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Post by Addie on Oct 30, 2006 14:00:12 GMT 3
Chapter 31
“Game, set, match, Roger Federer,” the chair umpire called from his elevated seat on the court.
With those words, the chair umpire finally signaled the end of the 2006 US Open. The US Open was the last grand slam of the year. In two months, the season would be over, and the players would retreat to their caves to hibernate till the next season.
“It’s over, Alexis! It’s finally open! Au revoir, US Open!” Izzy shouted excitedly.
“I didn’t know you were that homesick,” Alexis laughed closing her laptop as the crowds began to file out of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I’ll just be happy to sleep in my own bed and be surrounded by people without accents.”
“Except for me,” Alexis noted as they started to walk away from their seats.
“Maybe one day you’ll be lucky enough to have a British accent.”
“When that happens, my life will be fulfilled,” Alexis laughed. “Could you imagine an American accent mixed with a British accent?”
“I don’t think I want to.”
“Good, because it wouldn’t be a pretty sight or sound.”
“So what now?” Izzy asked as they traveled through the crowds outside the stadium.
“I suppose we call Thomson and ask him what time our flight is tomorrow. I’m sure he’ll have us back at work by Tuesday.”
“Do you want me to call him?” Izzy asked as they flagged down the nearest taxi.
“No, I’ll do it on our way back to the hotel in the taxi,” Alexis said as they hopped into the back of one.
“Okay. I don’t like talking to him anyway.”
“That’s why I volunteered. The last time you called him, you kept stuttering,” Alexis said dialing Thomson’s home phone number in London. “I hope he doesn’t mind the late night call.”
“I’m sure he’ll love it,” Izzy said with a devilish grin.
Sitting in the back seat of their taxi with her cell phone held up to her ear, Alexis tapped her fingernails on the door as they drove away from the stadium. She would have never thought Flushing Meadows would have meant anything to her but now it did. It symbolized the beginning of her relationship with Marat becoming serious. Looking past the encounter with her father and Bryan, and the fact that she hadn’t seen any of her friends, Alexis smiled at the memories she would leave here.
“Hello?” a groggy voice called over the phone.
“Is Mr. Thomson available?” Alexis asked.
“You’re talking to him,” Thomson said as he sat up in bed.
“This is Alexis. I’m calling to say we just left the stadium after Federer’s win in the men’s final.”
“Do you know what time it is here, Moore?”
“No, sir. I don’t, but I thought you would want to know what is going on.”
“It is one in the morning here. I was trying to sleep.”
“I’m sorry. Izzy and I wanted to know when our plane leaves and such,” Alexis said biting her lower lip.
“Your flight? Uh, hold on a second. Let me get out of bed in the middle of the night to find out,” Thomson said as Alexis heard sounds off sheets being thrown off and footsteps on hardwood floors.
“We appreciate it. Thank you.”
“Are you guys this excited to come back to London?”
“Izzy is.”
“How about you?” Thomson asked as he flicked through the papers on his desk in his home office.
“I moved to London to get away from it all. I’m just as relieved to come back,” Alexis answered looking out the window to see how far they were from the hotel.
“Good. Harman has been bugging the crap out of me since you guys left. He’s walking around the office looking like a lost puppy.”
“That’s so sweet of him. We’ve missed him just as much,” Alexis replied winking at Izzy.
“Here we are,” Thomson said in triumph. “Your flight is at noon. But I want your stories in before you go to sleep tonight.”
“They will be in. Thank you, Mr. Thomson.”
“Thank you, Alexis. You’ve done a great job with the US Open coverage, and I’m glad I let you talk me into it.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll see you Tuesday morning. Goodbye.”
“Good night,” Thomson said before he hung up the phone.
“We’ll be home by late tomorrow evening,” Alexis said putting her cell phone back in her purse.
“Sounds good. What time is our flight tomorrow?”
“Noon, but we need to send in our stories by the end of tonight.”
“I can handle that. All I have to do is send in the photos. You have to do the actual writing,” Izzy said leaning back in her seat comfortably.
“Ah, thanks,” Alexis said slapping Izzy with her purse.
“Last night at this hotel,” Izzy sighed as they stepped out of their cab and walked into the hotel. “And I can’t wait to leave.”
*****
Checking the room one final time before she went to sleep, Alexis looked under the bed, the couch cushions, and underneath the chairs in the bedroom. Since Marat had left, the suite had seemed almost ghostly. The quiet and haunting memories reminded Alexis of a mortuary. Turning off the light in the sitting room, she was about to retire when she heard a soft knock on the door. Sighing to herself, she walked to the door in her pajamas forgetting the formalities of appearance.
“Yes?” Alexis said as she opened the door.
“Hi, Alexis.”
“Bryan! What the hell are you doing here?! How did you know this was my room?” Alexis asked standing back from the door. “Nevermind, I don’t want to know. Goodnight!”
“Wait, Alexis,” Bryan pleaded putting foot in between the door and the door frame. “Please, wait a minute.”
“Why should I? You’ve done nothing but hurt me. And what hurts the most is the fact that you joined forces with my father. That was worse than cheating on me.”
“I know, I know. It was a terrible thing to do. And using your friend to upset you was even worse. I know my actions toward you lately have not been the best.”
“You just realized that? God, you’re slow!”
“I’ve come to apologize, Alexis. This is already hard enough,” Bryan said wringing his hands and looking down at the floor. “May I come in?”
“No.”
“Fine, then I’ll say this out here.”
“Go ahead but make it quick. I have a flight to catch tomorrow,” Alexis replied standing with her hands on her hips.
“You’re leaving already?”
“The US Open is over. I’m going back to London. Now, can you please get this apology over with?”
“I wanted to say that I know my actions were irresponsible and despicable. I should have never done what I did, but your father appealed to what I wanted the most.”
“And what was that?”
“He said that this was my opportunity to get back together with you. I missed you so much that I was willing to listen to your father. Can you believe that? I’m an idiot,” Bryan sighed running his hand through his blond hair. “I should have known you would be happier without me butting into your life.”
“You were an idiot to do that. But I can see where you came from,” Alexis said softening the look on her face.
“I hope there’s someway you can forgive me.”
“What you did was horrendous, Bryan. It was inexcusable. But because you took the initiative to come find me and apologize, I’m going to forgive you.”
“Thank you, Alexis. You have to believe that I want the best,” Bryan said smiling his boyish smile that always made Alexis weak in the knees. “Do you remember when we met?”
“Yes, I do,” Alexis replied smiling back at him.
“I don’t even remember what happened during that soccer match. I was too busy staring at you and trying to impress you.”
“Yeah, you were so nervous that you spilled your drink all over your shirt,” Alexis said laughing. “You were acting like such a nerd.”
“You weren’t so calm yourself. But I guess we had that effect on each other.”
“We did.”
“Alexis, if I hadn’t cheated, do you think we would have gotten married?” Bryan asked nervously.
“Well, I would have probably still moved to London. So, I don’t know what would have happened to us,” Alexis sighed leaning against the door.
“I wish I had been smart enough to wait and find out.”
“I wish you would have to,” Alexis said letting the words slip out of her mouth without a second thought.
“I still love you, Alexis.”
“I know, Bryan.”
“Do you still love me? Or do you love that tennis player now?”
“I’m not in love with him, yet.”
“And me? Do you still love me?” Bryan asked.
“Yes, Bryan. I’ll always love you. You were my first love.”
“Then why are we doing this, Alexis? Why can’t we be together?”
“Because, we can’t,” Alexis sighed.
“That’s not an excuse. You’re letting your pride get in the way.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“No, I’m..,” Alexis tried to say.
Before she could finish talking, Bryan had grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into him. Putting his hands behind her head, he positioned her face and then placed his lips against hers. Alexis hadn’t expected it and tried to struggle to get away from him. But as the kiss continued, Alexis stopped resisting and closed her eyes. Letting go of her tension, she relaxed her hands against Bryan’s chest as he introduced his tongue into her mouth. The kiss continued like this until Alexis could feel a set of eyes on them. Breaking free from the kiss, Alexis looked down the hallway and gasped.
“Izzy!”
“How could you do it?” Izzy asked. “How could you do this to Marat?”
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Post by Addie on Oct 31, 2006 15:03:17 GMT 3
Chapter 32
“Izzy, I don’t know what to say,” Alexis muttered as she pulled herself away from Bryan.
“How about why you are kissing Bryan? Or why you’re cheating on Marat with a guy who cheated on you?”
“It was an accident. He came to apologize.”
“So you forgave him? And then what? You decided to make him feel better by making out with him? What kind of person are you?” Izzy screamed.
“I promise you I didn’t know this was going to happen. He just kissed me,” Alexis said trying to reason with her.
“She’s telling the truth, Izzy. I made her do it,” Bryan added stepping out from behind Alexis.
“So what? Did you hold a gun to her head? No, you didn’t. You’re still in love with him, aren’t you?”
“Izzy, stop. You’re not thinking straight.”
“You are still in love with him. Let me guess: you used Marat to make Bryan jealous.”
“That’s not what happened at all. That’s not who I am. Why would you think I would do something like that?”
“You were always talking about how much you’ve been hurt in your life. And now, you turn around and do this to Marat. I can’t even look at you,” Izzy said covering her face with her hands.
“Izzy, please listen to me,” Alexis said reaching for her hand.
“Don’t come near me. Once we get back to London, I don’t want to see you again. You can find your own place.”
“Izzy, don’t do this,” Alexis said almost in tears. “You’re the only friend I have.”
“You should have thought about that before. You disgust me,” Izzy said before she turned around and disappeared down the hall.
“Oh, no. What have I done?” Alexis cried out.
“I’ll fix this, Alexis. I promise,” Bryan said putting his arm around her shoulders.
“Don’t! You’ve already caused enough damage,” Alexis screamed before running into her hotel room and slamming the door behind her.
*****
Sitting at a table in the airport Starbucks, Alexis huddled around the warmth of her grande caramel macchiato. Hunching over the thick, paper cup, she held the lid to her lips and sipped the drink slowly and cautiously. All around her, men in business suits and women trying to get their children under control swarmed through her line of view. Leaning her head to the right, Alexis could see out of the Starbucks and to where her gate was located. Sitting in one of the uncomfortable chairs, Izzy was staring out into nowhere as she twirled a piece of her frizzy, red hair around her finger.
Shaking her head, Alexis leaned back in her chair and stared down at the table. She hadn’t expected any of last night’s events to occur. She never would have expected to find Bryan outside her door apologizing to her for all the things he had done. But most surprising of all, she had never expected herself to forgive him and even miss him. When they had first started kissing, she knew it was wrong. But as the kiss continued, and she remembered all the things they had done together, she fell more willingly into the kiss.
“What have you done now, Alexis?” she asked herself as her cell phone began to vibrate on the table.
“Hello?” Alexis answered trying to regain her composure.
“Hey, beautiful. How are you?”
“Marat?”
“Yes, who else would it be?”
“You’re right,” Alexis said sitting up in her chair. “I’m okay. How are you?”
“I’m happy to be in Moscow.”
“I’m sure you are.”
“It would be better if you were here, though.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Alexis whispered feeling tears swell up in her eyes.
“Why is that? Are you okay? You don’t sound so good.”
“I’m fine,” Alexis lied wiping a tear from her cheek. “Airports always depress me.”
“You’re leaving soon?”
“My flight should be boarding any time now.”
“I miss you, and I wish we weren’t so far apart,” Marat said softly.
“Marat, I can’t talk right now,” Alexis replied as one of her tears fell onto the table below. “Can I call you when I get back into London?”
“Yes, of course. Have a safe flight.”
“Thanks. Bye,” Alexis said before hanging up her phone and being flooded by a wave of tears.
Throwing her cell phone in her carry-on bag, Alexis took a napkin and dabbed it under her eyes. Hiding behind the unfolded napkin, Alexis tried to ignore the looks and comments of passers-by. She wanted to forget where she was and what kind of mess she was in. But it was no use as the tears and embarrassment got worse.
“You deserve this you know,” a voice said above her.
“Izzy?”
“I’m still mad at you, and I still don’t want to see you again. But I thought you might want to know the plane is boarding our seats,” Izzy said without any response to Alexis’ tear-streaked cheeks.
“Thank you,” Alexis whispered as she got up from her table and threw away the rest of her drink.
Following a few feet behind Izzy, Alexis handed her ticket to the attendant before boarding the plane. Keeping her face turned down, Alexis followed Izzy’s feet to their seats on the plane. For some reason, it felt like everyone knew what she had done. Sliding into her seat, she didn’t even try to have a conversation with Izzy. She could say noting to Izzy to make her forgive what she had done. And when Marat found out, he wouldn’t want anything to do with her either. Closing her eyes, she slept the whole flight to London.
