THE PLAYGROUND

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Alexa's POV

"Alexa dear, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine mom" I smiled weakly, but I was still wondering why officer gale was with me when I woke up. He looked so concerned about me that one could think that he was related to me. What I saw couldn't be real, could it?

"Lexi!!" Chris squeaked happily as he walked in with a girl.

"Hey Chris" the only person that didn't say anything was Dave, he just stood there, looking at me like he was about to cry. "Don't you have anything to say to me?" I asked, raising my brow.

"You have no idea how happy I am right now. We have all been so worried about you."

"Its good to see you too Dave."

"I'm glad to see that you're ok, Alexa" officer gale said, showing less concern than he did earlier.

"Thanks."

"What were you doing here anyway?" Chris asked.

"Not that you did a bad thing by visiting Alexa, but why did you?" Dave asked more politely.

"I....uh...you see, the thing is...uh.."

He looked like he was about to crawl under the bed to hide, but why was he here? "Hope you don't mind me interrupting but there's something I'd like to say."

"Not at all, please go on."

"While I was unconscious, I don't know how but, I heard all what you were saying. Including some....promises." I turned my gaze to all of them one at a time, then I stopped at officer gale and noticed that he couldn't meet my gaze. Oh my goodness!, it was real.

"You heard everything?" Chris asked, looking mortified.

"Yep. You told me that if I woke up, you'd stop saying your older than I am. You also promised me all the chocolate I wanted for a month. Dave promised to get me a pet, mom and dad promised to take me with them whenever they're on a vacation and...." I looked at officer gale and the look in his eyes said ' please don't '.

"And what honey?"

"Nothing mom. That's all."

"That's all you heard?"

"Not really. I also heard when mom was crying, begging me to come back to her." I turned to face my mom and saw that her eyes were teary. "I'm back mom, and I'm not leaving you ever again." she pulled me into her arms entrapping me in one of her famous bear hugs and I felt so happy. Man i missed mom's bear hug.

"It's good to have you back Alexa." officer gale acknowledged with a warm smile. Getting a better look at him, he looked excruciatingly handsome. His warm brown eyes, broad shoulders and muscular body that was obvious through the uniform, perfectly red lips.... What am I saying?, pull yourself together Lexi!!.

"Oh right, guys this is Emily."

"Nice to meet you guys." She smiled and waved at us. She looked pretty nice.

"I should get going, have a nice day."

"Officer gale, I'd like to see you later... that is, if you don't mind."

"Oh..uh..sure" he smiled awkwardly and left.

After he left, we talked about lots of things but whenever I asked about Josie and Aiden, they'd tell me I'm not ready yet. That I should get better first and it was quite frustrating, I really wanted to know if that bastard had been caught yet. On the other hand, I also wanted to know if officer gale really had feelings for me, if he did, how would I feel about it?, would I be able to reciprocate it?. I mean sure he's handsome, but do I really like him that way?. I guess I'll find out later. Now I'm just really happy that I'm back with my family.

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Gale's POV

It's been two days and I still haven't summoned the courage to visit Alexa. Its quite ridiculous though, I'm a grown man scared to face a teenager, but Alexa was no ordinary girl. She was, special, different than any girl that I've met before.

Anyway, today was the day. It was my day off and I decided to visit her, finally. I didn't know what to wear, I was feeling nervous like a teenage boy going on a date. I finally decided to go with slightly faded jeans, a black top and a brown leather jacket.

The ride to the hospital was pretty long but I was sad when it ended because I hadn't thought about all I wanted to say. I hesitated at the door a little before I finally knocked.

"Come in. Oh, you finally came to see me" she said with a sweet smile on her face.

"Yea, I'm sorry. I uh..I was busy" I said, smiling like an idiot.

"Its ok. I assume you know why I wanted to see you?"

"I think so."

She raised her brow and asked teasingly. "Really?"

"I shouldn't be forward because we might not have the same thing in mind."

"Okay, true. Anyway, I want to talk to you about what I saw, and heard."

"Okay."

"Do you like me?" She asked, looking confused.

I didn't know what to say, Yes?, no?, nothing seemed right. Oh I know, I'll change the topic, yeah. I'll ask her something else entirely. "Yes" I blurted out like an idiot without thinking. No you dumb ass, that wasn't the plan. "I really like you Alexa" no, why did I say that?. "I meant every single word I said" God what is wrong with me?!.

I looked at her and she bit her lip looking nervous, great!. Now I made her uncomfortable. " Look, I'm sorry abou---"

"I think I like you too." she smiled shyly and lowered her gaze.

"Wait, are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Wow. I definitely wasn't expecting that. wow, you have no idea how happy I am. I mean, I was nervous on my way here, practicing what to say but when I got here, I forgot everything". She giggled for a moment then her expression turned grim.

"Can I ask you a serious question? "

"Sure. What is it?"

"What's going on with Josie's case?"

"I don't know if I should tell you this."

"Please. I really wanna know." she looked at me, attacking me with her puppy dog eyes and I lost to it.

"Fine. She hasn't been found yet and more dead people have been turning up around town. We were able to take down one of her minions, thanks to Dave but we're still searching."

"And Aiden?"

"We haven't found him yet but we have more proof that he's with Josie."

"Really, what proof?"

I didn't think it was right to tell her that her ex boyfriend is married and is expecting a child "I'll tell you later."

"Aw come on, tell me now."

"Later. I promise."

"Ugh...fine."

"You're looking much better."

"Yeah well, doctor said I could eat normal food now and Chris isn't failing on his chocolate promise." she smiled childishly.

"That's good, but you shouldn't eat too much sweets you know."

"Yes sir." She jokingly replied.

"Well, I should get going now."

"Okay. Um, another serious question."

"Okay?"

"What should I call you from now on?"

"Well you could just call me gale."

"Oh and when anyone asks why, I should tell them what exactly?"

"Oh..I hadn't thought of that. Well then I guess you can call me gale when we're alone for now."

"For now?"

"Yeah. Till I figure something out."

"Okay then. Bye gale."

"Bye Lexi."