ALEXANDER WALTERS
My heart raced as I stood outside Katie's house, my phone pressed against my ear. I had answered the call without really thinking, assuming it was Katherine reaching out to talk.
But then I heard their voices, Katherine's and Katie's, and I realized that I was eavesdropping on a private conversation. I hesitated, feeling guilty for unintentionally invading their privacy, but something made me keep listening.
Katherine's voice came through the phone as she spoke to Katie. "You remember when we made that plan for me to date Alexander for revenge."
I felt like the world had stopped around me. Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I gripped the phone tighter, my heart pounding in my chest.
My grip on the phone loosened, and I felt a sinking feeling in my chest. They had made a promise—a bet.
I quickly disconnected the call, my heart heavy with a mix of anger, hurt, and confusion.
I leaned against the side of the house, my mind racing. How could I have been so foolish? How could I have believed that Katherine's feelings were genuine?
I clenched my fists, my jaw tight. I had let myself believe in something real, in something more than just a game. And now, it felt like a cruel joke, like I had been played all over again.
I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. I knew I couldn't confront Katherine right now, not when my emotions were so raw.
I needed time to process what I had heard and to figure out what to do next. But one thing was clear: I couldn't let myself get hurt again.
I stumbled away from the side of the house and I walked back to my car, my steps heavy with hurt.
My car door slammed shut with a resounding thud as I practically threw myself into the driver's seat.
I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white. The engine roared to life, matching the turmoil inside me. I leaned my head back against the headrest, closing my eyes for a moment, trying to steady my racing heart.
Why did I let myself believe it?
Why did I let my guard down, only to be blindsided like this?
I had been through this before, the empty promises, the deceitful games.
I thought things were different with Katherine, that she was different.
But now, all I felt was a sickening sense of déjà vu.
I gripped the steering wheel even tighter, my jaw clenched.
This was exactly why I had sworn off romantic relationships, why I had become a playboy, using and discarding girls before they could do the same to me.
I had learned the hard way that love only led to heartbreak, and I had built walls around my heart to protect myself.
And yet, I had taken a chance on Katherine.
I had wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was something real between us.
I had backed out of that stupid bet and made a conscious choice to be genuine, and now it felt like a slap in the face.
I stared out of the windshield, my vision blurred by unshed tears.
It was a painful reminder of why I had become the person I was, why I had become Alexander the Playboy.
I had let myself become vulnerable, and now I was paying the price.
With a frustrated sigh, I turned the key in the ignition and pulled out of the driveway.
My mind was a jumble of thoughts, my heart heavy with the weight of betrayal. I drove aimlessly, needing time to clear my head, to figure out what next I was going to do.
How the fuck did I let this girl do this to me?
-:-
I eventually decided to go to the pub, and just drink my night away. So, I parked my car in the lot of the next bar I saw.
I got out of my car and pushed open the heavy wooden door of the pub, the warm glow of dim lights spilling out onto the sidewalk.
The air inside was thick with the scent of aged wood, the smell of weed mingling with the faint aroma of various liquors. Laughter and the low hum of conversation filled the air,
The pub was cozy, with wooden beams crisscrossing the ceiling and vintage posters adorning the walls. Stools lined the length of the bar, occupied by patrons nursing drinks and engaging in animated discussions.
I made my way through the crowd as I approached the bar.
The bartender, a burly man with a beard that reached his chest, nodded in acknowledgment as I took a seat.
He leaned in, his voice a gravelly rumble as he asked, "What can I get ya?"
"Two shots of whiskey," I replied, my voice edged with a weariness that matched the weight on my shoulders.
I needed something strong to dull the ache that had settled in my chest.
The bartender grabbed a couple of shot glasses and a bottle of amber liquid, pouring the whiskey with practiced ease. The rich scent filled the air, momentarily distracting me from my thoughts.
He slid the glasses toward me, and I picked one up, my fingers curling around the cool glass.
I raised the shot to my lips, the burn of the whiskey as it slid down my throat a welcome distraction.
The familiar sting helped to numb the turmoil inside, if only for a moment. I exhaled a slow breath, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly.
As I set the glass back down on the bar, I glanced around the pub. The crowd seemed to ebb and flow, a mix of regulars and newcomers seeking refuge from the outside world.
I could relate as well.
I took another sip of the whiskey, the warmth spreading through me. I leaned back against the bar, my gaze unfocused as I tried to make sense of it all.
However, I couldn't. There was no sense in any of this. And all my mind needed now was my shots of whiskey, at least for the moment.
I downed the second shot, the warmth loosening the tension that had gripped my muscles.
Without much thought, I signaled to the bartender for another round.
He nodded and soon, two more shots were placed in front of me.
I lifted one to my lips, my movements slightly unsteady, and downed it quickly. The alcohol was beginning to take its toll, my mind becoming hazy and the edges of my vision slightly blurred.
But I didn't care. At that moment, I didn't care about anything.
As the minutes ticked by, I found myself ordering more shots, one after the other.
The alcohol flowed freely, and I welcomed the numbing embrace it offered.
Each shot seemed to push the thoughts of Katherine further away, replacing them with a swirling sea of sensations and a growing detachment from reality.
My laughter joined the chorus of voices in the pub, a boisterous sound that echoed off the walls. I chatted with a few people who sat next to me on the stools, and we would clink our shots together in a toast and down it.
I felt a sense of liberation, a release from the heavy burden I had carried since hearing Katherine's words.
But beneath the surface, the hurt still lingered, masked by the alcohol-induced haze.
I leaned against the bar, my vision swimming as I called for yet another round of shots.
The bartender eyed me with a mixture of concern and caution, but he complied with my request.
I lifted the glass to my lips, my fingers trembling slightly as I downed the contents.
Katherine's face flashed before my eyes.
But then, the memory of her words echoed in my mind, a painful reminder of the game that had been played, the trust that had been broken.
Anger welled up within me, fueled by the alcohol and my wounded pride.
"I'll show her," I muttered to myself, the words slurring slightly as they left my lips. "She won't play me like this."
With each subsequent shot, my resolve to get revenge on her grew. I convinced myself that I was no longer Alexander, the guy who had fallen for her, who had bared his feelings and been met with betrayal.
I had changed.
The hours passed in a blur, the shots piling up as the pub grew quieter around me. My movements became more unsteady, my thoughts muddled, but the anger still burned bright within me.
I supposed it was time to go home. I paid the car attendant. I stumbled out of my seat, swaying slightly as I made my way to the exit.
The cool night air hit me like a slap in the face, momentarily clearing my head. I took a deep breath and made my way to my car, nearly tripping on my own feet.
The alcohol didn't do shit. Only a momentary relief as I could still hear Katherine's voice on my head.
Fuck, what has this girl done to me?