Pizza and Tension

Jane, still filled with thoughts of Alexander, returned to the living room where Nora was waiting.Jane settles onto the sofa, still feeling a bit flustered ,she leans forward, her expression interested. "So, how's your art going?" she asks, her voice warm. "Are you getting a lot of work done?"

Nora grins, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. "Yeah, actually, I've been super productive lately," she says, her tone excited. "I've got a bunch of paintings and drawings that I'm planning to take to the market this weekend to sell.

"That's awesome!" Jane exclaims, her face breaking into a wide smile. "It sounds like you're really starting to build a little art business for yourself. Are people responding well to your work?"

Nora nods, her grin still firmly in place. "Well, I wouldn't say I'm famous yet," she replies, her tone lighthearted. "But I've been getting some good feedback"

"That's amazing!" Jane says, her smile broad and genuine.

As if on cue, a firm knock at the door interrupts their conversation.

"Oh, I'll get it!" Nora says, springing to her feet and moving towards the door.

Jane watches as Nora opens the door, her curiosity piqued. A moment later, Nora returns with a pizza box in hand.

Nora places the pizza box on the table and turns to Jane. "Alex ordered a pizza for himself and I" she says, her tone matter-of-fact. "Are you going to grab some dinner for yourself, or would you like to share ours?"

Jane pauses for a moment, her gaze flicking towards the pizza box before meeting Nora's eyes. "I'll probably grab something for myself," she says, her tone even.Nora nods, her expression understanding. "okay"

With the pizza box now resting on the kitchen table, Nora makes her way towards Alex's room, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Hey, Alex," she calls out as she approaches his door. "The pizza is here!"

A moment passes before a low grumble can be heard from inside the room. "okay" comes Alex's voice,Nora grins, the mischievous glint in her eyes returning. "Just so you know, I'm not exactly known for my patience," she says, her tone playful but with a hint of seriousness. "So if you don't come out here soon, I might just eat the whole thing myself. And then you'll have to fend for yourself."

There's a brief pause before a rustling sound can be heard from inside the room. "Fine," Alex replies, his tone still gruff but slightly more urgent.Moments later, the door to Alex's room creaks open, and he emerges, his expression slightly annoyed "I'm here," he says, his tone still gruff but with a hint of relief. "You can relax now. No need to eat the entire thing by yourself."

Nora laughs, her smile warm and teasing. "Ah, so you do have a sense of humor buried somewhere under all that seriousness," she quips, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

With the pizza box now on the dining room table, Nora glances back towards the kitchen. "I'm going to grab some plates," she says to Alex, her tone warm and casual.

Alex nods, his gaze flicking towards the box with interest, as Jane watches, her expression thoughtful. Despite the fact that she had earlier planned to grab dinner on her own, she finds herself drawn to the idea of joining them. She wants to get to know Alex better, and she figures that sharing a meal might be a good way to do that.Slowly, Jane rises from the couch, her expression still somewhat hesitant but with a glint of determination in her eyes. "Actually, I think I'll join you," she says, her tone measured and calm. "After all, pizza is meant to be shared, right?"

Nora turns back from the kitchen, her eyes sparkling with delight. "The more the merrier," she says, her smile wide. "And besides, I think Alex here could use a little bit of company for dinner."Alex's gaze remains steely, his expression unreadable as Jane approaches the table. He continues to avoid any eye contact with her, seemingly unwilling to acknowledge her presence.

Nora, however, is quick to respond. "Don't mind him, Jane," she says, her tone still friendly and welcoming. "He's just being his usual charming self."

Jane gives a small, half-hearted laugh as she takes the seat next to Alex, the one closest to him. She shoots Nora a grateful smile,Nora shoots Jane a knowing grin as she sits down in the chair across from them, her eyes glinting with amusement. "So," she begins, the corners of her mouth turning upwards in a playful smile. "What do you think, Alex? Are you going to acknowledge our presence, or are we going to have to eat this pizza in complete silence?"

Alex's gaze flickers up, a hint of irritation flashing across his face. "I'm not interested in small talk," he grunts, his tone dismissive.

Jane starts to reach for the pizza box, but Alex's gaze snaps towards her, his eyes narrowed with annoyance. "You don't need to do that," he snaps, his tone sharp. "Nora can handle it."

Nora's expression becomes slightly uncomfortable, as she hesitates for a moment before reaching for the pizza. "It's fine," she says, her tone conciliatory. "I'll do it."

