Chapter 15 continued. Fifi's Sweet Delights!

Breakfast has come and gone, and Fifi is sitting in the hotel's lounge staring aimlessly outside through the patio window. Lost in her thoughts when a figure stands to the side of her, looking directly at he; when she finally realises that it's Alex, she mumbles to him...

""Hey... Morning."

"Morning to you too Fifi. You were miles away, were you anywhere nice?"

Confused and still sleepy... "Sorry, I'm still half asleep."

"No change there then eh?!"

Alex laughs and Fifi nods in agreement. After looking outside at the bright, blue sky... Fifi decides to break the ice.

"So what are your plane for today seeing as everyone is busy doing their thing?"

She points to the vacant chair near where she's sitting so that she's no longer creaking her neck...

"I might check out some local arcades. Then, maybe see where the day takes me. You?"

Shrugging her shoulders... "I don't know, Maddie's busy with Harry, Brian and Leighanne. I didn't want to be a gooseberry, you know how it is when you're with couples and you're on your own."

"Wanna join me? We can hang out and have a proper catch up as well..."

Noting her fidgeting and awkwardness...

"...only if you're up for it like? No point in us sitting here bored and on our own."

"Okay Alex, why not?!"

Together they walk out of the hotel and set off to find some arcades or whatever they come to. Taking in her surroundings, Fifi walks beside Alex without saying a word, both occupied in their thoughts but equal pleased that they have each other for company. 

"Where are we again?"

Without hesitation, Alex waves his hands in mid air, grinning... "Welcome to Dallas, baby!!"

"Ha ha ha!!"

Fifi twirled round in the middle of the pavement, causing him to laugh at her. They finally come to an arcade, not all brightly lit and dazzling like she would have expected to see but it looked nice in it's own little way. They enter to find a few locals dotted about on their game machines, in one corner there was some that Alex went over to play on. He drags her over with him to a football one, he puts the coins in it and they start to play. The two played together on several games and she has a go at a slot machine. Luck seems to be on her side as she wins! Feeling like not wanting to blow her winnings, she suggests they leave and go somewhere else. After walking for about ten minutes, Alex remembers about a traditional little diner and asks if she fancies going to it. She agrees and lets him lead the way there. 

As soon as they arrive, a waitress shows them to a table in a cosy, private booth in the far corner. Alex can tell that Fifi is liking it here by the smile on her face. He misses seeing her look so happy and smiling like she did as a young girl. The same waitress came to take their order, Fifi thinks her uniform is cute. She's in a pastel pink dress with a little red waist belt and red ballet pumps. Her dark blonde hair is up in a bun and her eyes have a cat style flicks. Alex orders himself a double steak, filly cheeseburger and a vanilla milkshake, whilst Fifi gets a filly cheese burger with a banana milkshake. There's a retro jukebox at the end of the counter and it's playing a mixture of fifties' music like the rat pack etc. Busy munching on their food and they listen to the music in silence. They begin to chat once the plates have been cleared away. 

"So... How are things for you now Alex?"

"Urm... Better. Better than they were, thank you."

She feels the tension in his voice so she softly places her hand on his arm. 

"It's okay, you know you can talk to me. Hey, remember how we used to talk for hours... I know it's been rocky since we've become a part of each others lives again but that's behind us, isn't it?"

"I s'pose you're right Fifi. Yes."

"I'm glad things are improving for you, Alex. I mean that."

"Me too. I know you do."

"So did the guys make you feel welcome when you and Maddie started working with us? They bettrr had done. Sorry I wasn't there to begin with."

"Don't worry about it, you had other priorities to deal with and yes they did. Even Kevin, believe it or not ha ha!!"

"Good to hear. They're a great bunch, practically like brothers to me."

"And you fight like brothers as well!"

"Huh?!"

"Oh sorry, I mean about the fight with you and Kevin. You don't have to talk to me about it. I overheard him and Howie discussing it one day, don't they realised I was in earshot."

"Hmm okay. Yeah but it was the wake up call I ended, man. I was living in like a cave in my own house! I let the guys down so many times, the drugs, the booze, the cheating, not showing up... I owe them, well Kev a hell of a lot." 

"Aww.. You must have been in a real bad way to end up like that. No wonder why he was so hard on me. You looking real good now. Although I haven't seen you through the worst but you've always looked good."

"Cheers babe."

They spend the next few hours just sitting and chatting; drinking their shakes. In the moments of silence, they look around other than at each other. After finding themselves getting numb bums, they decide to make their way back to the hotel. Alex abruptly comes to a halt as he gets a flashback of some shop that he's been to on a previous tour here so they go to hunt it down.

Inside the shop, Fifi discovers it's a candy heaven and has a sudden urge to buy loads to take back to the hotel for her and Maddie to munch on later. He buys some for him and the guys. She chooses white chocolate mice, pink shrimps, dolly mixtures and fudge. Alex chuckles at how excited and childlike she's being and knew she would love it here as he's always been fond too. 
Eventually, they walk back to the hotel, smiling and chattering. It is now meal time so the reception lobby was busy and it takes them a few minutes to get their bearings. After saying goodbye, they part ways and Fifi can't wait to see how Maddie's day has been.

"Hello, Maddie are you here?"

Fifi calls out as she closes her room door and hears Maddie pressing on the iPad dock selecting music to play...

"So... How did it go?"

Maddie arching her eye brow, desperate to find out all about Fifi's day with Alex.

"How did what go?"

"Hello! Your day with Alex, of course?! Unless you stayed here by yourself, hiding?!"

"Ha! Oh it went... Better than I could have imagined, I guess."

By now Maddie was bouncing on her bed sitting up, wafting her arms about like a kid in a toy store. Well like how Fifi was in that candy shop today and she smiles to herself, at the reflective thought.

"I thought so by the way you came back in here; all smiley and not distressed like you were!!"

"It was nice, that's all, Maddie. It wasn't anything fancy. We chatted, went to this cute diner and Alex took me to this amazing candy store. I was in heaven in there! Here, some candy for us to share later."

"Ah, sounds good to me and that Alex remembered that you love candy, that's sweet!"

"Hehe! Yeah it is."

"It's nearly time for dinner, I think some of us are meeting up in the restaurant. Gonna join us?"

"Yeah, why not. What time is it at?"

"In a minute. Guess some of us are too busy having fun to know what time it is!"

Not really sure what Maddie meant by that as she isn't aware of the time exactly, but Fifi follows her downstairs. They talk while walking to the restaurant.