4
"You've reached Alex. Either I can't answer my phone or I don't want to talk to you. So leave me a message and I'll get back to you if I feel like it." (Voicemail beep)
"Hey, it's me again. I don't know why you're not returning my calls, but I hope you're okay. I need to tell you something. So when you can, please call me back." Before she hung up, she added gloomily, "Merry Christmas Lexi." She then put the phone in her back pocket.
"Still no answer huh?" Zora asked.
"No. She hasn't returned my calls in almost a month. The last time she called was on my birthday." Sonny's voice was sad.
"Well, you'll be in New York tomorrow." A young man with tan skin, dark shaggy hair, and pearly white teeth said from the couch. "You can just go see her then," he suggested.
"Thanks Nick. But I don't know if I can."
"Why not?" Tawni asked leaning on her boyfriend, Nick.
Sonny sighed staring out the window of Tawni's loft. "What if she's moved on? What if she's found someone new?" She looked around the room at her 'So Random' cast members and friends plus Chad and Tawni's boyfriend who was also Sonny's bassist.
"You love her don't you?" Zora asked with that hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Of course I do."
"So try anyway." Nico threw in his two cents. "And play her one of those songs you wrote for her."
"That's so romantic." Grady gust with a dreamy look on his face causing Sonny to hide her grin.
"It's perfect!" Zora said exclaimed.
"Oh whatever! You just miss her helping you pull pranks on everyone." Tawni looked at Zora disapprovingly.
"Can we just open the rest of the presents so Sonny can get ready for the concert already?" Chad interrupted.
**********
"Seriously Alex! We're not going to have enough time to do everything. LET'S GO!" Stevie demanded. She was waiting at the bottom o the spiral stair case tapping her knee high heels on the last step.
"Keep your shirt on!" She heard her yell and she laughed. "This kind of cute takes time." Her voice was a little louder and Stevie turned around to see Alex standing looking EXTREMELY hot in the same outfit she was wearing.
"Are you kidding me? The same thing?" she complained as Stevie chuckled.
"Just make my pants and shirt a different color." She replied. Alex pulled her wand out of her boot.
"All though these clothes look great on my lover, let's see them in a different color."
Stevie's pants and shirt instantly turned from white to black. She looked down at herself and nodded in approval. "Nice." She looked at Alex who was staring with a smile.
"You look REALLY hot." She told Stevie who smiled and kissed her.
"Before we go, I have one more present for you." Alex's smile was sweet and she lead her out on the Terrace where the Russo family and Harper, plus Warren and Max's girlfriend Aly who was also a wizard all sat drinking hot cocoa and laughing after their Christmas feast.
"Hey. You guys leaving already?" Warren turned his attention toward them.
"Yeah, but there's just one more thing I have to give Stevie." Alex said as she reached behind the swing where Warren and her parents were sitting. She walked up to Stevie with somewhat Flat Square wrapped with Christmas paper. Stevie opened it and her breathe caught in her throat as she stared at it. Everyone was quiet for a moment. Then she looked at Alex with teary eyes.
"Alex…it's beautiful."
Alex had panted portrait of Stevie's mother. Stevie handed the painting to Warren and planted a sweet kiss on Alex's lips as she hugged her. Tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Thank you so much," she whispered. "It's perfect."
"You're welcome." Alex replied and pleasant warmth radiated through her body, starting from where their cheeks touched. Alex smiled to herself and squeezed Stevie before she heard a quiet sniffle come from Warren. She let go of her girlfriend and leaned down to kiss Warren on the cheek. He looked up and smiled.
"You're a very talented person Alex. It's beautiful." He said before he got up holding the painting. He kissed his sister on the head. "You guys have fun." He said as he went inside.
"Is he going to be okay?" Alyson asked. Stevie sighed and looked at her.
"Yeah, he just…he misses her too." She said.
"I didn't mean to-"Alex began.
"No Alex. That's the most thoughtful present anyone's ever given me." Stevie interrupted and Alex smiled.
"You girls be careful. Los Angeles is a crazy city." Jerry told them
"I've only been a million times." Alex said.
"I know. But I'm still your dad, you still live in my house, and I'm still saying…BE CAREFUL."
"We will Mr. Russo." Stevie said hugging him.
