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Chapter Eight

Alex?s P.O.V

I raced over to Matt?s home, my heart racing with me. This was poor news. Quite bad news. How could Paige be missing? This just wasn?t right.

I barged into the all too familiar residence, which occupied each of Paige and Matt?s parents, stood within the kitchen, each on the phone with stone-cold, hard, worried stares. Matt rushed over to me quickly. I took him by the shoulders and gave him a penetrating stare.

?Exactly where is she?? I asked.

?I don?t know.? He croaked, looking close to tears.

?I?m going to discover her.? I stated gruffly, turning on my heal and heading for the door.

?Then I?m coming too.? Matt insisted, following me.

?No. Wait here for the police. Stay along with your parents. I’ve my telephone. I?ll be fine.?

And without waiting for a reply, I left.

I ran by means of the streets, calling Paige?s name; I couldn?t have cared much less who heard me. After-school?s events ran via my head repeatedly. What was wrong with her? Everything that had happened was just so in contrast to her. I knew one thing was certainly wrong.

By the time my heart had lost all traces of hope, it was dark. I need to have been searching the streets for hours, and as every passed, the glimmer of hope decreased little by small. Slumped against a wall, I pulled my phone out of my pocket to call Matt, and see if there had been any news. As I did, I realized I had 1 new message. From Matt.

Check Amber?s grave.

Yes!

How could I not have thought of that?

I sprinted there, and by the time I reached my destination, I was breathless and close to having a mild asthma attack. I had asthma, but throughout the last few years, it had by no means fazed me. But then, as I had ran so far and so quick in such a short quantity of time, I could really feel it getting the identical old effect on my lungs, all over once again.

I turned the corner into the graveyard, and my eyes right away fell on Amber?s grave.

She wasn?t there.

I felt my entire spirit sink. Wonderful. Tears truly sprung to my eyes as I turned to walk away, but I didn?t cry. I had to be robust about this. I had to maintain up my hopes, and my chin held high.

The walk property was cold, and very lonely. I dragged my feet along on the ground, with slumped shoulders. My hands had been very happily hibernating inside the warmth of my pockets, whilst my heart lay dead in my chest, cold and empty. I wished Paige was with me, for me to hug and cuddle and kiss and tell her I love her. But then once more, didn?t she in no way wish to see me once again? Or was I mistaken there? I was so confused.

As I walked property, I heard distant cries and screams for assist. I froze. Could they be the cries of Paige? I followed the noise.

It lead me to an Alley way. I was wary about going down it. But when I saw a gang, and somebody lying helplessly on the ground, something told me it was Paige. I ran full speed at them and knocked 1 of them to the ground using a thump. Following escaping my grip, I looked up in the others. I was taller than them, but a entire lot younger. It looked like I could beat them up in no time.

?Leave? Or do you would like to wind up like that prick??

They ran.

I turned to the girl on the floor, who, I can confirm, was Paige. She was barely conscious, and weeping weakly. I bet down to her. She was battered and bruised, and her eye was so swollen I couldn?t see it. I pulled my jacket off and wrapped it about her body, which was trembling. She pushed away slowly, and I gripped onto her beaten body, pulling her into my arms.

Paige?s P.O.V

?It?s ok, sweetheart. They?re gone now. They?re all gone. And I?m here. You are perfectly secure.?

?Alex.? I whispered in recognition, finally leaning into his warm body. ?You are able to?t be here.?

?Yes, I can, and I’m.?

?They?ll hurt me.? I croaked. He ignored me, shaking his head. He almost certainly though I was semi-delirious from the injuries or some thing.

?Let?s get you property, gorgeous. I?m going to make you really feel all greater.? He told me.

He managed to get me on my feet, but the walk house was slow and hard. I kept slipping in and out of consciousness, and though my home was literally about the corner, it was a struggle. Alex kept me up against his body, and he finally managed to obtain me into the residence, where I suddenly woke up a lot more to the sudden bright lights and alter of scenery.

Matt, dad and mum appeared, and immediately started throwing their worries and abuses at me.

They?re shouting disoriented and upset me, and I felt sick all of a sudden. It was all becoming too much, so I turned to Alex, who was stood behind me, and buried my face in his chest. His arms came around me, and I heard him desperately trying to defend me, telling mum, dad and Matt of the injuries and nightmares I?d had to suffer from that evening. As I stood in Alex?s arms, I blacked out.

