11 o'clock The Next Day.
Danny had rang Alice. Told her about Lexi's rough night. She slept fitfully. She woke frequently either feeling like she was gonna be sick or actually being sick. Danny asked her to bring him a spare shirt. He'd got a tiny bit on the arm and Lexi acted like the world was coming to an end. Apologising, berating herself like it was her fault. That was a million times worse to him. He'd also asked them to come a little later as Lexi had finally settled at 7 o'clock this morning. And she had slept for the whole 4 hours with no interruptions. Until now. Danny held the kidney dish while she spat water in it.
"Say it and I'll have you Lexi!" he warned.
"But."
"Alexis." he warned.
She smiled a little. "No 'S' word then?"
He shook his head.
"Ok then I apologise!" she grinned triumphantly.
"You sneaky thing!" he replied with an answering grin.
Ethan Alice Mrs Elliott and Josh down the corridor towards her room. Danny narrowed his eyes at Josh but then calmed himself for Lexi's sake. Danny handed Lexi her water. "Feel better?" he asked.
She half smiled at him. "No."
She lay back onto her pillows. "Visitors time."
Her mum Ethan and Mrs Elliott waved through the window.
"Ugh." she said. She was feeling a little depressed today. Apparently a side effect of the medicine she was taking.
They trooped into her room.
Alice walked straight into Danny's arms. He kissed her softly.
"Bad night?" she whispered.
"Unbelievable!" he replied in a soft voice.
Danny walked over an hugged Lexi. She sat up and wrapped her arms around him.
"I'm gonna head home baby. I'll see you tonight. You want me to bring anything?"
"Um yeah, can you bring me paper and a pen and envelopes. Gonna write to my friends back home. They'll be dying to know about all the good looking boys."
Danny raised his eyebrows,
"Not that I noticed of course." she said seriously.
"Oh of course!" he replied grinning.
"See ya baby." he blew her a kiss.
"Kay dad, love you." Danny left the room.
Josh's jaw dropped.
Lexi's eyes narrowed at his face. "Not one word!" she said angrily. "Where were you last night huh? Some father! He loves me more that you ever could!"
"Not true Lexi!"
Her temper exploded. "Don't lie to me!" she flung her cup across the room.
Uncontrollable emotions. Mood swings. Another side effect.
Lexi flung herself back onto her bed and covered her face. "Leave me alone!" she said her voice shook.
"Lexi." Alice started.
"I wanna be alone!" she yelled.
"C'mon." Mrs Elliott said softly. "We need to talk to the doctor anyway."
Lexi exhaled noisily.
Alice took them to Lex's primary physician and returned to her daughter. She hadn't moved. Sat down beside her. Hands still over her eyes.
"Bad night Lex?"
"The worst!" she mumbled. "Tell Danny to leave me. He doesn't have to be here. I don't wanna be a burden on him."
"Your not a burden sweetie you're his daughter,"
Tears feel. "I'm so mixed up mum. I feel controllably angry then a second later I feel this ocean of depression fall over me, it's so deep and dark I feel like I'm drowning. And I just wanna scream and bawl and cry. Just sob and never stop!" she wiped her eyes.
"It's understandable honey. It's bad enough being ill. But your 15 and full of hormones." Lexi's face turned pensive.
"Everyone is getting their blood taken. Getting tested for you. They'll be back soon.. No one expects you to put on a act. Feel how you do. Don't bottle it up."
Lexi nodded. Her mum stroked her face. "What else is wrong honey. I can see it in your eyes."
Lexi sat up went in her drawer and pulled out her brush. Alice saw clumps of blond hair. It wasn't noticeable on her head yet, but there was definitely more hair than normal in the brush.
"I thought I'd have my hair a week or something. Nope killed it straight away!" she slammed her brush down on the tray above her bed. Closed her eyes. More tears leaked. She sniffed.
"Lexi we don't care!" Alice told her.
"I care mum. I shouldn't but I do!" more tears escaped. "I can't see Ethan like this mum! Make him stay away!"
"He won't care sweetie."
"Mum I care!" she repeated. "I love him!"
