Chapter 33: Thirty three

•Rosalie

I hesitated a bit before entering but I knew Alios was never at fault. He was a good kid. He probably barely even remembers what happened all those years ago but still, he remembered me. And he wants to meet me again so isn't that enough?

I opened the door and entered his workplace. He was standing at the counter and upon hearing the door he looked at me.

"Rosy!" His face lit up.

"Hey Alios." I waved back.

"You really came. I'm glad." He passed me a smile. "This means you don't hate me right?"

"No. I don't." I shook my head, "I never did."

"That's a relief. I was always scared you would." He then looked around. There were currently no customers so he ushered me to come close. "I can't come and sit with you so we'll have to talk like this." He then glanced at the back door leading to the employee rest area, "Okay. No sign of boss. So I hope life's been well."

I nodded. "Yea. What about you?"

"Well, there's been ups and downs. But so far, okay I guess."

"How long have you been working part-time?"

"Ever since I got in high school. Oh! How bout you work with me! I'll teach you all the stuff."

I raised my brow at him, "Well, it doesn't seem like a bad idea."

"Right-" The front door opened and a group of boys entered the place. "I have to take their orders."

I stepped aside to let him.

Whenever he had free time. We chatted a bit. Taking about nothing in particular. But nowhere in the conversation I mentioned Lizzie. Neither did he.

***

I finished taking a morning shower and stepped out of the cubicle, I grabbed the towel and was reaching for my underwear and dress when I noticed something above it and froze.

A cockroach, a disgustingly big one.

I screamed and jumped back.

I began staring at it with a fighting stance.

"Fight me bit-" I didn't even get to complete my line when the cockroach began to fly towards me. I let out another scream and began running towards the door, incidentally, Lexus opened the door before I could from the other side

"What's wrong-?!" I jumped on him making him drop the Magazine he had in his hands and stumbled back trying to catch me and balance himself.

"Cockroach!!!"

"Where?"

"It's right there!! I pointed at the cockroach flying towards us.

He shifted my weight on one arm and picked up the magazine again. Just as the cockroach got near he slammed the magazine on it, squishing it on the wall.

"There." He then looked at me, pausing for a moment, "Where are your clothes?"

"Umm, inside?" I had the towel with me, covering my front as I held it above my chest.

He dropped me at the spot and left.

***

After getting dressed, I walked down to the first floor and saw Lexus standing in front of the fridge, with both the fridge and freezer doors wide open.

"Um, Lexus?"

He didn't answer me. He had his eyes closed, maybe he was thinking about something. "Lexus can I work with Alios?"

"Absolutely not." Was his clear cut answer, "Considering how reckless you are. You'll only cause trouble."

"... Stingy." I mumbled under my breath. What did I do wrong?

After standing there for quite some while he sighed, closed the doors and turned to me who stood in place.

"Why do you want to work suddenly?"

"Just wanted to try it out." I said softly.

"Well you have the qualifications for a part time since you graduated from high school." He scratched his head, "Well I guess it's better than watching animals mate on TV all day."

"I do not do that all day!!" I retorted back as my ears turned a shade of red. He smirked at my reaction.

"If you can do good for a week at the training. You get the job. That's how things work here."

****

"I'm glad you decided to join." Alios grinned, "It was just a few days ago that I said you should."

"Yeah. Well, I don't have much to do these days."

"Okay so Rosy. It's a weekday and on evenings people don't really come here, either they order it or they want it delivered to the food court."

"Okay." I nodded, "But what about him?" I pointed at the window where a guy in all black was standing.

"Ahh, He just stares from there. He's here off and on."

"I feel like I've seen him before." But I couldn't remember where.

"Oh well. It's just the two of us until the manager comes back. So let's work hard." Alios made fighting fists and encouraged himself.

The phone rang and he picked up.

"Yes hello, McDonald's- ah yes? Right now? Okay." He placed the receiver back, "I think there's some problem I was called up, I'll be back soon." He ran out to the door that lead to the hotel and my gaze followed him. It was the opposite of the other entrance.

I turned my head back and jumped, almost letting out a shriek but covered my mouth in time.

A tall figure in all black was looking down at me. His eyes wide open and his arms were an unusual length. I didn't notice it when he was standing outside.

"Y-yes? What would you like to order?"

He kept staring, it was creeping me out, then he spoke, "You're alone?"

"No..." My instincts told me to run, but to run back into the hotel I have to circle past him. I pressed the emergency button under the counter

He smiled, a nasty smile, "You are alone."

He tried reaching for me but I jumped back and then ran to the other entrance that leads out. Just before exiting, I froze.

I can't leave the hotel...

A large shadow covered mine and I turned slightly to see him.

I screamed as he tried to catch me again, but barely I managed to get past him. Barely, didn't work. He caught my hair and picked up the vase on the little stool next to the door.

I closed my eyes for impact.

***

"Rosalie." I heard Lexus's voice, " Open your eyes. It's okay now."

I slightly opened my eyes and found myself in his arms as we both sat on the floor "You're okay." He said to me but I could feel something wet trickling down my head or was it down my cheeks. I touched the trickling liquid.

Blood?

I noticed the man being apprehended by security while he tried to resist, Alios stood there helping them to contain the strange person.

My gaze landed back at Lexus. And then my eyes grew wide.

No wonders I wasn't feeling anything.

"Lexus. Your head is bleeding."

"You don't need to worry about that." Why was his voice firm yet it felt like it was fading?

My hands trembled, "Your bleeding s-o bad."

He held my trembling hands in his, "It's fine." His breathing was uneven, his hands reached for the back of my choker and I heard it click off, "As long as you're saf-e..." He fell into my arms.

"Lexus?"

He didn't respond.