As Nora begins to slice the pizza into even portions, the tension at the table is palpable. Jane's cheeks flush with embarrassment at Alex's rudeness, and she glances down at the table, avoiding his gaze.With the pizza sliced and served, Nora places Alex's portion in front of him, giving him a warm smile. "Enjoy," she says, her tone friendly.

Alex barely looks up from his plate, muttering a quick "Thanks" before digging into his pizza with obvious hunger. His shoulders are tense, his demeanor still closed off and bristling with frustration.

Nora exchanges a glance with Jane,

Jane gives a small shrug ,She turns her attention back to her own pizza, a subtle sense of awkwardness filling the air.

As they eat, the only sound in the room is the crunch of pizza crust and the clinking of silverware against plates. The atmosphere is tense, and neither Jane nor Nora seems willing to break the silence.

Alex, however, remains focused on his pizza, his expression stony and withdrawn.

As the silence continues, Jane's discomfort grows,Nora, too, seems to sense the tension. She continues to eat, but her movements are slower, more deliberate, as if she's trying to buy time, to give someone a chance to speak.Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, Nora clears her throat and speaks. "So, Alex," she says, her tone still light but with an edge of concern. "How's work going? Everything okay?"

Alex glances up from his pizza, his eyes meeting Nora's for a brief moment before darting back to his plate. "Fine," he says, his tone clipped. "Same old, same old."

Nora nods, her expression slightly tight.

"And outside of work?" Nora asks, pressing a bit further. "Anything new or interesting going on?"

Alex's jaw clenches, his eyes flashing with irritation. "Not particularly," he replies, his voice barely more than a growl. "Why do you ask?"

Nora flinches slightly at Alex's tone, her eyes flickering towards Jane for a moment before returning to Alex. "Oh, no reason," she says, her voice softening. "Just making conversation, that's all.

The tension at the table seems to build with every passing moment. Nora takes a deep breath, Jane hastily rises from her seat, her chair scraping against the floor as she does so. "I'm sorry," she mumbles, her voice barely audible. "I'm going to head home. I'm not feeling well."

As she turns towards the door, Alex mutters a barely audible "Thank God" under his breath, the tension in his shoulders visibly releasing.

Nora shoots Alex a look of warning, her expression stern.Jane rushes out of the apartment, her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment. As she reaches the front door, she turns back to Nora, a look of contrition in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Nora," she says, her voice cracking. "I didn't mean to make things awkward."Nora waves her off, her expression softening. "Don't worry about it," she says, her voice understanding. "You're not the problem here. I'll talk to Alex."As the door closes behind Jane, Nora turns to face Alex, her expression serious. "What was that?" she asks, her voice quiet but firm. "Why were you so rude to her?"

Alex scowls, his gaze averted. "I don't know what you're talking about," he mutters, his voice curt. "I wasn't being rude."

Nora gives him a pointed look. "Really? Because it sure seemed like you were".Alex clenches his jaw, his hands gripping the table tightly. "I didn't ask her to join us," he snaps, his voice low but angry. "I ordered that pizza for you and I. She had no business being here."

Nora blinks, taken aback by Alex's vehemence. "She's my friend," she says, her voice incredulous. "Of course she has business being here."Alex glares at her, his expression hard.

Alex's eyes flash with defiance. "I don't care," he growls. "I don't like her. She's annoying and intrusive, and I don't want her around."

Nora shakes her head, her expression hurt and frustrated. "You need to learn how to be polite and civil, even if you don't agree with someone"

Alex's jaw clenches, his voice rising slightly. "My spirit doesn't align with hers," he says, his words bitter. "I don't need to be polite or civil with someone I don't like. Just leave it alone."

Nora stands up from the table, her expression hurt and disappointed. "Fine," she says, her voice quiet Nora moves towards the table, her expression almost stoic as she reaches for the pizza box and the plates. Alex watches her for a moment, his brow furrowed in confusion. It's not often that Nora takes on the role of the domestic goddess, and he can't help but feel a little surprised.

"You don't need to do that," he says, his voice slightly softer than before. "I can clean up."

Nora doesn't meet his eyes as she gathers up the plates.

"It's fine," she says, her tone curt as she turns away from him and carries the dishes into the kitchen. "You can go do whatever it is you do when you're not being unpleasant."

Alex winces slightly at the sting of her words, his expression guarded. He stares at the door to the kitchen for a moment before rising from his chair, his movements stiff and uncomfortable.

"I'll be in my room," he says, his voice low as he turns towards the hallway.