Chapter 56
"ALEXANDER IGNATIUS REINHART! What are these?!?" yelled Jen, as she stormed into the room clutching a pile of papers.
"Shh… Jenny baby, you're going to wake her and we both know she's horrible when sick." reasoned Alex climbing out of the bed. "You got served? What on earth did you do?"
"OUT!" ordered Jen, uncharacteristically glaring and losing her composure.
"Alright, keep your shirt on. You know when you glare like that you increase your chances of getting wrinkles by 394%" grumbled Alex as he followed her outside into the living room. "Wait, did I get served? Because this pretty face won't last in prison."
"No, what is this 'Application to date a Gardiner' form?" growled Jen, thrusting the sheet of papers before his face "And how long have you and Rick been using these?"
"He actually filled it out! I don't believe it," exclaimed Alex, "Only in a day too, impressive. Give it here, I want to see what lover boy wrote."
"You did not answer my questions," replied Jen sternly, lifting the papers out of place.
"I had to make sure of his intentions out of my brotherly love and concern for you. Besides your father thought the forms were a brilliant idea." mused Alex.
"I bet daddy did" sighed Jen.
"Besides, would you want a guy who couldn't be bothered to fill out a few pieces of paper to prove his regard for you?" reasoned Alex, "And if he wrote credible answers, and passed Rick and mine's interpretation, hey I would have given you the forms."
"Few pieces of paper? There's at least 50 sheets here!" exclaimed Jen passing the papers over. "Well… that explains why I've never had a steady boyfriend before."
"What I can say? You have horrible taste, absolute flakes they were," muttered Alex, as he began pursuing the answers.
"Wait a minute, You IDIOT! It's your fault Elle and I have never had a proper relationship!" yelled Jen. "And here we thought there might have been something wrong with us!"
"Shh… Elle's sleeping and you really need to calm down. What did they teach you at psychiatry school? Because honey, right now I'm sensing a lot of negative evil energy and I'm starting to feel uncomfortable and nervous, breathe Jenny baby" replied Alex.
"Elle's sleeping, huh?" grinned Jen, "Is there nuptial bliss in the air?"
"You know, you're starting to remind me of your mother. It's kind of scary. Can you self-diagnose? Because you might suffer from a personality disorder," murmured Alex, "Angry one moment, weird the next. My nerves can't take it anymore."
"You didn't deny it, You love her" teased Jen, "So, how did you tell her? Was it with the classic chase, where you thought you would never see her again but you somehow managed to catch up to her? And she ran into your embrace and you said, 'I have always loved you'. And then she said…"
"How did you get these forms? I can't imagine lover boy being thick headed enough to give them to you, but if he did, I think that's already strike one." interrupted Alex.
"No, Charlie sent it by express post. And because you were sleeping, I thought I had better look inside to make sure it wasn't too urgent or if I could help you out," replied Jen, "Anyway, and then Elle said, "I love thee true" and then you ran away to Gretna Green and…"
"You went through my mail and invaded my privacy" exclaimed Alex aghast.
"It was for your own good, stop let me continue, then you both realised you couldn't get married without your family and friends, so you went and spent some time together in Paris and fell even more in love because you were in the city of romance and then with a greater, stronger bond you both came back here together with an improbably rapidity and…"
"What do you know, Charlie boy's only had two prior girlfriends," interrupted Alex, his cheeks filled with a rosy tinge. "And one ended because they realised that they didn't like each other in that way and the other because she moved to London. Interesting and not messy, hmm…"
"Don't think you can get me off track," tsked Jen, "Well, how did it happen? Don't keep me out of the loop. Wait… you guys did leave together after the party, and now I remember you were quite upset. Why was that? Unless, Elle wouldn't…"
"Oh dear, he's a baseball fanatic and a dogs person" exclaimed Alex dramatically, "What are we going to do? He had so much potential…"
"What? Let me have a look at those." shouted Jen snatching the papers.
