“What is the possibility of you putting your studies on hold to go see a movie with me?”
Alex gave Miles a curious look before asking, “Are you asking me out?”
“Yeah, I guess I am.”
“Miles, I’m not Alexandra,” Alex pointed out.
“Well, I know you’re not Alexandra from this reality. In fact, I’m more attracted to you than the Alexandra from this reality.”
Alex again gave Miles a curious look before asking, “Trudy didn’t tell you about me, did she?”
“What didn’t she tell me?”
Alex shook her head before answering, “It’s not important. Miles, I’ll go to the movies with you, but we can’t date.”
“Oh I get it. You’re dating someone and you would feel as though you would be cheating.”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
Alex thought for a second before saying, “Miles, in days, weeks or even months, I’ll be returning to my reality, and for us to date… well, it just wouldn’t be right.”
“Alex, there’s a possibility that this is your reality now.”
“Okay, that is a possibility, but I have to try to get back to my reality. It’s not fair to the other Alex if I don’t try. So are we good with just remaining friends?”
Miles grinned before asking, “Would you hold it against me if I try to change your mind?”
Alex slightly grinned before saying, “You’ll be wasting your time.”
“Honestly, I can’t think of a better way to waste my time.”
“Okay… well, I think we should go find out what’s playing.”
“I’m ready,” Miles said before standing up followed by Alex. Alex zipped her purse before putting it over her shoulder.
As they were walking into the parking lot, Miles told her, “We should take one vehicle.”
“Which do you want to take?”
“I don’t mind driving; as long as you don’t have a problem with it.”
“I’m fine with you driving.”
“My van it is then,” Miles said with a grin before he and Alex walked towards the van.
Miles and Alex walked up to the passenger’s side of Miles’ van. Miles unlocked the door with the remote and then opened it for Alex to get in. Once Alex was inside, Miles shut the door. As Alex was putting her seatbelt on, Miles walked to the drivers’ side.
Minutes later, Miles was buying two tickets to see a horror film. The movie didn’t start for another hour so they went to play video games.
2:00 P.M., Doug and Liz were walking through the corridors of the mall. When Liz noticed the bored expression on Doug’s face she nudged him before saying, “I know shopping with me at the mall wasn’t your idea of a fun date, but today is the only day I have time to get my sister a wedding gift before she gets married next weekend. I also have to buy a dress and a pair of shoes.”
Doug took a deep breath before saying, “Oh, I’m okay with being here with you.”
“If you can say that while not looking bored to death, it would be more convincing.”
Doug said in a more cheerful voice, “I’ll admit that shopping at the mall is not in my top-ten list of fun things to do, but spending time with you no matter where we are is number one.”
Liz stared delightfully into Doug’s eyes before saying, “Okay, I accept that response.”
Just after Liz’s response, Doug saw an intimate moment and leaned towards her to give her a kiss. Liz allowed the kiss and the kiss lasted for a few seconds.
In the theater’s parking lot, after the show, Alex and Miles were walking towards Miles’ van. As they walked Miles put his hand on Alex’s far shoulder.
Alex looked at Miles and said, “Miles, remove your hand.”
Miles removed his hand before asking, “So what do you have planned for the next two and a half hours before work?”
“I haven’t done any type of studying for two days, and I really need to.”
“You have tomorrow to study.”
“Miles, playing video games and watching the movie were fun, but I should study for Monday’s class.”
“Are you sure I can’t talk you into going somewhere with me?”
Alex gave Miles a curious look before asking, “Where?”
“Do you know Chris Swan?” Miles asked. Alex just shook her head. “Well, he’s the person I replaced as a goalie. Right now he’s hooked up to a machine at the hospital and hoping that a kidney donor can be found soon. He asked me to come by sometime today, and I’m not going there alone. Trudy had already told me that she won’t go with me, and I don’t know who else to ask.”
“Is there a reason that you won’t go alone?”
“Will you go with me without me telling you the reason?”
Alex again gave Miles a curious look before asking, “Why don’t you want to tell me?”
“Since I’m an adult, it’s a bit embarrassing to say.”
Alex grinned before asking, “Who better to tell an embarrassing secret to other than a person who won’t be around in a few weeks or so to tell it?”
“Fine, I’ll tell you,” Miles said. “I’m terrified of hospitals. I avoid them when I can and I will never walk into one alone.”
As Alex and Miles were approaching the van, Alex asked, “Is there a reason why you’re terrified of hospitals?”
As Miles and Alex were walking up to the passenger’s side of the van, he said, “When I was seven my mom, Trudy and I were involved in a serious car accident.” Miles unlocked and opened the door; however, Alex just stood outside the van to finish listening to what Miles had to say. “We were all sent to the hospital, and I was put in a room by myself. I was alone for what I thought was an extremely long time, so I left the room. I overheard a doctor telling another doctor about a woman who was involved in an accident and was taken to the basement. I thought the doctor was talking about my mom and so I went to find her. But what I found in the basement were dead bodies. One of the bodies… a woman’s body, looked as though it was something out of a slasher movie. She was completely cut in half just below the shoulders. Her arms were severed off just above the elbow and they were lying beside the body. Seeing what I did traumatized me. Since then, I’m terrified to walk into a hospital.”
