Hearts' Desire

Chapter Fifteen

Third person P.O.V.

"Okay, fine," Tobin says. "But at least stay at my house."

"Stay at your house?" Alex asks incredulously. "Why?" Tobin shifts her weight.

"It'll make me feel better," she mumbles. "If he tries to get at you again, Thalia and I can fight him off. You don't even have to sleep in my room. You can take the guest bedroom. Please, Alex." A note of desperation creeps into her voice.

"Fine," Alex says. "I'll be over by seven. Just give me time to pack. Alone." Tobin wraps Alex in a hug.

"Thanks for everything, Lex," she says.

"Thanks?!" Alex says incredulously. "I fucked up! I bailed Servando out!"

"You stuck up for me for years," Tobin says. "You helped me find Thalia. You paid out hospital bill. Trust me, Alex, you've done more help than hurt." She released Alex. "I'll see you later," she says, kissing Alex's cheek.

"Yeah," Alex mumbles. By seven o'clock that evening, Alex is seated at the dining room table of Tobin's house eating pizza. An uncomfortable silence hangs over the table. Thalia sits between Alex and Tobin in an attempt to diffuse the situation. It doesn't work, but Alex appreciates the effort. After an equally uncomfortable dessert of cake and ice cream, Alex helps Thalia with the dishes. The younger girl is chatting up a storm, but Alex isn't really listening. She just nods as she dries the plates and cups, then goes up to bed.

In the guest bedroom, she tosses and turns, her mind racing. She can hear Tobin's snores coming from the room next door to hers, then she freezes as she hears footsteps creeping down the hall. She slips out of bed, ready to beat the shit out of whoever is trying to come into her room. The door opens, and Alex punches. Whoever it is yelps and dodges just in time. Alex winds up to throw another punch.

"Alex stop!" Thalia whisper-yells. "It's me! It's just me!"

"Thalia?!" Alex says. "What are you doing in here?! You should be in bed!"

"I wanted to talk to you," Thalia says. "And I know you weren't listening while we were washing the dishes. Can I sit?" Alex sighs.

"Yeah I guess," she says. She turns on the lamp on her bedside table while Thalia sits down cross legged on the bed.

"What do you need?" Alex asks, sitting down facing Thalia.

"Tobin told me everything," Thalia says.

"So you're here to yell at me for bailing Servando out," Alex guesses.

"No," Thalia says. "I'm here because I think you're making a mistake by breaking up with Tobin." She looks up at Alex, her bright green eyes showing wisdom beyond her years.

"You're kidding, right?" Alex asks. "I bailed Servando out. He could have tried to kidnap you again. He could have actually killed you this time, and he could have killed Tobin too. Tobin hates me now, I know she does. How am I making a mistake?"

"She doesn't hate you," Thalia says. "She wants to give you a second chance. If she hated you, she wouldn't have asked you to stay here. She probably wouldn't even have asked you to testify. Yeah, she was mad at you last night, and she was hurt, but she talked it through with me and decided to give you a second chance. I'm not trying to force you to stay with her, I'm just saying I don't think you should break up with her." Alex sighs.

"Thanks, kid," she says. "I'll think about it, okay? You go to bed. You have enough to worry about without having to fix your sister's love life too." To Alex's surprise, Thalia leans forward and hugs her.