After the disaster dates the other night, Alex and I went back to her apartment after our dessert and ended up watching Netflix all night until we both fell asleep cuddled up on her sofa. We seem to fall asleep on her sofa too easily, and when we woke up the next morning, she seemed shocked once again that it had happened for the second time. Like she was still surprised that she’d let her guard down around me enough to allow me to stay over. But our relationship has grown substantially enough to know that I’m not going to hurt her. I’m not one of these men who’s going to use and abuse her. She trusts that now, and I’m glad. I’m happy that she sees me for me. I’m pleased she has enough faith in me to let me spend the night at her apartment with her. I just hope she can break down her defenses to let someone else into her life. She deserves to be happy.

But for now, I’m walking up the three flights of stairs to her door, to pick her up for her fundraiser event at the women’s shelter tonight. I have no idea what’s in store, but I have an idea that it’s going to be a little chaotic.

Reaching her door, I knock on it gently and wait, checking my watch to see I’m five minutes early. I grin at hearing the boppy sounds of Ed Sheeran’s latest album coming from inside her apartment. The door handle clicks and the door opens slightly as Alex peers through with a bright smile on her face. Her hair’s in a high ponytail and she wearing ripped jeans, and a black Ramones shirt. Alex has a choker tied around her neck—it’s not a gothic one, rather it’s cute, a simple black band with a heart hanging from it. She also has a scarf placed around her neck, but not tied up, it’s just hanging as an accessory. It’s not even really a scarf, more like a piece of material, but it’s really funky and suits the outfit. She’s looking total rocker chic, and to be honest, she’s kinda hot.

Pursing my lips, I look her up and down and then grin as she opens her door fully and takes a step back gesturing for me to come inside. I continue to stare at her as she furrows her brows at me, and looks down at her outfit and sighs. “Do I look that bad?”

“No, it’s just you look different to what I’m used to. At the gallery you wear business clothes, and on the date you were all dressed up. This rocker glam is totally new.”

“You don’t like it?”

I step forward, shaking my head and smiling at her. “Just the opposite. I’m thinking how much this looks like the real you. Like I’m actually seeing you for the first time right now.”

The album clicks over to play the song titled ‘Perfect’, and I smile to myself as she chews on her bottom lip and lets out a small chuckle.

“Well, this is more me. This is pretty much Alex on a platter right here.”

“Actually, I think you should be more you, more often,” I say, honestly.

“Thanks. Okay, I’ll just grab my shit, and we can go?” She walks over, turns off the music, grabs her bag, and then comes back over to me with a bright smile. “Let’s head out, hey?”

I grab the door for her, leading Alex out of her apartment and we head down the stairs toward my car, my prized possession. A Dodge Charger Daytona 392, painted in yellow jacket. Very sporty, full of grunt, very me. Scott and Dwayne are waiting as per usual. Alex nods to them as we slide into the back of the leather lined car. Scott’s driving us to the event tonight in my car which is good, gives me more time to hang out with Alex rather than concentrating on driving.

“So you told Tillie about tonight?” Alex asks as the car takes off at high speed, the deep grunt of the V8 engine revving to life.

“Of course. Although I didn’t really know what to tell her other than I was helping with a fundraiser, seeing as I don’t really know what else we’ll be doing there, little miss keeps everything to herself.”

She grins. “Well, I can’t tell you all my secrets now, can I? Where’s the fun in that?”

“Fine, guess I’ll find out when we get there.”

“Guess you will.”

The car ride isn’t that long, and when we arrive, there’s a swarm of people out the front of the shelter. Scott pulls up the car, parks it, and Dwayne and Scott get out and move around, one each side to open our doors.

“You ready?” Alex asks.

“I don’t even know what I’m supposed to be ready for, Alex,” I reply, and she chuckles getting out to Scott, as I turn sliding out to greet Dwayne. The first thing I notice is the street is partitioned off, kind of like a street fair. It’s pretty cool as I take in the street stalls and people lining the lane. As I stand up and take a look around, people begin to notice me and their eyes light up. But no one rushes me or starts fangirling. It’s like they all were expecting to see me here. Which I guess is Alex’s doing.

Dwayne and I walk around to Alex and Scott on the sidewalk, and Alex grins at me.

“So mister rock star, you ready?”

“Ready for what?” I ask while raising my eyebrow.

She grabs my hand and starts pulling me toward the building marked ‘Rosalie House – Women’s Shelter.’ The side has a mural painted on it, and I can’t help but wonder if Alex painted it, but I’m yanked through the doors too quickly to ask. There’s so many women here, and I can’t help but notice that most of them look a little worse for wear. Their clothes are a little dated or worn, and I can’t help but frown wondering what their stories are. I guess you never really think about people like these when you’re not faced with it all the time.

Then it dawns on me… this was Alex three years ago.

My chest aches and my stomach flips as I tighten my hand in hers. She looks back to me as I gaze at her, and she winces seeming to know what I’m thinking. I already have massive respect for Alex, now I’m a little in awe of her too.