Alex said in a sympathetic tone, “Miles, I’ll go with you.”
Miles grinned before saying, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Alex said before turning and climbing into the van. Once Alex was in, Miles shut the door. As Alex was putting on her seatbelt, Miles walked around to the drivers’ side.
Miles was quiet after driving away and Alex noticed within the first few minutes as to how quiet he was. She then broke the silence by talking about musical groups that she liked.
As Alex and Miles were approaching the entrance to the hospital, Alex noticed that Miles was pale. Sweat was forming up at his forehead and his body was slightly trembling.
Alex put her hand on Miles’ back and asked, “Are you okay?”
Miles asked in a nervous and trembling voice, “Don’t I look okay?”
“You’re talking as though you just came in out of freezing weather and as pale as your face is right now, you look as though you should be admitted here.”
“It has been a while since the last time I was in a hospital, so I guess I’m more frightened to be here than I thought.”
As they were entering the hospital, Alex asked, “Are you this way with doctors’ offices too?”
“I’m fine to be in a doctor’s office or a small clinic. It’s just hospitals that frighten me. Well, we should find a help desk to find out what room Chris is in.”
Alex pointed to a male nurse standing at a nurse’s station and said, “Let me ask him.”
As Alex and Miles walked up to the nurse, the nurse asked, “May I help you?”
“Can you tell us what room Chris Swan is in?” Alex asked.
The nurse pressed a combination of keys o
n the computer’s keyboard. Once the information popped up, he told them the room number and then explained how to find the room.
“Thanks,” Alex said.
“No problem.”
She and Miles walked in the direction of the nearest elevator. Miles pressed the button as they stepped up and the door opened immediately.
They stepped onto the elevator and after Miles pressed the button for the proper floor, Alex asked, “Did the Alex of this reality know Chris Swan?”
“She did. Trudy dated Chris last year and it was a hostile break up. That’s why Trudy wouldn’t come with me to see him.”
“That’s good to know before I meet Chris.” Alex was quiet for a second. She then asked, “Oh, how does Chris feel about Alex?”
“He likes Alex.”
“So Alex didn’t completely alienate herself from everyone around her?”
Miles grinned and said, “No, not everyone. To be fair to Alex, I really don’t think she means to alienate herself. Her standards are just set too high and I really think that she doesn’t realize as to how she treats people.”
“From what I read from her diary, I agree with you.”
In Chris’ room, Chris’ mother Linda and older brother Chad were visiting. The TV was turned off. Chad was in the middle of telling Chris about a movie that he watched the previous night. He stopped talking and turned to face Miles as Miles walked in followed by Alex.
Chris and Linda also turned and looked at Alex and Miles. Miles was still slightly pale. Chris then gestured and said, “Mom; Chad, meet Miles and Alex. Miles; Alex, meet my mom Linda and my brother Chad.”
Chad stepped up to Miles and held out his hand to shake hands. As Miles shook Chad’s hand, Chad said, “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Miles said.
Chad turned and held out his hand to shake Alex’s hand. As Alex went to shake Chad’s hand Chad kissed Alex’s hand before saying, “It’s nice to meet you as well.”
Alex nervously grinned and said in an uncertain tone, “It’s nice to meet you.”
Linda walked up also and greeted Miles and then Alex.
When the introductions were finished Chris feebly said, “Alex, I never expected to see you.”
“Oh sure. When I heard that Miles was coming, I just tagged along so I can say ‘hi’ and see how you’re feeling.”
Chris grinned and said, “I never knew you could lie in a compassionate manner, but thanks for trying.”
“Why do you think that I’m lying?”
“You never cared for me much and I knew that.”
“I wasn’t mean to you, was I?”
“Well, no, you weren’t mean or rude to me, but you would barely speak to me when we were in the same room.”
“Well, I’m talking to you now.”
“So, Chris, how are you feeling?” Miles asked.
“I’m as good as a person can be for being hooked up to a machine. You don’t look so hot though.”
“I’m fine. Being in a hospital just reminds me of a memory I’d rather forget.”
“What happened?” Chris asked.
Miles glanced at Alex before saying, “I’d rather not say.”
Alex tapped Miles’ shoulder and said just above a whisper, “I’m going to search for a restroom.” When Alex saw the worried look that Miles was giving her she added, “I shouldn’t be gone long.”
“Okay.”
Before Alex was able to walk out, Linda said, “Alex, I’ll show you to the ladies’ room.”
“Okay; thanks.”
After Alex and Linda left the room, Chris asked, “So what’s going on with you and Alex?”
“Presently there’s nothing going on, but I’m hoping I can change that.”
“You might not know this, but Alex has a crush on you, so you shouldn’t have any problems being with her.”
“Alex is going through a situation right now, and she has already mentioned that she will not get involved with me because of it. But as I told her, I’m going to see if I can change that.”
“You should make romantic gestures, like sending her flowers or surprising her with something romantic,” Chad suggested.
“That actually isn’t a bad suggestion,” Miles said.