*****
“I have to get the rest of my things from your apartment,” Alexis explained as she pushed her way into the cab Izzy had waved down.
“Can’t you get your own cab?”
“If I’m going to get my stuff together and find a place to stay, I need to do it before it gets even later,” Alexis said looking at her watch. “I’ll be out of your hair soon.”
Closing the door beside her, Alexis folded her arms across her chest. Izzy did the same thing, and they started driving towards their apartment in uncomfortable silence. As they drove past historic London landmarks, Alexis tried to figure out where she would stay for the night. She would have never imagined that Izzy would have acted this way. If anything, she would have thought Izzy would have stayed by her side and not kicked her out.
“Izzy?” Alexis asked turning to face her in the backseat of the cab.
“I’m not speaking to you.”
“Then answer one question. That’s all I ask. Afterwards, you can go back to abandoning me.”
“Don’t you dare put the blame on me. You did this to yourself.”
“I made a mistake, Izzy! No one is perfect!” Alexis shouted feeling the rage from being misunderstood building up inside of her. “I want to know. Why are you being so harsh on me? Why won’t you listen to me?”
“Alexis, I haven’t had the easiest time with relationships either. I’ve been used by men, but you will never see me using them the way they did me. I couldn’t believe what I saw. You have a great guy, who has been hurt before as well. But what you did in the hallway, whether it was an accident or not, was wrong.”
“I know that it was wrong.”
“I want to believe it was an accident. But even if it was, you seemed to be enjoying it. If there is something still there between you and Bryan, the last thing you need to do is lead Marat on.”
“You’re right,” Alexis sighed. “I guess I have a lot to sort out.”
“You do.”
Settling back in their seats, the backseat of the car returned to silence. But as the seconds ticked by, Izzy couldn’t help but look over at Alexis. She was hunched over on the other side of the car looking like she had lost her only friends in the world. And considering the way she was treating Alexis, it made sense that she was feeling all alone.
“You don’t have to pack up and leave tonight,” Izzy sighed breaking the silence. “I’ll give you as long as you need till you find your own place.”
“Thank you,” Alexis said smiling briefly.
“Alexis, Alexis,” Izzy said nodding her head from side to side. “I’m not mad at you, just disappointed. You don’t seem to understand how much you can hurt Marat. He doesn’t deserve that.”
“I know he doesn’t.”
“I’m not telling you what to do, but maybe you could take this into consideration.”
“Yes?”
“You are obviously confused. Maybe you should ask Marat for some time to straighten things out. That way, you can avoid telling him unless you are completely sure you want to be with him.”
“But we just started.”
“Do you want your relationship with him to crumble years from now?”
“No.”
“We’re home,” Izzy said looking up at their apartment building.
“Good. I’m exhausted.”
“Just think about what I said, Alexis. I want Marat and you to get out of this without any major bruises,” Izzy whispered before she stepped out of the cab.
Sitting a few moments longer in the cab, Alexis tried to make sense of Izzy’s actions. She thought it was strange at first, but then she remembered her friends’ mothers. Constantly, she had heard them say they were performing “tough love” on their daughters when they told them the truth or disciplined them. In this case, Alexis was experiencing her first bout of “tough love” from an unexpected person: Izzy.
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Post by Addie on Nov 5, 2006 8:04:23 GMT 3
Chapter 33
Sitting up in bed as she turned off her alarm clock, Alexis stretched her arms above her head and glanced around the room. Her suitcase was over by the closet, and the light from the hallway peeped under her bedroom door. Getting out of bed slowly, she walked out of her bedroom and into the kitchen. Izzy was already up and sipping coffee at the small table near the window. Pouring herself a cup, Alexis walked over to the table and sat down across from Izzy.
“Good morning,” Izzy said softly looking out the window.
“Good morning,” Alexis replied sipping her coffee. “After work, I’m going to start looking for a place.”
“Alexis, wait a second.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t move out. I asked you to stay here, and I can’t just kick you out like that.”
“It’s okay, Izzy. I deserve it after what I did.”
“No, I was upset. I should have let you explain, but I didn’t. We all make mistakes.”
“Why the change in heart?” Alexis asked putting down her coffee mug.
“I had time to cool down. And I’ve decided that what happened was an accident. But you have to do one thing before I can really believe you didn’t mean to do it.”
“What?”
“You need to tell Marat what happened.”
“I had a feeling you were going to say that,” Alexis whispered leaning back in her chair. “I don’t know I can do that.”
“Alexis, you can. It was a mistake. Marat will understand.”
“You didn’t.”
“You’re right. And I’m sorry about that. You needed a friend, and I wasn’t there to help you. But I’m here now, and I’m trying to help.”
“I appreciate your help,” Alexis said getting up from the table. “I have to get ready for work.”
“Please tell me you’ll call Marat.”
“I will. But I need to get some things sorted out in my mind first,” Alexis called back into the kitchen as she shut her bedroom door behind her.
*****
“Welcome back,” Neil exclaimed wrapping Izzy and Alexis in his arms. “It’s so good to see both of you.”
“It’s good to see you as well,” Alexis said hugging him tighter.
“How are my girls?” Neil said letting them go.
“We had a good trip. Although, Alexis had a much more interesting one,” Izzy said looking over at her.
“Yeah, it was great till the end,” Alexis sighed staring at the floor.
“But we’re going to fix that, right?” Izzy said squeezing Alexis’ hand and smiling at her. “Everything is going to be alright.”
“Do you want to talk about it, Lexi?” Neil asked.
“Maybe during lunch. There’s not enough time at the moment,” Alexis replied smiling at Neil calling her “Lexi”. “We have a lot to catch up on.”
“We do,” Neil said. “But I’ll let you get back to work. We’ll talk about this during lunch.”
“Okay,” Alexis said walking the rest of the way to her desk.
Staring at the cubicle, everything was like it was when she had left. Her computer was still playing the annoying screensaver for the Times, and her three-ring binders were neatly standing against the computer. Sitting down, she was happy to see that nothing had changed. It reminded her of before the trip. Of course, she was excited about what was happening with Marat but not the encounter with Bryan.
“Damn him!” Alexis said hitting her fist on the top of her desk. “Why the hell did you have to mess this up for me?!”
As the force from her blow made the desk tremble, a piece of paper floated down from the top of the computer monitor. As observant as she was, she hadn’t noticed the note before. Picking it up, she almost threw it away until she saw the name on the envelope. It was her name of course, but it was written in a delicate, girly writing belonging to only one person: Sara. Unfolding the piece of paper, Alexis read the note.
Welcome back to London. I know you must be sad to be back when you were just back home. But no worries. Give me a call or walk down to my cubicle. There’s a huge party going on tonight. You’ll love it. Kisses, Sara. Smirking as she put the note away in her desk drawer, Alexis was slightly comforted to know that Sara hadn’t changed during the weeks she had been gone. After the talk she would have with Marat, she knew she was going to need a drink. And there’s no better person than Sara to get pissed with on a weeknight, or any night of the week for that matter.
Hours later, lunch arrived, and Izzy, Alexis, and Neil grabbed sandwiches and found a nearby park to eat at. Watching little kids scurrying around as their mothers tried to catch them made Alexis laugh as she ate her lunch. In the background, Izzy summarized their trip to the States to Neil.
“And now we’re back,” Izzy said catching her breath.
“Pretty interesting,” Neil said crumpling his empty sandwich wrapper into a ball. “But what happened with Alexis. I have a feeling that’s where the real drama lies.”
“It does,” Izzy said raising her eyebrows and turning to Alexis. “Would you like to tell him? Or should I?”
“I think I should do it,” Alexis replied.
“Well, get on with it. We don’t have a very long time,” Neil said with a smile.
“Right before we left for Toronto, Marat called me. He called to compliment me on my interview of him. We didn’t get to talk too much, but I told him I would be in Toronto soon. That’s when Marat and I got to know each other better. We planned our first date, which I completely forgot, and he hated me for it,” Alexis explained.
“And that’s what the problem is? You love him now, and he hates you?”
“I’m not even half way done with the story. In Cincinnati, he forgave me, and we spent a lot of time together just talking. And in New York City, we really became close,” Alexis said putting emphasize on the word “close”. “Everything was going great, until my dad decided to inform me that reporters were everywhere trying to get proof of our relationship. Then, he had the audacity to get my ex-boyfriend to try to break Marat and I apart. And it didn’t work. Marat saw right through it and even took me to my dad’s apartment in the middle of the night to yell at him.”
“I’m glad he looked after you. But why is everything so bad now? You obviously have a great guy on your hands,” Neil said.
“Well, besides the fact that Marat and I have to be very careful to never be found out, I made a huge mistake. After Marat left, I was still there, and Bryan came to apologize. I don’t know how it happened, but I forgave him and even started missing him. I kissed him, and Izzy saw us.”
“I was mad.”
“She was really mad,” Alexis agreed. “And now, I have to get up the nerve to tell him. It was an accident, but I have to let him know. It’s just so scary. I don’t want to lose him. I almost lost Izzy when she saw it happen.”
“Ah, now I see your dilemma,” Neil said leaning back on the bench.
“How am I supposed to break that to him?”
“I wouldn’t suggest doing it over the phone,” Neil said looking out into the park.
“I disagree. She needs to do it as soon as possible. Who knows the next time they’ll be face to face?” Izzy added. “She has no choice but to do it over the phone.”
“That’s a harsh thing to announce over the phone.”
“I agree with Neil,” Alexis said.
“You’re only agreeing with him, because you want to procrastinate.”
“Let her be, Izzy. This is her relationship, and she needs to handle it.”
“Thank you, Neil.”
“No problem, Lexi. I know you’ll figure it out,” Neil replied throwing a comforting arm around Alexis’ shoulders. “We have to get back to work now.”
“Unfortunately,” Izzy said getting up from the bench and walking ahead of Alexis and Neil.
“Why do you call me ‘Lexi’?” Alexis asked as they walked behind Izzy.
“I don’t know. It’s just short for your name, I guess.”
“My mother used to call me that.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, that’s why I acted so weird when you first called me it.”
“Would you like me to stop?” Neil asked.
“No, I like it. I missed being called ‘Lexi’,” Alexis said smiling at Neil.
“Then, I’ll make sure to call you that at every opportunity. Just to make you happy.”
“Thanks, Neil.”
“No worries, Lexi.”
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Post by Addie on Nov 7, 2006 8:24:12 GMT 3
Chapter 34
Looking into the mirror above the bathroom sink, Alexis fixed her hair and applied a fresh layer of lipstick. Smacking her lips, she took a final look at the mirror before spritzing herself with perfume and walking out of the bathroom. Steeping into the living room, she found Izzy curled up on the couch in a pair of her usual colorful pajamas and a book. Clicking her heels across the wood floors to the kitchen, Alexis sat down at the kitchen counter to wait.
“And where do you think you’re going?” Izzy asked noticing Alexis all dressed up.
“Sara invited me to this party. I thought I told you,” Alexis replied flipping through a magazine.
“No, you didn’t,” Izzy said looking back down at her book.
“If you want, we can wait on you to get ready. I’d love for you to come with us.”
“That’s alright. I really doubt Sara would want me to go.”
“Izzy, don’t be that way. After all the work we’ve done for the past two months, we need to get some of that tension out. Besides, Sara has never said a bad thing about you.”
“It’s only a matter of time. Anyways, I don’t find getting drunk relaxing. This,” Izzy said holding up the latest James Patterson novel, “I find relaxing.”
“Fine, but maybe sometime you would come out with us? It would be fun.”
“Not any time soon,” Izzy murmured as she went back to reading. “Wait a second. Have you called Marat yet?”
“No, not yet,” Alexis said biting her nails.
“Alexis!”
“I’ll do it tomorrow night.”
“Alexis.”
“I can’t do it right now. There’s too much going on inside my head.”
“Alexis.”
“Soon, Izzy. But I’d rather do it in person. Neil was right.”
“You’re procrastinating.”
“No, I’m not,” Alexis replied as a knock came at the door.
“Saved by the slut,” Izzy muttered as Alexis answered the door.
“Hello, darling,” Alexis greeted kissing Sara on the cheek. “How are you?”
“I’m wonderful. And how are you?” Sara asked as she walked into the apartment in a pair of three-inch heels. “Nice lipstick by the way.”
“Oh, thank you. I’m good. It’s good to see you again. I didn’t see you at work today at all.”
“Well, thank God we have cell phones. I was helping one of the old guys with his computer. He was completely lost. Aren’t hold people cute that way?” Sara asked picking up Izzy’s camera sitting on the coffee table. “Ooo, this is nice.”
“Will you kindly put that down?” Izzy hissed.
