VII

Author's Note:

I apologize for not updating... I sprained my left wrist and couldn't use it for a while. I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Thanks for reading. 😊

~Chris~

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CHAPTER 7

Samantha is drying her hair with a towel, suddenly her friend Donna barged inside her room, panting.

"What's going on?" She curiously asked. Donna is holding a mobile phone, she stretches her hand to show her something.

Her friend is showing her a photo of Alexis with another woman, it is a stolen photo of them like in deep and calm conversation, you can see the other girl smiling, while Alexis is staring at her as he sips the champagne.

"Is this why Alex doesn't facetime you the past few days?" her friend said that made her overthink. Her and Alexis didn't talk for about three days now, the last time they talked was when Alexis told her that it was her grandmother's birthday.

"It looks like from her grandma's birthday party, look at the other photos. That one is her cousin, Julia. I met her when she came here to visit Alex" Samantha said trying to convince herself everything is alright.

There then came Rose, Dina was out buying them some coffee. Rose sat on the bed and looked at her friend, she could tell she was in doubt. Rose reached her hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Just wait for Alex to say something, I guess he had reasons, then maybe ask about the photo as well" Samantha nodded listening to her friend's suggestion.

As if on cue her phone sounded, indicating there is an incoming call. When she looked at it, it was her boyfriend. She showed her friends who were calling, nodding and left the room, to leave the two to converse.

"Mi bella" Alexis greeted as soon as Samantha answered the call, smiling so wide when Alexis saw her girlfriend on the screen.

"I miss you so much" Alexis added, she looks at her girlfriend noticing she is quiet and it made her worry.

"Is something wrong?" she worriedly asked the other girl, who then nodded no.

"I just miss you too. It's been a few days since our last call" Samantha staring at those blue eyes she misses a lot.

"About that..." Alexis paused and sigh, "...I had a minor accident, look" Alexis then showed her right arm with bandages. Samantha didn't notice it at first, she can only see the face till Alexis' shoulder blades.

The blonde got worried, Alexis noticed the green eyed beauty worried face. Samantha who was overthinking and a little jealous awhile ago is now feeling so worried about the guy.

"What happened?" she asks Alexis who moved a little further from the screen. Alexis is leaning on the headboard of the bed, the blonde didn't notice that he's in bed.

"Julia and I are on our way to have dinner. She was about to drop me by the pavement and wait for her to park the car. I opened the door when suddenly a car hit us by the side. Luckily it didn't hit us hard" her girlfriend listening carefully

"What about your cousin, is she safe?" Alexis nodded telling her that she had no scratch because it only hit the passenger's seat, where she is seated..

Alexis also told her that the phone broke because of the accident. She was holding the phone when she opened the door of Julia's car. She dropped it and was run over by the vehicle. She was brought to the hospital to scan for broken bones, or what other injuries she had.

The hit was not a powerful impact, the car only got dented. She felt relieved upon hearing that Alexis is safe. All the allegations her friend thought were not real, Rose was right to tell her that she needed to wait for Alexis to tell her the reasons why she wasn't calling for days.

"How long till your arms are healed?" She curiously asked till when Alexis will wear the casts.

"The doctor said probably about four to six weeks, it's a minor damage but my mom wants it to stay casted for long to be sure. By the time I see you I still have casts on" Alexis chuckle. When Samantha hears that she asks Alexis to repeat what she said.

"Yeah to see you again..." The blue eyed said with a grin, wiggling her brows, "maybe in a week or two, I just need to finish attending some business gatherings, and another party, then I can finally see my swan" the blonde smiling, feeling happy and excited when she heard she will see Alexis again soon.

The two talk for another hour, making Dina complain, because the coffee she bought for Samantha already melted. The green eyed beauty apologizes to her grumpy friend. Samantha was just so happy to talk to her man again she also asked her about the photo of Alexis and another girl.

When Alexis heard she was a little jealous, she teases her, making her glare at him. Alexis then told her that she was a relative and she doesn't need to worry about other women. It is a relief to her, the assurance that Alexis is giving her.

Telling her friends the good news, made them scream and tease her making Samantha blush hard. Her friends notice her glow beautifully. Alexis' effect on their friend is amazing, they are happy they bump into him at that club.

