Disclaimer: Still not mine, bet that's a shock for you!
Authors Note: Sorry for the delay in updating, hope you like the new chapter.
EDGE OF LOVE
Chapter 6 - First Love
Alec lay on his bed asleep but his brow was furrowed in pain as his subconscious tortured his dreams with memories of the past. Memories that he would give anything to forget.
Flashback;
"Alec? What is he talking about?" The confused girl faced Alec while his friends looked on with mocking smiles.
Alec glared at the handsome man who was standing near his girlfriend. "Nothing Rachel, just ignore him, lets get out of here." He reached for her arm but his buddy intervened.
"C'mon man, a jokes a joke but don't you think your taking things a bit far now Alec?" Steve said with a faux concerned tone.
"What do you mean a joke? Alec?" Rachel's voice raised in her distress but the faith she put in his name only made Alec's gut twist further.
"Rachel-" Alec looked into her trusting eyes and found the words stuck in his throat. He hadn't mean to fall in love with the girl in front of him, hadn't meant for what had started as a harmless bit of healthy competition to get so far out of hand. She was so beautiful, long dark hair that spilled over her shoulders and bright lively eyes. How could he have helped falling for her when her sweet nature and natural intelligence had matched her physical beauty.
"You were a bet honey." Steve uttered the damning truth. "Alec bet he could make the ice queen of campus fall in love with him before the end of the semester." Steve grinned now at the shock on Rachel's face. "Damn if I didn't lose 20 bucks because of you sweet heart."
Present;
Alec whimpered as his mind replayed the look of devastation and betrayal that had filled Rachel's face when she had looked at him and seen the truth in Alec's bleak eyes.
Flashback;
"Rachel wait!" Alec ran after the grief stricken girl down the paving of the house where the party had been. He caught up with her by her Porsche as she fumbled with the lock.
"Rachel I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Alec pleaded, his hands trying to still her frantic attempts to get away from him.
"Let me go!" Tears blinded her as she struggled and Alec blinked back his own at the pain he had caused in his youth and stupidity.
:I'm sorry, it was a bet but I love you Rachel, I fell in love with you-" Alec was cut off as Rachel slapped his soundly across the face. Taking advantage of his stunned stillness she shoved him away and got in her car, screeching as she pulled out of the drive.
Alec watched her car race down the quiet street towards the corner. I can get her back, ill call her when she gets home. Tell her how much I love her, I'll make it up to-
Her high powered convertible took the corner too fast and too late.
"RACHEL!"
Present;
"RACHEL!" Alec screamed as he jerked upright in his bed, his sweat soaked hands clutching at the sheets he lay on. His breath came out in short terrified gasps as he relived the grief and shock of the night he lost the first girl he had ever loved.
The door to his bedroom opened. "Alec what the fuck-?" Max's voice trailed off as she took in the sight of her cheerful obnoxious room mate looking like his world had been destroyed.
Without thought Max crossed the room and gathered the half insensible Alec in her arms, tucking his head into the curve of her neck and cradling his body like a child. "Alec." She whispered his name, only worry and fear in her voice now and she tried to soothe the man who clung to her slight frame like she was the only thing keeping him alive.
Max felt his body shudder against hers and a dampness wet her neck as she realised he was silently sobbing in her arms.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He gasped against her skin. Max felt empathetic tears prick her eyes at the torture in Alec's voice.
"Shhh. Its okay, everything's alright now." She hushed him, wishing she knew what was causing his pain so she could make everything better.
"I didn't mean for it to go so far, but I fell in love with you." Alec whimpered. Max's eyebrows shot up in shock.
"God, I loved you so much Rachel." Alec tightened his hold on the dark haired woman in his arms. "I'm so sorry." Max stroked his head gently even as her forehead furrowed in confusion. Rachel, that's the ex he said it ended badly with. Max recalled. Looking down at his face, Max swallowed hard. God, what happened between them to leave him like this?
"Its alright Alec." She whispered helplessly, not understanding what he was talking about. Max sat beside him, holding Alec for an hour whispering assurances until he quietened.
Max was cramped between Alec's heavy body and the headboard of his bed and she longed to stretch her aching muscles. Thinking Alec was asleep again Max moved his head to rest once more on the pillow and attempted to slip from his grasp.
She was almost free but as her skin left all contact with Alec his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. "Don't leave me." His eyes for the first time looked directly at Max, hazel bright and alert.
Max hesitated, he had been calling her Rachel since she had come in here and she didn't think she was comfortable staying with an emotionally vulnerable Alec under false pretences. Unable to speak she simply shook her head.