“Sorry, I was only looking,” Sara said putting it back down. “I didn’t see you there, Izzy. You blend right into the couch cushions.”
“I told her she needs to get out more.”
“And I told you I’m fine,” Izzy replied closing her book and getting up from the couch. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“Have a good night,” Sara said waving her bony fingers at Izzy as she walked down the hallway to her bedroom. “She’s quite the party pooper.”
“I think she’s just tired. Maybe she’ll come out with us sometime.”
“Ha! That will be the day!” Sara said walking towards the door. “Let’s get out of here.”
*****
The music pounded through the speakers, and the room was almost dark except for the lasers that littered the dance floor. All around her, people bumped into her as they tried desperately to dance to any sort of rhythm in their current state. Many of them had brought their drinks to the dance floor and were spilling them everywhere. One of those people happened to be Sara as she waved her martini over her head.
“Maybe you should put that down,” Alexis shouted above the music.
“Huh?”
“Maybe you should put away your drink,” Alexis shouted again.
“I can’t hear a damn thing you’re saying,” Sara shouted back. “Let’s go back to our table.”
“Huh? What?”
“Table!” Sara shouted pointing in the direction away from the dance floor.
“Okay,” Alexis replied following behind Sara as they snaked their way through the maze of people.
“Now what were you saying out there?” Sara asked putting her martini down.
“Well, nevermind now. I was trying to tell you to get rid of your drink.”
“Hmm, oh well.”
“Are we leaving soon?”
“You want to leave already?”
“No, but I need to wake up early tomorrow morning so I can catch someone in another time zone,” Alexis explained.
“Where are they?”
“Moscow.”
“That’s quite a ways away. Who do you know there? Did you pick yourself up a Russian during the US Open?” Sara asked mischievously.
“Maybe,” Alexis said blushing.
“You did! Who is it?”
“Do you promise not to tell?”
“I promise.”
“You can’t tell anyone, Sara. If Thomson found out, I could lose my job.”
“Ooo, intrigue. Tell me who it is!”
“Marat Safin.”
“Oh, my God! No way!” Sara squealed.
“Yes way. We started dating during Cincinnati.”
“Congratulations, Alexis. He’s gorgeous. Never though I’d see him with you though.”
“Why is that?”
“I don’t know. You just seem kind of reserved at times, serious. Marat Safin is a bit of a wild boy.”
“Those are just rumors. He’s not like that at all.”
“He used to be.”
“Well, he’s not anymore,” Alexis replied getting defensive.
“A leopard doesn’t change his spots,” Sara said finishing her martini.
“That’s not very nice, Sara.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll shut up. It’s the booze, you know. I don’t know what I’m talking about,” Sara replied putting her empty glass on the table. “I probably won’t remember anything you said tonight.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Alexis muttered under her breath.
*****
Two hours later, Alexis tiptoed into her apartment. The lights were turned off, and the room was almost pitch dark except for some street lights coming in through the dining room curtains. Moving her hands over the walls, Alexis managed to find her way to her bedroom without hitting any furniture. She was getting good at this, groping drunkenly in the dark. It wasn’t her greatest achievement, but at least she didn’t get as drunk as Sara.
Shutting her bedroom door behind her, she turned on her light as she removed her shoes and threw them into the closet unconsciously. Taking off her dress, she discarded it on the foot of her bed and changed into an old t-shirt and shorts. Lifting the sheets off the bed, she fell under the sheets and closed her eyes. But in the distance of her room, she heard a familiar beeping. It was her cell phone telling her she had a voicemail.
Her curiosity got the best of her as she got out of bed, scavenged through her purse, and looked at her caller ID. It was Marat, and he had called hours before, but Alexis had not heard her phone ring. Going through the options on her phone, Alexis listened to the voicemail message he had left her.
“Hey, Alexis. It’s me. I wanted to check up on you to make sure you’re okay. Also, I wanted to know if you would like to come to Moscow. I know this is short notice, but I could take care of your flight out here. I would just like you to be out here for Davis Cup. Call me when you can. I miss you. Bye.”
Smiling to herself, Alexis closed her phone and floated back to bed. Even the sound of his voice made her want to fall in love with him. But the idea of going to Moscow for a weekend seemed daunting. It was hours away, it spoke another language she didn’t know, and it was also Marat’s home turf. He would have total control over her, and Alexis didn’t know how to feel about that.
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Post by Addie on Nov 8, 2006 14:43:49 GMT 3
Chapter 35
“Hello?” Marat said answering his phone.
“Hello there, stranger. Long time, no talk.”
“Alexis? It’s so good to hear your voice. I tried calling you last night. I’m guessing you got my message.”
“I did.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“Are you going to come?”
“I don’t know, Marat. It would be strange.”
“And how is that?”
“It would be suspicious to my editor if I just suddenly go to Russia for the weekend. We’re already under enough scrutiny,” Alexis reminded him.
“I’m surprised some of these reporters have called your editor already.”
“I am, too.”
“Alexis, your editor doesn’t control your weekends. You don’t have to tell him where you’re going for the weekend.”
“But what if pictures show up? Then what?”
“We’ll be careful. We can stay home every night. No one will suspect a thing.”
“I know about your place, Marat. I’d be surprised if there’s running water at your apartment at the moment,” Alexis laughed.
“Okay, so it’s not the Ritz Carlton. But isn’t it worth it if we get to see each other? How many chances are we really going to get?”
“You’re right. Oh, I don’t know. I’m scared.”
“You don’t have to be. The press won’t figure out a thing.”
“It’s not only that,” Alexis sighed.
“Then what? What are you so afraid of?”
“I’m scared of going to a country where I can’t speak the language and I’ve never been to.”
“Alexis, I’m Russian. I’ve got the language down. You’ll be fine. I’ll take care of everything.”
“I don’t like giving up control, Marat. It’s a scary thought to me.”
“Alexis, you need to learn to trust me. Come to Russia, and I’ll show you it’s not impossible or scary to lose control for once,” Marat pleaded.
“Marat.”
“Alexis.”
“Marat.”
“Alexis.”
“Okay, fine. I give up. I’ll come.”
“Great! I’ll call you when I get your flight arranged.”
“Marat, I don’t want you to pay for me. I’m not a gold digger.”
“You’re a reporter. A new one at that. You don’t have the money to fly out to Russia,” Marat replied. “I’m paying whether you like it or not. You can’t afford it.”
“I wish you were wrong,” Alexis sighed.
“You’ll be making money in no time. I’ll call you later.”
“I miss you.”
“I miss you too, Alexis. Have a good day at work.”
“I will, but I’ll miss you the whole day.”
“I seem to have that effect on women.”
“Okay, time to hang up. Now, I’m just helping your ego. Bye,” Alexis said giggling as she hung up the phone.
*****
“So, did you tell him?” Izzy asked walking up behind Alexis at her desk.
“Jeez! You scared the shit out of me!” Alexis said putting her hand to her chest.
“Did you tell him, Alexis?”
“How did you know I was talking to him this morning?”
“I heard you laughing. You never laugh like that with anyone.”
“I didn’t tell him, Izzy.”
“Alexis!”
“I already told you. I’m not telling him till I see him in person.”
“And when will that happen? Months from now?”
“Actually, I’m going to Moscow next weekend.”
“During Davis Cup?”
“Yup.”
“Did you tell Thomson?”
“No. Why would I do that?” Alexis asked typing away at her keyboard. “He doesn’t control my weekends.”
“What if he finds out?”
“He won’t.”
“This is a dangerous game you’re playing,” Izzy said. “Thomson will find out eventually. It is a trip to Moscow and a tennis event.”
“If I can stay out of the view of photographers, and if you can keep your mouth shut,” Alexis replied.
“Keep my mouth shut? I’m your friend. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Good, then lower your voice before someone hears something,” Alexis said looking around the cubicles.
“Hears what?” Sara chirped in as she appeared from behind Izzy.
“What the hell are you doing there?” Izzy asked. “Do you stalk Alexis or something?”
“I was coming to invite my friend to lunch,” Sara replied coldly.
“Well, you’re too late. She’s coming to lunch with me.”
“I am?” Alexis asked.
“Yes, you are.”
“Can I come with you guys?” Sara asked.
“No!” Izzy said quickly.
“Izzy! She’s coming with us.”
“Thank you, Alexis. But maybe I should let you two go by yourself.”
“Sara, please come with us. Izzy, apologize.”
“Apologize? To her?” Izzy asked. “Are you crazy?”
“She’s my friend, Izzy.”
“She’s not your friend. She feeds off other people. She’s a bad influence, and you’re falling under it.”
“I’m not a bad influence,” Sara protested.
“You’re a Paris Hilton clone if I’ve ever seen one!”
“Izzy, if you’re going to be like this, I don’t want to talk to you,” Alexis said standing up from her chair.
“Fine! I’ll leave!” Izzy said grabbing her coat from her desk and walking out of the office area.
“She’s insane,” Sara exclaimed.
“I’m beginning to wonder.”
“So what were you two talking about?”
“I’m going to Russia next weekend.”
“To be with Marat?”
“Yes.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet.”
“You can’t tell anyone, Sara.”
“I won’t, I won’t.”
“I mean it. If Thomson found out, my career would be over.”
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Post by Addie on Nov 11, 2006 20:04:29 GMT 3
Chapter 36
“You’re making a mistake,” Izzy sighed as she watched Alexis finish packing from the doorway of her room.
“Izzy, would you mind shutting up for ten minutes?” Alexis snapped, tired of hearing Izzy’s rants of self-righteousness. “Give me ten minutes to get this bag zipped up and walk out of here.”
“You should have told him before this trip. It won’t be good, Alexis,” Izzy continued as Alexis walked past her with her rolling suitcase following behind her.
“Enough! That’s enough, Izzy!” Alexis yelled finally losing her temper.
“I’m trying to help you.”
“No, you’re making everything worse! What has gotten into you? You’re beyond rude to Sara, and you think you own me. Since that incident with Bryan, you’ve been telling me what to do. I’m tired of it!” Alexis shouted leaning her suitcase against the door out of their apartment.
“Sara doesn’t deserve kindness. She’s the scum of the earth. You’ll see that eventually.”
“Stop it! Just stop it! I’m a grown woman. I can decide for myself who I will and will not hang out with,” Alexis said grabbing her suitcase and opening the door.
“Just like you decided to kiss Bryan?” Izzy asked from inside their apartment.
“As soon as I get back,” Alexis sighed, “I’m looking for my own place. Obviously, you’re not who you pretend to be.”
“And who am I pretending to be?”
“My friend,” Alexis replied before walking down the hall towards the stairs and out of the building.
*****
Waiting nervously in the airport, Marat paced back and forth. Every few seconds, he would look up to see if Alexis was there. But every time, it was another unfamiliar face staring back at him. To keep himself from pacing a hole in the floor, Marat went to a nearby window and watched as taxis flew by with customers in them from the airport. It was cloudy outside and looked like it was going to rain any minute. Accidentally touching the icy cold window, Marat hoped that Alexis had brought a jacket with her. It was freezing outside.
As his thoughts raced from Davis Cup back to Alexis and then back to Davis Cup, he felt a light tap on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw Alexis smiling up at him from under a New York Yankees baseball cap. Immediately, his thoughts went back to her as he wrapped his arms around her tightly.
“What took you so long? I thought you had stood me up,” Marat said releasing her from his grip.
“I got lost. It’s hard to follow or get directions when you don’t speak Russian,” Alexis laughed kissing his cheek. “But calm down; I’m here now. And congratulations! I heard you beat Roddick.”
“I did. I hope you don’t mind, being American and all. I’m glad you are here,” Marat whispered putting his arms her waist and pulling her into him. “I’m very glad.”
“Me too,” Alexis winked. “Can’t wait to see your apartment.”
“Any room in particular you wish to see?”
“Whichever one has a bed,” Alexis replied wiggling her eyebrows. “Oh, forget the bed. Anything will do. The floor, a table, the stairs, doesn’t matter to me.”
“Hmmm. The stairs, huh? Very adventurous,” Marat said kissing her lips lightly. “But we have to get your luggage first.”
“It’s all right here,” Alexis said bringing her rolling suitcase out from behind her. “I managed to get it on the plane as a carry-on.”
“Very prepared as well. Let’s get you home.”
“Sounds good.”
*****
“Sorry we didn’t use the stairs,” Marat said as they stepped out of the elevator. “I know you were looking forward to those.”
“Next time,” Alexis replied intertwining her arm with Marat’s.
“Here we are,” Marat announced as they arrived at the door of his apartment. “Are you ready for this?”
“I think I can handle it. I did live in New York City after all.”
“True. But you did have those years in your father’s Park Avenue penthouse,” Marat added as he unlocked the door.
“True as well,” Alexis said as Marat swung open the door and they walked inside.
