Alexandrea's P.O.V

Red and blue. That was all I could see immediately I got to the restaurant. My head was aching from the loud siren of the cop's car and the ambulance. I watched as some people carried the chef's pale and lifeless body into the ambulance.

"I just....I came to dispose the trash and....and I saw him.....I saw him on ...on the floor. There was a large hole...a bloody hole on his forehead. Then...then I screamed and called the ambulance.....and....and Alex too" Maria explained to the cops as she cried and hiccuped.

I sat on the stair at the entrance of the restaurant with my arms hugging my knees. I just couldn't comprehend what happened. He is gone. The man that was like a father to me is gone. I couldn't even cry.

"Alex! Hey, Alex!" I saw my group rushing over to meet me. Bex, Zoey, Eli, Eddy, Luke and Nick. Yes, Nick. They finally reached me and Bex and Zoey sat on both my sides.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm so sorry"

"We rushed here as soon as we heard"

"Please say something"

"Alex?"

They a threw questions at me except Nick who was on his phone. Too busy to care, I guess. I just stared at them because if I said I was okay, I would be lying.

"He's gone" I muttered in a small voice which I didn't believe belonged to me.

Bex and Zoey pulled me into a hug as I just stared. Stared at nothing. I don't know what I was feeling. Emptiness just swirled inside me.

"I need..." I said and swallowed the lump in my throat.

"What do you need sweetheart?" Eli said as he caressed the back of my palm with his fingers smoothly.

"I need to be alone.... please" I said quietly as I looked down.

"Um...Are you sure you'll be fine?" Zoey asked glancing at Bex.

"Please don't try anything stupid...." Bex said as she put her right arm around me.

"I just...I won't"I sighed.

"Promise?" Eddy said as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"I promise" I said. I wasn't planning on doing anything anyways. I just needed time to think.

"Take care of yourself" Luke said and I don't know why I felt odd towards him.

"I will. Thanks guys" I smiled a little and stood up as they all gave me worried looks except Nick, whose face was glued to his phone and Luke who was smiling at me. I don't know if it was an encouraging smile, or pity smile. It was just a smile. I smiled back and began to make my way towards my car.

"Hey!" I heard a sniff and felt a touch on my shoulder. Then Maria came into view.

"Are you okay?" She asked with worry in her puffy eyes and I nodded. "I already talked with the cops. The...chef was shot. They said they will start investigation immediately. Don't worry, we'll find the person who did this" she assured me and I gave her a small smile.

"Thanks Maria" I smiled and she nodded. "I'll be going now, bye" I said and got into my car. Then I started driving to the only place I know that I can think properly. The Beach.

I arrived there and parked my car. I removed my shoes and got down from the car, feeling the fine sand bury my feet. I wiggled my toes and began walking. I got to the shore and sat down on the sand without bothering to fold my sweats as I stared at the blue water. I took as deep breath and closed my eyes, inhaling the smell of the salty water.

"Life's unpredictable, isn't it?" A deep voice said beside me making me snap my eyes open and jolt in fear.

"Nick, what are you doing here? What part of I want to be alone don't you understand?" I glared at him and he opened his mouth to talk but I cut him off " Oh, wait. You weren't even listening because you were attending to something more important with your face glued to your phone" I said and felt my strength drain from me. He shot me an amused look and chuckled. He fucking chuckled. You know what, I think this guy is psycho.

"Calm down shorty. I was listening" he said as swept a strand of hair that fell on his face.

"Sure" I muttered sarcastically and dragged my sight back to the beach. There was silence for about three minutes before he talked.

"You know..... I've always hated pity. That's why I didn't say anything when we got there" he said, his eyes still focused on the deep blue sea.

"Me too" I mumbled, agreeing with him.

"Have you ever thought of being a robot? You know, soulless, heartless? Just numb?" He asked staring deeply into the sea.

"No..." I laughed " but now that you say it....yeah! But still, would you like to have yourself controlled by someone? Because every robot has a maker" I said thoughtfully.