"Maxxy, are you ready to attend Herrera's gala?" Julia asked her while still punching the keyboard of her laptop.

"Obviously, I am." Alexis said while looking out the glass window, that overlooked the city. Julia stopped what she was doing and walked where her cousin was standing.

"You're whipped" she teases her, "you certainly miss your girl" Julia added.

"That's without a doubt. I want to see my girlfriend again,Jules. Bring her with me and introduce to my mom" she grinned and looked at her cousin Julia, who seemed to be in deep thought.

"Spill those thoughts, Jules," she said and waited for the other woman to talk.

She heard Julia sigh, walk to the couch they had in the office. She followed her and sat beside her.

"Samantha thinks you're a man" Julia said looking at her cousin seriously, "You didn't tell her you're a woman with a dick?" she added, asking her why she didn't tell the girl about her condition.

"It slipped my mind,'' Alexis answered shortly.

"You need to let her know when you go back there" Julia said, giving her shoulder tap with a little squeeze.

"I will. Do you think she won't be disgusted when she knows the truth?" Alexis worriedly asked her cousin.

"I don't think so. She is in love with you. The moment I had a small talk with her asking about you, she had that look" Julia explained to her what Samantha was like while telling her about herself and about them together.

The two talk for a bit until it is time for them to leave the office. Julia drove Alexis back to their home, and left. She still can't drive. It is either her mom driving her wherever or Julia. Her mom trusts Julia other than her other cousins, she is her mom's favorite niece.

"Oh you're back, hunny" her mom kissed her cheeks and led her to the dining table to have dinner. It is almost eight (8) in the evening.

Her mom prepared them, roasted chicken with gravy, Caesar salads, a bowl of fruits, mashed potatoes and cheese cake. Her mom usually helps prepare the food even though they have people to do the tasks.

"I've heard from Julia you got yourself a girlfriend. When do you plan on telling me?" Alexis tried to finish swallowing her mashed potato before answering.

"That cousin of mine couldn't zip her mouth when it comes to you, mother," Alexis said with a chuckle. "I was planning to introduce her to you, when she agrees to come with me here"

"Oh an Italian woman" her mom's eyes twinkle in delight. "Please let your mother see what her future daughter-in-law looks like" her mom is so excited that she moved her chair close to her daughter, and waited for her to show her the pictures.

This is why Alexis doesn't plan to tell her mom yet. She always gets excited to let her daughter settle down and then give her grandkids. For the love of god she is still young, that can wait. But thinking about it, she sees Samantha in her future, living at the same house and being a family. It made her smile, making her mom snap in front of her face.

"Are you still there, hunny?" her mom asked teasingly. She nodded and then took her phone out of her pocket, showing the photos of Samantha she took while she wasn't looking.

The pictures they have when they had their date, a photo of them eating their gelato, and those pictures Samantha sent her when they went to the beach. Her mom is busy swiping and staring at all the images her daughter has with her girlfriend.

"She is beautiful, but..." Her mom paused, she stared at her mom, waiting to continue after that 'but', "...she looks familiar. I feel like I met her somewhere" her mom tries to remember it but couldn't.

"Hmmm maybe a resemblance to someone I know" her mom added.

Her mom asked more things to know about her girlfriend, what she likes to eat, how tall she is, and where we first met, or if we already slept together. Alexis blushed when her mother asked that embarrassing question. When her mom saw her blushing she teases her daughter, good thing her dad wasn't here, because if dad was they two will team up and tease her till she runs to her room and looks at herself.

"Anyway, hunny did you already pick out what to wear for Herrera's gala? Some of my Amigas are there, if you didn't get yourself a girlfriend, I was supposed to introduce their daughters to you" her mom said, wiggling her brows, making her groan.

Her mom was gonna put her in blind dates if only she didn't get herself a girlfriend. Luckily she has Samantha now. But she bet her mom will still introduce her to meet those ladies, as what she said is her Amigas daughters.

The day went by, Alexis was busy attending gatherings, meetings and now it's the gala. The family Herrera's gala. Alexis and her parents with Julia. Of course her cousin, Julia is coming with them. She is like a daughter to her mom, because her and Julia are basically the same age.

Alexis together with her family arrived at the venue. The Herrera's grand hall, it's a family owned resort. She hasn't been here, it is her first time to meet the Herrera's. Julia had met the couple once when she was away doing deeds for her grandmother, it was her dad's classmate when he was in college.