"Baby if he loves you back he won't care how you look!"
"That's what I'm scared of. What if I'm repulsive to him!" she sobbed.
"Is that's what the matter sweetie?"
She nodded softly.
"He won't see any difference. I swear. He cares about you because your you. Not the blond hair!" Alice told her. "C'mere." she went in Lexi's bag and pulled out a pink square of fabric. "The nurse showed me how to do this with my mum and your nana. I'm a dab hand." Alice expertly wrapped the cloth around Lexi's head tightly so no hair, or lack of it was visible. "I'll show your dad how to do it too incase it loosens when your asleep.
"Thanks mum." she said softly.
The 3 people returned from the doctor. Ethan looked decidedly pale.
"Go they are vamps aren't they!" Mrs Elliott declared.
"Hey Lex I think that doc likes you! He definitely took more blood from me than them! Warning me off I think! Your well in there! I feel about a stone lighter. Freaking bled me dry he did!" he grinned at her.
"A shaddap ya bam pot yae!" Mrs Elliott told him.
The 3 woman smiled.
"He is in a pelter like nana!" Lexi piped up.
"You've been talking to Shauna!" Mrs Elliott said.
"Of course. She gave me loads of insults! Lets mess wi them!" Lexi said playfully.
"Too right!" Mrs Elliott said evilly.
"Hey Eth you ever looked at a tog man before?" Lexi asked seriously.
"LEXI!" Alice gasped with a smile.
"I'll take that Lexi as me saying no eh?"
"That would be best Ethan." Alice said.
Josh was completely excluded from the conversation. "Can someone translate what's being said?" he asked.
"No." Mrs Elliott said. "Ethan doesn't know and it isn't bothering him! This isn't about you!" she said coldly.
"Well if I'm not being included then I'm leaving." he looked at Lexi pointedly.
"Don't le the door hit you on the way out then! Bye bye!" she said meanly. "O and you can toddle back off to Bristol too."
Josh stormed out angrily.
"Lex you shouldn't have said that!" Alice told her.
"I should have. I heard what happened. I heard you telling dad. He's a freaking snake and if I was well I'd kick his ass!"
"Lex what if he matches you?" Ethan asked.
"I don't want his bone marrow. Probably full of poison like the rest of him! It's bad enough I share DNA with him. Now I gotta let my family be terrorised. He can go to hell I'd rather die!" she said stubbornly.
"But Lex…" Alice started.
"I don't wanna talk about this. I've made my decision!"
"Hey Lex I brought a present for you!" Ethan said changing the subject. "I couldn't sleep so I spent last night making it. I didn't think I'd get it done till tonight but I really wasn't tired soooo.." he handed Lexi a folded piece of card and a envelope. She unfolded the card. It was pictures. With all of her friends and family. Smiling happily. There were mum and dad. Ethan and her. Shauna Missy James and the twins. Her nana and Brian. Even Daniels scan picture. She then spotted Shay Jessie Laura and Dawn. She smiled and stood it on her night stand. She then opened the envelope. A cassette was inside. He handed her a walkman. "Built in speakers or here's the headphones."
She shook her head and pressed play. There was silence for a moment then,
Hey there Lex Auntie Shaun's here.
And James! Was shouted in the background.
Yeah and him too I suppose.
Don't forget Cathy and Charlie! Came another yell.
James! she yelled. I will hurt you! She warned.
They heard an answering chuckle.
Everyone in the room was smiling widely.
God I could kill him sometimes! Anyway back to the reason for my call. Ethan rang me asked me to leave you a message on his voicemail. So I'm just messaging you to tell you to hurry up and get well soon kiddo. C'mon lets face it your mum and dad are gonna need all the help they can get with Dee Jay. If he's anything like your dad. And they are getting old too! He's not there is he? she asked laughing. Wait a minute your mum will be there too. I'll just be quiet now or no doubt I'll come and visit and leave with bright pink hair or something! No actually that would be Missy wouldn't it Alice your alot more devious than that! She said laughing. I'm sorry for getting off subject anyway me and James love you and the twins too and we both know you'll be just fine. Your far too much like your mum to let this keep you down. Hugs and kisses from all of us.
