Chapter 5

As the school holiday neared, Alex watched her family excitedly pack up everything they needed for the trip. Knowing her dad, he was probably just focused on the tennis things and nothing else.  She had already packed her things Wednesday night so she could rest on Thursday while her family tore the house apart trying to find their things. 

Alex enjoyed going to the lake house. It was a yearly destination for her family and Alex was very serious about family traditions. Alex knew this trip would be entirely different from the trips they took before but Alex guiltily looked forward to spending a whole week blessed with Oliver's presence. 

Alex sat at the bottom of the stairs while she thought about Oliver. Alex was used to getting whenever she desired so the fact that she couldn't have Oliver made her want him even more. She thought about how he gently caressed her skin, it was a simple reminder of what could have been, but sadly had no chance of being brought to life. 

                                                                               *****

"Who's on whose team this year?" Theo asked with his tennis racket in his hand. 

"Theo, you're with your mother. Peanut, you're with aunt Mae." William responded and took a seat next to Oliver. "Oliver and I will join in the next game." 

Alex put her tennis racket between her thighs and tied her hair into a high ponytail. From the corner of her eye, Alex felt Oliver staring. It felt like he was staring directly into her soul. She turned to look at him which made him turn away instantly.

 With the game already ending on match point, William jumped out his chair and cheered."Undefeated! Champion five years in a row!" He cheered for Alex.

Alex was very competitive. It was one of many things she had learnt from her father. They were never allowed on the same team because everyone was guaranteed to lose. 

Alex ran to her water bottle and took big gulps. The sun was a bit too extreme for them to play another match so they all sat in the shade waiting for the sun to go down. Mae and Scarlett decided to sit this game out. 

"Oliver, since you're new we'll let you pair with the best player here." Theo said and stepped onto the tennis court. 

Oliver looked over at Alex and she gave him a sly smile. "You know what you're doing right?" She asked in surprise. 

"Do you?" He fired back. 

The two teams took a water break halfway through the game and Alex saw this as the perfect opportunity to flirt a little bit.

"Not bad Oliver." She teased breathlessly. 

"Yea? You're not too bad yourself." He grinned 

Just before the end of the game, Alex twisted her ankle and fell to the ground. Oliver rushed over to her before the others got there. 

"Shit, are you okay?" He asked, his voice filled with panic.

Tears ran down her face but she quickly wiped them away. "I'm alright." She said calmly.

Alex got up and tried to walk but she was in agonizing pain. 

"I'm going to take her inside, she can't play anymore." William informed everyone and carried her inside. 

Alex spent the evening lying in bed while everyone else sat outside around the fire. She really needed to have a cigarette. Alex got up and stood on her foot. It wasn't as painful as before but she still struggled to walk.  

She went to the other side of the lake house and lit her cigarette.

"I didn't know you smoked." A voice startled her. 

She turned and was met by Oliver's gorgeous gaze.

"I don't. Well not that much. I just have a smoke when I'm stressed out or something. What are you doing here anyways?" She inhaled the smoke and waited for his response. 

"I wanted to check up on you but you weren't in your room so I came out looking for you."

She blew the smoke out and stared at him. She had a cocky grin on her face and took another puff. "That's very sweet of you Oliver but I'm alright." She put out her cigarette and stepped closer to him. He stared at her in confusion. She leaned in and tried to kiss him but before she could, he pulled away.

"Alexandra." 

"Yeah?" She looked up at him with a frown on her face. 

"You know we can't do this." He reminded her.

Her eyes wide, as though she had seen a ghost. He had no problem kissing her whenever he wanted to but now that she wanted it he refused.

"Fuck, I'm sorry. I just thought you wanted to- never mind." She pushed passed him and slowly made her way to her bedroom. 

Oliver put his foot at her door before she could shut it. He closed and locked the door. Alex's heart was beating through her chest. She kept her gaze on the floor. 

"Look at me Alexandra." He stepped closer to her. "Is this what you want? He asked while slowly running his finger down her body till he got to the end of her short skirt. 

She nodded while staring into his ocean eyes. He put his hand under her skirt and ran his finger up her thigh. He stopped right where she wanted to be touched the most before he realised what he was doing. 

"Fuck." He groaned and pulled his hand away. "We can't do this Alex. We can't." He firmly said. 

"Get out." was all she managed to say after what he had just done.