Chapter 13: Second Impressions

Alec bitterly regretted not asking for Jess's phone number. Unfortunately, Dave's car had refused to start, most likely sick with the sniffles following this mornings downpour. Logan had offered to give him a lift but Alec had declined. When he first set out, the sky had been grey but the clouds seemed fluffy and showed no signs of their intention to rain. By Alec's estimation, it would take half an hour to reach Jess' place and so if it was going to rain then he would most likely be indoors by the time it did. However, ten minutes into the journey and the clouds decided to drop their payload with a rumbling laugh.

The rain fell straight and in a matter of minutes the streets were soaked, coated in puddles and streams of water. Spray flicked up under the tyres of passing cars and in every direction, people fled in a desperate attempt to escape a soaking. The air was fresher though, the rain cleansing it of the daily pollution of the city.

Alec had soldiered on for a further twenty five minutes or so and now stood dripping in front of Jess's apartment. The hall had four other doors and Jess's was the furthest from the lift. Alec had left a water trail to his current position and a small puddle grew rapidly beneath him as drops fell from his leather jacket and drenched hair, now pasted to the side of his head.

Alec knocked firmly on the door and listened for signs of movement. There was nothing but the repetitive hum coming from the flickering light suspended a few feet to his right. The hall smelt dank and old, its wooden sides battered and rotten in numerous places.

Wiping his face, Alec knocked again. This time there came the distant rustling of someone getting to their feet. He could hear Jess grumbling as she unlocked the hatch and swung the door open with a resounding, "What!"

She looked tired; dark bags underneath her sleepy green eyes. Her hair was out of control, both the blonde and the black streaks going in which ever direction they pleased. Dressed in baggy grey sweat pants and a tight, figure flattering vest, Jess certainly looked like she had spent the best part of the day bumming around.

It took Jess a moment to recognise her uninvited guest. She looked Alec up and down, observing his droopy appearance. His arms hung loosely at his sides and his clothes were predominately wet apart from a few areas that had somehow found shelter.

"Well, well, well," Jess said leaning casually against the door with one hand rested on her hip. She seemed more jovial now she knew the identity of the person who had rudely awoken her. Alec noticed her eyes perk up with a mischievous glint.

"I thought you couldn't see me again," Jess aid in playful annoyance. Alec felt bad; had it not been for Gray then he would have stuck around, asked her out properly. After all it was a rarity, no a once in a life time occurrence, that he connected with a girl upon first meeting her. He had felt a spark with Jess only for Gray to come along and piss all over it.

Seeing her again stirred up the uncommon emotions from before only this time they weren't numbed by alcohol, this time they seemed more real. Alec felt a pang of guilt as he realised he was about to mislead Jess in an attempt to gain information about Gray. Maybe after this whole thing was over they could hook up again. Not bloody likely, Alec thought to himself before realising he hadn't said anything yet and Jess was now staring at him from underneath her stern, wafer thin eyebrows. Her mouth was also locked in an impatient pout.

"Yeah…well erm…surprise," Alec stuttered holding his hands up in mock gesture of 'look here I am.' Jess didn't look impressed and Alec let his arms fall heavily back to his sides.

"Look I'm sorry, it's just I get scared when I find myself liking a girl."

"Why…are you gay or something, celibate perhaps…oh my god, are you a monk?"

Alec looked down at Jess a little bewildered by her sudden outburst. "No nothing like that. I have problems with commitment and…stuff."

"Ok…but its not like I was asking you to marry me or anything, it was just a bit of fun."

"I know and I'm sorry."

The genuine remorse in Alec's voice seemed to appease Jess. The creases on her brow softened, her pout faded and her eyes lulled back into a sleepy calm.

"So am I forgiven?" Alec asked.

"I guess I could give you another chance, alright you're forgiven."

"Good, good," Alec decided to ask the all important question: "did Gray find out about me?" His voice shuddered with nervousness. Jess shook her head, some of her hair re-arranging itself into a more presentable stance.

"No," she said, "I didn't tell him and he didn't ask…he was wrapped up in something else thankfully."

Alec felt a rush of relief wash over his tense and still lightly battered body. The way was now clear for the next part of the plan.

"Anyway, I was kind of hoping you would have dinner with me tonight. Sort of like a sorry or something." Alec waited on tender hooks for her reply, partly because if their idea was to work they needed an answer of yes, but also because he was curious as to whether Jess actually liked him.

Jess pondered the proposition for a few agonising minutes. "I don't know…I guess…" she thought about whether or not it was a good idea. Gray might need her tonight; he was already preparing himself to finally take down 452. He could require her assistance, most likely dropping round at some impromptu moment without consideration for what she might be doing.

"Ok then, it's a date," Jess smiled deciding that for tonight Gray could do with out her. This could be the first step towards achieving a normal life.

"Good, excellent…I mean that's great." Alec's brain scorned him for acting like a loved up teenager as he realised he had just basically said the same word three times.

"I've made reservations for eight so I'll pick you up at half seven?"

Jess looked at his current drenched state with disdain.

"Will you have your car?"

"Yeah…"

"Then sure," Jess said with a smile.

Alec looked at her puzzled, his head cocked to one side. He noticed her eyes scanning his person and clocked on to what she was getting at.

"Yeah, no need to worry about the weather. Unfortunately it's a formal place, will that be a problem." This time Alec looked Jess up and down, inspecting her unkempt look.

"Not a problem," she said with a laugh.

"Ok, well I'll see you at seven then."

"Alright then…"

They lingered a moment each seeing potential relationship material in the other. However, both knew deep down that it could never work for one main reason: Gray. Still, it was nice to dream even for just a little while.

"See you then," Jess said initiating the goodbye.

"See you," Alec spoke softly. He grinned and then trudged off to the lift at the other end of the hall. He felt a little like Judas and it bothered him that he was betraying Jess. It wasn't like she was the same as Gray. She seemed like a nice, ordinary, feisty girl, not a ruthless cold blooded killer. Chances were there were more discrepancies on his track record than there was on Jess's. This confused Alec as he couldn't work out why she would hook up with a guy like Gray. Maybe she had some misguided loyalty to the guy or maybe he had figured her wrong and she was just like Gray. This worried Alec as it was entirely possible that she was leading him into an ambush. If that was the case then tonight could see the end of everything.

Once inside the lift and it began to rattle its way downwards, Alec decided it would be best to lock away his attraction to Jess. After all, when it came down to it; they would no doubt be fighting on opposite sides.