The living room furniture was covered in white tarps that were sprinkled with paint. Every foot or so, a can of paint or a paint roller was waiting on the floor to trip someone. Even a few holes in the walls where lights were supposed to be had wires poking out of them. Marat’s apartment, from what Alexis had seen so far, was an obstacle course of sprained ankles and possible electrocution. Not a place Alexis had expected a pro-athlete to inhabit.
“So what do you think?” Marat asked looking as if he was about to burst out laughing.
“It’s dreadful,” Alexis said bursting out in laughter first.
“I know. It’s the biggest dump at the moment,” Marat laughed as he looked around the room.
“So,” Alexis said trying to calm down, “where’s the nearest hotel?”
“Oh no, you don’t. You’re staying here,” Marat replied pulling her closer to him.
“Oops, be careful,” Alexis said almost tipping over a can of paint.
“But seriously, I’m sorry it’s in this condition. But this is how I live,” Marat said gesturing to the room they were in. “This is what I have to offer.”
“It’s plenty enough for me,” Alexis replied hugging Marat.
“So, the bedroom is this way,” Marat said softly as the phone began to ring. “Damn it!”
“You better answer that.”
“But you’re so much more interesting.”
“It could be your Davis Cup coach.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Marat sighed as he walked over to the phone and answered it.
As Marat talked on the phone, Alexis walked down a hallway she guessed led to the bedroom. On the walls were pictures of Shanghai, London, Moscow, and other popular cities throughout the world. Although the pictures had a hint of amateurism about them, they were still good and even made Alexis stop to stare at each of them.
“What are you staring at?” Marat asked as he found her.
“These pictures. They’re pretty good.”
“Thank you.”
“Did you take them?”
“Yes, I’ve got this camera that I’m obsessed with. It’s really high-end, like the ones Izzy uses at matches.”
“Ugh, don’t mention her,” Alexis moaned.
“What’s wrong? Did Izzy and you have a fight?”
“Let’s just say, I’m looking for my own place when I get back to London.”
“I thought you two were best friends. It must have been a big fight to break the two of you up.”
“It wasn’t just one incident. It was many nagging things. I couldn’t take it anymore. So, I told her I’m moving out,” Alexis sighed.
“I hope I had nothing to do with it.”
“Why would you think that?” Alexis asked quickly turning around to face him.
“I can tell that she was worried about you losing your job. Coming here must have made her even more worried.”
“I don’t care what she thinks. I decided to be here with you, and I’m staying here.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Marat whispered lifting her face to meet his by placing his fingers gently under her jaw line.
“Who was that on the phone?” Alexis asked as Marat kissed her neck.
“Ah, yes. I almost forgot. It was Shamil Tarpischev.”
“I told you it was your coach.”
“He’s organized this little dinner for the members of Davis Cup tonight. It’s to celebrate that we’re up 2-0.”
“I wish I could have gotten here earlier to see you win,” Alexis sighed. “But I didn’t want to make it look too suspicious since I missed all of work today.”
“All that matters is that you’re here now. Anyway, he’s invited us to dinner.”
“You mean I’m going to meet everyone?”
“Yup.”
“Oh, God. I don’t think I can take that.”
“You’ll be fine. They want to meet you.”
“Marat, what if they hate me?” Alexis asked biting her lower lip.
“They’ll love you as much as I do. I’ll be there, Alexis. Remember what we said about giving up control?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“You trust me to look after you, right?”
“I do.”
“Then go get ready,” Marat said facing her in the direction of the bathroom. “It’ll be fun.”
“Yeah, fun,” Alexis groaned as she walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind her.
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Post by Addie on Nov 12, 2006 14:07:20 GMT 3
Chapter 37
As Marat opened the door of the restaurant for her, Alexis hesitated before she set her foot in the door. Taking a deep breath, Alexis felt Marat’s hand on the small of her back. His breath on the back of her neck was enough to assure her that he was literally behind her all the way.
“Our table is this way,” Marat said taking her hand. “You look beautiful by the way.”
“I tried to get as many wrinkles as I could out of this dress. I didn’t expect it to get that wrinkled when I packed it,” Alexis said smoothing her favorite black dress as they neared the table.
“There’s not a wrinkle in sight.”
“I should buy a new dress sometime. You’re probably tired of seeing me in this.”
“I would never tire of seeing you. Even if you wore a potato sack, I wouldn’t mind,” Marat said stopping them before they were in sight of the table.
“Why are we stopping? I want to get this over with,” Alexis said tapping her foot impatiently.
“I’m stopping so you can get yourself together. Whatever happened to that girl I first met who didn’t care what anyone thought of her?”
“I don’t want to embarrass you.”
“You won’t embarrass me. I should feel nervous. You’ve got a degree from Columbia University, you work at the London Times, and you’re beyond beautiful. Even in a dress you find old and wrinkled.”
“Thank you, but you’re not so bad yourself.”
“We’ve got this,” Marat said kissing her forehead and leading her the rest of the way to the table.
When they arrived at the table, the rest of the players, their girlfriends, and their coaches were already there. Once they saw them, everyone at the table immediately stood up to greet them.
“Alexis, this is Shamil, Dima, Kolya, Mikhail, Igor,” Marat said starting the introductions to everyone.
As Marat went on introducing everyone, Alexis shook their hands before they sat back down. Once the introductions were finished, Marat smiled at her and pulled her chair out for her. Sitting down at the table, Alexis felt out of place. Maybe it was because of the looks she was getting from the players’ girlfriends, or maybe it was because everyone was speaking Russian and she had no idea what was going on. For all she knew, Marat could be exchanging her for a goat.
Unfolding and refolding her napkin, Alexis was relieved when a waiter came to ask for their drinks. Instantly, the word “alcohol” sprang to her mind. Deciding upon a martini, Alexis didn’t need anyone to translate for her. After the waiter left, she was once again ignored and left to study the silverware. Whether Marat forgot about her or the fact that she didn’t know the language, she couldn’t figure out.
Martini after martini, Alexis downed each one like water. Finally, Marat remembered her. His face was almost white when he looked at her and recognized her boredom.
“Alexis, I’m so sorry,” Marat said. “I completely forgot. I haven’t been back here in awhile, and we were catching up. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. I understand,” Alexis said finishing the last drop of her third martini.
“Are you kidding me, Marat?” Dima laughed. “She can’t speak Russian? We all thought she could since you went into Russian as soon as you sat down.”
“I was being stupid. Alexis, I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”
“I told you. It’s okay. But can we speak English from now on? I’m a little lost without it.”
“Of course,” Marat said squeezing her hand.
“You’re a reporter, right?” Igor asked.
“I am,” Alexis said trying to suppress a hiccup. She had drunk that last martini a little too fast.
“Is the story of tonight going to end up on the front page of the sports section?”
“No, you can trust me. My boss doesn’t even know I’m here. And hopefully, he’ll never know I was here.”
“Why is that?”
“If Alexis’ boss finds out about us, she could possibly lose her job,” Marat said. “So, nothing gets out about this. Okay? That means you, Dima.”
“The blog will not mention a thing,” Dima said smiling as he sat back in his chair. It was evident that Alexis wasn’t the only one who had had a little too much to drink.
“I’ve always wondered. What’s it like being a reporter? I’m always on the other side of the press conference,” Kolya asked.
“You mean how is it to deal with you guys after you lose and want to kill half of us?” Alexis corrected. “It’s a blast. Especially with Marat.”
“I’ve gotten better,” Marat laughed.
“Not by much,” Alexis replied.
“We’ll try to be a bit more pleasant from now on,” Kolya promised.
“And I’ll try to be a bit more understanding when I ask questions. But I have to live somehow. It just turns out I’m better with a keyboard, and you’re better with a racket.”
“Maybe we can help you out, give you some exclusives,” Mikhail offered.
“No, that’s okay. It’s also very nice of you, but it would look suspicious if I suddenly had all these exclusive interviews with the Russian Davis Cup team.”
“I’d take the offer,” Dima said. “You might as well get something out of being stuck with Marat.”
“Hey!” Marat said sitting up straight in his chair.
“Man, the stories we could tell you about him,” Igor said smiling.
“I don’t think I want to hear them,” Alexis smiled squeezing Marat’s hand tighter under the table.
“But they’re so good.”
“I’ll take a rain check. Next time.”
“Well, it’s getting late,” Marat said getting up from the table. “We’re going to go now.”
“But it was just getting good,” Dima said.
“Yeah, everybody is speaking English,” Alexis teased as Marat helped her out of her chair.
“We’ll speak English at home,” Marat replied.
“It was nice meeting all of you,” Alexis waved goodbye as Marat walked her out of the restaurant. “What’s all the hurry about?”
“The stairs are waiting,” Marat grinned as he opened the restaurant door for her, and they walked into the cold night air.
*****
“Marat, we can’t do this,” Alexis whispered as they walked past the elevators and into the stairwell.
“Yes, we can,” Marat said pushing her towards the first set of stairs.
“What if someone sees us?” Alexis asked nervously climbing the stairs backwards as she tried to get away from Marat.
“They won’t. No one uses the stairs.”
“Marat, this is ridiculous,” Alexis hissed skipping a step and climbing higher.
“Running away, huh?”
“Marat, I’m warning you.”
“You can run, but you can’t hide,” Marat said starting to run up the stairs after her.
“Marat!” Alexis squealed turning around and running up the flight of stairs two at a time.
“Got you!” Marat said grabbing the hem of her dress as they stopped near the landing of the third floor.
“Marat! No!” Alexis said pleadingly. “Someone will hear us.”
“Shhh,” Marat said putting his finger to her lips.
“Marat, this is a really…,” Alexis tried to say as Marat kissed her neck gently.
“Quiet time,” Marat whispered as he lifted her dress up her thigh,
“We are in so much trouble if someone sees us,” Alexis giggled as Marat pressed her up against the wall of the stairway.
“You’re going to be in trouble if you don’t be quiet,” Marat said pressing his lips to hers.
“Hmmm,” Alexis moaned as he continued to kiss her, and she started unbuttoning his shirt.
*****
Sitting on the floor with their backs leaning against the wall, Marat and Alexis caught their breath as they sat wrapped in each other’s arms. Setting her head on Marat’s chest, Alexis felt his heart beating fast.
“Where’s my shirt?” Marat asked breaking the silence.
“I think I threw it over there,” Alexis said pointing to the gap between the flights of stairs.
“All the way down there?”
“Yup,” Alexis answered giggling against his chest.
“We better get off this cold floor,” Marat said helping Alexis up.
“Thank you,” Alexis said pulling down the hem of her dress. “Uh, I’m missing something.”
“And what would that be?”
“My underwear,” Alexis said blushing. “Do you know where they are?”
“These?” Marat said picking them up off the floor and holding them up.
“Yes, those,” Alexis replied trying to grab them.
“Oops,” Marat said as he dropped them over the banister of the stairs.
Looking over the railing, Alexis watched as they floated down to the bottom of the flights of stairs.
“There is my shirt,” Marat remarked seeing his shirt near her underwear.
“You asshole!” Alexis said trying to be mad at him but cracking up.
“What are we to do?” Marat asked grabbing her by the waist and pulling her against his chest.
“I have no idea,” Alexis said as they heard voices down below.
“Oh, no!” Marat said looking down to see a couple walking up the stairs.
“No one uses the stairs, huh?” Alexis asked.
“Let’s get out of here,” Marat said grabbing her hand and climbing up the stairs to their floor.
“This is so like that movie, Unfaithful,” Alexis said as they finally made it to the door of Marat’s apartment.
“Unfaithful?”
“They had a scene in it where Diane Lane and her boy toy did it in the stairwell. It was a very good movie.”
“So what do you think? Better in reality?” Marat asked they entered the apartment.
“Much better.”
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Post by Addie on Nov 13, 2006 14:44:54 GMT 3
Chapter 38
“Time to wake up,” Alexis said nudging Marat gently.
“What time is it?” Marat asked rubbing his eyes.
“Late.”
“How late?”
“I think it’s almost one o’clock.”
“In the afternoon?” Marat asked sitting up in bed.
“Yes.”
“Crap! I’m missing the doubles match,” Marat said jumping out of bed. “I have to get there.”
“I think I’ll stay here, if you don’t mind. Maybe I could do a few things for you around the apartment,” Alexis offered as she watched Marat get dressed.
“That would be great actually. I promise I’ll be home soon. Then we can decide what to do with the rest of the night,” Marat said pulling a t-shirt over his head.
“So what can I do?” Alexis stretching in bed.
“Laundry?”
“No problem.”
“Really?”
“Laundry’s easy, doll. It’ll take me an hour or less.”
“I wish it was that easy for me.”
“Hmmm. Maybe I should wait for you to get back. Then, I can teach you.”
