Part Two

Her eyes had a tint of pink and her cheeks shimmered with the traces of her wet salty tears. It was evident to Sonny that Alexis has just cried. It hurt him to see her like this. He realized that she'd been crying in the privacy of her closed doors. Staring at her now would just embarass her. She bit on her bottom lip, an all too familiar quirk of Alexis when nervous or embarassed.
He was studying her and it dawned on her that Sonny is staring at her newly teared face. An embarassed red quickly captured her already flushed cheeks. She realized that Sonny was still outside the hallway and that she hadn't let him in yet. "Um --- Come in." She stepped aside and Sonny walked in her apartment but stopped beside her desk.

Alexis closed the door behind her and turned to Sonny. She saw him looking at the shattered puddle of glass and water beside her desk. "I'll clean this up for you. Where's the dust pan?"

Alexis managed to smile flashing her dimples at him. "Your asking me?"

Sonny can't help but flash his own, "Right. I'll go check the kitchen."

Sonny entered Alexis' untouched kitchen and rumaged his way through the cupboards. He found an unopened box of popcorn and decided to pop it in the microwave. He looked under the sink and found what he was looking for. In a moment's time, he was back in the living room with a bowl of popcorn in one hand and the dust-pan and washcloth in the other. The sight of popcorn lit up Alexis' face, "You read my mind."

"You looked like you could use some." He handed her the bowl and busied himself with the shattered glass on the floor. Alexis watched him with curiosity as he picked up the broken glass off the floor.

"Be careful, you might cut yourself."

"Spoken like a true mind reader," he said as he lifted his bloody finger to his lips.

"Oh, let me help you with that." Alexis grabbed the washcloth and took Sonny's hands into hers. She turned his palm upright and examined it before applying pressure to his wounded finger. Sonny looked at her and saw a glimpse of sadness from the corner of her eye.

"Alexis, what's wrong? And don't even deny it and pretend nothing's wrong because there obviously is something that's bothering you."

She reached for the drawer, "Let me get the band-aid for..." Alexis failed to deflect his question. He took hold of her wrist and said, "Alexis, it's a small cut."

"Yeah...but..." she protested.

"Alexis, look at me." He waited for her eyes to meet his.
Alexis met his gaze and saw the concerned look he gave her. "If this is about what just happened outside with Carly, I mean..."

"Sonny. Why do you insist on believing that Carly is the root of all my problems?"

"So there is a problem."

"I'm fine, its just --- things are a little hectic right now."

"Well, you know, if u need anything..."

"Yeah, I know." They stared into each other's eyes. Her eyes were so expressive. They are the window to ALexis' feelings. Her strong grasp with words may allow her to manipulate and dodge his questions but her eyes told him all he needed to know. There was an awkward silence that hovered in the room. Alexis tore away from his gaze and stood up. "Thanks for cleaning that up." She took up the bowl of popcorn and sat on the couch.

"Why are you shutting me out?"

She was caught off-guard by his unexpected question. "What do you mean?"

"Your my lawyer and you bail me out when I'm in trouble. But your also my friend who matters to me. I know this whole thing is awkward for everyone involved. And I just --- we're drifting apart. And I don't want that."

"Well, what do you want Sonny?"
The telephone invaded the silence. It rang the second time. Alexis looked at him waiting for an answer. "Maybe you should get that."

"Right. Alexis Davis. Yes, oh that's great. Thank you so much. Ok, bye." She turned back to Sonny. "Yeah, duty calls. Um, do you need anything else?"

"It can wait. I'll catch you later." He walked towards the door and opened it. He took a step then stopped.

"Alexis, I meant what I said out there. I respect your decision and will support you no matter what. But I don't want you to go. Aside from the fact that your the best attorney I've ever had, you are also my friend. I don't have very many, you know, and I don't want to lose another one --- I dont want to lose you..."

"You won't lose me," She tilted her head up fighting the surge of new tears. With that, Sonny smiled and walked away. She closed the door behind him and leaned her back against the door with tears now flowing openly.

Outside PH2, Sonny stood, looking at ALexis' door. He thought he heard her sniffle and wanted badly to go back inside but a voice behind him prevented him from doing so.

Carly came up behind him, "Sonny are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine. Ready for dinner?"

"Yeah I'm ready." The elevator doors opened and and
Sonny lead Carly inside. Before stepping in himself, he stole a last glance at Alexis' door. His penetrating eyes focusing on the figure behind the closed door. Carly watched in jelousy as her husband's thoughts drifted to the mother of his unborn child.