Love Unspoken

Quinn had been hustling packages all day. By the time night rolled in, she still didn't want to go back.

She drifted back into town, just kinda wandering around.

No ID meant no hotel, and it was way too cold to crash outside without turning into a popsicle.

After a bit of aimless wandering, she figured she better head back.

She had at least a month left, so she couldn't let Walter start sniffing around.

On her way back, she had to pass that intersection. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice someone chilling by the roadside.

It wasn't until her horse stopped that she snapped out of it and looked down.

There was Alexander, smack dab in the middle of the road, blocking her way. The horse tried to dodge him, but he kept moving to block it. The horse started getting twitchy.

Quinn quickly patted its head to calm it down. Once it was chill, she hopped off.

"Can't you stay put even with a bum leg?" she snapped.

No shocker, it was Alexander. He was leaning on a cane, and Quinn couldn't believe he had the guts to stop a horse in his sorry state.

He hobbled over to her, looking even more awkward than before.

Quinn frowned, a bit suspicious. Had Walter messed him up even more?

Or maybe he was just faking it.

Neither Alexander nor Walter were exactly trustworthy.

"Just wanted to see you," Alexander said.

By now, it was dark, and Quinn could barely make out his face, let alone his expression.

"What's there to see?" she asked.

"Everything," Alexander replied.

Quinn shot him a sideways glance. She used to wait for him every day, and he didn't give a damn. Now he was pulling the same stunt she used to. It was kinda funny. Leading the horse around him, she said, "Then keep watching."

Alexander trailed behind silently.

Quinn acted like he wasn't there, mounted the horse. Just as she was about to leave, he sneezed behind her.

She paused and looked back at him.

She couldn't see much, just that he looked thin and seemed to be wearing only a shirt.

"You don't think that by wearing so little and acting all pitiful, I'll feel sorry for you, do you?" she mocked.

Alexander coughed a couple of times and said, "No, it was hot this afternoon."

He was basically telling Quinn he'd been waiting there since the afternoon and wasn't trying to milk sympathy by wearing so little.

"How'd you know I was out?" Quinn asked.

"I didn't, but you always pass by here," Alexander replied.

"If I didn't show up, would you just keep waiting?" Quinn asked again.

"Yep," Alexander said stubbornly.

Quinn smirked. "You're really something else."

"How'd you know I was sick? I think I have a fever," Alexander said, his voice a bit raspy, and he coughed again.

Quinn looked away from him, silent for a long time.

He had no money and no phone. Waiting here was pretty much a death wish.

After a while, Quinn said, "That's your own fault."

With that, she ignored Alexander and rode off.

If she caved this time, he'd pull the same stunt again next time. Better to nip it in the bud.

Alexander stood there, watching her leave, her figure getting smaller until it blended with the night.

He sighed and plopped down on a rock by the roadside.

At this hour, the streets were dead. The night wind was biting, and he was barely dressed, waiting in the cold.

Sean, Matthew, and Nathan were all in the hotel, peeking out the window, trying to see if Alexander was still there. Sean said, "Should we go check on him?"This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

Matthew hesitated and said, "Didn't he say to leave him alone?"

"So we're really gonna let him wait all night?"

Nathan and Matthew both took a step back and said in unison, "You go."

Sean rolled his eyes at them, grabbed a coat, and headed out.