I have legit been the worst at updating this. I think about this story all the time and mentally write chapters but then I never, you know, in real life write the chapters. So I feel super bad and just gave another little fluff chapter. The next one (which I promise on my favorite blanket I will have out some time this week) with include shopping and training and feelings. YAAAAAAY. Enjoy, loves.
Lettie awoke a few hours later unsure of where she was, what time it was, or (most importantly) whose body she was pressed up against. Breathing in deeply she could tell from the strong smell of soap and... well, manliness... that it was a man she was snuggled warmly into. This shocked Lettie and she instantly tried to shoot up into a sitting position but failed due to the strong arms wrapped around her shoulders. Lettie relaxed when she saw it was Alex she was sharing her bed with. It was Alex whose blue eyes were staring at her in concern underneath his confusion knitted brows.
"Lettie?" He whispered, his voice still hoarse from sleep.
"I'm sorry. I forgot who was here. I panicked. How did we get like this? We were sitting up when I fell asleep. Did I wake you? Go back to sleep." Lettie rambled, confused by their position but all together comfortable and not in any rush to move.
"You looked uncomfortable, so I moved us down so we were actually laying. And no, you didn't wake me. I've been awake for a few minutes." Alex informed her as they both relaxed naturally, as if them laying in bed together was an everyday occurrence.
"So I've held you hostage. God. I'm so sorry." Lettie didn't let on to her disappointment as she pulled out of the warm, comfortable embrace. Alex's face didn't show his disappointment either. As her hand and face left his chest, his hands fell off her back and shoulders. Pulling himself up into a sitting position against the headboard, he stared at the only person he had ever opened up to. The only person he had ever shared a bed with. The crazy, red-haired, Irish girl sitting cross-legged in front of him, rambling on about how late it must be, how hungry she was, wondering where every one was and what all they had missed, but how it was the best sleep she'd gotten in a long time. Lettie had just began to get out of bed when Alex spoke,
"I'm sorry. I don't normally do... whatever that was."
"Don't be sorry, Alex. Everyone has to talk about things., get them off their chest. Thank you. Thank you for letting me in." She smiled at him, and he couldn't help but smile back.
"Thanks for wanting to be let in. For listening to me, for not judging me or thinking badly of me. For comforting me and letting me cry...You're probably the first real friend I've ever had."
Lettie had fallen back down into her sitting position but now pounced forward and attacked Alex with a hug.
"You know I'm always here for you. If you need anything. And my bed is always open. It was nice having you here."
Neither said a word to the other as they held on to each other, both enjoying the first hug either had truly shared in a while.
Raven chose that moment to bust through the doors of Lettie's bedroom. Lettie and Alex quickly ended their embrace and stared at the blonde girl who was staring between the two with a creepy smile on her face.
"Can I help you?" Lettie spoke slowly, slightly fearful for her life.
"I saw. That was probably the cutest thing I've ever seen. I sent the others on a wild goose chase around the grounds so that they wouldn't interrupt. But, oh boy did I see. Care to explain yourself?" Raven spoke sweetly yet devilishly from beside the still fearful teenage girl whose eyes were now wide with alarm and understanding.
"Oh, my God, Raven. I... You... Nothing happened. We were talking and we fell asleep." Lettie spoke in hushed tones, praying that Raven would keep her voice down.
"Yeah, okay. Well, 'nothing' needs to happen later. I'm bored." Raven complained.
"What time is it?" Lettie asked.
"9:30. You guys missed dinner." The blonde girl said matter of factly as she pranced across the room and plopped herself on the bed.
"Where are the others?" Alex asked.
"Charles and Erik are playing chess. Moira hasn't left the library, Hank hasn't left his new lab. Sean is probably just off being Sean. Let's do make overs!" Raven exclaimed, rolling over excitedly. Lettie turned to Alex with a pleading look for help in her eyes, but Alex smoothly got up off the bed, saying he was going to find Sean and sending a teasing smile and wink Lettie's way.
"By the way, Alex. I talked to Charles. We're going in to town tomorrow. Gotta get you some more clothes!"
Lettie laughed at the look of sheer terror on Alex's face as he walked out of the room but her laughs turn into a groan as Raven grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the safety and comfort of her own bed, across the hall, and down on the blonde girls bed. Sitting behind Lettie with her hands running through her crazy hair, Raven instantly began the questions.
"So. What was that? What happened? And what happened to absolutely nothing is going to happen between the two of you? Huh? Did I tell you or did I tell you?"
"I'm grateful for the wild goose chase you sent the others on. Imagine if Sean had walked in on that. We'd never hear the end of it. But seriously. Nothing is going on. We were talking. We opened up to each other and fell asleep while talking. Alex and I are just... close... Very close friends."
Raven just rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it. The two of you have spent practically all your time together. You know you can tell me if any thing is going on. We're practically best friends and all."
"If anything decides to happen, you'll be the third to know."
"Third?!" Raven was playfully offended.
"Well, yes. I'm sure Alex and I will be the first two. Oh, and possibly Charles if he finds us before you do. But... you'll be among the first to know. Promise."
