章 8: Game on
After lunch, everyone spread out. Claire and Mitchell went to the kitchen to help Gloria, while Phil, Jay, and Cameron chatted outside. Meanwhile, Haley and Alex sat on the patio, sipping their drinks as the summer breeze brushed against their skin.
"You know, you're not as subtle as you think," Haley said, smirking over the rim of her glass.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
Haley rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. You and Klaus have been eye-f—flirting with each other all day. The tension between you two is insane. It's like watching a slow-burn romance novel in real life."
Alex scoffed, shifting in her seat. "That's ridiculous. We're just working on a project together."
Haley leaned in, lowering her voice. "Right, and I suppose it was purely academic when he helped you off his motorcycle, holding your waist like you were made of glass. Or when he made a paint of you?"
Alex's face heated up, but she tried to play it cool. "He was just messing with me."
Haley smirked. "Mmhmm. And you just happened to wear a skirt and a crop top today? Come on, Alex, I know you. You never dress like this ."
Alex hesitated before sighing. "Okay, fine. Maybe I wanted to look nice. But that doesn't mean anything."
Haley grinned. "Oh, it means everything. And don't even try to deny that you like him. I saw the way you were looking at him."
Alex groaned. "Ugh, was it that obvious?"
Haley laughed. "Only to everyone with eyes. Look, I'm just saying, you should go for it. Klaus is hot, mysterious, and totally into you. Plus, you clearly have chemistry."
Alex rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the small smile forming on her lips. "Whatever, Haley."
Haley winked. "That's what I thought. Now go find your mysterious bad boy and pretend you're not falling for him."
Alex shook her head but felt a little excitement bubbling inside her as she made her way inside to find Klaus.
She found him in the game room, playing pool with Luke and Manny. Klaus was lining up a shot, effortlessly sinking the ball in the corner pocket.
When he noticed her, he smirked. "Finally here to join me, darling?"
Alex crossed her arms. "I don't really know how to play."
Klaus grinned and gestured for her to come closer. "Then let me teach you."
Manny and Luke glanced at each other before awkwardly setting down their pool cues. "Yeah, we're just gonna… leave you two to it," Manny mumbled before dragging Luke out of the room.
As soon as they left, Klaus moved behind Alex, pressing his chest lightly against her back. His hands slid down her arms, guiding her fingers over the cue. "Relax," he murmured, his voice low and smooth against her ear.
Alex felt her breath hitch as his body heat surrounded her. His scent—woodsy with a hint of something dark and intoxicating—made her head spin.
"Like this," he continued, adjusting her grip. His fingers grazed her waist as he leaned in, his breath hot against her neck.
Alex swallowed hard. Damn him. He was doing this on purpose.
"Now, pull back… and shoot."
She barely remembered to breathe as she followed his instructions, sending the ball rolling across the table. It landed perfectly in the pocket.
Klaus smirked. "See? Not bad."
Alex turned her head slightly, realizing just how close his face was to hers. Their noses were almost touching, his lips just inches away.
A smirk played on her lips as she decided to turn the tables. She shifted slightly, pressing her back against his chest just a little more. "Not bad at all," she murmured, letting her fingers trail lightly over his wrist.
Klaus's eyes darkened for a split second before he cleared his throat and took a small step back. "You're a quick learner, Dunphy."
Alex grinned, enjoying the fact that, for once, she had made him flustered.
Klaus smirked. "Alright, let's go again," he murmured, stepping behind her once more.
Alex felt his presence before she saw him—his warmth, his scent, the way his hands gently but firmly settled on her waist. He was close. Too close.
"Relax," he said, his breath brushing against her ear. His fingers lightly traced along her arms, guiding her hands into the right position on the cue stick. "Steady your stance, keep your grip firm, and follow through smoothly."
Alex swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way his touch sent shivers down her spine. But Klaus wasn't making it easy. He shifted slightly, pressing against her back as he leaned in to guide her movements.
"Like this?" she asked, tilting her head slightly so that her cheek brushed against his jaw.
Klaus sucked in a quiet breath, his grip on her waist tightening for just a second before he chuckled lowly. "You're playing a dangerous game, Dunphy."
Alex smirked, deciding to push further. She pressed back against him slightly, feeling how his body tensed in response. "Am I?" she teased, voice laced with false innocence.
Klaus let out a slow exhale, his lips barely an inch from her ear. "You have no idea."
For a moment, the pool game was forgotten. The air between them thickened, charged with something unspoken yet undeniable. Klaus's hands lingered on her hips, his fingers tracing the fabric of her skirt absentmindedly.
