-𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐚-

After Nico and I walked back together I waited for Charles with the rest of the group. When he came towards the group he looked a little upset. I laid my hand on his waist and his green eyes which stood confused and angry looked into mine. Something is off with him.

"What's wrong?"

He laid both of his hands on my lower back as I moved my hands to cup his cheek. My thumbs stroking the soft skin on his face. The look on his fave softened a little bit and then hardened again while he looked at me.

"I'm fine don't worry."

"You look tense... you can tell me if you want to okay? Remember that."

"I will tell you later okay?"

"I'll wait."

He kissed my forehead before everybody climbed into the cars. We drove home and he staid silent. So I laid my hand on his lower arm looking at me. Something is really bothering him and even I could see that.

"Charles? What's bothering you?"

"What's bothering me?!"

He sounded offended and I was taken aback by the way he snapped.

"Pull over the car."

My tone was harsh and he did like I asked. He turned the engine off and looked at me.

"What got you so worked up?! You did not have to snap at me like that!"

"You don't get it do you?!"

"No obviously I don't Charles! Just fucking tell me instead of yelling at me like I'm supposed to read your fucking mind."

He climbed out of the car and slammed the door shut quite hard for someone who drives a Ferrari. I climbed out as well and looked at the guy in front of me. He had his hands on the nape of his neck as he looked so so frustrated.

"Can you at least explain to me if I made you upset? I didn't mean too."

"It's my own fault... I should have known when I started this..."

"What do you mean? I can't help you if you don't tell me."

"But I don't want your help Aleina!"

I nodded at him a few times softly.

"Okay fine. I'll call a taxi to bring me to the beach house. I'll grab my stuff and say something happened at work or something."

I was about to take out my phone when he groaned quite loudly.

"This is what I mean with you don't get it!"

I looked up to look into the green eyes. He looked at me almost desperately.

"You show up looking all-"

"Looking all what?! Watch what comes out of your mouth next I mean it!"

"All perfect okay!"

"Cut to the chase Charles!"

"I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU ALEINA!"

I stopped breathing as he screamed that confession at me. His breath was unsteady and quick as I just looked at him. I didn't know what to say to him or what to do.

"I have been since the second my eyes found you. You were standing behind that bar reading a damn book while guys started flirting to you or tried to talk to you. You were all bitchy scaring them away and yet you helped me after I got that hit. You looked like this perfect girl who you didn't have to figure out because your looks would say enough but your insides... they are the opposite. I admire that about you."

"I- I don't know what to say Charles."

"It's okay... just keep pretending and then I'll be gone for good."

He walked past me and our shoulders almost brushed. I pulled his wrist back and it took him by surprise. His chest was against my chest and he looked down at my eyes as our noses were inches apart.

"I didn't even say anything Leclerc."

"But I know the answer."

"Oh do you? Because last time I checked people can't read minds."

He had a tiny smile on his lips as he looked at me a little more hopeful.

"Hey don't look so hopeful. I didn't say that I'm in love with you... but I'm willing to like I don't know. Give it a try. We'll keep this act up but make it a little more personal you know. See if we like it and want to continue it."

"Okay... sounds good."

He laid his hands between my hips and thighs as he pulled me closer to him. My hands on his arms as he looked me in the eyes.

"But you really have to try."

"I will. I promise."

He looked at my lips for a while and he gently licked his own. His face was slowly inching closer to me.

"I'm driving."

I tried to get myself out of his grip but he wouldn't let me.

"No no no I'm driving!"

"Have you noticed how aggressive you drove?! I want to live when I get to the beach house."

"Fine..."

I sat down behind the wheel and pulled the seat a little more to the front. I took off my heels and placed them away, I preferred barefoot over heels with a car. I started the engine and my mouth opened by the feeling of this car.

"That's it I'm stealing your car."

Charles laughed at me before I started driving the last 10 minutes to the beach house. I parked the car and grabbed my heels before I climbed out. I handed the keys back to Charles as we walked inside to find the rest. They were all ready changed into more comfortable things like sweatpants and a hoodie. Charles and I greeted them with a smile before we went to the bed room. I changed into some comfortable shorts with a hoodie while Charles changed into sweatpants with a shirt.

-𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬-

I walked down after changing while Aleina was searching something in her bag. I laid down on the only couch available for 2 persons. After a few minutes Aleina came down as well. Her hair was loosely hanging on her shoulders as she held a book. She looked at me and I spread my legs and tapped the couch softly. She smiled softly at me as she approached me. She laid down between my legs gently and her head rested on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms loosely around her waist letting my hand caress her skin under her hoodie. I felt her relax by the touch and I placed a kiss on her temple. I don't think I could live without her... okay maybe I can but I don't want to.

"That feels nice..."

Her voice was a soft whisper only for me to hear. She turned her head up to me with a smile.

"Then I'll continue."

She looked back down and opened her book. She was somewhere at the end of the book as she was focused reading. I watched tv with the rest. It was silent in the living room as from time to time there were a few words exchanged. A phone started vibrating on the table. Aleina was the first to grab her phone. She closed her book and climbed out of my embrace. She walked out of the front door as she started talking in Italian. She sat down on the steps as she looked at the sunset and talked to the person on the phone. Not even 5 minutes after she jogged up the stairs and went to our room. I grabbed her book with me as I walked upstairs. I opened the door to our bedroom I saw a panicked face sitting behind a laptop.

"Everything okay?"

"Right now no."

She was typing and typing on her laptop. She grabbed her carry on bag and laptop before we both went downstairs. She sat behind her laptop at the dining table as she pulled files out of her bag and skipped through them while comparing them to her computer. She looks really stressed out. I couldn't help because I knew nothing about running a company. I kept looking at her every few minutes. Around 23:15 we all decided to head to bed. The girls went upstairs already and the guys were waiting for me as I walked to Aleina.

"We're heading to bed... are you coming in a few?"

"Yeah I'll up in 30. Sleep well."

"Good night."

I pecked her temple before I went upstairs with the guys.

(1404 words)