4 • A NEW CHAPTER WITH AN ITALIAN BANG

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J O D I E

PRESENT DAY

YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

You're beautiful.

You're powerful.

You're strong.

I repeat my morning mantra as I stare at myself in the mirror. It's moving day. And Alex is helping. Well, that's one word for it. His Maserati is already parked in Hudson's driveway and Kim is with him in the living room. I peeped them earlier, and they were watching a Ryan Reynolds movie. And then I ran up here, why? I want to get one last look at my room- and maybe stall Alex for a while.

Boxes of all my stuff surround me and I smile. I'm finally doing it, I'm finally moving into my own place and having my own space. And from what I saw online, yeah, that apartment was made for me.

I hear a couple of knocks at my door and I yell a come in to whoever. Aunt Marissa waltzes in, aka, Mom. And she smiles, pulling me into a hug. "Please promise me you'll come visit me, I miss you already, baby," she says and I feel the sudden urge to cry.

"Of course I'll come visit, I promise," I tell her and she pulls back, her eyes watery and a huge smile on her face. "You're my Mom after all," I tell her and she smiles shyly.

"Alexander helping you out?" She asks and my heart stops at the sound of his name. I nod and she sighs. "That stupid, stupid boy," she mutters and my lips twitch at the reference of Alex to a boy, when he is anything but. "Alright then, what are you waiting for?"

What I'm I waiting for?

I'm about to spend half the day with a man that has always found a way to see through me and read me before anyone else.

I smile at her as she leaves, giving me one more moment to look around my room. I'm really going to miss it here. Mom cooking food, girl's chat with Kim, Hudson being constantly annoying and cute- I know I'll still see them but then again, I already miss them. A complicated mind of sorts I guess.

I grab a box and I head downstairs. And Kim hugs me immediately she sees me. "You're leaving for real," she says into the hug before she pulls away. Alex stands to his feet, shifting in his steps, his jaw tightened and his eyes glued to the floor.

"Alex's car is parked outside, Lee, Terence and I are going to help load your things, alright?" She says at the same time Hudson and T walk downstairs.

"We would've come with you but we need to prep for Wednesday's game- I'll mail you tickets, and Coach would only release one of us and Alex- well, he's rather persistent," T grumbles and I honestly don't know if I should smile or frown at that. So I just hug him instead. I hug Hudson afterwards and he mutters "I'll come visit you baby sis" and I nod.

It takes a while, but all my stuff is finally loaded into Alex's car. And that's when Bri's car pulls into Hudson's driveway and I smile, I really miss my best friend these days. When she steps out, she steps out with Zac, that makes me raise a brow. I'm about to say something when she pulls me into a hug and kisses my cheek.

"Nick says you can have Zac for a month or as long as you please, he loves you more anyway," She says at the same time Zac barks excitedly. He runs off to the car, grabs his leash with his mouth, before he returns, placing it in my hands and wagging his tail excitedly.

I should say no, but I've never lived alone, ever, so it wouldn't hurt to have a dog by my side all day right? So I nod, and Zac barks excitedly, making his way into Alex's car, like the champ he is.

Bri and I get a little chit-chat about the twins and getting back into modeling before Alex approaches the driveway, he and T talking deeply about something I can't hear. Bri senses my gaze and pins me with a look. "Be careful, Jo, I don't like him, I don't like his wife and I don't care what anyone says but he's on my hate list," she says sternly and I know she's not kidding. I nod, assuring her that I will be careful.

Alex walks towards me and T pulls me into another hug. I notice Alex shift and I mentally scold myself for never failing to notice everything about him. I get in the passenger seat and Alex and I share a rather electrified look, which I fail to ignore. And then Zac barks in the back seat, notifying us of his presence. I ruffle his ears and the drive begins, right after I wave my friends goodbye.

It's a new chapter Jo. Ride with it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WE'VE ARRIVED.

I'd like to say it was a short drive, but then I'd be lying. It was definitely not short, if anything, it was the longest fifty minutes of my life. When the drive began, Alex gave me my favorite Starbucks order. Yes, you heard right. Alexander Mateo Hidalgo brought me my favorite Iced Oat Americano. I freaked, how could he still remember that? And why? My heart thundered and my pulse shook as I accepted it with a nod, and then the journey began. Zac got in my lap for the most part and I kept petting his fur and rubbing his ears to silence my racing thoughts. The air in the car shifted from warm to extremely freaking hot and to say I held on to Zac for dear life is a terrible understatement. Our hands brushed when we both reached for the console, and I pulled away immediately- and that's just one of the many body brushes and skin contact.

I'm losing it when we finally get to my new apartment building. A tall building with eight floors. My new apartment is on the fifth floor and I'm excited to see it. Okay that is an understatement, I am super pumped and giddy and overly happy to get into this new chapter of my life.

"What floor?" The woman at the lobby asks me and I tell her the fifth floor. Her eyes keep darting behind me and I have to resist the urge to roll my eyes. Of course she's staring at Alex. He's married! I want to yell, but I'm also no different. Speaking of said wife, does she know that he's helping me today?

