Alexander's friends are immediately there, pulling him back. "Whoa, there. I don't think you wanna go there tonight, buddy," one of them says.

I'm just standing there, watching the scene unfold completely speechless. I have no idea what just happened and why. It all happened so quickly.

The man Alexander punched stands up with the help of a few other people. He wipes the corner of his mouth, looking at the blood and then at Alexander, shaking his head. "Don't have time for this," he mutters and goes away.

"Fucking wanker," Alexander calls after him.

"Stop!" I say angrily, glaring in his direction. His eyes come to mine. I go to him, grabbing his arm. "Let's just go home," I say, already dragging him with me.

"You're actually mad?" he asks me on our way to nowhere because I don't know who'll be able to take us home. I just know it won't be Alex.

I just give him a look that says more than any words could. "Just go and find someone that'll take us home, please," I mutter. My body is vibrating with anger and confusion because what he did wasn't cool. It's actually embarrassing and I don't know how he could think otherwise.

Alexander, thankfully, asks one of his friends to take us home without any further protests. When we sit in the car, I sit in the far end, sulking and fuming. Alexander looks at me. "Seriously?" he asks.

I don't say anything in return. I hear him sigh and then he talks to his friend. I don't listen to their conversation, tuning them both out and just looking through the window. By the occasional laughter I hear from them, I realise Alexander is pretending nothing happened. I press my lips tighter together.

I know something's been happening with him lately and I think that now, after he fought with his mother, it made him snap and he's just dealing with the tension he doesn't know how to let out in any other way but this one. And that worries me. I hope he'll continue with the therapies, otherwise I don't see this working between us because I can't live like this.

But then again, I knew who he was when I met him and we started dating and it'd be unfair of me to expect him to change. He was like this before, but I put it aside because he wasn't like this towards me. But what if it happens? What if he acts like this towards me?

I sigh, resting my forehead against the window, closing my eyes. My thoughts are running hard and I'm so mad at him that I'm creating a villain out of him. He's not. Far from it, although he believes he is and he acts accordingly sometimes. "We'll be home in a few minutes. I know you're tired, but don't fall asleep."

I don't even realise Alexander is talking to me until I open my eyes and he's right there, looking at me. I just nod. A muscle in his jaw ticks and he looks away.

When we get to our building, Alexander and I both thank Xavier for driving us. "Sure, no problem. Take care, man. See you around."

Alexander salutes him with a grin, closing the door after he exits the car. I'm already walking ahead of him. "What the hell is your problem now?" he asks me, falling into step with me.

"What?" I ask him.

"What's your problem? Why are you actin' like that?" He points his hand up and down.

When I open the entrance door to the building, but stop and look at him. "Why are you acting like that?" I throw back at him, going inside.

"How am I acting?"

"Like a complete jackass!" I throw over my shoulder.

He doesn't say anything until we get to our flat. I get inside before him, walking straight to the bathroom. He's right behind me. "I'm going to shower," I say as if it wasn't obvious.

"Great. I'm going to shower, too," he says.

I huff. "You can go before me."

"Nah, I'll just go with you," he says casually.

I turn around on my feet, glaring at him. "Can you stop? I'm mad at you. You're not showering with me."

He's nodding his head, already pulling his shirt off. "Be mad under the shower. We can also talk it out. Or, you know ... do something else to release the tension." A cocky smile spreads over his face.

"Is this a joke to you? Because it's not funny."

Alexander sits on the closed toilet seat, raking his hand through his hair. "Alright, babe. What's the deal? Lay it all out."

"Was what you did tonight necessary?" I ask him.

"Yeah. Yeah, it was," he replies easily.

I give him an exasperated look. "I see we're not going to get anywhere with this. I don't even know why I bother sometimes," I mutter that last sentence to myself.

"What do you want me to say? He was annoying the fuck out of me."

I give him an incredulous look. "He was literally just standing there, not even saying anything, Alexander," I explain to him, asking myself if he really means it and he's actually being serious about this.