"True. Just like every human has a heart....Which would stop beating one day.... Without knowing the time, place or how." He smiled cruelly. "Death is what makes us all equal because it's not a sexist and it happens to both rich and poor"

"Yeah...." I trailed off in a shaky voice, swallowing the lump in my throat and holding back the tears. He noticed and glanced at me. My palm cover my mouth as the tears begin to flow down my face. It's hurts. Everywhere. The realization just hit me as I shut my eyes and cried.

"He's gone" I muttered in a croaky voice as I felt Nick wrap his arms around me and pulled me to his chest. "I'll never see him again" I said again still unable to get used to that fact. "His family will never see him again" He rubbed my back soothingly as I cried.

"Let it out. Let it all out" He mumbled into my hair. I stopped crying and started to hiccup. My head hurts so bad as I detached myself from Nick awkwardly. There was silence again as we both continued to stare at the sparkly water. It was dark already so the moon was reflecting on it.

Suddenly, he glanced at me then at the scrunchie that I used to tie my hair and removed it making my long hair flow down my chest and back.

"Hey! What'd you do that for?" I said in a croaky voice.

"Cover your face with your hair" he said and moved his gaze back to the sea. I furrowed my eyebrows at what he said.

"Why?" I asked again.

"I don't.....I don't want to see you like this" He said as he looked at me again " Besides you're more beautiful with your hair down" he added and I turned crimson red. Okaaay, this is weird. Where's the Nick I know?

Then he started laughing.

Puzzled, I looked at him. " What? What's funny?" I asked and he looked at me and continued laughing. "Nick, what's funny?" I asked again.

"The joke" he said as he continued laughing.

"What joke? What are you talking about?" I asked, confused.

"The 'you look beautiful with your hair down'. It was a joke" He said and my eyes widened. "Wait, you believed me?" He asked and my silence gave him the answer. "Oh my God! You did!" He said and started another fit of laughter while I just glared at him.

"Jerk" I mumbled as he continued laughing.

He finally stopped and nudged me slightly as I looked at him. He was already looking at me.

"What?" I asked as I snapped my eyes up to his. He started moving closer to me decreasing the distance between our faces by the second. I just stood there, glued to my spot, wide eyed and surprised as his gaze was does to my eyes. He is going to kiss me! NICHOLAS HUNTER IS GOING TO KISS ME!!

Right now, if I moved my head even a bit, our lips will touch. My breathing was getting heavy and my brain was thinking of various things. He reached out his hands and softly grazed my cheek, then my hair.

Then he retreated and raised his arm holding a strand of thread in between his fingers. "Got it" he said and flicked it away. What?!!

I stared at him in surprise. All that just because of a thread?? A strand of thread! Wait, maybe I'm overreacting. I never wanted him to kiss me anyways. Why would he want to kiss me anyways? Okay, I have to stop over thinking things.

"What?" He asked when he noticed me staring at him.

"Why did you do that?" I blurted out.

"Do what? Remove the thread from your hair? Oh, I didn't realize you love hanging strands of different colours of thread in your hair" He said raising an eyebrow at me while raising his head up a little and resting on his elbows.

"No!! I meant...ughhh forget it" I rolled my eyes in frustration as I lay on my back too, closing my eyes. Then he chuckled and lay on his back too as we both looked at the stars.

"So do you feel better about the... um....the other thing?" he asked nervously as he glanced at me.

"Honestly, no" I answered truthfully, feeling his gaze on me as I looked at the stars. "And....I don't think I ever will feel better about it. He's like a father to me and it really means a lot. So...yeah" I added feeling really emotional.

"What about your dad?" He asked cautiously.

"What about Danny? And his relationship with you?" I shot back, avoiding the question. His face turned stone cold as he clenched his jaw.

"Never ask about my job!" He said in a deep voice as he moved his gaze back to the stars. I got pissed off and sat up.

"Jeez, what's your problem? You're sweet one second and rude, the other. What's so special about your job? Who the fuck is Danny?" I yelled at him. My emotion are messed up right now, because I'm sad about the death of Chef and feel like it's my fault and I'm pissed off at the way Nick pokes his nose in my business and tries to keep me away from his.

