Alex's Little Nuisance

The whole dating thing is a very strange concept for Alex. Let alone it's a pretend relationship or so Stacy says. Alex is not fully convinced that what he agreed to is the right thing to do either. Appearance wise it makes sense but Alex isn't sure if he can keep up with Stacy's demands and expectations.

It's been months and holding hands in public is still difficult to do. They have gone on a few dates to the movies and dinner which were awkward and mostly small talk. What really gets on his nerves is Stacy keeps hounding him about having some way to contact him that's not through his Gramps or visiting him at work. He spoke his peace on how he doesn't want a robot following him around scanning his body and recording his movements. She called him some things and told him to find some way she could contact him before storming off one day. His home security system does have a built in calling and messaging device but he isn't giving out that info to her. He doesn't have to worry about Gramps or Grams handing it out because they don't know how to pull it up on their home security system. Along with Soleils can't share info that's not their owners unless he gave their Soleil permission. Which he hasn't done.

The biggest problem Alex is facing is he has noticed Lizzy hasn't been smiling as much since the summer festival. She doesn't pop into the office like she use to just to talk with Gramps. One time she came in with her hand dripping with blood from getting it caught in a gate. Her facial expression was bland and her responses to questions where yea's, yep or I'm fine. Alex surprisingly was fine touching her hand to wrap her wound but her responses didn't sit right with him. He cornered Karen who told him she is dealing with it, do not interfere and she is not at liberty to say why Lizzy is depressed.

A week ago he got curious of how late she was working since she was here later than him every night. So he looked at barn footages. Some nights she was there til midnight. That is two hours past curfew. That night he stayed late at work to confront her. He kept glancing over at the goat barn video feed while working on reprogramming a feeding bot. He doesn't have the sound on to give Lizzy and Karen some privacy. After awhile Karen gave Lizzy a sweater and they both left at 9pm. 

He stayed late for a whole week just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. Mainly because he thought he would look like a creeper if he brings up he looked at the past surveillance videos. Not that it was any better that he was pretty much stalking her for the past week.

"Alex? What are you doing?" Stacy asks sitting next to him. He is staring at his monitors that have diagrams of the new wiring and sensors that got delivered.

"Oh." He comes back to reality of sitting at his desk at the office. "These are the diagrams for the Soleils that got dropped off from the hospital. I was... looking to see how different they are. Looks like the sensors and reaction times are a lot better on this model." 

"That's a good thing right?"

"Yes if the Soleils respond fast I won't have to fix so many."

"Oh so you'll have more time to hang out?" Stacy looks excited.

"Maybe if all the pieces go together well and after switching all the bots over to this newer tech."

"So it's more work right now?"

"Yea it could be late nights for me for awhile." He says trying to hide his joy.

"That's no fun. I was hoping to go out tonight."

"I'm sorry about that." He lies. "I won't be able to focus on anything else but figuring out these sensors so it will be a boring night if you stay."

"Well you're work is important. I can find someone else to hang out with. Tiara just got dumped so maybe I should go cheer her up."

"You're a good person and should go do that."

"Aww thanks!" Stacy says tapping away at her glass device that sends messages through her Soleil. "Gosh charging this thing sucks!" She keeps shaking it to power it up.

For thirty minutes Alex only heard the tapping and pinging from Stacy and Kiki sending and receiving messages. He was slowly loosing his mind.

"Hi-ya Gramps!" Tate busts through the door. Jump scaring Alex in the process. 

"Look what the cat brought in!" Gramps smiles happy to see Tate, Stephen, Dragon, Hitohito and Lizzy come into the office. Stacy and Alex watch as the group comes in. Unsure of how to join the conversation.

"It's been awhile hasn't it?" Stephen asks.

"We passed the bio-security test so we can come see the animals." Dragon brags.

Lizzy is quietly in the background grabbing the first aid kit.

"What brings you all here?" Gramps asks while gesturing for them to sit.

"Lizzy forced us to pass the test and then we came here to see animals. Gramps! Do you know how soft the goats and chickens are?" Tate says excited as always. "Oh we are mainly here in the office because Lizzy got cut." He uses his thumb to point behind him.

Everyone looks to Lizzy slapping on a bandaid. "All better." She says holding up her hand.

"Glad to hear your doing good." Gramps chuckles. "Now fill me in on your adventures."

The boys talked about sports, video games and shows they watched. Lizzy sat quietly listening to the group go on and on. They then start to poke some fun at Stacy for more or less leaving the group.

"Stacy got all high and mighty now that she found herself someone." Tate mocks.

"It's called devotion." Stacy snaps back.

"What about at school? You never sit with us." Comments Drag.

"Other girls keep asking me to sit with them. That's all." Stacy claims.

"What about Lizzy? We haven't seen you talk or sit with her in a long while." Hitohito snaps.

"Well..." Stacy realizes she really threw Lizzy on a back burner for too long.

"Our relationship isn't based on talking all the time. It's the kind that can sit for months and then can be picked back up like nothing happened." Lizzy speaks up.

