Just the three of us...

Chapter 21 Tag

I stretch out on the sofa, my head resting in Mel's lap. She runs her finger nails over my scalp like I like, making goosebumps break out over my body. She flicks through the channels sighing as she can't find anything decent. 

"You want anything from the kitchen?" She taps my head motioned for me to move.

"Nah." I sit up and grab my phone from the floor. I flip it over and see missed calls from Kelly. "Mel..." I look over to her and she's looking at her phone which was plugged in next to the kettle. "Kelly phoned you too?"

"Yeah, like ten times." She frowns and puts her phone to her ear. I pad over to her, my bare feet sticking slightly to the lino flooring. "Hi Kel...." She goes silent. Then her eyes widen and her face pales. I move closer and put my hand on her shoulder. "O...ok. We'll see you there." She ends the call and looks at me, tears in her eyes. "Tag...it's Alice." I feel the blood rush from me, and the room spins a little. "Kelly is with her at the hospital. We have to go."

In a daze I push my bare feet into my Vans. Mel is still pale, and I notice her hands trembling slightly as she locks the front door behind us. I speed all the way to the hospital, cursing as we seem to hit red at every set of lights we get to.

When we finally get to the hospital Kelly is pacing outside the main doors, wringing her hands. 

"Oh thank goodness you're here!" Her eyes are red, and her usual put together appearance is nowhere to be seen with her face bare of make up and her hair scraped into a messy bun. Mel hugs her. "She phoned me...I didn't know who else to call...she's so...she's..." Tears start rolling down her cheeks again. She hides her face in her hands, and Mel tightens her arms round her. I roll my eyes and stalk over to the reception desk. I need answers and I need them fucking faster than a blubbering Kelly will be able to give them.

"Hi. I'm a friend of Alice Kent, she was admitted earlier. Where is she please." I give the receptionist a thin smile. 

"Tag?" 

I spin round. Alice is stood behind me, her face tear streaked and pale under the strip fluorescent lighting. Her pale eyes seem more blue than normal, ringed in red. I pull her into a hug, burying my face in her familiar smelling hair.

"They discharged me. Can I come back to yours?" Her voice is muffled against my chest. 

"Of course babes. Come on, Mel and Kelly are outside." I take her hand, noticing her wince a little as her arm stretches out. 

Kelly rushes over to us and worriedly gives Alice the once over, holding her hands gently. She pulls her close and starts talking softly into her ear so I can't hear. Alice nods slightly, and gives Kelly a small hug.

"I'll phone you tomorrow, ok? You two look after her." Kelly gives Alice's hand one last squeeze and walks off towards her car.

Mel drives us home, with me holding Alice on my lap. She has buried her face into the nook of my neck, and her hot breath stirs the hair there every time she breathes out. I run my hand up and down her back, sharing worried glances with Mel. I carry her in and lie her down on my bed. She grabs my hand as I go to walk away.

 "I don't want to be alone." She whispers. I nod and lie down behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. She rolls over and rests her forehead on my chest. "I'm really sorry Tag." I feel her breath hitch. Mel comes in and crawls up next to her, sandwiching her between us. "I couldn't let him hurt either of you." Her voice breaks.

"It's ok, princess. You're safe here. It's ok. Shush now." Mel curls up tighter around Alice, kissing her gently on the neck. I press my lips against the top of her head. Her sobs rack through her body, shaking the bed slightly, but we stay clinging to her as tight as we can.