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"So…" I said awkwardly, looking at Will. He didn't make eye contact. "My CT scan came back clear."
"I know." He sat down on the sofa, whilst I perched on the futon next to him.
"So you got my message?"
"Yes." He didn't say anything more that. It hurt that he didn't reply, but I persevered with conversation.
"So how's Tom?"
"I wouldn't know."
"I thought you were going to pick him up from the airport." I said, awkwardly.
"I was."
"But you didn't?"
"Obviously not. I'm in Derby again, clearing up after you again." He snapped at me. I recoiled like I'd been slapped.
"I'm sorry for what happened." He ignored me. I could feel my eyes welling up. I needed to get out of there.
"I tell you what, I'll go and get us some drinks. I'm sure you're thirsty." I said, scampering past him before my tears fell. Xav and Crystal came back into the room as I did so. If they noticed my expression, they didn't say anything. "What would you two like to drink?" I asked once I was safely shielded from view in the kitchen. "Tea?"
"Yes please." They chorussed from the living room. I put the kettle on to boil, and set about making a pot of tea as slowly as I could, slamming the mugs down on the tray with a little more force than was strictly necessary. I didn't want to go back in there. I couldn't. I felt, rather than heard, someone come up behind me and I froze.
"Are you okay?" I turned to see Crystal stood, looking at me worriedly.
"Yes, I'm fine." I replied, busying myself making tea. "Now, what biscuits would you like?"
"Alexis." She said softly, coming to stand beside me."Come here." She opened her arms to hug me, and I accepted the offer gratefully- I needed a hug right now, even if I was at least a head and a half smaller than her. And then the floodgates opened.
"I didn't mean it." I sobbed quietly into her shoulder. "I didn't know how his gift worked- I thought I was safe." She rubbed my back consolingly.
"I know, sweetheart, I know. He's only mad at you because he was scared that he'd lost you." I sniffled in reply.
"But you know now; that's all that matters." She continued. "You know, and it won't happen again. You'll both be fine."
"I don't know, Crystal. He doesn't seem to care anymore."
"Care? Of course he cares! Why do you think he made me and Xav divert our flight to come to London last night, rather than flying straight to New York? Why do you think he brought Xav here to check you over?"
"I don't know." I whispered, and I didn't. His actions didn't seem to tally with his words at all.
"You two have the strongest soulfinder bond I've ever seen." I looked up at her in disbelief at that.
"Really?" I asked as she unwound her arms from around my shoulders, and used the sleeve of her cardigan to blot away my tears.
"Really. Out of all the couples I've met, even Xav and I, your bond is the strongest- it's magnified tenfold. It's how you're able to sense each other all the time." I thought back to the tingling sensation I'd felt during the convention. No other savants I knew had had a connection to their soulfinder before they'd even met them.
"In fact, with you two, I just had to look at your picture to know you were his soulfinder without a shadow of a doubt. I've never had that before, that absolute certainty. You should have seen how excited he was the night before when I told him he'd meet you- I had to help him pick out his outfit and everything after he'd seen you in the lift. He was desperate to impress you." I let out a watery laugh at that- he had looked especially handsome.
"Now, let's wipe away these tears. You'll both be just fine, you just wait and see." The kettle tinged then, indicating it had boiled. I poured it teapot, grabbing the milk from the fridge and setting it all on the tray.
"I don't know, Crystal. He seems really mad- he can't even stand to look at me at the minute."
"Alexis, I can't see the future, but even I know that you two are going to work this out." I wasn't convinced by that, but I didn't voice my concerns.
"Now, let me take this." She said, picking the tray of drinks up off the counter. "And let's get Xav to check you over. If your CT scan was okay, then I'm sure you're fine and Will's just being over-protective."
"Wait, how did you know my CT scan was fine?" I asked, before we left the kitchen. She had the courtesy to blush at my question.
"Sorry, we didn't actually need the toilet- we were earwigging. Will hadn't been himself on the drive up here, and we needed to work out what was going on before we staged an intervention. Forgive me?" She asked, flashing her impossibly long eyelashes at me.
"Of course." I laughed, following her out of the kitchen. "Thank you, Crystal."
"No worries." She replied, heading towards the lounge. "I think Xav's nearly finished chatting with Will now anyway."
"Chatting?" I asked. We could hear raised voices even from the kitchen.
