Let the Floods Cross

Liezel approached Alex at the front door of their shared loft and immediately pulled him into a hug. His arms slowly made his way around her waist as she mumbled her words of relief to him. He realized that his three-day disappearance terrified her, since she is shaking in her sobs. The guilt actually sank in; he made her worry and wallow over his neglect. He had been blaming her for turning her back on him, when he is the one doing the same thing.

“You have no idea how scared I was of losing you.” Liezel said honestly when they pulled apart.

Alex smiled at her and held his hand out for the house keys. She rolled her eyes at him teasingly, pulling her set from the Zac Posen purse. When the keys landed on his hand, he walked past her to open the front door. While he was at it, Liezel stared after him in concern. He is unusually calm for someone who just returned home from three days of stubborn anger.

Alex entered the house first and waited for her to do the same before closing the door behind. When he locked the door, Liezel turned him around and pulled him in a kiss. Her arms snaked around his tightly as her lips pressed against his forcefully. She was glad that he decided to return. It is a justification that he is not going to end their relationship. He is going to fight for them to work. She knows that he is willing to do that, now that he has returned.

However, this kiss did not feel right. Liezel knows that her kiss is genuine and passionate, but the problem is him. His retaliation to her actions is bleak and effortless. She noted that his lips did not long for hers like she wanted them to. Sighing at his lack of effort, she pulled away from him. Maybe he is still angry with her. All her assumptions about Alex’s determination to fight for them might be wrong.

“Listen, I need to tell you something…” Alex started, holding a hand out for her to listen.

Liezel shook her head and held a hand up to stop him. She needs to tell him everything that is on her mind now before he even makes the decision to pull the plug to what they have here. If he knows what she is thinking, maybe he will understand her.

“I will marry you, Alex.” Liezel said quickly.

Alex blinked at her, dazed at her response. He did not expect her to change her mind so soon. Three days ago, she had been adamant on her decision. She was sure that now wasn’t the time for the two to get married. Now, after his disappearance, she has a different mindset.

“Liezel, you are only saying that because you want things to be okay for us. I can’t make you marry me if you don’t want to.”

Liezel has so much to tell him, and she is unsure of how she will verbalize her feelings. It is so hard to deliver everything that she wants to deliver because everything is so complex when it comes to Alex.

“I want to marry you, Alex, I do very badly. But I just can’t right now. Put a ring on my finger now for reassurance and for a promise that I’ll make to you. I just don’t want the marriage to happen so soon.”

Alex shook his head at her.

“How am I supposed to live on like this?”

“Like what?”

“Like you are supposed to justify your actions and decisions to me! We are supposed to understand each other enough to know these things. I shouldn’t have to ask why you are holding back from me. I shouldn’t have to question the complications going on around us. I can’t live on with us having a lack of understanding for one another.”

Liezel opened her mouth but he cut her off right away.

“You shouldn’t have to give me reassurance at this point in our relationship, and yet, we are here right now. I do not want to put a ring on your finger for a mere reassurance or even a promise that you are going to marry me. I want to slide that ring up your finger when you are ready to be my wife. So, no, I am not going to give you that ring now.” Alex finished.

The athlete gaped at her boyfriend in shock. She did not know that they are so out of touch right now. She did not notice that she was justifying her decisions to him, giving him reasons, excuses even, for why she isn’t going to marry him now. Things have been complicated between the two, more often than it used to be. She just did not know how or why it is happening.

“I am not going to lose you, Alex, not over this.” Liezel spat out stubbornly.

Alex looked away from her and walked towards the living room. He reached for the remote controller on the coffee table, turning on the TV as he made himself comfortable on the couch. Concerned, Liezel followed him and took a spot right next to him. He acknowledged her but did not turn to her as she hoped. When he turned on the television, it is on the sports channel.

“Are you going to watch the gossip channel again?” Liezel asked.

“Why do you care so much?” Alex turned to her with pursed lips.

The tennis player closed her eyes and shook her head. She did not understand why Alex is acting so nonchalant right now. He isn’t even making the effort to smooth things out between the two. She knows that she is the one who screwed up, but she is putting forth so much effort to fix what they broke.

Alex decided to drop the remote controller on the couch, leaving the screen on the sports channel. He sighed loudly and turned to look at his girlfriend. She returned his gaze, teeth gnawing at her bottom lip. He put her in a position where she is hesitant and unsure of what is going on between the two of them. Another wave of guilt washed over him.

“So Ace’s team of detectives solved Taylor’s murder case.” Liezel started as an attempt to make a conversation that isn’t about them.

He seems to like that idea too.

“Who killed her?”

“A vengeful boyfriend.”

Alex’s eyes widened slightly.

“I thought Taylor was dating Breck?”

“Yeah she was playing them both apparently. That Taylor was cheating on Breck and on that killer dude. He found out, felt spiteful, and killed Taylor.”

Her boyfriend nodded solemnly.

“I seriously cannot believe Taylor! Why would she cheat? You know, I really cannot tolerate infidelity!” Liezel ranted.

Alex continued to stare at her guiltily, and decided against making the confession to her. He was just so close to doing so when they were on their way inside the loft.

“I am sorry that Taylor died, but she shouldn’t have cheated in the first place you know? I do not know her story or whatever, but poor Breck. She has to handle heartbreak and grief!”

“Hey, Liezel?” Alex interrupted her ramble.

The tennis player finally stopped talking about the murder case and gestured for him to continue on his point. His eyes wandered to other parts of the room as his lips parted in preparation for his speech.

“I have a lot of motivation to get this album done.” He started.

