Let the Floods Cross

“Very strong forehand, Beckett!” Coach Wilson, Liezel’s tennis coach since high school, called out from the other side of the court.

Hale, her hitting partner, patted on her shoulder as a reward for her adequate forehand stroke. The tennis star smiled at her partner as she motioned for him to return to the other side of the tennis court. She didn’t like hitting back and forth with her coach since she personally enjoyed doing that with Hale more. Ever since her first breakthrough in the tennis world, Hale has been her hitting partner during practice. They are so used to this ritual that no one else can ever do it better.

The raven-haired woman shot her coach a look as the older woman retreated to the side of the court. She turned to Hale ahead and gestured for him to serve. The hitting partner threw the tennis ball up in the air before hitting it over to her. She eyed the ball and watched as it bounced on the hard surface floor. Her feet followed the direction of the ball as she swung her racquet at it.

She watched as the ball flew over the net and well over the baseline. Hale watched the ball fly past him with a confused expression on his face since Beckett never screwed up as often as she did during today’s practice.

“Beckett!” Coach Wilson shouted.

“Yes, coach?”

“Take five, you look exhausted.”

Liezel hesitantly turned away from the net and walked away from the court. She reached the bench on the side of the court and sat down. Sighing loudly, she rubbed her eyes aggressively. If she had inadequate sleep the night before a tennis match, she will end up similar to this mood she is in now.

She can barely get her mind to concentrate, which is why she texted Zack, Alex’s other band mate, and requested for him to bring her some coffee before she got to the court. The coach and her hitting partner noticed how tired she was when she walked in but hoped that she would snap out of it while their practice session progressed. She didn’t.

Hale sat down beside her, staring at her in concern.

“Did you get any sleep?” He asked.

“Does it look like I did?” Liezel turned to give him an obvious look.

The hitting partner turned to the court in search of her coach. When the coach is nowhere to be found, Hale quickly reverted his attention back to the tennis star.

“So how was the sex?” He questioned.

Liezel shot him a look, but she knew that he would go straight to conclusion when it comes to her late night sleeps. Since they have been friends for such a long time, Liezel shared some aspects of her sexual life with Alex to him. If she slept late and showed up to practice as a zombie, Hale would assume that she had late night sex with her boyfriend.

“If I’m this tired, it was definitely great.”

Hale laughed lightly.

“Please don’t do the hardcore sex thing during the U.S. Open okay? You need to win this year!”

The U.S. Open will start in a week and Liezel really needs to get her head back in the game. Lately, she has been losing many tournaments to an up and coming Bulgarian tennis player. Her first loss against her was during Wimbledon in mid-July; and then tournaments in the U.S. led to her cumulative losses against her. Liezel did not like that.

“It’s been quite a while since I’ve won a grand slam title, right?” Liezel thought aloud.

“Not since last year, but come on, you got this. I see you improve so much everyday!”

Liezel was about to thank Hale for his compliment but then Zack walked onto the court with a cup of Starbucks frap in his hand. His face lit up when he spotted her on the bench and immediately showed up at her side. Placing the coffee on the bench, he leaned down to give her a hug.

“Thanks, you are a total lifesaver!” Liezel snatched the coffee off the bench and took a long sip from the cup.

Zack laughed at her quietly before turning to Hale.

“She had a long night, didn’t she?”

“Yeah, Alex has been doing a good job apparently.” Hale chirped.

The shy bass player nodded as a respond.

“Speaking of Alex, I am going to head over to the flat right now. I need to drop some stuff off for him.” Zack said, scratching the back of his head.

Liezel tilted her head to the side.

“I thought Alex went to the studio to meet up with you guys…?”

All Time Low is still working productively to make a new album at this point. Alex would occasionally head to the studio to track some recording, and if not, she would see him writing music around the house. This morning, however, he specifically told her that he would be out to work in the studio.

Zack’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Really? I just came from the studio and I didn’t see him at all.”

“Weird, well maybe he’s still back at home writing more music, who knows. Anyways, if you happen to see him at our flat, send him my best.” Liezel said.

Zack laughed softly as he turned from her.

“Thought you already did last night.”

He disappeared from the court, leaving her to stare after him.



Zack used his spare keys to get inside Alex’s loft, carrying the heavy guitar case behind his back as he entered the property. He saw another car outside of the place but he didn’t think much of it. Either way, he is used to just barging into Alex’s place without warning. Even though this loft also belongs to Liezel, the guys come in and out as it is their own. Neither of the two ever minded.

When he entered, he heard loud gasps coming from the master bedroom. Raising his eyebrow in suspicion, Zack gently placed the guitar case against the wall and tip toed closer to the room. His best bet would be that Alex is watching porn or some weird shit like that.

“Alex?” Zack called out as he neared the bedroom.

There was no response.

“Dude.”

Zack pushed the door open slightly, shocked to see that the television screen in the bedroom is turned off. His eyes widened as he glanced over at the bed to see Alex and another woman on the bed. Flushing red, he quickly backed away from the door since he did not want to intrude and see anyone nude.

