"Well. You're all probably wondering why we invited you for dinner tonight," Alfred starts, looking at all of us with a big smile.

It's about half an hour after I came back from the restroom, after giving myself some pep talk.

I don't even understand why I got that reaction at Alexander's words, I just know that it didn't feel good and I hate it because I don't want to feel like that, especially not because of him. He's the last person I should worry about. And I should know better than to take his words too personal.

I should've gotten used to him by now. But the thing is, I can not get used to him. He's such a mystery, something unknown to me and he surprises me with almost every word he says. I never know what's going to come out of his mouth and that's ... thrilling on some part.

And when I came back from the bathroom, Alexander gave me a long, deep look, staring at my face with a serious face and wondering eyes, probably trying to see if I cried.

Ha. Like you deserve my tears, sucker.

And now, when dinner's coming to an end and Alfred and Rosalyn are about to reveal the reason why we're here tonight, the whole table falls silent in expectations staring at their smiling faces, each of us thinking about different things that could come out of their mouths.

What they say shouldn't really be that surprising, but it still shocks everyone.

"There's going to be one more member joining us in this family." Silence. "I'm pregnant," Rosalyn finishes, giving her husband a warm smile, her cheeks glowing in love. Alfred squeezes her hand in support, a love so deep shines from his eyes that it shakes me to the bones.

There's a long, long silence where no one says anything. It's not my place to say anything, anyway. And when I look at Alexander, he's staring at his parents like he's still processing what they said. It seems like he just can't wrap his mind around what he heard.

"Congratulations!" I'm the first one to break the silence that's getting too uncomfortable to bear at such a happy moment that we should celebrate. Rosalyn gives me a grateful smile.

She looks at Alexander in expectation who just fell mute beside me and became rigidly still.

"I'm going to get a sister!"

God bless Amelia. And God bless everyone's ears at her high-pitched, child scream that probably even people on the streets heard.

People are starting to turn heads, some giving our table smiles, some with curious glances, desperately trying to see who's sitting here.

Alfred chuckles. "Or a brother," he points out.

I jump up when Alexander suddenly stands up and strolls away from the table, towards the exit, with long, angry steps. I watch his back. I even see him grabbing a bottle of something from the tray that the poor waiter is carrying.

The waiter calls after Alexander and Alexander only lifts two fingers up, calling something back before he disappears from my view.

When I look at Rosalyn and Alfred, I can't miss the sadness that settled on their faces. I feel so bad for them at this moment ... They delivered this happy news, wanting others to feel their happiness, and they get this in return ...

I know I'm not entitled to do anything at this moment, but this family came to mean so much to me that I just can't see them suffer. They helped me when I needed their help.

I stand up from the table. "I'll go after him," I announce.

"Gabby ..." Rosalyn shakes her head. "Leave him, it's okay."

"No," I say firmly. "It's not," I say with determination and leave the table angrily.

I step out in the chilly October London air, welcoming the loudness of the crowd that's outside after spending so much time in that uncomfortable silence back in the restaurant.

I don't have to look long to find Alexander. He's standing near the exit door, with his back pressed to the wall, a cigarette in one hand and a bottle in the other. What an image he is.

When he spots me walking towards him, he huffs. "I should've known you couldn't spend a minute without me."

I straighten my mouth and keep walking, ignoring his remark until I'm standing right in front of him. "I want to slap you right now," I tell him. Just like that. Without beating around the bush.

I see by the surprise flashing in his eyes. He clearly didn't expect me to say that.

He drags a smoke from the cigarette, purposefully blowing it in my face. I don't even flinch this time, even though the smell makes me want to throw up. "Go back inside, Gabrielle. You don't want to be around me right now."

I cross my arms on my chest. "There's never a time I want to be around you, so let's not make it special," I tell him deadly, staring him right in the eyes. If he thinks he's the only one who can throw punches, he's got another thing coming.

Alexander is staring at me for some long moments before the right side of his mouth quirks up. He lifts his hands and touches my hair, letting the curls fall naturally between his fingers. I hold my breath. "When you came here, you were such a delicate little flower. I'm proud of you."

I don't know if he's kidding or not, all I know is that him being so close to me, it affects me. It affects me a lot and it makes me feel like he's taking all the oxygen, not leaving anything for me to breathe. "I swear if you don't stop touching me, I'll rip your arm off, Alexander."

It's a big threat, coming out of my mouth, I know that. It's like a mouse threatening an elephant. He could stomp me in a second if he wanted to.

Alexander's eyebrow lifts up, but he still doesn't remove his hand. I grit my teeth together. "A whole arm for a simple touch of my fingers? You really go to extremes." I hear the amusement behind his words.

"Alexander," I deadpan. I'm getting more and more out of breath the longer he's standing before me, touching me so gently with that ungentle hands of his.

His eyes suddenly fall down on my lips and he moves his finger to touch them softly, letting his finger rest on my bottom lip, his touch so soft that if my senses wouldn't be so hyper-aware of him, I don't think I'd even feel it.

Moonlight is creating light for us, it's lighting his face, making his skin glow. His eyes are as dark as the night and I can't stop looking at them, even though he's still staring intently at my lips.

