Lexi awoke an hour later. Feeling groggy, and weird. She'd dreamed of that long ago picnic with Ethan under the fountain. The one she had mentioned when she'd had her cancer. He sorted a fluffy blanket a CD player and food. They had the best time laughing and joking. She had loved him so much. One of the best things about it had been although her parents were watching from the veranda they were really alone-ish. she added the ish. Coz they were a fair way away and they couldn't hear a word. Although she wouldn't put it past her dad to have planted a bugging device! Ethan had kissed her softly her dad came over a speakerphone saying, I have a loaded gun children. 10 inches distance at least! Then he paused. Added Please as a formality. The face Ethan made had made hilarious. Starting playfully mimicking Danny.
Ethan I know what your doing her dad had then said. Her dad hadn't been too bad just concerned about them. With good right obviously. They ate and laughed then Ethan whispered in her ear that if she was ready he was and he'd text her later. She smiled at him. They'd been together 15 months and she was beginning to think it was never gonna happen. Not that she hadn't tried to make him lose control. He had just been to strong! Actually she was glad they waited. Made it more special. She knew him inside out. They had shared everything and there wasn't a single thing she hadn't thought adorable or cute or frustrating. Coz it was all him. Made him the person he was. It had beautiful. Her mum and dad were going out. They thought she they were safe coz Ethan was going boxing. He'd returned early and sorted a hut for them. He'd text her to meet him by the storage shed. Walked towards one and she looked at him in shock. He nearly collapsed in a fit of laughter. You think I'd…? laughed harder. You should know I love you far to much to waste our first time in a shed. I may not be a gentlemen but I have standards! He chuckled all the way down to the hut. He covered her eyes. When she walked in she saw the place covered in candles and flowers. Whenever she smelled flowers, any flowers she thought of Ethan. They had been so in love. So in tune. He should have trusted her. Confided in her. Except he left. Now though she was keeping a secret. She hadn't told him about their child. He had a right to know. Or was she being nasty telling him? She struggled to look at him sometimes. Knowing that he left her when she needed him most. Not that mattered to him. He was a father now. And in a relationship with Natalie. She'd given Ethan something Lexi hadn't been able to. She'd never felt so inadequate in her entire life. She climbed from the bed and changed into her green work clothes.
Lexi saw Natalie sitting on the veranda. Smiled at her.
"Hello I'm Lexi. We didn't get introduced earlier."
Natalie surveyed her. "Yes Ethan told me."
"You mind if I sit?" Lexi asked.
"It's your house." Natalie said.
They sat in silence.
"So ho old are your kids? If you don't mind me asking that is."
"Bonnie is 3 nearly 4. Chase is a year and a half."
She pulled out a photo. "My mum is bringing them to meet my Aunt in Jo'burg. Then picking me up here before we go home. They miss me and Ethan. And he's amazing with them."
Lexi looked at the photo, at a little girl who looked decidedly like Ethan. And a little boy who looked nothing like him.
"How long you known Ethan?"
"Just under 5 years. More than 4 and half less than 5."
Natalie saw Lexi doing the math with Bonnie. It was weird. Bonnie did look like Ethan. She was pregnant with her when they had met. People always said she could be his. Although they had never even slept together. Thankfully. That would have been awkward. The kiss hadn't been too bad. But that had been an act. But anything other than that. Gag time! Anyway her son looked like her with her current partners face. Adorable. Natalie saw her disappointed expression when she came to the obvious conclusion.
"He is brill with kids. Was great with Daniel and Amie."
"Yeah like I said the kids love him to bits."
Lexi nodded.
"Why all the preoccupation anyway, your with Evan aren't you?"
"Me? Yeah I am." Lexi told her.
"Ethan told me a little about you." Natalie admitted.
"Yeah?" sat up ears pricked.
Natalie nodded.
"Well?" Lexi prodded.
"He asked me not to tell." Natalie said smugly.
"Then why tell me then?"
Natalie smiled. "Coz he told me to. Knew it would drive you crazy!"
Lexi was annoyed at the way Ethan was messing with her.
