Your turn to play

Her argument with Taylor, Lucas and Damon, then her dad, now her meeting with Skye, was causing the day to turn from bad to worse for Alexandra. She wanted to follow Dr Shannon's advice, yet she was too upset to keep calm. She was pacing angrily near the fence when she saw Damon entering Boylan's bar, it was too much of a temptation. She followed him.

Lucas was at Boylan's too. He needed a drink to ease the pain that had invaded him since Alexandra had broken up with him. Now he also had to deal with her parents and the consequences that their presence was causing on his love for her. He was sipping his third whisky when the girl he had kissed earlier came to him.

"Hard day?" She asked. He turned his head to see her. He had seen this girl before, maybe at the infirmary. He didn't remember her name though. Of course, he never cared to remember the other's names.

"You don't want to know," he replied coldly.

"I'm Kristen," she started to say.

"I'm not interested," he cut. He turned his head and noticed Alexandra entering the bar. She seemed to be looking for someone. She spotted Damon in the corner and walked to him. She didn't see Lucas. He clenched his jaw, furious to see her going to talk to Damon. Kristen glanced to Alexandra with disdain.

"I really don't understand why people think she's so special," she spat. "Honey, I'm sure I can make you forget about the French girl," she said in a seductive tone, her hand caressing his arm. Lucas glared at her, his eyes reflecting fury mixed with madness. He grabbed her hand roughly and leaned to her slowly.

"Don't you dare talk about her. You don't know her. She's much better and smarter than you could ever dream to be," he whispered dangerously in her ear. His tone made her shiver, she looked at him, frightened. He let go of her and she left him, shocked. She thought he was totally crazy and that she should have listened to her friends who had told her Lucas Taylor was too wild for a sane girl. Only an insane masochist girl like Alexandra could be with him.

Alexandra sat next to Damon.

"What's up?" She asked innocently.

"What do you mean?" He replied as much innocently.

"I don't know. What are our next missions?"

"I thought Taylor said you were off for the week?"

"Yes, he did. But… What are you going to do during my absence?"

"Just patrols I guess." She looked intensely at him without saying a word. It made him uncomfortable. "What?"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you lying to me?"

"I'm not lying to you."

"Then tell me about earlier. What's going on?"

"Alex, I can't tell you. It's secret."

"What can be so important that you have to work with both Taylors?"

"I am not allowed to tell you. Don't ask me please. You know I won't tell you."

"Is it related to my parents?" Damon didn't answer. He knew there was no good answer for her question. If he said no, she would know he was lying. He couldn't say yes. He was sure she already knew the truth. She sighed loudly, annoyed. "You're not going to say anything, are you?"

"No."

"Ok," she said before standing, ready to leave.

"Hey Alex," he stood, grabbing her arm to stop her. "What are you going to do?"

"Can't tell you, it's a secret," she answered with ironically. 'How funny, Lucas might have eventually taught me how to be sarcastic' she thought. Suddenly, an idea popped up in her mind and she wanted to try it.

"You said you love me, right?" She said, her tone very suggestive.

"Alex..." He sighed, knowing perfectly where she was going.

"Do you?"

"Yesssss," he sighed again, shutting his eyes in frustration.

"I guess when you love someone you don't keep secrets from her."

"Don't do that."

"Do what?" She asked innocently, stepping closer to him.

"Use my feelings for you against me."

"I'm just trying to figure out how much you love me."

"Enough to not tell you. Look, you know I'm not allowed to tell you, why are you trying to get me in trouble?"

"I won't tell Taylor you told me."

"I have orders Alex."

"So you would not break the rules for me, is that what you're saying?"

"Stop interpreting my words."

"Lucas would have done it." Damon frowned at her comment.

"Lucas would have done anything to piss off the commander. Yet, I can't see him with you. So maybe your theory is wrong? Maybe you believe in him too much." She gave him an angry look and turned to leave when he stopped her. "Alex, promise me you won't do anything reckless," he begged, his eyes pleading with her. She bit her lip, thinking. She looked away, lost in her thoughts and realized Lucas was there, staring at her. He had three empty glasses in front of him. Alexandra knew nothing good would come out of it. Yet, she didn't think twice and put her palms on Damon's chest, pulling his shirt and kissing him. Damon stiffened in surprise, yet his arms wrapped her immediately, kissing her back. Alexandra's hands ran up and ended around his neck, pulling him closer, deepening their kiss. She broke their embrace, looking intensely at him, breathless. His questioning gaze was a mix of surprise and happiness. Alexandra should have regretted what she had done, because she didn't want Damon to think she was his, yet she was clearly enjoying paying Lucas back for what he had done in the morning. And after all, Damon was also keeping important info from her. She could be a little bit nasty to him for once.

"I'll see…," she replied, before going out, not even looking at Lucas.

