Chapter 3
Elena
The next day, Kelsey was the one who came to visit.
As always, she was radiant. Seeing her smiling like that when I was at my lowest immediately put me in a bad mood.
Deep down, I knew it was wrong to want the whole world to suffer with me, so I kept quiet.
But all I wanted to do was scream at the top of my lungs.
“Hello, gorgeous!” she exclaimed.
Her optimism was exhausting.
“S’up.”
She sat down in the chair Alex had sat in the day before.
For several seconds, she stared at her freshly manicured nails.
When I'd seen Alex, I'd realized she had better things to do than visit me.
I'd hoped it would be for something more important than a stupid manicure, but apparently, I was worth less than that.
“Nice nails.”
“Thank you!” she said, a big smile on her face.
“Is that why you asked Alex to come instead?”
I should have had more respect for him. He hadn't asked for anything, and yet I'd been horrible to him. He’d deserved better.
Kelsey’s eyebrows went up in surprise. We'd known each other since kindergarten.
Obviously, I would figure her out. What astonished me was that she thought her candy-pink nails would go unnoticed.
I was naive, but I wasn't stupid. The fact that I was being taken for a fool made my bad mood increase.
I took a deep breath, trying not to spit venom.
“Oh, I'm so sorry! But you know, this appointment had already been scheduled for two weeks. I couldn't cancel. But I promise I'll make it up to you!”
Kelsey put her two hands together like she was begging for forgiveness. Of course, she wouldn't make it up to me. I knew her all too well. At this point, that was the least of my concerns. The only thing I wanted was to disappear into a hole and not come out again for a few months. Or longer.
“Anyway, how are you?”
“Bad,” I admitted.
What was the point of lying? I didn't want pity or “compassion”, but pretending wasn't something I cared about right now.
“What did the doctor say?”
“He says I'll heal, but I may not fully recover. This could jeopardize my dancing career.”
“I’m so sorry.” Kelsey took my hand and placed a sweet kiss on it. It was a gentle, affectionate gesture if you ignored her cheerful air.
“What about you?” I asked, faking interest.
“I've got a date with Tiago tonight!”
Tiago. Of course... He was one of Alex's best friends and one of the best players on our school soccer team.
Alex was a part of the team, too. She'd been circling this guy for months just to get so much as a glance from him.
Deep down, I couldn't judge her. I, too, had been crazy about a guy in my dance class for years, even though he'd never shown the slightest sign of interest. Kelsey was the same way with Tiago, just as I'd been with Robin. Except this was how it went: guys like that didn’t see invisible girls like us.
Until today, it seemed. All the girls were after him, as if a guy chasing a ball would automatically attract the ladies.
Alex was also coveted by three-quarters of those girls.
They were both handsome and good sportsmen.
But where Tiago was known as a real flirt, Alex had the reputation of a dangerous and mysterious young man.
Physical attraction was a strange thing.
Let's just say the hormones were to blame.
“I'm happy for you. Tell me, did you put your plan into action and pester him to answer you?”
“I didn’t even need to!”
Like a child about to be offered ice cream, she was clapping her hands.
I understood her enthusiasm. Going to see the boy you've been in love with for months was much more exciting than hanging around the hospital.
Even if it was to visit your “best friend”.
Who was I trying to fool at this point? A gap had opened between us since my brother's death three years earlier.
I'd lost my best friend and my older brother at the same time.
The only difference was that one body lay six feet under, while the other stood next to me.
“Gotta go. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone!”
Boy, was that funny. Look at me laughing my ass off. God, when had I become so bitter?
“I don’t think you need to worry.”
She placed a quick kiss on my forehead before leaving the room. And I felt even more alone than before.
***
Alex
“Hey, Alex! It’s been a while.”
Alex was surprised to see Elena's mother in the candy aisle of the supermarket.
He'd been used to seeing her as a child.
After all, Maura was one of his own mother's childhood friends.
About three years ago, she stopped coming.
