I skip dinner that evening so as to avoid my grandpa. After a tantrum where I bit down on a pillow and screamed my voice hoarse, I randomly select one of my mother's books from the shelf and curl up on the window seat. I am desperate for a way to take my mind off of my terrible life. Unfortunately, reading does nothing to help, as the book is about an orphan child who finds his family after years of searching. So very helpful.
The sun is beginning its decent in the western sky, bathing everything in a gentle gold. In the courtyard of the American embassy I wander aimlessly. Near the wall bordering Russia a voice startles me. "Are you going to leave me with no company?" Alexi is straddling the wall grinning down at me. I could walk away right now and pretend he is not there. That would make it so much easier to continue brooding. But his smile cracks through the defenses I built. Taking a running jump I fling myself up the wall as high as possible. He catches hold of my arm and helps haul me up. "Never one to take the easy way, are you?"
I smile halfheartedly. Alexi catches my distress and pulls me into his chest. To his credit, he doesn't say anything, just holds me as I tremble. "Oh, everything is terrible! My grandfather could honestly care less about me. I wish it would all end, Alexi." But I know that it began too long ago for everything to be straightened out.
Alexi smooths my hair methodically. "I want to show you something." His accent becomes thicker with emotion, I notice. He stands, teeters a moment, gaining his balance. Then I follow as he walks atop the wall. The last time I fell off this wall resulted in bones breaking-I take a bit of care so as to avoid that painful experience repeating itself. We come to a stop and sit facing the ocean. The sun is reflecting off it and bathing Alexi in a soft glow. He catches me staring and smirks.
"Do you like what you see?"
"How could I not?" The words slip out without my full consent. He just waggles his eyebrows. An unfamiliar feeling inside of me bubbles up. It frightens me because I cannot quite determine what it is. But I feel it every time Alexi looks me in the eye or smiles or touches me. And because I have never been one for running from fear, I do something to distract myself- even though I promised Noah I would not jump off of cliffs anymore. But this isn't really a cliff. So I place my shoes and socks on the wall beside me. Alexi gives me a questioning look as I stand. Then I leap.
Alexi cries out in alarm. I gracefully perform a swan dive into the water below just to show off. For a brief moment as my body continues to sink and bubbles rise around me I feel completely and utterly safe . Then that fleeting moment vanishes just as soon as I can recognize the comforting feeling. My head just breaks the surface when Alexi cannonballs beside me, spraying saltwater into my eyes and mouth. While I am momentarily stunned he grabs me about the waist and drags me through the water kicking and wriggling.
"Let me go, Alexi!" My pointless struggling slowly diminishes until I am limply being pulled along. He swims in the direction of the small stretch of beach at the base of the wall. In the shallows where the taller of us can touch the bottom we come to a stop. Alexi grabs both my legs and wraps them around his waist to where I am no longer treading water.
I cup his cheeks and rest my forehead against his.
"I think...I think I love you, Alexi." He smiles.
"I told you you would."
Hello! Sorry for the long gap of time it took to finish this last update. I hope everyone enjoyed this little story of Grace and Alexi-I had fun writing it. Do you think I should continue or leave the story as is? If you vote to continue, any ideas?
I am excited for the next book in the series to come out; if only it was sooner. Anyways, please review. Thanks!
