Chapter 4
Alex arrived at her office 10 minutes after 9, she tried to sneak pass her bosses office but she saw her.
"Williams...you're late." he said not looking up from the portfolio.
"Sorry . Was a little sorry this morning." she said from the doorway
"That's the 3 time in 2 months." he said lookin up at her
"I know I'm sorry." she said stepping into the office
"You one of my best. I would really hate to let you go because of something so small like tardiness."
"Sorry ." she repeated again mentally cursing Taylor and his midnight rendezvous.
"Don't let it happen again." he said
"It won't I promise." she said heading out the door.
The day drag on and even though Alex hated the tatse of cooffee she gave in and had cup of the disgusting caffine.
Some of the other women in the office asked Alex if she wanted to come out to lunch with them but she graciously decline, she was way behind on two of her accounts and needed to desperately catch up.
She was in the copying room copyingsome files she needed for when she was at home when someone crept up behind covering her eyes.
She let out a little scream and hit her assailant in the stomach with an elbow and turned around to find Taylor.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I wanted to checked up on."
"How nice, you can leave now." she said walking away from him
"You I've been meaning to ask you about that attitude of yours." he said following behind her
"I surprise you notice." she said walking to her cubicle
"Come on what's up with you?"
"Nothing I just need to be left alone right now so I can get this done." she said over her files
Taylor stood there and watched her work.
"Do you really have to do that?" she asked feeling uncomfortable under his gazed
"What are you doing tonight?"
"Nothing getting caught up on work."she said and continued working
She looked up to see him looking down at her. ''What?"
"I want to see you again tonight."
"No I need to get this work done."
"Come on babe its Friday." He said taking her hand. "Let me take you out tonight."
"No not tonight." she said taking her hand out of his "I have to get this done." she insisted
"How about tomorrow night then?"
"Alex?" said a voice
They both turn and found her co-workers Dawn, Jenna and Tiffany back from lunch.
"Dawn..."
"Well well now I see why you didn't want to go to lunch. Lunch came to you." Dawn said looking Taylor up and down.
"Taylor these are my co-workers Dawn Michaels, Jenna Thomas and Tiffany Brown. Ladies this is Taylor Reese...
"Hi I'm Taylor Reese Alex boyfriend." he said shaking hands with each of them.
"Wow thats a nice firm handshake." Jenna said
"That it is." Tiffany agreed
"Yes, well ladies I'm going to walk Taylor out." she said grabbing Taylor by the arm
"Nice meeting you ladies." He called behind him
"You too." all three called after him
"Who would have thought little old Alex had such a catch." Dawn said
"Really, that is one fine piece of man." Tiffany said
"Yeah, I didnt think she had it in her." Jenna said causing them to laugh
Alex pratically threw Taylor into the elevator.
"I have to say Alex this new found warrior princess thing have going on is pretty hot." he said
Alex stood behind the door of the elevator. "Don't come back up here again."
"Scared your girlfriends will direct my attention?"
"One, their not my friends. Two. one can only hope you actaully get a life." she said stepping from between the door letting it close in his dumbstuck face.
Continuation
"Hello..hello ? I'ts dead."
"At least she knows your okay." he said looking for a flashlight
He found one and looked around for some candles to light so he could save the batteries in the flashlight. He found 5 of them and lit them all in the living room.
"Okay, I am official bored." Alex said after 5 minutes of sitting around
"Me too." Marbles said
"There's not much we can do without electricty." Taylor said
"Good thing we ate already." Marbles said
"We could tell ghost stories." Alex suggested and they groaned at her idea. "Well I dont see any of you coming up with."
"Don't you think that a little childish." Scrapa said
"This coming from the guy who still gets a kick out of ding dong ditch." Alex retorted
"That old man deserve it." Scrapa retorted back
"He 83 years old and you almost ran over his dog." Alex retorted back at him
"The old bastard smash my tail light." Scrapa retorted back at her
"Cause you almost ran his dog over."