"Okay, reprimanding might be a better word." She grinned, and I laughed. Sure enough Will was being reprimanded by Xav, and we caught the tail end of their conversation before they realised we were there.
"Stop being such an ass. She's said she's sorry, what more do you want?"
"I told her, Xav. She promised, and she went anyway!" He yelled back.
"She didn't know how your gift worked."
"That doesn't matter: she shouldn't have gone."
"Well, I think she knows that now, don't you? Are you oblivious, or did you not just see your soulfinder running away from you in tears?" We didn't get to hear his answer as Crystal decided to announce his arrival before he could say anything else.
"Tea anyone?" She asked, putting the tray on the coffee table.
Will shook his head, but Xav responded with an enthusiastic "Yes please." Crystal poured, and I stirred in the milk and sugar for everyone, before handing them out. Xav took a sip, before putting it back on the table, and indicating for me to sit next to him.
"Right, Alexis, take a seat here and I'll have a look at you." I looked at the spot on the sofa he pointed to warily. Sitting there meant I would be sandwiched between him and Will.
"Okay." I replied shakily, putting my mug down and sitting down where he asked. I sat carefully, making sure I didn't accidentally touch Will.
"Don't sound so worried!" He said with a laugh. "It doesn't hurt. Plus, I'm actually a medical student now, so I know what I'm doing." I smiled at that, relieved that he thought it was him causing my nerves.
"Where do you study?" I asked once I was seated.
"New York. We were on our way back from Italy after visiting Crystal's family for spring vacation when Will called."
"Yeah, we're skiving at the moment, just don't tell Karla." Crystal chipped in with a wink.
"Skiving?"
"Yeah, classes started back today." He rolled up his sleeves in preparation.
"Oh God, you shouldn't have. I don't want you to miss anything!" I exclaimed. They both shrugged.
"We won't miss much." Crystal replied. "Besides, Will's paying for us to upgrade and fly back first class to say thanks, aren't you Will?" She asked cheekily, winking at me.
"Really?" Xav chirped happily.
"We'll see." He muttered. I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn't dare look at him. I had my body faced directly at Xav and Crystal, and I was determined to keep it that way.
"Right, Alexis." Xav said, getting down to business. "I'll look over you now, starting with your head. It may feel strange, but I assure you, there's nothing to worry about." I nodded, as he closed his eyes and let his hands rest on my head. I felt strange for a few seconds while he concentrated, and then I began to feel better. It was an odd sensation, something I couldn't quite describe.
"They were right, it was just a mild concussion, but you should feel better now." I nodded at him; I did feel better.
"Thanks. My head does feel better." I raised my hand to my head, and he smiled, satisfied with himself.
"Okay, let's have a look at your road rash next. We'll need to take the bandages off first, though." I did as he asked, and watched as the road rash disappeared right before my eyes as a result of his handiwork. I held my arm up to the light when he'd finished, inspecting it carefully.
"But how? I don't, I…"
"Impressive, isn't it?" Crystal said, grinning at her soulfinder's talents. Not wanting to linger next to a stroppy Will for any longer than necessary, I got up from the sofa.
"Thanks Xav." I said, as I began to clear up the now cold mugs of tea.
"You're welcome; anytime."
"Let's hope there's not a next time." I quipped, and he smiled.
"Very true, Alexis." Crystal agreed.
"I'll just go and put these away." I say, taking the tray into the kitchen, before coming back to the lounge. This time I deliberately seated myself away from Will, settling on the futon in between Crystal on the armchair, and Xav's end of the sofa. Will is hidden from my sight, thank goodness. I can't see if he's offended by my change of position- I'm too much of a coward to crane my head and look.
"So what are your plans for the rest of the day?" I asked, directing my question to Xav and Crystal, ignoring Will.
"Well, we're off to Birmingham airport this afternoon to fly back to New York first class, right bro." Xav grinned, nudging Will in the ribs. He grunted in reply.
"Oh, I think we might get champagne, Xav!" Crystal beamed, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
"Any excuse to get pissed, ey?" I said with a laugh. I could do with getting pissed now, and I mean completely off my tits smashed. I didn't know how much longer I could deal with a silently brooding Will- it was so awkward and unnatural.
"Exactly." Crystal agreed. "Except we don't know how to get there." She said with a sigh.