"Whatever I do doesn't concern you Alex. And as for Danny, you don't need to know who he is. None of this is your business, get that into your brain!" He sat up and yelled back at me.

"Of course, it's my business! As long as it involves me, it's my business. The moment Danny mentioned something about knowing me, it became my business so I have the right to know!" I yelled at him.

"None of that makes sense" He scoffed and out of frustration, I pulled his shirt towards me and crashed my lips on his. I was not thinking. At all. The kiss wasn't even up to ten seconds before I pulled away, wide eyed after realizing what I had done. He was just as surprised judging from the way he was looking at me. What the hell is wrong with me? I don't even like him that way! Not like Eli! Shit, my emotions are running wild.

"I-" Nick tried to say something to break the silence but I just stood up and ran towards my car not bothering to listen to what he had to say. "Hey! Alex!" He called me but I didn't even look back.

I got to my car and got in immediately, starting the engine. I saw him running towards my car and I tried to reverse.

The engine went off.

Really, engine? Did you have to go off at this moment? I hit the steering repeatedly and started the car again but it won't start.

"Alex, hold on!" I saw Nick knock on the glass by my side as I looked at him. I rolled down the glass as I bit my lower lip awkwardly. "Um....can you give me a ride? Please?" He asked looking at me while I looked everywhere but him.

"Uh...sure" I said and rolled up my glass as he jogged to the other side. He slid in and I started my car as the car strated. Without any problem. Stupid car, but I still love it anyways!

I start driving as I face the road squarely and he's looking out the window. The tension and awkwardness is so much it can choke a turkey so I decide to turn on the radio to ease it a bit.

Are you gonna kiss me or not?
Are we gonna do this or what?
I think you know I like you a lot...

I choked on my saliva on hearing the song as he let out a choking cough too. What is wrong with these people?! Awkward......

I changed the station hoping to hear something different.

It's centrifugal motion
It's perpetual bliss
It's that pivotal moment

Phew! Thank God!

....this kiss, this kiss
It's a criminal
This kiss, this kiss.

What??!! Seriously??!. I turned off the radio as Nick muttered something along the lines of 'thank God!' . I arrived at his house and stopped.

"Nick....um.. we're.." I stammered then cleared my throat "we're here" I said as I fiddled with fingers, my gaze fixed on them.

"Oh, right! Um... goodnight. I hope you were able to take your mind off some um...stuffs today" he said and go out of the car.

"Um..yeah. Goodnight" I muttered and sped off as fast as I could. Phew! I almost died there. Could things be more awkward? First, the kiss, then the car engine, then the songs on the radio, like what the fuck is going on?!!

I got to my house, parked in the driveway and entered the house. I saw my mom asleep on the couch as a smile graced my face. I walked over to her and gave her a light peck on the forehead. I took a blanket from her room and draped it over her before going to my room.

I groaned as I collapsed on the bed tiredly. Today was one hell of a day. Meeting Danny, Nick beating someone to a pulp, Me ignoring Eli, Chef getting killed....., Me thinking Nick was about to kiss me, Me kissing Nick ACCIDENTALLY, the failed engine, the songs in the radio, the awkwardness in the air....

My phone made a 'ping' sound signalling that a message just entered. I took my phone and saw that it was a message from Nick. I bit my lip as I clicked on it.

Dicholas : Thanks for the goodnight kiss, shorty ;)

Jerk

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Writer: Hello sweethearts,
How have y'all been? I'm back!!!!!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.....

Alex: *shakes head*

Nick: So.....we kissed huh? *Wiggles eyebrows at Alex*

Alex: I'm outta here *disappears*

Nick: *follows her*

Eli: *follows Alex too*

Eddy: Where's Zoey?

Zoey: I'm here!

Eddy: Oh, cool!

Writer: Ooooooouuuuuiiii *wiggles eyebrows at both of them* No PDA please [ :p] *faces the audience* Don't forget to vote, comment and follow!!

Nick: *appears and winks* Enjoy!!!

Eli: *appears too* Shit! Did I miss it?

Eddy: *goes to rob a candy store*

Writer: *to Eli* Yes! you did *Glares at Nick* YOU!!

9/9/2020