Titanium

Part 29-Lena

Disclaimer: I do not own Delirium.

Lena

The more I thought about it, the more I realized I couldn't do it. I couldn't just run away and everyone here. Even if I wanted to just be free of it all. I couldn't. The guilt would eat me away. 

So, that's why I tell Alex, an hour after he suggested it, "I want to, but we can't."

"I know," he sighs and puts his arm around me. We lie on his bed, though it is a little small for two people, so I am basically lying on top of him. He plays with a lock of my hair, twirling it around his finger.  "But I wish there was some way to get away from it all, from the politics of it. Even just for a few hours."

I smile at this. I have the perfect plan. 

I turn my head from where it lies on his chest and look up at him, "we can. It's not that late, and no one will be expecting us in the morning. Let's go."

I immediately hop up from the bed. Alex sits up slowly, the smile on his face mirroring mine. 

"This is what we always planned, right? To run away into the Wilds and never look back."

I nod and reach out my hand to him. 

"Come on, fellow Invalid."

Alex shakes his head at the name, but he smiles slightly as he takes my hand. 

"I hate that name."

"I don't know, I kinda like it. Because we are 'invalid' from society. But if this is what it means to not be a valid member of society, then I'll take it any day. I'm an Invalid in love."

I didn't think it was possible, but Alex's smile grows larger. 

"Me too."

And with that we escape into the night. 

We run through the trees, and I try my best to see in the darkness. When we pass the open area where people have been sleeping on blankets, I see a flash of white in the dark that looks somewhat like Hana's dress. But we pass by it too fast and I have already forgotten it. 

Once we get far enough away from where most people are, we slow our pace slightly. We weren't exactly running before - that would have caused too much noise - but we were sew here between jogging and quick walking, and so it was good to slow down. It meant that we were clear. Alex would never risk us being caught. Even if being caught wouldn't have been a bad thing. The Wilds are free, so what are they going to do if they find out you were running away with your boyfriend? Probably not much. But Raven.... Well I didn't want to know what Raven would do. 

Once we each a place far enough away from the camp we slow down. But as soon as I look around, I know that us ending up here was no accident.

"You wanted to come here, didn't you?" I ask Alex as I look around. The place is covered in trees, yet there is an opening in the foliage above the middle of the clearing; perfect for star gazing.a small stream runs to the left side of the clearing and meanders into the woods on that side. Through the opening in the trees I can see the moon, which casts a romantic light on everything. I can hear the crickets singing in the trees, and as I move towards Alex, there is no place I would rather be. 

"Well, I did live here on and off for a could years, I know my way around."

As soon as he finishes speaking, my lips are on his. I pull back slightly, and look into his eyes. 

"It's beautiful, thank you."

He lays down a blanket they he must have grabbed on the way out, and lies down, dragging me down with him. 

I lay my head on his chest, just above his heart, so I can hear it's steady rhythm. I lean up to kiss him and he cups my face in his hands. I can feel myself drifting out of consciousness; feel myself falling asleep. I look into his beautiful eyes on last time before I fall into my dreams and whisper into the little space of air between us, "I love you."

I'm too far gone to know if he says it back.