Alexia Eden (FairyTales Don't Exist) (10 page)

“What do you mean? Like everything happens for a reason and all that crap?” he chuckles at my response.

“Yeah, do you believe in it?”

“Yeah I guess, I don’t really know. I mean I wish some things didn’t happen you know? And I wish I could change things but then I wouldn’t be where I am now and I wouldn’t have met you guys.” I say as I look up to him again.

“What do you mean?” he says as he starts playing with a piece of my hair. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to Lexi.”

“No I want to tell you, it’s okay, I haven’t really spoken to anyone about any of this and I guess I should tell someone. Well, you know about my dad being dead right, so anyway you see when my dad was still alive my mother was this perfect mom, like the whole housewife thing and yeah, she was my best friend too but then when my dad died it was like he took that part of her with him and I was left with that woman.”
  I say as I point to my door.

“I didn’t know what to do, I tried to help her but she was still so sad, I felt that I wasn’t strong enough for her because I was also dealing with the emotions from losing dad. So I decided that I would keep all those emotions inside so that I can be strong enough for both of us you know? She said she had no one to live for and she was alone but she didn’t see how I was still there, I also lost him… She couldn’t handle it though, he was her soul mate and her heart was broken and seeing her like that made me break. I don’t know if she will get better, she has her good days and bad ones like when she doesn’t want me around, but I need her and I know she needs me – even if she doesn’t want me…” I say as I cuddle up closer to his side.

He pulls me even closer. “I’m so sorry Alexia, I didn’t know the whole story, you don’t have to keep it in anymore. You have me now and you can tell me anything, I will always be here for you.”

“Thank you Jax, don’t know what I would do without you.” I say as I yawn.

“Pleasure babe, I think it’s time for you to go to bed now.” he starts to get up.

“No, please just stay a lil’ while please? Just until I fall asleep?” I say as I pull his arm back to the bed. He smiles at me and nods. He opens the covers for us and I slip in, he pulls me into him so my back is against his chest and my head is resting on his one arm. The warmth from his body quickly comforts me. I know he’s not my boyfriend and this is definitely more intimate than just friendship but I don’t want to be alone and I feel safe in his strong arms.

His hand comes around my waist and laces his fingers with mine; I grab his other hand from the arm that my head rests on and lace my fingers with his. I feel a shudder come from his body and I smile. His head is near my neck and I can feel him breathing on my neck giving me Goosebumps.

He kisses my neck, I’m not sure what to do, and that wasn’t a friendly kiss at all. I act as if I'm sleeping and don’t respond to his kiss.

“Goodnight my Lexi, I love you,” he whispers against my neck and kisses my neck again squeezing me into him.

Why does this feel right? Like I should be here? It feels good, like he wants me as much as I want him. I can’t think this, I have Drake now … I can’t lose them both.

Finally I fall asleep as I hear the words whispered in my ears, “Baby you may be Drakes girlfriend now but you will always be mine, don’t forget that…”

I wake up alone but the bed is still warm behind me, Jax obviously just left, I cuddle the pillow and smell the musky mint smell of Jax, he always smells so fresh. I’m not sure if I dreamt the words that Jax whispered in my ear last night and I’m not sure if I mind either way, my feelings for Jax seem complicated especially now that Drake and I are a couple, the only thing I know for certain is I need them both.

Georgina is still asleep, I lazily get out of bed putting my hair in a messy bun and I walk to the kitchen. Looking in the fridge I see that
 it's empty, apart from beer,
great.
I decide to take a shower and
a drive to get some groceries.

When dad passed away, the lawyer told me that he had left me quite a large sum of money, the lawyer was aware of what my mother was going through with the drugs and he informed me that I should keep my bank account, that he opened up for me, a secret in case Georgina decides to spend all the money to support her addiction. I didn’t understand how she didn’t know that dad had left me the money but I guess she was so high all the time it just didn’t register.

So I decided that I would keep the money a secret and help mom when I needed to. She never did ask me where I got money from and sometimes I thought she knew it was from dad but she never mentioned anything. Dad left me quite a lot of money, I didn’t have access to all of it until I was twenty one though, dad’s lawyer arranged that I could get some money each month that I would be able to use if I should need anything but that still meant I couldn’t use the money in my account for college because I’ll be eighteen when I leave school, giving me three years till I was able to use my inheritance, so I needed to get a scholarship in the meantime.

I drove further than I expected and ended up in another small town that had a rather large grocery store, bigger than the one in our small town.

Walking down the aisles getting groceries as I go, I hear my name being called so I turn around and look in the direction.

An older lady down the aisle is waving to the lady that is standing next to me obviously we share the same name. I don’t see her face I just see her long dark hair that is as wild looking as mine is and she is relatively tall. She turns to look at me staring at her and I blush.

“Sorry, I thought someone called me, my name is Alexia.” I explain to her.

Her face looks so familiar, she looks at me like she recognizes me and I see shock on her face as her eyes widen. “Did you by any chance know James Eden?” she asks as she looks at my face as if she is trying to remember who I look like.

“Oh yes, he was my dad …how did you know?” I ask her.

She smiles at me and tears start falling down her cheeks as she pulls me in for a hug, realization hits me...that’s why she looked so familiar, she looked like my father.

“You’re his sister? I’m named after you…” I trail off as she loosens her hold on me and wipes the tears from her face.

“I know, I don’t really go by the name Alexia or Alexandria anymore though, everyone else calls me Alex. I’ve been in contact with James throughout your childhood, your father is so happy and proud of you.” She says keeping her eyes on me, I notice how she uses present tense but I don’t correct her.

“I can’t believe James is gone.” She says as she looks over my shoulder and more tears fall, seeing her like this makes my eyes start to water, swallowing the lump that’s in my throat I give her a reassuring smile.