Alex could feel her heartbeat quicken, but she refused to be the first to break. Instead, she took the shot, her hand steady despite the tension. The ball rolled smoothly across the table, knocking another into the pocket.
Klaus chuckled, his fingers giving her waist a small squeeze. "Not bad," he murmured. "Maybe I am a good teacher."
Alex turned her head slightly, her lips just inches from his. "Or maybe I'm just a fast learner," she quipped.
Klaus smirked. "Fast, huh?" His voice dropped an octave, his fingers grazing the small of her back. "I prefer taking my time."
Before either of them could push further, a voice interrupted from the doorway.
"Uh, are you two still playing pool, or should we give you some privacy?"
Alex and Klaus immediately stepped apart, turning to see Luke and Manny standing there, smirking knowingly.
Klaus rolled his eyes and grabbed a pool ball, casually tossing it at Luke, who barely dodged. "Out."
Luke and Manny laughed as they disappeared down the hall.
Alex took a steady breath, still feeling the ghost of Klaus's touch. "Guess we should actually finish this game, huh?
Klaus twirled the cue stick in his hand , flashing her a teasing smirk."Oh,darling, " he whisper, his eyes locking onto hers." I think we both know this game is far from over."
Alex smirked as she hopped onto the pool table, swinging her legs playfully. She tilted her head, giving Klaus an innocent look that contrasted sharply with the fire in her eyes.
"Why don't you try to finish it?" she teased, her voice smooth and inviting.
Klaus raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. "Oh, baby girl," he murmured, his voice laced with amusement and something darker.
Before Alex could react, Klaus stepped between her legs, spreading them slightly as he placed his hands on either side of her, effectively caging her in.
Her breath hitched.
His face was close, his scent intoxicating her. His fingers brushed against her thigh ever so lightly, sending a shiver up her spine.
"You really like testing me, don't you?" Klaus whispered, his eyes locked onto hers, intense and unreadable.
Alex swallowed, her heart pounding. She wouldn't let him win that easily. She leaned in slightly, her lips just a breath away from his.
"Maybe,"she murmured, her voice merely above a whisper."But I think you like it."
Klaus let out a low chuckle,his fingers tracing small circles against her knee. "You have no idea,baby girl."
Klaus leaned in even closer, his breath hot against her skin as his lips grazed the shell of her ear. His voice dropped to a husky whisper, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Don't play with fire, darling… you will get burned."
Alex felt her breath hitch, her entire body reacting to the teasing promise in his words. His proximity was intoxicating, his scent wrapping around her like a spell she couldn't escape.
But she wouldn't let him have the upper hand so easily. Smirking, she tilted her head just slightly, her lips dangerously close to his jaw.
"Maybe I like the burn," she whispered back, her fingers lightly tracing the collar of his open shirt.
Klaus let out a low chuckle, his hands tightening on the edge of the pool table. His eyes darkened with something unreadable, something wild.
"You're playing a dangerous game, baby girl," he murmured, his lips brushing just below her ear before pulling back ever so slightly, watching her reaction with sharp amusement.
Alex swallowed hard, heat pooling in her stomach. Maybe she was playing with fire… but something about Klaus made her want to see just how close she could get before the flames consumed her.
Just as the tension between them reached its peak, a loud voice shattered the moment.
"Alright, lovebirds, break it up! It's pool time!" Haley's voice rang through the room, full of amusement.
Alex and Klaus immediately snapped their heads toward the doorway, where Haley stood with her arms crossed, a knowing smirk playing on her lips.
Alex, still perched on the pool table, quickly pushed Klaus away, her cheeks burning. "We—we weren't doing anything!" she blurted out, trying to sound casual.
Haley arched an eyebrow. "Uh-huh, sure. And I'm the Pope."
Klaus, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered. Smirking, he stepped back, giving Alex just enough space to hop off the table. "Guess the fun's over, baby girl," he murmured low enough for only her to hear, his eyes still holding that teasing spark.
Alex shot him a glare before turning to Haley. "Fine, let's go before you start making up more stories."
Haley grinned, clearly enjoying every second of Alex's flustered state. "Oh, don't worry, I don't need to make up anything. The sexual tension in here was thick enough to cut with a knife."
Alex groaned while Klaus simply chuckled. As they followed Haley outside, Alex couldn't help but wonder if getting into the pool would cool her down—or if being around Klaus would only make things worse.
Inside the bathroom, Haley and Alex were quickly changing into their swimsuits. But Haley couldn't help but bring up what had just happened between Alex and Klaus.