"Yeah, we're both pretty clueless with directions, but we're not as bad as Will. He can't even tell north from south and he's driving!" Xav added.
"We're never gonna get there!" Crystal moaned.
"I could come with you and navigate if you want? I've been there a few times to drop Mum and Dad off." I said without thinking. "It's only about an hour and a half away, and there's a train station at the airport. I could get the train from there to Birmingham, and then get a connecting train back to Derby."
"Really?" Crystal asked. "That would be great if you wouldn't mind. We don't want to put you out."
Shit. I'd just volunteered. Yes, that's right, bloody volunteered to spend time in a confined space with Will! What the hell was wrong with me? Couldn't I keep my great big mouth shut for once? Still, I couldn't say no now!
"No, it wouldn't put me out at all. In fact, I could have a look around the shops in Birmingham while I'm there. It's the least I could do for you both after you've come all this way to help me, and missed class." They both waved off my thanks immediately.
"This is what families do, Alexis; you don't need to thank us." Crystal implored.
"In fact, we should be thanking you- I hate early Monday morning lectures!" Xav added.
"I'll have to run into cars more often than." I joked, grinning broadly. The angry grunt from Will at that remark did not go unnoticed by me, but I chose to ignore it, changing the subject. "So, what time's your flight?"
"Four this afternoon." Crystal said. I looked at my watch; it was half ten now, and it took a little over an hour to get to Birmingham from my flat.
"Gosh, we best get going!" I exclaimed, standing abruptly. "We don't want you to miss it."
"Yes, I suppose we best be off." Crystal said, standing too. "You don't know anywhere nearby to eat do you, Alexis? It's just, we haven't eaten yet today."
"Oh God, you should have said! I could have fixed you something." I was a terrible host; my guests were starving, and I'd only offered them hobnobs!
"No, no. We just want a McDonald's or something, right cupcake?" Crystal nodded in response.
"Yeah, just a little something to tide us over before we get our three course meal in first class." She added with a wink.
"I did not agree to upgrading you both, Crystal." Will says, standing too, his car keys dangling from his hand, as if he couldn't stand to stay in my flat for a minute longer.
"If I remember correctly, Xav- and do tell me if I'm wrong, but Will, I swear you said on the phone that you'd do anything we asked for if we flew to Heathrow and came straight with you to see Alexis."
"I think you're right, cupcake. He did say something very similar to that. In fact, I think those might have been his exact words! You know Crystal, I don't think we're really taking advantage of his offer. I mean, he said anything: we should ask for a mansion, or a Ferrari, not two tiny little upgrades."
"Alright, fine you two, you can have your upgrade. Now, let's get going, or you'll miss it." He turned and left the flat, leaving the three of us stood there. Xav and Crystal high-fived each other enthusiastically in response.
"I knew we'd break him." Xav exclaimed gleefully. I laughed at the pair at them. They were terrible, really, but it was all in good spirit. I grabbed my handbag and keys and followed Will outside with Xav and Crystal trailing behind me. It was set to be a long drive.
It took us about an hour and a half to get to the airport with the roadworks, despite my local knowledge which meant we were able to save some time. I sat in the front next to Will to direct, but he didn't say a word for the entire trip. Thankfully, Xav and Crystal filled the silence with chatter. The pair of them were absolutely hilarious together, and I felt horrendously guilty for ever thinking badly of the Benedict family. Full from the McDonald's we ate en-route we arrived at the airport in time, thankfully managing to negotiate the short-stay car park. The boys grabbed their suitcases from the boot of the car, and wheeled them to the check in desk, with me and Crystal following not far behind.
"How long's the flight?" I asked.
"Long." She groaned. "More than ten hours I expect. We haven't flown from the UK to New York before. Usually we just go straight from Italy to Colorado, and then fly on to New York from there."
"Oh, I see. Where do your family live in Italy?" Will had mentioned her family lived there, but he hadn't said a specific location.
"Venice. So stereotypical, I know." She said with a laugh.
"Wow! That must be so beautiful! I'd love to go to Venice!" I said wistfully, imagining the beautiful gondolas and architecture.
"Well, you're more than welcome to stay with my family if you go. I'd say that I'd show you the sights, but I know a certain someone would be more than eager to romance you there." Her eyes moved slyly to Will. "It's where me and Xav realised we were soulfinders, and it's where my sister, Diamond, married their brother, Trace."
