Three Hearts Left Intact

Chapter 45: Red Flags

"...and then we had a nice picnic with them before we went home and had some nice time there." Nina smiled finishing her story time. Zander lifted his head off her shoulder with wide and exciting eyes.

"That sounds like fun! Can I meet them?!" He asked bouncing on his knees.

"No promises. Maybe after we get this whole situation sorted I'll give them a call and see if they'd like to come over. I'm sure after all this Kaila would love to see them again too." Her glare from Zander faded past him as she had flashes of horrible scenes of possible realities.

Putting his hand on her shoulder, Nina looked towards Zander who showed a caring smile. "I bet she'll be ok. You say it all the time, she's strong and we all know Lain can take care of herself. Alex and I were talking about how we should be preparing for...whatever the next step in this whole thing is..." he shook his head getting off that topic, "and anyways, I guess it was more so him telling me that I would have to stay here with you while he took the guys, and me complaining how that wasn't fair and I wanted to go with them too. But then he-"

Nina cut in before she lost her train of thought to Zander's speed talking. "Wait a second. Alex said we had to stay here while he took Mallix and James to save them." She waited for his quick nod in response before beginning to ramble on more on nonsense. 'Way to throw me under the bus there Alex...' she sighed internally while keeping a smile to Zander, 'I know I can't do much in crutches but I was hoping for a bigger part than just babysitting. Oh well I guess I can focus more on outfits if they need them then.'

She focused her attention back on Zander who was getting redder by the minute from his quick pace. Throwing her hands on his shoulders she silenced him with one glare. "Z take a big breathe for me." She intructed leading him in the exercise.

Watching his face return to his normal tan she stopped. "That's better, next time remember to breathe when you talk. I don't need you passing out from lack of oxygen."

"Sorry..." he apologized. "Do you think I'm a burden?" He asked out of the blue.

Nina wasn't ready for such a question, shaking her head she looked at him concerned. "Why would you think your a burden?"

"I don't know, I mean, Alex told me we were taking this slow and how I should let him help me out more but I don't want to feel like a burden to him." He admitted.

"Oh Zander, your not a burden to anybody. Not me. Not Mallix. Not James. And certainly not Alex. We all just want to take care of you. There isn't anything you could do that would make any of us think otherwise. He wants you to be able to trust him to take care for you. And if that means cleaning up your messes, wiping you down of the mess you make while eating, or just letting you relax and be carefree then so be it. The same goes for Kaila, we want to be here and help you two."

Nodding to her statement they continued talking. All the while James finally decided to walk back into the house. Nina shot her head towards him and stared with intense eyes. "Finally."

He glanced over at them before looking away. "I just needed my space." He continued over to the kitchen where he placed his dirty dishes from hours prior into the dishwasher full of dirty plates and pans.

Before Nina could get another word out to him, he sped down the hallway heading for their room, almost as if in a rush. "He scares me sometimes." Zander whispered closely to Nina's ear fearful of James hearing.

"Why's that?" She asked pulling him in close.

"Because since he came back he's just different. I mean I know it's been a few years since I last saw you guys, but still I remember him differently."

"Differently...?"

"Yeah like he used to love goofing off with me sometimes after school, and we used to get along well for the most part. But now I just can't put my finger on it, he's just different."

Nina laughed for a second, "that's called growing up Z. He's just gotten more matured, and sadly that means more stubbornness."

"Yeah...I guess so." He chuckled lightly thinking about the illegitimacy of his previous statement.

Seeing Zander's mood changing rapidly Nina struck an idea. "Say how about you and I take a walk down by the lake. We've been here for a while now and I haven't gotten a chance to see it yet. I would love the company." She stood with her crutches holding a hand out to him,

"Sure, the lakes got a really nice view." He accepted her offer.

"What about we go ask if Mallix wants to join us. He's been cooped up in this cabin for far too long. He could use the sunlight for a change."

"I'll ask him for you, I'll only be a second." The small man said letting Nina sit on the couch for a few minutes as he ventured down the hallway towards Mallix.

She thanked him and sat watching him bounce off the floor. By the time he reached Mallix's bedroom, Zander began knocking. "Mallix?" He called in.

"Come in," a softer reply echoed through his door. Walking in Zander saw Mallix sitting on the edge of his bed laying flat staring at the ceiling. "Nina and I are going to take a walk by the lake, do you want to join us? It'll be fun." He hyped.

Sitting up from his spot on the bed Mallix looked at the excited boy with dull eyes. "No thanks, I'll just stay here. But thanks for the offer. You guys have fun."

"You sure? You'll be able to see the glistening water, get some fresh air, feel a nice breeze, and get some sun." Zander tried to persuade the tall man looking at him with regret. Not for the smaller man but for himself.

Seeing through Zander's antics, Mallix stood up grunting, "alright fine. Let's go." Zander shouted in excitement as the two of them met up with Nina who was casually texting on her phone until they arrived.

"Oh look whose decided to show up?" She smiled when she saw Mallix alongside Zander, a rather large part of her was doubtful he'd agree to this.

"Yeah," he chuckled, "I couldn't say no to him. Besides I guess I have been trapped in here for too long. I suppose it wouldn't do any damage if I got out. Plus if I don't get out soon, I think I might just go insane." He smiled making a funny face at Zander who laughed at him.

"I think it's a little too late for that M." Nina was quick to remark cracking up. The tall man jokingly acted offended as they all gathered outside for their walk.

At times it was as if they we're back in the old days, when things were calm. No backstabbing friends, no kidnappings, no troubles. But like most good things, this came to an end when they could hear a car engine growing closer to the cabin. "That must be Alex." Nina smiled pushing Zander's back towards the sound as he took off running back towards the cabin.

"He left?" Mallix turned to Nina who didn't look at him but simply smiled and nodded. The sound that came out of Mallix showed her just how excited he was to hear such news.
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Let me know what you think. Thanks Lexx signing off