Damon sighed, shaking his head. He was definitely worried now. He knew Alexandra, she was not going to stay useless, waiting. He turned to go back to his seat and noticed Lucas. They glared at each other for a minute. Damon was not stupid enough to think that Alexandra had kissed him because she wanted to be with him. Clearly she wanted Lucas to be jealous and it was working. Damon decided nothing good was going to occur if he continued to challenge him by holding his glare and went back to his table. He could have blamed Alexandra for her attitude but actually, he was too happy that he kissed her. The taste of her tongue was still lingering into his mouth and he liked it.

Lucas had to play the badass and stay away from Alexandra and was irritated to see that Damon was not doing the same. This guy was going to steal his girlfriend from right under his eyes and he would not react? No way. Yet, he had to be careful, he knew how much was in the game, he could lose a lot more. There will come the time he would make him pay for that, until then, he would keep a low profile. At least he would try to.

Skye arrived at Boylan's few minutes after Alexandra had left, eyes red from crying. She saw Lucas at the bar and came to him. He turned to face her and saw she had been crying.

"What's with you now?" He asked her with annoyance. He made it clear he didn't care. Skye felt hurt, yet she needed someone to talk to and he was the only one who could understand her.

"Josh dumped me," she said, tears threatening to come back. "Alex told him about what happened."

"And?"

"And? Are you kidding me?"

"You should feel relieved it's over. This guy is an ass."

"What?" She asked, grimacing in disbelief.

"You should thank her. She did you a great favor."

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Look, I don't like the Shannon boy. What were you expecting me to say?"

"I don't know. Maybe what a friend would say? What a brother would say!"

"Well, as a brother, I'll tell you that you lost nothing and that you're better without him."

"What's wrong with you?" She frowned. Lucas exhaled loudly before speaking again.

"Bucket?" He sighed.

"What?"

"I'm not in the mood. Leave."

"What?" She was stunned.

"I said leave. Now. Go away. Find somebody else to talk to. Maybe someone who cares." He said, gesturing her to go away with his hand.

"Back to the old Lucas, are we? Good, fuck you," she hissed, before leaving him, very upset.

Lucas had stopped drinking after Alexandra left. After this discussion with Skye, he ordered a last glass of whisky and drank it straight. It was only 4 in the afternoon, a little bit too early to be drunk. He walked outside in the direction of the lab. Work would be the only way for him to think about something else other than his problems. On his way, he heard murmurs and some people were pointing to something up in the air. He stopped to see what it was, suddenly curious, as if his instincts were telling him to have a look in that direction, just in case. He was right. In front of him, sitting on the highest bar of the fence was Alexandra, her back turned to them. More and more people started to stop and stare at her. Lucas didn't want them to call his father, Damon or worst, her parents. He walked to the fence and climbed it. He noticed Alexandra's body tense when he sat next to her. He was so close, he could feel anger emanate from her body, electricity running between them.

"Leave me alone," Alexandra said coldly when he sat next to her.

"People are staring at you," he stated.

"I don't care."

"Doesn't sound like you."

"People haven't been sounding like themselves recently," she glared at him, before returning her gaze on the jungle. Of course, he knew who 'them' was. He couldn't suppress a chuckle at the situation. He had told himself he would stay away from her, keep a low profile, and here he was, up on the fence, in the sight of everyone, next to the girl he was supposed to avoid. She glanced at him quickly, just in time to see a smile spreading on his face, his intense green eyes staring away. It made him sexier than ever. This was exactly how Alexandra loved him: smiling, his eyes full of mischief, ready to have fun. She pursed her lips, she didn't want to smile. She was sure he knew the effect he had on her. She would not give him this pleasure. Yet, she wanted to be closer to him, she felt cold being next to him but not close enough to touch him. His hand was next to hers on the bar, she could feel tension growing between them. Suddenly she realized he was staring at her. Her quick glance had ended in her, staring at his lips. "What?" She asked, trying to sound annoyed.

"Nothing," he smirked.

"Better be nothing," she warned him, trying to focus her gaze on the jungle again. She had to fight with herself not to smile. How ridiculous was this?

"So… Damon huh?" He sneered with disdain.

"So Kristen?" She mimicked him, grimacing in disgust.

"Who's that?" He asked innocently. She frowned at him. "Oh that's her name?" He jeered, a mocking smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He didn't give a shit about that girl and he would probably forget her name in a second. His smile broadened when he noticed her chuckling lightly. She was so pretty when she was happy. It had not happened a lot lately and he knew he was the main reason why. "How did we get here?" He suddenly asked seriously.

"We climbed, don't you remember?" She said ironically.

"So you are sarcastic now?" He asked, arching his eyebrows.

"I had a good teacher," she smirked.

"Someone I know?" He teased.

"A selfish dickhead I used to know," she stated. Yet, her tone was not rude at all.

"I'd like to meet the guy one day. It would be worth it." He said, his eyes twinkling with laughter.