"I don't know, Crystal. I doubt he'll want to see me again."
"Nonesense!" She exclaimed. "Oh, and before I forget." She rifled round in her bag for a moment, before finally producing a pen and a piece of paper, which she jotted something down on before handing it to me. "This is my number. Ring me if you need anything, or if you just want a chat. I'm always here."
"Thanks." I replied gratefully. It would be nice to keep in contact with Crystal- we got on well. And it would be nice to have a friend to talk about Will to fully. Although Rach was always there to talk to, it wasn't the same as talking to another savant who knew the full story. Especially one that wasn't trying to force us together, like Alice. "I'll ring you off my phone later, so then we've got each other's."
"Perfect." She smiled happily. "It's nice to hear a British accent in amongst all the American. And, honestly Alexis- ring me whenever about whatever, okay?" I nodded at her, and promised that I would.
The boys had come to a standstill up ahead, and we hurried to reach them.
"So, this is good bye." Xav said with a sad smile. "Come here, sis!" He opened his arms for a hug from me, and I fell into them, not quite processing the familial term he'd used to identify me. From the corner of my eye, I saw Will and Crystal embrace.
"He's alright really, you know." Xav said softly in my ear. "He's being a dick now, but he'll get over it. He's just shaken that he nearly lost you. He'll come round. And, if he doesn't, you just get hold of me- I'll come and sort him out for you."
"Thanks Xav." I replied. "But I'm really not sure if-"
"He will, don't you worry." He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, before letting me go to give his brother a hug. He whispered something to him too, and I saw Will nod, but I couldn't hear what was said. I embraced Crystal then, wishing them a safe flight, and promising that I'd call her soon.
With that, I watch as Will goes with them to upgrade their boarding passes, and check-in their luggage. I can't leave as I've left my handbag in his car. What a stupid thing to do! He returns to me when they're checked in, and we wave them off, watching them head through the departure gates, before turning to the exit to go back to car. An awkward silence settles between us, but I don't want to be the first to break it this time. Unfortunately, I still have to.
"I'll walk from here." I say to Will, as we leave the airport and wander back into the sunshine.
"I'll drive you."
"Honestly, I can get there myself. I just need to get my bag out of the car."
"I said I'll drive you." His tone left no room for argument, and I followed him meekly.
We climbed into the car in silence, with me simply giving him directions to the train station, even though it was only a two minute drive away and was well signposted. He followed them explicitly, but remained silent. I don't even get a grunt of assent from him. We pulled into the car park soon after. I couldn't stand the silence anymore- I'd rather he were shouting at me than saying nothing at all.
"I'm sorry." I blurted out. "I'm sorry I'm not the soulfinder you were looking for. I'm sorry I ran away for you at the convention, and I'm sorry for not following your instructions about Sam." This time I couldn't hold back the tears. I fumbled with the door handle anxiously, trying to get away from him before he saw how upset I was. I wanted to say more, but I couldn't. I scrambled out quickly, heading into the station without looking back. I guessed this would be the last time I saw Will; he'd got what he came for, I was perfectly healthy now, thanks to Xav. He'd made his feelings towards me very clear in the last few hours. I was sure I'd never see him again. I wiped away my tears frantically. I didn't want a soulfinder, but I didn't want it to end like this.
"Wait, Alexis." I hear him shout, but I keep walking. I couldn't bear to look at him right now. I didn't want my last memory of him to be this. My tears kept falling. I didn't know why I was crying, really; a couple of weeks ago this was what I wanted. I walked faster, planning on ducking in the nearest loos to sort myself out before getting the next available train. I was about to walk into the station when I felt a hand close around my wrist. It's Will.
He pulled me sharply towards him, and I lost my balance, toppling right into his arms. I tried to pull away from him, but he gripped me tighter in response.
"Hey, don't cry, I don't like it." I cry harder, and he stroked my hair soothingly as I draw in raggedy breaths.
"I'm a douche when I'm mad. I didn't mean to upset you; I was just scared. You took ten years off my life yesterday." My head was buried in his t-shirt, my tears soaking through.
"Can you stop crying for me, sweetheart?" He pleaded, pushing me off his chest gently so that he can see my face. He wiped what he could away with his fingertips.
"There. That's better, isn't it?" I nod helplessly, and he smiled.
