THE PUNCH

Alec let the steaming hot water from the shower hit him right in the face.

There was something really soothing about taking a hot shower after having a perfect breakfast with your family. Something which he had missed for years.

He had woken up with a hangover, not a terrible one but still a pretty bad one.

Most of which he chased away with the coffee he had with his breakfast.

He wondered how Jade was faring as he washed his hair.

She was sure to wake up with a raging headache and blood shot eyes.

Thinking about that, he had taken pity on her and set the coffee machine in her kitchen on a timer, before leaving the apartment last night.

His mind went back to all the events of the day. He had come to know so many things about the 'grown up' Jade in just one day.

Something's which had come as a surprise and the others not so much.

All said and done he had enjoyed spending the whole day with her and had more fun than he remembered having for years now.

Just as he was about to get out of the shower, he heard someone knock on his door.

Must be Julia, he thought, before picking up a towel and wrapping it tightly around his waist.

"Alexander Carter you better open the door right now, if you know what's good for you!"

He had just stepped out of the foggy bathroom when he heard Jade yell.

Jade?

What was she doing here?

As far as he knew she should have been at her apartment struggling with a horrible hangover.

He hurried to open the door, as the bangs and knocks became more insistent.

"Bloody hell! Chill out, Jade." He said pulling open the door.

Jade stood with her hands firmly fisted on her waist.

Her eyes were blurry and she looked like she was ready to strangle someone. Most probably him.

"Why weren't you opening the door?" She asked.

Alec raised an eyebrow, "Isn't it obvious? I was in the shower! Or do you think I'm wet because it was raining in my room?"

That's when Jade noticed that Alec was standing in front of her almost naked except for a white towel around his waist.

His sandy brown hair was dripping and stuck to his forehead.

"Uh...." The initial shock of actually seeing Alec's sculpted abs made Jade almost forget the real reason why she was there.

"Yes?" Alec shifted his weight from one foot to another.

Jade took a deep breath, "I need to speak to you. Let me come in!" She said trying hard to ignore Alec's bare and wet chest.

"Can't it wait? I do need to get changed."

"No it can't. Let me come in!"

Alec was about to say something more, but she ignored him and pushed into the room.

Alec's room was just as she remembered it from the sleepovers she had been for at his house as a child.

Sunlight poured into the room from the window on the other side of the bed.

His study table was cluttered like always and now had a few extra additions. His laptop, wallet and some other work related files.

"Close the door!" She said once she was inside.

She turned around and faced him. He was still standing near the door.

I hope his towel is tied tightly, thought Jade.

"You're scaring me now, Jade." But he still shut the door behind him.

"Did you change my clothes last night?" Jade blurted out as soon as the door was shut.

She didn't want to hold this particular conversation with any chance that Mrs Carter could be eavesdropping.

"What?"

"Alec did you change my clothes last night?"

"You don't remember?"

It didn't come as a surprise to Alec that the events of last night were a blur to her.

"Obviously I don't remember! I wouldn't ask you then!" Jade clutched her head as if the shouting was hurt, "I remember leaving Splendour and I remember puking last night. And the next thing I remember is waking up in my bed with a t- shirt on. A t- shirt I'm sure I didn't wear to Splendour. So who changed my clothes?"

This will be fun, thought Alec.

"It was me! I swear." He said picking up his hands in mock surrender.

When Jade narrowed her eyes to small slits and glared at him he backed away, "Oh! You mean.... Jade I run my own business. I think I can change a girls clothes with my eyes closed."

Jade's tensed shoulders sagged a little.

"Not that I'm saying my eyes were closed." Alec added in the end.

The punch came out of nowhere and landed straight on the bridge of his nose.

The flash of pain made him take a few steps back.

Though Stuart was not even close to getting a 'Best Father' award, one thing he had taught Jade and that was to throw a mean punch.

And Jade had to agree, grudgingly thought that he had done a good job and she was grateful to him for the lessons.

"Sweet baby Jesus!" Alec gingerly touched his nose, his fingers came back bloody. "You punched me? My nose is bleeding! Have you completely lost it?"

"You deserved it!" Jade said crossing her hands over her chest and looking Alec straight into his eyes with a determined look.

