Chapter 14

So sorry it took so long but I've had exams, exams and more exams for the past couple of days. But hey, here's the update you've been waiting for. I hope you guys like this one, and please please please review because reviews just make my day, and I love you all so much for reading this and being patient. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME! Enjoy xxx

Alexandria

"What?!" I spluttered, my jaw hanging open, about to hit the floor.

"Keep your voice down!" Dad hissed. But how could I? It was stupid. We were stupid. I mean, we were discussing this in the cupboard under the stairs after all, so to say we seemed slightly strange was the least. Dad did not want Mum to hear, or our youngest sister Abbey. We still didn't know exactly how many days my mother had left, but we rarely talked about it. My parents were the live-in-the-moment kind of people, always trying to put off the future for as long as they could, even though deep down, we all knew the truth. The truth that was eating away at my mother's life force even as we gathered in that small cupboard out of her earshot. No matter what happened in my life, I could never be happy, content, because of that truth which threatened to take my mother away from me. My mother was the sunshine in all of our lives. Everyone in our old town in England loved her. She was a primary school teacher, always working with children, and perhaps that is where she got her sweetness from, but whatever it was, whenever she was in the room, it was as if the whole room had lit up with light. Everyone in town loved my mum, and would always pop into our house for tea, just to chat, just because they wanted to hear my mother's voice, just because they love our family. The good old times. When I had not a single worry in the world. It was just me, my family, and... My thoughts stumbled upon another aspect of my life. A very important aspect. My best friend Elliot. I had left everything behind when I had moved here, my town, my home, my friends, my life, but most importantly, my best friend in the entire world for as long as I lived.

"Park, stop chewing your crisps so loudly," Dad hissed, bringing me back to reality. Luckily it was too dark for anyone to notice the grieving glistening of my eyes. Stop it, Alex, I scolded myself. You're depressing yourself. "Emma might hear." I rolled my eyes. If anyone thought I was bad at paying attention and being responsible, they should meet my Dad.

"Dad it's past midnight. Mum's asleep. And so is the rest of the world, except for us," Park remarked, yawning for the thousandth time.

"Park shut up, this is important!" I said, partly eager to hear what Dad was going to say and partly to distract myself.

"So is my sleep," Park muttered half-sleepily. Dad shushed us again, and flashed the torch around the cupboard under the stairs. "Why are we still here?"

"But how can he be here?" I asked, ignoring my brother's stupidity. We would be here all day if we kept going on. "Last we heard he was in jail Dad." Dad nodded, looking equally as confused.

"He's escaped, sweetie. Daniel Kelly has escaped from my jail." Those last words sent shivers up the back of my spine. Even Park woke up at that. He was here. Free. And would no doubt come back for us again. Painful memories threatened to crash down on me as I sat in that little cupboard under the stairs in my house in Wrickenridge, Colorado, with absolutely no idea where the man who had ruined entire lives of the people I loved so dearly, was roaming. Memories that I had promised to keep locked up for all of eternity, because they hurt. They hurt too much. And I knew that letting them out would bring out the absolute worst in me.

Zach

"Her name's Alexandria, Mum," I said, clutching my mum's hand in mine as I told her, tears of joy glistening in her blue eyes. "She's amazing Mum, seriously. You'll love her, but..." I trailed off. I didn't know how I was going to tell the others. I had no idea what to expect from them. Would they be genuinely happy for me, that I had made the most amazing discovery of my life? Or would they be envious that I had found my soulfinder and they hadn't? It didn't make any matters better that Zed had also found his soulfinder. I had a bad gut feeling that it wouldn't go down as well with the rest of my brothers if the two youngest brothers found their soulfinders before any of them had. Yves wouldn't be too much to handle, and neither would Xav. I had a feeling both of them would probably just make a joke out of it and congratulate me. Will and Uriel were too nice to be envious about their younger brother's most amazing discovery of his life. But Trace and Victor...They would be the most difficult to handle. They already thought they didn't have enough time left and had occasional mood swings, and I had a feeling that my news wouldn't help much with that pressure. I didn't want to tell my other brothers first, because it would just make matters worse. They would get mad at me for not trusting them and not sharing events of my life with them and whatever. I really could not deal with that. But most of all, something bothered Alex. I knew about that much. But she thought we weren't close enough for her to share that with me. Well, I was going to change that. I was going to make sure that she felt comfortable about being my soulfinder before introducing her to the family, because, hell, there were a lot of us. I didn't want her to feel overwhelmed. Baby steps first, I had promised, and that was how I was going to take this.

