Thank you to everyone who reviewed! You guys are just amazeballs! 176 reviews! That's insane! When I first started this story last summer, I honestly thought I wouldn't get any, so this is just mad! Thanks to each and every one of you- I'm so incredibly grateful to you all! This chapter is for you guys!
Chapter 17:
The lingerie that Rach had bought me was now stuffed at the very back of my bottom drawer, where I very much hoped it would never see the light of day. Walking back into the lounge I noticed that Monty had found a g-string that I hadn't managed to pick up, and was now using it as a chew toy. Sighing, I left him to it, and put the lilies in a vase. They were really beautiful, and I loved them- I couldn't bring myself to throw them out, or let them wither and die. I just hated that I was reminded of him every time I looked at them. That was probably his idea behind them, mind. I wasn't used to men being so charming.
It was now about two in the afternoon, and I decided I might as well watch a crappy movie whilst finishing off some more marking. I liked to get it done as soon as the holidays began. That way, I could have the rest of the time to myself. I was especially fancying a shopping trip later in the week, which I'm sure Rach would be happy to join me on, even if she did spend the entire trip interrogating me about my non-boyfriend, boyfriend. I mean, I'd all but confirmed her suspicions today. There was a pair of jeans I'd had my eye on for a while- I'd seen them again in a shop in Paris, but I refused to let Alice buy them for me. She may have been a millionaire, but I liked to buy my own things, even if it did mean that my bank account took a massive hit, and I was skint for the next month. But still, the next time we went shopping, I was definitely buying them!
Grabbing the stack of books I settled on the sofa, letting an old Agatha Christie episode play in the background, whilst I worked. An hour in, and I grabbed my phone to see if I'd got any messages. It was a pleasant distraction from tedious spelling corrections. There were only a few: one from Rach asking about my boyfriend, which I tactfully didn't respond to- instead sending a winking emoji back to her instead, and another message from my service provider. I dropped Sam a quick text too, well it was more of a warning than a text, asking him why on earth he'd rung the Net about Will, and then to ask him how he was getting on with his girlfriend, if she still was his girlfriend at this point. He was in deep trouble the next time I saw him. Well, unless things had gone horribly wrong with Elinor, in which case, I'd be really understanding.. and then I'd yell at him. Hitting send, I put it down, and picked up where I'd left off, when my phone rang. It was Alice.
"Hey"
"Hey, Lex. How's Will? Those flowers were gorgeous, weren't they? He's such a sweetie!" One of the most annoying things about having a sister able to see the future, was the fact that you couldn't hide anything from her. Absolutely anything. And she didn't even think to warn me that he was going to show up?
"Alice!" I whined.
"What? They were? C'mon, Lex, I know you love them."
"Yeah, okay, they're really pretty, but he shouldn't have."
"He's already to starting to win you over!" She squealed happily. No, he wasn't. Definitely not. I was definitely not attracted to Will Benedict. No way!
"Nothing is going to happen, Alice. He knows that. He was just being nice, and apologising for jumping to conclusions- that's all."
"Yeah, yeah, you keep telling yourself that. Alexis and Will sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G-"
"Oh my God, Alice!" I interrupted her. "You are such a child! We are not together, nor will we ever be!" She cackled in response.
"First comes love, second comes marriage…" She continued, and I huffed at her down the line. A younger sibling's only role was to annoy their older siblings, I swear. Well, that was the relationship I had with my older brother, Jack, anyway.
"Alice, what are you ringing me for?"
"To tell you to stop paying me rent! It's ridiculous, Lex, come on! I don't need the money!" Oh, it was this argument again. When Alice had won the lottery she'd bought me the flat for my 22nd birthday. I'd just graduated from university in Sheffield, and had decided to move back home to complete my teacher training programme, but hadn't wanted to move back in with my parents. I was going to rent a flat, but the prices were extortionate, and before I'd signed for one Alice stepped in, without me realising, and purchased a beautiful new flat for me right in the centre of town. Although I was incredibly grateful, I still didn't like taking hand-outs from Alice, so I insisted on paying her rent, even though it frustrated her. I was determined to pay back the astronomic price she'd paid for it, even though it would probably take a quarter of my wages for the next twenty years to do so.
"Alice, I need to- I can't stay here for free!" Monty started barking at the door then, his signal that someone was outside. "Hang on, Alice I've got to go- someone's at the door."
"No worries, I'll call you later. And Lex.."
"Yeah?"
"I'm transferring the rent back to your account, and if you even try to sneakily pay me back I'm ringing Mum and Dad and telling them about Will. And you better tell them soon, or I'm telling them for you! Love you, sis. Bye!" And with that she hung up. Damn it! The girl knew exactly how to press my buttons! There was no way I was risking paying her back when she threatened to tell Mum. I'd just have to save up the rent I would have given her, and buy her a really expensive birthday present instead. That way we both got what we wanted.
Walking to the door, I had a look through the peephole- I'd had far too many unexpected visitors as of late, and this time I wasn't taking any chances. Oh God, this visitor was even worse than Will in some respects. Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I took a deep breath and braced myself for what was about to happen, and then I opened the door.
"Alexis!" My mother cried, pulling me into a bone-crushing hug. Blimey- it was like she'd not seen me for a year, not a week!
"Hi Mum" I smiled, hugging her back, even though she was a full head and a half smaller than me. She released me moments later.
"Do you want a cup of tea?" I asked, moving towards the kitchen, regardless of her response. I knew the answer would be yes, so I didn't really know why I even bothered to ask any more.
"Yes please, Alexis. That would be wonderful." She followed me into the kitchen, where she proceeded to take off her coat and hang it on the back of the chair whilst I busied myself making a pot of tea.
"So.." I started, hoping she'd finish the sentence and explain why she was here, whilst I put the kettle on to boil.
"I just wanted to come to see how you were." Oh God. Now I was going to have to act like I was upset that I hadn't found my soulfinder. I was a terrible actress, so this wasn't going to end well.
"I'm fine Mum." I answered. "Honestly, I'm fine." She shot me that sympathetic look that just made me want to barf. I carried the teas over to the kitchen table, and took a seat.
"Now Alexis, there's no harm in admitting you're upset." Oh God, she was going to make a speech. Kill me now. "It's only natural, but honestly, it's not the end of the world. You will find him, Alexis, I can feel it in my bones. You were just unfortunate this time-he must have been ill, like you were last year…" I zoned out at this point. I couldn't stomach listening to my mother's heartfelt spiel, when I was lying to her about what had really happened. She'd be happier that I'd found my soulfinder, than I ever would be. So, instead I just sipped my tea, and nodded at what seemed like the appropriate time. She twittered on for another hour, before realising that 'Downton' was on soon, and decided to head home- she had her priorities sorted, my mother.
I let her out soon after, with the promise to come and visit her and Dad soon, and to bring Monty along with me. I honestly thought that they loved Monty more than me at times. Tipping my lukewarm brew down the drain and dropping both cups in the dishwasher I flicked off the lights and headed to my room. Today had been emotionally exhausting, and I was desperate for a good night's sleep and a lie- in. Changing quickly, I climbed under the covers and shut my eyes. I heard my phone buzz on my bedside table as I did so, and I grabbed it to see what it was.
'Sweet dreams, sweetheart x' was all it said. I knew immediately who it was from, even though I still hadn't saved his number into my phone yet. I didn't reply, simply turning it over, and shutting my eyes once more, but I couldn't help that warm, fuzzy feeling growing in my chest. Fighting this feeling was getting harder, no matter how hard I tried to deny it. What was I going to do?
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