Tayla Story - 003

Me and my new acquaintance, Kayla Thorne, got to work tidying and cleaning Alexander's house for him.

When she first entered and looked around, she said: 'I'm impressed that he manages to live like this'.

Well, the place actually looks better than it usually does. He's a bit of a slob to be honest. Maybe I should keep coming over to clean even after he has returned from seeing his father on the moon.

Even if he is a slob and rarely uses them, Alexander does have cleaning products stored in both the bathroom and kitchen.

We split the duties up more or less evenly. I did the bathroom, bedroom, and hallway; Kayla did the lounge and kitchen. That's it. All there is to this place. It took less than half an hour to clean it all, with the two of us.

It smelt of cleaning products inside, so the two of us stepped outside and sat down in the doorway to talk.

"So, did you come here to see Alexander?"

"Yeah, I learned that he was here in Christchurch, and I was able to work out his address by doing a little bit of research. You know, it's incredible what kind of information you can find on the internet for free."

"Really?"

"A lot of it is even provided by the government. For free! That anyone can view."

"That's kind of scary to think about…"

"Yeah it is."

…

…

Our conversation fell into a bit of a lull. Sometimes it's awkward speaking with someone that you barely know. I don't have any clue what to say to Kayla. I mean, sure, I have a lot that I want to ask her, but that would be rude with someone that I don't know that well, if at all really. I can't just start asking her questions.

Though I do want to ask. Mostly about Alexander.

"So… what has Alex told you about me?"

Ugh. I wish she hadn't asked that. All I can really go with is the truth, even though I get the feeling she'll be shocked to hear that.

"To be completely honest… he hasn't brought you up once."

The look on her face is one of shock, "really? Not once?"

"Sorry, I don't know who you are. Well, don't take it personally… he doesn't like to talk much about his past. I don't even know the names of the relatives he was staying with-"

"His uncle's name is Barry, and his wife is Suzie," Kayla interrupted, "their daughters are Georgina and Justine. Those are the people that he had been living with since he moved to Wellington. They seem like nice enough people, but I think Alex simply couldn't bear to live with them, because of the ties they had to his father."

"So, you aren't one of his relatives? You must be a close friend of his then, right?"

"Yeah. Well, I don't know whether I would say close, but we were friends. And, well… no, I don't think that I should tell you."

Huh?

"What are you talking about?"

"No, if Alex hasn't mentioned it, it isn't my place to say."

"Come on, what is it? You can't just bring something like that up, and then not explain what it is. Now I'm too curious to not want to know."

Kayla tilted her head, and seemed to be lost in thought for just a minute.

"Well, I guess it's better that you know."

…

I waited expectantly for her to tell me whatever it is that's weighing on her conscience.

"Alex used to be in love with me."

…

…

…

…

…

"A-are you going to say anything?"

"Yes, I'm just… just, sorry… Alexander was in love with you?"

"Yeah. Well, I assume he doesn't anymore given that you're his girlfriend."

"Wait, so… he was still in love with you when you last saw him?"

"Just before he ran away from home, yeah."

I don't know what I had been expecting, but it wasn't this.

Alexander was in love with Kayla up until at least around the time he left Wellington. That would've only been about two or three weeks before we first met.

A seed of doubt sprouts up in my head.

Just maybe, Alexander was still in love with this girl when he first met me. I try not to think about it, but how can't I? This news changes everything, doesn't it?

Why Alexander was attracted to me.

Why he fell in love with me.

Maybe even why he chose to save me rather than walk on past that first night that we met.

"Are you okay? You're looking a little pale."

Of course, I am after what you just told me! How could that not put me off?

I wanted to say that, but I held myself back. After all, unlike Alexander I don't play the straight man when it comes to comedic timings. Probably because that wouldn't come across as very funny.

Anyway, I'll work out what I think about all that later, right now I have a more pressing issue at hand.

"Since Alexander isn't here, what are you planning to do?"

"I don't know. Do you know when Alex will be back?"

"No. I thought he'd be back by now, but things have been crazy with everything happening around the world."

"Oh, right… that makes sense. That Frank Scuderi guy is insane, isn't he?"

"Yeah… I guess."

Frank Scuderi. Alexander's father, and the man who is causing the world to change dramatically. Kayla doesn't know that the two are one in the same.

"Well, my flight back out is tomorrow night, so I'll have to stay until at least then. Hopefully he makes it back by tomorrow."

"I see. Do you have a place to stay?"

"Yeah, well… I was planning to stay here. I guess I could still do that, but…" she looked around, "I don't know how safe I'd feel staying here alone."

I mean, she couldn't exactly make her appeal any less obvious, could she?

"We have a spare room at my place. You can stay the night there if you want."

"Really? That would be great! Thanks so much!"

Laying it on thick, huh?