Outside the substation, a carriage lead by Clydesdale horses awaited them. They rode around Central Park for a while. New York really was beautiful around Christmas. As a light snow fell, they were wrapped in a blanket cuddled together. Once the ride was over, there were dropped off where they had their first kiss and Alex flashed them to the Santa Monica Pier where the concert was taking place. It was crowded but they managed to get at least 10 feet from the stage. With the wind blowing off the Pacific, Alex shivered and Stevie reached for her hand. Alex smiled intertwining their fingers and the warmth made the shivers instantly disappear.
"Thanks. I forgot how chilly it can be here." Alex said before she pecked Stevie on the lips.
"I wonder who's opening for them." Stevie said.
**********
"Sonny, you ready?" Nick asked putting his hair in a ponytail to keep it out of his light brown eyes that turned black when he was mad. He said his black eyes came from his dead father but his mother's Italian blood made them light.
"Yeah," she said with a shaky voice. Her stomach was going crazy.
"Don't be nervous," Chad said from beside her. "You're fans are right there in front. And everyone else is going to love you."
"This is a bigger crowd than I'm use to." She replied.
"Suck it up Princess!"
"Yeah, thanks for the pep talk Zora." She said.
Nick and the rest of the band went out on stage and the crowd began to cheer. She snuck a peek at the crowd as Tawni introduced her. Seeing some regular So Random audience members settled her nerves a little.
"Please welcome former So Random cast member, and my best friend, Sonny Monroe!"
The music started.
She took a deep breath and walked out on stage.
**********
"Did she just say Sonny Monroe?"
"…Yeah." Alex answered flatly.
Stevie looked at her then the beautiful brunette on stage grabbing the mic and dancing.
"Alex, relax." She said. Alex looked at her and smiled.
"I'm fine."
"Nothing's going to ruin tonight okay?" she squeezed Alex's hand.
"Okay." She kissed her again and they both started dancing to the music.
**********
Sonny brought the mic to her mouth and the words flowed:
"I can make the rain stop if I wanna, just by my attitude. /I can take my laptop, record a snapshot, and change a point-of-view./I just entered this brand new world, And I'm so open hearted./I know I got a long way to go but I'm just getting started."
The crowd began singing with her and her nerves disappeared completely.
"I'm over my head and I know it, I know it. /I'm doing my best not to show it, to show it./Whatever it takes to be, what I was meant to be, I'm gonna try./Cause I'm living the dream And I know it, I know it./I'm trying my best not to blow it, to blow it./And I know everything will be fine/With me, myself, and time."
**********
Alex was glad Sonny hadn't noticed her as she made her way across the stage touching outstretched hands o her fans who sang along to the song. She looked at Stevie who seemed to be enjoying the music almost as much as everyone else. She still didn't want sonny to see her but she relaxed and sang along. She knew the words better than anyone else.
"And baby, there's nothing like this moment./To just be real and let the truth be spoken./ Whatever's broke I can make it unbroken./Turn the light in my head into something golden./If I just try, more love. If I just try, more love. /then I'll find, myself, in time.""Alright everybody. Put your hands together." Sonny breathed into the mic putting it back on its stand. She clapped her hands together above her head. "Sing with me!"
**********
When the song was over everyone cheered. Stevie looked at Alex and smiled. "She's pretty good." She said and Alex nodded. We should get closer." They got just one person from the stage off to the side and Stevie put her arm around Alex's waist.
"So this next song, I wrote recently. For the only person I've ever loved." She began playing her guitar. And Alex's heart raced. She knew it was for her.
"You've got a face for a smile you know. A shame you waste it when you're breaking me slowly. But I've got a world of chances for you…" **********
Just as she finished the 2nd verse she noticed a familiar face and her stomach clenched. 'ALEX!' her brain screamed. She kept her voice under control and looked at the rest of the crowd.
"Oh, I'm going my own way. My faith has lost its strength again."
Alex's eyes began to burn and she blinked away the oncoming tears. She placed her hand on the one Stevie had on her hip. The warmth made the discomfort fade a bit and Stevie squeezed her. 'She's getting really good at that.' Alex thought to herself. But she still was saddened at the lyrics Sonny sang. Then she and Sonny made eye contact. Her heart sank at the sight of tears streaming down the cheeks of her 1st TRUE love. And Sonny continued singing, her eyes still locked with Alex's.
"Maybe you'll call me someday. Hear the operator say the numbers no good and that she had a world of chances for you, She had a world of chances for you, She had a world of chances. Chances you were burning through," tears continued rolling down her cheeks as she played and sang. Her eyes never leaving Alex.