“If you’re up to the task, I’d be happy to learn.”
“It’s settled. We’ll do laundry when you get home. A crash-course on sorting, washing, and drying,” Alexis said getting out of bed and walking towards Marat.
“I can’t wait,” Marat said kissing her quickly. “I got to go, but I’ll be back soon.”
“Have fun,” Alexis called down the hallway as Marat left the apartment.
Jiggling his car keys in his hand, Marat had never felt better as he rode the elevator down to the ground floor. Alexis put him in a mood he had rarely experienced before he met her. Of course, at time she could drive him crazy with her perfectionism and mood swings but it was growing on him. Slowly but surely, he was beginning to accept her for everything she was, not just the good things.
Walking past the landlord of the apartment building, Marat waved quickly but was stopped when the man called his name.
“Excuse me, Mr. Safin.”
“Yes?”
“I believe these belong to you,” the owner of the apartment building said handing Marat his folded shirt and Alexis’ underwear sitting on top.
“Oh, yes. Um, how did you know these were mine?”
“A couple found them last night at the bottom of the stairwell. Your ID was in the pocket of the shirt.”
“Oh, well, um,” Marat stuttered running his hand through his hair.
“I won’t say a word.”
“Thank you,” Marat said heading towards the door. “I appreciate your discretion.”
Arriving at his car, Marat unlocked the door and jumped inside. Throwing the clothes into the back seat, Marat started laughing hysterically. He had no idea how he was going to explain this to Alexis. When she heard about this, he was positive she was going to turn red permanently. Driving to the stadium, Marat couldn’t help but look back at their clothes on the seat.
*****
“I’m home,” Marat called as he walked into his apartment. “Alexis? You here?”
“Where else would I be?” Alexis asked as she strolled out of the kitchen.
“What are you up to?”
“I’m making dinner out of the things I could salvage in your pantry.”
“Sounds delicious,” Marat teased.
“How did it go?”
“We lost doubles.”
“I’m sure you’ll finish it up tomorrow.”
“We have to.”
“Ready to learn how to do laundry?”
“Ready, but one thing before we go downstairs to do that.”
“What is it?” Alexis asked as Marat took a stack of clothes from behind his back.
“I believe we can add these to our laundry,” Marat smiled.
“You went and got them?”
“Not exactly.”
“Well, then how did you get these?”
“The landlord.”
“The landlord!”
“The couple that disturbed us took them to the landlord, and my ID was in the pocket of my shirt,” Marat explained.
“Oh, my God! I am so embarrassed,” Alexis said with her hands on her reddening cheeks.
“He promised not to say anything. He’s a good guy. He’ll keep his word,” Marat assured her.
“I can’t leave this building!”
“It’s okay, Alexis. People have sex everyday.”
“Not on a public stairwell!”
“They should try it then. It’s fun,” Marat grinned.
“Marat!” Alexis squealed walking back into the kitchen.
“Are we still doing laundry?”
“If we can make it down to the laundry room without anyone seeing us,” Alexis said grabbing the laundry basket off the kitchen counter.
“I’ll hide you,” Marat laughed as he opened the apartment door for them to leave.
“Oh, my hero.”
*****
“Okay. I think I have it now,” Marat said sorting through the laundry as Alexis watched over his shoulder.
“Are you positive? We don’t want a red sock getting into the whites.”
“A red sock?”
“The usual mix up is a piece if red clothing with the whites. It turns everything pink.”
“Oh, well let me double check,” Marat said going through the whites. “Now you’ve got me nervous.”
“Sorry,” Alexis replied as the washer finished their first load.
“What do we do with that stuff?”
“We put it in the dryer,” Alexis said throwing the wet clothes in the washer into the open dryer next to it.
“And I put this stuff in the washer,” Marat said throwing the basket of whites in the washer and turning it on.
“I think I can say you’ve finally graduated from Laundry 101.”
“Do I get a diploma?”
“I can make you one. Do you want one?”
“No, you will do,” Marat replied picking Alexis up and placing her on top of the washer.
“I’m the prize?”
“Yup, you are,” Marat smiled running his hands down the sides of her torso and resting them on her hips.
“I’ve had a lot of fun this weekend.”
“Even after I ignored you during that dinner?”
“Don’t worry about it. You made up for it on the stairwell.”
“That will go down in history as our greatest moment.”
“I hope we have a lot more of those moments together.”
“Me too,” Marat sighed staring into her silver eyes. “I don’t think this is the most romantic place to do this, but it’s time I say this to you. I love you, Alexis.”
Staring back at Marat, Alexis absorbed his words. Whatever he said afterward fell on deaf ears. Alexis watched as he went quiet himself, and the only sounds in the room were the washer and dryer working.
“Um, thank you,” Alexis said.
“Thank you?”
“Thank you. That’s nice of you,” Alexis said kissing his cheek and jumping off the top of the washer. “I better go check on our dinner. Come upstairs with the laundry when you’re done.”
“Okay,” Marat replied very confused as Alexis left the room. “Thank you? Thank you?”
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Post by Addie on Nov 14, 2006 14:39:03 GMT 3
Chapter 39
This time there was no morning sunshine to wake her up as Alexis rolled from side to side in bed. Outside the window of Marat’s bedroom, gray, ominous clouds hovered over the buildings warning of a rain storm. Rolling back onto her right side, Alexis stared at the back of Marat’s head. During dinner last night, he would hardly look at her, and neither them said a word. When it was time to go to bed, Marat placed himself on the edge of the bed farthest from Alexis.
Of course, Alexis understood why he was acting this way. He had declared his love, and she had brushed it off. Hitting herself in the forehead with her hand, she cursed herself quietly before turning to her left side again. It was either stare at the storm going on inside Marat’s head or watch the one going on outside the window. Considering they way lightning strikes, Alexis decided she was safer with it than when Marat strikes.
“Would you stop rolling around?” Marat mumbled from the other side of the bed.
“Sorry,” Alexis whispered rolling to her back and trying to stay still.
“Thank you,” Marat said putting emphasis on the words.
“Marat, can we talk?” Alexis said rolling to face him in bed and placing her hand on his shoulder.
“No.”
“Please.”
“I’m trying to sleep,” Marat hissed.
“You have to wake up soon anyway. You don’t want to be late for the final Davis Cup matches.”
“I’m not going.”
“What do you mean ‘you’re not going’?”
“Tursunov will finish Roddick off, and then I can leave for Thailand.”
“Without talking to me?” Alexis asked tracing circles on his back with her finger.
“What are you going to say to me? Thank you?” Marat asked angrily rolling over to face her in bed. “Would you like to drive that knife in my back deeper?”
“Marat, you don’t understand.”
“Then, please, explain to me what I don’t understand.”
“When you said you loved me, I was caught off guard. It wasn’t the fact that you said it in a laundry room. It was the fact that you told me now. I’m not ready to say it back.”
“That’s a stupid excuse, Alexis.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Yes, it is. You said you trusted me. You said you wanted make memories with me. When people say those things, they usually love that person. They want to build a life with them. Something is keeping you from saying you love me. What is it?”
“Nothing is keeping me from saying it except for the fact I’m not ready,” Alexis said getting out of bed and walking towards the bedroom.
“That’s bullshit, Alexis. Tell me the truth. What is keeping you from saying you love me? Or should I be asking who it is?”
“There’s nobody else, Marat,” Alexis replied stopping before she went to the bathroom.
“Then tell me you love me right now. If no one is keeping you from doing that, then tell me now,” Marat said walking in front of her and stopping to stand in front of her. “Tell me.”
“Marat, I,” Alexis stuttered as thoughts of Bryan went through her head. “I can’t.”
Pushing past him, Alexis ran into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. For the first few minutes she was in there, she heard Marat banging on the door. But eventually, the banging stopped, and she heard the door of the apartment open and slam shut. He was gone.
*****
Walking through the airport in a daze, Alexis found her gate and placed her rolling suitcase in a seat next to her as she waited. It was still gloomy outside. She had been lucky enough to get a sooner flight out of Moscow. Blaring out of the TVs above her gate, the Davis Cup match between Andy Roddick and Dmitry Tursunov played. When the camera scanned over the box of players, Alexis didn’t see Marat anywhere.
Sighing to herself, she sat back in her chair and stared at the clock above her gate. She had another two hours to kill before her flight would be boarding. She had tried to call Marat before she left, but he had turned his cell phone off. Giving up, she left a note on the kitchen counter. Knowing Marat, she had know idea if he was going to call her when he found the note.
Feeling tears in her eyes, Alexis dreaded the fact that he might never call her. But on the other side of it, at least she would never have to tell him about Bryan. Even though she was trying to think positively, tears escaped her eyes and fell down her cheeks.
*****
Unlocking the door of his apartment, Marat walked inside. All of the lights were turned off, and he could not hear any sounds coming from anywhere in the apartment. Flipping the light switch on for the living room, Alexis was nowhere to be found. Walking down the hallway, he entered the bedroom to find her clothes gone. Running to the closet, her suitcase wasn’t in the bottom of the closet anymore. Opening the bathroom door, he was startled to see no one in there.
“Alexis!” Marat yelled hoping to hear her call back.
When she didn’t call back, Marat raced down the hallway and into the kitchen. Looking around, he found his laundry neatly folded on the counter with a note on top of it. Rushing over to the note, Marat snatched it off the pile and read.
Marat,
I got an earlier flight, because obviously, you didn’t want me around. I’m sorry if you thought I led you on. That was the last thing I wanted to do, including hurting you. But, I’m out of your hair now. I will understand if you don’t call me. Thank you for the tickets out here. I’ll pay for my way back.
Alexis Standing in the kitchen motionless, Marat read and reread the letter. Crumpling the note into a ball, he threw it into the trash can. Running to his room, he quickly packed his bag for Thailand. Throwing random shirts and pants into his suitcase, his mind centered on one person. If he hurried, he might be able to catch Alexis before her flight took off.
*****
After getting his ticket from the woman at the front desk, Marat handed his bags to Sasha. Without a word, he raced away from him in search of any flight gate with a plane heading to London. But every gate was heading to another city on the opposite side of the world. Marat had given hope of ever finding a plane to London when he reached the last gate. Above the gate, in red lettering, were the words he had been waiting for. Rushing to the desk in front of the gate, he cut people in line in order to talk to the attendant on duty.
“Excuse me, miss. I have an urgent question,” Marat said almost out of breath from running around.
“And I will answer that question after you wait in line like everybody else,” the woman snapped.
“But it’s important.”
“Go back to the end of the line.”
Knowing he wasn’t going to get anywhere, he stomped his way to end of the line. As he walked back there, the faces that he saw were littered with disgust at him for cutting the line. Ignoring their looks, he waited impatiently till he made it to the front of the line.
“Now, what can I do for you?” the attendant asked.
“That gate over there,” Marat said pointing to the gate with London above it. “Has the flight for it left?”
“Let me check,” the woman replied typing gingerly at her computer.
“Could you hurry up a little?”
“I’m going as fast as I can,” the woman said. “Here it is.”
“And?”
“And the flight is leaving the gate as we speak,” she responded looking over at the large windows where people could see the flights leaving. “That plane right there is probably the one.”
“Damn it!” Marat screamed running towards the window.
Somewhere in the plane that rolled past the window, Alexis was seated on her way back to London and away from him. Bagging his fists against the window, Marat tried in vain to get the attention of the plane. He knew it was impossible as he watched the plane go down the nearest runway and take off. As the plane’s wheels lifted off the ground and ascended into the air, rain began to fall onto the ground and the window he was looking out of.
“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to stop banging on the glass,” a security guard said from behind him.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m done,” Marat replied walking away from the window and the guard.
Following the signs to his gate, he found Sasha sitting with their bags as he read a magazine. Falling into a chair, Marat said nothing but looked out the window at the rain falling outside.
“I hope our flight doesn’t get delayed,” Sasha commented absently.
“Like it matters,” Marat said watching a couple holding hands walk past them.
“I’m guessing the reason you ran off earlier had to do with Alexis.”
“She’s gone, Sasha.”
“That’s too bad. I liked her.”
“So did I.”
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Post by Addie on Nov 15, 2006 14:39:42 GMT 3
Chapter 40
Walking into her apartment building in the rain, Alexis paid no attention to the drops as they fell on her head. Climbing the stairs to her apartment, she unlocked the door and stepped inside the dark living room. It was very late at night, almost one in the morning. Rolling her suitcase past Izzy’s bedroom door, Alexis was tempted to knock but decided against it.
After throwing her clothes in a corner of her room and her toiletries in the bathroom, Alexis changed into a pair of clean pajamas that didn’t smell like Marat’s bed. Walking to the kitchen quietly, Alexis put a kettle of water on the stove to make tea. Sitting down on the couch, she glanced through a few magazines before lying down. Everything about the weekend had been perfect until she had screwed it up.
