Close Calls
Alex woke in an empty bed, surprised to find that Megan and Casey had left him in the night. Glancing at his alarm clock, he realized he had a few hours before needing to be at work for his final day of lifeguard training. Fighting the urge to go back to sleep, he rose out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. As he glanced at himself in the mirror, patting his spiked hair down, his door swung open to reveal a startling figure.
"Sonya!" Alex exclaimed as she stepped into his room. Her eyes were red and as she lifted her face to meet his, he saw a red welt on her cheek. "Are you alright?" he asked, rushing to her side.
Sonya sniffled and smiled at Alex's obvious concern. "I'm ok. Casey just came and got me at home."
"What happened?" he asked, his face tight with worry.
"My brother's friend came into my room last night. Luckily I woke up before he had a chance to do anything. I kicked him in the nuts and he punched me," Sonya said, visibly shaking from the stress of recounting the harrowing experience.
Alex ground his teeth and growled, "Where is he now?"
"Either the hospital or jail. He was in bad shape after my brother got through with him. I called the cops when they were fighting and they both got taken away. My brother's fine, he's probably home by now."
"Some friend," Alex said.
"He was drunk. And he's always tried coming on to me. I think I was a little flirty last night and he got the wrong idea."
"That doesn't make it okay, not by a long shot," Alex said while slowly relaxing his clenched fists.
"I know. I just have to be more careful I guess," she said, hanging her head.
"You can't blame yourself," he said, wrapping his arms around her.
"You're the one who told me to stop playing games," she said, with evident frustration in her voice.
Alex took a step back. "That's because you were acting like your brother's friend. There's a hell of a difference between flirting and doing something to someone against their will."
Sonya nodded. "I know. I...I...just don't know what to do." She stuttered and caught her breath. "You helped me at the party, showed me how I was hurting people. But I can't just stop being me."
Alex held her again, brushing her straight red hair with his hand and pulling her head into his broad chest. He used his gift to calm her roiling emotions and held her close. "You don't have to stop being you. That wasn't the point of what I did before. You can make people happy without playing games. That's what you want, right?"
Alex felt her nod and continued, "Be yourself, but be better. Be there for your friends and family. I think you'll find that's a much better way to get what you want anyway. You're a special person, Sonya. You don't need to waste your time on fools, or waste it fooling with perfectly good people who would gladly be with you regardless."
Alex felt Sonya sigh and relax in his arms. She returned his embrace and buried her face in his t-shirt. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, speaking softly, he added, "I've missed you, you know."
Sonya glanced up with her red eyes and smiled. Stretching her neck she closed her eyes and reached in for a kiss which Alex gladly accepted.
"I missed you too," she said once their tender kiss came to an end. "I'm sorry. I didn't know where else to go."
"Hush. I'm glad you came. Like I said, my door's always open."
"Thank you. I don't know what I did to deserve the ways you've helped me."
"You're a good friend to people I care about. That's enough for me. Did you talk to Casey?" Alex asked.
"Only a little. I wanted to see you and she understood. She mentioned you guys were going camping, she asked if I wanted to come along."
"That's a great idea. You probably feel like getting out of the house for a few days after all this. Can you? Brittany's coming too."
"That's what Casey said. I have to call work in an hour and see if I can take the time off. But I'd like to go and you're right, I don't want to be around home for a while, especially by myself."
"Stay here as long as you'd like. Even if we're gone, you're welcome to take one of the rooms downstairs." Alex sensed immense relief flood through Sonya's body.
"Thanks, that means so much to me," she said quietly.
Alex stepped over to his dresser and pulled out a small box. He opened it and rifled through the contents before finding what he sought. Returning to Sonya, he handed her a key and said, "I mean it, any time. I can take you home and help you get some of your things if you want. I don't have to be at work for a couple of hours."
Sonya leapt into his arms, holding him tight. Alex felt her body fill with a mix of strong emotions as she pulled herself firmly into his embrace.
There was a soft knock on the door and the couple separated. "Come in," Alex said and smiled as Carrie walked in wearing the red satin robe he'd given her.
"Sorry! I thought you were alone," Carrie said, her freckled face turning a light shade of pink.
"It's alright. Carrie, this is Sonya. Sonya, Carrie," he said, finally able to introduce his two redheaded companions. He expected they'd get along spectacularly.
