Surprising Alexis

The days ticked by as I settled into a new normal. My relationship with Chloe was stabilizing as we grew increasingly comfortable in each others presence. I tried bringing up the situation with Adam and it was clear she didn’t want to talk about it. I was told to tell her if he bothered me again and she would, ‘take care of it.’

I made a note that we would have to talk about things again, but with things going well, I figured it wasn’t a high priority. I filed it away for a future date and lost myself in the flow of time as I turned my attention to the main priority now.

The Parker sisters. It was no longer something I could put on hold, and with things with Chloe in a good place I could afford to pivot my full attention to them.

Natalie left Friday evening for her boyfriend’s house. I planned on confronting Alexis that night but she had other ideas. I went to bed listening to her moans and screams as her bed thumped against the wall separating our bedrooms.

She was doing it on purpose now. I knew a little about her thought process, and my current hypothesis was her doing this as a form of punishment on me. A, ‘listen to what you are missing’ sort of play. Childish and pointless as it was, it fit what I knew about Alexis.

Saturday morning, I decided things could no longer wait and that I would need to **** the issue.

Stepping over the wall that separated our balconies, I discovered her back door was unlocked. Considering all the times she helped herself into my apartment, I didn’t hesitate to do the same.

The place was surprisingly tidy. Natalie’s influence no doubt. Alexis never struck me as someone who fussed over keeping a place tidy. There was a homey sort of feeling here unlike the spartan decor of my place. Again, Natalie’s influence at work. Everywhere I looked I saw her loving touch, doing her best to make it as welcoming and comforting as possible.

My bare foot stepped on something soft. Looking down, it was a pair of panties. Following it forward, there were a lot of clothes leading towards the cracked bedroom door. A quick count of the pants found three in total. I avoided the bedroom. The silence in the room told me whoever was in there was still sleeping. My target was awake already.

Taking a seat on the couch, I crossed a leg over the other and got comfortable. While I waited for her to get out of the shower, I focused on her Noise. Alexis’ Noise had a tint of sadness. She was overall in a positive mood, but it had a ceiling on it. She felt okay, maybe even good. Anything more than that seemed impossible. Seeing that made me realize I’d been ignoring this for too long. I should have **** a confrontation after a few days, not let this fester for weeks. A mistake I would rectify.

Hearing the bathroom door open, my eyes trailed over to where she would appear. It was then that I remembered I hadn’t actually planned out what I wanted to say. Upon reflection, I realized that I was making another mistake. Her guests were still here, making this a poor time to confront her about things. Not to mention the surprise factor.

Remaining perfectly still, she didn’t notice me as she walked into the kitchen. The white towel covered her as she rubbed at her hair with another one.

Well, it was too late now.

“Hello, Alexis.”

Pure panic burst from her as she spun around, nearly collapsing backward. Something clattered to the ground as she cried out in surprise. “Fucking, fuck, damn it. What the fuck! Jake?” she gasped, gripping her towel to keep it covering her as she collapsed back against the counter. “Trying to give me a heart attack? Fuck. What are you even doing in here?”

“Your door was unlocked.”

“Wha—No way. I definitely…” She trailed off as it dawned on her that I wasn’t talking about the front door. “So you just let yourself in?” I couldn’t determine if the anger came from me letting myself in or that I was here at all.

“Doesn’t stop you.”

“That’s different. I don’t ambush you when you come out of the god damn shower.” That wasn't true. I remembered at least six events where she had come inside my apartment while I was in the shower. I think she hoped to see me naked. Unfortunately for her, it was impossible for her to sneak up on me.

Her eyes moved towards her bedroom door and I felt a twinge of fear coming from her. My attention drifted over to the door. It seemed like her surprised shouts had woken one of her visitors. I ignored it, focusing on her.

“Your towel covers more than you usually do.”

She pulled it around her, fixing it back into place. “Just leave. I’ll come over once I get dressed.”

I stood and took a few steps over towards her. Once more, her eyes darted over to the bedroom. “I already know you have people over. You made that clear last night.”

Embarrassment ran through her Noise, swirling together with mix of regret and guilt. It didn’t end there. I watched as her cheeks did their best to match her hair. “Jake, this really isn’t a good time.” I ignored her, moving closer. She continued to tell me off, eyes tracking me as I approached. Her voice grew softer as she found herself looking up at me. All at once, her Noise was back to normal. The same Alexis I’ve known for the past two years stood before me. Her Noise was a comforting mix of confidence, pride, excitement, happiness, and a touch of lust to spice it up. There was still fear and uncertainty there, eyes shifting rapidly as she took in my face.

Reaching out, I wrapped her in a hug and pulled her closer. Her skin was warm as I took a deep breath, enjoying the soapy scent of her hair. I held her tightly, old memories flooding me. Alexis was the first one who broke the physical barrier that surrounded me. She never was one afraid to touch people. Even if I knew now that she had only been hugging me to push her breasts against me, I wouldn’t be the person I was if she wasn’t so insistent on physical contact.