She hands me my apartment key and I smile at Zac who once again, barks excitedly. You and I are both buddy.

Alex and I take the elevator with Zac, who looks typically unbothered- that is until I see him snarling at Alex in an annoyed way. I almost laugh, but Alex is too focused on his phone to notice the angry German Shepherd. I love and appreciate silence, but the kind of silence I feel around Lex- Alex is deafening.

We get to my floor and we walk to my door- while the apartment building staff moves my stuff up. I take in a breath as I turn on the lights and I'm greeted by empty space. Definitely my kind of space and I can't wait to decorate and get furniture and literally everything. It's going to take a while but I got it. Zac helps himself to it, the German Shepherd is already checking out the kitchen space and bedroom space, barking as he goes.

Alex stands at the entrance, taking in the place. I try not to look at him but I fail miserably. He's dressed casually, a look I've never got to see for a while. Black plaid jeans and a striped sweatshirt, and an unreadable expression on his face.

When all my stuff is wheeled in, I catch Alex snooping around my stuff- a slogan t-shirt actually. And I see him fixated on the words, and I'm telling him them before I can even think.

"Don't wake me up before seven am," I say and he blinks up at me, a smile threatening to appear on his face. He's dyslexic, and it's only Coach and I that know about it. He'd be super insecure and nervous about it when we first met. I remember being the one to reply to most of his texts from his group chats with the guys. And him making me promise to tell anyone.

"Thanks," he lets out a rather low groam that twists my insides. "Do you need anything else?" He asks, his hands playing with the t-shirt. The t-shirt I wore on our karaoke date four years ago. I stop myself from thinking about it, and I blink up at him.

"No, I don't, I'm fine here, and I'll take Zac for an evening walk later," I honestly don't know why I'm telling him this.

"How was your um- date?" He asks, his throat working to get the words out.

"It was fine, Steven seems great," I tell him and the next words that come from me sound like noise to my ears. "How's Isabella? Does she- does she know you're here?" I gulp and his eyes darken and he walks towards me, dominating my space with every step. He circles behind me and his warm breath fans my neck.

"I'd rather die than sleep next to her," He breathes and I feel his words at my core. "You and I both know where I spent my wedding night," Our eyes lock and his gaze lingers on mine, and I find vulnerability in his eyes. He's always been so vulnerable with me, from the first night we met- till now. Holy Mary Mother of God, please help me.

"So back to your question, does she know that I'm here? I believe you now know the answer to that," And with one last look at the apartment, he stops at the door, "This apartment suits you," And then his off, shreds of my heart in his hands.

I suck in a deep breath, my ass hitting the floor with a slap that alerts Zac, who barks and comes for me, resting his head on my shoulder and his paws in my hands. "I'm fine buddy," I assure him andvhe whines, obviously not buying it, but he lets it go anyway.

I cry, and then I remind myself that I just met someone and that it seemed great and we will take it slow until I rid my heart of everything concerning Alex; I also remind myself that it's okay to cry and that crying doesn't make me weak.

But then I have to go grocery shopping.

So I lock up, grateful that Hudson has driven my Toyota to the parking lot downstairs already before he headed for practice and I walk down. I getting into the elevator when I see a rather familiar face that pissies me off.

Genevieve.

The bitch that tried to break up Nick and Bri. Last I heard of her, she was with Hudson when ladies accused him of not being able to remember their names and that caused a major shitstorm. Wherever she goes, chaos follows so I roll my eyes at her as we both enter the elevator. But as always, her inability to keep her mouth shut gets the best of her. Bitch.

"You still haven't forgiven me, huh?" It's more a statement than an accusation so I ignore her and Zac barks in annoyance. Yeah, we both hate her buddy. "Look, I'm sorry okay, Rose was my friend, I lost her so it took a great deal of time to get over that-"

"And so you decided to fuck things up for Bri then, good thing your plan didn't work, Nick and Bri just had twins last year, two beautiful girls if I might add- and no, I'm not sending your fucking regards and all that congratulations bullshit," I snap.

"Okay, okay, you made your point," she sighs. "But look I'm sorry okay, to Bri and since I live in the same apartment building now, I think it'll be nice for us to get along," she releases yet another sigh.

I roll my eyes again, Zac definitely agrees with me because he begins circling Genevieve, snarling and barking in annoyance.

"He's not gonna bite, is he?" She mutters. "Come on Jodie, I know you hate me but you can at least stop your Dog," she murmurs, it's frantic and I roll my eyes yet again.

I look at the elevator buttons, saying that we have two more floors to go.

"Depends, can you shut your trap for the next two floors?" I smirk at her. Yes, she's taller than me and that's because I have flip flops on.

"You gotta be kidding me," she murmurs and Zac continues to snarl at her.

She makes it the next two floors and she exits the elevator in a rush, and I can't help but laugh.

"I'd really like us to be friends though, I live on the fifth floor too and I don't have any friends," she sighs.