“Shit.” He heard Alex mumble inside the room.

Zack quickly made a beeline to the door but by the time he did, Alex is already out of the bedroom with his boxers on.

“Liezel!”

Zack turned to look at Alex and he saw his friend visibly relax when he realized it was Zack instead of his girlfriend. Alex stared at Zack with his mouth thrown open in shock. The buff bass player held both his hands up as he shook his head quickly.

“You go do your thing, don’t let me stop you.”

Alex opened his mouth and then closed it.

“I was just dropping Jack’s guitar off, since you asked for it the other day.”

The singer blinked at his friend in alarm. Zack muttered something under his breath as he turned to the door. Alex’s eyes widened as he ran across the living room to catch up with his band mate.

“Hey Zack…?”

“Yeah, I won’t say anything to Beckett, just… think this through okay? She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you, not sure if you are willing to lose her to whoever is inside your room right now.” Zack interrupted.

Alex nodded.

“Thanks, buddy!”

“Yeah, I’m going to go now.”



Liezel returned to the loft after her tennis practice, at around late afternoon. She promised Alex that she would return by four, but it is already almost six. Hopefully, he did not count on her to return earlier than she should. If he planned something, then she definitely would’ve let him down.

“Hey!” Liezel called out when she closed the door behind her.

Alex reemerged from the master bedroom, rubbing his eyes as he walked toward her. She smiled at him as he held his arms out for an embrace. He waited until she dropped her things to wrap his arms around her. She turned her head slightly so she can give him a kiss on his cheek. He released her and picked up her equipment from the floor.

“Alex, you don’t need to do that!”

“But I want to.” He turned from her and carried the pink duffel bag into the living room.

Liezel still cannot believe that Alex has been overly helpful lately. First of all, he cooked her breakfast the morning after her return. He never cooked for her, even after her return. She’d usually get up earlier than him and take matters of breakfast into her own hands. Second, he helped her carry laundry stuff to Jack’s washing machine that other day. And now, he decides to play caddie on her.

“Alex, what’s going on?” Liezel asked as she sat down on the couch.

Alex dropped off her bag in its usual spot by the entrance of Liezel’s fitting room and turned to her with an unreadable expression on his face. He scowled at her as he joined her on the couch.

“What do you mean?”

“It seems like you missed me a lot more this time around than usual.” She grinned, placing her head on his chest.

The brunette singer instinctively wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

“Oh really?”

“Yeah, what is special about this time? I need to know for future references.” She winked at him as she tilted her head upwards to kiss him.

He pulled away much too quickly for her liking. Liezel stared at him, concerned.

“What’s wrong?” She asked.

Alex looked to be really bothered by something. His eyebrows are formed in a permanent scowl and his face looked to be exhausted.

“It’s nothing, really.” He brushed off.

Liezel knows him well enough than to believe him.

“Alex…” She started.

“Okay, I just don’t want to lose you. I want to spend as much time as I can with you, but you are spending too much time on court with Hale and Wilson.” Alex admitted.

Liezel frowned at his explanation. She did not know what is so special about this week, since Alex never complained about her tight practice schedules during her trips back home to Baltimore. Alex never felt like their relationship was in jeopardy because of their busy schedules. The fact that he is acting differently this time around scared her.

“Alex, you know I need to work hard to win the U.S. Open this year. I need to win. It has been a year since I last won a title.” Liezel sighed.

Alex nodded.

“I know, I just feel like we are not spending enough time together.”

“But that’s how it has always been, why are you questioning this now?” She asked.

The singer shrugged as he reached over to the coffee table for the remote controller. He ignored his girlfriend’s questioning glance on him and turned on the television screen. It is naturally on the sports channel since Liezel would always leave the TV on that channel. Alex changed the channel to a celebrity gossip show and stopped there because he saw Lily Phantom’s picture.

Lily Phantom allegedly framed Jack for the murder of Conrad Lockheart and their detective friend, Ace found evidence to back that up. Ever since her team found the evidence, the former blogger is now in jail for killing the billionaire. This whole issue has been very controversial and often talked about. Alex is just bummed out that Jack’s name got tied to it. Even though he jokes about the experience whenever it is a topic of conversation, Alex realized that it really is disappointing to have to go through that.

Alex, himself, stayed in the police station during the entire day he was kept there. He knew how gruesome it was for Jack.

“Will they ever leave this topic alone?” Liezel murmured from beside him.

“This society that we live in… they don’t stop. You know that.” Alex responded.

“I do, they will come at us until they get what they want. This is how the media runs their business. We live in Baltimore, we just have to deal with it.”

Notes

Oh SNAAAAAAP! Who actually saw that coming? The whole Alex/another woman thing? Why? Why would Alex do this when he has an epic relationship with Liezel? Well, guess you'll just have to find out!

And again, I know actual Baltimore society is NOTHING like it is being portrayed in this story... this story is solely fiction, so I'm taking creative control into my own hands!

And last but not least... remembering--saturday ---- you rock!!