"Excuse me!" she blasted at Natalie. Her mum would have her if she heard her speaking to a guest like that but at the moment she so didn't care!
Lexi stormed into the house. The phone rang as she passed.
"Hello?" she said shortly.
"Hey can I speak to Alexis. It's her partner Bob"
"Hey bob. It is Lexi. O and by the way if you call me Alexis in the house no one will know who your talking about!"
Bob laughed.
"What's up?"
"Well Lexi I swung us the rest of the day off. Told them we just worked 21 hours and it was your first day! Top brass is going wild. They went looking and found out why Chris and Claudia weren't in. they got a right rollicking! Anyways no work today!"
"Oh wow Bob thanks. I could have done without a shift today I need some more sleep. See you tomorrow at 2."
"Will do Lex."
Lexi put the pone down and smiled.
Til Ethan appeared and the anger returned.
"Dupe needs supplies out in the bush. Told me not to come alone and no-one else is around. That leaves you. And don't tell me your at work coz I heard you saying you were happy that you had time off!"
She glared walked into he room and took her green suit off. Appeared wearing shorts and a t-shirt. His mouth went dry as dust.
They walked downstairs. Climbed in the truck. Drove in silence through the bush. Bounced over pot holes.
"Can't you be careful? Do you have to hit every hole?"
"O so sorry Queen Lexi. Has your hair came loose?" he asked sarcastically.
"Just drive huh Evan. Oops did I just call you Evan. I better apologise in advance for that. See he's on my mind ALL the time!"
That angered Ethan. "I'm not surprised you moved on so quick. You never loved me at all. You were probably after him the next day. Actually why wait til then more like the next minute!"
She narrowed her eyes. No she was too busy scared outta her mind. Pregnant and alone! She opened her mouth but stopped herself. "Tell you what lets not talk huh?" she said though clenched teeth.
"Fine by me Queen Lexi."
She shook her head. She hated that name. It had been ok when she was a kid. She was about to blast him for it but bit her tongue or he'd call her it more and she really would lose it! The truck gave a lurch and rolled to a stop. He tried to start it but it wouldn't move.
"What the hell?" he jumped out and popped the hood. Looked. And saw the problem immediately. The fan belt had gone. He grabbed the radio and radioed Dupe.
"Dupe the belt has gone on the truck. We're a fair way away from you still. Evan should be able to get the stuff you need to you. You best phone him. Yeah and I know stay close to the truck in case of predators."
Ethan put the radio down and sat beside her in the truck.
"We stuck?" she asked.
"Unfortunately yes. For now anyway."
"What do you mean by unfortunately?" she hissed.
"Well you can't wanna be stuck out here with me." he smiled. "Sorta reminds me of old times. Do you remember when I sabotaged a truck so could have time alone. You used to love being out here alone with me." he lowered his voice seductively. "Just you and me." looked in her eyes intensely.
She felt herself being hypnotised by his tone and eyes. She jumped from the truck. He climbed out and took a step towards her.
"I thought I loved you then!" she said stubbornly. Her voice betrayed her as it shook.
"And you don't anymore?" he asked.
"NOT AT ALL!"
His smile turned cocky. "Liar Liar Lex. You still respond to me. Powerfully. I've seen you with Evan the best few days. You look at me and your breathe catches and your cheeks go red. You look at him and your normal."
"I care about Evan far more than I ever cared for you!" she spat.
"O I have no doubt you think that Lexi. Doesn't make it true though!"
"Why you arrogant…." she fumbled for a word.
"Freak show?" he suggested smiling. She went to walk away and turned.
"Why do you care Ethan. You have Nats and your kids now." she said Natalie's nickname with scorn.
"Don't talk about Natalie in that way. You know nothing about her. And for your information the kids aren't mine! She's engaged."
"What?" she asked.
"The kids are not mine!" he repeated.
"Why does she act all possessive over you and nasty to me then?"
"Coz I told her about you Lex. What you meant to me. Good and bad stuff. I met her during a bad time and I was a mess. She doesn't want me hurt again."
"I didn't hurt you. You left me!" they were yelling at each other now.
