Page 50 of All That Remains
"And the video shoots," I added.
"And the signings. You’ve nearly forgotten those," Levi insisted. "We're going to be wrecked by the time it's all over, bois, d’you reckon?"
"Properwrecked..." Alex added, flinging his fringe out of his face.
Suddenly I was aware of how quiet he'd been. Something was off for sure. Normally he didn’t pick any bones about interrupting or leading the group discussions, but today he was as quiet as a church mouse. Like he was waiting on me to say something first. After he’d finished eating and got up to toss his plate in the bin, I followed him into the kitchen.
"You didn't have to get that, mate. Sorry, I could've taken it for you," he said, grabbing my plate.
"No worries," I replied, noticing how he avoided looking me in the eye. Oh fuck,did he know?
He stepped on the bin's pedal to open the lid, balancing our plates in either hand, but the lid wouldn't budge.
"It sticks sometimes..." I said, giving it a kick on the side. "When all else fails, you just have to go at it the old-fashioned way."
I lifted the lid for him and he dumped all inside. Before he could slip back into the lounge, I asked him what was up.
“Just tired, lad.”
"You pissed at me or something?"
"Awe, widdle Ralph..." he said, pinching my cheeks. Always the condescending ass. "What on earth gave you that impression?"
"You've been looking at me weird all day. Did I, uh, annoy you or something?"
“Dunno, mate.”
“What’s up?”
“It's just that...I kind of feel like you've, y’know, been avoidingme since we got here. Right?"
Finally, it dawned on me I hadin factbeen a little distant from everyone else in my pursuit of Rome, and Alex was used to me being right under him most days. To avoid suspicion, I denied it, even though he was correct.
"Alex, mate, you and I just walked to the store together yesterday. Just you and I, remember? And who did I sit by last night during the movie?"
"Yeah, but we haven't really spent anyrealtime together, though, have we? We haven't talked about anything..."
"Yeah..." I conceded. "But it's been difficult, y'know, with the filming and the crew in and out and everything. Trying to play host—”
“More likehostess—”
“Shut up!” I shoved him with a laugh. “And then the boys being here too—"
"I know, I know..." he relented. "I'm just being silly, is all. Guess I'm a bit knackered."
"Wanna have a lie down? You could have the bed all to yourself. I'll make sure we keep quiet."
"Thanks,mum, but I'll be ok," he grinned. We started back into the lounge, but he stopped me again. "You've been spending a lot of time with RJ lately, right? Or at least that's what I've noticed."
"A little. Same bed and all."
"Obviously."
My heart raced. I prayed nothing was obvious about what we'd done, but was beginning to think it was written all over my face. Was he starting to piece together our inside jokes and our refusal to get out of bed most mornings?
"How's he been? He as moody at night as he is during the day?"
"No," I chuckled. "He's just really chill, y'know? Like...he sort of just reads his phone and then checks out. Sleeps really easily."
