Again, I apologize for the delay... same excuse as before. :) Here's some more for your readin' enjoyment!
12
Over the next week, things were pretty tense in the mansion. It was obvious Alexis felt the Fantastic Four had over stayed their welcome. Well… maybe not all of the members; just one in particular. Regardless of what she felt, they were packing their things and readying to leave. And Alexis was readying to move on with her life. A step in the right direction.
"Are we almost done? I can't breathe in this thing…" Lily whined, running her hands along the form fitting lavender dress.
Alexis rolled her eyes and shouted from behind the dressing screen "Yes Lily… I'm almost finished…"
She stepped out and extended her arms "There. I'm done."
Kitty sucked in a breath. "Wow…"
They helped Alexis up onto the platform, fluffing her gown as she admired her reflection in the three mirrors in front of her. She ran her hands down the beaded bodice, fingering the lace with a soft smile.
"So what do you think then?" She looked at her little sister in the mirror. "Yes? No?"
"You look…" Lily shook her head, at a loss for words. "Just wow."
Alexis tilted her head and smiled. "Yeah? I'm not sure about the strapless… I've always been a little self conscious about not having straps."
"T'hold things in place." Rogue grinned.
"Exactly."
"It looks perfect…" Kitty swooned.
She put the finishing touch onto her ensemble, adding the veil just to get the full affect.
"You look amazing!" Rogue grinned. "That Derek is such a lucky guy… ah hope he knows that."
"He does." Alexis said with a nod.
"Are you sure?"
Her eyes met Johnny's through his reflection in her mirror. He offered a formal smile to her before looking at the other girls. "Look at you ladies… never thought I'd see such classy lookin' ladies in this particular mansion."
Lily stuck her tongue out at him. "I'll have you know, I'm full of class. I'm a classy broad."
He chuckled, running a hand through his dusty blonde hair.
"Well… if we're all finished here…" Kitty took Lily's hand and pulled her along. "We'll go hang these up."
Alexis sucked in a breath, still admiring herself in the mirror in an attempt to distract herself from the upcoming task.
"We're uh… headed out." He jerked his thumb towards the doorway with a shrug. "Just… thought it'd be tacky to not say goodbye."
She smiled despite herself and pulled the veil out of her hair with a nod. "I guess." She'd already said her goodbyes to the others earlier that day, with Johnny nowhere to be seen. She'd been grateful at the time, so she didn't have to deal with a situation like this…
"So… congratulations." He rubbed the back of his neck, uttering an awkward laugh. "I hope you don't take it the wrong way if I don't attend."
"I hope you don't take it the wrong way if you're not invited." She ran the tulle of the veil through her fingers with a smile and he nodded.
"Well um, I'll see ya." He said with a wave, turning around to leave.
"John." She pressed her lips together. "There's something you should know."
He stopped and looked at her expectantly, watching as the different emotions raced across her expression, hesitation playing in her eyes.
"What… what should I know?"
She cleared her throat with a composed smile "Have. There's… something you should have." She moved over to the dresser next to him, pulling the top drawer open gently and retrieving a small velvet box.
"Here. I… don't think its right."
He opened the box, finding the ring he'd given her so many years ago nestled in the crease of the velvet. "Al…" He looked up at her. "Alexis. It's yours. I mean… what am I gunna do with it."
She pressed her lips together and nodded as he placed the box back in her hand.
"Take care."
She nodded again. "You too."
"Have… a good life." He gave her a lopsided grin and halfhearted shrug before turning around and leaving.
After a few minuets she moved over to the window, watching as they boarded the loaded up van. Ben cast a glance up to the window and gave her a discreet wave, making sure no one else knew she was watching.
She blushed slightly, offering him a small wave back before he climbed into the van. She uttered a soft laugh at the sight of the van's suspension being weighed down by his extra weight. She could almost hear Johnny whining in the back seat about how they'll feel all the bumps because Ben ruined the suspension. She let out a breath as the van drove away, looking down at the ring in her hand. It was the hardest thing she'd ever done. Lying to him like that. Saying goodbye to the only man she'd ever really loved.
It's for the best Alexis. She lifted her chin and nodded, snapping the ring box shut with a new found determination. She had lots to do and less time to do it in. No time for wallowing in any kind of pity.
It was time to move on.
---
"Hey! Where are you headed in such a hurry?" Lily frowned at the sight of her older sister breezing by. She wore her leather bomber jacket and stylish blue jeans, her hair pulled into a sophisticated ponytail. Even in a hurry, Lily would never understand how Alex could look so put together.
