I know, you all wanted to see how the date goes, you'll find out but firstly, this chapter. Thank you all so much for he support and reviews
Alex smiled, earning a questioning glance from the brunette opposite her.
I hope you like Italian, be ready for seven on Friday, I'll pick you up. Liv x
It was late afternoon Wednesday, Abbie had called at lunchtime, asking if she could pop over. Alex was grateful for the distraction so left work early and met her friend. They'd had lunch and were now at the blonde's apartment, magazines spread over the coffee table
"Who was that?"
"Olivia" Alex replied with a smile, holding her hand up to stop the tirade she knew would follow "She's taking me to dinner Friday"
"On a date?"
"Yeah, she called me yesterday, and we went back to her place"
"You went to her place?"
Alex nodded "Yeah, she lives in Washington Heights"
Abbie put her glass on the table, shuffling to look directly at the blonde "So…what did she have to say for herself?"
"Well she said she was sorry for how she'd treated me…" Alex began "and said she was scared of her feelings and that she wanted to try and have a relationship"
"That was unexpected" Abbie replied surprised "and what about Casey?"
Alex shrugged "I think that was just a one night thing. I haven't heard from her"
"And have you tried calling her or texting?"
"I didn't want to seem too eager"
"But you'd like to see her again"
"Yeah. We had a nice time, it's so easy and simple with Casey"
Abbie smiled, noticing the same wistfulness in her friend's voice that she'd noticed when Alex had called Saturday afternoon gushing about the redhead
"Well you need to know what's happening between you two before you and Olivia try and sort out whatever it is between you"
Alex groaned. Abbie was right, as usual. Not wanting to have to think about how difficult her life was becoming she turned to the multiple wedding magazines and changed the subject
"So, what have you decided on so far?"
"Not a lot" Abbie sighed, "Serena's already got her dress, apparently, so I better get a move on"
Alex nodded "Well, you're getting married in a few months Abs, you haven't got a whole load of time to get sorted"
"I know, I just…I don't want anything too extravagant, you know me and dresses"
"Well, you could wear a suit?"
Abbie screwed her nose up "No thanks, I want to wear a dress, but everything is either lacy or frilly, I don't want all the bling and stuff and I kind of wanted to wear my converse"
Alex laughed "You are so…you Abs, don't ever change"
"Well, I've decided to take Serena's name"
Alex opened her mouth in shock before closing it "You were dead set on her taking yours"
"I know, but we had a discussion about it and Serena made a valid point. She's already established in the world of Law, she's Serena Southerlyn for crying out loud, everyone knows her"
"She's so modest"
Abbie laughed, "I know right but it's true. I've not even finished Law School, and honestly, I'm not sure I'm gonna go back, I kind of like being a housewife"
"Abbie, it was your dream"
"Yeah it was, but its not anymore. Almost losing Serena last year has made me realise that my happiness is with her, and we've talked about kids recently and I really want us to have a family"
"Oh Abbie, I'm so happy for you"
Abbie smiled, nudging her friend "You know I couldn't have got through it without you"
Alex smiled, thinking back to that day, when her friend had called her in hysterics. Abbie and Serena had spent a week on the coast in the blonde's beach house and were driving back through Maine when they were hit from behind. The blonde had lost control of the car and ploughed into a lamppost, she had lost consciousness and had subsequently been in a coma for 4 weeks.
"You're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for Abs"
Abbie smiled "Thanks Lex. I'm ready to start the rest of my life with Serena"
"You deserve it. You make such a lovely couple"
"Thanks"
"Okay, so you need a dress" Alex said scribbling on the notepad in front of her "You've got a venue, and sorted catering, what about flowers?"
"Not a clue, Serena thinks roses are tacky"
"What do you think?"
"I agree, I was thinking about lilies but then I kind of thought are they too boring"
"Yep" Alex said with a smile "But if you like them and Serena is okay with that choice then why not"
"Okay, so flowers. I'll check with Ser on that. What about the bridesmaid dresses?"
Alex smiled, she had been honoured to accept Abbie's invitation to be her maid of honour, being without siblings the brunette had explained that there was no one else she'd rather have as a maid of honour than her best friend and Alex had some great ideas about dresses
They'd been mulling over magazines for the past 2 hours when the doorbell rang and Abbie stood, walking over to it explaining, "That's Serena, she said she'd pick me up after she finished work"
Alex nodded, pouring herself another glass of wine as she flicked through the pages of the magazine in front of her
"Hey Alex" Serena greeted as she stepped into the blonde's living room "Look who I found on my way in"
Alex looked up to her see her friend, blushing as she stepped aside to reveal a certain redhead
"Casey"
"Hey…er, I was just passing…well…sort of…I wondered…" she stuttered, all of a sudden her voice betraying her as she took in the sight of the blonde
Alex had thrown on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, only now realising it was the same one that Casey had worn a few days earlier
"We'll catch up soon" came the voice from the doorway as Serena and Abbie quietly made their way out of the door, closing it behind them
"It's nice to see you," both women said at the same time before laughing, the awkwardness between them dispersing now alone
"T-Shirt looks better on you" Casey said her eyes travelling up the blonde who had stood up
Alex smiled "It looked pretty good on you"
Casey blushed "I'm sorry I came by unannounced, I really was just passing, didn't realise you had company"
Alex shook her head, taking in the redhead who was dressed in jeans, a large parka hanging across her shoulders, the zip half way down revealing a grey sweatshirt
"No need to apologise. It really is good to see you"
"I didn't know whether you'd want to"
Alex smiled, stepping forwards and offering her hand to the redhead "I'm sorry I haven't text, or called. I didn't know want to come across desperate"
Casey smiled "That's why I didn't call either"
Both women chuckled before Alex pointed to the couch "Sit down, would you like a drink, I've wine"
Casey took off her jacket as she sat on the couch "I think I'll stick to water, wine kind of makes me a little horny"
"I wouldn't have guessed" the blonde quipped as she poured the redhead a glass of water
Casey blushed, thanking the blonde as she took the glass, bringing it to her lips
"Have you eaten?" Alex asked
"Erm, no I haven't, I was just on my way home"
"Oh" Alex said, suddenly remembering that Casey had only been passing and hadn't gone out of her way to see her
"But if you're offering, I'm pretty famished"
Alex smiled "You don't need to get off?"
