"What do you mean in this house?" Said Sebastian.
"Wait, this address isn't here! Did you give me the wrong address?"
"This address - the one we're in - is... 4235 Pinewood Avenue East."
"No Sebastian, you gave me 1910 Diamond Star Drive."
That got my attention. I was about to scream out, but Jaycee beat me to it.
"That's Alexis's house!" He said, shoving his way next to McDaniels.
"What is he doing in my house?" I asked, confused.
"Well it's kind of natural. After they thought they got rid of you and your parents, the natural thing would be to return the sole heir back to his house, then wait for him to reclaim his wealth, split it three ways, then each would disappear." Said Officer McDaniels.
But I was focused on something entirely different than what he just said.
"You said got rid of my parents? But... but you told me that they're in New York..." I trailed, my throat constricting. Why am I feeling rocks piled up in my stomach.
"What? New York? Who the-" started McDaniels.
"Yes!! New York!! Right! Right! New York." Interrupted Sebastian. He awkwardly chuckled as he scratched his neck.
"You didn't tell her?!" Whispered Jaycee.
What were they talking about?!
Tell me what?!
"Tell? Tell me what?!" I asked, getting scared by the second.
"Nothing Alexis. Nothing is wrong! Come with me." Said Jaycee, putting his hands on my arm; trying to make me forget.
"No! Jaycee get away from me! Don't touch me! What are you not telling me?" I could see everyone look at each other with confused looks. Everyone except four people. Two of them being my best friends.
"Alexis..." started Brenda, but Jaycee raised his hand in front of her and she stopped talking.
"Alexis. Baby, please, please just follow me. Please. I'll tell you whatever you need to know. Please." He said, his eyes softer than they were three seconds ago.
I just nodded my head and went with him back to the foyer where we spoke just a few hours ago.
I didn't feel like talking right now because I feel betrayed and hurt.
Is that why no one would answer my questions about them? Why they keep brushing it off like it's nothing?
I was in no mood to speak at the moment, so I didn't open my mouth and neither did Jaycee.
We both sat on the swing and just silently sat there staring at the stars, the evening breeze a little chilly.
"Lexi. Do you trust me?" He said out of nowhere, stroking my knuckles gently.
"Of course I do Jay." I said, not being able to look at him for some reason.
"Then trust me when I tell you that everything is fine. There's...nothing for you to worry about sweetheart." He said, sounding unsure of himself.
"Nothing in my life is ever ok! I don't know where my parents are! I don't know where my brother is! Both my uncles are out to get me! Tell me what part of that is even classified as ok?!" I cried, taking out my frustration on him.
He tried to say something but I cut him off before he could form a coherent word.
"You don't know what it's like to feel so alone even though you're surrounded by lots of people! To having to look behind your back wherever you go! To close your eyes, and not know whether you'll be up in the morning or not! You don't know how any of that feels! You don't! But I do because this has been my life for the past few months! Running from my own shadow! And from one loophole to another..." I trailed off, my breath hitched in my throat.
I put my head in my hands and started crying; my shoulders shaking.
Jaycee held me to his chest, the sound of his beating heart comforting me.
"I may not know what that feels like princess, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to let you go through all that alone. I'm here for you Alexis. Always have been and I intend to be here for as long as forever lasts. You're my end and my beginning and even when I lose I'm winning.."
"Are you quoting John Legend?" I asked through the tears, chuckling at goofiness.
He ignored my question and continued singing another song; same artist.
(second verse)
You stop the room when we walk in
Spotlights on everybody staring
Tell all of these boys, they wasting their time
Stop standing in line, cause you're all mine
And this evening I, won't let the feeling die
I never wanna leave your side
Out of all the girls
You my one and only girl
Ain't nobody in the world tonight
All of the stars you make them shine like they were ours
Ain't nobody in the world but you and I
You and I
Ain't nobody in the world
You keep wondering if you're what I'm wanting
You don't even have to try
You don't have to try
Don't try
Don't try
You don't have to try
"And you think a song would make it better?" I ask, drying the tears that tickled my cheeks.
"Songs make everything better sugar." He said, leaning his chin on my head.
"Yeah, that's why 99.99% of the female species of our school are head over heels for you." I say, remembering my little chat with my friend a few weeks ago.
"Really?! Who?! Tell me her name!" He said which caused me to smack his arm and he just laughed.
"Well they all need to go home because I only have eyes for one girl." He said, tightening our hug.
"Yeah? Wonder who that is." I ask. He always knows how to lighten up the mood.
He just chuckled then sighed.
"What's on your mind Jay Jay?"