"I'm stopping by Derek's office for a minute before I have to meet with the florist."
"Do you want me to come?" Lily offered. Alexis smiled at her sisters' half hearted attempt to care.
"No thanks Lil. I can manage on my own." Alexis said as she adjusted the jacket, snatching her car keys and rushing out the door.
There were a few details she wanted to go over with Derek before her meeting with the florist, so she decided to leave a bit early and pop by his office unexpected. She was sure he'd appreciate the effort. He was always going on about how she needed to make it 'look good'.
But part of her attempt to put effort into their so called relationship was the fact that she just really needed to get out of the mansion.
She pulled up to Derek's building and scurried inside, greeting his secretary with a pleasant smile, informing her that she'd wait in his office for him.
Alexis closed the door behind her and moved over to his desk, taking a seat in the chair facing his. She let out a breath and drummed her fingers delicately on the patent leather armrest. The sound of the fax machine whining caused her to jump. She stood up and moved over to the machine to pick up the papers that had floated to the ground, but as she bent over she knocked over a stack of files off Derek's desk.
In a panic she gathered the files, trying to tidy them up as quickly as she could, praying that Derek wouldn't come in as she was trying to fix her mistake. She glanced over the title of the first file, making sure she had all the proper papers inside before setting it down on the desk. She moved over to the next file, and then the next, scanning her eyes over its contents as quickly as she could. Her eyes stopped on her name and her heart began to race. It was information about her family. Her sisters high school grades, Kerri's birth family… she shook her head quickly to try to process what she was looking at. She stopped on an article about her parents' accident that had ended in her Mother's death. Why… why would Derek have this!? Further on through the file there were documents about some local mutant hating groups… and lodged between two pieces of paper was a copy of a termination of service. For her Fathers nurse.
She furrowed her brow. It was dated for the end of the month… 3 days? Why was Derek firing her Fathers nurse?! And why didn't she know about this! Her hands shook as she continued sifting through the file, stopping on a yellow note pad paper with Derek's hand writing on it. Something didn't feel right… the document she held was a list of notes for an upcoming speech. "I have come to the conclusion that if I quit now, that is what those mutant haters would want! I know that Alexis would have wanted me to continue the cause we worked so hard for… so in memory of her, I will still run for congress!"
She sucked in a breath and sat back against the file cabinet. This was all a plan. A giant set up. And by the looks of this file, Derek's entire circle of supporters was in on it. The small group of men that had an invested interest in him winning the vote. They were all planning her murder. And by the sounds of it… her Father's murder.
She quickly piled the papers back together, and stacked the files on the desk, jumping to her feet and hurrying from the office.
"You're not going to wait for Mr. Wilson?" Derek's secretary gave Alex a concerned look and Alex shook her head.
"No…" She cleared her throat, willing her voice to work. "Please don't let him know I stopped by Grace. I don't want him to be concerned… but something's come up."
Grace frowned and nodded as Alexis raced through the double doors and out to her car.
She slammed the gas pedal down, zipping back to the mansion as quickly as she could. She tore through the mansion doors and hurried through the foyer.
"Hey! What are you doing back so…" Lily furrowed her brow. "Alex?!"
She ran up stairs, skipping steps on her way up to save time. She shoved through her door, yanking her suitcase out of her closet and proceeding to fill it up.
"Alex!" Lily stopped in her doorway. "What the hell… what's going on?"
"Nothing Lily. I need to go home."
Lily's face grew ashen "Is it Dad?"
"Dad's fine Lil." Alex closed her suitcase. "I can't explain. I just have to go."
"Al…" Lily shook her head and frowned.
"Lily." Alex took her sister's arms firmly. "Promise me… you won't let the X-men come after me. Don't tell them where I've gone. Please."
Lily nodded slowly, watching her sister grab her suitcase and race out of the room.
She sat down on Alex's bed rubbing the back of her neck. Something was seriously wrong. Lily chewed her lip and sucked in a deep breath; contemplating breaking her promise to her big sister… maybe she should tell Logan she was concerned about Alex. He'd speed after her on his bike and catch up to her…
"I got it!" She jumped up and ran across the hall to her room, hurrying to her nightstand. She rummaged through its contents before pulling out a piece of paper triumphantly. She figured out a way to help Alex without breaking her promise. Just a quick phone call and everything would be fine.
Right?