Never Judge

When Cedric entered the room with Alexi and Nicole, he saw Selina sitting up in bed, hugging her legs. She had a sad expression on her face, as if she was about to burst out into tears.

"You like her right?" Cedric whispered to Alexi. 

"I do." Alexi said with a nod as he continued to look at Selina. It seemed that sleeping with her was enough to help Alexi realize how he really felt about Selina, he had no doubts now.

"Go to her. She's afraid." Cedric said as he gave Alexi a push towards Selina. 

Selina looked up and noticed Cedric, she gave him a puzzled look. Her attention quickly shifted as Alexi approached and joined her in bed.

"Are you, alright? How are you feeling?" Alexi asked as he still kept his distance.

Selina simply shrugged and looked down.

"Selina, please talk to me." Alexi begged as he placed a hand on hers, but Selina pulled her hand away.

"Selina I'm sorry." Alexi said with a frown. "I didn't want your name to be ruined because of me."

"I don't care about my name. People have already had a bad opinion of me." Selina said as she continued to avoid eye contact.

"Then what is bothering you?" Alexi asked in a calm and soothing tone. Cedric was surprised that his friend could speak so calmly to another person, he had never seen this side to Alexi, not even with Jen.

"It's embarrassing." Selina said as she shook her head.

"I won't laugh or judge or get mad or anything. I promise Selina." Alexi pleaded. He was clearly worried about Selina. 

"I slept with you." Selina managed to say.

"Ba-, Selina, was I that bad in bed?" Alexi teased as he tried to make the situation a little bit lighter.

"No you were great." Selina said as she was quick to contradict Alexi. She covered her mouth when she realized what she had just said and buried her face in her hands.

"You were great too." Alexi said into her ear with a grin. He spoke loud enough for everyone to hear making Miguel roll his eyes in annoyance.

"You're embarrassing her." Cedric finally said as he walked up to the side of the bed.

"Why do you have to interfere?" Alexi hissed.

"Maybe we should give them some time alone." Nicole suggested.

"Don't." Selina suddenly said, raising her head.

"Why? Are you afraid you won't be able to control yourself around me?" Alexi teased.

"I thought you wanted to help her? You are making it worse." Cedric said, shaking his head.

"Selina, please tell me what's bothering you?" Alexi said as his tone turned gentle again. 

Selina refused to answer him and continued to look down at the bed.

Alexi sighed and moved closer to Selina, wrapping his arms around her and holding her. He pulled her head closer to him and made her lean on his chest.

"You don't need to be afraid of me Selina, you can trust me. You can trust us." Alexi said as he gently stroked her head to comfort her.

"Why?" Selina asked.

Alexi smiled understanding what she was trying to ask.

"Selina, if you haven't figured it out yet, I like you." Alexi confessed, making everyone's jaw drop in shock. They never expected him to confess at that moment. 

"Alexi…" Selina managed to say through her shock.

"Selina, if I didn't like you I wouldn't have given into those drugs so easily." Alexi cupped her face and looked her in the eyes. "Even without them it's so hard to resist your charms, you're smart and beautiful, you're strong and brave, to me you are perfect."

"Close your mouth Miguel. You might catch some flies." Cedric teased as he noticed Miguel gasp in shock at Alexi's words. 

"Selina, are you afraid that you were going to become one of my flings?" Alexi asked as he pulled her closer to him. "Because if that's what you were afraid of, that's never going to happen."

"You've only just met me." Selina said as she looked at Alexi with a doubt filled glance.

"Let me correct you there Selina." Alexi said with a mischievous grin. "We met years ago at your house, and if I am not mistaken, you had a crush on me and I had a crush on you. I was even willing to get engaged to you." Alexi said nonchalantly 

"I said no." Selina said, brushing his hand off of her.

"You said no because stupid Katerina ruined things for me before they could start." Alexi complained. "But I'm thankful that Katerina did that."

Selina looked up at Alexi with a confused look. 

"I wasn't at a good place. It was love at first sight but I wasn't good enough for you back then." Alexi said as he placed a hand on her cheek.

"And you think you're good enough for her now?" Nicole said with a laugh.

"No, but I'm better than I was back then." Alexi said with a serious look. "I know better than to use sex to cope, and I've moved on. I've healed, I've accepted the past."

Selina continued to just look at Alexi, she didn't say a word but everyone understood her hesitation and confusion. She didn't need words to communicate how she was feeling at the moment.

"I'm serious about liking you Selina." Alexi said as he looked into her eyes.

"People will always think I am a mistress. That I ruined your relationship with Jen." Selina said with a frown. 

"They won't." Cedric said, cutting into the conversation.

"What do you mean?" Selina asked. 

"They won't always think you were the third party." Cedric said with a shrug. "Soon we will have enough proof to show everyone that Jen was using Alexi and that she never had any feelings for him. That fact should be enough to clear both of your names. Add to that the fact that you were drugged, no one can blame you for your actions. You are innocent in all of this, your only crime is ever trusting Jen."

"How sure are you of this?" Selina asked as she threw Cedric a doubtful glance. "You need proof to make accusations like that. I've seen what's gone around on the internet, people hate me and Alexi with a different passion now."

"Because I'm the one working on it." Cedric said with a confident smile.

"No offense Cedric. I think you're a great guy, but you're just an assistant. What power could you have against Jen and her backers?" Selina asked, making Cedric grin.