~ Chapter Six: Alexi ~

Alexi couldn't quite say why she had offered to help Ed, she had plenty of projects that would keep her busy. Many would say it was because of his celebrity status, that becoming friends with a celebrity could only help her in the future. She knew that wasn't why, though. Something about the idea Ed had presented her with, she knew that she didn't want to just become a photographer who took pictures of artsy things. She wanted her work to have meaning.

This project, to be able to photograph Ed and the lyrics, would help show that there was more to life than sunshine and rainbows. That there was pain in every day life, yet there was a way to remember.

And if this wasn't the best way of portraying emotions through pictures, then Alexi might as well quit her job and find something else to do. 

"Earth to Alexi," Ed waved a hand in front of Alexi's face, bring her back to the present time. 

"Sorry." She grinned sheepishly.

He shrugged it off, going back to his computer screen. They were both sitting at a small booth in a local coffee shop. There was no one else there, except for the employees, which is why Ed had chosen that particular place. It was somewhere they could discuss travel plans and the way they were going to go about this. Ed took a sip of coffee. "How much space will you need to travel with?"

"Two bags at the most." Alexi responded.

"I figured we would focus on the places around London first, rent a cab, y'know." Ed said. "Then take a flight to Paris. We can stay around for a few days then come back, wait a day or two and then fly to LA."

"That sounds like a plan." 

They fell silent again, and Alexi found herself wondering how she had gotten to this point in life. She was a simply twenty-three year old, always had been. Money had never come easily to the Keegan family, they lived with what they had. Alexi was smart, she could have easily gotten enough scholarships to go to any school, but instead she decided to go on the road and take pictures. Somehow she managed to catch the eye of her current boss, Rodney Alan, and had been doing what she loved since. And then she ended up here.

"Um, I guess I'll be heading off." Ed spoke suddenly, after the two stared at the words on the computer screen for a bit longer. Neither were actually processing the words on the page, instead they were preoccupied by their thoughts.

Alexi nodded. "I should get going as well. Thank you for letting me do this, Ed. It sounds silly, but I've never been this excited about a project before. It's ten times more incredible when there is a story behind it, and I can't wait to share your story with everyone."

"Thanks." Ed smiled softly. "I'll see you on Friday. Text me your address, will you?"

"Of course," she nodded.

~

A quiet sigh left Alexi's lips as she inserted the key to her apartment into the slot. It didn't matter how many places Alexi went, when she came home to an empty apartment, she felt lonely. She wasn't friendless, not by any means; she had plenty of friends. It just seemed as though none of them ever noticed her absence.

She had a small apartment, a one bedroom with a combined living room and kitchen. It fit her personality, pictures everywhere. Every wall had a collage on it. Whether it be from when she was a child, or a particular assignment she enjoyed. The walls were a mint green, one of her favorite colors. It had hardly any furniture, she never had guests over, so what was the need?

Kicking off her shoes, Alexi slid her way into the kitchen. The best part of hardwood floors was that whenever she wore socks, she could slide to her destination. Walking is so overrated. 

All of her good friends, who in reality were co-workers, all insisted that Alexi needed a boyfriend. Someone to keep her on her toes, and keep her from having every second of her life planned out. They set her up on countless blind dates, which usually ended up with her muttering silly excuses to leave early.

Like the time it was a twenty-five year old accountant who had a mustache that kind of looked like a dog's tail. Alexi lasted twenty minutes before his story of messing up a member of McFly's taxes finally had her fleeing the scene with the excuse of 'I left my curling iron on!'

Then the time that it was a twenty-three year old video game designer. She was intrigued for a total of five minutes, before she decided that the stories of blood and gore incorporated into his job was a little much. That's when she faked a phone call from her parents saying her dog died.

The most recent was with the manager of McDonalds. He was twenty-nine and looked like he washed his hair with the leftover grease from the fries. That time Alexi played out a stomach ache. 

So yeah, her history with men certainly wasn't textbook worthy. Maybe it was because she was picky. It just seemed that all guys simply weren't concerned about women, anymore. Alexi wanted a guy to buy her roses, take her to a picnic, watch the sunset, and just be head over heels in love with her. But long ago she realized that all men who could possible be everything she wanted, were either gay, taken or extremely old. Or a jerk, and those Alexi had plenty of experience with… The boys of her past are not exactly something she liked to dwell on.

With a book, a camera and a pet fish, Alexi could learn to be happy. She had long gotten rid of her child's fantasy of a fairytale love. One that included a prince charming, a Cinderella gown, and a castle. She settled for Ramen noodles for dinner, a small apartment and Ross' clothes.

But something seemed different, as Alexi got out a bowl to pour her cereal into. Maybe it was the project: something she was truly excited about, a way of taking her job and turning it into something that mattered. Maybe it was the prospect of traveling and seeing things she hadn't see yet. Maybe it was Ed, he seemed like he needed some happiness. 

And if Alexi Keegan was good at one thing, it was making people happy.

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