"Okay, spill," Haley said with a mischievous grin, her eyes flicking to Alex as she adjusted her swimsuit. "What's going on with you and Klaus?"
Alex froze for a moment, a little flustered. "Nothing, it's… just that, uh, we were playing pool and—"
"Oh, don't give me that," Haley interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "I saw the way you two were looking at each other. The way you were pressed up against him… You two were this close to making out on that pool table."
Alex's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head, embarrassed. "Haley, it's... complicated. He's just so..." she trailed off, unsure how to put it into words.
"I get it," Haley said, sitting on the edge of the bathtub. "He's hot, and you two have this... tension, right? But listen, if you really like him, you better act fast. Klaus is the kind of guy other girls are going to want, too. You can't let anyone else swoop in."
Alex hesitated, her mind spinning with everything that had happened earlier. "But what if he doesn't feel the same way? I don't want to make things awkward."
Haley laughed softly. "Girl, trust me, Klaus is not the kind of guy who stays quiet about how he feels. If he likes you, you'll know. And if you like him too, well, don't let the chance slip away."
Alex thought for a moment. Could it really be that simple? "You really think so?"
Haley winked. "I'm not saying you should throw yourself at him, but maybe show him that you're interested before some other girl does."
As Haley stepped out of the bathroom, she heard Klaus's voice from the hallway. "Is there someone in there? Can I enter? I have to change," he called.
"Yeah, go ahead," Haley replied casually, sending him a wink as she exited, knowingly leaving him alone with Alex.
Klaus opened the door and stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room before they landed on Alex. She was standing in front of the mirror, adjusting her black lace bikini, completely unaware that Klaus had entered. Her heart skipped a beat when she turned and saw him, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that made her pulse quicken.
For a moment, time seemed to slow down. Klaus stood in the doorway, his eyes briefly flickering over her body before meeting her gaze. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. Alex could feel the heat creeping up her neck, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"I thought you didn't have swimwear," Alex said, trying to break the awkward tension, her voice coming out shakier than she intended.
Klaus's lips curled into a grin as he stepped further into the room. "Your dad lent me one," he said smoothly, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'll have to thank him later for this... ravishing view."
The air between them felt charged, and Alex couldn't help but feel a mix of flustered and intrigued. She quickly grabbed her towel to cover herself, but Klaus stepped closer, his voice low and teasing.
"You look perfect, darling," Klaus said, his tone sending a shiver down her spine.
Alex's heart raced, and she could barely keep her composure. "I—I didn't expect anyone to walk in," she stammered, still unable to shake off the effect his words had on her.
Klaus gave a playful chuckle before grabbing his own swimsuit. "Well, lucky for me I walked in," he replied with a wink.
Alex then decide to flip the table.
Alex stepped closer to Klaus, her confidence evident in every movement. "Why do you only look,you can touch too?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Klaus stepped closer, his movements deliberate and controlled. The marble counter was cool against Alex's skin as he lifted her, his strong hands steady at her thights. His touch was gentle yet possessive as his fingers traced paths along her legs, each caress sending shivers through her.
"You're testing my control, darling," he murmured, voice rough with emotion. His hand moved to cup her face, thumb brushing softly across her cheekbone. The tenderness of the gesture contrasted beautifully with the intensity burning in his dark eyes.
Alex leaned into his touch, her heart racing as his other hand traced patterns on her thigh. "Maybe that's exactly what I want," she whispered, watching his eyes darken further at her words.
Klaus pressed closer, the heat of his body enveloping her. His fingers threaded through her hair as he tilted her head back slightly. "Tell me to stop," he breathed against her neck, his lips barely grazing her skin.
Alex's only response was to pull him closer, her fingers gripping his shoulders. The bathroom seemed to fade away until there was nothing but his touch, his warmth, the way his hands mapped every inch of skin they could reach with reverent care.
Klaus froze at the sound of Claire's voice, his hands stilling on Alex's skin. "Alex , you're coming?" Claire called through the door.
"Perfect timing," Klaus muttered under his breath, pulling back slightly but keeping his hands on Alex's waist. His eyes, still dark with intensity, met hers. "Coming!" She called back, her voice impressively steady despite the situation.
Alex bit her lip, fighting back a frustrated groan. Her skin still tingled where his hands had been. Klaus's thumb traced one final pattern on her hip before he stepped away, running a hand through his slightly disheveled hair.
"We'll continue this later, darling," he promised, voice low and heated. He shot her one last smoldering look before going to change.