Matt?s P.O.V

Mum, Dad and I stopped having a go at Paige as soon as Alex bravely stood up for her, holding her against his chest. I watched her as she shook, and suddenly, seemed to lose all of her stability, and fell limp in Alex?s arms. Alex caught her just before she fell, revealing to us that she?d passed out.

?It?s ok! She was performing it on the way house. She?s going to be alright.? Alex told us as mum and dad started to panic, lying her on the sofa within the living room. Mum and Dad sat beside her worriedly, stroking her gently. We questioned Alex about her eye, and he repeated to us the whole story of what had happened.

?My poor baby girl.? Mum whispered, and Dad went off to notify the police of her safe return. I talked to Alex, and I told him what she?d told me soon after school. He frowned.

?None of this seems to create any sense at all.? He said, and I shrugged.

?I know. But she requirements a good rest. We?ll talk to her tomorrow.?

Alex?s P.O.V

All night I stayed up. All night, watching Paige sleep. I refused to go anyplace, I refused to return home and I definitely refused to sleep. Matt sat with me, keeping me firm. Although in contrast to me, he drifted in and out of sleep the entire night. I couldn?t sleep.

I eventually convinced Matt to return to his bed to sleep. We?d moved Paige to her bed earlier in the evening for her to sleep in. I figured we could all miss school for the day, and recover from the drama. His parents left for work at 6, soon after checking up on Paige. I told them she?d be fine, and she?d be in my very secure hands. They gave me their numbers in case something happened, and left. At 6:30, the exhaustion started kicking in right after doing an all-nighter, and I discovered my eye-lids slowly drooping to a close. But I managed to remain awake, and after not too lengthy, Paige began to stir.

Paige?s P.O.V

I came to and saw light behind my eyelids. I felt a soft, warm hand caressing my cheek in a perfectly gentle, soothing way. I felt my hand in somebody else?s, and I knew, I just knew, that I was safe. All the recent incidents I?d been through flashed by means of my mind in moments, and I winced at the memories. They were too difficult to forget, and too easy to keep in mind.

?Paige? Wake up for me, Paige. You?re safe now. Wake up??

It was Alex.

No. He shouldn?t be here.

I battled against my eyelids, and eventually, they flickered open. I stared at Alex, who was sat beside me, with massive, dark shadows beneath his eyes. He looked exhausted, but wonderful, as usual. I thought about what Sinead had told me.

Stay away.

?You shouldn?t be here.? I told him, tears filling my eyes.

?Yes I ought to, darling.? He told me softly, stroking my hair. ?I need to be here.?

?No. She?ll hurt me?? I stated, beginning to tremble.

?Who? Who?s hurt you, sweetheart??

?I can?t say??

?But-?

?Go, Alex. You can?t remain here.? I told him, sitting up slowly. My head spun, but I kept my balance and managed to obtain myself up into a sitting position.

?But I-?

?Go!? I cried out, the tears spilling out of my eyes. ?It is possible to?t be here!? My throat ached and my face stung and I was in so significantly discomfort I wanted to sleep once more, just to escape it. Matt came operating into the room the second he heard me cry out.

?Paige! What?s happened?!? He asked, falling beside my bed and stroking my face.

?Alex can?t be here?he can?t?? I sobbed. I could sense the confusion in between Alex and Matt.

?Speak to us, sweetheart. Tell us what?s wrong.? Matt told me. I looked up in the two caring boys sat smiling at me. I?d have to tell them. I had no selection.

And should you tell everyone about this, you may by no means again see the light of day?

Sinead?s words gave me shivers. No. I couldn?t tell them.

What could I do?

I told them in the end. I couldn?t keep it inside of me any longer.

?Yesterday, at school. Sinead came up to me when I was on my own?she-?

?Wait.? Matt interrupted me. ?This is Sinead Roberts, appropriate??

?Yeah.? I confirmed.

?I think I met her at a party when.? Alex stated. ?Anyway. Carry on.?

I swallowed nervously, and Alex?s arm slid around me as he perched on the edge of the bed.

?She pushed me more than, telling me I was never allowed to see Alex once more. She said that I had to break up with him immediately, and if she ever saw me with him again, she?d?she?d kill me.? I whispered the last bit, scared of their responses. They looked dumbstruck. I carried on.

?She told me that Alex was?hers. She beat me up a bit, and that scared me, because I knew when she stated she?d hurt me, she wasn?t just saying it. I knew she?d do it too.?