“Alex, I—”

“It’s okay, I know this place is daunting, but just remember I’m fine now.” She tugs on my hand pulling me harder as we walk through a hall and into the main room. There are people everywhere, and banners and streamers fill the expanse. It’s like there’s a party being thrown in here. It’s cute as I take in the makeshift bar and small table set up for food. I guess this is their main hall, where the women would have their meetings and such. It’s nice, very calm, with its neutral tones and beautiful soothing artworks.

There are pictures of happy smiling women everywhere, and it makes me want to smile as we race through the swarms of people toward the back of the room. I have no idea where we’re going, I just try to keep up. We move down a hall, swerving through more people who are all drinking, laughing, and eating, and we head out the back door into a beautiful garden area. It’s gorgeous and is set up like a small picnic function. Little rugs line the grassed area, and people are sitting on the lawn relaxing and mingling. It has a cheery, happy vibe.

We head toward what looks like a makeshift bonfire. But with a fire pit, and people sitting on wooden crates around it in a circle. It’s so cool. I love this place. As we approach, everyone looks up. All their eyes shift to Alex, and they all smile brightly in acknowledgment.

“Alex!” They all call out as one older lady of the bunch stands up from a crate and walks up to us. Her short gray hair framing her face perfectly.

“Moira, it’s so good to see you again, it’s been way too long,” Alex says letting me go and leans in for a hug.

“Sweetheart, a day away from you is too long. But oh gosh, look at you! You look amazing. How’s your new job going? I’m so proud of you by the way. I knew you would end up in a gallery. I told you, you could do it, didn’t I.” She smiles so kindly, I like her instantly.

Alex tilts her head and sighs. “Well, I had a little help there, you know that. But anyway, Moira, this is Matt, the bassist from Recoil. He’s filling in for Ria tonight,” she says, and I’m not sure why but her introduction sours me a little. I knew I was here as ‘Matt from Recoil,’ but she could have introduced me as ‘Matt her friend’ as well.

Nevertheless, I stick out my hand for Moira to shake and she smiles at me, grabbing my hand and shaking with a firm grip. “Nice to meet you, Matt, and thank you for coming tonight on such short notice. We do appreciate it.”

I nod. “My pleasure. I like to help where I can.”

“It’s always good to have Zaria here, but I think it sends a better message when we get a male celebrity to help with the women. It gives them hope that not all men are like the ones they’ve become accustomed to,” Moira tells me, and I glance to Alex who’s trying to hide her smirk.

“Yeah, I hate what these women have been through, and honestly, I’ll do anything to help make them feel better.”

Moira claps her hands. “Great. Because the festivities are about to begin. Follow me, you two,” she says and starts walking over to the makeshift stage with the setup microphone.

I glance to Alex who’s grinning from ear to ear like she knows a secret I don’t, and I squint at her as she giggles to herself. I lean into her side, close to her ear. “What have you signed me up for, miss?”

She shrugs and purses her lips. “Mischief and mayhem… the usual Saturday night shenanigans.”

Moira taps the mic and clears her throat, while everyone turns to look at her as we stand to the side. “Good evening everyone, and welcome to the annual Rosalie House Fundraiser. It’s so humbling to have you all in my home here tonight. I hope you all enjoy the festivities we bring to you, and please remember to donate. Tonight is as much about fun as it is about funding, so remember to have a good time while raising awareness. Be kind, be brave, and always, always, smile through the rain, my children. I love you all. So eat, be merry, and the first race will commence shortly.” She smiles brightly. “We have a very special celebrity here tonight in Matthew Levine from the rock band Recoil, who will be our star performer tonight, paired with our very own alumni, Alex O’Donovan.”

A cheer erupts around the backyard as they start chanting Alex’s name, and she raises her hands and grins while taking in the cheers. It’s like she’s royalty here. I chuckle under my breath as Moira raises her hands and the crowd hushes down.

“So again, thank you, everyone, for coming tonight. Place your donations, and we will start very soon. Let the games begin.” She grabs hold of a flag, waves it through the air, and everyone cheers like it’s the commencement of the bloody Hunger Games or something, and I look to Alex furrowing my brows.

She chuckles and grabs my hand again leading me further past a heap of fruit trees to an even larger grassed area where a course is laid out like what you’d see at a school sports day. I begin to chuckle looking at the little orange witches hats on the grass, and the obstacle courses set out on the lawn.

“Is this like a fun run type thing? Adventure courses or something?” I ask, she grins and shrugs.

“Or something. But it will be fun, I promise. Plus, it’s for a good cause. So be a good sport, okay?” she demands.

“I’m always a good sport.”

“Uh-huh, we’ll see about that when you’re losing,” she says as we walk up to what looks like the starting lane. There are lines marked out on the grass in rows, and I watch as everyone comes around us. Moira with a megaphone, a man who looks eerily like Sideshow Bob is taking bets, which I’m assuming is actually donation money, and people are lining up as Alex comes to my side smiling wide.

“How do you like your eggs in the morning, Matt?” she asks.

I raise my brow at her question. What the fuck is she asking that for, and why is she asking it right now? What the hell?

Then suddenly a woman steps out with a bucket of eggs, and another follows behind her with spoons. I relaxing slightly as Alex chuckles.

