41:

As evening approached, we left the Benedict family home to go to Yves and Phee's, after promising Saul and Karla that we'd be back soon.

Trace, Diamond & Delilah and Uriel and Tess were staying there, whilst Sky and Zed were staying with Sky's parents. Everyone else was staying at Yves and Phee's. When I asked why they didn't want to stay in the main house, Crystal had a very simple answer.

"Although Xav and I are nearly 22, Karla still doesn't let us share a room." She explained. "At Yves and Phee's we can."

"She doesn't like to broadcast it, Alexis, but what she means is that she's a sex pest."

"That's not true!" Crystal cried indignantly. "And if you're not careful you won't be getting any." We all laughed as Xav pouted.

Xav and Crystal came in our car, and we followed the others down to Yves and Phee's house. Although spacious and modern, it was both cosy and homely, with many cute pictures of the pair of them dotted around, and plenty of books. I didn't know why Phee wanted to work at the library- she already lived in one! I'd never seen so many full bookcases!

"So," Sky began "what are we doing for the next few days." Everyone bar Will was free for the week. At the minute, the water in the river was low, so the family's white water rafting business would be starting up next week, once the levels were higher. Everyone looked to me and Alice, to see what we were thinking of doing during our time here.

"I'd like to see Denver a bit more."

"And I'd like to go white water rafting if possible." Alice chipped in.

"It's going to rain on Wednesday night." Zed pointed out. I could see him searching for the future weather in his mind. "So we could go on Thursday?"

Alice nodded happily at this suggestion. She'd googled flights while she was with Crystal, and had found a suitable one on Friday morning.

"Sounds perfect." I smiled.

"I was going to take Alexis and Alice hiking tomorrow and show them Wrickenwridge if any of you wanted to come?" Will offered.

"I'm up for it." Phee smiled, and Yves nodded his assent.

"We're out visiting a gallery with my parents." Sky explained, rolling her eyes. Her and Zed looked absolutely thrilled at the prospect. "But we're up for the other days."

Xav and Crystal decided they would come along too.

"You can see all Wrickenridge has to offer." Xav grinned.

"Which isn't very much." Zed butted in. Sky nudged him.

"There are definitely worse places to live, Zed." She pointed out.

After finalising our plans, Alice and I headed to bed while the others chatted, having still not quite adjusted to the time zone. Will was on the phone to his PA, who had forgotten he was off tomorrow, even though he'd said he wouldn't be a week ago, so she was now frantically trying to re- arrange everything tonight.

"She's been getting confused all week." He exclaimed, running a hand over his face in frustration. "I don't know what's wrong- she's never normally like this. She's never got my appointments wrong before, yet for the past two weeks she's got them wrong every day." Not wanting to distract him, I headed to bed alone and was fast asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Monday was hot and sunny- the perfect day for what Will had planned. We made a picnic and walked along a little- known trail until we hit a lake, where we paddled. Xav was even brave (or stupid) enough to go for a swim in his boxers to everyone's amusement. We stopped off at the local burger joint in town for tea before we headed back to Denver.

The next couple of days were spent in Denver, trying to pack in all the tourist attractions. The other couples arrived at around 10am, and stayed the night so we could get two days' worth of sightseeing in. We visited the botanic gardens, and the art museum on Tuesday, and spent the second day at Elitch Gardens- a water park, where we went on all the rides

I was falling more in love with Colorado every minute. Derby paled greatly in comparison to this vibrant city, and the beautiful landscape that lay just beyond its borders. Will couldn't get Thursday off work to come white water rafting, so Alice and I were getting the train back from Wrickenridge to Denver, which we were both (sadly) very excited about. Dad was obsessed with trains, so as a family we had spent many hours on board. The prospect, therefore, of an American train was really quite exhilarating.

Exhilarating though the train ride was, it didn't quite have the same adrenalin rush as white water rafting. I was unprepared for the surge of adrenalin that came as the water churned and buffeted our boat, the way you had to work as a team to stay in it, and how you had to cling on for dear life. We'd spent the whole day in the water, and already I wanted to go back and do it all over again.

Alice's flight was leaving tomorrow, so I spent the rest of Thursday helping her wash all her clothes and re-pack. I could tell she was really nervous, but Will did a great job of calming her down.

"Alice, I managed to win your sister over. If I can do that, the impossible can definitely be made possible." I punched him in the arm for that and they both laughed.

We dropped her off at the airport, and she promised to keep us updated on what she was getting up to. I was really excited to get to meet my new brother- in- law.

Over the weekend, Will took me round Denver, taking me to his favourite parks and eateries. I ate far too many hot dogs and had way too much ice cream, but I decided I'd go for a run on Sunday evening to ease my guilt.

Will helped me plan a short, simple route using google maps. Although Denver had a grid layout like many American cities, it was still easy to get lost.

"Are you sure you don't want me to just come with you?" He asked after he'd been through the route for the third time and I still hadn't quite got it.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." I promised, tying my laces. "It's right at the top of the road, right by the pizzeria, and then right again at the top of your road."

"More or less." He agreed. I'd obviously not got it quite right- I could tell by the look on his face, but I was close enough.

"If I'm stuck I'll google map it. I've got your address." I kissed him quickly, and headed to the door, taking his spare key in my pocket with me in case.

"Stay safe- remember we drive on the right, so be careful when you cross the road!"

"I will be!" I promised, heading through the door.

"Okay, love you." My feet faltered on the door mat as the front door closed behind me. Had he meant to say that? Or had he just meant to take care. I moved forward down the steps, my body numb. If you'd have told me at the convention, that a few months down the line this would be my life I'd have ran screaming, but now… now I couldn't be happier. If this was what love felt like, I was addicted. Smiling happily to myself, I skipped down the steps into the foyer. Slipping my headphones in, I prepared to start off as I exited the building, but as I did I bumped into a familiar face, Will's PA Pam. She looked rather red- faced and flustered. Her hair was askew, and her make- up smudged, she looked quite different to the PA I'd met in London.

"Hi!" I called, pulling out my headphones to greet her properly.

"Oh, Alexis! How are you?" She smiled.

"Fine, thanks. Yourself?"

"I've been better." She admitted. "I'm just here to get Will's signature on a few documents. They're too heavy for me to carry, so I'm just going to see if he'll come down to help me bring them up."

"Well, I can give you a hand if you'd like?" I offered. It seemed pointless for Will to come down and back up when I was already here.

"Would you? Oh, that's so very, very kind of you." She had a strange gleam in her eye. I didn't quite understand why- I was only carrying some folders for her.

"It's not a problem. Where are these files?"

"They're just in the back of my van." She smiled.

"You must have a few if you've got a van for them!" I laughed. She laughed too, but the smile didn't quite meet her eyes.

"My car broke down the other day, so I'm just borrowing my son's vehicle." She said quickly, but I wasn't sure I'd believed her. I could see what Will meant when he said Pam was behaving oddly- she seemed very different to the Pam I'd met in London when I went to visit Will.

"So, how many files have you got?" I asked, as I followed her down into the underground parking area.

"A couple of boxes." She clicked her key fob, and the van ahead of us flashed its lights. She pulled the back door open. "They're just at the back there." She pointed into the darkness. "If you could just climb in and pass them out to me." I was beginning to feel uneasy.

"Pam are you-" but I didn't get to finish my sentence. I felt something smash into the back of my head, and then I saw nothing but black.

Xxx

Review? If we hit 525 I'll upload the next chapter. Otherwise, it'll be up on Friday.