"Can you two drop it please." Taylor finally said
Alex made a face and they count to sit in the dark.
Eventually the guys fell asleep leaving only Alex and Taylor up to watch the storm.
"I think I finally decided on a school." she finally said
"Where?" he said sitting back wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"It's out state." she said
"Boston? Cause that's nothing but a 4,5 hour drive."
" University of Miami." she finally told him
Taylor did't say anything. He wanted her to go to college but he was hoping she stay home and attend NYU or Columbia. "Why there?"
"When I went on a campus tour I loved it." She said "Are you mad?" she asked turning her body so she could look him in the face
"It's so far." he said 'No I don't like it. You're MINE!'
"I know. I've looked at other school and all what they have to offer Miami just seem like the best choice for me." she said "But if you don't want me to go I won't. I was accepted into NYU and Columbia they don't offer what Miami are offering me."
"What was they offering?" he asked not really interested
"Full academic scholarship I wouldn't have to worry about anything. Room and Board, books, the classes itself all paid for. And the money I get in my scholarship I can use to my own leisure. Like I have to stay in the dorms for one year but I can get something off campus and I'll be able to pay for it. I wouldn't have to get a job I could focus on my studies."
Taylor didn't say a word.
"Taylor..."
"I would hate to let you go...but you have something I wasted away."
"You can come and visit me."
"I know and I will."
The storm passed over early the next morning, the guys left leaving Alex and Taylor alone.
"You've been quiet." Alex said as she got dress
"Got a lot on my mind." he said putting his boots on.
Alex nodded and put her shoes on as well.
Taylor got her back to his parents just as his mom was getting breakfast on the table.
"Hey you guys power back on." he said when they walked in the door
"Yeah it came on 2 hrs after the strom pass." his dad said
"Alex you'll be happy to know your grandmother will be home later on tonight."
"Cool I can't wait to see her."
Alex packed her things and Taylor took her home.
The drive home was silent and it was killing Alex.
"Taylor what's wrong? You've been quiet since our talk last night."
Taylor didn't answered her he just continued to drive until he reach Alex house.
He parked the car and left it running to keep it warm.
"I lied last night." he said
"What?"
"I lied last night when I said I was okay with you leaving to go to school in Florida. I hate the thought of you going and not being able to see you anytime I want. I'm also scared."
"Scared?"
"Scared that you're leave and forget about me. You'll find yourself some college educate preppie."
"How could I forget about you? You're my first and I want you to be my only."
"I'm not usually this senstive guy but you're different from most girls I've dated."
"Let's go in, I need to get the house warm up before Grams get home." she said
Taylor helped her with her bags and when they walked was surprise to find the someone already there.
"Well well well if it isn't Grams favorite Redbone."
"What are you doing here Willie,Grams said you not allowed in here when she's not here."
"Yeah what Grams won't know won't kill her now will it. And look at this you brought a friend home." he said searching for whatever he was looking for
Willie was one of Alex many cousins who didn't like her, and they made no effort in not showing it either.
"You need to leave Willie." Alex said standing her ground
"Don't worry Redbone I'm leaving as soon I get some things. Grams won't mind."
"You heard time to go." Taylor said finally speaking
"Or what big guy you going to through me out?"
"Don't tempt me."
"Whatever." he said grabbing a bag and leaving out the door.
"You shouldn't have let him leave with whatever he has."
"I'll let Grams deal with it..she scarier than me." she said grabbing her bags and taking them upstairs.
Taylor never understood what Alex ever did to make her other family member hate her,they all had about 15 to 20 years on her.
Alex walked back down the stairs, she looked embarrassed.
"I guess you have things to do." she said
"Not really." he said meeting her halfway. "You don't have to be embarrassed." he told her
"I don't want to talk about it." she said
"Okay we'll watch TV." he said taking her hand walking to the living room.
They both fell asleep watchng MTV when Carol walked in the house.
"Alexandra...Alex I'm home baby." she said walking into the house, but no one answer.
She saw Taylor's van outside that has her worried. She was about to go upstairs and check when she heard something coming from the living room.
