had my whole life.
-
Noelle! It's done! Hope you liked it. I hope you comment too.