Care For You

The repeated ringing of my phone wouldn't let me be.

It wouldn't let me sleep.

It wouldn't just shut up!!!!

"Urghhhh!!!" I sit up with a groan and give my phone a deadly glare.

The alarm was going off, and I had the intense urge to haul it at the wall.

I took in a deep breath and took my phone before shutting the alarm off.

I must have forgotten to silence the alarm since it's weekend and I can sleep in.

I don't have to turn in for work until 2, and I had nothing to do.

The sleep in my system had worn off thanks to the alarm so I got out of bed and went straight out.

"Alec??"

No answer.

"Alec?" I walk to his room door and knock on it.

Still no answer.

I open the door gently to see a messy room as usual, but no Alec.

I walked downstairs and stopped right at the foot of the stairs.

The house was empty, leaving only me. But I'm sure I'm not going to just sit around and look pretty till it's 2. I mean it's just seven in the morning.

But where did Alec go this early.

Weekends are his best days. Where he can sleep through the day without worrying about school or anything related to it.

As I'm about to turn back upstairs, the front door opens. I walk to the hall to see my dad walking in.

"Dad?"

He looks up and gives me a smile.

"Alex. I see you're up."

"Forgot to turn off my alarm." I explained as he walked towards the kitchen.

"Oof." He says

"Yeah." I agree. "Um dad?"

"Hmm?" He opens the fridge and takes out a bottled water.

"Aren't you like supposed to already be at work?"

"Not until ten." He explains. "It's the weekend."

"Okayy." I draw.

"And I wanted to have a chat with you." He adds and I knit my eyebrows together.

"About what?" I ask him.

He sighs, rounds the counter and holds my hand in his.

"You know, I love you guys very much." He

begins.

"And we love you too dad." I tell him and he smiles.

"I know that, and I'm grateful." He says. "I just want you to know I can never forget you, nor will I ever try to replace anyone in this house."

"You're scaring me dad." I say with a short laugh.

"I'm sorry." He sighs. "It's just that I'm really nervous, and this is really important. I don't want you to take it the wrong way-"

"Just spill it."

"I met someone." He says in a rush.

"So? We meet people everyday."

"No no no." He shakes his head. "I mean I've met someone."

I look at him confused. "What do you mean-" Then realization hit me.

I gently took my hands from his hold.

"What?"

"Honey, I'm not trying to-"

"So you found yourself a new lover." I state.

"Not lover per se. She's just a friend but recently, I noticed I developed feelings for her, and we took it to the next level."

"How long have you been seeing her?" I ask.

"For a while now."

"How long dad?"

"Six months." He mutters and I take a step back.

"Honey-"

"Ohmygod." I say in disbelief.

"Sweetie listen-"

"I can't believe you're trying to replace mom."

"Alexis, I'm not trying to replace your mother. She's been gone for five years, I've been lonely-"

"And that gives you the right to just pick a random person on the road and date her?"

"Tessa is not a random person!" He raises his voice a little.

I vow to hate every Tessa out there.

"Wow." I chuckle. "I see she's really important for you to defend her like that."

"Honey-"

"Does Alec know?"

He shakes his head. "He doesn't. I wanted to let you know first."

"Because I overreact to everything right?"

"Alex-"

"I'm sure he would understand why you're trying to replace mom with Tessa."

"I'm not replacing anyone." He repeats.

"It's a short fling right?" I ask him. "It would soon end and you won't do it again right?" I ask him and he looks away.

"Right?" I say again.

"Alex." He looks at me and I knew it.

I took a step back.

"I love Tessa."

No. No. No.

"She reminds me of your mom, she makes me feel alive again."

"No." I take another step back.

"I'm sorry Alex."

"You can't do this." I could feel my tears welling up.

"I plan on marrying her."

I stop dead in my tracks.

"What?" I say in disbelief, surprise, and disappointment.

"I want to make it official with her."

"So she can sleep on the same bed mom used to right?"

He takes a step forward. "Alex-"

"Excuse me."

I turn back and hurry to my room.

Under 2 hours, I had showered, brushed my teeth, dressed up, and ready to go out.

I put on a blue shirt, tucked into a short plaid black skirt and knee high boots.

