A Matter Of Happiness

What?

My heart started beating softly.

Softly, but loudly.

I could hear the beats ring in my ear.

"Hello?"

"Alexis are you there?" I could hear the faint voice calling for me but my eyes and mind were glued to Matt Harper.

"Alex!!"

I jumped a little, finally snapping out of my little daze. I look around for the voice and I see my phone not far from where I was standing.

I hurried to it and in a haste, picked it up.

"Alex?"

I put the phone to my ear.

"I'll call you back." I say and hung up.

I took in a deep breath, then slowly turned to Matt.

His demeanor hadn't changed. He had an unreadable expression on his face and he was staring at me like he was reading my every move.

"I-I have to go." I turned and walked away hurriedly.

You make me care for you.

His words repeated in my head.

Oh lord what is wrong with me?!

I shook my head to clear it as I neared the bus station. I sat down on the bench and took in a deep breath.

Is he trying to tell me he cares for me? Or am I just over thinking it?

"I mean he wouldn't say it if he didn't mean it right?" I ask myself.

He doesn't look like someone who could do that.

I sigh and my phone beeps.

I look at it and see a message from my dad.

Mr Henry Dalton: Have a great day at work! I hope we can talk this out in a way you can understand.

Right. I had bigger problems.

"The bus will be arriving soon." The automated voice says and I look up to see the bus approaching.

I stand up with the rest of the people and we all enter the bus one by one.

I sit by the window and rest my head on it with a sigh.

....

I was gloomy through out the day at work. Lisa tried to cheer me up but all was to no avail.

Even after I had clocked out, my mood still hadn't changed.

"Bye." Lisa waves at me and I wave back.

I walk slowly to the bus station as I think about my life.

I sit down with a huff and just then my phone rings in my pocket and I bring it out. I check the caller ID to see it's my dad so I sigh.

I stare at it for a moment before answering the call.

"Hello?"

"Hey sweetie." He answers. "When are you getting home? Alec said he's staying over at his friend's house so I was thinking if we could have a father-daughter night together."

I scratch my hair. "I'm sorry dad. I don't think I can make it home tonight."

"Why?" I hear the disappointment in his voice.

"I have plans with Mia. I'm staying over at her house for the next few days."

"The next few days?" He asks.

"Yeah. Her parents are going out of town for a while so she invited me over."

"Oh."

"Yeah." I scratch my hair again. "I would have told you about it this morning, but you know."

"I understand."

"Thanks."

"What about-"

"I have to go dad. My bus will be here soon." I interrupt him.

"Oh okay. I'm sorry. Have a good night and tell Mia I said hi."

"Sure." I say and hang up.

I put my phone back in my pocket and stand up as the bus approaches.

...

I hit the doorbell for the third time before it finally opened.

Mrs Creed shows her face then gives me a small but bright smile. "Alex darling." She opens the door wider. "It's so nice to see you."

She pulls me in for a hug and I smile. "Good evening Emelia."

Emelia Creed. An all time multi business owner and a decent woman. She has green eyes, blond hair, and is a nice woman.

She pulls away and steps aside for me to enter.

"Honey, it's been long."

"Yeah."

It's been a few weeks since I last came here.

She closes the door behind me.

"I didn't know you were coming, I would have had something done for you." She says as she walks to the kitchen and I follow behind her.

"It's nothing. I didn't know I was coming either." I try to say.

"Does Mia know you're over?" She asks and I shake my head.

"MIA!!!!!!" She shouts from the kitchen. "Alex's here!!!!" She gives me another smile and I give her a tight lipped one.

"Augustine isn't here. Was held back by a meeting." She explains and I nod.

Augustine Creed. A man with brown eyes and black hair. Owns a networking company and is busy most of the time.

"It's fine."

"How long are you staying for?" She asks as she brings out a pan from one of the cupboard.

"A few days?" I say and she pauses to look at me.

"How's your father doing?" She asks.

"He's fine."

"Alec?"

"Great."

"Mom? Did you say-" Mia comes in and stops mid sentence when she sees me standing by the counter. "Alex?"

I give her a small wave. "The one and only."

"What are you doing here?" She asks surprised.

"You said I can come over if I wanted to talk." I say and her eyes soften in realization.

She nods. "Sure. Let's get upstairs."

"Dinner will be ready soon." Emelia says. "And Alex?"

I turn to her.

"I'm here if you need anything."

I nod and sniff, giving her a smile. "Thanks."

I turn and follow Mia upstairs.

When we get to her room, she holds my hand and sits me down on her bed with her.

"Is it about Matt?"

"Nothing everything evolves around him you know." I say and wipe a fallen tear.

I didn't even know I was crying.

"I'm sorry." She strokes my shoulder gently. "What happened?" She asks.

"My dad got himself a new girlfriend." I say and her eyes widen.

"Wait. Isn't that supposed to be a good thing?"

"It is but-" I trail off

"You feel like he's betraying your mom." She finishes for me.

"Yeah." I wipe another tear.

Mia holds my hand. "Sweetie." She begins. "After your mom's death, you know things haven't been easy for the big guy. He suddenly had the sole responsibility to take care of two kids. Something he never prepared for. He lost something precious to him. He lost a part of him, I'm pretty sure he lost himself."

"Yeah." I agree with her. "And that's why he shouldn't just take another woman in his life and try to replace mom."

Mia shakes her head. "You're not getting this hon. You think he didn't have all these thoughts when he was developing feelings for..."

"Tessa." I say.

"You think when he first started liking Tessa, he didn't feel like he was betraying your mom? He didn't feel like he was cheating on her, like he was doing something terrible?" She asks but I don't respond.

"Trust me Alex. He must have thought those and more. Your dad loved your mom greatly I'm sure of that. So it must have been hard on him when he found out he was having feelings for someone else. I mean it has been five years since he has been with anyone."

"So you're saying because it's been 5 years, he has the right to do so?"

"No Alex, I'm not saying that. I'm saying after five years of being lonely, your dad finally found someone to make him feel alive again. He found someone whom he thinks can make him happy, not like your mom did though, but he has found someone again."

"His eyes did light up a little when he told me about her."

"See?" She smiles. "I'm sure he's in love already."

"He wants to marry her." I state and her smile drops.

She sighs "I'm sure your mom would be happy for him. It's high time he found someone. It's high time he learned to love again. Just try to understand him okay?"

"Gee sometimes I wonder if you're my best friend when you're not on my side." I say and she smiles.

She hugs me. "You know I'm always on your side." She pulls away and holds my hands. "But this is a matter of happiness Alex. I also want to see your dad happy again. I'd love to see him happy again."

"Thanks though." I hug her. "For everything."

She gently pats my back. "I'm your best friend remember? It's nothing."

I pull away.

"When are you leaving?"

"Want me out already Mia."

She nods. "Yup. Faster than you know it." She says and I gasp.

"What?"

"You know I'm kidding. You're always welcome here."

"Thanks. I'm here for a few days."

"Well cheers to countless sleep overs."

"Cheers."