"Ouch!" He exclaimed when he touched the bridge of his nose. "I think you broke my nose."

Jade smirked proudly, "I'm glad!"

Alec stared at the blood in his hand. He had been in his fair share of fist fights but this was the first time he had been punched by a girl as an adult. And it hurt like hell.

He sat down on the edge of his bed and shook his head, "Jade! You were drunk. You didn't pass out. You changed your clothes on your own without any help from anyone. Especially not me. I was waiting in the living room."

"Really? But you said.....?"

"I was teasing you. I didn't expect you to punch me." Alec laughed and then immediately winced when his nose hurt even more and blood spurted out.

"Oh! Shit!" Jade said guiltily.

She should have realised Alec was not serious. She should have listened him out before acting on her instincts and punching him.

"Yeah... Oh shit!" Repeated Alec before picking up the end of the towel to wipe his nose with it.

"No no no... Don't do that!" Jade realised his intentions and stopped him just in time.

She was already getting slightly breathless at the sight of his bare chest. Even the idea of seeing any other part of his body made her knees weak.

Even if it was just his shin.

"Lie down on you back and tilt your chin up. Stay like that. I'll just be back."

She left Alec, hoping he would listen to her and went into the bathroom which was still a little steamed up.

She took a deep breath to settle her nerves, before picking up all the things she needed.

"This is a very uncomfortable position." Stated Alec once she walked back into the room.

Jade kept the things on the table, "It will stop the bleeding."

She handed him the small towel in her hand, "Hold it to your nose."

Alec did as she asked and then looked at her expectantly without saying anything.

"Now don't get very angry but... You know this ring I wear everyday..." She pointed at the small silver ring on her index finger. "Well.... It has kind of cut your nose and so most of the blood is from the cut!" She said the last few words quickly.

Alec's eyes grew huge, "Are you serious? The least you could have done was punch me with the hand which does not have any ornaments on it!" His voice sounded wierd, a little nasal, as he was clutching his nose protectively.

"Look you shouldn't have teased me. Then you wouldn't have ended up with a bloody nose!" Shrugged Jade.

"Okay... So it's my fault now?"

"Let's play the 'blame game' later. I need to put this on the cut." Jade said holding up the bottle of antiseptic liquid in her hand.

Alec shook his head, "No ways! I'm not letting you touch my nose. It will sting."

"Are you seriously scared of a little sting? Really?"

"No it's not that." Alec said.

Jade smirked as a reply. Hurting his ego was an assured way of making Alec do everything she wanted him to do.

"Okay go ahead." He said at last, "You're just jealous that I have the royally handsome, Greek nose while you end up with the round stub as an excuse for a nose."

"Royally handsome? If you say so...." Jade put the antiseptic on a piece of cotton.

To get better access to his bleeding nose she bent over him while he lay still in anticipation on the bed.

Their faces were close and Jade could smell the soap he used. It had a woodsy smell which was quite pleasant.

"Ouch!" Alec yelled when she touched the cotton to the cut.

Jade just smiled and continued wiping the blood. Wiping a little extra hard than absolutely needed.

"Done!" She said, when she didn't have the heart to see him wince any more from the sting.

"Really? Why don't you pour the whole bottle on the cut?" Alec said sarcastically.

Once the pain subsided a little and became a small throb, he realised just how close their faces were.

He could feel her hair tickle his cheek where it fell out of the pony tail.

Had her eyes always been such a deep shade of green or was it because of the lighting in the room?

They stared at each other.

Each waiting for the other to say something.

"Alec?"

Jade and Alec were pulled out of the trance by the sound of someone opening the door and calling out to him.

They turned simultaneously to see Emma standing at the door with a shocked expression on her face.

Behind her stood Julia and Steve, with raised eyebrows and twin looks of amusement.

Jade immediately pulled back and tripped on the side table, almost falling.

"Emma! You're back?" Alec stuttered. His voice still a little funny.

His nose had stopped bleeding but there still were blood marks around it.

He had a startled expression on his face.

He looked like a kid caught with his hand stuck in a cookie jar.

Hell! He felt like a kid caught with his hand stuck in the cookie jar!

.........................

Happy Reading!! :D