This promise satiated the blonde girls thirst for gossip. In the few minutes that the two girls had talked, she had braided Lettie's hair into an elaborate bun that would have taken much longer with unskilled hands. She stood, satisfied with her work, and walked to stand in front of her red-haired friend. The first real girl friend she had ever had.
"Now it's time for the make up!"
The excitement on the blonde's face was not echoed on her victim.
Within thirty minutes Lettie was, in Raven's words, perfect.
"God, Let. You're such a hottie. I can see why prison boy is falling all over you."
"Oh my God, Raven. Shut up. And don't call him prison boy. At least not to his face."
"Well, duh. I'm not a total idiot. At least you didn't try to deny him falling all over you."
"I... He's not falling all over me. We're friends. Apparently, I'm the first real friend he's ever had."
"How sweet. You're also going to be his first real girlfriend." Raven teased.
"Oh, stop it." Lettie rolled her eyes before standing and making her way to the door.
"Where are you going?" Raven asked, sounding offended that Lettie was leaving.
"Um.. my... room?"
"Oh, no. We're going exploring tonight. I've lived here for years and still haven't been over every inch of that forest."
"Can I at least take all this make up off first?"
"NO! The only thing you can do is go get the boys together and change clothes." Raven demanded.
Lettie sighed, knowing that resistance was futile. "Fine."
Knocking on Sean's door, figuring that was where the boys were hiding out, she got nervous. What if she looked bad? She hadn't even gotten to look at herself yet. Not really. What if Alex didn't like it? What if he made fun of her? Why did she care? Alex's opinion shouldn't matter. She opened the door and hadn't gotten more than two steps inside when Sean wolf whistled.
"Daaaamn! Who knew a ginger could look so sexy?" he teased. "Did you know, Alex? I bet you did."
"Shut up, Banshee, before I make you squeal like your namesake." Lettie threatened jokingly. Relief flooded over her body, along with butterflies, when she looked at Alex and saw a dumbfounded yet approving look on his face.
"You look great, Lettie." He basically whispered.
Lettie just blushed and let out an equally whispered, "Thank you." Sean was looking back and forth between the two like someone who had a secret that everyone wanted to know. Or a kid on Christmas morning who received the two toys he wanted the most and didn't know which to play with first.
"Raven says for you guys to get ready. We're going exploring in the forest." Lettie said before walking towards the door. Alex got up and followed her out, presumably to get ready like she had said, and caught her by the arm.
"You really do look beautiful. I like you without make up, but I could get use to seeing this side of you every once in a while." He said lowly, right in her ear where no one else would hear. Deciding to play it 'sexy', Lettie pulled back and winked before prancing her way to her room, hearing Alex laugh at her obviously forced sexy walk.
Once in her room and with her door securely shut, Lettie slid to the floor. She had acting to brave and confident and it had worked. Is that all it took for people to appreciate you? Acting like you think you look good? Not that it mattered, but for the first time in a while she didn't feel like any one was judging her for not being a stick. She, for the first honest time, felt beautiful. Her heart was still slightly racing at the words Alex had said and she laid her head in her hands as she realized that she had feelings for him.
What the fuck, Lettie. What are you doing? You're here to train. To help fight in a war. Not to grow feelings for some guy you met a week ago. Come on. Pull yourself together, Lettie. Stop this nonsense right now.
A knock on the door brought her out of her self-lecture. "Let? You ready to go?" She heard Ravens voice through the door. Standing quickly, she opened the door and pulled Raven in, closing and locking the door afterwards. "What the hell? Is everything okay?"
Lettie was breathing hard and pacing around the room, unable to think of the words to say.
"Girl, what is wrong with you? You're scaring me." Raven spoke softly from where she was frozen by the door. Lettie plopped herself down on the bed and looked at the more experience blonde girl with fear in her eyes.
"You're right."
"I'm ri... what?"
"I like him. I like him a lot. What do I do?" Raven stared for a few seconds before realizing what Lettie was talking about. Then she squealed, running over to her lost looking friend on the bed and throwing her arms around her.
"This is great! I knew it. I totally knew it. Now starts Operation Get the Two Thick Heads Together!"
"NO!" Lettie almost shouted. "Please don't. If anything is going to happen, it'll happen. I've just.. I've never really felt this way about someone before. I don't know what to do."
"I'll be back in a few minutes, okay?" Raven promised.
"You're not going to tell him, are you?" Lettie looked terrified.
"What? No! What kind of girl do you think I am? Just trust me." With that, the blonde girl was gone, curls bouncing as she walked happily out of the room. Lettie sat back on her bed. She wasn't the first girl to develop feelings for a guy. She was handling this like a child and she knew that. But she was so lost. She's never had feelings like this, especially not ones that came on so strong and suddenly. Sure, she had found people attractive before. But never like this. She had never gotten butterflies just from someone touching her.
Raven was back within five minutes, arms laden down with food. "I thought we were going exploring." Lettie noted.
"Nope. Girl emergency. I told the guys that I suddenly wasn't feeling well. We'll go exploring some other time. Now, let's talk about this... situation."