“Alexis, what are you doing?” Izzy asked from behind the couch.
“Waiting on the water in the kettle to be ready and hating my life.”
“Did you tell him?” Izzy asked softly sitting beside her.
“No, but why should you care? You said I was already doomed.”
“I care about you, Alexis. Don’t let Sara cause a rift between us.”
“You caused the rift,” Alexis snapped getting up off the couch and walking to the stove.
“If you didn’t tell him, then why are you depressed? Something happened,” Izzy said trying to coax an answer out of Alexis.
“That’s none of your business,” Alexis yelled as the kettle began to whistle.
“I’m trying to help.”
“I’m looking for my own place starting tomorrow,” Alexis said pouring some of the hot water into a cup.
“I don’t want you to move out.”
“Well, I want to,” Alexis said placing a teabag in her cup.
“Alexis.”
“I’m going to bed, Izzy. I’ve had enough of people for the day,” Alexis said before walking down the hall and closing her door behind her.
*****
“How was it?” Sara asked excitedly popping out from nowhere.
“Jeez! You scared the shit out of me again! Do you always have to do that?” Alexis asked irritably.
“You’re not in the mood I expected you to be in.”
“I’m sorry I snapped at you. I’m under a lot of stress.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m moving out of Izzy’s place. I’m tired of her trying to control my life.”
“That’s perfect!”
“Huh?”
“My roommate just moved out. I have no idea. I thought we got along so well,” Sara explained popping her gum. “You should move in with me. I live in a much better part of the city anyway.”
“I don’t think I can afford the rent where you live.”
“Don’t worry about it. My dad pays for most of it. We only have to pay a little. It’s perfect!”
“It could work,” Alexis said leaning back in her chair to think.
“It’ll be fun. Come on! Say yes!”
“Okay, I’ll move in.”
“Yay!” Sara squealed.
“When can I move in?”
“Anytime.”
“Would tonight work?”
“The sooner the better. We should go out tonight to celebrate.”
“How did I know you were going to say that?” Alexis asked laughing.
“Because I rock, and Izzy doesn’t?”
“You may be right on that one.”
*****
Taking the last cardboard box from Sara’s car, Alexis closed the door and walked into the apartment building. Sara was right. This apartment building was definitely on the better side of town. The building came complete with a doorman, and the piece of resistance, an elevator. Riding up to their floor, Alexis thanked God for an elevator. She was so tired of climbing flights of stairs, and being on a flight of stairs only reminded her of Marat.
“Is that it?” Sara asked opening the door for Alexis.
“That’s it,” Alexis sighed placing the box near the others.
“How did Izzy take it? You moving in with me?”
“She wasn’t home when I got there. I packed and called you as soon as I was done.”
“She probably would have caused a scene. You’re lucky she wasn’t there,” Sara said walking to the kitchen. “Do you want a drink?”
“No, I’m good.”
“So, where should we go out tonight?” Sara asked opening a can of soda.
“I don’t know. I have to finish my column first.”
“I wish I was like you. You have so many responsibilities at the Times. You’re respected while I get coffee for everyone,” Sara sighed sitting down on her leather sofa.
“It’s not always fun.”
“I know, but I want to write like you,” Sara replied taking a drink of her soda. “Hey! Do you think you could teach me?”
“It’s not something you teach,” Alexis said sitting down on the sofa next to Sara with her laptop.
“Oh, come on. Try to teach me.”
“Do you have anything in mind?”
“Maybe you could teach me how to do an opinion article related to sports.”
“Okay, what bothers you? Anything you have an opinion on?”
“Um, let me think,” Sara said biting one of her long, red fingernails. “I don’t know. You pick something.”
“Okay….how about doping in tennis?” Alexis suggested.
“Something less serious.”
“How about Maria Sharapova’s screaming during matches?”
“Ooo, I love that.”
For the next hour, Alexis and Sara wrote the opinion article. Unfortunately, Alexis was the only doing the work as she plucked away at the keyboard and Sara read through the latest issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.
“How does that sound?” Alexis asked reading Sara the article.
“It sounds great. Now I can send it into Thomson, and maybe I’ll get some respect. Wouldn’t it be great if it got published?” Sara said bouncing up and down on the couch.
“Woah, hold on there,” Alexis said. “You didn’t exactly write this. I pretty much did everything.”
“Oh, come on. Help your new best mate out. I could get fired if I don’t do something worthwhile soon.”
“No, Sara. That wouldn’t be right,” Alexis replied closing her laptop. “But what do you say if you write one yourself, and I’ll edit it when you’re done.”
“Um, sure. I guess,” Sara muttered rolling her eyes. “I’ll do that while you get ready to go out.”
“Okay,” Alexis agreed. “I’ll be ready in awhile. I know you’ll have a great article when I’m done.”
“Definitely,” Sara said with a smile as Alexis trotted off to her bedroom. “I’ll have an amazing article.”
Opening Alexis’ laptop, Sara searched through Alexis’ files till she found the story. Giving it a final check, she went to her email and composed her first big break.
“Dear Thomson,” Sara typed in the email, “I know I’m not the greatest writer, but I had a flash of brilliance this evening. Maybe you could take a look at my story and see how I did. Who knows, this could be my first published story.”
Finishing her email, Sara sent it and smiled to herself. Leaning back in the sofa after she put Alexis’ laptop down, Sara quietly hummed to herself. She might as well get something out of Alexis. She certainly didn’t like her.
“You should have listened to Izzy, Alexis,” Sara grinned. “I’m such a bad person.”
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Post by Addie on Nov 18, 2006 8:01:38 GMT 3
Chapter 41
It had been a week since Marat had watched Alexis’ plane take off before his eyes. The pain of her leaving hadn’t disappeared entirely, and he was missing her like crazy. No one had ever gotten under his skin like Alexis, but he was too proud to admit it and call her. Sitting his hotel room in Metz, Marat hated the fact that all around him was silence. He wished that he could hear Alexis complaining in the bathroom about her hair or her taping away at her keyboard.
Lying on his lap was a copy of the London Times. He had read and reread her article five times. He had done that with every one of her articles. Staring at his cell phone on the bedside table, he wondered if he should call her. But in doing that, he would hurt his pride. Was she worth giving up his pride? Maybe she was. Picking up his phone, he dialed Alexis’ home phone seeing as it was after work. Waiting patiently, he let the phone ring in his ear till someone answered the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Izzy. How are you?”
“I’m okay,” Izzy said hesitantly.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, I’m just trying to figure out why you’re calling here.”
“You must be mad at me, too. I didn’t mean to hurt Alexis. I hope you can believe that.”
“Um, sure,” Izzy muttered more confused than ever.
“You don’t believe me, do you?”
“I didn’t say that. I’m still trying to figure out why you’re calling here.”
“I know I made a mistake by letting her go like that. I’m calling to apologize,” Marat explained.
“Once again,” Izzy said, “why are you calling here?”
“Because she lives here,” Marat replied starting to get agitated.
“Wow, you really haven’t talked to her lately.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought she would tell you that she was moving out after she came back from Moscow.”
“She said something about it, but I thought it was just hormones.”
“When have you ever known Alexis to make a split-second decision? She always thinks things through, especially her words. If she says she’s moving out, she’s moving out.”
“What happened?”
“That’s not for me to say.”
“Come on, Izzy. Tell me what happened. I promise not to automatically side with Alexis.”
“A few things have come between us. One them a person and the other one an action.”
“Who is it? And what was the action?”
“There’s this girl at the Times. Her name’s Sara,” Izzy explained.
“Alexis never mentioned her.”
“That’s surprising, considering they’re ‘best friends forever’ now,” Izzy sighed rolling her eyes. “Sara has always been spoiled rotten by her father. Her dad got her a job at the Times. She can’t write to save her life, though.”
“I’ve known a few girls like that. Hell, I’ve dated a few like that.”
“And Alexis is hanging out with her. I don’t trust Sara, and I think she’s a bad influence on her. She’s been drinking and partying a lot.”
“I’ve noticed that recently. She doesn’t pass up an opportunity.”
“Nope. And now she’s living with Sara in her upscale apartment.”
“How long has this been?” Marat asked.
“A week. She moved out the day she got back.”
“I’m going to call her and talk some sense into her.”
“Don’t bother tonight. She’s probably already partying as we speak.”
“I’m worried. I think I might have made it worse,” Marat said rubbing his hand on his buzzed hair.
“You wouldn’t be saying that if you knew what she did,” Izzy muttered.
“What did she do?”
“I can’t tell you. She needs to tell you.”
“I have a right to know, Izzy.”
“And she has a right to tell you.”
“Izzy.”
“Goodbye, Marat. Good luck getting a hold of Alexis,” Izzy said hanging up the phone.
“Izzy? Izzy!” Marat said before hanging up the phone.
Slamming his cell phone back on the side table, Marat groaned as he threw his head back. He would never be able to understand women. But as soon as his aggravation subsided, he became worried once again about Alexis. He hadn’t been very responsible at her age either. And in the back of his mind, he wished he hadn’t drunk as much as he did back then. Dialing her cell phone number as quick as he could, he hoped she wasn’t out partying.
“Pick up the phone, Alexis,” Marat muttered waiting for her to answer.
“Yeah?”
“Finally,” Marat sighed hearing loud music in the background. He was too late to stop her tonight.
“Huh? Who is this?”
“Alexis, it’s me, Marat.”
“Oh, you. Why are you calling?”
“I’m calling to see how you’re doing.”
“I’m good, very good. How did you want me to be? Sitting at home crying my eyes out ‘because I lost you, the great Marat Safin? Not a chance. I’m having fun.”
“I can tell that,” Marat replied noticing the slur in her words. She had been out for awhile now, with plenty of drinks. “Could you go somewhere quieter so I can hear you better?”
“We have nothing to talk about.”
“Please, Alexis.”
“Fine, but keep this short,” Alexis said moving away from the crowds to the bathroom.
“Izzy told me you moved out.”
“What else did she tell you?”
“She told me about Sara.”
“Let me guess. She described her as a Paris Hilton wannabe who drinks and parties too much, didn’t she?”
“Basically.”
“What else did she tell you? I’m sure there’s more.”
“I’m worried about you, Alexis. You’ve been drinking a lot lately.”
“That’s none of your concern. I’m no longer your girlfriend.”
“I never said I was breaking up with you.”
“I decided for us.”
“Alexis.”
“What Marat? I obviously don’t love you enough to be with you. So, we can’t be together. We’re at two different places in our lives.”
“I know we’re in different places. But in our personal lives, we’re at the same place. It’s either love now, or we may never find it again.”
“Ha! Who needs love? It’s crap.”
“Alexis, there’s something else.”
“What is it?” Alexis stuttered.
“Izzy told me you did something that I should know about.”
“Did she? Ah, hell Marat! You want to know what I did?” Alexis asked falling against the bathroom wall awkwardly.
“Yes, I want to know.”
“After you left, Bryan came to the suite. We got to talking, and then we started kissing. Izzy saw us. And you know what? I liked kissing Bryan. It was nice. I’m not going to lie to you.”
“What?!”
“You heard me. Maybe Bryan was the one keeping me from loving you. I don’t know, Marat. But we don’t have to think about that anymore. We’re through.”
“Yeah, we’re definitely through,” Marat shouted slamming his cell phone shut.
Falling down on the bed, he held his face in his hands. He had never felt so angry in his life. She had just come out and told him everything without a bit of remorse. Of course, she was drunk, but she still had enough common sense not to do something so cruel. A strange feeling built up around his eyes, a weird tingling sensation. He couldn’t believe it, but he could actually feel tears in his eyes.
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Post by Addie on Nov 20, 2006 1:23:30 GMT 3
Chapter 42
“Good morning, Linda,” Alexis said walking into the building of the Times.
“Good morning, Alexis,” Linda replied barely able to take her eyes off the newspaper in front of her.
“Anything good?” Alexis asked stopping in front of Linda’s receptionist desk.
“Very good. It’s this hilarious opinion article one of the reporters here wrote. I’ve never seen her work in our paper before though,” Linda explained pointing to the article.
“Hmmm. I can’t remember Thomson mentioning a new writer at the last meeting,” Alexis shrugged. “But I’ll have to get a copy sometime today and read it.”
“Definitely worth the read,” Linda replied as Alexis started walking to the elevator. “Oh, Alexis. The elevator’s broken.”
“How did that happen?”
“I have no idea. It seemed fine yesterday.”
“Weird.”
“Take the stairs.”
“Um, okay,” Alexis said heading to the stairwell.
