"He's not home," I announced to Finn after trying to open the front door of my house.
"How do you know?" He asked standing behind me.
"He doesn't lock." I took the keys out of my pocket and unlocked the door. I walked in, Finn right on my heels. I heard him mutter something under his breath, but I couldn't quite understand him. "I just need some clothes." I pointed to the stairs.
"Okay." He nodded and we started walking together to my room.
The guys accepted without a problem that I would be with Finn for a while. I don't know how it happened, but I'm glad for it. I really need to get out of the house for a while and especially from my father.
What he did is inexcusable. How could he be so reckless? After everything I've done for him, this is what I get?
"Can I help in any way?" Finn spoke up, standing in the doorway while I walked over to the closet. "Pack some..." He looked around my room. "Books, for example."
"How long are you planning on keeping me a prisoner?" I laughed.
"I don't plan on letting you go." He said with only a small hint of humor before walking towards my small library. "What's your favorite book?" He started looking through my books.
"That's like asking what's your favorite ice cream."
"Vanilla." He answered without hesitation.
"Of course." I rolled my eyes. "I can't choose a book." I shrugged my shoulders. "But if I had to choose the authors..." I thought. "Ana Huang, Elle Kennedy, Lauren Asher, Lily Gold, and many more." I named him a couple of authors by whom I have read more than one book and loved every single one.
"What are they writing about?" He looked at one of the books in his hand.
"Um...things." Good save, Lexi.
I can't tell him what they are about because all I can think of at this point are all the scenes that some people would consider porn on paper. And maybe they would be right in their own way.
"And I thought they were just blank pages." He put the book back. "Would you like some with you?"
"No." I waved my hand over it. "If so, I'll stop by Stefan at the bookstore."
"He works in a bookstore?" He asked with interest.
"Yes." I nodded and threw a few pairs of socks into my bag. "I'm just going to go to the bathroom for a few things." I quickly ran from the room to the bathroom and took a brush, a comb, shampoos and a makeup bag.
When I got back to my room, I regretted leaving Finn alone in my room with access to my books. I found him reading a page from the Den of Vipers book.
"This looks like..." He cleared his throat. "Interesting book." I ran up to him and closed it, almost pinning his fingers there.
"I'm ready."
"Then we can..." Before he could finish we both heard the door from downstairs close.
Oh no.
I immediately noticed how Finn's knuckles on his hand, in which he was holding the book, turned white.
This is not good. This is not good at all.
"Maybe we can stay here for a while. He won't know..."
"Lexi!" I heard my father's scream from below.
"Maybe not." I breathed out hard.
"Grab your bag, we're leaving." He said with a tone that was more serious than ever. He walked towards the door of my room and I quickly followed him.
We went down the stairs and stopped in front of the front door. Father was just coming out of the kitchen, but he stopped the moment he saw us.
I could only see how tense Finn was just by looking at his back. I can't even imagine what he is thinking about now.
"What the hell are you doing in my house?" Father sputtered.
I don't know if it was the right move, but I touched Finn's hand trying to pull him out of there. I don't want to be here and I don't want to have this conversation right now.
"So?" Father raised his eyebrows.
"I want you to know that the only reason your head hasn't smashed through that wooden table yet is because I promised your daughter I wouldn't fight. I intend to keep that promise, but you're going to put your fucking drunk hands on her one more time, and I swear I'll..."
"You'll what." He interrupted him. "Who the hell do you think you are, boy?" He snorted.
"Someone who will absolutely destroy you if you touch her again." The warning in his voice was more than obvious. "Lexi, get in the car." He ordered me, but I didn't move, I couldn't, my feet were stuck to the ground.
"She'll be back anyway." His gaze fell on me and I automatically avoided him, looking at the ground.
"Yes, because she's a good person. But I'm not. She's staying with me, good luck with everything. I'm pretty sure you can't even wipe your ass without her."
Father took a step towards us, Finn immediately with him, moving out of my reach.
"Try me, old man. I'll enjoy it." He said between his teeth.
