The Outlaws

twenty nine.

Picture: Chad Michael Murray as my other option for Matthew Asbury

Sorry for the late update. Writer's block. I really, really didn't know what to write. :(

Warning: this chapter is really bad. :'(

CHRISTIAN

One of the best mornings to date.

I wake up to Alexis snuggled up next to me, her head on my chest and one of her legs between mine. And besides the puking, I don't have any other hangover symptoms.

I vaguely remember what happened, though I have no idea why Alexis is here...

Oh, FUCK.

Oh.

We're fully clothed.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

Then I realise there's a towel on my head and I frown, wondering how the hell that got there. I rid my face of it and stretch my arm towards my bedside table to get my phone, careful not to move the rest of my body so Alexis doesn't wake up.

When I check my phone, I see that it's almost 3p.m. and I have a few Twitter, Instagram and Vine notifications and a text from Daniel from when we got home last night saying, 'use protection'.

I chuckle softly. That asshole.

Exiting Messages, I'm disturbed by Alexis' sudden movement against me, like she got a shock in her sleep. She moves again, out of my embrace, making a soft whimpering noise.

It would have been cute if this didn't scare me to death. She's having a nightmare and I hate it. I hate seeing her frightened or upset.

I sit upright, placing my hands firmly on her shoulders.

"Lexi," I murmur, shaking her gently.

A stray tear falls down her cheek.

"No, don't cry. Please don't cry," I urge. I shake harder. "Come on, Lexi... Wake up."

I wipe away the tear and push her hair out of her face, while she squirms.

I shake again. "C'mon, baby. Wake up."

I pause as I register what I said.

Baby? No, no, no...

If I ever say that to her again and she hears it, it's over.

I cup her face. "Please, Lexi... It's not real. Wake up!"

She suddenly gasps loudly and jerks awake, shooting into a sitting position.

"Hey..." I sigh, relieved.

"Chris," she speaks, her voice breaking as another tear escapes, followed by another and another.

I wipe them away again and kiss her forehead, gathering her into my arms and rubbing her back. "It's okay. I got you," I breathe. "I got you."

Always.

ALEXIS

After a couple of minutes, I unwillingly pull away from him, wiping my face.

"When am I not going to cry in front of you?" I chuckle, sound a little nasal from the crying.

Fuck me, this is embarrassing...

He laughs, removing the hair that is stuck to the wetness on my face. "I'd rather you cry in front of me, so I'm there for you."

I melt, grinning at him like an idiot.

"God, I love you," I proclaim, kissing his cheek and deliberately making a loud kissing sound.

He chuckles. "Well, I love you more." He gazes at me for a moment, his distant look and smile slowly fading. "You want to tell me what all of that was about?" he prompts, referring to my freakout five minutes ago.

No.

"I don't know..." I tell him softly.

"Why not?" he asks, but he isn't pushing for anything, he's really just asking.

I don't want you to think I'm weak. I don't want you to think I need you for every little problem, even if I do. I don't want you to leave me if I tell you everything.

I want you to stay with me when I do end up telling you everything, unlike Jake.

"Lexi?" he says softly. "You can tell me anything, you know?"

"I know," I reply. "I just... Don't want to burden you with my problems. I can't do that to you. You have so much to handle already, and you only have so much patience with me, and- and..." I stutter. "I just-"

He saves me from my misery by speaking. "You don't understand. You can tell me anything at all, even if it's something like split ends or how a band poster on your wall won't stay up or how a light in your house keeps flickering. If you want to complain, you can just complain to me. I wouldn't mind one bit, no matter what. And I'll help you, you know? Whatever it is. I'll bring you to get a haircut, I'll make sure the poster stays up, I'll change the light bulb myself. Anything."

He smiles like a fool, and I know he's trying to make me calm down and cheer me up, and it helps.

A tiny smile forms on my lips. "But are you sure, Chris? Really? Because people have left me for being too much of-"

"Fuck those people!" he exclaims. Realisation dawns on his face. "What, Jake? You're talking about that douchebag ex of yours, aren't you?"

Caught, I give him a tight smile.

"Lexi, we've been over this. We talked about him before, remember?"

I remember. It was after he found out about my self-harming, the day we presented our Biology project. We hung out after school that day and when he sent me home, he asked me about why I did it. When I told him, he asked why I didn't just talk to him when I needed someone. Then I explained what Jake did to me.

I nod.

"I'm not forcing you to tell me. That's not what I meant," he clarifies. "It's just-"

"I know what you meant," I tell him, waving it off with a small smile. "And if you're really sure, then I'll tell you."

He nods firmly and confidently. "Of course I'm sure. We're in this together. I'll help you through this."

So I tell him about the nightmares.

Goshhh, I'm so sorry this is a horrible chapter and it took so long! It sucks and I apologise deeply. I'll make it up to you in future chapters and I'll try to edit this chapter as things go along!