Casey almost choked on the mouthful of water she had just taken, swallowing hard before laughing at the look of panic of the blonde's face
"You're face Alex"
"I'm sorry" the blonde managed, certain that she had gone as red as a tomato "I didn't mean that how it sounded"
Casey smiled, placing the empty glass on the table "I know"
"I just wanted to make sure you hadn't plans for the evening"
"No plans"
"Okay, would you like to stay for dinner, I could order in, or I could cook something"
"You cook?"
Alex nodded; feigning hurt "Is that surprising?"
"No, of course not. I'm just useless at cooking, my Mom always cooks at home"
"Well, I could whip up a Bolognese, unless you're vegetarian?"
"Nope, only vagitarian"
Alex laughed, standing and heading over to the fridge, pulling out the ingredients she'd need
Alex couldn't remember feeling more at ease than she did in this moment. After dinner, which Casey had praised continuously they had returned to the couch and were currently watching a film, the redhead resting her head on Alex's chest.
During dinner they had talked about anything and everything, well, almost. Alex had learnt that Casey, who's name was actually Cassandra lived in the east village in Lower Manhattan with her Mom and three brothers, Cullen and the twins Corbin and Cooper. Alex had joked that her parents must have liked names beginning with C and Casey had explained that her Mom was called Caitlyn and her Dad Christopher. Her Dad had left when she was five, the twins barely two, and Casey had only seen him a handful of times since.
Alex had shared with the redhead that she was an only child, expanding more on the relationship between herself and her parents. She explained how her Mom and Dad had taken a while to accept that she was gay, how she had been judged for her sexuality but that they'd come to accept her. She explained how she'd lived with her Aunt and Uncle until finishing school.
The film came to an end and Alex realised that Casey had drifted off. She placed a kiss to the redhead's forehead, realising how natural it felt and smiled when the redhead roused, looking up at her
"Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep on you"
"No worries" the blonde replied as Casey adjusted herself so she was no longer flush against her. Alex immediately missed the contact, the cold air suddenly hitting her skin
"I should be going" the redhead said sadly looking at the time, Alex glanced at the clock on the wall, noting it was almost midnight
"Yes, gosh I didn't realise that was the time. Give me five and I'll drive you home"
Casey smiled "Thanks" she was grateful for the blonde's offer, although a little unsure of how annoyed her Mom would be as she'd forgotten to let her know she'd be out late
Alex quickly entered her bedroom, she pulled on a pair of socks and her sneakers, grabbing a jacket from the closet on her way out, she returned to the living room where Casey was standing by the door, her coat now zipped up to protect from the cold air outside, the rucksack over her shoulder Alex just noticing
"Ready?" the blonde asked. She noticed the redhead's wallet on the arm of the couch, and picked it up not noticing the colour drain from the young woman's face as a student card fell to the floor
"Alex, I can explain"
"Explain what?!" Alex said, her anger rising as she studied the card she had retrieved "You're 16"
"Only for a few couple more weeks"
"What the hell? I can't believe I've been so blind, so stupid" Alex muttered to herself "You're underage"
"I'm nearly 17"
Alex sighed as she tossed the card at the redhead "It doesn't matter Casey, I could get arrested, I had sex with you, and I gave you alcohol"
"You didn't know"
"You're so naïve, do you think the police are going to say, oh that's okay then, you didn't know. What if your Mom finds out?"
"I haven't said anything"
Alex rubbed her forehead "Look Case, I was going to drive you home but I don't think it's a good idea now"
"It's okay, I'll call my brother. Can I see you again?"
"I don't think so"
"Please Alex"
"Just go please Casey, I'm too angry right now"
"I love you"
Alex laughed unsure if she'd heard correctly "What?"
Casey stepped forward "I love you, I'm sorry I didn't tell you my age but I love you"
"I'm sorry Casey, I'm sorry you feel that way but this is wrong" Alex gestured between them although noting uncanny similarities between her relationship with Olivia "You've got to go"
Tears ran along the redheads cheeks as she turned and left, Alex sinking into the couch and wondering how on earth she let this happen
"I'm such an idiot!"