Alex remained perched on the counter for a moment, trying to catch her breath and slow her racing heart. She could still feel the ghost of his touch on her skin, the memory of his hands...
"To be continued," she whispered to herself, a small smile playing on her lips as she hopped down from the counter to rejoin the others.
章 9: Problem
Four days had passed since their bathroom moment, and Klaus had noticed something strange—Alex was avoiding him. After Saturday's barbecue, they had submitted their assignment on Monday and received the highest grade in the class. Yet, despite their success, Alex barely spoke to him. She dodged him in the hallways, sat away from him during lunch, and even acted unusually distant in class.
By Friday, Klaus had had enough. After their biology lesson, he made his move. As Alex gathered her books, he smoothly stepped in front of her, cutting off her exit. She looked up, startled, only to find herself caged between his arms, her back pressed against the cold wall.
"Alright, Dunphy," Klaus murmured, his voice low and teasing. "You've been avoiding me all week. Care to explain why?"
Alex shifted uncomfortably, clutching her notebook tightly. "I—I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, avoiding his eyes.
Klaus arched a brow, his lips curling into that infuriating smirk. "Oh, really?" His voice dipped into something dangerously smooth. "Because I remember a certain someone whispering in my ear, telling me I could touch if I wanted."
Alex's face burned at the memory. She snapped her head up, glaring. "That—That was nothing! Just playful banter!"
Klaus chuckled, clearly entertained by her flustered state. He leaned in even closer, his breath ghosting over her ear. "Playful, huh? Then why are you running away?" His fingers lightly traced down her arm, making her shiver. "Or is it because you can't stop thinking about it?"
Alex sucked in a sharp breath, her heart pounding. Her body was betraying her, heat pooling in her chest despite her best efforts to appear unaffected.
"You're full of yourself," she muttered, pushing lightly against his chest, but he didn't budge.
Klaus smirked, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Maybe. But I think we both know I'm right."
Alex clenched her jaw, determined not to let him win. Summoning all her courage, she looked him dead in the eye and whispered, "You're insufferable."
Klaus chuckled, his eyes dark with amusement. "And yet, here we are," he said, his lips mere inches from hers. "You still can't resist me."
Alex exhaled sharply, rolling her eyes. "You wish."
Klaus grinned, his gaze flickering to her lips before meeting her eyes again. "Oh, darling," he murmured, voice dripping with mischief, "I know."
Then she told him what happened.
Klaus's smirk faltered for a split second before he regained his composure, tilting his head slightly. "Your mom heard us?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement and curiosity.
Alex groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Yes! And now she thinks you're some kind of bad influence who's distracting me from my future," she said bitterly. "She basically forbade me from seeing you outside of school."
Klaus leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. "Ah, so that's why you've been avoiding me," he mused. "And here I thought you were just playing hard to get."
Alex shot him a glare. "This isn't funny, Klaus. She's serious."
He studied her for a moment, his smirk softening into something unreadable. "And what do you want, Alex?"
She hesitated, her breath catching in her throat. "It doesn't matter what I want," she muttered, looking away. "I have to focus on my future. I can't risk disappointing my mom."
Klaus clicked his tongue. "Sounds to me like you're just scared."
Alex snapped her gaze back to him, anger flaring in her chest. "Scared of what?"
He leaned in again, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Scared of how much you want me."
Her breath hitched, and she hated how right he was. She was scared—scared of how easily he made her lose control, how much she craved his touch, how her world seemed to tilt when he was close.
But she couldn't let him win.
"This thing between us," she said, forcing herself to sound firm, "it has to stop."
Klaus exhaled through his nose, studying her intently. Then, with a slow, almost predatory grin, he leaned down so their lips were barely a breath apart.
"If that's what you really want, baby girl," he murmured, his voice dangerously smooth, "then say it without looking like you're about to kiss me."
Alex's stomach flipped, and for a second, she almost gave in. Almost.
But then she clenched her fists, turned her head away, and whispered, "I have to go."
Without another word, she slipped out from under his arms and walked away, leaving Klaus standing there, watching her retreat with a knowing smirk.
Alex Pov
Alex's heart pounded in her chest as she walked away, each step feeling heavier than the last. She didn't want to leave him, didn't want to fight this pull between them. Every part of her ached to stay, to feel his warmth, his presence. His words, his teasing, they had become a constant in her mind, a temptation she didn't want to ignore.
But as she made her way down the hallway, she could hear her mother's voice in her head, echoing the same warning over and over again. You have a future to focus on. Don't let him distract you.
