Troubled - Alex Turner

11. Insecurity

Ella's POV:

"Where's the others?" Sam asked as me and her were welcomed into Matt's fairly large beach-house-looking home.

"They're out the back," he answered, "making the most of the nice weather and all."

Sam nodded and wandered off in the direction of Jamie, Nick, Ross and Carter's audible laughter.

"Hey," Matt smirked at me once he had made sure that Sam was out of sight, leaning over to plant a small kiss against my lips.

Me and Matt had a thing? going on between us. I'm not really sure what it was, in all honestly. We were keeping it between just the two of us, though — despite being well aware of the other's clear suspicions.

"Hey," I returned as I failed to bite back a grin at the sight of him.

"Where's Sophie?" Matt frowned upon noticing the missing part to our trio.

"She's coming round later," I told him. "Her and Alex are working on something first."

"Oh, i'm sure they'll be working real hard," he said, rolling his eyes sarcastically.

"Well, actually, they will be," I said as we made our way into the kitchen. He looked at me in confusion. "Sophie's seeing this Corey bloke," I shrugged. "So..."

"The fuck?" he scowled, pouring us each a drink. "Thought she and Al had a thing?" he questioned.

"Long story," I sighed in response. "She claims otherwise, but, I mean..." I hesitated.

"But it's clear, anyways?" he finished for me.

"Exactly."

"I've been trying to get Alex to make a move for ages now," he said, handing over the glass he had just poured for me. "Ive never seen him so hung up on someone... ever, I don't think. Usually he'd try something on them, like, the second day of knowing them," he laughed. "He seems pretty smitten with her — i'll tell you that — though, he'll never admit it."

"Sophie too," I mentioned honestly.

"So when'd this happen?" he then asked, afterwards. "Sophie and Corey?" he elaborated.

"Like, two weeks ago or something," I informed him, sipping at my drink. "He's stunning..." I said, "and she likes him," I continued, "but she doesn't like him."

"What'd ya mean?"

"I know Sophie," I stated. "He's far too nice for her."

"Too nice?" he chuckled in a confused demeanour. "How can someone be too nice?"

"Sophie isn't into all that," I said, trying to help him understand the puzzle which is Sophie. "She gets bored and cringed out easily. Ive saw them together and she just looks uncomfortable."

"Then why's she with him?" he asked, dumbfounded and confused. As was I.

"I honestly wish I knew."

Sophie's POV:

"Alreyt, beautif— uh, Sophie," Alex corrected himself quickly as he welcomed me into his apartment, clearing his throat in an awkward demeanour. "I'm sorry."

"Wow, okay?" I shot back as he scratched the back of his neck unsettlingly. I watched him as he closed the door behind me in confusion. "Am I not as hot as the last time I saw you or something?" I joked in response to the strange correction to one of his usual, cocky greetings. Part of me felt a little disappointed, to be honest. He was acting weird and I didn't like it.