"He kept staring at you. You know how I feel about that. We done here?" He tries to stand up, but I cross my arms over my chest, tapping my foot.

"No, we're not done. I'm just trying to make you see that what you did was not okay and it's not normal to fight someone just because they're looking at a person you don't want them to be looking at."

He scowls. "I warned him," he says as an explanation.

"He was just standing there, Jesus Christ!" I'm losing my patience with him. "Why did you decide to drink tonight, by the way? And then wanted to race? What's going on with you lately? If there's something you want to talk about, I'm here and ready to listen."

"I have a therapist to talk to about my problems, baby, or did you forget?" he asks sarcastically, a side of his mouth lifting in a sardonic half-smile.

I just stare at him, hurt and offended. "Oh, wow. Okay. Fuck me, then, huh?" I mutter.

Alexander stands up this time, coming towards me with his face scrunched up. He puts his hands on my cheeks, basically framing my face with his hands. "Gabby, baby, why are you takin' this to your heart? I was just in a mood and he was there at the wrong time."

"You can't just fight people when you're in a bad mood."

"Why not? It's fun," he says, smirking.

"Not to me, it's not," I disagree.

His smile drops. After long moments, he sighs. "I heard some things are going around about me. People are talkin' some shit and I kind of let that shit get to me, you know?"

My head retreats back. What? "What kind of stuff?"

"It's not that big of a deal."

"It clearly is if you're letting it get to you." I raise my eyebrows. Please, stop shutting me out and fight your battles by yourself.

"It's just complete nonsense about why I'm not going to that place that much anymore. Stuff about not leaving up to my reputation anymore."

My eyebrows shoot up. "Ah. I see." Well ... Kind of. "And it bothers you that you're not that bad boy Sin you used to be?"

He grimaces. "Why do you have to say it like that?" he grunts.

The corners of my mouth lift up. "Sorry, I'm just ... it's kind of funny to me."

He rolls his eyes. "Of course it is," he mutters.

"Well, if it means anything, I like this improved version way more. You can build a different reputation for yourself, who really cares what people think? They see you here and there and they think they know you just because they know about you." I shrug.

"What they know is that they shouldn't mess with me. Or they used to know. Before I turned into a pussy, apparently."

I snort. "Only a fool would think that. Maybe you just need better people around you."

His expression turns thoughtful. "Huh," he says. "Maybe I really do."

I didn't think he would take that seriously, but o-kay.

He drops his hands from my face. "Yeah, we're not actually going back there anymore because you always end up being mad at me for some dumb shit."

My mouth falls open. "Yeah, because you actually do dumb shit when you're there."

"Debatable," he says. "Go shower. I need to go drink some water because that alcohol's already going to my head."

"Okay." When he gets to the door, I think of something and call after him, "By the way, if you're in need of new friends, June and I could maybe accept you in our circle and you could hang out with us, Sin."

He gives me a look and mutters something about him still having balls and he'd like to keep it that way.

"Well, if you change your mind, you're welcome!" I call after him.

I hear him grunt in response, making me chuckle.

˙˙˙

Alexander picks me up at the university and we go straight to Sam's place. She refuses to pick her phone up, apparently, but I'm not going to stop bothering her until I know she's okay. I truly hope she's at home and she'll open the door. I'm going to camp in front of her door, although I'd prefer if I didn't have to because Alexander and I plan on stopping by an animal shelter on our way home and I'm really looking forward to that, but I can't feel the excitement when I'm worried about one of my friends.

When we get to her place, I knock on the door and wait. And knock again. And wait. Alexander gently pushes me aside and starts knocking – or basically punching the door. I dial her number. "Sam, open the fuck if you don't want me to break this goddamn door down!" Alexander shouts. I end the call.

"Wait a fucking minute! Jesus Christ, can't I have two minutes for myself," I hear Sam behind the door.