?What a bitch.? Alex whispered. A small, barely recognizable laugh escaped my lips, and Alex leapt up, storming towards the door angrily.

?She is so flipping dead! When I get to her I?m-?

?Alex!? Matt stated, pulling him back into the room. ?She isn?t crucial now! 1st, we cope with Paige. We?ll sort her later.? Matt reasoned.

?You?re appropriate.? Alex said ultimately. He looked at me and need to have noticed the distressed expression in my face. He raced to my side, exactly where he pulled me into his arms and held me as the sobs escaped me.

Finally. This is exactly where I?ve wanted to be for hours. In his arms.

Matt comforted me too, as the two boys questioned me for a lot more details. I told them everything I could. It was upsetting, telling them all the details. But it was even worse to speak about what had happened the night ahead of.

?What happened, after we argued? Exactly where did you go?? Matt asked me, and I looked away.

?I?I ran away because I was upset. I went to Amber?s grave, for a actually lengthy time. That?s why I went down the alleyway. I lost track of time, so I took a shortcut.? I spoke quietly, and Alex sighed, clearly exasperated. I gnawed at my bottom lip as he ran his hand by way of his hair. There was a penetrating silence.

?Don?t look so worried.? Alex told me, kissing the top of my head gently. I rested my head on his shoulder.

?I?m genuinely sorry. I didn?t mean to worry you each. I didn?t feel any of this would take place; I-?

?Shh. Stop it now, darling. We don?t mind at all, do we, Matt?? Alex asked. He shook his head.

?Obviously not. We were just worried, that?s all.?

?Excellent.? I said, and prior to we could carry the conversation on, the phone rang.

?Let me get that.? Matt said, jumping up and finding the phone. Alex grinned down at me in this almost evil way, and I laughed.

?Yes?? I asked.

?We?re alone?finally.? Alex pointed out, and I nodded, raising my hand to his face, and stroking the area just below his eyes, were dark shadows lingered, proving to me his exhaustion.

?You?re tired.? I stated just, and he shrugged.

?Not truly. I?m fine. Don?t be concerned about me, sweetheart.?

?How much did you sleep last night??

He didn?t reply. He didn?t take his eyes off mine, and watched me intently as I watched him. It looked as if he was attempting to choose whether to lie or not.

?Don?t lie.? I told him. He looked shocked. I had clearly read his thoughts. ?Tell me how much you slept last night.?

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, smiling slightly, as if to distract me. He didn?t succeed.

?I didn?t.? He stated.

?You didn?t sleep?? I asked, shocked.

?How could I?? He asked, gently caressing the back of my neck. ?When you had practically broken up with me, then run away, got mugged and beaten in an alley way, and then passed out on me inside the hallway. How could I?? He said, but he was smiling when he said it, and when he spoke, I could tell he was kidding.

Guilty. I felt incredibly guilty. I bit my bottom lip, and looked down.

?Sorry.? I said, but I felt two of his fingers tilt my chin back up to meet his eyes, which had been glowing with kindness, and he smiled softly.

?Don?t be,? he told me, but before the conversation could progress, Matt returned using the phone in his hand, holding it out to me.

?Mum wants to speak to you.? He stated basically, and I took the phone.

?Mum?? I asked into the telephone.

?Oh, Paige! Thank god you?re ok!?

?I?m fine mum.? I promised. ?Just a bit tired.?

?Nicely, I want you to stay in bed. Is Alex still with you??

?Yes, Alex is with me.? I grinned up at him and he grinned back.

?Very good. Make certain they each appear right after you. And get rest! Recognize? We?ll be back early right now, ok??

?Ok, mum. I love you.? I told her.

?I love you too.? She told me, and I passed the phone back to Matt. He wondered out of the room, speaking to mum. I snuggled back into Alex?s chest. But he pulled away and when I looked at him, he narrowed his eyes and smiled.

?What? Are you currently trying to seduce me?? I asked.

?Are you seducible?? He asked having a cheeky grin along with a raise of his left eyebrow. I pushed him playfully.

?Don?t quote films.? I told him, referring to the line he?d repeated from A Walk To Keep in mind. A confused look covered his gorgeous face.

?What do you mean??

I searched his eyes for traces of sarcasm. But he seemed completely genuine. I was shocked. Had he in no way observed the film?!

?Have you never ever seen it? A Walk To Keep in mind??

?No?? He replied.

?We need to watch it then. Together. Later, or one thing.? I told him, and he nodded.

?I?d adore that.? He told me.