Desperate and dateless
A series 4 story

She saw his eyes transfixed on the blonde's behind as her friend walked away after bringing them another beer. Jodi's short red dress was surely getting his attention, or more what lay underneath; showing off her legs. Stevie clinked her bottle of beer against his, trying to get him in the world of his reality; obviously desperate and dateless.

He turned his gaze towards her, slow, like not willing to let go of the fine sight on his right. Amused Stevie showed him a smile; 'you're right there mate?'

'Wah?', he mumbled in return, lifting his bottle of beer to his lips.

She shook her head, glancing down to her beer, touching it with her index finger, following its circle. 'Didn't know Jodi was your cup of tea'. Stevie looked back up, seeing how he swallowed and frowned at her. Just like she had said the most weird thing ever, or that so far he hadn't actually realized it.

'Oh come on Steves, I mean Jodi is a pretty girl, but she's like my little baby sister, or well girl next door.'

'Maybe till now', her eyes suggestively staring at him she took a swig from her beer. Alex still frowned, his eyes now falling onto her mouth circling around the bottle. He quickly gazed away, taking another swig of beer to wash away his thoughts. He felt desperate at this very moment, for even checking out Jodi. But it had been a long time, over a year since Claire had died and apart from the stolen kiss he and Tracey had shared months back, he hadn't touched a woman. That wasn't anything like Alex Ryan, at all. But it had cut deep. Deep enough to not even dare to take a chance.

She watched him as he gazed into the distance, nothing much more than darkness surrounding them on the improvised party spot. Studying him now she wondered what was going on in his mind. 'Well, I'm glad we didn't make it to the ball. It's probably pathetic, everyone looking so desperately for love, or whatever they are looking for. I bet half of the guys are creeps anyway.'

Alex turned his head shortly, looking down to her. He shrugged his shoulders as he gazed back into the distance; 'who know who would have been there.' He took another swig, and she wondered if he really thought you could meet the right one at such parties.

'Oh come on', she pushed against his arm; 'you don't really think you could find someone there with whom you really could end up in something serious right?'

'Why not? We're going', he answered shortly after swallowing the yellow liquid down his throat.

Unsure Stevie now felt her feet uneasy moving on her heels; 'maybe, if you put it like that', she muttered, now staring down in wonder why her feet were suddenly so restless. She licked her lips and took in a deep breath. For a moment Tess and Nick still dancing together had caught her eye. 'So you're up for something serious?', she asked.

Again he shrugged his shoulders; 'dunno, but you have to get back in the saddle one day right?' Luckily Alex looked at her again, she was waiting for it. His eyes showed more emotion than the smile he was showing weakly on his lips.

'Yeah', she quietly answered. 'I guess it wouldn't be bad to have something like that'. Stevie quickly took sight of Tess and Nick again. Whatever had happened between them, it was so obvious they belonged together. They were meant to be. Everyone could see.

'It would be nice if those two would get their heads together for once, life is too short to play games', he suddenly mumbled, even surprising himself. He had never been dirty of playing games. But now life had changed and the fact it suddenly felt like a huge step to start something serious, to even start dating was suddenly tormenting his mind. 'What about you?', he suddenly asked; 'apart from that Wiener Schnitzel of an ex husband of yours, nothing serious?'

She smiled, her fingers playing with her bottle as she gazed down. A cynical laugh escaped her mouth. 'I guess I suck when it comes to relationships, thinking of it not just relationships.' Her tongue strolled quickly over her teeth. She felt his side brush against her.

'Don't be too hard on yourself Steves'.