Past wont go away: Story of my life – Day 12

For what it's worth, it was worth all the while

Archie woke the next morning to an empty space beside him. Lexie and him had slept in the same bed together again last night, both needed the comfort and being together gave them that comfort.

"Lex?" Archie called out sleepily.

There was no reply; Archie pulled himself out of bed and walked down the corridor to Lexie's room. Her bed was un-made and a collection of cuddly toys lay on the bed from where Ami had slept last night.

"Lex?" Archie called again into an empty corridor.

Archie carried on down the corridor to his children's room they were staying in. The two were up and happily playing on the floor. He gave them each a kiss and left them playing while he continued to search for Lexie.

"Paul, have you seen Lexie this morning?" Archie asked as he pasted his brother in the hallway.

"She was really angry, and shouting something about going to Glasgow and giving that pompas, monkey brained husband of hers what he deserves?" Paul replied confused, a look of panic appeared on Archie's face.

"Well where is she now?" Archie answered panicked

"I don't know… she's not taking Ami with her…" Paul replied quickly as Archie took off down the corridor.

"Paul, take the kids to mother for me please!" Archie shouted back as he ran down the stairs two at a time.

As he was climbing down the stairs, Lexie walked past in a rage.

"Lex, Lex wait!" Archie shouted

"I'm going to Glasgow Arch" Lexie replied continuing to walk

"Lex, you don't need too," Archie answered catching up with her and walking along side her.

And there's nothing wrong with me, this is how I'm supposed to be in a land of make believe, that don't believe in me

Lexie had the keys to Paul's landrover and she continued to walk outside. Archie cursed as he hurt his bare feet on the gravel. He clung to himself as he stepped outside in the cold weather in just a t-shirt and his boxers.

"I do Arch, I need to talk with Max" Lexie replied stopping before the car.

"Then let me come with you" Archie pleaded

"Arch, you don't need too, I can do this by myself." Lexie answered, climbing in the car.

Archie climbed in the passenger side and shut the door. "Too bad, I'm coming"

Lexie let out a small giggle as she noticed Archie's appearance.

"Fine…fine…go get changed first" Lexie replied

"Come in with me" Archie answered

"Come in with you?" Lexie repeated

"I don't want you running off without me, now come on, wait inside while I get changed" Archie pleaded getting out of the car. As Lexie joined him, he put his arm around her shoulders and they walked inside.

Forget me nots and second thoughts live in isolation. Heads or tails, fairy tales in my mind

As they came back outside again, Archie could sense Lexie was angry.

"I'll drive" Archie offered, worried about Lexie's driving if she was angry.

Lexie remained silent most of the drive to Glasgow. She didn't tap her fingernails to the beat of the music as she had done on the way to Glenbogle. She didn't get excited at the sights around her. She didn't smile or show much expression. She just gazed out at the green hills and mountains as they slowly changed to tall buildings and the traffic increased.

"So where am I going here?" Archie asked as Lexie stirred and looked at him

"Oh sorry, erm oh take a left here, then follow the road and then its your first right, number 22" Lexie replied

"Ok…you alright?" Archie asked peering quickly across at Lexie then back at the road

"Yeah" Lexie replied bluntly.

They parked outside Lexie's house and she stared at the house for a while. Max's car wasn't there, he must be at work. Lexie took a few deep breaths and continued to look at the house.

"You ready?" Archie asked as Lexie turned to him and nodded silently. "It's going to be ok, I'm here for you" Archie continued

"Thanks Arch, that really means something to me" Lexie replied leaning and giving him a kiss.

As Lexie let them both into the house, Archie took notice of the pictures that hung on her walls. Mainly ones of Ami as a baby and her growing up. Ami looked just like Lexie, a thought crossed Archie's mind to what their child might look like if they had, had one.

Archie picked up a picture frame of Lexie and Molly outside Glenbogle. Pain stabbed Archie as he thought of all them years back, when he could of done something about this, and neither of them would be going through the pain they were now.

Lexie started to clear the house of Max's mess he had left the last couple of days. Archie offered to help but Lexie refused. He sat down on a sofa and thought of his house back in Manchester. He wondered if that's where Amber was, and the thought he would have to go there and sort out things burdened his mind. He didn't want to think about that right now.

The innocent can never last

Archie got up to go to the toilet as he went through to the kitchen and then to the downstairs toilet. He heard someone come in the door and then shouting. Archie stayed in the kitchen, as much as he wanted to go out there and punch Max's lights out, this was between husband and wife.

"Lexie" Max cried surprised

"Hello Max" Lexie replied sitting on the sofa looking up at him.

"Er listen, the other day, when your mother came in…it wasn't what it looked like" Max started to explain but Lexie put her hand up to him.

"I don't want to hear your petty excuses this time Max"

"There not excuses Lexie, please listen to me"

"No Max, I'm fed up of listening! All that comes out of that trashy mouth of yours is lies! All lies! BIG FAT LIES!" Lexie shouted back standing up to face him.

"Oh and your as innocent as an angel are you?"

"I'm not the one having an affair!"

"Who said I was"

"My mother told me"

"Your mother, and we're supposed to go on facts your mother told you?"

"Listen my mother did some bad things, but lying to me wasn't one of them"

"So who is she then?" Lexie demanded to know

"Who?"

"Oh don't talk crap Max, I know you might as well tell me everything now"

"Oh just shut up Lex"

"Is she the same one as before?"

"Before?"

"You know what I'm talking about Max, don't think I didn't know!"

Archie stood on the other side of the door, he wanted so badly to go out there and hold Lex and tell her everything would be all right.

And I leave behind, this hurricane of lies

"Look Lex, this woman from work was upset, she's a good friend of mine, I bought her back here to talk to her, when your mother came in she must of thought I was…"

"A woman from work?"

