Soon We'll Be Living in the Future

Part 2

Groaning she lifted a hand to her head. No sizeable holes or bruises. That meant the throbbing pain was inside her skull. Rolling onto her side she took a couple of deep breaths then braved opening her eyes. It was kinda dim in the room but still not dim enough. Squinting she looked around and after a second realised where she was.

"You never told me you snored."

Alex sighed. "Only when I'm drunk."

"Drunk doesn't even cover it." Ellie said as she passed Alex a litre bottle of water. "Drink that, it'll help."

"Thanks." She said as she took the bottle and dragged herself into a sitting position.

"So, have any memory of last night? Or just prefer that you didn't?" the red head asked.

Alex once again groaned as she squeezed her eyes closed in an attempt to fight off the imminent flashback to last night.

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Alex was heartbroken. The best part? She'd broken her own heart. That first day when she got home to find Jay in her apartment she'd held it together but then Chad woke up and her mom came home and it all kicked off like usual but this day she couldn't take it so she'd left with Jay. She stayed with him for a few days and he was the perfect friend, he got her wasted. Each night they went to the biggest party then could find and Alex drank and danced and played cards, whatever she could to keep her mind off of Paige.

Perfect in theory, however, in practice she just felt worse and worse everyday. Then came the day she found out Paige slept with Spinner. It was such a perfect start to her night.

From that point she drank more and more until she couldn't take it anymore. She wanted to go to Paige, to fall to her knees and beg for a do over but at the same time she wanted to scream at her, ask her how she could do that. Or preferably punch Spinner in his stupid face.

As soon as she thought the phrase 'stupid face' she knew she was too far gone to do anything but cause a disaster. However, staying at some mystery party with randoms and Jay didn't seem so satisfying either. Home was out of the question.

As she took off down the street she headed to the only friend she could remotely trust with this.

Finally she was at Ellie's door. It was late and she wasn't completely stupid so she took out her cell and called Ellie's.

"Hello?"

"Hey, come to your front door." Alex said trying hard to keep her voice level.

"Ok." Ellie said as she hung up and promptly ran to the front door. Opening it she came face to face with a dishevelled Alex.

"Are you ok?" she instantly asked with worry.

Alex was looking her straight in the eye. "Not so much." The slight slur told her Alex was drunk. "I'm alone and she slept with him." Looking at her heartbroken friend with sympathy she ushered her inside.

With her arms wrapped around herself she turned to Ellie. "I can go, if your mom's around or your busy."

"Dad's home, he took my Mom away for a few days, it's ok you're here, I'm glad you are."

Alex was squirming, Ellie knew she wasn't the biggest sharer so she took her through to the living room and sat beside her on the couch. "Talk to me."

Alex's eyes were firmly locked on the table in front of her. "It feels like I'm dying. I kept thinking it'd disappear but it just get's worse the longer I'm not with her."

"Have you spoke to her about all this?"

Alex looked at her like she was an idiot. "When would I do that? Before or after she fucked Spinner?"

Ellie cringed. She watched Alex's eyes well up. "It doesn't even hurt more that she did. I can't hurt anymore than I am. Every second… every second I wish things were different."

The red head scooted over to Alex and hugged her. She'd known Alex long enough to know she was truly hurting to a) be talking about it and b) crying about it so she tried to offer as much comfort as possible.

After a few silent minutes and stunted breathing Alex pulled back and wiped her eyes.

"Are they back together?" She asked quietly, afraid of what the answer could bring.

Ellie shock her head. "No. Marco basically told me it was no strings, just sex. She's not interested in getting back with him. She's not all that ok either."

The red head was silent for a moment while she debated with herself. She didn't want to push Alex too far but she needed someone to just tell her it straight.

"Alex, don't take this the wrong way but you broke up with her. Pretty suddenly. She's obviously hurting too and sleeping with Spinner was her choice but I seriously doubt it ever would have happened if you were still together."

Alex let out a distraught sigh.

"I know I have no right to… I just miss her so much. She quit work. She's gonna go to Banting and I'll never see her again." Alex put her head in her hands. "I just want it to stop." She sobbed out.

Ellie rubbed Alex's back as she sobbed into her hands. She was shocked as Alex threw herself into her lap and gripped onto her knees. The red head felt the lump in her throat growing. She wished she could say something, give some serious words of wisdom but she was no relationship expert so she just continued rubbing Alex's back as she cried.

o0Oo0Oo0Oo0O

"prefer I didn't." She answered before downing a quarter of the bottle of water.

Ellie cringed. "Guess I shouldn't have posted that blog about yesterday then?"

Alex's head shot up way too fast for the first few moments of a hangover. And she found no humour in seeing Ellie grinning at her.

"Your so easy." She stood up and headed to the door. "Take a shower, I'll make coffee and eggs. I put towels in the bathroom for you."

"Ellie?" When she turned around Alex ditched her sarcastic comment. "Thank you."

The red head smiled. "Shower, Stinky."

20 minutes later and Alex made her way downstairs, hair still damp but feeling and looking a lot better. Well, her hangover was better. The pain in her heart hadn't decreased, nor her embarrassment.

"Hey, perfect timing. Sit down."

Alex done as instructed and Ellie placed scrambled egg on toast in front of her. "Thanks, you didn't have to do this."

"Couldn't let you suffer a hangover all day."

"Thanks." Alex said again with her mouth full.

"So, what are your plans for today?"

Alex shrugged. "Should probably catch up with Jay, didn't tell him I was leaving last night."

Ellie nodded then tried to subtly segway into what she was really trying to ask. "Maybe you should call Paige?"

Alex looked up at her. "Why would I do that?"

Ellie raised an eyebrow. "You love her, you miss her? She deserves to know that."

"No. I'm not a part of her future and telling her any of that will just make it worse." Alex said with certainty.

"But -"

Alex interrupted. "Ellie, leave it."

So she did. This obviously wasn't going to go anywhere so she decided to leave it alone - for now.