"Boys, turns the nicest girls into monsters." muttered Alex, shaking his head in mock disappointment, as he watched Jen flip through the pages.
"But, I don't want to name my son Phillip," wailed Jen.
***
"Open up! Here comes the aeroplane," sang Alex in a cheery voice as he maneuvered the spoon in front of Elle's face. "It's your favourite, chicken soup!"
"Ugh," replied Elle as the spoon was forcefully shoved into her mouth. "Where's my coffee?"
"Little sick girls do not get coffee. No no no" smirked Alex, "Unless you want me to call your mother? I'm sure she'll agree with me, yes yes yes."
"How come you're not sick?" groaned Elle as her eyes began to water and the world began to spin.
"Because I wasn't the one sitting on a park bench in a tank top for hours" teased Alex, "I'm a lot smarter than that, but that is hardly your fault Evans. I'm just naturally brilliant."
"How do you know I was at the park?" enquired Elle slowly, "You didn't see…"
"What does he have that I don't?" asked Alex, putting the bowl of soup down. "I'm tall, remarkable handsome and employed. But most importantly, I love you."
"Apparently he does too," murmured Elle, all traces of jest gone.
"Then, what is he doing, going around with what's her name?" asked Alex angrily.
"Claire, I wish I knew," whispered Elle tearfully, "I don't understand it at all. How did I get mixed up in all of this?"
"Oh Elle," replied Alex tenderly, cupping her face and brushing her tears away, "You are so beautiful, I can hardly blame him for being enamoured with you."
"Alex," murmured Elle uncomfortably, turning her face away from his beguiling eyes.
"I know, I know, Evans." Responded Alex frustrated, "Is that how it's always going to be between us, always pushing me away? Will you ever love me the way I need you to?"
"I just don't know" replied Elle regretfully.
"That's not a definite NO" joked Alex, "Now stop distracted me with your adoring gaze and declarations of love, you are eating this soup I made."
Chapter 57
"This ain't right. It just ain't right" bewailed Rick, "No guy should have to play nurse. What cruel injustice, what a world, what a world."
"It warms my heart to know you came all this way to see me because you were worried about my welfare," wryly remarked Elle. "I don't deserve a friend like you."
"Oh, Evans!" cried Rick, "She's alive! Thank god, bless the stars! Have you done the paperwork?"
"Geez, give a girl a break," muttered Elle. "It's on my laptop, grim reaper"
"Ah, excellent!" declared Rick, as he moved towards the laptop.
"Yes, it is excellent," spoke Jen, standing in the doorway, her silhouette looming into the room. "What can you tell me about the 'Application to date a Gardiner' forms?"
"How do you know about them?" asked Rick confused and slightly worried.
"Charlie decided to send the paperwork over, all finished." offered Alex.
"And, you didn't call me?" asked Rick aghast, "Well that was quite quick, one day… I can't believe you didn't call me. So this is what betrayal feels like…"
"I was playing nurse." replied Alex sarcastically.
"I forgive you," declared Rick tearfully, "Just don't break my heart again. I don't think I could take it!"
"Ahem, the forms," interrupted Jen sternly.
"What forms?" asked Elle confused, "How come no one tells me anything?"
"Rick and Alex have been handing out forms to any guy who they've seen with us in a one metre radius. It is an application form to whether or not they can date one of us." explained Jen.
Elle begin to laugh before coughing quite heavily, alarming Alex.
"Should I go get the doctor? I thought it was just a cold, maybe I'm wrong" he exclaimed worriedly dashing towards and out the door.
"No," squeaked Elle, "Sorry, the forms were quite a surprise. Did anyone ever fill them out?"
"Charlie boy was the first," mused Rick, "I guess this was more serious than we thought. Elle you may lose a roommate."
"I've got Alex, it's all good," countered Elle, good naturedly.
"Who called for Super Alex?!?" announced Alex as he burst back into the room, knocking over a heavily blushing Jen.
