The next morning I groaned loudly as the sun poured into my room, assaulting my eyes. With a swift pull, I yanked the covers up over my head and sighed loudly. Finally sitting up I sat against the headboard and rubbed my eyes, on,y to pull my hands away quickly and stare at them with wide eyes. My knuckles were blooded and grazed, they also looked slightly swollen. With a angry groom I slide back down my bed, placing a pillow over my head. Well there goes me getting away without telling anyone about last nights events, well it's now or never. Slowly I climbed out of bed and shuffled across the floor, when I heard my mother yelling from down stairs.
"Alexandria, Francis is here dear" she called.
A rush of emotions suddenly came over me, anger that she meddled in my affairs, guilt for yelling at her the way I did , then worry that she'll know I'd attacked someone last night.
Slowly I pulled a dressing robe around myself and secured it tightly, before leaving my room with a nervous sigh. Here goes nothing.
The moment i entered the kitchen I was met by Francis's worried glance giving me the once over, momentarily landing in my swollen hands.
"hello Alex" she murmured softly not looking me in the eyes, but rather the middle of my forehead.
"Francis" I replied stiffly, short and sweet. I wanted to know what she wanted and why, then she could leave.
"I wanted to apologise for last night, I had no right to snoop and I was out of line for questioning you like I did" She said softly while wringing her hands together.
I sighed in slight annoyance and allowed my guard down a little, before putting my arms out and inviting her in. She needed no pushing at all, she instantly rushed into my embrace and I wrapped my arms around her tightly.
"what happened to your hands Alex?" She asked out of the blue, I stiffened slightly as a million excuses ran though my mind.
"oh you know me, I lost my temper. Took it out on a wall" I replied quickly, rolling my eyes as she pushed me back, holding me at arms length.
I knew that look, that stern mothers look she had. She'd used it on me on more then one occasion, she knew I was lying. I had never punched a wall in my life, a face yes. Never a wall.
"You don't have to lie to me Alex, you know that" she said " you've clearly had fight and come off better, that much is obvious" she finished.
How do I tell her the complete truth without dropping Ron and Reg in it. She already hated Ron and this would put Reg in the fog house for sure.
"your right, I'm sorry I lied to you. Last night I heard someone say Lily's name and I lost it" I said "please don't be angry I feel bad enough as it is" I finished, trying to milk it for all I could.
"Alexandria, there's a man at the door for you" my mother called suddenly, I hadn't even heard a knock.
Francis span and grinned at me with wide eyes before dashing off, me rushing after her in a panic. There was only one man that could be.
"Ron?" Francis said with clear distaste in her voice, I rushed up behind her sliding slightly on the door mat.
"hello Alex, I have some news for you" he smiled with his hands in his pockets.
My eyes danced from Ron to Francis, my worry back again. If anyone would tell Francis about last nights events it was Ron, just to rub in that I still fought behind her back.
"oh well look at the time Francis. Don't you have to meet Reg for lunch?" I asked curiously, moving inch by inch do my body was between her and Ron.
"yes. Yes I do" she mumbled finally taking her steely gaze off of Ron.
Once she'd left I sighed in relief, and invited Ron in before setting about making tea. If the news was about Lily, I had to be ready.
"Reg and I tracked Martin down" he started as I took a seat placing a cup in front of Ron and taking a sip of my own "he made a rather hasty exit when we started asking questions about Lily" he finished.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes tightly as my hands began to shake, suddenly I jumped to my feet with a scream and threw my cup against the wall, where it shattered.
"everything alright Alexandria" my mother called from the living room.
"Sorry mum, dropped a cup" I replied after slowing my breathing "so he knows something" I growled angrily to Ron, clenching my fists.
Ron moved slightly and did something completely unexpected, he placed his hand over mine and patted it softly. Before pulling me towards him and putting his arm around my shoulder.
"we'll find out what happened Alex, I give you my word" Ron said looking me straight in the eyes.
I blinked away some tears and gave him a soft smile, even though every fibre of my being was telling me not to, I trusted him.