The last time he'd seen her was at Jennifer’s wedding, another of his mother's childhood friends.
“Hello, Mrs Fleureau.”
“Call me Maura. I've known you since you were born.”
In the past, he might have considered her a member of his family.
That was years ago. He'd shut a lot of people out of his life since then.
Not knowing what to say, Alex simply smiled at her.
Hopefully, she wouldn't keep him too long.
With a tournament this weekend, he couldn't afford to miss his kickboxing training.
“You went to see Elena at the hospital, didn't you?”
He watched as people hurried to grab their products from the shelves before rushing to the checkouts. Alex didn't like wasting his time. Patience was a virtue he didn't always control. “I did.”
“Are you getting on well?”
Images from a few days earlier flashed through his mind. Elena had accepted his presence at the hospital just as she had accepted her broken leg. Needless to say, they didn't get along particularly well. “Not really. We hardly know each other.”
“According to your mother, you're very honest and direct. Is that true?”
This conversation was going to last forever.
“I guess so,” he replied on guard. “Why all the questions?”
“Can I ask you a favour?”
“It depends on the favour.”
Maura pondered, as if she saw in him the solution to all her problems. He had another bad feeling.
“Would you like to spend some time with Lena once in a while?”
For a moment, Alex wondered what was in it for him. He didn't feel like babysitting. Especially since the person in question didn't even want to see him again. Not that he was jumping at the idea of seeing her again either. Maura sensed his hesitation.
“Let's grab a coffee. My treat.”
Alex realized she wasn't going to let go of him and nodded reluctantly. It was better to go with the flow and listen to what she had to say if he wanted things to go as quickly as possible. He headed for the checkout and grabbed a pack of cigarettes.
Once they were in the café in front of the supermarket, Maura clicked her tongue. “You shouldn't be smoking at your age.”
Alex grew irritated. He didn't feel like being here to begin with, so he could do without unnecessary comments. Everyone knew it was unhealthy. He just couldn't find the motivation to stop. “Can you get to the point, please?”
Maura pursed her lips at his abrupt tone.
If she had been aware of his reputation, she would’ve known that he wasn't appreciated by the older generations. Alex was trouble and not the type of guy you’d want your daughter to associate with.
And trouble was an understatement. He didn't want people to see him that way—as worthless or a thug—but certain events had made that image stick to his skin.
“I'll get right to the point, then. I'd like you to spend some time with my daughter.”
That had already been established.
“Why?”
“Did you know Elena was mute for a time because of a trauma?”
Alex shook his head. He'd never associated with her since they left elementary school, so he knew almost nothing about her.
Alex had spent one evening with her because they were the only ones their age stuck at a wedding they weren't interested in.
Elena had been kind and funny, but they hadn't spoken to each other after that.
Knowing that this same smiling, cheerful person had been mute was a whole different picture.
Maura ran a finger along the rim of her coffee cup.
“You see, her life isn’t easy, which is probably my fault.
Dancing was her safe haven. With the accident she's just had, I'm afraid she'll relapse.
Maybe she won't talk to anyone now that she can't dance anymore, and I can't reach her. It feels like I hit a wall when I try to talk to her.”
Her eyes were desperate. She was losing her daughter, a little more every day.
Every second, Elena lost the will to keep going.
She was losing herself, becoming a shadow of her former self.
It all seemed too familiar. Alex felt sorry for the girl who’d had to say goodbye to the one thing that had kept her holding on.
“Why me? A therapist would be much wiser.”
“She's already seeing one. But I think talking to someone her age can help. Especially someone who understands what she’s going through.”
Alex sighed. Without having asked for anything, he felt like he'd found himself in a snake's nest. He wasn't convinced that forcing Elena to spend time with him would help. On the other hand, Alex knew that if he refused, he'd feel guilty. What a mess.
“I'll come by tomorrow. Goodbye, Mrs. Fleureau. Thank you for the coffee.”
Tomorrow was going to be a long, long day.