"You've got a face for a smile you know." She ended the song and the cheers were plenty. She wiped her face laughing into the mic. Putting down her acoustic, she spoke," How 'bout one more before Tegan and Sara?" she asked the audience who voiced their approval. 'La La Land' was one of Alex's favorite songs that Sonny sang. Sonny danced and sang all over the stage working the crowd. When the song ended she told everyone goodnight.
"Merry Christmas everyone!" then she winked at Alex which Stevie noticed but decided to ignore.
Tegan and Sara were amazing, as always. During their set, Zora motioned Alex to the side far side of the stage.
"Zora!" Alex got excited.
"Hey partner."
"Ste-"Alex began to say Stevie but redeemed herself."Stephanie this is Zora. My partner in crime."
Zora invited them back stage to hang out and for coffee after the show.
"I don't know Zora. We're kind of on a date."
"Oh. Um, okay." Zora looked a little uncomfortable. "Okay, so I guess I'll see you in a few weeks."
"What do you mean?" Alex looked puzzle and Stevie stood quietly.
"While Sonny's in New York, I'm going to visit her."
Alex's heart nearly stopped as she squeezed Stevie's hand. "Sonny's coming to New York?"
"Yeah. I thought you knew. She's only been calling you like crazy."
Stevie glanced at Alex. 'Oh shit' Alex thought to herself. She'd been ignoring Sonny's calls since Stevie came back. But Stevie didn't know.
"Anyway, see ya soon pal." Zora said before walking back stage.
"Stevie, I can explain-"She began.
"Don't bother. And why the hell did you tell her my name was Stephanie?" She asked looking and sounding a little hurt.
"Because, if she'd have told Sonny," Alex began but stopped. "Sonny knows what you look like. And she knows what happened to you. So as far as she knows….you're still dead."
Stevie stared at her. She was frustrated because she was hurt that Alex hadn't told her. "I thought you said you'd never hide anything from me."
"Stevie-"
"I'm going to get something to drink. You want anything?"
"I'll go with you," she started.
"No." Stevie stopped her and Alex looked hurt. Stevie smiled. "This is one of your favorite bands. And YOUR present. Stay. I'll be right back." She kissed Alex and walked away through the crowd. Alex noticed that for the first time Stevie's touch wasn't warm and pleasant. Guilt filled her stomach.
"I try to do something right and screw up again." Alex said to herself while everyone listened to Tegan and Sara banter.
"Don't be so hard on yourself." A voice that always made her heart flutter came from behind her. Alex turned to saw Sonny's face splitting smile.
"S-Sonny…hi." Alex tried to keep her voice under control.
"Hey stranger." Sonny said as she hugged her. Alex stiffened. But the feel of those arms around her and the smell of her hair made Alex relax into the hug comfortably. Tegan and Sara began playing 'Call It Off'.
"I won't regret saying this, this thing that I'm saying. Is it better than keeping my mouth shut, That goes without saying."
"I missed you." Sonny said sweetly. Even with the music Alex could hear her perfectly.
"I…I missed you too." She whispered.
"Maybe you would've been something I'd be good at. But now we'll never know."
Alex released sonny and stepped back.
"Congrats on opening up for them." She nodded toward the stage. "I wasn't expecting that."
Sonny looked a little confused.
"Wait….so," she thought for a moment looking at the stage then Alex. "Then what are you doing here?"
"The tickets were a Christmas present from my girl-"she stopped. "From someone. Jeez you know how much I love them." With a hint of annoyance in her voice as she recovered herself. But the look on Sonny's face made her look away. 'I didn't mean to snap at her and she probably heard me almost say girlfriend.' She said mentally. 'What am I doing?'
"Why haven't you called me back?" her eyes were sad and questioning.
"I've…A lot's been going on with me. It's a really long story."
"Well, I'm going to New York tomorrow. Maybe you and I-"
"ALEX!"
Alex turned toward the person yelling her name.
"Juliet?" Alex thought out loud. Something was wrong if she was letting herself be seen. She even looked 17 again.
"Alex," Juliet grabbed her arm. "It's Stevie."
"What? What's wrong?" Alex's voice was alert and worried.
"We have to go. Now!" Juliet yanked her away.
"Alex wait" Sonny began. 'Did she just say Stevie?' Sonny thought.
"Sorry. Merry Christmas Allison!" Alex called behind her as she pushed her way through the crowd right behind Juliet. Sonny sighed.
"Merry Christmas Alexandria." She said to herself and walked back stage.