"At least something good came out of it," she ribbed, shaking her head as a chuckle escaped. Lucas turned his face, posing his magnificent green eyes on her, mischief on his face.

"I'm glad I helped you in something," he mocked. She shut her eyes, smiling lightly, then reopened them and looked at him seriously, observing him, searching for the Lucas she knew, the one that made her laugh, the one she loved. He didn't move, allowing her to watch him. She didn't know how he was doing that to her. He knew how to make her experiment feelings very different to each other, even completely opposite feelings. She hated him yet having him next to her, close to her, was making her shiver from head to toe. He watched her too and they stayed for a moment like that in silence, enjoying the other one's company. Lucas knew he should not be there, but he couldn't help it, he wanted to be there. He was enjoying it more than he should. Having her next to him, just the two of them, not fighting, he had to take the most of it, he knew it would not last.

"Alex!" A male voice yelled from behind them. They both tensed and they both noticed the other's tension at the sound of this voice. Alexandra didn't turn her head, she knew it was her father's voice and she really didn't want to see him right now. It brought her back to reality and reminded her why she was there. Lucas saw her face become sad and cold again, clenching her jaw in irritation. She was distant again. Alexandra saw that Lucas' face had darkened when he had heard Charles' voice.

"Alex, for god sake, get down!" Her father shouted behind her. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath to calm down. She didn't know what was going on between Lucas and her father, nor between Lucas, Damon and Taylor. But she was sure something bad was going to happen. For some strange inexplicable reasons, she could feel it.

"Nom de Dieu, Alex redescend immédiatement,*" her father said firmly in French. She glanced quickly at Lucas one last time and saw that he was staring back at the jungle. He didn't even look at her. His eyes had lost their brightness and were back to angry and cold ones. 'Fine. You want to play it that way, let's play.' she thought. She climbed down and walked to her father. "What were you doing up there?"

"Thinking. I wonder why you're all so worried about it," she said with annoyance.

"Alex, it was dangerous," her mother said before wrapping her in her arms.

"Mum, it's alright, I'm ok," Alexandra reassured her. She felt guilty, only for her mother who had been worried. Otherwise, she was still upset with all the men in her life: her father, Taylor, Damon and Lucas. Above all Lucas. Maybe she shouldn't, but she was, and she was not ready to give it away.

"You really haven't changed," her father said shaking his head. "Always looking for danger."

"Well I'm glad you at least remember something about me," she replied harshly. They both glared at each other.

"Alex, you said you were an adult. Your words. Now grow up!"

"I am what I am! Don't you fucking understand that I am what I am?" She yelled.

"Don't make a scene again," she heard her mother whisper. Everybody was staring at them. "Alex we were just worried, that's all. Your father didn't mean to hurt you."

"Of course he did," she mumbled to herself, leaving them, heading at the opposite direction. She needed to walk, she needed to escape them, she needed to fly away from them. A deep, bad, dark and strong feeling was growing up inside her, burning her, threatening to explode. A bomb was ticking inside her, ready to blow up. She would not keep it any longer, it had to go. She had to free herself.

Lucas observed the whole scene from his hidden spot. He had thought Alexandra was his weakness, now he could see she was Charles' weakness too. He couldn't control his daughter and that was obviously infuriating him. Charles was a calm and smart person, he was always controlling every move he would do, every word he would say, but there, he had shown that he could lose his temper too and it was complicating everything. Nobody knew how Alexandra was going to react and it would impact on her parent's reactions. On the same note, her parents' decisions would impact on Alexandra's reactions. It was not good, not good at all. Lucas had to see and talk to his father. Their plan had a flaw and they had to fix it before it went wrong.

Feel the music, feel the story

Alex's part

"You're living in a lie, don't you hide. This is bio-mecanica deep inside. What you have ? You know what I also got ! Simple bot : think a lot before you act and you talk. Simple man, you say that you do what you can. I don't know what you can but I am what I am. Don't you fucking understand... I am what I am.[..] No offense, but if you want it to make sense, you've got to be smarter! Try me if you wanna. It's so easy : try me ! If you wanna kill me if you don't like me no more, just kill me. I'm so easy." Shaka Ponk - How we kill stars

Ok so Alex is bloody annoyed by 'her' men's attitudes. Clearly she's lost and it upset her a lot. Why is it that the men she loves the most are acting like total jerks? I think she's going to lose her temper soon, don't you think? She's boiling inside and it might explode very soon!

I guess their plan is not as good as it supposed to be. They probably underestimate Alexandra's reaction to being kept away on purpose. Are they going to be strong enough to handle it until the end? What do you reckon, huh? Can Lucas stay away from Alex? Can Damon keep this secret from her? Doesn't smell good, does it?

*Nom de Dieu, Alex redescend immédiatement = For God Sake, Alex get down immediately