The connection - New beginnings

Chapter thirty one - Honesty is the best policy

Chase

I'd broken the speed limit driving over to Jules's house. Alex had called me almost fifteen minutes ago asking me to pick her up, something was up. She sounded upset on the phone and I just wanted to get to her as soon as possible. I turned onto the driveway and could see her sat on the front steps clutching her overnight bag. She'd been crying.

I pulled up and raced out of the car towards her, she had already got to her feet and threw herself in my arms as she sobbed. Her whole body shaking.

"Shhhh...baby what's happened, are you okay. Did something happen?" Words tumbled out of my mouth as I tried to comfort her. My attention fell to an upstairs window where I could see Nate watching our exchange with a grave expression. What the fuck had happened.

"Lex baby let's get you in the car you're freezing out here" I ushered her towards the passenger door.

"I'm so sorry Chase, I'm so sorry" she continued to sob over and over as I held her against me trying to sooth her hysteria. I finally managed to get her in the car and I quickly jumped in and drove us away. Whatever had happened, I could tell she didn't want to be here right now so I drove heading back towards her house.

"No...I don't want to go home yet. My mum will worry if I turn up in the middle of the night, or morning or whatever time it is" she sounded desperate.

"Okay, we'll just drive around for a bit" I offered as I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"I want to go to the creek" she spoke matter of factly.

"Alex no. I don't think going there is a good idea" what was she thinking, the last time she was there was when Mike took her.

"Exactly Chase. I don't want him to ruin all of my good memories, he's messed me up enough without taking away our place. The creek has always meant so much to me since you took me there, I always felt like I was somehow closer to you when I was there..even when we weren't together" she sighed 

Of course she'd be in my head, I knew she was talking sense. I felt it too when I was there, if was like having her next to me even when she wasn't. Whatever had happened tonight made her want to be closer to me and that wasn't something I was willing to deny her.

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We turned onto the familiar road and pulled into the clearing. I shut off the engine and looked over at her in silence. We hadn't spoke for the remainder of the journey and I was very aware that she wasn't letting me hear her thoughts. I wouldn't press her on the matter though, she'd been through too much for me to question why she might want some privacy. I just couldn't help but feel something bad was about to happen in the pit of my stomach.

"Let's go for a walk" she spoke softly as she opened the door and got out the car, she looked back at me with eyes full of sadness as she began the walk down the path towards the creek. I followed behind her wordlessly as we walked out near the water.

"Lex what's happened, I know you. Something is wrong?" I asked worriedly as I stopped a few feet behind her.

"I....made a mistake..." she didn't turn around as she spoke 

"What do you mean, by going to the sleepover?"

"Yes...no...I made a mistake...with Nate" she slowly turned around to meet my gaze. I felt my body tense as the blood drained from my face. I stood frozen just staring at her, not understanding what she was trying to tell me.

"Did something happen between the two of you?" I almost choked on the words as I asked them. She shook her head and I felt momentarily relief before I noticed the silent tears roll down her cheeks.