Stacy's heart skips a beat. Normally Lizzy has a hard time with words but some how she found those ones. Stacy remembers this isn't the first time she has done this to Lizzy either. Or in their younger years before she had a phone Lizzy would be isolated on the farm all summer.

"You're a wise one to have that kind of friendship." Gramps smiles at the girls.

"Uh huh." Lizzy says getting up and slinging her backpack over her shoulder. She starts walking for the door.

"Where are you going?" Asks Karen.

"I'm hungry. So I'm heading home." Lizzy replies. "See ya everyone!"

The group waves and says their good byes. The guys start to get up to leave too.

"It looked like you were having a moment with everyone. Eat one of the snacks I packed you." Karen whispers.

"I ate 'em." Lizzy whispers.

"What?" 

"I ate 'em." Lizzy says a touch louder.

"I heard what you said! But all of them?" 

"Yea."

"Oh you sweet.. sweet.... sweet little girl. I wish I could punch you some days." Karen who is flustered replies.

"You know who would win that fight. Now let's go." Lizzy laughs pushing open the door. "Stacy you can join us if you wish!" She calls out over her shoulder before the door shuts. The group makes their way down the iron stair case.

"Wait up!" Stacy calls to them. The metal door slamming behind her as she makes her way down the stair case.

"You want to try that first restaurant we went to?" Lizzy jokes with Stacy.

"You little!" They both laugh. "I know a different place. Let's go there!" 

Lizzy wonders to herself what are her true feelings for Stacy are. Especially if they can be this comfortable talking to each other after all this time?

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"And like that I was left." Alex says quietly.

"Kids move fast don't they? Ah to be young again." Gramps chuckles.

"Says the old man who can't sit still?" Alex quietly mocks.

"What's that?! My hearing isn't very good anymore!" Gramps speaks loudly but can't contain his laughter. Soon enough Alex is laughing with him.

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Stacy drags the group to one of the few true family diners left in the world. Stacy found it with Kiki when she was looking for places to go on dates to. The guys ask Stacy random questions about Alex. Lizzy is able to read Stacy's body language.

"You're not satisfied with him." Lizzy blurts out. She begins sipping on her strawberry milkshake.

Stacy about spits out her vanilla milkshake. The guys all whip their heads toward Lizzy. Everyone (including the easdropping table next to them) was thinking Lizzy's comment was rude.

"I-i am not!" Stacy tries defending herself. She squirms a little to make herself look taller.

"Liar." Lizzy is taking the gloves off. "I told you he was wasn't friendly. Now you have him and you seem bored. Looks like he isn't giving you the attention you want?" Lizzy leans forward a touch so she can rest her head in her hand.

"We're adults. And he is very busy at work." She explains.

"Uh huh." Lizzy raises her eyebrows at her friend. "The man doesn't have a way to message you. Especially good morning texts. You used to live for those messages."

The guys silently take notes. Stacy squirms some more.

"Maybe I-" 

"Don't say you have grown or changed because your body language tonight says other wise. If you're that unhappy break up with him. You never had that problem before."

"Well easy for you to say. You don't barely know what it's like to have relationships!" Stacy's words cut like a knife through the tense air.

Lizzy keeps her composure. "Real relationships where you know when the other is upset without asking? Or the ones that are only happy with no conflict because you know it will deteriorate it in a second? Which one? Me personally, I'm picking quality over quantity here."

Stacy is ferrous that Lizzy is right. She doesn't want to admit defeat. Stacy crosses her arms trying to hold herself together or maybe shield herself. She wanted Alex because he played hard to get. Then was hoping he would soften if she did get close to him. But no, he won't open his heart to her.

"I should go." Stacy says.

"Suit yourself." Lizzy works on finishing her shake.

"See you around guys." Stacy tells the boys. They offer to walk her home but she shoots them down.

"Did you have to be so mean?" Asks Hitohito.

"I spoke the truth. She usually doesn't stay with someone if they don't meet her expectations." Lizzy wonders for a minute. What is Stacy after?

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"Kiki try to get a hold of Alex. Tell him I need to talk to him now." Stacy says walking down the street. An empty park comes into view. She decides to sit on a swing.

Not long after Kiki gets ahold of Alex, he shows up. Once the engine is off, his protective gear receded back into the bike. He makes his way to Stacy who is rocking in the swing.

"What is it you called me out here for?" He asks.

"Lizzy knows something is up."

"What?" Alex is both confused and shocked.

"She is starting to see through this charade. She people watches so she can tell things about people. Especially me."

"So she knows this is fake?"

"No she believes it's real but I believe she doesn't understand how or why we are together."

"I wonder the same thing some times." Alex says looking up at the night sky.

"We were doing this so we could both get what we want. Yet you have been too scared to even talk to her."

"Well sorry for not wanting to look like a creep! If she knows something is up, lets just end this fake thing."

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Then she for sure will know." Stacy thinks for a minute. She blushes slightly. "How about you pick me up from school tomorrow on your bike?"