"Now, don't say you're not what I was looking for in a soulfinder again, do you hear me?" I nodded again, still mute.
"I just want to know if the feeling's mutual. Alexis, I want to meet your family, I want to be a part of your life, but at the moment I just feel like a dirty secret you don't want anyone to know about." That stung, but he was right. I had taken him for granted and made him feel unwanted.
"I'm not asking you to shout my name from the rooftops, but letting people know I exist would be nice. Wouldn't your family want to know you'd found your soulfinder? I mean, I've told everyone I know about you!" Oh yes, yes they did. My mother would not be able to contain herself if she got to meet Will.
"Of course they would." I replied, finally managing to find my voice.
"Well why don't they? Alexis, you give me so many mixed messages, and I don't know how to interpret them!"
"I'm sorry, Will." I sniffled. I was a failure of a soulfinder, no matter what he said to try and make me feel better. "You can meet my family if you want. They'd love to meet you."
"Alexis, it's not if I want, it's if you want." He said, exasperated. "I want you to want to introduce me, not just introduce me because you feel like you have to. This thing we have- it's gotta work both ways. If you aren't sure about us, or you don't want there to be an 'us' then I'd rather you said it." He was right. Again.
"I-" I stopped. What did I want? I hadn't wanted a soulfinder, hadn't wanted to be forced into a relationship. But now… now I wasn't sure. My silence seemed to confirm what he'd feared. His shoulders slumped, and his face fell.
"No, Will, I do want to see if there can be an us."
"You sure about that?" He asked. "You don't sound convinced."
"I am." I argued, but even to my own ears it didn't sound all that confident.
"Right. I'm calling your bluff." He crossed his arms across his chest.
"What?"
"I'm offering you a deal."
"Right..." I hedged, confused by his sudden change of tact.
"I'm giving you a year." I raised my eyebrow at him. "A year to make up your mind. If, at the end of the year you decide that you don't want this then I'll go, you'll never see me again- it'll be like I don't exist. But, if you do decide that you want there to be an us, then you have to marry me." My jaw dropped at that.
"Marry you? Are you mad? Who says things like that?"
"Me. These are my terms: take it or leave it. I don't want to be led along indefinitely while you make up your mind. At least this way, I know I'll get an answer." I remained obstinate.
"And what if I don't agree to your terms?"
"Then I go now." His expression showed that he wasn't joking. I gulped.
"But what if you change your mind? What if I want to marry you, and you want to marry me?"
"Was that a proposal?" He asked cheekily, and I scowled at him.
"Just answer the question, numbnuts."
"I'm not going to change my mind, sweetheart."
"How do you know that?"
"We're soulfinders, Alexis. I don't need to know any more than that." I wished I had his confidence. I liked to get to know someone before I married them, regardless of if we were soulfinders or not.
"You aren't going to change your mind about this, are you?" I huffed. "Honestly, what would you mother say?" I continued, desperate for any other excuse I could think of.
"I'm pretty sure she'd tell me it took me long enough." Drat.
"So this is it?" I asked, still incredulous. "I agree to your terms, or I never see you again."
"Take it or leave it, Alexis." What choice did I have? As much as I hated to admit I'd been wrong before, I did want to give me and Will a shot.
"Okay, fine." I agreed. "I accept your terms."
"Sealed with a kiss?" He asked as he beamed smugly at me.
"Don't push your luck, Benedict." I growled, unhappy that he'd managed to back me into a corner, and got me to voluntarily choose the course of action he'd originally wanted. He held out his hand for me to shake, and I accepted it.
"It's a pleasure doing business with you."
"I would say likewise, but you didn't play fair." He shrugged.
"I never said I did." His phone rang then. He took it out of his pocket, glanced at the caller ID, and put it back after he'd muted it.
"It's Tom. I need to get to London- he's got to go back to the States soon. I haven't seen him yet" Oops. That was my fault.
"I'm sorry about that."
"Don't be. There are more important things than business." I blushed at that. "Do you want me to drive you back?"
"No, I'll be fine taking the train, but thanks."
"You sure?"
"I'm positive. Drive safely, and ring me when you get there."
"I will." He kissed me on the cheek, and headed to his car. "See you soon, sweetheart."
I stood there dazed for a few minutes. What the hell had just happened? Just what had I agreed to? Still, at least Mum would be pleased.
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