She walked in and found the TV on but it was watching the occpuants on the couch instead of them watching it.
Taylor stir and open his eyes to find Carol watching them.
"Mrs. Williams.."
"No no Taylor you don't have to explain."
"Yes I do, when we got here Willie was in the house and after he left I didn't want to leave her alone."
"That's very noble of you Taylor and thank you for looking after her." she said
He nodded and move Alex off of him trying not to disrupted her sleep.
"I'm get on out of here." he said grabbing his leather coat and walking out the door
"Thanks again Taylor." she said closing and locking the door behind him. She took a blanket from the closet and cover Alex up with it.
"Sweet dreams baby." she said kissing her forehead and turning off the TV
"Taylor." she whispered in her sleep.
That made Carol stop and look at her granddaughter. She was turning into a beautiful young woman and probably has been turning heads left and right, and that has her worried.
Both of her daughters we're already pregnant by the time they we're Alex age and didn't graduate high school. Before the age of 21 was already on their 3rd baby.
Shee wanted something more for her.
Tomorrow she was going to have a little talk with Taylor Reese.
Alex wok the next morning to find Taylor was no where in sight.
Carol walked into the lving room as she was sitting up.
"Glad to see you awake."
"Grams when did you get here?" she said standing to strentch
"Late my flight was delayed."
"God I don't remember falling asleep." she said "How Aunt Isabelle."
"Stable but it's only a matter of time." she said
Alex was quiet not sure what to say she just hugged her. "I'm going to take a shower."
"Okay baby I'll have breakfast on the table when you come back down." she told her
"Grams..was Taylor here when you got home."
"Yes he told me what happen with Willie."
"Yeah he was here when Taylor brought me home."
"And I'm happy Taylor stand with you." she said
"Yeah, he's a good guy." she said smiling. "I'll be back down."
Alex jumped in the shower and washed her hair. She didn't have swim practice until Monday so she was going to take advantage of her time off.
Alex was towle drying her hair when she heard a commotion down stairs.
"Grams?" she called out
"Stay up there Alexandra." her grandmother called back
Alex didn't go down the stairs but stood near the staircase listening.
"That's right grandma protect your favorite grand baby."
"Willie I told you about coming over here unannounce and further more when I'm not home."
"I just needed to borrow some things."
"For what? To get your next fix. This is not the house to come to fed your habit."
"What would you rather I do? Knock off a liquor store? Go and rob some old lady?"
"No I rather you go and get yourself clean up try to make something of your life."
"We all can't be overachievers like your precious Alexandra."
"And how is getting clean is overachieving?"
"You treat us like we don't exist yet put all your effort into her." Willie said pointing up the stairs. "Why is she so fucking special?"
"Watch your tongue!" she said with a stern voice. "I don't understand why it is so hard for all you to realize that child didn't have a mother or father to raise her. You had that in your life and brother and sister as well. If it wasn't for me she be in foster care and I'll be damn if my flesh and blood is raise by some lazy bum whos only in it for paycheck every month."
"Like her folks are any better. Uncle James out there somewhere still shooting up. And mother dear is busy living lavish lifestyle, poor thing had to choose between her bi-racial baby or daddy's money.I dont blame her I would have chosen the money too."
Alex couldn't believe what she was hearing. She got up and went into her room to call Taylor.
"I have never in my 65 years of life have seen or heard such haterd."
"Yeah well that's life."
"You need to leave. That child has never done anything to any of you and treat her like she's the cause of everything you've done wrong in your life. You want to blame someone take a look in the mirror and wake up."
Alex put her clothes on and hurried down the stairs
"Alex where are you going?" Carol asked when she saw Alex heading out the door.
"Out." she said hurring out the door
Carol hurried after her but by the time she open the door Alex was already in Taylor van.
"Looks like the apple doesn't fall very from a tree. You think someone like him is going keep her on 'the right track'. Those italian are known you using ppl and he's no different." Willie said walking out the door.