"Yeah, 'cause you're such a joy," I say and I know she doesn't miss the sarcasm in my tone. She gives up, raising her hands in surrender as she exits the apartment building.

I'm laughing until my eyes catch another familiar face, one that I have only seen a handful of times. And by handful, I mean twice- once in pictures and the other during my time in Milan. And I know him, at least a little bit. I know his name too.

Andreàs.

Andreàs Fredericio Hidalgo.

Lex's younger and only brother.

What I don't know is what he's doing here, in my apartment building of all places.

I'm walking away with Zac's leash in my hands when our eyes meet. If you thought Alex was mysterious, then you haven't met his brother- who is a shade darker than him.

Andreàs Fredericio Hidalgo is five years younger than Alex and unlike his elder brother, he has the tendency to frown more- frown; code word in my head for, look more pissed off. Right now he's dressed in a black three piece suit, and a long suit Jacket and he strides towards me, his stone gaze unwavering. He has more scruff on his chin than the last time I saw him in Milan and his gaze lingers on Zac and then me. Zac being Zac stands in front of me, posing defense. I now see why Nick let me have Zac for as long as I want.

"Alba," he says when he's finally close to me.

"Great performance Alba, my mother would have loved your performance if she was available, you played beautifully," He'd said when I packed up my Violin. His voice startled me, and I marveled at the way he sounded almost like Alex- his baritone lighter, but then again.

He also went on to say,
"I see why Alexander is so obsessed with you, Alba," and my heart crumbled yet again. "You are beautiful, skill and skin," And he'd offered a compliment right before he retreated in long strides until he exited the Sala Grande. Leaving me with a huge puddle of thoughts.

"Andreàs," I breathe and his eyes are focused on Zac who snarls.

"The German Shepherd is rather protective of you," he mutters, and his eyes flicker to meet mine. "Let's have a chat, shall we?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT the Hidalgo men. They're polished, in the way they speak, in the way they walk and in the way they respond to situations. Even though Alex hid under casual clothing, I could always notice the way his true self always showed. Neat, intelligent, a way with words and graceful strides.

Like Elijah Mikealson from TVD Universe. If you remove the thousand year old part.

We're standing in the parking lot of my apartment building, while Zac searches for my car. It doesn't take him long, because he barks excitedly the moment he sees it.

"Do you have any gigs to play?" he asks, "It's gigs over here isn't it? I'll never understand why you Americans talk so fast and make every word reduced, so damn annoying," he says, and no, he doesn't chuckle let alone snort.

"I'm half American," I point out.

"And half Mexican, but you've become rather acquainted with the American lifestyle,"

"You know the saying, when in Rome, be like the Romans," I tell him, I didn't get the saying right but he's smart so he knows exactly what I mean.

"The American lifestyle, I will never understand," He says in a thicker Italian accent. And then he reaches into his pocket and he pulls out something that makes my skin crawl.

A gun, wrapped in a white handkerchief. I'm startled, all the words clogged in my throat and he looks up at me. "Take it, it's licensed, you'll need it for what's to come,"

I'm frozen in my steps. A gun? What the hell will I be doing with it? And what does he mean by 'what's to come'? I muster some courage to look him in the eye before I say my next words.

"No, I don't need it," I straighten up, the last thing I need is to show weakness before a man I am yet to understand.

"Alexander thinks he can protect you from everything. I'm here to ensure that you can protect yourself," he says and my stomach curls at the sound of his name. "So. Take. The. Gun." He says, his voice more firm this time and I shake my head.

"No." I state. And for the first time since I met him, he laughs.

Andreàs Fredericio Hidalgo laughs; and while it's almost beautiful, it has acid rolling around it.

I'm still standing stunned when a black Rover drives into the parking lot. I'm about to ditch Andreàs when a redhead steps out; and not just any redhead, it's the Isabella redhead- Alex's wife. And unlike the first time I saw her, she's dressed in all black like Andreàs, a long black suit and a lacy black dress underneath. She also has black shades on and I look away when she takes them off.

She walks towards Andreàs and I take two steps back. Cristo.

She says something in Italian and I don't understand it. Andreàs replies to her in Italian, his stoic look unwavered and his hands behind his back. She says more things, and then she turns to me, a mischievous grin on her face and I refuse the urge to shudder. I make a mental note to Google translate their words- hopefully I can remember them. My Italian is not strong, but I know a little.

She turns, her heels clicking until she gets into her car and drives away. And that's when Andreàs circles around me and I breathe, my throat clogged with something close to fear.

His breath fans my shoulder and I almost shudder at his next words- In my language.

"¿Ya cambiaste de opinión sobre el arma?"
"Change your mind on the gun yet?"

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A/N

New update!!! Another surprise yes.

What do we think of Andreàs?

And who smells something fishy going on?

Who remembers Genevieve from AHLT and ASLT???

Zac being overprotective of Jo ahhhhh

Next chapter is in Alex's pov and we are getting a little snippet into his past. Probably Saturday or before Saturday!!!

Thank you for 8K!!!

Random question, do you guys use Twitter?

see you soon loves!


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