DAISY'S POV

I kept a close eye on the male walking my my side.
   He didn't speak, he didn't even try looking at me.

Without caring, I slid my hand in his and smiled when he glanced at me.
     "It's a dead end over there," Phil announced from Kevin's side to the left.
The shinny wall ahead told us of a forgotten story of the path.
       "So much for an adventure!" I breathed with a little sigh.

Alex turned to me when we stopped... He cupped my shoulders. "At least we know how the story began. With eight brave heroes and heroines, then parted and one hero kissed his heroine."
    That was confusing.

"What do you me-"
      Alex bent down and let his lips answer my question.
His hands gathered me fully against his solid frame.
     I wanted to push him, but for once in my life, I chose to be honest with my emotions. I let my arms circle his neck while returning the slow kiss.

        Alex demanded, and I bowed down to his fiery emotions.
  If they said he was brutal handling a girl, then I'd prove the world they were mistaken.
     It must have been a one-minute kiss, but if felt like one second.

And the fierce blush burning my cheeks got me avoiding the light around.
      "If you are done with your lovey-dovey kisses, we should probably head ba-"
   "Er guys!" Phil called from front. The right wall wasn't dump as the rest.
         She pushed in a weak part and the rest went crumbling down. A passage appeared.

"Wow! Who knew this was such a mystery!" Kevin huffed amusingly.
     I took Alex's hand as we went closer, using my flashlight for vision.

The other two proceeded in the new world. But I held Alex back.
   "Are we sure about this?"
  "Daisy?"
"I don't think it's safe Alex. Especially not for you. Those musty conditions aren't right for your asthma."

The damned male laughed it off before cupping my skull.
    "You love worrying Daisy. I haven't died yet."
I slapped his arm. "Not a funny joke Alex."

         Before he could say anything else, Phil called out from the other part.

   "Ain't you coming?"

Alex grinned evilly. "Do you wanna miss out on this Miss Boring?"
     With no choice, I followed him inside.

Rocks and more rocks. The air was still dump if not dumper.
    It smelled of something rotten. The foul stench was irritating and nauseating.

I beamed the light around, and saw something glistening to it at the far right.
    "Looks like there's water over there."
They all turned to it.

        Alex held my hand protectively.

And just as we were about to explore the whole spot full of water, Phil tripped. Alex snapped away from me to catch her.
     The sudden happenings had me tripping also. But I had no one to catch me, I fell in the green water.

Oh, if it wasn't a pool of excretions and dead animals, I had no other definition.
        The dirty water got in my mouth in the struggle to get back to the surface. Its taste horrific and bitter.

Something splashed and an arm came fast around my chest.
      I was pulled out before the killer water could drown me.
Kevin had saved me... Alex should have been the one. Yet it was Kevin and I could not change that.

Alex had opted to save Phil. It wasn't his fault that I accidentally tripped, but he should have dived in for me.
    My gaze chained to him as Kevin made sure I wasn't injured.

"I'm okay Kevin, thanks for the save."
    He helped me stand.
"Heck! You got leeches Daisy!" Phil yelped, her voice corrupted by fear.
       ••••••••••

The pain gnashing through me as Alex's mom removed the leeches was enough to have me wish I was in hell.
      "Sorry honey, but you'll have to be more strong. I'm almost done here."

  I groaned when she removed another one. My eyes now wet and too bitter to keep open.
        "What on earth were you doing in that cave Daisy? It's so dangerous."
"We...argh? We went to explore it." I answered as the door to our room swung open. Windy walked in with a little basin and a towel.

     "And, I'm done."
The last one sent my pain haywire. Like a thousand needles piercing my skin unapologetically.

     But as soon as the lukewarm towel pressed on my back, everything settled.

The tiny bloodsuckers laid quietly in the can.
     "Windy, I need you to come wash her back. I'll get rid of these little demons."

The older female left the room, and Windy took over.
    "How did you fall anyway?"
"Er... A sorry would be much appreciated Windy. "
     "Jeez! Sorry you little whiny girl."
"Just shut up and do your work."
"What you gonna do? Bite me?"

"Ha! Ha! Really funny. As if those leeches were vampires. Believe me you'd be the first person I suck dry."

She slapped my bare back.
    "You're such a weirdo. You still think vampires exist?"
  I sighed. "If they did, I'd personally go looking for them Windy."

She groaned.
    "Enough with this stupid topic anyway. By the way, Alex sent his sorry."
I heard myself laugh amused. "Couldn't he come see me himself?"
     
      "Well, he had to leave for a checkup or something."

My heart almost froze. "Did he have an asthma attack?"
        "Er...um..."
I rolled to study her face.
  "No Daisy." Her lip twitched, she was lying.
"Which hospital did he go?"
      "Calm down girl. He's fine... And I'm sure he wouldn't want you bothering yourself after the incidence at the cave."

"To hell with the leeches."
I grabbed a shirt standing up.

Alex's shocked expression told of how much it was a surprise to see me at the hospital.
    "What are you-"
"You scared me." I sighed hugging him.

"Daisy? I'm fine. But what about you?" He asked, then kissed my hair in the firm embrace.
    Yes, I was where I was supposed to be. In Alex's arms, in his warmth.

Our eyes locked, and it was impossible to control the tears... "Hey, don't cry, I'm fine. Look at me, I'm alright." Alex whispered tucking some hairs behind my left ear.
       
       "You're just saying that to make me feel alright. You think I don't know Alex? You think I don't know about your lung condition. It isn't just the asthma. I know Alex, I know." I broke down helplessly.

But he needed to know that I was well aware his lungs had a problem.
    He cupped my jaw. His own eyes were wet too. "I'm not going anywhere Daisy. I'm staying, with you. I promise."

           "Stop swearing. Stop sweari... Why did you hi...ide."
Alex held me tighter along the hallway, ignoring the people rushing past us.
    "I just couldn't. I didn't want anyone worrying about me."

"But...but, I thought we were friends?" I whispered hurting.
   All he did was rub my cheek.
"Yes Daisy. We're friends. Friends that constantly hide their feelings from each other."
    I swallowed a large lump while crying.

"No Alex. I'm not hiding any-"
   "Then answer my simple question... Do you, Daisyln, love me?"

I stopped breathing. My answer would change things between us. Whether a yes or a no.
    "Alex please-"
His jaw tightened. "Do you love me? Just answer yes or no."

  My lips suddenly ran dry. My throat deserted.
"Of course I love you. We've been friends for a long time no-"
Alex's heart shattered. Too visible on the broken expression.
    
    He stepped away from me.
"You love me as a friend? The care, the kisses, the smile were all from a friend right?"
      "I...I..."
"It's okay Daisy. Maybe I've been chasing the wrong girl. Maybe I'm not good enough to make you happy. Is it Kevin? You like him don't you?"

        "What! No!"
"Stop denying Daisy!" Alex bellowed and the people around glanced to our direction.
     "Can we have this discussion somewhere else, please?"
"No Daisy."
An aching smile surfaced on his lips. "I accept the fact that you can never love me for who I am. And don't worry, I won't bother you again. Let's go home."

And he led me outside with only a hand set lightly at my back.
    Alex, seeming out of his usual self drove us to the mansion... And he called it quits.

The promisingly holiday in a beautiful ranch was cut short when he decided to go back home.
      I felt too responsible for his decision that I decided to avoid him for the rest of the journey back.