“That’s great!” Liezel said enthusiastically.

“I need to spend the next few weeks focusing on it. So I won’t be accompanying you to New York City.”

Liezel’s jaws widened as her eyes narrowed. She did not believe that Alex is opting out on her a week before their plans to head over to New York. It is understandable that he is angry with her, but that does not justify his decision to change his plans. Their time in New York was supposed to be their time to be together. It does not happen often in their relationship, and he is skipping out on their rare opportunity to spend weeks with each other.

He is willing to sacrifice their time due to his anger. That notion hurts.

She took out her phone instead of giving him a reply.

“What are you doing?” He asked her.

Liezel pulled up her contacts on the iPhone.

“I’m calling Hale. I have to head for practice.” She clicked on Hale’s name and got up from the couch.

Just as the phone is ringing, she walked over to her duffle bag and picked it off of the floor. Without another word to Alex, she walked to the front door and out of the loft.



“Beckett, what are you doing here so late?” Zack asked when he answered the door.

Liezel walked past him and entered the loft without his invitation. She did not want him to kick her out just yet since she needed somewhere to go. Whatever it is that is actually bothering her, she cannot go back to her loft right now. She cannot deal with Alex tonight, since she did not know what to do about their situation. For a while, she has been looking forward to the extra time with Alex. He was supposed to be by her side in New York.

Now that he has decided against it, and just to spite her, she is left with the notion that she will be encountering the U.S. Open without him.

“Can I stay here tonight?” She pleaded.

Zack glanced around the loft hesitantly and shrugged at her when he realized that Rian isn’t home. Liezel just assumed that he is over at Ace’s, trying to take care of her heartbroken and grief-striken sister.

“Please, I have nowhere else to go.”

“Okay, you can stay. I do not think Rian is returning tonight. Either way, we have plenty of room for you. There’s a guest bedroom upstairs, you know that.” Zack said quietly.

Smiling, Liezel pulled him into a hug.

“Thank you so much, Zack.”

During practice, she thought about the situation tonight. She knew that she cannot go back to her loft and face Alex, and she spent the time at tennis practice thinking about her sleeping arrangements for tonight. The first person she ruled out was Jack. He is not very happy with her right now, especially after she knocked his precious guitar over from its stand. She thought about Hale since he was on the other side of the net when she was thinking about the plans.

She decided against it, since she doesn’t want him to worry about her state of mind. He is always going to show concern for her wellbeing. If she is mentally unstable as a result of her relationship with Alex, then it will affect her tennis playing. Hale cannot know of their conflicts.

Zack, on the other hand, is more trustworthy in her eyes. He is reserved and definitely unwilling to help her when it comes to fixing her relationship with Alex, but he is kind to her. He will give her a place to stay in.

She then realized what she wanted to do regarding the upcoming tennis tournament. It has been bothering her. She didn’t know what to do with the spare VIP ticket, and she didn’t feel like going to New York empty-handed. Someone has to accompany her, if not Alex.

“Zack?”

“Yeah?”

“How are your plans looking to be like in the next two weeks?” She asked casually.

“My bass parts for most of the songs are about done, unless Alex wants to make alterations.” Zack replied.

Liezel nodded, and made a final decision to make this offer.

“Would you like to come with me to New York?”

If Zack agreed, she can bring him along with her. The action might anger Alex, or it might not. But she will bring Zack along to spite Alex, as he had spited her. Inexcusably, she also wanted Zack’s company.

“I’m not sure, Liezel. I would love to go since I’ve always wanted to watch Serena Williams play tennis. And I’ve been digging that Portia girl from Bulgaria. But, Alex—you know what, screw Alex. I want to go, so if that’s not a problem, I’ll go with you.” Zack shook his head at his guilt.

Alex will not be happy with him, but he did not care at this point. He is the one screwing Liezel over and making her feel unwanted. Zack will act as a friend that Liezel needs in this situation, and accompany her to the U.S. Open.

Liezel beamed at Zack, even though he might be rooting for her tennis rival.

“You are the absolute best!”

“I feel like you are the one doing me the favor. Not everyone gets the privilege to go to the U.S. Open you know?” Zack said.

Liezel smiled, nodding in agreement. It is nice to know that she has someone she can depend on aside from Alex. Even though she cannot make Zack side with her in midst of a disagreement with Alex, she can still expect moral support from him.

“Oh, but I need to shower right now because I am very sweaty. I literally showed up here after practice.” She smiled at the bass player sheepishly.

Zack chuckled gesturing toward the staircase.

“There is a bathroom by the right side guest bedroom. I think you should use that guest bedroom because Ace left some of her clothes in there. You can change into them, I’m sure she won’t mind.”

Liezel shot him a thankful look.

“You are the man!”

Zack nodded as a response, prompting for Liezel to make her way to the staircase. When she took a few steps, Zack grabbed at her arm. She stopped and turned to him.

“And, don’t tell Alex about our plans of travel just yet, okay? I don’t want to deal with him either.”

Laughing, Liezel agreed.

“Of course!”

Notes

OHHHHH SNAAAAAAPPPPPP!!!!! Shit's definitely going to go down in the next few chapters!!!! Like damn, Liezel and Zack???? How's Alex going to feel about this?

And the third (and final installment, I've recently decided) of this series is :here. So subscribe to it.

I feel like the fourth story is just beyond pointless and not as interlinked to the rest of the series, so I'm not going to scrap it, I'm just going to change the course of direction for it.

So the next story is going to be the last one! (Or maybe even a spinoff for this series, since I'm already planning one.)