Chapter 3 part 2

Alexander looked at me once again. "What is on your mind?" he asked.
   "Well..." I started hesitantly. "I was wondering... if you are seeing someone."
   He smiled. "I'm seeing you right now," he said jokingly. I forced a smile.
  "No, I mean, like, dating."
   "I'm dating you, silly goose," he said. Again, I forced a smile. He could tell I wasn't enjoying this experience now. "Why are you wondering?" Alexander said, and this time he was the one searching my face for clues.
    I didn't want to answer. I wished I had never even brought the subject up. I should have left well enough alone. I said, "The other day, you called me Melinda. You had been particularly... I don't know how to put it. You just hadn't been yourself that day. And you didn't really go back to being yourself. And that made me worried. Because I love you. And I need you." By then I was in tears. He had his arms wrapped around me.
   "Don't worry, dear Hazel. I am not seeing Melinda. We were working on a project together. You know she has a way with carving wood. I just wanted some help making you this figurine."
   He pulled a little sheep out from behind his back. It looked exactly as my father had described it and as I had described it to Alexander. I looked up at his face and smiled, but saw his eyes darting around nervously. I wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't already been on the lookout, but something told me he wasn't telling me the whole truth about Melinda.
   I took the sheep and put it on the counter. "Thank you," I said.
   He went to his house to sleep that night, leaving me to my own devices to endlessly worry about Melinda. I needed to find out what was going on.