Warmth.

When I woke up that's what I felt, just warmth. It took me a few seconds to realise the warmth I felt was Alexandria beside me.

But silence has a way of being torn apart when your most at peace.

"Oh for fucks sake" I turned to Alexandria and she shot up at the sound of the voice and we both realised the voice belonged to who I assumed was Alexandria's mother. "Mum?" Alexandria looked exhausted still but even more confused to see her parent.

"I see your taking after your father...hope I won't have a grandchild soon because I get little sleep as it is" I couldn't believe this woman. "Lincoln I don't believe you've met Scout Stappord yet...my omnipresent parent" I could see the resemblance, the grey eyes and the same complexion but Scout had burgundy hair and a much ruder demeanour.

I could see she wore a white tshirt with Spence & Derek Fish Markets which was probably one of the many jobs she worked to provide - for herself or Alexandria was unclear. I watched these two women stare down at each other and to my surprise Alexandria won. "Fine, I give up with you" Scout Stappord threw up her hands and walked out of the room and you could hear her leave the house soon after.

"Are you okay?" I touched her shoulder and she nodded but she climbed over me to get to her wardrobe. "What about you Lincoln? Aren't you going to confront your parents?" I tensed I was going to be her subject change to draw attention from herself.

"Maybe...I don't like my dad after what he did and the fact that my mum is accomodating to him after the way he left us, like a coward I want to scream at them all..." I sighed and flopped back down onto the bed. "Link..." Alexandria tensed as she carefully assessed what she said next. "You can stay here as long as you like...I like the company" I could see her turn as pink as her hair dye and she excused herself to get changed.

I stood up and walked around her room. I hadn't really took it in when I arrived. It was painted white but everything inside was colourful: her bedspread, the posters and the little decorative touches. Around the room she had lots of pictures: her and Ireland, very few with her parents and lots with Rosie. One picture took me by surprise: a white framed picture of Alexandria wearing a pretty coloured tutu in a pose where I assumed she was dancing.

"That was five months ago" I jumped at the sound of her voice. When I turned I saw her standing at the doorway wearing all white which made her hair look more wild. "I usually play a swan in swan lake...I don't usually get lead roles but I've had a few but that night I got to stand in for the girl who plays Odette and when Rosie saw me I thought she would cry. That night was one of the best nights of my life next to..." she stopped herself and gestured for me to follow her.

Walking downstairs I could smell mulch in the air. "Ignore the smell" I didn't even need to say it out loud so I just shrugged. "Alexandria what was the other best night?" I wanted to know because although she tried to stop herself I know she said she had another great night, when I don't know.

"It doesn't matter Link" she walked over to a beat up coffee machine and began to make a pot, aggressively banging cups and cream every few seconds. "Cairo what are you doing? Your going to break them!" I walked over to her and grabbed her hands. "Alexandria!" I pulled her slightly and she wouldn't look at me and as quickly as I had grabbed me she wriggled out of my grasp.

"Do you want cream in your coffee?" She sounded suddenly sad and I couldn't help but feel my heart clench. "Uh...yes thanks" I grabbed the cup out of her hands and we both began to drink in silence.

"Alexandria could you do me a favour?" she looked up at me, her grey eyes looked like a storm rolling in, dark and foreboding. "I need to go home because my phone is blowing up and I didn't want my mum to kill me...so I was wondering if you could come?" She stopped and she seemed to falter.

"Please Cairo? I can't do this alone" she began to think about it and I thought I'd miss it if I blinked but she nodded ever so slightly. "Okay, I did say I wanted to meet your sister and I suppose you've met my family I guess it's fair I meet yours " she smiled slightly and I felt all the air enter my lungs which made me realise I'd been holding my breath the whole time.

But in that moment I realised I'd stop breathing if Alexandria was never in my life again because part of me wondered if I was becoming 'whipped' like Rory would put it

Or if something more was forming.

---

Excuse me guys can be in touch with their feelings too. Also I'm sorry it's been awhile since my last update I have been stumped at uni and also a writers block is killing me.

But also... Howler is nearly at 6k reads and Tale of Two Cities is nearly at 1.4k and Run for your life is nearly at 400! I am so happy and it's an amazing feeling watching readers engage with my work. Your all amazing

Lxx