"You little..."
"That is enough," I spoke, not knowing where I got the courage from. "We're leaving and you can stay here. I've had enough. I'm done with you." I swallowed hard, not believing that I got it out.
"You are my daughter."
You are my daughter. Words I wanted to hear so many times, but never it happen. Yet here we are. He says so, but under what circumstances?
"Then start acting like a father." With those words, I plunged a dagger into my own heart. "I'll be back when that happens, until then do whatever you want. You want to bet this house in poker? My stuff? Help yourself. But be sure you'll never see me again." I turned on the spot and with a pounding heart started walking away from the house in which I spent my whole life.
And just like that, I think I lost another parent.
Even though Lexi was next to me, she was also thousands of miles away.
Ever since we got back from her father yesterday, she's been acting different. I tried everything but nothing helped.
This morning, despite my objections, she went to work. Her reason was that she didn't want to leave Monica alone. She also clearly explained to me that she was not going to take my car, nor did she want me to come get her because I was in pain. I don't think she realizes that the only pain I care about is the pain that will appear the moment she leaves.
I played with my phone in my hand, considering whether to call her or not. I even got to the door a couple of times, determined to go after her. But I always changed my mind in the end and sat back down on the couch.
Slightly hungry, I went to the kitchen, placed the cell phone that had been tempting me all day, on the counter, and opened the refrigerator.
It was no surprise that it was empty.
"Awesome." I exhaled heavily and closed it again.
I knew I had to go to the store, but what do I need? I've always only bought little things, but now it's different. Lexi lives here too, and just because I'm okay with starving doesn't mean I'm going to let her starve.
I picked up my phone again and knew exactly who I was going to call.
It's time to go shopping.
*****
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind spending money, but who the hell came up with these store prices? Is it all made of gold? Why is everything so expensive?
After Kai happily dictated to me everything the household should contain, I returned to the apartment with a few bags. When I started picking and storing everything, I was afraid that it wouldn't fit. Of course, I had to think about that when Kai ordered me to buy three types of flour. Why so much?
I breathed a sigh of relief as I placed everything in its newly assigned place.
It turns out I don't always screw things up.
Just as I sat down on the couch, which I will soon grow into, I heard the key slide into the keyhole and the door opened.
Lexi walked in wearing plain black jeans that were slightly wider at the bottom and a dark green long-sleeved t-shirt. She had a white canvas bag slung over her shoulders and a paper bag in her hand.
"Oh, hi." She smiled when she saw me.
"Hey."
"I brought you something to eat." She walked over to me with a paper bag and placed it on the table in front of me.
"Well thank you." I smiled at her. Even though I bought all sorts of things today, I knew I would eat what she brought me because it was from her. I have it really bad, I know. "How was work?" I moved so she could sit next to me.
"Long." She exhaled heavily and sat up. "I want to go to bed and sleep all day." She leaned back and tilted her head, closing her eyes.
"I won't stop you." I laughed.
"Sure." She snorted. "I have a lot to do. I can't stay in bed all day."
"Why not?" I frowned.
Lexi opened her eyes and looked at me with a look that said 'are you serious?'
"I'm serious. You need to rest. So why don't you..."
"I'll be relaxing at camping." She cut me off.
"Yes, but you can also relax tomorrow."
"I have to go to work tomorrow."
"Then quit." I said seriously.
"Funny." She laughed.
I knew I could argue with her about it all evening and it would still end the way she wanted it to, so I let it go.
"But at least I'll get some rest tonight. Shall we watch something?"
"Sure, whatever you want sunshine. Pick something out while I shower okay?" I stood up.
"All right." She nodded with a smile.
It wasn't until I closed the bathroom door behind me that I realized how normal the interaction with Lexi was.
And that scared me. It scared me because now I have something to lose.
Her.
Have you ever wanted to kiss someone who is sleeping?
That probably sounded bad.
But come on, you can't blame me. Right now I'm looking at Finn sleeping with the TV playing in the background and all I can think about is what it would be like to kiss him.