“I missed you,” I whispered.

I felt her hands grip my shirt as she hugged me back. “I really missed you too.” Was she crying? Nothing in her Noise indicated she was sad. Guilty maybe, but not sad.

The moment was interrupted by another Noise joining us. The one she had woke with her shout. “Jake, I take it?”

Releasing Alexis, I glanced back at the bedroom door. Standing in the threshold was one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen. She was also completely naked and made no effort to cover any of it. From the amusement and excitement in her Noise, I would say she was enjoying parading herself before me.

To the side of me, I caught Alexis wiping her eyes quickly as she moved towards her naked companion. “Victoria!” She made shooing motions, trying to get her back into the bedroom.

The woman ignored her prodding, her attention completely on me. One foot in front of the other, she would have been mesmerizing to witness if I had access to all the emotions that others did. I appreciated the sight like one does a painting—or in this case a sculpture. Victoria was a living work of art after all. Even Alexis, who was attractive by her own right, wasn’t on the same level.

She stood proudly before me, her confidence born from knowing how attractive she was. There was a thin smile on her face as she studied me. Peeling her eyes away, she glanced over to Alexis who was fuming at being ignored. “He’s cute.”

Groaning, Alexis ran a hand over her face.

Victoria made another assessment, this time physically running her hands over my chest. “Not your usual type though…”

“I swear to god—”

Reaching up, I gently removed her hands from me. Her eyebrow quirked in interest as I pushed them away from my body and released them. The move didn’t put her off. If anything, her interest in me only grew. “I’m Victoria,” she said, offering her hand in a more normal way. At least as normal as one could be standing there in the nude in front of someone you’ve known for a minute. There wasn’t an ounce of shame in her Noise.

“Jake,” I said, giving it a gentle shake.

“So you’re the one who has my friend’s head in a knot. Nice to finally put a face to the name.” I glanced over at Alexis. Her face was red and I couldn’t tell if it was the anger or the embarrassment causing it. When I looked back at Victoria, she was grinning. “So, wanna have a foursome?”

“Vic!”

“What? I know you wanna fuck him too.”

“Sor—”

“A threesome then. Ezra probably won’t wake up for a few more hours anyway. Poor guy tried so hard to keep up with us.” Before I could answer, she looked over to Alexis. “Better?”

“As lovely as that would be, I have a girlfriend.”

Her smile didn’t fade in the slightest. “And I have a boyfriend.” She giggled. It was a nice sound, but I found myself thinking of Chloe. It didn’t hit the same way as hers. “I’m not asking you to date me. Just have a little fun.” I felt her finger trail down the front of my chest, my eyes never leaving hers.

I said nothing, removing her hand and the offending finger. She glanced down at my crotch, being obvious about it in the process. She deflated with a long breath before turning to Alexis. “Sorry, girl. He’s gay.”

“I’m what?”

“What?” Alexis said at the same time.

“The only men I’ve never been able to get a rise out of were gay men. Jake is either a monk, or gay.”

I found Alexis stretching her neck to get a view of my crotch to confirm it herself. Her eyes met mine shortly after. “Seriously?”

“I can assure you, I’m not gay.”

“It’s okay,” Victoria said, running her arm around Alexis and pressing her nude body against her. “Alexis and I here are half-gay already,” she said with a teasing laugh before placing a kiss on her cheek. Distracted, Alexis had no chance against Victoria as she tugged the towel from her grasp. She made a surprised noise and tried to cover herself. Victoria wasn’t focused on her though.

“Still can’t interest you?” she asked was a smile. Alexis abandoned her attempt to get her towel as she looked at me. I could see her Noise was a confusing mess of embarrassment and excitement. As if deciding to go all in, she dropped her arms so that she was no longer covering herself. Both women stood before me with only their smiles. Victoria stood confidently while Alexis did her best to mimic her, a thin strand of hope rising in her Noise.

If only this happened a few weeks back.

“As much as I appreciate the offer, I’m going to have to pass.”

“Oof. Whoever has their hooks in you is a lucky girl,” Victoria said. Turning to Alexis, she patted her shoulder. “Well, I tried. I’ll leave you two to chat.” Spinning on her heels, she walked back to the bedroom. My eyes followed her. Everything about her was perfection.

By the time I looked back to Alexis, she had recovered her towel and was silently putting it back into place. Her Noise was filled with dejection and sadness. “What do you want, Jake?” she asked in a resigned voice.

“We need to talk.”

“Nothing to talk about.”

“I beg to differ.”

“Look, I made my move and you said no.” Her Noise was painful. It was made worse knowing it was because of me Alexis feeling this way. “There is nothing else to discuss.”

“Even if I can’t be what you want me to be, I never stopped being your friend. I care about you.”

Hurt pulsed through her noise. “I’m doing fine.”

“That isn’t true and you know it. The amount of guy’s you’ve brought home these past few weeks—”

Anger flashed. “You of all people have no right to talk to me about that.”