"Yeah and you went and moved on to the closest lad ever. Tell me how long did it take you to move on? Get together with Evan?"
"Don't even go there Ethan. He was a friend when I need one most!"
"I suppose you kiss all your friends like that then?"
"None of your business!"
He strode towards her purposefully. Didn't realise his intent till he was stood in front of her. Pulled her in his arms and crashed his lips to hers. She resisted for a millisecond and then felt a familiar rush of emotion. It coursed through her blood like a fever. Her arms found their way around him. Kissed him back heatedly. Her eyes were closed and she was filled with the smell and taste of Ethan. She had missed this. The kiss was hot and oozed with restrained passion. He'd never kissed her like this before. So restrained. Full of unspoken promise. She was more than a little excited at the prospect of him losing control. She wanted him to lose control!
Suddenly they heard a truck and bounced apart like someone had thrown a grenade between them. they were both breathing heavily. Chests heaving. Ethan jammed his hands in his pockets. Lexi acted all indigent as she remembered the way her thoughts had gone.
"You had no right to kiss me!" she hissed.
"I thought you kissed your friends queen Lexi. And you know what else I would have let you go but you were having a damn good time kissing me back! I wonder how far it would have gone if weren't interrupted? Would you have stopped me?" he said cockily. He knew full well she wouldn't have been able to stop him.
She straightened and looked at him. They stood face to face.
"I hate you!" she declared.
"You know I love your face like this. Green eyes flashing fire. Chest heaving. And your mouth just begs a kiss." his finger touched them softly. They tingled at the contact. She leaned in to him instinctively.
"Arghh!" she threw up her hands and stalked away. He grinned.
Dupe and Evan rounded the corer in the truck. Ethan stood and waited for the truck to come to a stop.
"Stupid engine just gave out on us. I looked and the fan belt has gone."
Dupe held up the spare. "Hope you know how to put this on!"
"Sure do!" he said and pulled off his shirt. He refused to wreck I getting it covered in oil. It's one of his favourites. He ignored Evans face when he saw his shoulder and back.
(X)
Lexi was a mess. That kiss…was nothing! She told herself sternly. Ok so she wanted to spontaneously combust but that was nothing! She heard Dupe's voice. Walked back towards the truck and saw Ethan take off his shirt. His muscular toned body stole the very breath from her lungs. Wow. He had been toned as a boy but now as a man, his body. "Whooooeeeee!" she whispered.
He turned and she gasped as she saw the snaking scar down his back. She walked mechanically towards them. What had happened to him?
Ethan looked at her and saw her horror stricken face at his back. His eyes flickered painfully then he didn't look again. It was then Lexi noticed Evan.
She felt a surge of guilt. Evan also had a funny expression on his face.
"Hello Ev." she said with false cheeriness.
"Hello Lex. He sounded false too."
She smiled. Walked over and kissed him. She felt nothing. Ethan slammed the hood of the truck.
"It's done. I'll ride with Dupe. The love birds can ride together."
He didn't look at Lexi at all. His chest was streaked with oil. Lexi hated that she hurt him. Hated that her feelings for Ethan were growing. And her feelings for Evan were slowing disappearing into obscurity.
This wasn't fair to Evan. Dupe and Ethan drove off. They climbed in their truck.
"Look we have to talk." both Evan and Lexi said at the same time.
"We're on the same wavelength then?" Ethan asked.
"I think so." she admitted.
"I don't know if it's coz Ethan is back. But it just doesn't feel right." Evan said. And because what Ethan said ran around in his head. People never get over their first love. She wasn't over Ethan and he wasn't over Grace! He was gonna phone her.
"I agree." she told him. "But it isn't coz he is back. I don't do stuff coz he is around.
"Wake up Lexi. You love him. You never stopped."
"No I don't!"
"Trust me. I know love. You look at him like your mum looked at your dad. You never look at me like that. Which is fine because I never look at you the way he does. You both look like you'd follow each other to the ends of the earth!"
"Well I wouldn't so there!" she said moodily.
A/N the ev/lex relationship is now over. and lexi is still denying her feelings about ethan. poor eth wen he saw her face at his back. aww bless him :/