I begin my tale on a cold winter’s eve. Outside, I could hear the wind screaming through the trees. Snow was falling in droves across the lawn. There was no way I was getting out of this cabin anytime soon. I turned from the window and faced Alexander. He sat by the fire, hogging my favorite chair. I glared sullenly at him, wishing for the thousandth time that he wasn’t here. My stupid mother decided that it was time for us to reconcile our differences and get back together.
“I don’t want you here,” I growled.
“I know; that’s the sixth time you’ve said that,” he stated.
I rolled my eyes; that was one of the reasons I broke up with him. I hated his calmness. When we were dating I wished he would’ve reacted more to what I did. I turned back to the window and wrapped my arms around my middle. Even though I broke up with him, I still loved him, but what I didn’t know was if he even loved me all. I sighed and opened my mouth to say something when he interrupted.
“Are we going to talk at all?”
I turned my head to look at him.
“I don’t know. Do you really want to talk?” I asked.
“No, I’d rather be at home,” he answered. That answer hit close to home. I stalked forward, ready to scream at him. But before I could lay in on him, he stopped me.
“Don’t, Eliza, you’re only going to get hurt.” He stood, reaching his 6’3″ height quickly. Alex walked toward me until we stood toe to toe. I tilted my gaze up to see his midnight blue eyes, burning with a feeling I couldn’t describe.
“Stay away from me,” I stammered, taking a step back. Alex only followed; this dance continued until my back was flush with the icy wall. His smile was feral at the realization that I was trapped.
“Now we can talk,” he growled. “Tell me, Eliza, why did you break up with me three months ago?”
I didn’t want to answer him because I was afraid of the response I’d give him. I swallowed the lump in my throat and answered. “Because I was mad.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Mad? Why were you mad?”
I replied, “Because of certain things.”
His arms came up, successfully trapping me to the wall even more than before. “Those certain things are…?” he motioned me on. I knew he wanted answers, but I tried to hold off as long as I could. “Eliza, tell me.”
I stared at the floor, trying to come up with an excuse, but I couldn’t think of one. Then a calloused hand gripped my chin, forcing my head up to stare up at his handsome features.
“Answer me, Eliza,” he whispered.
“Fine! I broke up with you because you never showed any emotion,” I replied angrily.
Alex then began to laugh. I glared at him and kicked him. He went down in pain but continued laughing. I stepped over him, wishing to get away. I didn’t get very far because a hand grabbed my ankle, pulling me to the ground. I raised myself to my elbows and found Alex – all blond hair and blue eyes – staring happily at me.
“Why are you so cheery?” I grumbled.
“Because of your answer.” He laughed.
He crawled close so that his face blocked out the ceiling. We stared at each other for a while before he spoke again.
“What kind of emotion didn’t I show?”
“Well, when I talked to or about certain people, you didn’t get jealous like some guys. Then when I was excited about something, you weren’t happy for me,” I said in a tiny voice.
“So you wanted me to get jealous or excited over stupid things?”
I nodded, wishing I could be somewhere else. Alex leaned in closer.
“For the record, Eliza, I did show some emotions, but you didn’t see them because I expressed them somewhere else,” he said slowly. Then he did something so unlike him; he kissed me passionately.
When we were dating, our kisses were so bland and boring. I normally thought I was the problem, but once I found out it was him I wasn’t too happy. Alex pulled away, a smug smile on his face.
“Happy I’m showing emotion?” He chuckled. I shoved him away and got up. He stood also and placed a hand on my waist.
“I’m sorry, Eliza. If you give me a second chance, I promise I’ll do better,” he pleaded. I turned to him, wanting to answer, but had no words to tell him.
It took me almost six years to finally forgive him and take him back. But once I did, our relationship flourished. We are now happily married with a child on the way. I couldn’t be happier.