Lounge Room

Alice stood in the lounge room, one hand placed on the counter and the other holding a styrofoam cup. She filled the cup with hot water and then dropped a tea bag in it. As the tea brewed, she stared down at it. The clear water started to take a deep brown color within seconds. She pulled the tea bag out with a spoon, stirring it for a moment before putting the spoon in with the dirty dishes.

She turn around, the cup in both hands, but stopped when she saw there was someone standing there. “How long have you been here, Alex?” She asked, tilting her head. The young man with pale blonde hair had walked in without her notice. Not many could do that. His blue eyes studied the tea she held between her hands.

“Just when you poured the tea. Not too long, don’t worry.” He told her. He pushed past her, lightly brushing her shoulder, and started up the coffee machine. “I was going to get coffee myself, but you seemed busy in…thought. I didn’t want to disrupt you.”

Her fingers tightened around the cup. “Don’t worry about that next time.” The coffee squirted into his own cup, so brown it was almost black. He took it in his hands without bothering to put any sugar or cream in it. He turned his head back towards her.

“I’ll remember not to,” he said. His eyes met her’s for a moment, but she pulled them away.

“Thank you.” She turned her attention to the exit and went towards it. Her heels echoed throughout the room. She could feel Alex’s stare burning on her back. She tried to ignore it, clenching her jaw tightly, her gaze at the floor.

“Alice,” she heard him suddenly call. It sounded almost desperate. She turned around. “If you needed help, you would tell me, right?” He asked. “And if Alen was hurting you–”

“Alen isn’t hurting me,” Alice snapped back. She could see hurt flash across Alex’s eyes. She bite down on her cheek.

“I just–” Alex started. He rubbed at the back of his neck hesitantly.

“It doesn’t matter.” Alice told him. She sprung back around on her heels and started to walk away. “Alen isn’t doing anything wrong, Alex. He never has been. So, please, get those delusions out of your head.”

“Alice…”

She stopped at the door frame. “If I were you, I wouldn’t mention this to anyone else. Alen is your boss — my boss — you wouldn’t want to get fired right after just being hired, would you?”

He swallowed. “No. Of course, not, Alice.”

“Good. So let’s not have this conversation again.” She told him. “And, Alex?” His eyes flickered across her face. “If I talk to you anytime later, it would be much too soon.”

She turned away and stepped down the hall. Alex was left in the lounge. Alone. He pushed a hand threw his hair and sighed.