A high pitched wail came from the bedroom. That's Charlie Alice. Her dad has probably dressed her in some seriously dodgy clothes. She's a fashionata already! I'll phone you later Alice ok. Love you all Mwah!
Lexi was chuckling happily. The next one started.
Hey Lexi Marie Miss here. Your mum told me you were ill.
God Missy was the only one who called her Lexi Marie. Did her brain in. which is why she did it!
Ethan left me a message on my voicemail to leave you a message on his voicemail. Does that make your head hurt? It makes mine hurt! I mean messages to leave messages that is just annoying ETHAN! They heard the humour in her voice. Anyway here it is. Ethan I am leaving a message. Ok I'm done…click….Only joking bet I had you on. Leaving you a crap message like that. Nope that is not Missy. I need to leave a least a couple lines of insaneness on. Actually no that is Shauna's job isn't it. See me I'm completely sane. Or I was till I met your mother. Insanity is contagious. I wish you all luck!
Hey! I caught it off you!" Alice yelled. The laughed out loud. See what happens I hear her voice and I'm off!
But seriously chick I hope you get better real soon. All you need to do is show that old Collins spirit, well I suppose it's Trevanion now huh? Hmmmm.
There was silence for a moment like she was deep in thought.
Yeah well anyways set your mind to it like your mum used to and you'll kick ass! Your much tougher than your mum was back then. Her and your father with their disgusting displays of affection Yuck! And yes Alice I know you are listening so there you can't do anything coz I'm the phone na na na na!
"Oh God she has seriously snapped she sounds about 5!" Alice muttered grinning.
"And Miz Collins remember our deal at 12, if I jumped out of your bedroom window you'd name your first born son after me. I did it so PAY UP! Well I didn't exactly jump. I had a little help from someone's hand!"
Missy Paused. "God I forgot that! And I didn't push you that was an accident" Alice said in horror
I knew you'd forget! Missy declared laughing.
"Everyone in the room laughed.
"I could always read you like a book Miz Collins! I've gotta be off now anyway but remember Lex, Collins spirit, never steered your mother wrong! Did her no harm either. Get well sweetie and I'll see you soon. Love you!
(X)
The next messages were ones from her friends the same old get well soon we miss you stuff. Couldn't hold a candle to the ones that really mattered though. She looked at Ethan as they finished.
Ethan quickly spoke. "I'm sorry if it sounds crackly or rubbish, I used a handheld recorder. And the messages were off my phone so I'm sorry if it was crap."
"Aw Ethan thank you so much. It means a lot that you thought to do this for me. Your really sweet."
He looked embarrassed so she quickly changed the subject. "Hey mum, Melissa Daniel. Has a lovely ring to it! I think it'll suit him!"
Alice face turned playful. "Well I didn't expect her to do it! My mum was having her insulation redone or something. And there was a skip in the back yard full of foamy stuff. I started carrying on saying there was no way they would jump from my window into it. Shauna was like your right there is NO way she'd do it but Missy being Missy was like I will! She never could refuse a bet. We made our terms and then she started to climb out of my window. I was shouting at her not to do it i then tried to grab her, in my haste she sorta fell from my window."
"Admit it you pushed her didn't you!" Lexi declared.
Alice grinned. "Well I went to grab her and I had a handful of her jacket which was open so she sorta fell out of her jacket. She went down and her jacket stayed in my hand! I swear I nearly died. She was just lying there I thought I'd killed her and of course Shauna was screaming saying I was going to prison for murder!" Alice chuckled at the memory.
"We ran downstairs and Shauna was talking about disposing of the body and then Missy piped up you better not! God they were good times. The only thing that was actually wrong with her was that she broke her arm landing awkwardly."
