Chapter 13

After Bailey left, Alicia didn't leave any room for an uncomfortable silence. Once the door was closed, she had said, "alright, I guess now is the time for the tour." 

The butler just left after realizing that Alicia didn't need him along, and because she had said, "no need for you to stop and stare at us, James, there are many other things you could be doing." 

But it wasn't said unkindly. In fact, Alicia seemed quite the opposite of unkind. 

After she showed me the living room, she took me to the kitchen. Even though I’d barely seen any of the house yet, I immediately decided that this must be one of the best rooms. It was luxuriously spacious, with top notch appliances. When she saw my face she said, "so, my house isn't quite so horrible, is it?" 

It would have been the perfect moment to ask her just how she could afford a house so big and glorious. But she continued to talk about the rooms and pointing things out as she led me down the long corridors. I wasn't able to get a word in edgewise. 

Once we got to the family room, she waved her arms on the couch. 

"Come on, sit. Feel the softness, relax." 

I sat on the end of the couch, and she settled right next to me. 

"So, tell me, why did you want to live with me?" 

I felt uncomfortable with her simply being by me, by the house (mostly) being empty of people and other sounds, and the question itself. But of course I had to answer. 

"It's... complicated." I knew I couldn't lie to her, but how could I tell her about what had been occurring exactly? Oh wait, I could just say..."I had a fight with my sister - I used to live with her... and I just don't have the best relationship with my parents." 

My relationship with my parents was okay, I guess. I usually saw them every few weeks, but I hadn’t seen them since I'd changed. They wouldn't react well, and they understand that I'm kinda 'at that stage' at the moment, so they're not bugging me about it or anything. Eventually they'll want to see me... but I don't want that to be soon at all. Especially since Trish had to have said something about me acting strange and leaving.... 

"I see." She furrowed her brow and gave me a lopsided smile. I sighed with relief when she didn’t persist with questions. I figured now would be as good a time as any for me to ask her a question - the one that had been nagging me since I’d arrived. 

"Alicia... how were you able to afford such a big house?"

She looked at the ground for a moment then gave me really sad eyes. "Well, becausemydaddied." She talked so fast I couldn't even understand her. "Your dad what?" 

Now her expression looked strained, "my dad died..." Tears started to well up in her eyes, and I could tell she was holding back tears. "Just a few months ago, he died...." 

I just put my arm on her back and awkwardly patted it. "My mom died when I was just a baby," she continued, her voice breaking. 

"I'm sorry I brought it up...." 

She sat up straighter and wiped away her tears. I took my arm off her. "It's alright," she said, her voice a little steadier, "I should just get over it. My dad was just a CEO of this music company and he made the big bucks. I only moved back in here when he died. I really don't deserve this glorious house.” 

I smiled slightly, knowing that I could say something that was entirely true, "but you're a brilliant guitar player, and you sing really well." She grinned showing her teeth, but her eyes still looked sad. 

"Dad was helping me get it big with connections and such, but it stopped suddenly when he died. Whatever, I'll just have to get some dumb job..." 

"No, I'm sure you're good at many things...." This serious sad talk wasn’t my strong point. I started jiggling my foot nervously. 

"Well, enough of my sob stories. Let me show you my room which you'll make over. As well as this room too, by the way." 

Before I could ask what on Earth was possibly wrong with the family room, she was speed walking away. 

"So, this is my room." 

I looked at it, amazed. The room was big enough to be a ballroom! 

"Are you sure this is your room and not a lecture hall?" 

"Well, I don't like it at all." I looked at her, shocked. "And that would be because....?" 

"It's so not me! My dad liked the formal look, but I don't at all. That's why I want you to make over the family room and this room... it can be formal elsewhere since I want to be respectable, but this is my room... I want to love it!" 

"Fair enough." I shrugged. I looked to my right and saw a computer. It would be awesome to have a room big enough to fit a computer! 

"Well, how about I show you your room then?" I grinned. If my room was only an eighth of this size, I'd be overjoyed!

We walked and walked and walked, all the way up to the second floor (I know, two floors is what most houses have, but this place was like two giant ranches piled one on top of the other). Being silly, on the way up I suggested for her to get some elevators. She didn't even shoot the idea down! She obviously had inherited more than just the house. 

When we finally made it to 'my' room, again I was awed. But this time I was excited since this was where I was going to get to stay. 

"I get to stay here?" 

She smiled, understanding my happiness. "You betcha! You can stay here... in this room." 

"Cool!" 

"So, I guess I'll leave you alone or do whatever. Feel free to use the computer." 