"You're afraid you're brothers won't take it the right way?" Mum guessed, smiling that knowing smile of hers. And that's why I loved my mum so much. She would always know what was wrong without me even hinting at it. So maybe she could pick up on thoughts sometimes, but at that moment, I knew that her words had nothing to do with her savant gift, especially because my shields were up. They had to be when you're in a savant family of seven other brothers. No, I knew at that moment, that it was because she was my mum. She knew every aspect of me, and I could never and would never hide anything from her. Mostly because I wouldn't be able to. But also because, I didn't want to. No matter what my parents would support me, and that pretty much made me feel invincible.

"Yeah," I admitted sheepishly. I felt lousy for hiding something so important from them. "But also because I want Alex to be completely comfortable with being my soulfinder first. I think something with her family is bothering her, so I'm going to try to help her out first, before anything." Mum smiled through her tears of joy, a proud glint in her eyes as she reached up to ruffle my hair.

"Look how much my little boy's grown. Don't you worry, Zach," Mum said reassuringly. "No matter what happens, no one is ever going to come between your girl." And I sure wasn't going to let them either.

Alexandria

Oh how I looked forward to the weekends. Two whole days of lounging about trying to do as little productive work as possible. If only everyday could be the weekend. That was pretty much how I got through my week. Always believing that there were better days to come. Saturday and Sunday. My eyes flickered open on Saturday morning at around ten a.m, and after about ten minutes of trying to postpone getting up, I reluctantly left the safe haven of my bed and headed or the bathroom. The thing about me was that I was the live-in-the-moment type, naturally from my parents, so you know who to blame for irresponsibility. I rarely worried about the future, mainly because there was no point. Why dread what's to come, when you can spend that time enjoying what you have. It's a much healthier lifestyle. Though of course, I was not stupid enough to absolutely reject any possibility of the dangers that had been discussed last night, but hey, during the day danger always seemed less...well, dangerous. In the night though I was a little more open-minded. I trudged back from the bathroom, my stomach growling as I caught a faint whiff of breakfast cooking in the kitchen downstairs. Oh yes. My Dad's famous full Eglish Saturday breakfasts were legendary. To die for. Strangely my mind wandered off to Zach's cheekbones. They were definitely to die for too. I blinked. Oh God. Sure, I had fancied him before, but now, it was something more. The symptoms had begun. I was starting to fall in love with him. Pretty bad.

You up yet sunshine? I physically jumped when I heard Zach's melodic voice in my head, ringing with a bright and cheery tone. I smiled as I walked into my room and lay on my bed. I could get used to this. Waking up to such a beautiful voice.

Yes, you? I replied. I wished I could say something more, but I had no idea what.

Long time ago. So, you want to meet up later? I gasped out loud. He was asking me out on a date. I don't know why I was so surprised. I mean, we had kissed last night under the moon and stars and all, and after that episode, a date seemed simple. But still, a date with my soulfinder was something I had been dreaming about ever since I could remember. A date with Zach Benedict. Something practically every girl in school would be dreaming about.

Maybe. I replied, deciding to tease him for a bit. But I do have other stuff to do today, you know? I may need a little more convincing.

Last night wasn't convincing enough for you? I didn't miss the deep mischievous tone in his voice. I could almost see the playful glint that would be glistening in his eyes, and the amused smile playing on his lips. His lips. Shut up, Alex, shut up.