"So that's how she broke her arm when she was 12! Shauna gave me some crap about her tripping up a kerb! God how one or all of you didn't kill yourselves is beyond me!" Mrs Elliott declared. "You know as soon as Missy's cast was off they were at it again. Oh not out of windows this time mind. Me and Steve were driving in the car and we were passing a steep hill. And I mean steep it was practically a 180 drop! And I saw the 3 of them in a babies bath. How the three crammed themselves in it is absolutely beyond me. Suddenly the three of them were speeding down the hill screaming their heads off. Except for Alice who was laughing insanely. I told Steve to stop the car and as we did the bath hit a rock. All 3 girls went airborne. Alice landed on her face. Shauna her back and Missy rolled in the grass. The only sound was laughing. Then Alice's head appears from this long grass. She stands up all mud streaked grabs the bath and declares that they should do it again!" Mrs Elliott shook her head.
Lexi smiled sadly. "I bet you had fun huh?"
"Yeah we did." Alice said smiling at the memory. "And mum I'll admit that one was my idea!"
"I had guessed. I seriously thought it was your job to send me and your mum prematurely grey!"
"Who do you think gave me the idea hmmmm? My mum told me a little story."
"I'll shut up now!" Mrs Elliott said smiling.
"About a young Charlotte and Catherine flying down that same hill on what was it? Ah yes a car door!"
"I'm innocent!" Mrs Elliott declared.
Everyone laughed. Lexi was blinking tiredly but wanted to carry on this conversation was so nice and everyone was happy.
"You get some sleep Lexi." Alice said at her daughters tired face.
"Soon." Lexi replied.
"Mum why don't you and nana go and get some coffee from the café or something. Ethan will stay he doesn't mind!" Lexi said eagerly.
Alice looked at her and smiled. She nodded. Her mum and Alice left the room.
Ethan pulled his chair closer. "How have you been?" he asked softly holding her hand.
"Ill, this is hard Ethan." she admitted.
"I wish I could do this for you, I would you know!"
She smiled. "I know. Thank you for my pictures and the messages."
"I couldn't sleep, I missed you so much. We don't even stay in the same room but I couldn't feel your presence." he touched her face. "If I could I'd kiss you but we got warned that your immune system will already be weakened. We get told to wash our hands all the time. So I will have to be creative about what I can do as a replacement for kissing you. I'm working on it but all suggestions are greatly appreciated! I'll find something because I love you….." an idea came to him.
"I couldn't sleep for other reasons. My poor dad!" she said sadly.
"Go to sleep now then honey. I'll stay I promise. He longed to press a kiss to her lips. Her hand, her head. Anywhere! But he couldn't. He dropped her hand as he had a feeling. He winked and started chatting.
"I was talking on the phone with your dad last night, he wants me to train to box. He thinks I'd be a natural. He went to this gym and another kid was training there. Natural talent eh? Thing is I'd probably be good at something like that huh? Your dada is taking me down in a few days time!" he looked over as the door opened.
"Got to the café and forgot my purse, you two want anything brought back?" Alice said shiftily.
"No thanks." they said together. Alice left again.
Ethan grabbed her hand again and held it tightly. "Sleep baby. Love you." Lexi closed her eyes.
(X)
Alice returned to Lexi's room. She needed her purse. She looked though the window and stopped. Ethan had one of Lexi's hands in both of his. They were looking at each other. He hadn't noticed her. He removed one of his hands from Lexi's and touched her cheek softly. Alice welled up. The pure emotion in that room touched her heart. It was like a physical thing. You could literally feel it through the window. She moved away and gave them 5 minutes. Then she knocked and entered the room. When she walked in the room the room was still heavy with feeling but Lexi and Ethan weren't holding hands or even touching. Just sitting talking about how Danny wanted to take Ethan boxing. She mumbled her purse excuse then left them. When Lexi was better she and Danny were gonna have to talk to the kids about this. But at the moment they had far more worrying things to think about!
A/N aw lexi it is getting worse. poor thing. ireally shudn't torture her :(
the baby bath and car door story is actually true. my mum told me that she an her sis went down a steep hill on a car door so me and my friends went down in a bby bath and i landed on my face lmao it was soooo much fun! then we went down again and i seriously sprained my ankle so we didn't do that again, well not much haha x
leave me your thoughts please x