"Alex" her dad called her and she looks at him waiting for him to continue, "Stay beside me until I let you leave, don't let your mother drag you away and to see some girls" she nodded at her dad, she will prefer to be with her dad talking boring stuff to business people, than her mom dragging her to meet her Amigas.

"Hey! I guess someone's sleeping on the couch tonight" her mom remarked and made her dad's eyes widen. Julia beside them containing her laugh at the couple.

"Fine. Drag your daughter wherever you want, but for now she needs to stay near me darling" her dad said then kisses her moms temple

"You're such a nice man, darling" her mom said sweetly with a hint of a taste. All Alexis could do is to shake her head at her parents.

The place became populated, her mom left her with her dad, taking Julia with her to be with her Amigas. She can see her mom laughing with her friends, then sometimes pointed at where I am standing. She can see how her mother's friends smile when they see me. Alexis couldn't see any girls her age with her moms friends, so she guessed maybe they didn't come with their mother, which is a relief to her.

"Oh" a female voice sounded behind her. She loses her balance, luckily Alexis reaches her before she slips near the pool.

"Thank you," the woman said. Alexis looks at the girl, she has green eyes, brunette, and her height till Alexis shoulder. She is beautiful and has a nice figure.

"Are you okay?" she asked the girl who almost slipped into the pool. The girl nodded and suddenly became so shy. Alexis stared at her for long, looking at her facial structure, she seemed to be familiar to her.

"You look a little familiar. Have we met before?" Alexis asked the brunette.

"I-I.." before the girl answered her dad came beside her, making Alexis look at him.

"I have been looking for you. I talked to my college friend, I was gonna introduce you but you were missing. Stay closer Alex" her dad said sounded so serious, she nodded and followed behind him, but before she left with him, she smiled and nodded to the brunette.

She has been a tail to her dad, who kept talking to different people, introducing her as her sole daughter. She smiled, nodded and shook their hands for an hour now. Alexis is now feeling hungry so she asked her dad to go grab some food and she will go and find him after she is done eating. She nodded letting her go.

She looks around the place, looking for the food area. She saw her mom from afar with Julia laughing with moms Amigas and some younger girls. She looked away and looked for food, her stomach was rumbling, complaining and wanted to devour food already.

"Finally" she said when she saw the aisle of foods. She grabbed a plate, put the food she wanted. Her plate is now full. She got herself a glass of apple juice and then found a much quieter place to eat.

While enjoying her food that is almost empty, someone taps her by her shoulder, so she turns her head and looks at who it is.

"It's really you," Awoman who is the same age as her mom said. And again Alexis finds her familiar. She swallowed her food in her mouth, sip some juice before saying something to the older woman.

"I'm sorry but do I know you?" Alexis said politely, the older woman smiled, understanding she might have forgotten.

"It's me Marcelina, the one you helped that night to fix our car's wheel" when Alexis remembered she apologized for not recognizing her. The older woman said it's okay, she also joked that it's probably because she is wearing so formal and has some makeup on, and it made Alexis not able to recognize her.

"I'm so glad to meet you here" Alexis said she's glad to see her too.

Suddenly another woman came to them and approached Marcelina. Alexis can't see her face because it's a little darker.

"Ummm Alex..." Lina called her, "...this is my daughter Shane, you both helped us that night." Lina pulled her daughter closer to the light to let Alexis see her face.

"You." Alexis said to the brunette she just helped earlier.

"Hi!" The brunette greeted her shyly.

That is why she seems familiar to her, it's the mute girl she helped that night, together with her mom, Lina.

"I thought you were mute" Alexis stated, Lina giggled making the young woman blush.

"She was just attracted to you that night, that's why she was silent." Lina confesses, now making Shane blush tomato red.

"I feel honored to know that," Alexis said, grabbing Shane's hand and kissing the back of it. Lina giggling like a teenaged beside them.

Alexis couldn't tell why she feels so attracted to this brunette. She feels something comforting. The mother and daughter excused and apologized for interrupting Alexis' eating. When she finished she came looking for her dad, but someone grabbed her by her arm.

"Max" , a woman she is so familiar with, called her name.

"What do you want, Livy?" she asked the woman, pissed.

