Page 55 of Tell Me Everything
Nina sighed dramatically. Alex had this aggressive, bad-boy image that stuck to him. Too bad nobody could see beyond the illusion. Sophie and Nina looked back at me.
“And you?” asked Sophie.
“What about me?”
“Did you ever feel like you were going to get struck by lightning by Alex?”
“Oh, yes. I almost peed myself,” I admitted, laughing.
One had to tread carefully when Alex was involved. Seeing all the anger he had in him had petrified me once. Now I knew who hid behind that anger: someone in pain, who was afraid of getting hurt again.
“How did a nice girl like you end up dating Alex?” Sophie asked, taking a sip of water.
Nina cackled. Sophie didn't know our situation. What seemedlike “in a relationship” to others was actually “it's complicated” for us.
“Actually, we're not dating...”
Sophie's eyes widened. She didn't believe me. “Yeah, right.”
“No, I'm serious, we're not together.”
“Oh, good. Your duo is that of the big bad wolf and the sweet, innocent lamb.”
“Alex is nice when he wants to be,” Nina replied. “He's not always so cold.”
“He always seems so distant,” Sophie stammered, confused. “It's as if everything bothers him.”
I couldn't contradict her. This was indeed the image Alex displayed. I had to break this distorted image. “It's a facade. Alex is a very sensitive and thoughtful person, but he hides it under an air of apathy.”
This piqued Nina's curiosity. “Tell us more.”
Goodbye, bad boy; hello, sweet pea. Alex was going to hate me for what I was about to say, but they had to know. I beckoned them closer. The girls played along, leaning in.
“When I'm in pain because of my period, he makes sure that my hot-water bottle is always filled, that I always have enough water, and he strokes my hair. He also brings me bubble tea to cheer me up.”
“Are you sure we're talking about Alex?” Sophie asked suspiciously.
“Don't be jealous.”
“Damn. I should have dated Alex when I had the chance,” Nina complained in fake disappointment.
“Too late. He's mine now.”
Not yet, that was. He would be, and once he was mine, I wouldn't share. Me possessive? Never. I wanted to cherish him and show him every day how great he was. There's no way I'd let him go as long as he wanted me to. But before that, I needed towork on myself so I could measure up.
Nina elbowed me in the ribs. “See why I tell you that everyone thinks you're dating?”
“So you're really not?”
“Not yet.”
“I don't understand...”
“Nobody understands but them.” Nina shrugged.
Yes, Alex was crazy about me. And yes, I was just as crazy about him. It would have to wait a bit longer. Nina gave me a knowing look. Perceptive as she was, she knew where my mind was at.
“How do you feel about him?”