She unlocks it and I take in her appearance. She looks dishevelled, her hair a mess and she's buttoning the buttons on a shirt that doesn't look like it's hers. "Sam, hi! I'm so glad to see you, we're just – uh. Oh. Wow, okay," I stammer when I see a guy behind Sam. He's shirtless and when my eyes find Sam's again, I immediately know what she was doing.

Alexander gives me a weird look.

"I, uh ... we're interrupting," I say stupidly, staring blankly at her.

Sam rakes her hand through her hair. "Nah, it's all good. Don's already on his way out. Aren't you?" She calls at him.

He walks to the door and my eyes face his chest. His muscular chest. I shift on my feet, dragging my eyes elsewhere. I look at Alexander who's angled towards me, his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at me. "I was just ..." Looking? Thinking Sam has a damn good taste in men?

"Well, don't," he grits out.

I shift on my feet again. I see he's still there out of the corner of my eyes, but I refuse to look in their direction and just stare at a spot on the doorframe on my left. "I kind of need my shirt back for that, darling."

Oh, God. My eyes fly to Sam to see her staring at him. "Get out," she demands, opening the door even wider. I bite the inside of my mouth.

"Well, damn. Okay, then," Don mutters. He puts his shoes on and gives Sam one last look that doesn't look happy at all before slipping out and I'm too stunned to move, so he brushes against my body. Alexander pulls me towards him, giving the guy more space.

I clear my throat, looking at Sam with wide eyes. Talk about awkwardness. "You didn't answer your phone and we stopped by to see if you're okay ..." I explain to her.

"I'm good, pretty face. Just been a little busy," she says suggestively.

I fight the urge to turn and look in the direction the guy just went. It's not that I'm attracted to him, he's nice looking and all, but he's not Snake and it's so weird seeing Sam with someone else because as long as I know her, he's been a part of her life. They were a pack.

"Come on in. I can at least give you a beer if you came all this way," she says, still underdressed, but it doesn't look like this bothers her at all.

Alexander walks in first. "Sam, no offense, but you're dumb as hell. What do you think you're doing?"

"Having fun. Living my life. What does it look like?"

"Hope you won't regret this." He levels her with a look and Sam actually laughs.

"Why would I? Because I'm a girl? Because I'm supposed to stand by and wait for him to fuck around and then come back to me when he gets bored? Get real. I want to have fun, too, and if he's not here to have it with me, that's on him." She shrugs.

Okay. Too much. Way too much. "I like what you did to your place," I offer, looking around.

Alexander and Sam both give me a silent look. "What?" I ask. "It's true." Sam lives on her own now. Even though she has cool parents, she said she wanted her freedom. It's a small place, but it's cute and minimalistic. I quite like it.

"Thanks," she says. "This is why I prefer you over this asshole here. My offer still stands, you know."

"What offer?" Alexander and I both ask in unison.

"When you get fed up with this guy, I'm available."

Alexander arches his eyebrow. "Yeah, I think the fuck not. There was a guy leaving your flat minutes ago and you're now flirting with my girl? Have some dignity."

"Why? Scared that she'll realise how you're not so great and leave you for me?"

His eyes narrow. "She has standards, Sam."

She looks him up and down with raised eyebrows, but Alexander doesn't let her speak. "Careful what you're going to say, Sam. Be real fucking careful."

She just rolls her eyes. "Let's just sit down. I'd offer you a beer but you're already an asshole and you're even a bigger one when you drink alcohol, so all you're getting is water."

Alexander doesn't say anything in return, just keeps glaring at her. Well. "Alexander and I are getting a cat," I chime in, trying to lighten up the mood.

They both look at me and stare. Again. O-kay. "Maybe you can get me a beer, Sam," I say. Maybe this visit will be more bearable then. 

*

Alexander the 'look at me, I'm a big, bad, tough boy' with a cat is going to be an interesting sight is all I'm going to say ;)