The thought felt like a weight around her chest, squeezing the air from her lungs. She wanted Klaus, wanted him more than she could admit, but deep down, she knew that this wasn't just some passing feeling. There was something real between them, something that could either make or break her.
Her mother wasn't wrong. She had goals—goals that required focus, determination, and the ability to avoid distractions. Klaus was the very definition of a distraction, a dangerous one that made her forget everything else when he was near.
Yet, despite the self-control she tried to summon, she couldn't help but long for his touch, the way he made her feel alive in a way nothing else ever could. The way his breath against her skin sent shivers down her spine, the way his gaze made her feel like the only person in the world.
But as much as her heart screamed for him, she couldn't afford to let herself fall completely into this. She wasn't ready to risk everything she had worked for.
She couldn't let love—this love—distract her.
She glanced back, just for a moment, but when she saw him standing there, his eyes burning with intensity, something inside her broke. She forced herself to look away and pushed the ache down deep inside her chest.
"Focus," she whispered to herself. "You can't lose sight of what matters."
Days Later
For days, Alex couldn't shake the emptiness that settled in her chest. Every day felt like she was missing something, a piece of her world that had been abruptly taken away. Klaus no longer sat beside her in class. He didn't even glance in her direction when they passed each other in the hallways. He was... avoiding her.
It was strange. After all that had happened, she had expected him to be persistent, to challenge her decision, to at least say something. But instead, it was as if she had never mattered to him.
In class, she tried to focus, but her eyes would constantly flicker to his seat. Every time she found herself doing that, she'd quickly look away, trying to fight the sense of loss creeping in. It was ridiculous. She had made the decision to walk away, and now he was respecting it. But that only made her feel more disconnected. More distant.
She missed the way he teased her, the way he'd make her heart race with just a look. She missed the feeling of his presence, the warmth of his voice when he'd speak to her. She missed the way he made her feel seen, wanted, special.
And yet, as the days went on, it became clearer that Klaus was doing what she had asked him to do: he was staying away. He was respecting her wishes—no matter how much it hurt her.
Alex felt conflicted. She couldn't help but wonder if he was hurt by her rejection, if he felt the same emptiness she felt. But then again, maybe he was just moving on. Maybe she wasn't the distraction he needed to get rid of.
She tried to focus on her studies, on her goals, but it was harder than ever. Every corner of her mind seemed to bring her back to him, to the feeling of his touch, his presence. She knew what she needed to do, and yet every time she saw him from across the room, a part of her still yearned for something more.
Just as she thought he forget about her, she met an unexpected gift.
Alex stood in front of her locker, her hand frozen mid-air as she stared at the bouquet of white orchids. The delicate petals seemed to glow, almost ethereal, like something out of a dream. She felt her heart skip a beat, a rush of warmth flooding through her. For a moment, she couldn't even comprehend what she was looking at.
Her eyes slowly drifted to the note that was tucked between the flowers. It was a simple sheet of paper, the words handwritten with a neat and careful precision. Her heart pounded in her chest as she read:
"I wanna write a thousand pages to you but even then it wouldn't be enough. Words fail me the way stars fail to outshine the moon. Every letter I would write would feel like a shadow of what I mean. A mere echo of the way you make me feel. I would fill each page with metaphors, comparing your eyes to galaxies and your smile to dawn but it still wouldn't capture the way you light up my world. You are the poem I will never finish, the song I will hum for a lifetime, and the reason that I shall wait for you forever."
-Niklaus Blake
Her hands shook as she finished reading, the paper suddenly feeling heavy in her grasp. Niklaus. His words. His confession. It was beautiful, raw, and full of longing. It was everything she had been avoiding, everything she had told herself not to feel.
Alex looked at the bouquet again, and for the first time in days, she felt a flicker of hope. He hadn't forgotten her. He hadn't moved on. He had been waiting. The realization hit her like a wave, and with it came the rush of emotions she had been trying to suppress. The yearning, the frustration, the longing.
She wasn't sure what to do. Part of her wanted to confront him, to ask him why he had pulled away, why he hadn't said anything to her. But another part of her was terrified. What if this was just his way of saying goodbye? What if he had moved on, and this was his final gesture before he walked away for good?
Her thoughts were a tangled mess as she closed her locker, the bouquet still in her hands. She could feel her heart beating wildly, her mind racing. All the walls she had built up, all the reasons she had convinced herself to stay away from him, seemed to crumble with the simple power of his words.
And for the first time in days, Alex found herself unsure of what she wanted. Did she still want to walk away from him? Or was she finally ready to let herself feel the things she had been too afraid to embrace?
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