"No one, but that reminds me, Elle and I have work to do. And client confidentiality is needed, so both of you out, so we can become lawyery." directed Rick, as Jen walked out whilst Alex remained stubbornly in his spot. "I don't care if you're a qualified lawyer, Reinhart. Get out!"
"Well that was just plain rude." huffed Alex. "You want anything Jen? I'm going to go to the shops."
"No, I think I'll be alright thanks. I think I'll just stay here in case Elle needs me." smiled Jen, walking towards her room.
***
The problem with supermarkets, fish markets, fruit markets or really any market, is that if you have no idea what it is you're looking for, you can end up being at the mercy of shop assistants or stuck there for a very long time. Though, sometimes this isn't always a bad thing, because you can witness interesting encounters; and that's what Alex was most fortunate to see, peering over the tops of blackening eggplants. Having spent time unsure of whether to make a vegetable soup or chicken soup once more, he ended up replacing and recollecting the required ingredients, puzzling the other customers.
About ten feet away was Claire and the dastardly Wickham, in what appeared to be an animate and somewhat intimate conversation. He was close enough to hear most of it.
"Well, have you managed to get it, yet?" asked Wickham.
"No, he doesn't trust me, yet. It's not like I can just go right out and ask him for it without raising his suspicions. His not an idiot." replied Claire, "But, I'm sure it's only a matter of time."
"Really, the court date is getting closer. And if you can't obtain it, it will be the end of the company and me," growled Wickham. "And you lose your inheritance, every single penny of it."
"Don't go all angry on me. It's only a matter of time before I get it. He's already enamoured with me, I'm sure." placated Claire.
"Time is not our friend," hissed Wickham. "And if he is so enthralled by you, why did I see him with that lawyer eating ice cream?"
"What lawyer?" asked Claire sharply, "You're mistaken, he cares for me if he does not love me. He would never do that because he thinks I love him with my whole heart. It was probably just a business date. Unlike you, some people actually work."
"Elle Gardiner, she is a pretty thing," rebuked Wickham, "I wouldn't mind getting to know her better, myself. Though she has turned me down every time, but she's cracking, I know it."
"Her, she has no true beauty or taste," exclaimed Claire jealously, "Besides she's got a love sick puppy trailing after her and she'd be a fool if she let him go, just for Darcy. A man in love with me."
"Now, now cousin… jealousy doesn't become you." remarked Wickham. "And you better resort back to your sugar sweet self, if the Darcys are to think you've cast me off as well. The fools."
"Hmm… I could cast you off cousin," mused Claire, "Stop ordering me around, I am not some lovesick schoolgirl. You forget, you need me more than I need you. You see, I can always marry Darcy and he has plenty of money, so why would I possibly need that fortune grandfather left behind for me?"
"Is that what you think?" hissed Wickham.
"Oh, I don't think, I know. Ta Ta dear," smirked Claire as she walked away.
"You are nothing but a pawn, little Claire. And if you ever think about double crossing me, I'll crush you," whispered Wickham, walking past Alex, who had begun to avidly pick eggplants and place them in his basket.
"And the plot thickens," chuckled Alex as he walked towards the confectionary aisle, pensive about the scene he had just witnessed.
Chapter 58
"You know what the problem with being friends with girls is?" asked Alex, as he placed a tray onto Elle's lap.
"Let me guess, they all fall in love with you; and then you have to make the difficult decision on which to date?" quipped Elle.
"Are you trying to tell me something?" grinned Alex, "Because sweetheart, my heart beats for you and you alone."
"What is it?" laughed Elle.
"They get all jealous, when you give a present to one of them that you have to get presents for them all. You see jealous females are just plain scary. You can see the smoke coming out of their ears, their hair gets all frazzled and their teeth begin to make that grinding noise. There's a reason why men are historically the providers," replied Alex philosophically.
"I promise to not get jealous" grinned Elle, "So what did you get Kirsten?"