“Alice, my fiancée is coming up from New York, and tomorrow I was going to show her all the fun sights in Boston,” Chad said. “You and Alex are welcome to join us.”
“I’ll talk to her about it.”
As Chad reached for his wallet he said, “I’ll give you one of my business cards. It has my cell phone number on it and you can call me tomorrow so we can meet.”
“Okay.” Just as Miles was taking the card he looked at Chris and said, “And this is probably an inappropriate discussion to have in front of you.”
“I’m fine, Miles,” Chris said. “You and Alex should go and see the sights of Boston with Chad and Alice. Last year Trudy and I spent an entire day going to every sight that was open and we had a great time. Speaking of Trudy, is she still mad at me?”
“Saying that she’s mad at you is putting it mildly.”
“I really messed up with Trudy. Before I die, I really would like it if she would forgive me.”
“If mom heard you talking about dying she would give you an ear full,” Chad said.
“Mom doesn’t want to face facts.”
“There’s always a chance that a donor will be found,” Miles said.
“I won’t be holding my breath,” Chris said.
“We need to change the subject before mom gets back,” Chad said.
“Miles, I want you to tell Trudy that I would like to see her,” Chris said.
“I told her once already, but I’ll tell her again.” Miles gestured towards the television. “So have you seen anything good on TV?”
“Just sitcoms and reruns.”
Miles started a conversation about a particular sitcom that came out the previous September. Alex and Linda were gone for eight minutes before they walked back into the room and joined their conversation.
Alex and Miles visited for an hour before leaving the hospital. Miles drove Alex back to her Jeep and they talked casually the entire way.
Chapter Eight
4:50 P.M., Alex walked into Little Bucks to start her shift. After walking in, she was introduced to another waitress named Sylvia. Sylvia was also to begin her shift at 5:00 P.M. Stephen was in the kitchen. Becky was nowhere to be seen.
As the evening progressed, Victor watched Alex as she waited tables in a manner that impressed him. Alex was also averaging slightly more tips than Sylvia.
At 7:30 P.M., Little Bucks was busy with the dinner crowd. Alex was at the table closest to the entrance and was writing down the three men’s food and drink order. She paused and looked up from what she was writing as Doug and Liz walked in. Alex slightly grinned at the sight of Doug and Liz being together. She then refocused her attention back to the men’s food order.
Once Alex was done writing down the food order, she said, “I’ll be right back with your drinks.” After Alex turned away from the men she looked over the room for a second. When she saw what table Doug and Liz were sitting at, she walked up to them.
Alex saw Sylvia walking towards the table as she was saying, “Hi, Liz.” Liz just politely waved. “Doug, Sylvia is coming to take your order. The table you sat down at is one of her tables.”
“That’s no problem,” Doug said.
“Well, I have a food order to turn in.” When Doug nodded, Alex turned and walked away.
As Alex and Sylvia were about to pass each other, Sylvia asked accusingly, “You weren’t thinking about stealing one of my tables were you?”
Alex stopped walking and said defensively, “The two who are sitting at your table is my brother and a friend of his, so before you start accusing me of something you need to know your facts.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought...”
“You should be sorry because I’m not the person you think
I am.” Alex didn’t wait for a reply and continued towards the kitchen.
When she walked into the kitchen she walked up to Stephen and held out the ticket for him to take. John, the second cook just watched.
As Stephen took the order he said, “We are getting backed up here, so it will be about five to ten minutes longer before these orders can be filled.”
“I’ll let the customers know.” Alex never attempted to walk away and looked at Stephen as if she was searching her thoughts for the proper words to say something.
Stephen gave Alex a curious look before asking, “What?”
“Are you saying something to Sylvia about me?”
“Like what?”
“Doug and his date Liz sat down at Sylvia’s table a few minutes ago. I walked up to the table to tell my brother ‘hi’ and when Sylvia stepped up, she accused me of attempting to steal her table. Now I would like to know why she had the idea that I would steal her table.”
“Sylvia didn’t get the idea from me.” Alex gave Stephen a skeptical glare. “Alex; Sylvia doesn’t even know that I knew you before today… I swear.”
“Did Becky say something to her?”
“I honestly doubt it. Alex, three weeks ago Sylvia was working at a different restaurant, so perhaps she was used to the other waitresses there stealing her tables.”
“Okay, that sounds reasonable. Well, I better get back out there.” Alex then turned and walked out.
As Stephen was putting the ticket on the holder John said, “Alex doesn’t seem to be the unreasonable person who you told me she was.”
“I can’t put my finger on it, but she does seem to be different.”
At the bar, Alex waited for Bryon the bartender to finish drawing the drinks. A couple of minutes later, Alex returned to the table with the tray of drinks. As she was taking the drinks off the tray and handing them to the three customers, she said, “It will be approximately fifteen minutes for your food order.”
One of the men gave Alex a wink before saying, “We’re not in a hurry.”
Alex grinned nervously before asking, “Can I get anyone, anything else?”
The man who winked slapped Alex on her butt while saying, “We’re fine for now.”
A Crossed Reality Page 11