"Yeah, Leslie, you know her Lex, you've met her before"

"Yeah, Leslie was nice"

"You see, nothing happened, I was just comforting her when she was upset"

Lexie had calmed down a bit, Pamela had never approved of Max, but would she make up a lie or a story to make it seem worse so that they would break up?

"So…nothing happened?" Lexie asked

"Oh no, no Lex don't believe him please," Archie whispered to himself.

"Nothing happened" Max repeated with a calming smile as he held out his arms to Lexie. "Sorry to cause all this upset"

When there aint nowhere you can go, running away from pain when you've been victimized, tales from another broken home

Lexie paused then unsure of if he was telling the truth welcomed his arms, but as she let her head go against his chest she smelt perfume on his collar.

Archie heard nothing but silence now. Lexie had believed him, she had fallen into a trap, she had believed his lies, and now she would go back to him and he would just do it again and again. Archie wanted to do something, but what could he do? Lexie wouldn't let him love her; she wanted the security of being with Max.

Baby I just don't get it
Do you enjoy being hurt?
I know you smelled the perfume, the make-up on his shirt
You don't believe his stories
You know that they're all lies
Bad as you are, you stick around and I just don't know why

If I was ya man (baby you)
Never worry bout (what I do)
I'd be coming home (back to you)
Every night, doin' you right
You're the type of woman (deserves good thangs)
Fistful of diamonds (hand full of rings)
Baby you're a star (I just want to show you, you are)

You should let me love you
Let me be the one to give you everything you want and need
Baby good love and protection
Make me your selection
Show you the way love's supposed to be
Baby you should let me love you, love you, love you

Listen
Your true beauty's description looks so good that it hurts
You're a dime plus ninety-nine and it's a shame
Don't even know what you're worth
Everywhere you go they stop and stare
Cause you're bad and it shows
From your head to your toes, Out of control, baby you know

If I was ya man (baby you)
Never worry bout (what I do)
I'd be coming home (back to you)
Every night doin' you right
You're the type of woman (deserves good thangs)
Fistful of diamonds (hand full of rings)
Baby you're a star (I just want to show you, you are)

You should let me love you
Let me be the one to give you everything you want and need
Ooh Baby good love and protection
Make me your selection
Show you the way love's supposed to be
Baby you should let me...

You deserve better girl (you know you deserve better)
We should be together girl (baby)
With me and you it's whatever girl, hey!
So can we make this thing ours?

You should let me love you
Let me be the one to give you everything you want and need
Baby good love and protection
Make me your selection
Show you the way love's supposed to be
Baby you should let me love you, love you, love you

Let me love you that's all you need baby

Mario – You should let me love you

Archie sat down depressed on the kitchen chair; he put his head in his hands. This wasn't how it was supposed to turn out, Lexie was supposed to shout at Max and then leave him, and come home with Archie. Archie gave up, he had missed his chance first time round and here he was missing it again. Just then he heard a shout from the living room.

Lexie pushed back Max away from her in disgust. Surprised by this sudden movement Max feel backwards but grabbed Lexie's arm as he went. Max hit the table with a thud and Lexie let out a scream as she went with him. Archie rushed through and saw Lexie supporting herself from falling on the table but Max still had a firm grip on her arm.

I wonder what its like to be you, to never really care how bad it hurts

Archie noticed straight away that Max was hurting Lexie. Archie didn't know that it had been an accident on Max's behalf but as he rushed over and made Max let go of Lexie, Lexie backed away and as Max got up, with a shocked expression on his face, Archie was mad.

"What did you do that for? And where the hell did you come from?" Max shouted at Lexie and Archie.

"I'm not gonna be messed around any longer Max, I'm not stupid! I don't care if I'm left as a single mum, I turned out alright and I'm sure Ami will!" Lexie yelled in reply.

"You're leaving me?" Max asked shocked

"Yes, that's right Max, I'm leaving here and Ami's coming with me, I will not have her life ruined because of you!"

"This is all your fault!" Max screamed at Archie as he took a swing for him. Archie backed out the way and Max punched the air. "You've been a problem from the start! I suppose your going back to the fairy tale castle with him are you Lex?" Max shouted

Nobody said anything for a while and Max continued to stare at Archie and Lexie.

So make the best of this test, and don't ask why, It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time

"Look Max, you've been unfaithful to Lexie, she has every right to leave you" Archie stated being careful in case Max took another swing for him.

"No doubt she's been living it up with the laird here as well" Max snarled "Mind you, that wife of yours wasn't bad" Max added with a grin

"Why you little…" Archie swung a punch and hit Max right in the face. Lexie gasped in worry at the two men starting to fight.

Max got up and then hit Archie one, this time Archie didn't have enough time to react and got hit around the face.

"Please stop it!" Lexie cried running into the fight as Max went to hit another one. Instead it missed Archie and hit Lexie right in the side of the face. With the impact Lexie feel against Archie.

Max immediately realising he had hit Lexie instead of Archie, worried. Archie put his arms around Lexie and tears feel from her eyes in pain.

"Lex…oh god Lex I didn't mean to hit you, you got in the way, I'm so sorry, are you ok?" Max asked trying to comfort Lexie.

"Get away from her Max" Archie replied protecting Lexie in his arms.

"I didn't mean too…" Max's voice trailed off, as Lexie's sobs were the only thing heard.

It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right, I hope you had the time of your life

Archie wiped the blood away from his mouth as they sat in the kitchen, with ice on their faces. Max had left about 10 minutes ago, now Lexie and Archie sat by them selves.

"Your going to leave him, please tell me your going to leave Lex" Archie pleaded with her.

Lexie looked with her tear stained face, and nodded silently.

"You can come back to Glenbogle, back to your home" Archie stated