“I do when you are letting it consume you. Have you gone to any of your classes last week?” Her silence told me all I needed to know without consulting her Noise. I still checked it, seeing a heavy guilt weigh on the swirl of emotions. At least she recognized the problem there. “You’ve been avoiding me, you aren’t doing your schoolwork… have you even noticed your sister drinking more?” I paused for a moment to let my words sink in. “Your actions don’t affect only you, Alexis. Anyone who cares about you can see you are at the start of a downward spiral.”

“This wouldn’t be a problem if you would have just—”

“This isn’t about sex and you know it.” My voice was unusually sharp as surprise snapped across her face and Noise. “If having sex with you would solve this issue, I would have accepted Victoria’s offer. Hell, I would have taken you to bed the night you asked me to. But that isn’t what the problem is. You want something more.”

“You have no idea what I want,” she said loudly, pointing at my chest.

“You want acceptance,” I said with my flat voice. “From what I have observed, you crave a connection to someone but are fearful of the weight that connection would bring. This is speculation on my part, but I suspect it has something to do with your physical needs. You want the emotional support and mental stability a relationship brings but without the sexual exclusivity that comes with it.” I glanced at the closed door. I could see Victoria’s Noise even though the door blocked physical sight. Concern was dominant there, mixed with sadness towards her friend and a wave of anger towards me. A good friend who cared deeply for Alexis.

“I assume your friend has an arrangement like that with her boyfriend. Love and cherish your partner but remain free to seek physical pleasure with others. I believe that is what you seek and why you have been hesitant to actually pursue me properly. The fear you hold isn’t about sleeping with me. It never was. You worry that I will be like all the other guys you sleep with; a momentary distraction of physical pleasure. The thing I can’t figure out is if you are afraid I will see you that way, or you will see me that way.”

Her Noise was still in shocked silence. Mouth parted slightly, she stared at me as my words sunk in. The shock finally faded as she collected herself. “How—”

“As I said, this is speculation off of what I have observed and what I know about you. You and your sister have been my only friends for over two years. I like to think I know a thing or two about you.” Taking a step towards her, I placed my hands on her bare shoulders. Her eyes widened slightly as they met mine. “I wish I could be that man, Alexis. I really do. You have been a source of positivity in my life for years and I wish I could pay that all back by being the man you deserve. But I can’t. I am dating Chloe. The only love and support I can give you is what I have always offered: my friendship.”

A deep sadness bowed her Noise and I felt her push me away. “Go.”

“Ale—”

“Go,” she whispered forcefully, voice nearly breaking. “Don’t ever come back in here like you did. Understand?”

She wasn’t looking at me, head turned as she pointed to the balcony door. Emotions roiled through her Noise. Anger. Hurt. Sadness. Less directed at me and more towards herself.

“Okay,” I said. Without another word, I left the same way I entered. Before I moved back to my side of the wall, I glanced back through the glass door to find Victoria wrapping Alexis in a hug. I felt Alexis’ grief through her Noise, a powerful emotion that pressed heavily against my defenses. I hated that I was the cause of her pain and hurt. I cared for her as much as I cared for Chloe. Maybe even more because of the length of our relationship before this.

Yet I couldn’t be what she wanted. Not while I was in a relationship with Chloe. It wasn’t fair to either woman. Chloe would always be my priority which wasn’t fair to Alexis, and sharing me with another woman was something Chloe never agreed to. I also could not allow this behavior to continue, not if I had some power to correct it. The pain she felt paled in comparison to the potential destruction that waited for her. I saw what this was doing to Natalie. Alexis was her world.

That was the real threat I was trying to prevent. Alexis was strong, but she was only strong because of the support she got from her sister. I don't think either of them fully realized how connected they were. The moment one began to weaken, the other did as well. Too much, and they would both collapse.

This situation brought my thoughts to Chloe. A part of me considered the fairness of her continuing to sleep with other guys even while dating me, but I brushed it aside. I had been the one to ask her out knowing what she did. The key difference was Chloe sold her Gift to others which happened to involve sex. Alexis had sex with others because she wanted to. Maybe other’s wouldn’t see the distinction there, but I did.

A shit situation where for one to win, another must lose. I didn’t like this. It was enough to impact my body, making me feel heavy and sluggish without knowing a direct cause.

Plopping down on the couch, I rubbed at my face. Exhaustion ran over me but I pressed out with my Gift. There was a numb pain in my mind as I focused on Alexis’ Noise. I wished there was a way to help her; to ease her suffering. I was glad Victoria was there. The concern in her Noise was a small comfort to know that even though I couldn’t help Alexis right now, she was in good hands. I had given her a nudge. When Natalie returned, I trusted she would be able to put things back into balance.

Leaning back, I closed my eyes and immersed myself in the melancholy Noise around me. It was uncomfortable and unsettling, but it was a proper punishment for my role in causing it. Her grief and hurt causing more damage than any cries of pleasure ever had.