Wanderers (1st Draft)

Separate Ways

A/N: This is it, the final chapter!!

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Alice

Alice wakes up to the sound of birds chirping. She opens her eyes to find herself staring at Rixton's sleeping face. He looks so peaceful asleep and younger. Alice knew something was wrong with him last night. The way he looked, and how he kissed her without caring who might have seen, how his lips tasted like alcohol, it all said he was upset. She didn't push the subject, since she figured it had something to do with James. He starts to stir next to her and his eyes flutter open. He smiles when he sees Alice. She gives him a smile back.

"Morning." Alice says softly. She props herself up on her elbow and looks down at him.

"Morning." Rixton yawns. "How'd you sleep?" He reaches up a hand and rests it against her cheek.

"Good. No nightmares." She leans into his hand and closes her eyes.

"That's good." Rixton says.

"Rixton, breakfast." Amelia says as she knocks on the bedroom door.

Alice leans down and gives Rixton a quick kiss before rolling off the bed. Fifteen minutes later they join the others downstairs for breakfast.

Alice sits in between Amelia and Jackson. Rixton sits across from her next to Mason. They make it half way through their meal before anyone comments on James's absence.

"Has anyone seen James?" Amelia asks. "He wasn't in his room when I checked."

"He's probably in Chicago waiting for his train by now." Rixton says then takes another bite of his toast.

Everyone, including Alice, stop what they are doing and stare at him.

"Why?" Jackson asks.

Rixton looks up from his plate and begins to explain what happened the night before. He tells them how he caught James talking to a crime boss from Houston, and what he's been doing for the last few months. He even explains why James was mad at him, that he and Alice had gotten together behind his back. Alice's stomach is sick by the time he's done talking. She scoots her half empty plate away from her.

"Wait a minute." Mason says. "You slept with Alice?" He glances at Alice then back to Rixton.

Rixton looks across the table at Alice. His eyes ask her if she wants him to tell them or her. She looks down at her plate and takes a deep breath.

"Chris is my ex-boyfriend. He used too..." She clenches her fists and fights back the tears in her eyes. "He abused me. And when he showed up it scared me. I woke up from a nightmare and went looking for James. When I couldn't find him I went to Rixton. James found out the night before Taya showed up." She doesn't dare look up at the others. She knows that if she does she'll start crying.

Everyone is quiet while her words sink in. Not able to take the silence any longer she looks up. Rixton stares down at his plate. Amelia looks at her with tears in her eyes. Jackson and Mason both look shocked. Samantha look sympathetic.

"Someone say something." Alice blurts out.

"You have to go after him." Amelia says. Her words surprise everyone.

Rixton jerk up his head to look at her. 'Why? There's nothing left to be done."

"But there's more to be said." Amelia argues. "I can see it in your eyes."

Rixton looks at his plate then directs his attention to Jackson and Mason. "If I go you two have a choice. You can either go with James or stay here. You have a right to either one."