“I know, it’s been hard… I miss him so much. I can’t believe you’re here, you look just like daddy!” I say as I smile at her.

She laughs, “Honey I was just about to say the same thing to you, guess we Eden’s have strong genes.” she says as she winks at me and I laugh.

“Why don’t you visit me for lunch? I live in the town over it’s not too far, I would really like to get to know you better and I promise I will explain anything you want to know? Oh he’s going to be so happy I found you!” she smiles at me as she mumbles the last few words but I overheard her and I’m confused as to who she is talking about.

“That would be great, just give me directions and I should probably get your number?” I say still not sure what she meant when she mentioned a “he”, I take my phone out. She gives me directions on a piece of paper from her handbag and I get her number.

“I will see you at around one o’clock; I gotta go get these groceries home before mom wakes up. I’m so happy I finally met you!” I say and notice her jaw tense at the mention of my mother but she covers it up quickly and gives me another hug.

“I know Hun, I’ve wanted to come see you for so long…but things are very complicated and I couldn’t come over to where you were staying, but now that you’re here we're definitely not going to lose touch! You’re my family and I want you in my life, there’s so much we have to tell you.” she smiles and wipes the tears away.

“I know how you feel, I don’t have any family, I just have mom and… now I have you…” her smile falters again when I mention my mother but she regains her smile just as rapid at the mention of having her in my life.

We say our goodbyes and I continue my shopping as she reluctantly leaves looking back at me as if I might vanish into thin air any moment.

Once I get home I decide not to tell mom of my reunion with Alex, I’m scared that it brings up memories of dad and she has a melt down again. I will tell her about Alex eventually but I wanted to talk to Alex about it first.

I unpack groceries and restock the fridge as mom comes out from taking a shower fully dressed with a towel over her hair.

“Sorry about that Lexi, I just haven’t had a chance to go grocery shopping.” She says as she helps unpack food.

“It’s okay, I don’t mind going, I know you work long hours besides I didn’t have anything to do this morning anyway.” I say back to her.

“Thanks babe, what are your plans for today?” she asks as she walks towards the lounge area.

I freeze a little, I don’t want to tell her about Alex but I hate lying to my mother, so I guess I will tell her the truth but not really explain it, “I’m going to meet my friend Alex for lunch, so I might come home a little late, she stays in the next town so will it be okay if I use your car?”

“In the next town? Uh…that’s a different terr…I mean… I don’t know if that’s safe Lexi, you don’t really know anyone there and what if you run into trouble or something? How did you meet Alex, if she lives in the other town, then she wouldn’t have gone to your school?” I’m a bit confused why she is showing apprehension and asking all these questions, I wasn’t expecting this, this is the first time she’s concerned about me since dad’s death and to be honest it throws me off guard.

“Mom, Alex will be there if anything did happen, I actually ran into her at the supermarket and we got along pretty well. I’m just trying to make friends mom, please?” I say “mom” knowing how much she misses that, maybe this will convince her not to worry.

“Okay…I guess it’s alright, I was going to get a lift to work with Ambz anyways, just text me when you get there and when you leave okay? I’m going to go over to Amber for tea, so if I don’t see you when you leave just remember what I said Lexi.” she says brushing her damp her then pulls me in for a hug.

I stand there in shock as she walks out the door,
did that just happen?
She acted like she cared? Maybe she is getting better, I haven’t seen her so often these past few days, she’s either at work, Amber's house or visiting the new boyfriend that I haven’t met yet, she apparently met him at work. I wonder what brought about the change in her. That was pretty weird, she acted like my
mother…
not
Georgina
.

I make myself a sandwich and sit on the couch thinking about my mother and what just happened. I look at my phone and see I have 2 messages.

DRAKE at 05:27am
:
Morning Babe , I really hope I’m not waking you, I can’t stop thinking about you and those lips ; ) What’s your plans for today? Miss you already.

That boy is too cute; I really don’t understand why he seems to like me so much. I’ve had small relationships with guys, one or two week long relationships and the guys were good looking but nothing like Drake or definitely not as gorgeous as Jax for that matter. I just can’t fathom why these guys could be interested in me. I know I’m not terrible looking but I’m not gorgeous that’s for sure, apart from when Drake told me I was beautiful no one ever called me that, I was always “hot” or “cute” and I’m guessing the guys that called me that before only said those things to try butter me up to try get somewhere with me.

I send a reply to Drake and it kind of comes out as an essay but I don’t care:

LEXI at 11:36am:
Hay! Nope I actually only saw your message now, LOL sorry about the late reply I had a busy morning & didn’t get a chance to look at my phone. Hmmm these lips huh? Well these lips are waiting for yours. You are such a sweet talker! I’m actually going to lunch with a friend so I’m only going to be home maybe later tonight. What’s your plans?

I look at my next message.

JAX at 07.32am:
Hey Lexi, kinda fell asleep in your bed. It was just so warm and comfortable next to you. I don’t think we should tell anyone about our little sleep over, they wouldn’t understand our friendship and Drake would just look into it as something else and we don’t want a jealous Drake. What are we doing today?

Typical Jax, presuming we were hanging out today.

LEXI at 11:45am:
Jax! It’s okay I don’t mind, yeah the bed was so warm with you next to me I usually freeze my ass off at night & last night I slept like a baby! LOL, yeah I agree. I don’t want to keep secrets from any of them though so I guess we should keep our sleep overs to a minimum ;) besides we’re best friends so last night was fine, it wasn’t like we were hooking up or anything behind their backs it was all friendly. I don’t know what YOU are doing today but I’M going out for lunch with a friend & I’m only going to be back late so maybe I’ll see you tomorrow?