Opening the heavy door to the stairs, Alexis looked up at the flights and flights above her. Feeling a pang of sadness, she expected to see Marat next to her. But instead, she was alone and began to climb the stairs slowly. It had been another week since she had confessed everything to Marat in a drunken stupor. The memory of Marat’s final words to her hurt more and more every day, but she couldn’t let anyone know. After all, her job depended upon nobody ever finding out about them.
Halfway to her floor, Alexis looked down the stairwell to the bottom. She wanted to see clothes at the bottom and Marat laughing in her ear, but there was nothing to smile about. She had made her mistakes, and now she would have to deal with them like she always did. Arriving on the floor of the sports reporters’ offices, Alexis smoothed her hair and straightened her posture. She wasn’t going to let anyone see her sweat.
Walking among the cubicles, many people were reading the newspaper and laughing. Remembering Linda, she decided that it was the opinion article everyone was reading. Making a note to herself to get a copy of the paper, Alexis sat down at her desk to start working.
“Hey, Lexi,” Neil said walking into her cramped cubicle.
“Hey, hun. How are you?” Alexis turning around in her swivel chair to face him.
“I’m good. Have you read that opinion article in the sports section?”
“It’s in the sports section? I had no idea we had a new writer in our section.”
“What makes you think it’s a new writer?”
“Linda said she had never seen her work in the Times before.”
“Nope. She’s been here longer than you,” Neil smiled. “I’m surprised you don’t know who it is. I thought she would have told you.”
“I don’t know the writer.”
“Yes, you do. It’s Sara, Alexis.”
“No way! She got a column? I’m so excited for her. Why didn’t she tell me?” Alexis said getting up from her chair.
“Maybe she wanted to surprise you,” Neil shrugged. “You should be proud of her though. It was really good. I was pleasantly surprised.”
“This is great. Where is she? I have to congratulate her. Oh, I should probably read it first.”
“I have a copy on my desk. I’ll give it to you,” Neil said walking to his cubicle as Alexis followed. “Even Izzy smiled once or twice reading it. But she wouldn’t admit it.”
“How is Izzy?” Alexis asked as Neil searched through his desk.
“She’s good. She started looking for a new roommate,” Neil replied.
“That’s good,” Alexis said. “I hope she finds a good one.”
“Here it is,” Neil said handing her the newspaper opened to the page of Sara’s column.
“I can’t wait to read it,” Alexis said reading the lead into the article. “Hmmm.”
“What is it?”
“This lead sounds familiar,” Alexis said reading on.
“You’ve probably rubbed off on her. Her recent showing has to be attributed to you.”
“I don’t know, Neil. Something’s not right here,” Alexis replied.
“What do you mean, Lexi?”
“This is my article, Neil. I wrote this for her so she could use it for an example. She put her name on it!”
“You’ve got to be kidding me! No wonder it was good,” Neil said looking over her shoulder.
“She stole my work! I can’t believe this. I told her to write her own!” Alexis exclaimed more surprised than angry.
“Can you prove it?”
“I sure can. I saved the column on my laptop. I brought it to work with me, too.”
“We’ve got to get that to Thomson immediately. She won’t get away with this.”
“Izzy was right. Why didn’t I listen to her?”
“We don’t have time for that right now. You have to get it to him as soon as possible,” Neil said walking to Alexis’ desk quickly.
“I’m so lost, Neil. I thought I could trust her,” Alexis said staring off into the distance. “I trusted her.”
“We always learn the hard way,” Neil replied handing Alexis her laptop. “Let’s get you to Thomson office.”
“This is unbelievable,” Alexis sighed as they walked to the stairs.
“I know. I hate walking up these stairs. It’s terrible for an old man like me,” Neil joked.
“Not funny.”
“I’m trying to lighten up the atmosphere. God knows, this won’t be fun.”
“It won’t,” Alexis sighed as they walked into Thomson’s office.
“Yes?” Thomson’s secretary asked as she saw them.
“We need to talk to Thomson,” Alexis explained.
“Immediately,” Neil added.
“One second,” the secretary said paging Thomson in his office. “Alexis Moore and Neil Harman are here to speak to you. Yes. One minute.”
“What did he say?” Alexis asked eagerly.
“You may go in.”
“Thank you,” Alexis said as Neil and her rushed into Thomson’s office like an angry mob.
“We need to talk,” Alexis announced as they sat down in front of Thomson’s desk.
“What is this all about? You look flustered, Alexis,” Thomson replied leaning back in his chair.
“I’m beyond that. I’ve found out something very disturbing as I walked into work this morning.”
“What is it?”
“It’s Sara. It’s about the opinion article.”
“She did an amazing job, didn’t she? I was quite surprised but pleased.”
“Weren’t we all,” Neil commented sarcastically.
“She didn’t write the column. I did. I wrote it one day so she could use it as an example for her own writing. It turns out that she took advantage of me.”
“That’s quite a serious accusation,” Thomson replied sitting up in his chair.
“It’s very serious. And I have the proof. It’s in my laptop,” Alexis said setting her laptop on his desk.
“The bitch is caught,” Neil said bluntly.
“I can’t believe this. I thought she was finally becoming something,” Thomson said shaking his head from side to side slowly.
“It’s sad that she would do this to someone who trusts her,” Neil added shaking his head from side to side as well.
“Trusted. It’s past tense now.”
“We’ll get to the bottom of this at once,” Thomson said paging his secretary. “Please find Sara Holloway. It’s urgent.”
“Here we go,” Neil whispered.
“No reason to feel nervous,” Alexis replied. “The truth is on our side, and no one can mess with that.”
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Post by Addie on Nov 20, 2006 16:37:37 GMT 3
Chapter 43
Staring at the door of Thomson’s office, Alexis crossed her arms in front of her chest and got ready for the likely confrontation. A few minutes later, the door handle to the office began to move and then opened. Looking as fashionable as ever, Sara strolled into the office in a dark gray Armani suit that she bought with Alexis the day before. Alexis wanted nothing more than to grab the bottle of White Out on Thomson’s desk and throw it on the expensive pant suit.
When Sara saw Alexis leaning against a chair and Neil sitting in a chair next to her, she looked surprised and perplexed. She obviously hadn’t expected them to be there. If anything, she thought she was going to receive another accolade from Thomson for “her” opinion article. Alexis saw her take a deep breath, smooth her blazer, and straighten her posture. She could tell she was about to put on an act.
“Alexis! I hadn’t expected you here. I’m sorry I left before you did this morning,” Sara said reaching out her arms to hug Alexis.
“I wouldn’t do that if I was you,” Neil muttered as Sara wrapped her arms around a stiff Alexis.
“What do you mean Neil?” Sara laughed hugging Alexis like an old friend.
“I know what you did,” Alexis whispered cryptically into Sara’s ear.
Pulling away from Alexis, Sara’s face was white. She knew what Alexis meant, and it was enough to wipe the fake, self-assured smile off her face. Stepping back from Alexis, Sara fell into Neil’s chair. Getting up from the chair, Neil stared at Sara with a look of disgust.
“You can leave now, Harman. We’ll take care of the rest,” Thomson said not taking his eyes off Sara.
“Good luck, Lexi,” Neil whispered in her ear as he kissed her cheek.
“Thank you,” Alexis said sitting down in the chair she was leaning against.
“Have a seat, Sara,” Thomson said sitting down himself and gesturing towards the chair Sara was now gripping.
“Thank you,” Sara said swallowing hard.
“It’s come to my attention that you stole a story from Alexis. It was the same story that the Times has running in the paper today,” Thomson said setting his hands on his desk.
“That’s insane. I wouldn’t steal a story from Alexis,” Sara replied looking over at Alexis and smiling. “She’s my best friend.”
“You wish,” Alexis snapped.
“By doing this Sara, you’ve embarrassed me, betrayed your coworkers, and have done both to Alexis. She trusted you; she helped you. And this is how you repay her?”
“I did nothing of the sort.”
“You know what this means, Sara. I will have to fire you. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am in myself for hiring you in the first place,” Thomson sighed.
“I never plagiarized. I want proof. Where’s the proof? You can’t fire me for no reason,” Sara said defending herself.
“Alexis has the story original story on her computer. Alexis, would you mind taking it out?” Thomson asked.
“Of course. Anything to get rid of her,” Alexis said not looking at Sara as she brought out her laptop and started searching through her files.
Pushing back his chair, Thomson got up and walked to the other side of his desk to look over Alexis’ shoulder. Calmly and coolly, Sara scooted closer to Alexis’ chair to watch her search. Sara seemed oddly at ease, almost as if she knew something no one else did. Minutes upon minutes passed as Alexis searched but nothing.
“It’s not here,” Alexis said in disbelief. “There must be some kind of mistake. It was here. I saved it.”
“So much for your proof,” Sara laughed.
“It was here, Thomson. I’m telling you, it was here. She deleted it!” Alexis shouted getting up from her chair and standing over Sara.
“I don’t feel safe the way she’s talking and looking at me,” Sara complained. “Please retrain her.”
“Alexis, calm down.”
“This is bullshit. She had this all planned out!” Alexis continued to scream.
“Alexis! Stop!” Thomson shouted over her. “You’re not making this easier on me.”
“You think I’m lying? I wouldn’t do that! You know me better.”
“She’s doing this because she’s mad about her boyfriend,” Sara added.
“Her personal life doesn’t belong in this conversation, Holloway,” Thomson snapped.
“Oh, yes it does. You have no idea how much it does,” Sara replied coolly.
“You wouldn’t dare,” Alexis hissed through gritted teeth as she clenched her fists.
“I would and I am,” Sara replied.
“What are you talking about, Holloway?” Thomson asked.
“Alexis has been dating Marat Safin for months now. A little unprofessional, don’t you think? She’s been keeping it from everybody purposely. She even went to the Davis Cup semifinal two weeks ago. She did all this under your nose.”
“Alexis, is this true?” Thomson asked.
“You’re letting her do this?” Alexis replied staring at Sara.
“Did you date him?”
“That has nothing to do with this. She stole my story, and you’re letting her get away with it!”
“You have no proof of that,” Thomson replied. “And you’re the one who’s been lying.”
“Okay, then. How can she prove it?” Alexis asked playing Sara’s game.
“Look on her cell phone. Every one of his numbers is there. You can look at her bank statements as well for her payments for flights there and back,” Sara said.
“Alexis? What do you have to say?”
“My personal life is mine!” Alexis shouted.
“Not if it goes beyond what we consider professional at this newspaper,” Thomson shouted back. “You need to calm down, Alexis. Sit down.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m not going to sit anywhere near her,” Alexis replied.
“Sit down, Moore.”
“Fine,” Alexis mumbled sensing Thomson’s agitation.
“After all of this, I am beyond shocked,” Thomson said rubbing his forehead.
“So am I,” Sara added. “I thought she was my friend, but she was spreading lies about me.”
“They’re all true,” Alexis hissed.
“That’s enough, Alexis. I can’t tell you how upset this makes me. You had a future here. And it’s not just your unprofessional behavior with Marat or here in this room today, but the way you tried to destroy Miss Holloway.”
“Very upsetting,” Sara added once again.
“Because of what you’ve done before this incident, I’m going to let you off a little. In order to preserve your reputation on your resume, I’m going to let you resign. By doing that, I won’t be forced to fire you.”
Alexis didn’t say anything. She stared down at her shoes. She wanted so badly to turn to Sara and throw her fist in her face. But she had to realize that she had been beat. Somehow, everything was falling in on her, and it was all her fault.
“Alexis?” Thomson asked.
“I’ll get my stuff and leave,” Alexis whispered getting up from her chair.
“I’m sorry this had to end this way,” Thomson said.
“Me too,” Alexis replied walking towards the door.
“I expect you to move out by tonight,” Sara said.
“I’ll be gone. I don’t want to spend a moment longer in your presence,” Alexis said. “But I will say this: I lost a good friend because of you. I should have listened to her, but I didn’t. I let you, the scum of the earth, distort my judgment.”
“Alexis,” Thomson warned.
“No, let me finish, Thomson. I will not hurt you, as much as I want to. I will let the guilt of what you have done eat at you for the rest of your miserable life. Eventually, you’ll be found out. Every evil person always has a downfall, just look back in history. You were never my friend. A friend does not use another friend. You make me sick, and I hope we never meet in a dark alley, because it will not be pretty for you if we do,” Alexis said slamming Thomson’s office door and walking back to the room of cubicles.
Walking into the room from the stairwell, Alexis saw Neil talking to Izzy. They both looked over to her as she walked down the aisle to her desk. Ignoring them both, Alexis started packing her stuff. She threw it all in the same box she had brought it all in on her first day of work five months before.
“Alexis, what are you doing?” Neil asked.
“I’m leaving. I’ve resigned,” Alexis said.
