The Window
Dylan had been circling for two hours when Haley finally approached the window. I was in the living room with Alex.
"What are they doing?" Alex asked.
"Talking. Arguing. Something in between," I replied, observing.
"She's going to take him back, isn't she?" Alex asked with resignation.
"Probably," I said.
"It's so frustrating. She deserves better," Alex said with annoyance.
"Maybe. But she also deserves to choose for herself," I replied.
Alex looked at me. Her eyes were softer than usual.
"You always say things like that," Alex said with curiosity.
"Like what?" I asked.
"Like... like you understand. Like you know why people do the things they do, even when they're stupid," Alex said.
"It's not hard. People are scared, they're lonely, they want to be loved. Everything else is noise," I replied.
"That's very cynical," Alex said, raising an eyebrow.
"That's very honest," I replied.
She didn't say anything. But she didn't look away either.
Claire's Arrival
Claire arrived home with Valerie. Fifteen years had passed, and Valerie was more successful than ever: she had just been promoted to head of Europe.
"This is my house," Claire said proudly as she opened the door. "I hope it's not too messy. It's Saturday and the kids are home, so..."
She opened the door.
The chaos was absolute.
Phil was in the middle of the living room, in his underwear, with the phone in his hand.
"Mrs. Patterson, I promise you the house doesn't have ghosts. It's just the wind. The wind makes noises. Normal noises," Phil said, not realizing that Claire and Valerie were at the door.
Haley ran to open the front door. Dylan was on the threshold with a bouquet of flowers.
"Dylan!" Haley shouted.
"Haley!" Dylan shouted.
They ran into each other's arms, embracing as if they hadn't seen each other in years.
"What is going on here!?" Claire shouted.
In the kitchen, Alex and Luke were surrounded by alcohol bottles. Luke had a Jägermeister bottle in his hand. Alex had the broom raised, ready to attack the rat.
"Mom, it's for a school in Africa!" Alex said defensively.
"Mom, there's a rat!" Luke said, pointing under the refrigerator.
"Phil, why are you in your underwear!" Claire shouted.
"I'm closing a sale!" Phil replied with panic.
"Mrs. Patterson, don't hang up!" Phil shouted into the phone.
The rat ran out from under the refrigerator and crossed the living room. Valerie screamed and jumped onto a chair. Luke slipped again and fell onto the bottles. Alex hit the floor with the broom. Haley and Dylan were still embracing in the doorway.
"This isn't what it looks like," Claire said with a forced smile.
Valerie looked at her for a moment. There was silence.
"It's exactly what it looks like," Valerie said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "You have a real family. That's more than most people can say."
Claire looked at her. And then, for the first time in fifteen years, she stopped trying to impress her.
"Do you want to stay for lunch?" Claire asked sincerely.
"I'd love to," Valerie replied.
Phil was still on the phone. "Mrs. Patterson, can you give me a minute? My wife just came home with a friend, and it seems there's a loose rat. No, it's not a metaphor. It's a real rat with a tail and everything. Yes, I can hold."
Alex approached me, with the broom in her hand and a smear of something on her cheek.
"Did you survive?" I asked.
"I survived. The rat escaped under the door too," Alex replied with fatigue.
"Are you going to chase it?" I asked.
"Tomorrow. I've had enough for today," Alex replied.
She stayed by my side.
The Porch
Dylan left after an hour. Haley stayed in her room. Alex and I were on the porch.
"Haley compared you to Dylan today," Alex said with a casual but tense voice.
"Compared me how?" I asked.
"She said Dylan wasn't romantic. Not like you. She said you were... and then she stopped," Alex said.
"She stopped at what?" I asked.
"She stopped talking because she realized what she was saying," Alex replied.
I waited. Alex's fingers drummed on the railing.
"She said you were romantic with me. That you did things for me and that you were always there. And that Dylan wasn't like that. Dylan was... Dylan," Alex continued.
"And what did you say?" I asked.
"I said we weren't together. That we were just friends. And that you weren't my boyfriend," Alex said quietly.
"And what did she say?" I asked.
"She laughed. She said that's what I thought now, but that someday I'd realize," Alex replied.
Alex stopped drumming. She turned to look at me.
"Is that true? Someday will I realize?" Alex asked with doubt.
"Realize what?" I asked.
"That you're not just my friend. That you're... something more," Alex said with vulnerability.
I thought about it. About all the moments that had brought us here.
"Maybe. Or maybe not. Either way, I'm not going anywhere," I replied.
"That's not an answer," Alex said with frustration.
"It's the only answer I have," I replied sincerely.
She fell silent for a long time. Then she reached out her hand and placed it on mine. It was trembling, just a little.
"Leo," Alex said quietly.
"Yeah?" I replied.
"Dylan asked me something before he left. He asked if you and I were together. I said no. He asked why not. I said..." Alex stopped and swallowed. "I said because I wasn't ready. And he said that was stupid. That if someone like you was waiting for someone like me, I should just... grab you and not let go."
"What did you say?" I asked.
"I said it wasn't that simple," Alex replied.
"It's not," I said.
"I know. But sometimes I wonder if it could be," Alex said with hope.
The sun was setting, painting the sky orange and pink.
"I'm not in a hurry, Alex," I said calmly.
"I know," Alex replied.
"I'm not waiting for you to be ready. I'm just... here. Being your friend. Being your person. Whatever you need," I said.
"That's very patient of you," Alex said with a small smile.
"That's very Leo of me," I replied.
She smiled. It reached her eyes.
"You're weird," Alex said.
"I know," I replied.
"I like it," Alex said.
"I know that too," I said.
She didn't move her hand. And I didn't move mine.
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