I put my hair in a ponytail, leaving a few strands out making it look a little messy.

I walked downstairs and my dad was at the foot of the stairs waiting for me.

"Alex."

I didn't give him a single glance and slammed the door behind me as I walked out.

I didn't exactly have a destination in mind, but anything to get out of the house.

I couldn't believe my dad actually met someone named Tessa that he wants to wed.

I can't believe he'd actually do something like this.

I felt betrayed, hurt, and tossed aside.

It didn't just feel fair.

I wonder if Mia's busy.

I take out my phone and dial her number.

She picks after that fourth ring.

"Hey girlie." She says cheerfully.

"Well someone seems happy this early morning." I smile.

"It's just another day Alex." I could feel her roll her eyes. "Nothing special."

"Sure sure." I say dryly.

"So what's up?"

I sigh. "Nothing much."

"Where are you?" She asks.

"Outside." I look around. "Taking a walk."

I must have walked pretty far now. I'm nearing the park.

"Is something wrong?" She asks and I tilt my head.

"Why do you ask?"

"You only take walks when something's on your mind."

I sigh again.

"The house seemed stuffy and I had nothing to do till 2"

"Want me to stop by at the coffee shop later so we can talk it out?" She asks.

"No, it's nothing. I'm fine."

"Well if you say so."

"Where are you? It's past ten and you sound like you've been awake since seven."

"I have." She agrees. "My mom took me out to a breakfast committee."

"Breakfast committee?" I ask in confusion.

"Yeah. They talk about a bunch of stuffs while eating breakfast."

"How was it?"

"There are some juicy gossips in this city." She says and I chuckle.

I wonder if there's one about Matt.

"We just got back and I'm in my room now. I'm free for the rest of the day."

"Good for you."

"Why don't you come here and we could hang out till you have to go to work."

"That sounds nice." I nod gently.

"Yeah. You have nothing to do, I have nothing to do, it's perfect."

"Well-"

A man ran into me causing me to fall and my phone flying out of my hand.

He gets up quickly and runs away without giving me an apology.

"HEY!!!" I shout at him but he doesn't look back. "Douche." I mutter as I stand up.

"Lexi?" I look up to see Matt staring at me wide eyed.

"Hi." I give him a small wave and smile.

"Are you alright?" He asks as he walks to me.

"I'm I'm fine." I nod. "I'm fine."

"He didn't hurt you did he?" He asks and looks straight at the direction the man went.

"At all. Just ran into me." I say. "It's nothing much."

Two guys run towards us and stops right behind Matt.

"He ran towards Clinton road." Matt says and the two guys run.

"What are you doing here?" He asks me.

"Me?" I look around to see I've walked way out of my zone. "I-I-" I look away from him. "Nothing. I had a lot on my mind, and I took a walk and and-"

"Is everything okay?" He asks and I pause.

I tilt my head a little to the left. "Why do you care?" I ask him and he looks taken aback.

"I was just asking."

"Well," I look away from him. "I'm fine." I turn back to him. "I'm fine." I repeat.

He nods gently. "But you don't look fine."

"Just because I don't look fine doesn't mean I'm not Matt. I'm fine and let's leave it at that." I snap at him.

I turn to walk away but he blocks me. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's none of your business."

"Everything about you is my business." He says and I scoff. "I want to know what happened.

"You know, that's real rich coming from a guy who locks everyone out." I suddenly shout. "You know, not all is about you! Not all is about being a jerk! You're confusing, and annoying."

I couldn't hold myself longer.

The fact that my dad had girlfriend had gotten to me.

"One time you're cold, distant, and a jerk, and the next you're kind, caring and all warm towards me. It's confusing and I hate it!" I shouted.

He didn't say anything through out but just stared at me.

He takes my hand gently and strokes it. "I don't know what happened, but I hate to see you all stressed out about it." He looks at my hand. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but that's some pent up anger you got for me." He says and chuckles.

"I may be a jerk sometimes like you said, and caring the next," He continues. "But sincerely, you make me this way." He looks at me.

What?

"You Alexis Dalton," He looks at my eyes like he's searching for something. "Make me want to care for you."