“What?!” Izzy and Neil said at the same time.
“Izzy, I want to apologize. I hurt you for someone who wanted to hurt me. You were an amazing friend, and I have nothing but respect for you. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you earlier,” Alexis said taking the heavy cardboard box of her desk.
“Alexis, it’s okay. Neil told me what happened,” Izzy said. “I understand you were misled.”
“You have no idea,” Alexis said before she left her cubicle and walked out of the building with tears streaming down her cheeks.
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Post by Addie on Nov 23, 2006 17:36:07 GMT 3
Chapter 44
Sitting in a taxi by herself, Alexis was surrounded by cardboard boxes. The lightest one was resting on her lap and causing her legs to feel numb. In the trunk of the cab, she knew her suitcases were rustling around in the compartment as they rounded another turn.
“Where to, miss?” the driver asked.
“To be honest, I have no idea. Could you just drive around? I’ll tell you when I figure it out,” Alexis replied staring out the window.
“Suit yourself. It’s your money.”
Alexis didn’t care if the driver thought she was crazy. It seemed like no one understood her these days, maybe except for one person. But she couldn’t bring herself to call that person. She had betrayed them, and now she would have to figure things out for herself. But how? Looking around at the cardboard boxes surrounding her, she sighed loudly to herself.
“I know where I want to go.”
*****
Getting her keys out of her purse as she and Neil finished climbing the stairs to her apartment, Izzy flipped through the keys till she found the right one.
“Where do you think we should start looking?” Neil asked as they turned a corner.
“I don’t know. I wonder where she went. She had to go somewhere. She wasn’t going to stay with Sara.”
“We’ve got to prove her innocence. Sara will not get away with this.”
“I feel terrible that we couldn’t persuade Thomson to forgive her. How did Sara get him so wrapped around her little finger?”
“I have no idea. But we’re not letting her destroy the career of one of the best reporters I have met in years. Beside that, she’s our friend. It’s personal,” Neil said as they walked towards Izzy’s apartment door.
“Alexis!” Izzy squealed as she looked at the floor near the door.
Sitting on the floor with her back against the wall, Alexis was surrounded by suitcases and boxes as she clicked through her cell phone. Upon seeing Izzy and Neil rushing towards her with their arms opened, she managed to smile.
“Alexis! Are you okay?” Izzy asked as she wrapped her arms around Alexis. “We were about to come looking for you.”
“I’ve been here since I finished packing my stuff up at Sara’s apartment,” Alexis tried to say as Izzy squeezed the breath out of her. “I’m okay.”
“We were also trying to figure out how to get your job back and get rid of Sara,” Neil said pulling Izzy off of Alexis. “You’re killing her, Izzy.”
“Oh, sorry,” Izzy said blushing. “I was worried all day. We tried talking to Thomson once we found out what happened, we really did.”
“I don’t doubt that you did,” Alexis said standing up from the floor. “I’m surprised you were worried about me.”
“Why would you say that?” Izzy asked.
“Because I acted like a complete bitch to you. I turned into a party animal with no respect for the people around me. All you have to do is look at Marat to see that.”
“What happened between the two of you?” Izzy asked. “I feel like we haven’t talked in ages.”
“Maybe we should go inside the apartment,” Neil suggested taking Izzy’s keys and opening the door. “The hallway isn’t the most private place in the world.”
“He’s right,” Izzy agreed picking up a few of Alexis’ boxes. “Let’s move you back in.”
“Are you sure? I was horrible to you. You don’t have to take me in,” Alexis said biting her lower lip.
“You need to learn what a friend is. I want to help you, and I will,” Izzy replied walking into the apartment. “Besides, I need someone to pay half the rent.”
“I’m no help there,” Alexis said rolling her suitcases into the living room. “I don’t have a job anymore. Remember?”
“We’re going to fix that,” Neil said bringing in the rest of the boxes from the hallway.
“And how do you suggest we do that?” Alexis asked falling on the couch.
“I don’t know. Give me a while. I’m old,” Neil said sitting in the armchair near the couch.
“So tell me,” Izzy said sitting on the couch next to Alexis. “What happened between you and Marat?”
“I told him everything,” Alexis sighed. “He called me when I was in a club, drunk and partying. He had gotten the hint from you that something was wrong.”
“I didn’t mean to Alexis,” Izzy replied looking down at the floor.
“It’s okay. Anyway, I told him everything in the bluntest way possible, and he told me we were over. He hates my guts,” Alexis said holding her head in her hands. “What am I going to do? My job? My personal life?”
“Which one is more important to you?” Neil asked.
“What do you mean?” Alexis asked.
“Do you want us to save your career or your relationship with Marat?”
“There’s something Marat said that keeps replaying in my mind. ‘It’s either love now, or we may never find it again,’ he said,” Alexis replied running the words through her head. “I’m not going to let love go.”
“Then it’s settled. We find Marat, and we find out how to get you there,” Neil said putting his hands on his knees and leaning forward.
“Where is he right now?” Izzy asked.
“Moscow,” Alexis answered.
“Maybe we should wait till he’s in a tournament closer to here. Where’s the next tournament, Neil?” Izzy asked.
“It’s in Madrid, a Masters Series event.”
“We’ll do it then,” Izzy decided.
“Do what? I just show up in Madrid and ask him to take me back?” Alexis asked grabbing a throw pillow and throwing it over her head. “It’s hopeless.”
“No, it’s not. If you want love, you have to fight for it,” Izzy said reassuringly.
“I have a feeling Marat’s not going to listen to me.”
“It would be an interesting conversation to watch,” Neil chuckled from the corner.
“C’mon you guys! Where’s your sense of fight?” Izzy asked standing up from the couch and putting her hands on her hips.
“It went out the door when I got fired and lost the only good thing in my life,” Alexis groaned into her pillow.
“Your job wasn’t the best part of your life.”
“No, it wasn’t. Marat was,” Alexis replied feeling her face heat up and her eyes sting. “Can I have a tissue?”
“You’re crying? Alexis Moore is crying?” Izzy asked in astonishment.
“I’ve been crying all day,” Alexis said taking the pillow away from her face.
“Here you are,” Neil said handing her a tissue.
“But seriously,” Alexis replied blowing her nose, “how am I going to go about getting him back?”
“A miracle?” Neil suggested as Izzy hit him over the head with a pillow. “Hey!”
“Stay positive!” Izzy reminded walking to the kitchen. “Tea anyone?”
“Vodka?” Alexis asked.
“That’s the heart of your problem. Too much alcohol,” Izzy replied from the kitchen stove. “It’s tea for you from now on.”
“You’re so boring,” Alexis teased.
“If boring means I wouldn’t lie to you and steal your stories, then yes. I’m very boring.”
“Bitch,” Alexis huffed from the couch as she folded her arms across her chest.
“Are you sure you don’t want to take care of her first?” Neil asked.
“She deleted my proof, Neil. I have nothing to get her back with,” Alexis sighed.
“There has to be something.”
“When you figure it out, tell me. I could use it,” Alexis said putting her feet on the coffee table.
“Well, I don’t know what to do about Sara, but I think I know what to do about Marat,” Izzy said walking back into the living room.
“And what would that be?” Alexis asked.
“The greatest surprise attack in history. He’ll never see you coming.”
“Good,” Alexis replied. “That way, he can’t run away.”
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Post by Addie on Nov 24, 2006 18:34:07 GMT 3
Chapter 45
Preparing for a forehand, Marat focused his eyes upon the ball cascading over the net and flying towards him. Catching the ball on the height of its bounce, Marat met the side of the ball with the center of his Head racket. Placing spin on the ball, it flew past Sasha on the other side of the net and landed in the corner of the singles box. Admiring his work, Marat stood there for a minute.
“Nice ball,” Sasha called from the net.
“It was better than nice,” Marat laughed walking to the chairs near the net posts to get something to drink.
“If you do more of those during the tournament here, you could have another final on your hands.”
“That’s what I’m hoping.”
“You played great last week in Moscow.”
“Well, I screwed up in Metz. I had to make up for it,” Marat shrugged taking a sip of his water.
“It wasn’t perhaps the fact that you were mad at a certain someone and taking it out on the ball, was it?” Sasha asked.
“If it had been her, I would have done amazing in Metz as well.”
“Do you miss her?”
“No.”
“I thought you loved her?”
“I thought I did. I was lost. It turned out she was just using me.”
“Using you? I thought she insisted on paying for everything and did her best to never be seen with you by the paparazzi.”
“She used me to heighten her career and to get over her ex-boyfriend,” Marat said staring at the swarms of people surrounding his practice court.
“Whatever you say,” Sasha replied stepping back onto the court. “Let’s get back to work.”
Marat was about to join him when he noticed a familiar face in the crowd. Wearing an argyle sweater with a head of thinning, sand-colored hair, Neil sat next to the practice courts watching the other players. As if he could feel Marat’s eyes on him, he turned his gaze to Marat. Smiling and making a short wave at him, Neil returned to the other players but Marat couldn’t return to practice himself. Getting up from his chair, he by passed Sasha and walked over to Neil.
“Hi, Neil,” Marat said as he stopped in front of the man.
“Hello, Marat. How are you?” Neil asked as if nothing was wrong.
“I’m good. You seem well.”
“I am. It’s a great tournament, Madrid.”
“Yes, it is. But why are you here?”
“I’m a sports reporter, Marat. Tennis in particular,” Neil laughed as if Marat was losing his mind.
“I know, but why isn’t Alexis here?”
“Did you expect her here?”
“No,” Marat said quickly. Too quickly.
“Marat, Marat,” Neil sighed shaking his head. “Take some advice from a man going through a divorce. You’re letting your pride get in your way. If I had love like you had, I wouldn’t be acting the way you are.”
“She was the one who made out with her ex-boyfriend. She left me and told me it was over.”
“Marat, she misses you.”
“She does?”
“Yes, she does. Of course, she did some inexcusable things. But you said it yourself to Izzy; she hadn’t been acting like herself.”
“Why are we even having this conversation? I don’t see her here to apologize.”
“You came over to me. I didn’t ask you to come over here,” Neil said smiling his usual grin.
“You’re right. I’m sorry I snapped at you,” Marat said running his hand through his short hair.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m used to moody athletes.”
“Is Izzy here?”
“No, I’m off on my own.”
“Would you like to go to dinner? I’ll pay. Let me make up to you the way I snapped for no reason,” Marat offered.
“Sounds good,” Neil said nodding.
“Do you know where Restaurante Memento is?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll meet you there at seven. Is that alright?”
“See you there,” Neil said as Marat jogged off to go back to his practicing.
Taking his cell phone out of his pants pocket, Neil dialed Izzy’s familiar cell phone number.
“We got him,” Neil declared as Izzy answered the phone.
“Yes!”
“Tell Alexis to be at Restaurante Memento at seven o’clock. We’ll make the switch then.”
“Okay, I’ll tell her. See ya. And good work.”
“Thank you. It was like being James Bond.”
“But without the dark, thick hair and women falling all over you?” Izzy teased.
“Yeah,” Neil sighed running his fingers through his thin hair. “I wonder how much hair plugs cost.”
“Bye, Neil,” Izzy giggled hanging up the phone.
“Bye.”
*****
Sitting down in the warm, modern atmosphere of the small restaurant, Marat waited for Neil to arrive. The low lighting of the restaurant made the patrons of the restaurant relaxed and even a little passionate surrounded by the dark wood of the chairs and the red upholstery. After a few minutes of waiting, Neil walked through the front door.
“Nice place. Very small though,” Neil commented sitting down.
“But you don’t have to worry about crowds for that reason.”
“Like that one night in Paris?”
“That wasn’t my greatest moment,” Marat laughed. “No wonder she thought I was a jerk at first.”
“You two were always fun to watch. I just wish I could have been there in New York. It would have been nice to see you guys not fighting.”
“But it’s over now. You don’t have to see either.”
“I would like to see you guys in love. That can still happen.”
“How?”
“You talk to her.”
“I don’t see her calling me.”
“She’s afraid to,” Neil replied.
“She’s afraid to do a lot of things, like saying she loves someone.”
“Marat, I’m sure you understand what kind of life she’s had. Her father is an ass, she hasn’t seen her mother in years, doesn’t even know where she lives, and her first serious boyfriend cheated on her. How would you expect her to act about things like love?”
“I hate when you’re right.”
“Why does everybody always say that?” Neil asked with a smile.
“Because you’re you,” Marat teased.
“I am me, aren’t I? If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to the restroom.”
“Okay,” Marat said picking up his menu to look through it.
A few second later, Marat heard Neil’s chair pull out from the table and someone sit down.
“That was quick,” Marat said setting down his menu and looking across the table. Who sat before him took his breath away.
“Hi, Marat.”
“Alexis?”
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