Magnet Love

5. Tumbles and Tears

LILY POV:
"I, I erm" I stuttered. Embarrassed by my own shyness, I looked down and attempted to speak again without making myself look even more ridiculous. "That was quite an expression you pulled back there" I spoke softly.
"Well I couldn't keep staring with a blank face for much longer, what's the fun in that?" Alex replied confidently, cocking his head to the side and raising his dark, defined eyebrows.

This was the closest encounter I'd had with Alex yet, and I took the opportunity to study his appearance and mannerisms closely. He was tall, probably at least 6ft3 and towered over me, making me feel small, but somewhat intimidated yet protected in his presence. His green eyes were mesmerising and when he licked his plump lips I caught myself gasping for more air, as if the oxygen surrounding us suddenly became limited.

"Everything okay little one?" He questioned, stroking his long finger down the side of my face, gliding over my porcelain skin, causing me to tremble slightly and suddenly snapping me out of my thoughts, making me blush at the nickname I'd been awarded.

"Yeah fine, I'm just tired. I should probably head off soon anyway, my Dad will be waiting" I lied. As much as I was certainly enjoying the view Alex was providing, I felt very out of my depth and at that moment, wanted nothing more than to escape so I could be alone with my thoughts.

I excused myself from the kitchen and jogged back over to the group around the fire to say goodbye.
"Thanks Ana, I had fun tonight but my Dad is picking me up so I've got to go. Bye everyone!" I called before picking up my bag and leaving through the gate at the side of the house. "Text me Lil" called Maddie as I walked away, knowing that she was still dying to discover which of the boys I was talking about earlier. I saw Alex through the kitchen window, where he lifted his large hand to give me a wave as I left the garden.

I walked quickly down the road, kicking the autumn leaves with my feet and making a conscious effort to stand on the crunchy looking leaves which I could see in the reflection of the moon and the street lamps. I had enjoyed the night, but I got uncomfortable in large social situations like that quickly and wanted nothing less than to have a panic attack surrounded by everyone - plus my mind was racing with the memory of my encounter with Alex in the kitchen.

Just as I turned the corner, I saw headlights beaming behind me, signifying a car slowing down, thus causing my heart to beat twice as fast and my fingers to clench into fists as I became scared. I lied about my Dad picking me up, but I didn't mind walking home alone, although now I was terrified as I knew I was being followed. I refused to turn around through fear of what I would see, and as I heard the car pull to the pavement and stop, I broke out into a run.

Houses blurred as I ran as fast as I could down the street, heart racing and breath panting. Suddenly, I slipped on a pile of leaves that I didn't notice and went crashing down on to the pavement, landing on my shoulder and causing me to cry out with pain.

"Lily, Lily stop!" A voice cried. I turned my head, wincing with the pain as Alex came into view, running towards me before crouching beside my and pulling me towards his warm chest.
"What happened, are you okay? Why were you running?" He questioned, concern evident in his voice.
"I was being followed" I sobbed, "so I ran but slipped"

"Come here, you're okay, I've got you" Alex reassured me, holding my tight before standing up and carrying me in his arms, stroking my hair away from my face and rubbing the tears from my cheeks with the pad of his thumb.
"It was me in the car babe, I saw you leave and wanted to make sure you got to your Dad okay, but then saw you walking home. I was going to offer you a lift but then you ran. I'm sorry I scared you" Alex explained sorrowfully, carrying me back to his car before opening the passenger door and setting me down.

I could see him properly in the light provided by the car. It was a black Range Rover, with a stunning leather interior. Concern was laced in his features and his eyebrows scrunched together as he pulled my jumper down beside my neck, revealing my bloody and bruised shoulder from the fall.

"That looks nasty Lily. Tell me the truth, do you think you could have landed hard enough to break it?" He questioned.
"I, I, I don't know, I don't think so, I mean -" I stopped as I tried to move my arm, stopping almost immediately as I cried out again in pain. I'd never felt such a sharp intense pain like it, but it didn't feel broken, probably just badly bruised.

"Lily you need to get that checked out. I'll take you to the hospital now okay, they will just clean you up and have a look - then we'll know for certain. I can't take you home like that" Alex explained, fastening the seatbelt around my waist before closing the passenger door and jogging round to the drivers side.

"No Alex, my parents are doctors, they'll look when they get home later. I'm sure it looks worse than it feels" I lied. "Honestly I don't want to be any trouble, I just want to get home. Take me home please". The tears began rolling again, I hated all the attention and just wanted my bed.

Alex rubbed the tears from my face yet again and gently pulled me into a hug, with his chin resting on my head.
"Shh, it's okay Lil" he hushed comfortingly "Are your parents not home right now?"
"No, they are both working night shift and my siblings are at my grandmothers. I'll probably be fine after a sleep" I responded, trying to reassure him. I'd been enough trouble for him already and I hated being a bother. My plan to escape the bonfire and avoid attention drastically backfired.

"Please Lily, just let me take you to get checked out and then I'll take you straight home I promise" Alex compromised. "I need to know that you're alright, it's my fault you fell anyway, if I'd called out of the car that it was me in the first place then I wouldn't have terrified you into running. I'm so sorry Lily"

"It's not your fault, Alex please don't blame yourself. We can go to the hospital if it will make you feel better, but I don't want to bother you anymore, you've helped me enough already" I replied, providing a watery smile as I looked up to his worried eyes.

Alex smiled back and broke my gaze as he revved the engine and pulled away from the pavement "Come on little one, let's get you fixed up"