A thought crosses me. Is he going to kiss me? Does he want to?

And I realise that, right now, right here on this cold street where people are rushing past us, talking, laughing, having to idea what is happening with two people a few metres away from them, having no idea what feelings one of them is battling, where I'm only standing in my dress in this cold night, I would let Alexander Holt kiss me. I would probably even enjoy it.

I realise that I want him to kiss me.

"I hate when you call me by my full name," Alexander says quietly. His eyebrows furrow as if he's in deep thought.

I try to hide the shudder of my body. My whole body is starting to shake. It's such a weird, tingling feeling that spreads inside me ... I've never felt anything like it before.

I don't trust myself to answer him, but he continues anyway, probably not expecting me to say anything. "I hate that you're the only one using this name. I hate the way it sounds when you say it. I hate every letter of my name when you say it, Little one."

My breath sticks in my throat and chills suddenly run down my body. "What do you want me to call you then? Sin?" I ask him, equally quiet like him.

Alexander's eyes snap to mine now, finally lifting up from my mouth. Something flashes in his eyes and the way he's looking at me now ... If he didn't have his hands on me in such a gentle way, I would get scared by this look.

"Why did you come after me, Gabrielle?"

He ignores my question on purpose. But I don't ignore his. I answer him with the confidence I don't have. "I wanted to know what your problem was tonight."

Alexander drops his hand, his touch disappearing just as fast as he laughs and then takes a big swig out of the bottle. I see it's already almost empty and when he removes the bottle from his lips, I can smell the alcohol on his breath. "What makes you think I only have one problem?"

I raise my eyebrow at him. When I open my mouth to answer him, he puts his hand out and laughing, stopping me from saying anything.

"No, no. What makes you think I would tell you what my problem is?"

I nod my head, taking the blow. "Insult me all you want, Alexander. But treating your parents the way you are ..." I shake my head. "Can't you see how much they're trying to gain your love? And how much you're hurting them?"

Alexander takes a big smoke out of the cigarette, keeping his eyes on me. "What do you want me to do? Huh? Fall down to my knees and shout how fucking happy I am?"

I see that dealing with him now won't be as easy as I thought. God forbid he'd be nice for once in his life.

I lean back a bit. "Why are you like this?" I ask him after a few moments of contemplating his words.

Alexander takes the last drag of his cigarette before he throws it down on the ground, stepping on it. "You have no idea about many things, Little one."

"Then tell me!" I yell in rage. Everyone keeps saying this, keeps repeating the same thing, but no one will tell me what the deal is. I'm getting tired of listening to the same thing over and over again.

"Who do you think you are that you deserve to know?" Alexander is in my face, his posture threatening above me.

"I've been living with you for 7 months, don't I deserve to know some things to understand them?" I ask him desperately, trying to make him see it from my perspective. It's hard to help someone if you don't know what you're trying to help.

"No. No, Gabrielle, what you need to do is mind your own business. I told you on the first day you came here not to involve in my business. Yet I fucking see you everywhere I go and I can't get fucking rid of you. Fuck," he says, raking his hand through his hair, before he takes long gulps out of the bottle, emptying it and carelessly throwing it on the ground.

His words spike anger in me. "You say this like I'm stalking you," I say with disbelief. "If you believe it or not, I found friends here, and just because we're going to the same places, it doesn't mean you have to deal with me," I tell him how it is, not even seeing a problem here. If I bother him so much, why is he the one who speaks to me first sometimes? It makes no sense.

"You really are getting brave. Do you know who you're talking to?"

I roll my eyes at him. "Ooh. The big, bad Alexander. What are you gonna do? Threaten me again?" I huff.

It happens in a flash of a moment. So fast that I don't even get all my words out. He turns me around by my shoulder and pushes me back against the wall, my back hitting it lightly.

A sound of surprise escapes me.

And then Alexander puts his palm on my bare chest, right under my neck, spreading his hand widely. I go painfully still. I put my hands on the wall behind me, shuddering at his small touch. I hate how my body reacts to his touch on my bare skin.

"Little one," he whispers, a cold smile playing on his lips. His eyes look distant, like he's not really here with me in his mind.

I gulp and I bet he can feel my heart beating in my chest.

"Why do you try to play this game when you know you're going to lose?"

I wish I could have an answer for him. And I wish I knew why I don't feel any fear. Deep inside, I know he's not going to do anything. He had chance plenty of times before.

"Alex!"

I close my eyes at Rosalyn's voice. Alexander only turns his head to look at his mum and then back at me. He inhales sharply, his nostrils flaring. I know he wants to say something, but instead, he releases me and steps back from me.

I still don't move from the spot. The skin he touched is now burning.

"What were you two doing?" Rosalyn asks curiously with mischief in her eyes.

I realise that, to an outsider, we probably looked like we were a couple, probably making out against the wall.

Oh, dear God.

"Nothing," Alexander replies, giving me a cold, quick glance. "I think I'll just go now." Alexander starts backing away, putting his hands in his trousers. "And by the way, congrats, mum." This is his insincere farewell before he turns around and just keeps walking into the night.

Rosalyn and I know better than to stop him.