She went to the door, but I caught her before she left. "What about my stuff?" 

She grinned. "It's all covered, James brought up your boxes and put your bathroom stuff in some cabinets in your restroom, and all your clothes and stuff and in drawers in here." 

I smiled. It must be nice to have a servant. Saves me work too! And all's I have to do is make over a few rooms. 

When she was gone, I immediately went to the computer and booted it up. I haven't made over any rooms in a few days, so I was sure I’d have a few requests in my inbox! 

I booted up the computer no problem. It definitely was no dinosaur computer! Its definitions were astounding, it was so thin I was surprised it wasn't broken! There was no doubt: this computer was top of the line. 

When I went to my company's email (which is pretty much me and a few others if I need help), I had a good dozen emails! Looking through them, I decided I would be able to get around to all of them within a few months, and replied to each email with my generic response, plus a few added details. Then, I went to my website and advertised that I wasn't going to be replying to emails for a few months. I made sure to add that I would be deleting emails from this point. I had to curb the flow of requests, at least for awhile. Otherwise my load would become too intense. 

After I was done with that, I booted down the computer and looked out the window. Alicia was down there on a seat with her bikini on. With nothing left to do, I decided I could put my trunks on. After all, the night was rather humid and still. 

By the time I was outside, she was running to the pool. 

I skipped the steps of the porch, and jumped down, going after her. 

"Woa, what's the rush?" 

She turned her head and smiled at me. 

She suddenly stopped at the pool. 

"I don't feel like swimming anymore... my hair will get messed up." 

I laughed a little. "What, where are you going to go? You want your hair to look nice for me?" 

She paused a little. I wasn't sure if I should take that as an insult or a compliment. "Um... how about we go to a club or something?" 

I nodded slowly. To me, that sounded like a bad idea. Like, I'd be her date or something. 

"I don't know...." 

She gave me this innocent glare, which I understood to mean: if you don't come with me, I'm kicking you out of my house. 

Message recieved.... "That's sounds like a great idea!" I smirked. 

"Great! Let's get changed."

When we got inside and to the main floor, she stopped dead. 

When she didn't do anything, I stared at her. I got no response. She was spacing out. 

"Um... Alicia." 

"What?" she asked, though she wasn't out of her trance. 

"Whatcha lookin' at?" 

She motioned me closer with her hand. "Um... can I talk to you in private?" 

I simply nodded and followed her. She was as quick and silent as a cat. 

We went into a dark corridor near the elevator. 

"Could you... help me with something?" 

Question marks filled my mind. "What with?" 

"Um... this is kind of embarrassing. My ex boyfriend is out there..." 

I almost wiped my brow with relief! "Um.... yeah?" 

"Could you... pretend to be my boyfriend?" 

I gave her a noncommittal look. 

"Oh, come on please?" 

I found myself saying, "sure, I could do that for you," when I figured that the silent agreement that I would be kicked out if I didn't would be 'raised' again. 

"Great, thanks so much." She smiled and pulled me back into the room, holding my hand..

When we got back into the room, she pulled me close to a group of three guys- which one her ex boyfriend was, I had no idea. 

Then, she went as close to me as a person could without kissing. She touched my arms and started to coo words with no meaning. 

I could almost hear her swallow when I saw one of them get up.

"Hey Alicia, I see you've moved on! That's so great, I never thought ever get over me." 

I rolled my eyes (knowing that he didn't care who I was). This guy just thinks he's so great! 

"Yup, I have!" She plastered a fake smile on her face, and he pretended to ignore it. 

"Well, catcha later 'Licia." 

She practically swooned when he sat back down by his friends. 

She leaned back close to me. "Let's dance," she whispered. 

"Nah, maybe later, I kinda want a drink." 

"No TJ, let's dance!" She scream-whispered in response. 

"Okay then, let's dance..." 

When we got into the dancing area, I noticed a little band area set up behind us. 

When she noticed me looking, she said, "yeah, bands only come here on Friday night usually." 

I nodded in response. 

That was the only time that she really even paid attention to me as we danced. She was looking off in random directions- especially at the door. I could tell that she was nowhere near over her ex. 

Eventually, I saw him and his friends come on the dance floor. His friends were dancing together with a girl, but now he was dancing with a girl all to himself. It was not hard to notice that Alicia looked very hurt. 

She looked very happy dancing with him, and there wasn't a doubt that this wasn't a 'friend' that he was dancing with. Considering he arrived with his friends, this probably was just a one time thing. But that didn't make Alicia any happier.