016

-THIRD PERSON-

Alexandria dropped Ava off at Tristan's place because it was closer to her school. The dreaded day was already knocking on my door and she couldn't let her see her like that. She packed an overnight bag when she got back home and left a note for Paxton telling him she'd be gone for a week. She called for a maid from the agency to help clean up around the house while she was gone then left for Golden hotels and suites. March 11th has been a bad day for her since she was 14.

Krishna - the maid from the agency was let in by the gate security to clean over the house before Paxton came back from work. She did quick work on the kitchen, living room and dining before moving on to the bedrooms. Innocent Krishna did not know the series of events that would occur from throwing away the sticky note that she could not understand because she could not speak English.

The domino effect began to take place as Paxton got home to an empty house at 9:23pm, he tried calling Alexandria to ask if she and Ava had gone out and would be out late feeling left out but not willing to admit it but it went straight to voicemail. The first time, he thought she was busy, the third time he thought she was ignoring him, but after the seventh voicemail he began to get worried.

He thought about calling Tristan, his worst enemy (dramatic much?) but then realized he didn't have his phone number so he did something he never thought he would do for a woman 3 months ago - go out at quarter past 10pm to the house of a person who would rather see him 6-feet under.

Ringing the doorbell once, no reply, twice then he heard grunting and cursing then the door swung open, revealing a half dressed Tristan. "What the hell are you doing here?" he asked. The option of slamming the door in his face seemed really appealing right now.

"Look man, I'm sorry but Ava and Alexandria didn't come home tonight and I've tried calling her several times but she didn't pick and I didn't know where else to go or who else to talk to but dude, if you know where they are tell me so I can fall asleep tonight" Paxton said. Now , we don't know whether it was the desperation in Paxton's voice or the fact that Tristan was not someone that joked with his sleep that made him give out the location of his friend.

HIM

I went back home to get some sleep and take care of some stuff before tomorrow.

*The following morning*

I packed an overnight bag in case I needed it and started the trip to Golden hotels and suits. It was a 40 minute drive from our place and when I got there I realized that I didn't really have a plan, what am I gonna say when I see her, I don't even know what she was going through. All I had to work with was what Tristan told me "This is a rough time of the year for her, she should be at Golden hotels and suits and Ava is with me".

I entered the lobby and it was fairly busy. I walked up to the desk and asked for the room number of Alexandria Donovan.

"Sorry sir, Miss Donovan has been asked not to be disturbed" the man replied

"It is very important that I see her right now"

"Are you family?"

"I'm her boyfriend"

"Sorry sir but I cannot give you access to miss Donovan's room"

*sigh* "I didn't wanna have to do this but I need to see your manager"

*10 minutes later*

After talking to the head of Golden hotels and suits who I had done business with a few times, he managed to pull some strings and let me in. I was not prepared for the sight I saw before me as I opened the door. My can't-drink anything-more than-diluted-white wine girlfriend passed out with 3 empty bottles of vodka around her. I started cleaning up the mess around her.

What was so bad that happened to my fierce-no nonsense girlfriend that made her like this? I took a wet rag and wiped her face before laying her well on the bed. I wondered how she would react to seeing me here when she wakes up. I guess I'll find out eventually. Good thing I brought my laptop so I could get some work done.

*3 hours and 4 meetings later*

"Paxton? what are you doing here" she asked stirring in the bed, looking around probably wondering how i got in and who cleaned this place up.

"Well, I don't know,if me and Ava go out together and don't come back in the night and I wasn't picking my calls would you not freak out or am I not important enough yet to know when something is wrong with you or when you are gonna disappear for a week without and means of reaching you" I asked not meaning to sound angry but failing terribly. "I got home yesterday very late might I add to an empty house and I tried calling you one million and ten times to no avail. I had to go to Tristan's place to ask if he knew where you were already worried out of my mind before he finally told me where I might find you. I get that we aren't that close yet but I care about you, more than I'm ready to admit right now so please for the sake of my sanity don't do that again''.

She had been silent since I started talking so I went closer and saw that she was asleep......with her freaking eyes open.

With a sigh, I went back on the laptop, after ordering room service for us, hopefully she wakes up before it gets cold. She woke up again about 30 minutes later and didn't acknowledge me this time, just stood up and took the food then took another bottle of vodka from the mini-fridge. "The way in is the way out" she said as she finished her food and started nursing the bottle in her hand, ignoring my presence again.

I had half the mind to leave and let the anger that was brewing inside me out but I didn't because what Tristan said kept ringing in my head. 'This is a rough time of the year for her' I wanted so badly to know what happened to her and there was no way I was leaving her alone when she was so self destructive like this. I stayed and eventually she stopped acting like I was there. She started on another bottle and when I tried to collect it from her she dragged it away and glared at me so hard that I would have been six feet under if looks could kill.

As she was almost done with bottle she started talking, I doubted she could hear the silent pleas in my head, maybe my desperation was clear on my face but for whatever reason, I was thankful. " His name was Max, short for Maximus. He was my best friend, my only friend at the time and nobody saw it coming, he was the healthiest kid, he never got sick and suddenly he was diagnosed with leukemia and it all went downhill from there. The treatments, he had all of them, he got them regularly but he wasn't getting better, it wasn't working, he was dying slowly before our own eyes. I had to watch my best friend, my first love die in front of me and there was nothing I could do about it, we had all the money in the world yet it could not do anything to help him. Cancer took him away from me and then it came back and took my mum away too" she broke down in tears on the bed and I went to comfort her. I've heard a hug goes a long way. She broke down in my arms. I don't know what I was expecting but this was not it. I can't begin to imagine what she is going through and what she has been going through all this years so we just stayed there for hours with no words between us just silent comfort.

-3 DAYS LATER-

Alexandria and I checked out of the hotel with a newly formed connection...... we were gonna make it. I would make sure of it.

Sup guys, my first chapter in a long time. Hope you enjoyed it. See you guys net time

Peace.

Have a nice rest of your weekend.