Game Of Hearts

Time Is Precious

"Look, she's waking up!" A voice whispered as Olivia stirred in the too comfy bed. Her eyes snapped open and she pushed herself up. She was faced with many curious eyes, but not of adults, of kids.

She let out an exasperated breath and swallowed.

"Get Alex." A voice to her right whispered with concern. He was also a child, but looked exceptionally older than the others. He had chocolate brown eyes and sandy brown hair to pair with his button  nose and cupid bowed lips. He stared down at her with his lips compressed into a thin line and she felt slightly uncomfortable.

Then a familiar, relieving voice filled the room.
"Alright, alright, break it up." Alex's smooth voice cut through the despairing silence. The nearer he got to her, the father the kids seemed to get.

He placed his cold palm on her forehead. His grey eyes cut into hers with the reassuring promise of safety, yet she could have sworn she saw a smile tug at his lips.

"You have a lack of iron in your system, you need to eat. That's why you've been passing out." He concluded.

"Uh... thanks doc..."

He let out a brief laugh. "I'm not a doctor, I'm just -"

"Observant." Another voice cut in. It came from the doorway. The woman's presence made everyone still, and a sinking feeling formed in Olivia's chest.

Alex's eyes cooled and hardened, but it never left Olivia's eyes. It was only until the woman cleared her throat that he turned his head in a slow, deadly motion.

"I can speak for myself, Charlotte." He raised his eyebrows in a challenging manner.

Oh hell... that's Charlotte? She was so beautiful! Her stunning ash - blonde hair stretched all the way to her stomach, like a waterfall of pure silk. Her thick lashes framed her blue - grey eyes in a way that made it look effortlessly beautiful. Her full lips twisted into a what was supposed to be a smile - but looked more like a warning.

Olivia swallowed a second time. Charlotte glanced over the children. With every pair of eyes she passed, each of them got the message, and left the room with a disappointed look. 

Olivia drew her gaze back to Alex, who looked a lot angrier now. It felt like years before anyone spoke, silence filled the air heavily.

"I'm Charlotte." She held out her hand to Olivia, with a fake smile.

"Olivia." She shook her hand.

Charlotte's eyes dropped to the location of Alex's hand, which had surprisingly dropped from Olivia's forehead to her cheek. Noticing her cold stare, he drew her hand back, but his ring finger drew lightly across her jaw in the process, making uncontrollable goosebumps crawl across her skin.

Charlotte's stare only got more piercing. Olivia pushed herself against the headboard, sitting up straighter.

"Carly is looking for you." She told Alex in a pensive voice.

He sent Olivia an apologetic look. "I'll check on you later. Liya should be here any minute now to show you the ropes."

"Oh that's not necessary." Char smiled. "I can take her." She made it sound like a fight. 

"Its fine. You don't need to take her. Liya has my instructions."

"Mmm... you didn't hear? Liya twisted her ankle." She didn't bother hiding her smile. She knew she was third in charge. Whoever passed over Alex, got down to Liya. Then Char.

Alex gave her a sinister look. "Fine. But don't do anything stupid."

No! Oh don't leave me with this psycho lady! Olivia protested mentally. Of course she couldn't complain, it was better than spending night after night in the backseat of a car.