Brand New Life (Sequel to Rise) (Colton Dixon)

Chapter 20

Colton

I finally end the call I've been on for over an hour, and breathe a sigh of relief. I'm so glad that's over. Since they're old friends of my family, I felt bad about being so blunt with them, but they just weren't controlling their daughter, and I couldn't let the girl torture mine anymore. I mean, even though we definitely have more of a brother-sister relationship, Lexi is legally the adopted daughter of Annie and I. So, I'm not afraid to use the authority that gives me.

Annie looks up from the book she's reading. "Get it done, Babe?"

I nod slowly. "I think so. They promised to take her phone away until she could be trusted, and to talk to her friends' parents. They said they were really sorry, and she'd crossed a line with the phone thing on Friday night."

"Well, I think she crossed a line with her first post about Lexi, but Friday certainly was another level," Annie sighed. "I think they're very nice people, but their parenting could use a little help."

"Yeah," I sigh. "though Aiden is really a pretty great kid."

"True," she concedes. "Maybe it really is just Jessica."

"It's probably a mix of both issues," I reply, shaking my head slowly. "I just pray that all of this is finally going to end."

"Me too, Babe." Annie exhaled slowly as she says it. "Me too."

It's Sunday night now, and we're still at the venue from the matinée we did earlier today. We're going to spend the night here before we move out, but the rest of the tour will move on without us. The next show isn't until Thursday night, and Lexi's mom's funeral is tomorrow evening, so Annie, Lexi, and I are going to fly to it, then again to meet up with the busses at the venue.

"You think Lexi's still asleep?" I ask Annie, referring to the exhausted nap she's been in since right after the show. Ann shrugs, glancing at the door.

"Maybe, but I somehow doubt it. I thought she'd come over when she woke up, but I guess one of us should probably go check on her."

I start to rise to do it myself, but before I can, the lounge door opens, and Lexi herself appears.

Seeing her makes my heart ache, just like it always does lately. Especially since Friday. It was all just way too much... Jessica, and especially the news about her mom. I can't imagine what that must feel like... a mother who didn't ever do anything but hurt you dying, so suddenly. No wonder she doesn't even know what to feel about it.

And it's taken an obvious toll on her. Just when the light was beginning to come back into her eyes, all of it was stolen away once again. They're dark now, and sad, like they used to be. Full of pain. The circles under them are proof of the fact I already know... that she doesn't sleep well... and even the way she walks seems to say that she's all but given up.

"Hey, Lex," I greet her, waving her to come sit next to me. "How ya doing?"

She shrugs, not meeting my eyes. "Fine."

I smile at her sadly, and I know it's all I need to tell her I know she's lying, and I'm here to talk if she wants to. She still doesn't meet my gaze, but she does cross the room and sit down beside me, leaning into me when I wrap an arm around her shoulders.

We're silent for a few minutes before my phone chimes, and I check it, reading the text that just came in, from Nate.

Tell her im free now if she wants to talk.

Ok, just a minute.

I take a deep breath and turn my gaze to Lexi.

"Hey," I begin hesitantly, "you like Nate, don't you?"

She glances up at me curiously. "Yeah? I guess. I mean, I don't really know him very well."

"Yeah, I know," I concede. "But you do like him?"

"Yeah."

"Ok, well..." I hesitate, and exhale slowly. "Look, Lexi, I just... with your mom..." I see pain flash through her eyes at the words. "I just... I really do want to understand, and I'm here for you and you know that, but I just have no idea what that must be like, and Nate... well, he knows exactly what it is."

She doesn't say anything, watching me intently.

"So," I continue carefully, "I... I hope you're not mad at me for telling him, but I called him and asked if he'd be willing to talk to you about it for a while, and he said absolutely, he's more than willing. No pressure, but if you think that would help, he's free for you to call him now."

She bites her lip, silent for a moment before opening her mouth to respond. However, the sound of the door opening beats her to it.

We both look that way, and I'm shocked to see Nate himself standing there.

How...

"Actually," he says quietly, his voice gentle as he closes the door behind him. "he's free for a little bit more than a phone call."

Lexi seems glued to the couch in fright, but I stand up with a confused smile.

"Nate, how are you here?"

He offers me a half smile. "I wasn't doing anything this weekend, and..." He looks at Lexi. "what you're going through is probably the hardest thing I ever have. And that's honestly saying something."

I can see the heartbreak and compassion written so clearly on his face as he says the words.

She opens her mouth to respond, but no words come out.

Nate just continues to look at her with pure compassion in his gaze.

"Look, Alexis," he says gently, "I know you barely know me, but I promise all I wanna do is help. What you're going through just absolutely breaks my heart. And I know exactly what it's like. So, please, let me help you. Just give me a chance, please."

She still doesn't seem to be able to move.

"Come 'mere, Kid," Nate murmurs.

Slowly, she gets up, and seeming to be almost against her own will, walks over to stand within two feet of him.

He closes the distance in a single step, and wraps her in a gentle hug.

She just stands there for a long moment, emotionless and still. But, gradually, she starts to shake, and it becomes clear that she's barely holding back tears.

"That's it," Nate says quietly, but actually releases her except for a retained arm around her shoulder. He glances back at me quickly. "It okay if we go grab coffee? We could be a while."

"Take your time," I reply simply.

He nods, and, with that, he softly leads her out of the room.