Okay, okay, you've got me there, I admitted, blushing. Thankfully no one was present to see it. A deep rich laugh filled my head, like a deep blue river washing over a path of stones, causing a flock of butterflies to flutter so wildly in my stomach that I was pretty close to fluttering away myself.

I'll come pick you up in ten? I was about to say yes, then a thought hit me. Oh no. If he came, I would have to introduce him to my parents, and my parents already had too much on their plate to begin with. I didn't know what to do. Heck, I didn't even know if I was allowed out of the house, after what we found out earlier that morning. How on earth was I going to deal with this?

Hey, it's okay. You don't have to pick me up. I'll head to your house. I know the way.

You really think I'm going to let my beautiful soulfinder go through the trouble of trudging the distance to my house? I bit my lip, flattered. Wow, he really was such a gentleman, wasn't he? Whatever had I done to deserve him. His courteous manner was definitely not helping me here. Heck neither was the thought of bein so close to seeing him again. Being in his embrace, with his arms around me, holding me like I was the most valuable thing in the world. How on earth did one boy make me feel like this?

But-

Hey no buts, sunshine. And definitely not asking where we're going, okay? It's a surprise. Any thoughts of preventing him from coming to my house, evaporated on the spot due to my temptation. There was only so much a sixteen year old girl could handle.

At least give me a clue.

Nope, he replied, in an amused tone. Why oh why, did he have to tempt me? I was terrible at resisting.

A tiny clue. Please? He laughed again, the beautiful sound filling my head again, melting my insides once more. I could listen to his voice all day. It was amazing. How was he so perfect? I wondered if this boy had any flaws at all. After meeting some of the other Benedict brothers, I didn't think that would be likely.

Come on, just a clue. It doesn't have to be an easy one. I should have known that I was not going to get anywhere.

You're a clever girl. You'd guess. I blushed again. The compliments were piling up before me. Besides, the element of surprise adds a little kick, don't you think? The playful tone returned to his voice. His voice had a smooth honey-like texture which could make any decent person swoon. Imagine how I was feeling when that was the only thing I could hear in my head. Literally in my head. I was trying so hard not to collapse into a melted heap on the floor.

Fine if you insist. But take your time, I just got out of bed. I'm still in my pyjamas.

You should have mentioned that earlier, he said teasingly, as if he was in on a secret that I didn't know.

What does that mean?

What kind of pyjamas are you wearing? I looked down at myself. My black top hung loosely off one shoulder, projecting out the words I don't do mornings, which I thought reflected my mood on most morning pretty well. Although this one seemed to be an exception. I was also wearing red plaid shorts that stopped halfway up my thighs. I glanced at the mirror. Yep, definitely didn't want Zachary Benedict seeing me like this. I pulled out my hairband quickly, concerned about the appearance of my wild messy morning hairdo and twisted my hair into a messy bun, letting my fringe dangle in front of my eyes. Not sure that was much better.

Why do you want to know? I asked Zach suspiciously.

Could you come downstairs for a second?

What? Why?

Just because. The view outside is brilliant. I glanced out of my window, at the plain blue morning sky, streaked white with the remnants of clouds. Nothing special there.

I have a window in my room you know.

Okay, okay. But just come downstairs. It's all for the greater good, trust me. I didn't see how me coming downstairs would help with the greater good but I did as he said anyway, the smell from the kitchen now stronger. My stomach rumbled, trying to steer me to the kitchen. My brother was probably still sleeping in his room, the lazy child, but the rest of my family, had already made their way downstairs, my sister watching TV in the living room and my parents in the kitchen together.

Okay, now tell me why. As if on cue, the doorbell rang, right in my ear, and coincidentally enough I was right in front of the front door. I had a feeling but I didn't quite get the time to put all the pieces together. I opened the door wide, and there, in front of me, which a bouquet of the most beautiful flowers and a box of my favourite Lindor chocolates, stood the one person I wanted so badly to be with me. My soulfinder. With a huge adorable grin on his face. On my doorstep.