"A pony!" trilled Alex. "What every little girl dreams and asks Santa for."
"I always wanted a merry-go-round, but I suppose they had horses on them." teased Elle.
"Spoil sport, but Alex still knows all" rebuked Alex, "I got her a pretty locket. For some reason, through much research and observation, jewelry is always the best gift to give a girl."
"Ah good choice, but I don't think Rick will approve of you, trying to steal his girlfriend away" remarked Elle. "What does it look like?"
"It's a surprise! And Rick need not worry because I don't think he'd think that, once he sees what you are going to see; you see I also got you a belated Christmas present." replied Alex.
"Huh?" asked Elle, "I'm sick, is it really fair to play mind games with an invalid?"
"Of course it is," teased Alex quickly, "Now, close your eyes, Evans."
"You didn't have to get me a present," murmured Elle.
"Close your eyes" Alex ordered, waiting for her eyelids to flutter close. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a tennis bracelet with crystals embedded from the box, opening its clasp. Tenderly lifting her arm, caressing her hand, he clasped it, watching the light reflect off her wrist.
"Fits perfectly," he smiled. "Do you like it?" as Elle's eyes had involuntarily opened to identify the cold thing resting on her wrist.
"It's beautiful" gasped Elle, "Alex, you didn't have to, you shouldn't have…"
"Shhh… just because you're having a difficult time accepting that I have amazing taste, doesn't mean you can ignore the food I spent slaving away in the kitchens to produce" teased Alex, ruffling her hair. "Now, do we need the aeroplane again? Because, if you don't eat it all up, there's no way I'm letting you go to the party tomorrow."
"Kiki would burst in here and drag me to the party anyway, so empty threat," Elle pointed out.
"Alas, but then you shall have a wailing housemate shadowing your every step" threatened Alex. "Why are you doing this to yourself? Why won't you eat? Why?"
"I won't have a housemate, I'll have a date" quipped Elle.
"You don't have to do that, it was just a bracelet," replied Alex uncomfortably, moving away from her. "I would never want you to feel obligated to…"
"No, Alex, I want to try…" she whispered softly, meeting his eyes.
"Does that mean I can call you Elle?" asked Alex.
"Sure, I guess…" replied Elle hesitantly.
"You know, I remember the first time I called you Evans, you absolutely hated it and got mad because I wouldn't call you Elle. Now I have to ask permission to call you Elle instead of Evans. Ironic, much?" spoke Alex thoughtfully.
"Yes, but that was before Evans became a term of endearment." remarked Elle.
"You think Evans is an endearment? How about the time your soccer coach, yelled, 'EVANS what were you thinking? That wasn't the play you were supposed to execute! You're lucky you've got a mean kick, otherwise I would have gotten rid of you long ago.'" mimicked Alex.
"Your endearment for me, then." amended Elle, challenging him to disagree.
"I'm offended." exclaimed Alex. "I can think of much better terms of endearments, NGC 2270"
"You're never going to let me forget that, are you Alexander the Great" rebuked Elle. "Remember, I've got a mean kick."
"No Evans has a mean kick, you miss are an imposter" joked Alex, "I can't believe you haven't been charged with fraud yet."
"Hey I tried to correct her on many occasions." defended Elle. "And it's not like you helped my cause. 'Coach, she's just messing with you.'"
"What can I say, it was funny" laughed Alex. "I remember the first time she called you Evans, boy did you look confused. Adorable. You were on the field running for the ball and she yelled 'Evans, defence, defence' whilst you were attempting to steal the ball."
"You remember all that?" asked Elle surprised.
"I remember most things relating to you. Not much else, but that's entirely your fault" grinned Alex.
"Oh, well I've got your embarrassing moments on tape." teased Elle.
"So do I, miss wannabe cheerleader" chuckled Alex.
"You're never going to forget any of it, are you?" sighed Elle exasperated.
"Nope, now eat up." chuckled Alex, picking up the spoon.