Let the Floods Cross

Liezel sat down on the sofa beside Alex after she washed the dishes. After tennis practice, Liezel went straight home to see that Alex made it back before she did. He whined about his hunger and she decided to make dinner as she usually does. She didn’t even ask him to wash the dishes for her since he never complies with her demands.

He is too lazy to do what she asks of him. Besides, he is the kind of person who needs someone else to watch over and take care of all the time. Liezel is used to it and sometimes love that aspect about him.

“Please do not tell me that you are watching the gossip channel.” She complained when she focused her attention on the television screen.

The screen is focused on Wallace Poulsen instead of Dale Levine this time, which Liezel is partly relieved about. However, the tennis star doesn’t really like Wallace that much. She tried her absolute best to get along with her but it is really hard for her to do that since she replaced Ace’s position as Zack’s girlfriend. Liezel will always be on Ace’s side even though they fell apart as friends.

“Why is she on TV, isn’t the attention always, and I mean it when I sayalways on Jack’s airhead Barbie girlfriend?”

Alex shot his girlfriend a meaningful look, attempting to warn her about the offensive remarks. It is really hard for him to get his own girlfriend to be respectful when it comes to Jack’s girlfriend. Liezel has always been hotheaded and aggressive when it comes to situations or people that she doesn’t like. He likes that about her very much, but sometimes it does come off as rude.

“Try to be respectful, will you?” Alex said.

Liezel ignored her boyfriend and snatched the remote out of his grip, making it her mission to change the channel. She has no idea why Alex is always on the gossip channel. He used to be out and away from that kind of stuff. It seems like ever since she returned from her U.S. tour, he has been eyeing the gossip channel like a hawk.
Just as Liezel is going to change the channel, the screen quickly flashed to two individual pictures; one of Kaya Lockheart and the other of Alex. She removed her thumb from the button and briefly glanced at her boyfriend. He shifted in his seat uncomfortably but did not say or do anything.

The tennis player shrugged at him and refocused on the television screen.

“It is official that the late Conrad Lockheart’s daughter, Kaya Lockheart is going to embark on a country music career. It has been revealed that she has been in the studio recording new music in the studio with All Time Low’s front man, Alex Gaskarth.”

Liezel whipped her head around to give Alex a look. Her eyebrows perked up expectantly as she waited patiently for him to give her an explanation. She muted the television screen and continued to watch as he gulped guiltily at her.

“You have been working with Kaya Lockheart?” Liezel asked.

Alex looked away from her.

“Alex!”

“Yes, she asked me for a favor and it’s actually been going great in the studio.”

Liezel laughed hysterically, shoving her boyfriend’s upper arms playfully. She placed her head on the side sofa cushion as she clutched onto her stomach. It is the most hilarious thing to her that Alex, of all people, would take part in such a superficial project. Kaya Lockheart is the example of using her name and wealth to become a singer. She knows for sure that this heiress cannot be taken seriously.

“You are producing a country record and it’s been going great?” Liezel asked in disbelief.

Alex held his hands up defensively.

“Hey, Kaya actually is a very talented singer and songwriter; I don’t think it is fair that people are looking past her talent.” Alex defended.

Liezel stared at him skeptically, wondering if he actually is helping her because of sympathy. Maybe he felt bad for her after losing her father just a few weeks back. He wants to help her follow her dreams in order to make her feel better about that tragedy; but whatever reason he is helping her, Liezel decided to stop being judgmental and ignore it.

She just nodded at him and sat up still.

“Hey listen…” Alex started as he shuffled into his jean pocket for something.

Liezel felt the atmosphere of this whole room tense up. Everything started getting more serious as soon as Alex’s face expression froze up sternly. After he pulled his hand out of the jean pocket, she glanced at the bulge in the pocket he just reached for. Her eyes widened slightly at the realization that he might be reviving the topic she had been hoping he would avoid.

“Alex…” She tried.

“I recovered something from the trash can.”

He pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and Liezel knew immediately that there is no backing out of this conversation. She bit her lips, shifting in her seat uncomfortably as she felt a bunch of different thoughts overwhelm her head. Every topic she has been trying to avoid ever since the topic of Alex proposing came up attacked her thoughts.

She did not know what to do; she cannot accept his proposal even if she wanted to very badly. He expects her to stay committed to him if they are engaged; he expects her to devote herself to him and less on her tennis. She can’t lie to him and give him hope that the engagement is going to work out.

But is she able to say no to him? I honestly can’t say no to this man, Liezel thought distressfully.

“I am in love with you, Liezel. You know I can never imagine myself spend the rest of my life with anyone else. I have been wrestling with this for such a long time and I am telling myself that if I don’t do this now, it will be hard for me to strike up the nerve to do it again; so Liezel, I am asking you…” Alex took the ring out of its box.

Liezel feel herself tear up as she pull him into a hug. He chuckled against her, letting his nerves take over. She didn’t even let him finish his sentence, meaning that she already knew where he is going at with this.

“Alex.”

“Is that a yes?” He laughed as they pulled apart from each other.

She retrieved the velvet box and ring from his hand. Her eyebrows furrowed as she stared down at the beautiful diamond ring in her hand. She blinked several times. It seems like a lot of money was spent on the ring.

Sighing loudly, Liezel made her final decision. She gave the ring one last look before reverting her attention to the waiting man in front of her.

“I…”

Liezel placed the diamond ring back in its place and closed the box. Widening her mouth apologetically, she gave the velvet box back to Alex. He stared at her in shock.

“I can’t do this yet.” Liezel admitted.

“Liezel…”

“I love you, you know that. You are the only man in my life that I honestly want to marry. But I can’t do this.”

Alex nodded, completely understanding why she has to do this.

“I spoke to Ace you know?”

Liezel shook her head in disbelief. Ace went on and talked to Alex about what she told her. It is supposed to be between the two; Ace wasn’t supposed to tell Alex about her insecurities when it comes to marriage.

“What did she say?” Liezel spoke quietly.

He ignored her question.

“I was hoping that you would be past all the commitment issues.”

The black haired woman opened her mouth in protest.

“I do not have commitment issues!.” She argued.

“Come on, Liezel, you don’t want to marry me because you don’t want me to have you all to myself.”

Ace did tell Alex everything that she told her. Liezel felt betrayed by one of her former best friends. It is not a good feeling because she expected that Ace would have her back instead of running at Alex with her revelations.

But she has a bigger problem right now.

“When you put it that way, that’s a completely different situation.”

“Don’t you get it? You never have time for me!” Alex yelled, frightening the woman beside him.

Liezel reached over to him and placed her hand on his upper biceps. The singer shook his head, pulling away from her touch.

“It has been this way ever since we were in high school! Your first priority has always been tennis. It used to be okay for me that you go for tennis practice instead of spending time with me; I understood why you had to sacrifice your time for the sport that you fell passionately in love with. But lately, I feel like that love you have for tennis is more important than your love for me.”

The tennis player shook her head profusely. It is not fair that he is making her choose between her own job and him. She has never put him in a position where he had to compromise his music career for her; she always understood what he had to do and let him go to it.

“That’s not fair.” She retaliated.

Alex shook his head at her and got up from his sofa seat. He didn’t even look at her as he walked toward the master bedroom.

“What are you doing?” Liezel asked.

“I’m going to shower.”

Liezel opened her mouth for a suggestion but was cut off immediately.

“Alone.”



Liezel walked over to her locker, smiling at the figure leaning against the metallic material.

"Hey, babe"

The man against the locker perked up at the sound of her voice, beaming at her as she made her way to his side.

"Hi baby,” he grinned, kissing her forehead, "how you doin’?"

Liezel wrapped an arm around his waist, muzzling her head in the crook of his neck. The tennis player has some complication with the task, since she is a few centimeters shorter than her boyfriend.

