The library

September 15th 2003

"Let it out Lottie. I'm here for you." Alex whispered softly and kissed my neck.

I allowed myself to sink back into him as I cried with closed eyes. "I-I'm so sorry I'm such a mess... I-I've never been like this before...it's all just too much right now." I sighed and wiped my eyes before resting my hands on Alex's

"Everyone has a breaking point Lottie...I guess you just found yours." Alex's words struck me and I started to calm down slowly.

"E-everyone deserves to have a little cry once in a while...right?" I turned my head slightly to look at Alex who was resting on my shoulder.

"Yeah. Exactly. You've been so... up tight with your emotions that it was all gonna come crashing down at some point... and 'ere we are." He spoke so eloquently yet so rawly and I couldn't help but realise why I fell head over heels for him in the first place.

I nodded before taking Alex's hands away from me. I turned to face him and looked up at him. For the first time I noticed that he had visually aged. Almost as if over the last two weeks he had matured. There were bags under his eyes that weren't usually there and even a small cut on his lip. I gently reached up to touch it. "You've got a cut..." I mumbled.

"Yeah...some tramp in Neepsend did it last week... he wanted to steal my guitar." He relayed the anecdote with a small smirk as if he had enjoyed that experience.

I moved my hand to his cheek and cupped it before closing my eyes and getting onto my tip toes. His lips were welcome on mine, healing and undoing the minor heartbreak I had felt just two weeks prior. Alex's hands went to my arse and cupped it as I wrapped my arms around his neck. We slowly stumbled towards the bed until we both fell onto it, myself landing on top of Alex.

I straddled and kissed the boy beneath me and his hands were quickly firmly planted on my hips. I turned the attention of my lips away from his and instead trailed kisses onto his jaw and then on his neck, earning quiet whimpers and quick breaths from Alex. I pulled away and sat back on top oh him before sighing.

"This is wrong Alex." I mumbled and shook my head.

"W-why? I-I was kinda enjoying it." He smiled up at me.

I groaned and got off him and picked up my bag. "It's not about if you're enjoying it Alex. It's about taking into account other people's feelings... and you're not that good at that are you?" I said harshly as I put my bag on my back.

"Look, Charlotte I said I'm sorry-"

"Do you honestly think sorry is enough?" I shot back, cutting him off.

"Well...no... no of course not but could you at least not be so fooking harsh on me?" Alex frowned as he stood up.

I groaned and shook my head. "You're actually unbelievable Alex." I stormed out the room, slamming the door behind me. I walked across the landing and into the guest room which Penny had prepared for me. It mirrored the design of Alex's room only that it was completely devoid of any decoration.

I dropped my night bag onto the white bedsheets and took out my change of clothes: a pair of black knee socks, pink short shorts and a grey top with a love heart on it.

I changed with the door locked but slipped out once I was in the clothes I had brought along.

Quietly, I crept down the stairs and into the living room where Penny and David Turner were sat on the sofa. I knocked on the doorframe quietly before speaking. "Hi... Mr and Mrs Turner... I hate to be causing any trouble but would it be ok if I could have something to eat?" I blushed slightly as I forced a thin smile onto my features.

"Of course darling. Go make yourself anything you want in the kitchen." Penny beamed at me.

I nodded and thanked them before walking the short distance into the kitchen. I found myself a plain white plate before scavenging a slice of bread and some butter. I spread the butter on the bred before sliding it into the toaster and waiting.

Suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around my waist and I quickly realised it was Alex that was cuddling me. "I'm honestly so fooking sorry Charlotte," his hot breath trailed down my bare neck again and this time I shuddered. "I'll honestly do anything to make it up to you babe."

"Leaving me alone for tonight  could be a good place to start." I said focusing on the toaster.

Alex sighed, dejected, and took his arms away from me before trudging our of the kitchen, leaving me alone waiting for the toast to pop up.