"What have you planned to do about CJ? We actually kind of bonded over the few years I've known him for and it'll be a shame if I didn't do anything to help in saving him."
"You do realize that Sebastian isn't going to let us even get close to this case. And if my uncles even find out that I'm alive, I'm putting the lives of everyone here in danger. Maybe this time we should just let the feds handle it." I say, defeated and weak.
"That is actually a very good idea because I wouldn't want you getting in harm's way again. Let them handle it. In the mean time, we'll be finishing our winter break in peace."
"Do you think I should call Annabelle?"
"Call her, because that means that you're safe."
Maybe he's right. This is something that is bigger than me. Bigger than all of us actually. I can't risk their lives too.
So I took out my phone and dialled Annie's number.
Beep.
Should I call her?
Beep.
What if this backfires?
Beep.
Maybe I shouldn't do this.
"Agent Higgins." Came the reply from the other side.
Silence from my end.
"Hello?" She asked, her voice carrying the weight of the world.
"Hey Annabelle." I said, my voice shaking.
"Lexi? Oh my God! My baby!! Where have you been?!" Her voice almost breaking, but she composed herself.
"I'm ok Belle! I miss you so much!" I said as memories of her caring for me as a child crashed down on me.
"My dear child! I have missed you so much! Alexis why did you leave the hospital? Why sweetheart?"
"Annabelle I have to save CJ! He's my brother and he has done so much to save me. I can't let him die. I can't."
"I know honey I know, but you can't do that on your own. Come to me and I will keep you and your friends safe. I can dedicate my entire department to search for CJ and apprehend your uncles. But I can't do that unless you come to me sweetheart. I promised your parents when they first had you that I would keep you both safe. I need you to trust me Alexis. Please." she said, urgency in her voice.
I looked at Jaycee, and he nodded, urging me to accept her offer.
"But don't incriminate any of the officers. Please. They were only doing their best to protect us and the made sure that we're here and accounted for."
"McDaniels and Royce? Oh they've been keeping me updated, don't worry. I promise you." She said, assuring me.
"Pidky promise Bella?" I said, remembering how that used to be our thing when I was younger.
"Pidky promise Lexi." She said, relieved that I'm not suicidal or anything.
"Okay then. I'll send you our address tomorrow because I would really like to hang out with my friends for a while longer. But I need you to promise me two things. If I may."
She chuckled. "You may angel."
"First, please start searching for CJ because he called me and he sounded very hurt and in so much pain. Second of all, please don't separate us again. Our strength is in our numbers. Deal?"
She was quite for a few seconds. She sighed and finally answered me.
"Deal. I'll let you have the rest of the day with your friends and tomorrow we'll be coming to pick you children up. Okay?"
"Okay! Love you Bella!"
"Love you too little girl." She said, her smile evident in her voice.
"Hey did you hear anything about my parents?" I asked, a little hope in my voice. Maybe she could answer me.
I felt Jaycee tense beside me and his heart rate became audible.
"Uh, how about we talk about that when I see you? Everything is good don't worry." She said, although I could tell that something is wrong.
"I'll see you tomorrow sweetheart."
"See you tomorrow." And I hung up.
Why isn't anyone telling me anything?
I rested my head back on Jaycee's chest, as he stroked my hair. His heart still beat frantically.
We stayed quietly for a little while, watched the sunset pour down on us.
"Babe?" I heard Jaycee ask.
"Yes babe?"
"What made you change your mind?"
"Huh?"
"I mean you never said I love you back to me before. And then you just suddenly did. Is it only because I said it to you?"
"I think these feelings have been there for a very long time. Every time you rescued me from these abominations called bullies; it grew. Every time you smiled at me; it tripled. Every time you did anything for me; it grew. I've always loved you but I guess it took me seeing you on a hospital bed to actually come forward with them. And to be honest, you problem now because these feelings aren't going anywhere for a really, really long time."
I looked at the sky and saw the sun setting.
I sat upright, and just stared at the beautiful reflection of the sun on the lake, how every shadow was cast so perfectly that it made it all look like a picture from a fairytale.
"Wow. It's so beautiful! This is breathtaking, definitely something I wouldn't mind looking at all my life." I said as I felt the little girl with the pigtails in me surface.
"Breathtaking. I wouldn't mind dying looking at that." Said Jaycee.
But he wasn't talking about the view.
He wasn't even looking at the view.
As the sunset cast its dying glow on his beautiful eyes, I could see that he was looking at me.
I just realized that I wrote an entire Jaycee-Alexis chapter xD unintentional I swearðð
Anywayz, what are your thoughts??