Post [2x07]
Maggie sat at the bar, sipping at a beer and waiting for a certain brunette to arrive. Alex slipped through the door, seemingly unnoticed. She found a seat next to Maggie and waved at the bartender for a drink of her own. Turning to Maggie, Alex let loose three words that hardly anybody ever wants to hear, "I hate you. I hate you with a burning passion."
Maggie found a small chuckle escaping her lips, "Is that seriously why you asked me here? To tell me you hate me?"
"I wasn't finished." Alex took a drink and brought her hand up to count as she spoke again, her tone cold and harsh. "I hate your smile. I hate your laugh. I hate your hair. I hate your eyes. I hate the sound of your beautiful voice."
Maggie was somewhat thrown off by the last comment. Alex simply continued with her list, her voice gradually gaining a sense of kinder passion. "I hate the way it's so easy to talk to you. I hate that adorable face you make when you catch me in a lie. I hate how you always show up when I need you. I hate the way you always make me smile. And most of all, I hate that I can't bring myself to hate you no matter how hard I try."
Silence fell between the two of them outside of the average sounds of the bustling bar. Maggie looked at Alex for a moment. "Are you done?" Alex just sat there. "Would it make you feel any better if I said I hate you just as much?" Alex looked at Maggie, hurt washing over her. Maggie's tone was much softer than that of Alex's, and with much more admiration seeping through. "I hate how nerdy you are sometimes. I hate how you get tongue tied once in awhile. I hate how much you talk about your family. I hate how passionate you are. I hate that I can't stop thinking about you. And I hate that you absolutely refuse to give me any reason to hate you," Maggie giggled. "Now, are you done with your tirade of hatred?" Alex stared down at her beer. "Alex?"
Alex reached down for Maggie's hand. "I'm sorry. I just… You, you shot me down. I know I'm new to this and I know what you said. I still felt like you shot me down and threw me out like a damn useless toy. I wanted so badly to hate you, but I just can't."
"Then don't. I know what I said. And I also know I said that we all deserve to be happy." Maggie entwined her fingers with Alex's. "Believe me, I was in a similar situation when I first came out. This girl had come out several years prior and she was the apple of my eye. We went out for a while. We were in such different places that it was difficult to get on the same page. She knew what she wanted and how to get it, while I was still exploring and learning and experiencing. Frustration just grew and grew until we agreed that it just didn't work the way we thought it would. I don't want you to have to find out the same way that I did. I know when I'm with you, we're the only two people on the planet and the world is at our fingertips. I want so badly to keep that beautiful smile on your face, because I hate to see you any other way."
Alex still allowed her voice to drip with disdain, "Believe me, I am still wrapped around your little finger, which is why I am still so bitter. If I didn't care, I wouldn't still be so upset."
"I understand that. That doesn't necessarily mean that I'm the solution."
"You just said you like me!"
"That doesn't mean I'm in the position for a relationship."
"You know what. I get it, I screwed up. It was all a giant mistake of my part." Alex got up to leave.
"That's not what I'm saying. Alex, would you please come back and listen to me? Alex!" Maggie's words fell on deaf ears as Alex stormed out of the building.