It’s strange how such an event in a person’s life can affect them the next morning. Lexi wasn’t entirely sure if she’d been blinking all night or sleeping in small increments when the sun rose. As the light peeked in through the blinds, she turned herself slowly and placed her feet on the ground, absently noting that she had remembered to kick her shoes off the night before.
Her hair was a mess. The spiking wax she used caused her hair to stand on ends all over her head. She was still wearing yesterday’s clothes, but what did it matter? She wasn’t going to school. Or to her new job. She’d be at home all day anyways.
Slowly she turned around back towards the bed. After a moment’s thought, she began pulling off the sheets and piling them into the floor. Once the mattress was bare she picked up the pile of linens and headed down the hall.
“Where are you going?”
The sound of his voice, though calm, made her jump. She didn’t turn to face him as she replied. “To wash these. Before we pack them.”
Lexi assumed as he walked away towards the kitchen that her answer sufficed. After she’d stuffed her sheets into the wash, she pulled out her phone. The battery was almost dead because she’d forgotten to plug it in the night before, but she had enough to send a text. Some stuff happened at Warren’s job. We have to move tonight. Farewell dinner at 6 at my place. She sent the message to the girls without looking back. If she read over it she’d have started thinking too hard again.
She’d just slipped her phone back into her pocket when it buzzed with a response. Moving? Now? Why? What happened? It was Celia. She knew before checking the name. The message following was Allie just as she’d finished reading. What do you mean moving? You aren’t going anywhere! The message ended with a few obscenities but Lexi knew what she meant by them.
Lexi sent the two of them the same message. I can’t really get into why. But I really want to see you tonight. She sat on her bare mattress and plugged the cord into her phone just as she got a message from each of them again. They’d be there. No doubt about it.
“Lexi.” Warren leaned in the doorway. “I made breakfast. You should eat.” He was acting as if nothing had happened. His eyes were the same green they’d always been. His smile was warm again. He was the same Warren she’d known for thirteen years.
“Okay.” Her voice was still soft, slightly scared that anything she did would bring back the man from last night.
He laughed lightly as he walked over to her and ruffled her already messy hair. “That bed head is something else.” She couldn’t help but flinch slightly under his hand. “Hey I’m not going to do anything. Calm down.” His hand moved to the bruise along her cheek. “I shouldn’t have hit you so hard.” His palm was like a soothing icepack against her wound. Slowly her face warmed up under his hand until he smiled brightly down at her. “There. All better, right?”
Lexi reached up slowly and touched her cheek. It was as smooth as it was the morning before. Her lip was healed as well. “Thank you.”
“No problem, kid.” The smile on his face never faded. He just held out his arms to her and waved her toward him. “Do I get a hug in return?”
It was like a habitual reaction but she fell into his arms. Despite the fact that the taller man was the reason for all of her pain the night before, she couldn’t get past the idea that he was her first comfort in life. His arms were still as welcoming as when she was four-years-old.
He rubbed her back softly. “We aren’t leaving tonight after all.”
She looked up at him suddenly, blue eyes studying him for some sign of a lie. “We aren’t? We’re staying here?”