"I could be better, honestly. Can't keep up with my school work"

"You try too hard,” He chuckled, pulling her close, "you have to let loose."

"I can't, Alex," Liezel sighed in distress, "if I want to stay on the tennis team, I need to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA average."

Her boyfriend, Alex, gave her an encouraging pat in the back.

"They're not going to kick you out, you know that,” He pointed out with a shrug, "they can't afford it."

"You can't expect them to break the school rules for me. I'm not that valuable," Liezel picked her head up from his neck and glanced at him with an apparent look of exhaustion.

"Ah, but you are." Alex smiled at his distressed girlfriend, kissing her forehead.

“I’m not.”

"Stop being such a downer and focus on what you and your gorgeous boyfriend are going to do today."

Liezel froze at his comment, awkwardly averting her gaze from his face.

"Um... Alex?"

"Yes, babe?" Alex grinned, unfazed by the uncertain expression on her face.

Slowly, she turned to him and opened her mouth hesitantly.

"I kind of, maybe, have tennis practice this afternoon"

There, the words left her lips. She is bracing for some type of reaction. Of course, Alex always handled things well when it came to her tight tennis schedules, but she feared that one day he would really have issues with the demands of her tennis practices.

Alex sighed, dropping his arms dramatically.

"Liezel!" He whined.

Liezel almost felt bad at the glance of his baby-like pout, but she knows that they both understand her responsibilities as the head of the school's tennis team.

"You're not mad, are you?" Liezel teased.

"Don't-" he huffed stubbornly, "don't use that tone with me."

It was really hard for Alex to pout and be angry when she teased him like that. Liezel likes to provoke his anger playfully whenever her tennis matches or practices come in conflict with their date plans. Alex personally enjoys the lack of seriousness in their conversations.

"Aww, are you getting butt hurt over my abandonment? It's not like I chose tennis over my sexy boyfriend" Liezel pretended to be sarcastic as she mentioned the last part.

Tennis is basically her life but she will always know that Alex is a main priority for her.

"Well, yes dammit." Alex pouted, "You know, if you always leave me alone, I am going to get a new girlfriend!"

Liezel scoffed, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

"Oh, like you can find someone better than this hot piece of ass right here." she winked at him seductively and wrapped both arms around his neck.

"I think I should be telling you that," he smirked, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“I beg to differ!”

"You're losing me, baby," he added playfully.

"Oh no! What would I do without you? I'm nothing without you, Alex! Please take me back. I will get down on my knees for you, oh Alex, you know I will!"

"Oh, I know you'll get down on your knees." Alex laughed.

"But I know you'll like it more after I return from my tennis practice. You know how hot and sweaty I get after those things" Liezel wiggled her eyebrows at him, pressing her forehead against his.

With comments like that, she has got to be the biggest tease in the world.

"I am honestly going to get a new girlfriend," Alex mumbled, pecking her lips, "you're too mean."

"You like your girls mean, the last time I checked" I said, "and besides, think about how hot it is to have a tennis player for a girlfriend; all that energy and aggression displayed on the court directed at YOU and only YOU!"

"You're mean because you say things like that to me and you won't be around to fulfill them."

Liezel woke up from her slumber, blinking several times as the lingering memories of her high school days brushed past her thoughts. Her lips shifted into a permanent frown as she eyed the perimeter of the entire master bedroom. As she expected, Alex is no longer in their bedroom. He is not on his side of the bed.

“God dammit.”

She fears that the conflict this time will have a permanent damage on their relationship.

I will not lose him, she thought doubtfully.

She won’t.

Notes

Okay, so let me just give the credit to the flashback chapter to one of my former co-writers. We worked on the flashback chapter together for another story that we had planned back then (and my part of the story line had similar themes to this story right here.) Since the co-writer went MIA, the story didn't exactly work out but I liked the idea so BAM this story came from it!

But either way, we worked on the flashback portion together, so I do not have 100% ownership to it!