Take In

Chapter 10:

Nico's P.O.V:

Once everyone was ready to leave the store that we were all sitting in front of we packed up our belongings and threw away any trash that we might have had before we began the short journey back home. As we were walking home I took a quick glance at everyone to see how they were all holding up. First I looked over to see how Dakota and Jackson were holding up. Jackson was supporting some of Dakota's weight so that he didn't have to put all of his weight on his injuries. I also noticed that they were talking quietly between themselves.

Next I turned my attention onto Alex and Ezra. Ezra has his left arm wrapped around Alex's shoulders unwillingly as she was helping him walk. I take a closer look at Ezra's state and notice that he seems to be in deep thought about something. I made a mental note to ask him about it later tonight when we were alone. I then take a closer look at Alex. Something is off, and I can't tell what it is. What appears to be even weirder is the fact that her entire face is void of any and all emotions. What exactly did happen before we showed up just a handful of hours ago?

"How is everyone holding up? Do we need to stop for a few minutes for you to catch your breath?" I called out to no one in particular.

"No, I think that we're all good. Thank you for the offer though." Alex called back after confirming with the others.

"Alright, but call out if any of you need to stop for a breather." I said before we continued our way back home.

The longer that we walked the more I noticed just how strange Alex's mood was, and I think that Ezra began to catch on to her as well. The longer that we walked, the more I continued trying not to say anything about it out loud so as to not embarrass her or make any of the others worry. Once we had finally arrived back home and got everyone inside of the house Alex began to clean and wrap everyone's injuries if they had any. When she got to me I sat down on a chair in the far corner a few feet away from the others so that I could talk to her a little more privately. Alex grabbed the things that she was going to need and walked over to me and sat down on the table to the left of me.

"Alex..." I started off still not sure how to start this conversation without it upsetting her in any way.

"What's up Nico? What is it that you have been wanting to ask me for the last hour?" Alex suddenly asked me, catching me off guard with the fact that she had noticed.

"H-how did you know-?" I stuttered.

"I could just tell by the way you had been trying so hard not to look at me while we were walking here." She replied.

"Oh. Well... I couldn't help but notice that there had seemed to something on your mind the entire way back when we left the convenience store. It made me want to ask you about it, but I don't know of a good way to ask or bring it up with you. I didn't know how you would have ended up reacting, so I was trying to wait until we were home and not surrounded by all of the other guys to ask you." I explained.

"Oh, well I was wanting to talk to you about something as well as ask you a few questions. It most likely has to do with what you have been wanting to ask me anyway. So how about I finish patching you up, and then we can go somewhere that is less active and talk. Is that okay?" Alex asked me while she was beginning to put on a clean pair of gloves before she began to treat my wounds.

"Okay. Do you want Ezra to be there as well, or do you just want it to be me that you talk to for now?" I asked her.

"Just you for now. I don't want to worry Ezra at the same time I might be worrying you. I think it would be best to talk to both of you, but I think that it would be better for everyone if I talk to you both individually." Alex said and began to tend to the deep gash on my arm.

After a few more minutes had passed by, Alex was telling me that she was done. She got up and collected all of the extra medical supplies that used and threw them in the trash. Then she washed her hands, and once she was done she picked up all of the stuff that she didn't use or open and put the back in the bag that she had gotten from the store so that they can be used later if necessary. Finally, she walked up to me and announced to the others that the two of us were going to go upstairs for a while to talk about a couple of things, and asked for them to not interrupt. When that was all over we walked up the stairs and into my room so that we could have our discussion. Once she sat down and got in a comfortable position she spoke up.

"So... Where would you like for me to start?" Alex asked.

"Anywhere you feel comfortable. Although, I think that starting from the beginning would be the best idea." I told her.

"Okay... So here is what happened..." And with that, she began to tell me everything that had happened.

Word count: 971