AMELIA TRIED TO IGNORE the way her heart started beating a long forgotten beat against her chest the moment she crossed the “Welcome to Lowood” sign.

Even the air seemed to shift, adopting a more familiar feeling to it that seemed to claw against her throat.

“Can you roll the window up, please, Alex?” She asked and the man next to her nodded, closing the window.

“Are you okay?” He asked and Amelia managed a semblance of a smile for his sake.

His cold hand closed around her even colder one and she supressed a shiver.

It wasn't just the weather. She was always cold now.

“I'm tired,” she groaned, shifting in her position.

“We're almost there,” he said, looking down at the map open on his phone screen.

Amelia sighed, anxiousness growing every minute that she sat still.

“Alex,” Amelia whispered, throwing a quick look at the separator to make sure it was close.

“Yes?” He whispered back, eyes on the screen, oblivious to Amelia's intentions.

She rolled her eyes, smiling to herself as he continued to scroll down on his screen.

She reached forward and snatched the phone from his hands.

“Hey!” He complained, looking at her questioningly.

She grinned, taking the opportunity to climb onto his lap.

He smiled, grabbing her hips and bringing her closer to the bulge in his pants.

She brushed back the golden curls from his forehead, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

She breathed in his scent, a welcome distraction from the scent of Lowood air, feeling her anxious nerve settle ever so slightly.

“You look nervous,” Alex pointed out and she sighed against his skin.

“It's the whole moving thing. It's making me anxious,” she said.

Half truths or down right lies. That's how she lived now.

“We'll be okay, Am,” he said, soothing her hair.

She nodded, repeating the words in her head, wanting her mind to believe it.

The car turned right and then slowed down to a stop.

“Are we here?” She asked, getting off of Alex's lap and rolling the windows down to get a good look at the hotel they'd made reservations in.

Amelia stepped out, the cold air biting her skin. A shiver ran down her spine and she wrapped the scarf tighter around herself.

She'd specifically booked a hotel at the other end of town, far far away from anything that could remind her of her time with Ethan.

Tall buildings and hotels towered on either side of her, the sidewalks filled with people huddled together, faces covered with shawls and mufflers.

The cab driver hauled one of their grey suitcases inside while Alex grabbed the lighter one.

The guard pulled the double glass doors open for them as they approached.

The atmosphere changed drastically once the doors closed behind them and Amelia breathed a sigh of relief.

Alex tipped the driver before grabbing Amelia's hand and taking her to the reception.

“Alex Rodriguez,” he said to the receptionist.

She nodded, fingers working quickly on the keyboard.

The lobby was large and red. The flames danced orange and yellow against the brown of the fireplace.

A bellhop in blue approached them and Alex helped him haul their two suitcases onto the gold and red bell cart.

“4th floor, room 201,” the receptionist said, sliding the key towards Amelia.

The walk from the elevator to the mahogany door reading 201 on the reflective golden plate was short and Amelia’s previous anxiety was overshadowed by a giddy sense of excitement.

Alex pushed the door open and they were met by a spacious living room, decorated with cozy sofas and bean bags.

Amelia inhaled deeply, breathing in the smell of new sheets and room fresheners.

She walked further in towards the singular door at the right that opened to their bedroom. There was a huge bed in the middle, a closet on one wall and a full length window on the other.

She pulled apart the red curtains, seeing tiny cars speeding by, trees being swayed with the October winds.

Alex joined her, watching the world passing them by.

He pulled her closer, arm curling around her shoulders protectively.

“Don't get used to the view,” she said.

“It's so peaceful though,” he muttered.

“We have to start looking for a place as soon as possible,” she pointed out and he nodded.

“I'll pick you up tomorrow after my interview and then we'll go meet the estate agents we contacted earlier.”

“Thanks for doing this, Am. Thanks for making me do this,” he said, turning to her, his million dollar smile stretched across his lips.

Something twisted in her heart but she ignored it and hooked her arms behind his neck.

“There wasn't any way in hell I was going to let you miss this opportunity. You deserve this and I'm so damn proud of you, Al,” she whispered, her heart filled with pride and adoration.

His blue eyes shone, crinkling at the edges. His golden curls rested haphazardly over his forehead and Amelia brushed them back with her fingers.

He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her in his chest. She giggled, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him.

There was no rush in his actions. His fingers brushed back the dark strands from her shoulder, his lips moving against her in that perfect rhythm they've found in the last year or less.

He hoisted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. His hands fumbled with the buttons at the back of her shirt before he managed to get it off.

She moaned as he pushed her bra up, his fingers fondling her nipples, waves of pleasure tightening her stomach in knots.

Everything about Alex screamed gentle. From his polite smiles to his calm demeanor. He was sunshine in human form.

And he had this magical way of inducing his calmness in everyone around him.

He was perfect in every sense. He was respectful, caring and he gave too much of himself in whatever relation he committed to.

Amelia sometimes found herself wondering how different he was from Ethan but she would silence those thoughts just as quickly as they managed to invade her unsuspecting brain.

He placed her on the bed, peppering butterfly kisses from her stomach all the way to her chest.

As his lips captured hers once again, she found herself missing that fire in her veins a little too much.