"We need to talk," the woman pleaded, but Alexis said no, leaving her alone. Her night got ruined by that woman.

Alexis' dad saw her and came beside her, telling her that her college friend wanted to meet her inside the house. Alexis nodded, just wanting to be away from Livy. She and her dad get into a private room where you can still see people outside but they can't.

She saw her mom and her cousin already seated on the couch talking to three people. There's a man and two women by his side. Alexis and her dad approached the group.

"Oh here they are," my mom said, making the three whip their heads to look at who came.

"Alex?!" the older woman said, making Alexis smile and nod at her.

"You know her honey" the husband asked the woman.

"Alex is the one we were telling you who helped us fix the car before" Lina explained to her husband.

The man came to her and thanked her personally for helping her wife and daughter that night. Alexis caught Shane stealing glances at her, and when she smiled at her she blushed.

"Are you alright, sweetheart?" Shane's father asked her, she only nodded telling him she is fine.

"This is the daughter I am telling you, Ricky,'' Alexis' dad introduced. The two women gasp in surprise.

"You're daughter? You're a female Alex?" Lina asked, absolutely shocked.

"You look so manly, I can't tell,'' Shane voiced out.

"We always get that kind of reaction." Her mom said, smiling at the two.

Alexis' family talks to her dad's college friend for a little while before the husband and wife excuse themselves. Alexis is now free to mingle with anybody, but will keep an eye to avoid Livy.

"Alex" that soft voice again.

"Shane" Alexis gave her a smile, and the brunette blush. She now can tell how attracted this woman to her. While staring at her green eyes, she remembered Samantha.

Their eyes are almost the same shade of green, the way Shane smiles too is just the same as her girlfriend. Suddenly a spotlight was spotted at the two then someone on the mic said, "now we introduce the daughter of Herrera family, Agatha Shane Herrera"

Shane leaned closer to Alexis' ears, "Would you mind escorting me there?" she asked while pointing at the middle Alexis agreed to help the shy girl.

Everyone present focuses on the two of them walking their way in the middle for everyone to witness the appearance of the daughter of the Herrera's. Julia looking at her cousin raises an eyebrow, Alexis gives her a shrug.

When the two reached the middle, Alexis greeted Lina and Ricky. Lina was smiling looking at her daughter with the person she likes, giving her daughter a thumbs up.

"This is one of our daughters, unfortunately our oldest couldn't join us tonight. She is abroad doing family deeds situated there." Ricky said to everyone present.

They stayed still in the middle of the crowd, Shane's dad and mom speaking on the microphone while her and Alexis silently stood behind them.

"I wish my sister was here too" she heard the brunette speak.

"Where is she?" Alexis curiously asked her.

"Somewhere in Europe, exploring another city I'm guessing" Shane said while looking at Alexi. The two having small talks, when the speech is done, Alexis and Shane decide to explore their resort.

The two went to the garden where different beautiful flowers are. Alexis is impressed by the landscapes and some are expensive sets of flowers.

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your arm?" The curious Shane finally asked. She has been wondering since she saw Alexis at the pool area, but didn't want to ask directly.

"Just a minor accident. It's healing, the cast will be taken in a few weeks" Alexis explained while looking at the flower that caught her eyes.

"That is Strongylodon Macrobotrys, that one came from another country I can't remember where though" Shane chuckled. "It is also known as Jade Vine, which is my sister's favorite. Whenever she comes back here from traveling, she always makes sure to check it" the mesmerized Alexis listens to the brunette.

The plant is unique for her, it's a beautiful plant to have. Anyone who sees this will find it special. They both spend some more time talking about different plants, sometimes asking about each other's favorite things to do, until it is time to depart.

The party was finally over and Alexis and her family needed to go. Alexis and Shane exchanged phone numbers to catch up next time. They both feel comfortable with each other, and it wasn't hard for them to feel closer at the second meeting they had. They may have had a weird first meeting but the second is definitely better.

A few more days had passed, Alexis letting her mom know that she will take some break away from L.A. Telling her family she will fly back to Italy to see her girlfriend. Her mom tells her to bring her with her when she comes back, if not she will sleep in the garden. Alexis laughed at her mom but her mom glaring at her seriously made her clear her throat and nodded.

"I'll see you soon mi bella"