Alec tightened his hold on her, his eyes pleaded with hers. "Please don't leave me as well Max." Max's eyes widened at his recognition of her and his plea for her not to leave him as well as Rachel broke her heart. She didn't know what had happened between them but whatever it was had left a lasting trauma on the young man that shared her home. If there was one thing Max knew it was how the past can haunt you and demons can torment you.
Nodding Max slipped between the sheets with Alec, stopping only to pull a comforter over them both. She was suddenly conscious of the fact all she wore was a very short shirt and her underwear whilst Alec was naked except for his boxers. Unconcerned Alec tugged Max closer and curled himself around her body, entangling limbs before sighing heavily and closing his eyes. Max relaxed, the tension leaving her body as she took their sleeping arrangements for what it was, comfort for someone in pain.
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Alec felt warm and safe. A small smile crossed his lips and he sleepily tightened his hold on the soft body in his arms, breathing in the scent of vanilla and cherry.
Vanilla? Cherry? Body? The thought jolted Alec fully awake and his eyes snapped open to see the sleeping face of Max lying on the pillow next to him. Memories from the night before flashed back to him and Alec silently groaned as he recalled begging his room mate to stay with him last night. Shit. He thought, hating the idea of showing weakness to anyone. Yet Max had helped him, held him and comforted him in a way that had given him peace for the first time since Rachel had died.
Being careful not to move too much and wake the sleeping girl, Alec studied Max from a new perspective. Who knew the bitchy Max had a soft side. Alec smiled softly as she wrinkled her nose up when a lose hair slipped tickling her face. Unable to help himself Alec gently brushed the hair aside, caressing her soft skin as he did so. Max responded to the touch by burrowing closer to Alec if that was possible. Alec bit his lip at her action as he realised they were both wearing very little and he struggled to control his body's automatic response to her closeness.
Unsure of how Max would react to waking with them in this kind of embrace Alec tried to subtly extract himself from her limbs. Max moaned in protest of her body pillow's attempts to move away and sleepily opened her large brown eyes.
Hazel eyes met her and Alec offered a small smile at seeing her waken. "Morning."
"Ahh!" Max yelped and threw herself backwards, forgetting that she was currently wound around Alec. With an undignified grunt of surprise Alec found himself pulled forward to land heavily on Max's small body. Damn Max is stronger than she looks. Alec reflected.
"What are you doing? Get off me!" Max pushed against Alec's chest, her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment and breathing heavily from Alec's weight.
Max looked so cute in her misplaced rage and indignity that Alec couldn't help tease her a little. Propping himself up on his elbows so he would stop crushing her he offered a charming grin. "Hey if I recall you were the one that pulled me on top of you." Alec pointed out.
Max glared at him, whatever softness she had developed disappearing in the morning light. "Yeah well you- I - you-" She stuttered, searching for someway to blame this on Alec. "Just get off you jerk." Max gave up and resorted to her usual defence of name calling.
Alec's eyes twinkled. "Get off? Well if you insist Max but I don't know what this will do to our friendship." He teased layering on the innuendo. If possible Max's cheeks burned even more red.
"You asshole!" Max bit out as she tried to manoeuvre her knee into a place that was only meant to be treated nicely.
Alec shifted his lower body to counter Max's move. "Oh no, you don't. Have you forgotten the house rules Maxie?" He asked jokingly.
"Well there is a new house rule now about waking me up in the middle of the night!" Max retorted. Alec froze momentarily and his face shuttered at the reminder of his nightmare.
Max paused in her struggling as she realised Alec's reaction. She hadn't meant to be mean by throwing that in his face. He just seemed like his normal self now and she wasn't used to holding back with her fighting with Alec. Seeing the remembered pain flit across his mask Max regretted her words.
"I'm sorry Alec." She whispered softly.
Alec looked down at Max who lying still beneath him and his breath caught. This was a Max he didn't see very often. A Max who had dropped all her bull shit and aggression and who actually seemed to care about him.
Alec managed a small smile for Max which she hesitatingly returned as he raised himself off her body. "Not a problem." He searched for words as Max slowly stood. "I'm sorry about being such a pain last night Max." He offered, not looking at her.
Max hesitated. "You weren't a pain Alec." Max looked at Alec's bowed head. "I'm here you know, if you need to talk or whatever." She offered.
Looking up Alec smiled genuinely at Max. "I know." Max smiled back at him and started towards the door.
"Max?" Alec called after and she paused. "Thank you." It was softly said but heartfelt and Max could only smile and nod as she left the room to get ready for her classes.
TBC.
A/N: Lots of angst I know but more light hearted next chapter I hope. Please review!