“Geez Matt, breathe, you look so tense. It’s just an egg and spoon race. You’re not gonna kill the egg… unless you drop it. Ha! Psyche!” she yells while grabbing an egg and spoon.

I stand here reeling from the suggestion I thought she was making, which she obviously wasn’t, now I know what she was going on about.

What the fuck, Matt. Pull yourself together man!

I take up my position next to Alex after grabbing my egg and spoon, and she glances at me sideways.

“So now you get it, Matt. A night of crazy games and chaos…” Alex giggles. “Are you up for the challenge, rocker boy?”

I grin, ready to race. “Fuck yeah, doodle bug. I’m gonna scramble you…” I chuckle. “Get it?”

She bursts out laughing which causes her egg to almost topple off her spoon. Alex quickly steadies the egg back on her spoon. “Oh, I get it. Playing hardball, eh? Well, you’ll never defeat me. I am the champion in these parts and—”

The gun goes off interrupting her, and I don’t wait around for her to finish the sentence before I take off racing fast, but maintaining an even tempo trying not to drop my egg.

“Hey, not fair!” Alex calls from behind me.

There’s a woman to my right and another three people off to Alex’s left. I’m in front, and my egg is wobbling on the spoon but staying the course. I stop at the end of the track and send out a victory cheer knowing I’ve reached it first. But then everyone starts screaming at me as I turn around and watch the others turning and heading back down to the start line.

“Oh shit!” I call out, not realizing it was a return trip.

Probably should have checked the rules before I started.

“Haha, ass, serves you right,” Alex screams out as she reaches the end, and we head off at the same time back toward the start line. We’re racing at the same speed, and we overtake all the others. It’s between us both as we get closer and closer to the finish line, and we both laugh trying harder and harder to walk faster, but both our eggs are teetering on the edge.

“Alex, a bee,” I call out.

She looks up just before the finish line making her egg tip off her spoon and tumble to the ground. It smashes as she groans out loud, and I race forward rushing over the finish line and bursting into laughter while everyone cheers.

Alex stomps her foot on the ground. “Matthew!” she calls out, and I chuckle throwing my hand in the air as she walks over to me furrowing her brow looking right at my chin strangely.

“What?” I ask.

“What’s that on your face?” she asks, and I jolt back while wiping at my chin.

“What?” I ask again.

Alex smirks. It’s not a happy smirk, it’s a mischievous, devilish smirk, but I don’t have time to react before her hand moves to mine holding the spoon and egg. She thrusts my hand up, and the egg slaps into my chin bursting open all over my face. Everyone around us breaks out into hysterics as Alex laughs her ass off and the egg literally drips from my chin.

“Oh, I think you have egg on your face,” Alex says with the biggest of smirks, and I look right at her raising my brow. She seems to know exactly what I’m thinking and her smile falls. “Don’t you dare,” she says moving back to run from me.

I reach out, grabbing her arms and pulling her to me as she begins to squeal and pull away, but I’m far too strong for her, and run my face along hers. Everyone is laughing and cheering us along. I’m laughing almost hysterically along with her, as the egg smears from my face onto hers. It’s a great moment to share with Alex. Sure, it’s sticky, it’s messy, and it sure is gross as fuck, but it’s fun, and I wouldn’t want to share this experience with anyone else.

“Matt, eeew, stop it, you freak!” she calls out with egg now smeared all over her chin and cheeks. I pull back and look into her eyes. She grins and shakes her head. “You goose,” she says, grabbing a towel from a woman she obviously knows and wipes her face. The same woman hands me a towel too.

“Thanks.” I look back to Alex. “I still win, though,” I state, and she rolls her eyes and slaps my chest.

“You might have technically won, but you’re still a loser. BAM, burns like a bitch!” She licks the tip of her finger and presses it to my arm, then wipes her face, and I chuckle scraping the egg away from mine too.

The women here, they all seem so different as I glance around. From all walks of life. I guess I thought they’d all be the same type, but seeing them, I’m a little in awe.

Alex must notice me staring, she sighs and nudges my shoulder with hers. “It’s rude to stare you know.”

“Not staring, just kinda in awe of them. Are they all… going through a rough time?” I ask, and she looks around half-smiling.

“Not all. Some were here when I was here. Some are from before my time. Some are sponsors of the event. Some are family members. But everyone here is connected to this place somehow. Rosalie House is… a breath of fresh air for a lot of people. It’s a new way of life for these women. It’s a new beginning, and without this place most of these women wouldn’t even be here,” she takes in a breath, “… probably me included.”

I wrap my arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer and leaning in to kiss the top of her head. “All jokes aside, no bullshit, Alex, I’m so glad you made it through. This place is fantastic and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure it gets the recognition it deserves.”

Alex wraps her arms around my waist hugging me tightly. Feeling her around me is a wonderful feeling. It’s nice being held for once. So I take it all in before any more mayhem starts. I know there has to be more coming my way.

“Matt?”

I look down. “Mmm?”

“Thanks for coming.”

I lean in kissing her head again just as Moira walks up to us. “Sorry to interrupt, but we have another event… if you guys are interested?”