Like Sleeping Beauty.
One thing is for sure, he would wake up, but I don't think he would fall in love with me at first sight and marry me.
He might start screaming, and that wouldn't be good.
Oh god, I'm so weird, what was the reason he even let me sleep here?
It was already dawning outside, so I slowly peeled myself off the couch where we spent the whole night. I went to the kitchen and thought about what could be cooked from thin air, a few days old pizza and water.
However, to my surprise, when I opened the fridge, it was full.
I had to blink several times, even rub my eyes, to make sure that this was not just my vision. Subsequently, I also started going through the cabinets, which were also supplemented.
What happened here?
I stood there for a while, slightly taken aback, but finally decided that since he had been shopping, I would make him breakfast.
Quietly, without waking him up, I started preparing the pancake batter. My head was sometimes somewhere else, but I managed not to burn a single one.
I left a pile of pancakes on the plate on the kitchen counter, next to which I put the newly bought Nutella. I wrapped up a few pancakes and put them in my bag to take to the guys I plan to stop by before I go to work today.
After I finished cleaning up the kitchen, I went to take a quick shower and change into something that wasn't wrinkled like the clothes I'd been wearing all night.
I came out of the bathroom already showered and dressed. My gaze rested on Finn, who was sitting by the counter on a high chair, mouth full of pancakes.
"Good morning." I walked up to him.
"Mhm." He cleared your throat. "Morning."
"Are you okay?" I frowned when I saw his sour face.
"Yes, yes. Good pancakes." He took a bite out of the pancake in his hand.
"Oh thank you." I smiled.
"You had?"
"No, I'm just going to see the boys, and then to work. But leave me at least two for the evening."
"I promise nothing, they are too good." Something about him still didn't feel right to me, but I let it go.
"See you later." I waved at him, which was probably the most embarrassing thing I could have done, but I couldn't stop my hand.
Why is it so hard to act normal in front of him?
*****
"Thank you, Lexi." Jeremy winked at me as he took one of the pancakes I brought them. "If the twins don't get any, it's only their fault." He said before smearing one with jam. "They should have woken up earlier."
"Have they been working long?"
"They came back at about three in the morning. Poor Stefan has to do his job and fill in for Adrian's incompetent colleagues."
"But it's nice of him." I shrugged my shoulders.
"I wonder what they'll do next week when they lose Destiny too." He took a bite out of the pancake and put it back on the plate after the first chew. "Lexi, babe." He said with his mouth full.
"Yes?"
"I know it's disrespectful, but..." He put his hand to his mouth and spat out my pancake. "I have a feeling you've confused sugar and salt."
"What? No." I reached for the pancake on the plate and took a bite. I was silent for a while, but suddenly a salty taste hit me, I felt like I was licking a salt stone. "Oh my God." I immediately spat it out on the plate. "Ugh, it's salty."
"It's not that bad." He laughed.
"It's disgusting." I frowned and went to drink, trying to kill all the salty taste in my mouth. "Throw it out now." I pointed my finger at him while pouring cold milk into my glass.
"Yes, boss." He saluted and threw everything I brought into the trash.
"Oh my God." I stopped in my tracks when I realized something.
"What?"
"Finn ate them too." My hands flew to my mouth. "He ate them in front of me." I looked at Jeremy in horror.
I knew something was wrong with Finn this morning. But I really didn't think it was because of my pancakes.
"He didn't say anything?" He frowned.
"He said they were good. Why would he lie to me?"
"Oh my god, babe." He shook his head with a smile. "You're so blind it's not even funny anymore."
"What are you talking about?"
"Come on Lexi, really?" He raised an eyebrow. "Is he supposed to tattoo that he likes you on his forehead so you'll understand? The poor guy can't get admit it out loud, and you're only making it harder for him."
"What did you just say?" I looked at him in disbelief, waiting for my eyes to fall out of their sockets.
Is he supposed to tattoo that he likes you on his forehead so you'll understand?
...that he likes you...
I feel like I'm going to faint.