As Lovers Go

I tugged my olive military-style jacket closer to my body as I walked down the London streets.

It was a cold day- no, it was freezing.

“Yeah, Alex, you’re pretty downright lucky. While you’re all nice and warm, I’m getting frostbitten,” I muttered into the phone receiver, rolling my eyes when I heard his warm chuckle over the line.

“I’m sorry, why don’t you just come here?”

“Because I have school, and work, and shit like that, dumbass,” I replied.
“Not all of us have the luxury of private tutors, and a high paying job with thousands of fans.”

“You don’t?” he asked, and I snorted at the genuine shock in his voice.

He was such a good actor, I couldn’t deny it; but there was no way I’d ever tell him that.

Never, in a million years.

“No, Alex, I hate to break it to you, but we don’t.”

“Life must suck,”

“Yeah, especially when your best friend leaves for two years,” I replied, slipping into the Starbucks and I smiled.

It was warm in here, and smelled like heaven.
Thank God for coffee.

“God, I can only imagine. I’m livin’ it up like a rock star. I’ve got everything I want and need.”

“Well aren’t you just special,” I replied with a smirk as I ordered my coffee.

“Yes, I am, in fact,” he said smugly, and I knew he was grinning from the tone of his voice.

“Whatever, Alex Pettyfer, whatever you say,” I said with a roll of my eyes, paying the cashier and slid into a booth.

“Well, I happen to say I miss you. So, you can just suck on that,”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“You can get over it,”

“Well excuse me,” I mumbled, taking a sip.

“What was that?”

“Nothing!” I replied sweetly and he laughed.

“So, how are you? Been good while I’m gone, Trouble?”

“Psh. Fuck no,” I replied, earning another laugh from him. “Do you think just because you leave I have to clean up my rep or something like that?”

“Something like that, yeah, maybe,”

“Well, why don’t you get your fancy little cheap model ass down here then?”

“Um, excuse me, but, number one, I do not have a fancy little cheap model ass. I have a sexy model ass; which I know for a fact you like. Secondly, it’s not little or cheap. If we’re talking about my size I suggest you go back to grade school and learn what ‘little’ and ‘big’ are, darling. So, in conclusion, I have a sexy large-packaged expensive model ass,” he said, and I couldn’t help but crack up.

“You’re hilarious, Alex, you really are,” I said sarcastically, absentmindedly twisting the cup around in my hand as I smiled.

“You are too, sugar,” he retorted lazily.

“So when are you coming home?”

“I’m not sure, yet,” he sighed. “I was supposed to be able to come this weekend, but it’s not looking like it’ll work out at all.”

“Well fuck them,” I grumbled, watching the snow cascade around the grey city. It would seem rather drowsy, or depressing to someone else, but I loved it.

Alex laughed.

“Ace, it’s not that easy.”

“I know,”

“I’m sorry,” he sighed and I shrugged, then realized he couldn’t see me.

“It’s no big deal, I just haven’t seen you since you left like fourteen months ago, and I kinda miss you.”

“Kinda?”

“Yeah, you know, as in maybe. A little bit. Possibly medium-sized bit. A whole fucking hell of a lot.”

“Good. So, any guys around lately?”

“Not really, to amount to anything. you?”

“Are you questioning my sexuality, ma’am?” he asked warningly, and I grinned.

“Absolutely,” I agreed, taking the opportunity.

“Well I’m sorry to inform you there aren’t very many men on this set. I’m like, the only male actor in the film, pretty much. Now, the ladies on the other hand…” he trailed off, and then whistled.

I rolled my eyes.

“Seriously, though, Alex,”

“Well, me and Emma hit it off pretty well. The first day filming, we had to kiss.”

It took me a moment to process the thought, and I sank back against the cushioned booth.

“Oh.”

“Yeah, it wasn’t too bad though. She’s a really cool girl, but she’s a little of a spoiled American, if you know what I mean,” he said, and I could just see him wrinkling his nose as he said it- like he always did when he talked about people he didn’t think we’re respectful enough.

“I heard you and her have a bit of a thing going on, though,”

“Well,” he sighed. “Yeah, I guess in a way. But, you know how tabloids are, Ace, they blow things out of proportion.”

“Yeah, I’m sure they do. Especially those photographs that they can magically make.”

He sighed into the receiver.

“What are you getting at, Autumn?”

“You’re not being very clear,”

“Fine. Yes, we have a thing,” he said and I nodded slightly to myself.

“Right then. Congratulations, then, Alex,” I said stiffly.

“C’mon, Ace… don’t do this.”

“Do what?”

“Be all pissed off and such,”

“How am I pissed off? I have nothing to be pissed off about,” I muttered, glaring at the people walking by on the street. Alex sighed.

“If this is about the k-“

“Don’t push it, Alex. I said congrats,”

“Yes but we need to talk about what happened, Ace,” he insisted firmly.

I rolled my eyes in a perfect circle.

“Why? I don’t see the point, you’ve got a girl. What’s done is done,”

“Autumn,” he pleaded, and I sighed.

“Alex, it’s okay. I get it. One time fling, then you go off and be famous for two years. It’s alright,”

“No,” he insisted. “It’s not. I want you to understand. That’s not what it was supposed to be. This is not what we’re supposed to be. It’s just… it’s hard right now.”

“Yeah, well, we all go through hard times and I can tell you’re having it real rough, so I’ll let you go now,”

“Autumn, wait!”

I closed my phone, and walked out of the coffee shop. I knew he’d do that.

Why’d I let myself hope differently? Why’d I open myself up to be hurt?

Well, it didn't matter now. I knew he wouldn’t break it off with Emma for a long time- just because I got mad at him over it.

Alex just wasn’t that kind of guy.