7. Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Alisha
I was still replaying the event in my mind as I returned to the chalet. I’d left my ski gear in the locker we’d rented out. I was now rather annoyed at the grumpy man I had bumped into. I sighed, shaking the thoughts away and grabbing my laptop to start writing.
I’ve never been able to step outside of my comfort zone but there’s this saying that life is too short, was all I managed to type after some time had passed. Life was too short, yes, but how was I going to attract my readers with something as cheesy as this?
I sighed in frustration as I had sat here now for almost thirty minutes, and nothing was coming to fruition. Thirty minutes turned into an hour and then before I knew it, Ophelia was back and hanging her trousers up to dry.
“Holy moly, it’s cold. Cold enough to make ice cream.” Ophelia had her arms crisscrossed as she shivered.
“I could eat some ice cream.” I chuckled before turning my attention back to my laptop and squinting my eyes at what I’d written.
“Huh, interesting. Is that all you could write?” she questioned as she approached me, taking a peek at my laptop screen. She raised a quizzical brow as she observed.
“Nothing seems to be working in my brain.” I shrugged and Ophelia nodded because she understood how it was. Up until last month, she had been staying on at work until late in the evening hoping that she’d get some tasks done.
“Fancy going for a drink this evening?” I suggested, shutting my laptop lid. I needed to get out of the chalet and socialise.
“I’ll never say no to a beer and good company,” Ophelia grinned before continuing, “you seem different here.”
“It’s the alpine air,” I said, winking at her for effect.
“Give me two or three hours of nap time, then we can go.” She let out a yawn.
“Sure. Just shout me if you need anything,” I said. I felt like I needed a nap too so went back to my room. My body still felt a bit achy, and after looking at my laptop screen for a while, my head was starting to ache. Sleep came quickly as I tucked myself into bed. I didn’t want them to but hazel eyes flashed through my mind as I drifted off.
***
I stretched out in bed and felt well-rested after a few hours of sleep. It was now dark outside and I could see there was light snow falling. I could hear Ophelia singing in her room next to mine and pulled the covers off of me to get ready. I needed a touch of make-up and something needed to be done with my bird’s nest of hair. I ditched the T-shirt I was wearing for a cute knit jumper paired with skinny jeans. We weren’t going to be walking far, just into town for a few drinks.
I added kohl eyeliner to my eyes, and swept my hair up into a high ponytail to show off my neck. Much better. Ophelia wolf whistled as I met her in the kitchen and she looked pretty good herself. She was wearing a pair of dark brown flares and a sparkling, black top with a cream cardigan. Her colourful hair was straightened even more than it usually was.
“Let’s go and mingle.” She hooked her arm through mine, grabbing the chalet keys and her purse on our way out. We located a small, friendly bar which seemed less busy than the others nearby. From seven o’clock onwards in Ischgl, most bars would turn into nightclubs, but that wasn’t our idea of fun tonight. We just wanted a casual drink together.
The bar was cosy and warm, and also served food which was great since we hadn’t eaten yet. We sat down in a booth and looked at the drinks and food menus. Pizza seemed to be the only food that called to me right now.
“I’ll order the drinks. Malibu and coke for you?” Ophelia asked, hand resting on one hip.
“Yep, just a single shot please,” I told her and watched as she disappeared to order.
As I drummed my fingers on the table, I scanned my eyes across the room until I did a double take. The grumpy man I had bumped into earlier was sitting in a booth opposite, frowning at the people around him.
Why was he here then if he was just going to scowl at people? The worst setting to be in if he wasn’t a people person. I hadn’t realised I’d been staring at him until my friend reappeared.
“Here you go, Ali.” Ophelia placed our drinks on the table and I grabbed mine instantly, guzzling it down quickly.
“Woah, slow down horsey.” Ophelia laughed, but was impressed.
“I’ll get another,” I said, offering to get her one too but she shook her head, tapping to her full glass of vodka and lemonade. I made my way to the bar, acknowledging the assistant with the name tag Jakob. I felt a sudden wave of confidence now that alcohol was in my system.
“One malibu and coke, please. Single shot,” I asked politely, then waited as my drink was being made. It had to be one of the best I’d ever tasted, the perfect amount of malibu and fizz mixed together. I hadn’t noticed a tall figure was now approaching the bar and I almost choked on my drink when I noticed who it was. I remained glued in my position and mentally cursed because I really didn’t want to acknowledge him.
“Felix!” the bar assistant greeted him. They started speaking in German and although I had no clue what was being said, I still hadn’t fucking moved. Felix was a nice name, but it reminded me of the cat food brand and now, it was all I could picture. Maybe I could gracefully exit and he wouldn’t notice me. Until Ophelia decided to call my name.
