Who Says |.l.t.|

~Chapter 8~

Lexi’s POV.

I absently brushed my fingertips over the faded bruising on my left shoulder; remembering subconsciously that horrible, painful incident.

It was midnight. I had a bag packed, with everything I needed from clothes to food to money to a cell phone. With a new sim, obviously. I made my way downstairs, so quietly I couldn’t have disturbed a spider.

But I didn’t bank on the burglar alarm sounding.

Seconds after it was set off, I heard movement in my parent’s bedroom; dad was awake and on the move. Instinctively, I bolted for the back door, as it was the easiest way out. I sprinted for the garden fence; once I was past that, I knew I was safe.

But I didn’t make it.

As I was sat atop of the fence, manoeuvring myself to get down the other side, Dad grabbed a hold of my ankle and tugged. I toppled back over the way I came, and landed with a sickening crunch on the brick flowerbed fencing. I yowled in pain, my eyes squeezed shut, so I didn’t see dad’s foot swing itself towards my hurting shoulder. The pain was instant and constant; I couldn’t breathe, move, see, hear or feel anything. Eventually, I felt myself being lifted out of the flowerbed, and moved to the living room couch. Someone grabbed my hand roughly and gave a flick. I screamed in pain, but my shoulder (which had dislocated itself in the fall) went back into place.

“A bruise for a memoir.” Dad hissed, before stomping back upstairs and slamming the door.

I was on that couch for three days; not eating, not drinking, only getting up to use the bathroom twice. Eventually, it half healed, but with a lump and a strong, colourful bruise.

I think I’d badly healed a fracture in it, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was making sure no one, absolutely no one, found out- because otherwise I’d be a charity case.

I sighed, knowing I had to go in sometime. I counted to three in my head, and quietly opened the door and stepped inside.

Louis’ POV.

How in the name of Satan’s turd did Lexi have a winter season pair of Toms?

Despite being on a ‘romantic’ date with Gemma, the Toms were all I could think about. They weren’t new either, or they’d been badly cared for. The sole edges were all faded, as if someone had scuffed them away.

Man, you’d never catch me doing that to any of my shoes, I promise you.

After dropping Gemma off at her house and kissing her goodbye, I wandered aimlessly in the direction of my house. Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me, and something tapped me on my shoulder. “Excuse me?” a voice asked, politely. I whipped round, backing up in case it was a mugger, but instead came face to face with a small, curly hair boy. Who looked very nervous.

“Hi, um.. Sorry to bother you, but you appear to have my shoes.” He said, pointing at the Toms I had. I narrowed my eyes at him. “Yours? I thought they were my friends?” I asked, folding my arms and staring coldly at the boy. He started to shake ever so slightly under my gaze, but stood his ground. “Oh, you mean Lexi.” He said, his mouth curling into a genuine smile that showed his dimples. “Yeah, I asked her to look after them for me, because I left them at hers when I last was in town.” He grinned again, and I realised his accent was very different to those from around here. “Oh, ok buddy. Here you go.” I smiled sadly, believing his story and handing over the shoes. His grin got wider, and he thanked me, before turning and running towards a car that was parked about 10 metres back. ‘Thanks again Louis!” He called, sticking his head out of the window as the driver drove off. I smiled again, and started walking down the road to my house again, scuffing my feet against the pavement, until-

I stopped very suddenly. I’d just realised two things.

One- I had been scuffing my feet. And I never, ever scuffed my feet on the pavement.

Two- that kid had called me Louis. That kid knew my name.

Something about tonight’s events were giving me the creeps, so I picked up my feet and sprinted towards my house.

I couldn’t help but feel a little bit disappointed, though. I’d been the owner of the coolest, newest shoes for half a bloody hour.

As I passed Lexi’s house, I saw her face in the window- her make up was slightly smudged, as if she’d been crying, but I pretended not to notice and simply slowed down to mouth the words “Set me free.” To annoy her, and sped up again. Thankfully, I got the normal response from her, the middle finger and a muffled yell of ‘asshole’. Chuckling slightly, I turned the corner, and made my way down the next drive way.

Home, sweet home.

~*~

A/N: SURPRISE UPDATE!!! xD hahaha

Hope you like this chapter, sorry these are all kinda short in pages wise, but it's more suspenseful... is that even a word? idek hahahahahahaha :p

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