Under Blue Skies {Chapter 9}

When lunch time finally arrived, Alex went straight down to the cafeteria to sit out the usual 10 minute wait for Laz, whilst Lily went to meet Sébastian in the car park. He was already there when she emerged from the building, standing smartly by the entrance in jeans and a deep blue shirt. Lily smiled as she saw him, and he returned the smile with a gentle wave, the sunlight making his flowing, blonde hair shine, and glinting in those amazing blue eyes. Lily ran down the steps towards him and flung her arms around him, glad to be out in the sun for a moment, and pleased that he cared enough already to come to her workplace and meet her friends. Sébastian chuckled within her enthusiastic embrace, and kissed her softly on the forehead.
“Come on then.” He said, pulling away and taking her hand “I’m eager to meet these infamous friends of yours.”

Alex and Laz both courteously stood up as Lily and Sébastian approached their table, and Alex immediately rushed forward to shake Sébastian’s hand.
“This is Alex.” Lily chuckled.
“Alexis Clarke.” Alex butted in, “Lovely to meet you.”
“Ah, the friend from the bar.” Sébastian smiled, “Wonderful to meet you too.”
He took Alex’s outstretched hand and instead of shaking it, raised it to his lips and kissed it. Alex raised her eyebrows at Lily, who mouthed ‘he’s French’, prompting a moment of giggles from both Alex and herself as Sébastian turned to shake hands with Laz.
“Laurence Johnson, Bonjour.”
“Bonjour.” Sébastian chuckled, as Alex seated herself, and Lily rolled her eyes at Laz.
“Right, we’ll go and get some food then.” She said, hooking her arm through Sébastian’s and steering him towards the queue.
Laz seated himself next to Alex and nudged her arm with his elbow.
“So...?” He prompted, grinning.
“He’s very French, isn’t he?” Alex exclaimed.
Laz laughed, and Alex shrugged and grinned.
“What do you think? You know, upon first impression.” She asked.
“I don’t like him; he’s better looking than me.” Laz said, winking.
“Everyone’s better looking than you babe.” Alex joked.
Laz donned his most convincing dejected face, so Alex put her arm around his shoulders, giggling, and he flashed her a cheesy grin as Lily and Sébastian returned to the table.

Lily and Sébastian sat down opposite Laz and Alex, and they all tucked in to their lunches. After a few minutes, Alex swallowed a mouthful of tuna and sweetcorn sandwich and gestured at Lily with her cup of fanta.
“Oh, Lils I forgot; Jools is coming to stay with me and Sti for a couple of days.”
‘Sti’ was Alex’s pet name for Christian. She always said ‘Christian’ was too long to use all the time, and she just hated the name ‘Chris’. Lily stopped staring at Sébastian and turned her head sharply towards Alex.
“Omigosh, yay!” She cried, “I totally love Jools, and I haven’t seen her in ages!”
“Jools is Alex’s sister.” Laz explained to Sébastian.

Technically, Jools was only Alex’s adoptive sister. When Alex was 12 years old, both her parents were killed in a car crash. Alex was staying at a friend’s house for the night, and the accident happened when her parents were on their way to collect her the next morning. Even though there was nothing she could have done, and she was not responsible for the event, Alex always blamed herself for her parent’s death, and although she would never admit it to anyone, the guilt haunted her throughout her entire life. Alex went to live with her closest living relative, an aunt on her mother’s side, until she went to university at the age of 18. Alex’s parents adopted the 6 year old Julia two years before the accident, and Alex immediately loved having a younger sister to do things with, and to take care of. Alex was a strong and forward person by nature, but she was always softer with Jools. After the accident, Alex became incredibly protective of her recently acquired, confident, younger sister, and even though Jools was now a mod 18 year old, in the middle of her first year studying for a law degree at York university, the 22 year old Alex still did her utmost to act as a mother figure for her. Laz once told Lily he suspected the reason for Alex’s tough, worldy-wise attitude was largely the fact that she had grown up having to take care not only of herself, but of her younger sister too; a younger sister who had lived six years of her life without any parents at all, and then when she had finally gained a family, had two-thirds of it snatched away after only two years. Lily forgave Alex everything, partly because she was her best friend, and a great friend to have, but also partly because she knew what she had lived through, and she was aware that the world had taught Alex to fight everything, and to speak first and think later.

As Laz checked his watch half an hour later, and informed Alex and Lily that it was time for them to return to their desks, Lily became vaguely aware that Alex and Laz had spent the whole lunchtime engaged in conversation with Sébastian about his travels, his past, the countless odd jobs he had undertaken, each providing its own entertaining anecdotes, and his memories of France. Pleased that the lunch had gone well, and Sébastian seemed to fit well into her central group of friends, Lily realised she was keen for Sébastian to meet Christian, and she had a feeling he would find Alex’s larger than life partner as entertaining a companion as she always did.
As if on cue, Alex set down her napkin and smiled at Sébastian.
“You must come out with me and Christian soon.” She urged, “I’m sure you’d love him.”
“I’m sure I would.” Purred Sébastian, taking Lily’s hand.
Alex smiled contentedly. “How does dinner sound? Maybe Thursday?”
“That sounds wonderful.” He turned to Lily, “If that’s ok for you?”
“Yeah, sounds great. You’ll love Christian, he’s a real sweetie.” Lily grinned back, putting an arm round his waist and looking into his eyes.
“Well,” Interjected Laz, “I have no boyfriend for you to meet, but if you do happen to know any stunningly attractive, fun loving yet remarkably single, gloriously European, French women, I’d be happy to meet them.”
They all laughed as Laz winked at Sébastian, and Alex shoved him playfully towards the door.