“Alisha. Hurry up, woman!” she exclaimed, waving a hand in the air. I cursed under my breath because now the grumpy man knew my name, and he was looking at me.
His eyes darted from my legs up to my eyes as if he was analysing every part of me and then making his mind up about whether he wanted to associate with me or not. I felt bare under his gaze and I hadn’t noticed before, but his eyelashes were long. He looked quite pretty.
“I-I’m coming!” I called back to her, averting the situation I found myself in and his watchful eyes. He still had that same pained expression and I wondered what had made him so upset. He hadn’t even said a word to me whilst I was standing there. Oh well.
I took my seat in front of Ophelia and decided not to get up again for some time. I focused my attention on my friend, who was excitedly talking about her cousin who just announced she was pregnant. Ophelia loved children and wanted at least five of her own one day if she found the right one. When I was with Caden, I thought that was it. We had discussed the idea of a family but it seemed more what I wanted rather than him. Definitely need to stop thinking about him.
“So, are you feeling less nervous now for tomorrow’s lesson?” Ophelia queried, bringing her glass to her lips. She was being smart with her drink, taking it easy whereas I was guzzling my second drink like no tomorrow.
“I think so. I feel a little braver than before,” I spoke boldly because the truth was, I felt more courage than usual.
“Well, cheers to us.” Our glasses clinked together and after another round of drinks, we both were tipsy and laughing over the music. I now needed something stronger so I was the one to buy the next lot. Mr Grumpy was still standing by the bar, looking as if he didn’t want to be here. Until a female tugged at his arm and asked him if he was alright.
I edged a little closer, totally not eavesdropping but something about him piqued my curiosity.
The pretty brunette seemed to be trying to convince him to do something and then I realised how alike they looked, with the same hazel eyes and perfectly shaped jawline. As she kept talking and growing more frustrated by the minute, he turned his body around so that he was now facing me. There was about ten centimetres between us but it felt as though it had shortened when his eyes burned into mine. If looks could kill…
“Hm,” was all he said, as his sister sighed and gave up trying to convince him. I really did feel for her. I averted my gaze from his, and ordered two more drinks for myself and Ophelia.
“You gave me a bruise,” a brooding voice spoke and almost jolted me out of my skin.
“Where?” I couldn’t see one anywhere and I didn’t think I’d bumped into him that hard earlier. Now he was just whining.
“Never mind. It’s not that bad,” Felix said, he looked as though he was having an internal battle with himself.
“It must be if you felt you had to bring it up. Not really a conversation starter, are you?” I hadn’t realised how snide I’d sounded but I loved it. Blame the alcohol. But blame my brutal honesty.
“Sorry. I’m not really…good at talking to people.” He hesitated and then looked down at his beer, frowning at it.
Did anything make this man smile? I bet he had a nice smile too.
“Neither am I,” I replied, which was the truth. I was often a socially awkward mess which was surprising since I worked in journalism. You’d think I’d naturally be a conversationalist but nope, not at all. Often in social situations, I had to focus on my breathing. But right now, I felt somehow at peace. Weird.
“Guess that makes us even.” Felix cracked a slight smile and this seemed to tug at my heart strings a little.
“Tell me. What’s gotten you so upset?” I blurted the question out before I could stop myself. This caused him to frown again and my stomach did a somersault.
“I didn’t come here to talk about that. So, what are you doing here so far from home?” Ah, he was getting better at this now. Less awkward, more human. He was facing me even more now, and I noticed he was wearing a dark green T-shirt with jeans and boots. He was muscular in the arms too and maybe he went to the gym.
“I’m here to write an article, just for two weeks,” I said, maybe admitting a bit too much about myself. I should ask more about him.
“Well, there’s a lot to love about Ischgl. And Austria in general. I was born here. I’ve never been anywhere else.” This surprised me, he sounded more like an introvert than I was.
“I’m also having ski lessons. My boss wanted me to get the full experience,” I said before realising that I needed to return to my friend who I had abandoned yet again.
“I should go. My friend over there is probably wondering where I am.” I felt shy and didn’t want to have to excuse myself. I almost wanted to stay…
“Okay,” was all Felix said and I nodded, the tension was now awkward again. Without hesitation or looking back, I returned to Ophelia who did not look impressed.
“Who have you been talking to and what is his name?” she demanded and I started to tell her about the conversation I had with Felix and how mysterious he was. Maybe I wanted to know more about him if I could.