Love Lengths

Chapter Eighteen

Kyle

He'd carried her back to the car and driven back to his place, she was asleep the whole time. He called the doctor after putting her to bed; she woke briefly and insisted the doctor not come out again, so she spoke to him on the phone and he gave a good old bollocking for pushing herself far too far, far too quick. She fell back asleep then; just in time as Paul knocked at the door the minute Kyle sat in the living room.

"Johnson, what the f**k have you been doing? I was worried man, you always tell me if you're not coming in." he thundered through the door as Kyle gave him a stern look and demanded that he be quiet.

"Is your mum back yet?" his brow c****d, he looked at Kyle's worried face; Kyle shook his head a blew out an exhausted sigh.

"Man, you're not going to believe me I tell you." and with that, he gave a brief explanation of everything; Lexi, the fight, finding and following Maggie; her parents and then today. Kyle left out the part about Maggie being a Seer and him being destined to be her mate; he thought it was probably better that way, though he hated lying to Paul.

"What were you thinking?" Paul demanded of Kyle, "You took a knife from a guy who attacked you, and then followed a girl home?" he was furious; "Did you not hear about that psycho attacking girls?"

"Of course I f*****g did, why do you think I followed her home? She was walking home alone from town to f*****g Hellingham. You've seen her in school, she'd never have f*****g made it against someone like that." Kyle squared up to his best friend, the situation quickly diffused as Kyle blew out a big sigh, sat down and put his head in his hands.

"I don't know what to do Paul, there's something else." he whimpered, near tears for the first time in front of Paul since his father had died. 

"What is it Kyle? You didn't f**k her did you?" Kyle glared at his friend in disgust and spat his next words.

"Don't f*****g joke you asshole, you have no idea what you're talking about. She's amazing, and damaged, you have no idea." he shook his head.

"Then tell me, bud, what is it?" he asked, concern filled his face.

"It's Ashton, Paul." His face went from concern, to anger at the mention of his name, to confusion; before he could ask anything further Kyle finished his thought, "Two years ago, he... I don't know if I can, Paul he..." Kyle had to fight back the anger, and the bile, that rose within him, "Paul. He r***d her."

Paul's face fell into shock as he stared, wide-eyed, at his weeping best friend and they both turned at the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. 

Maggie halted on the stairs, he could hear her; he'd tried to hide his visitor and Maggie from each other until they were ready; now seemed like as good a time as any. 

Kyle lifted himself from the settee and headed tentatively up to where he saw Maggie perched delicately on the step in the middle of the staircase; he reached out his hand to her, asking her to come down, pleading her with his eyes and waited for her to take his hand, revelling in the lightening bolts that shocked through his veins when they touched. He smiled into her and reached to caress her cheek as she leant into his hand.

"Honey I'm sorry if we woke you; my best friend Paul is here. He came to check on me and he brought our work, at my request." Maggie stiffened under his words and darted her eyes towards the living room door. "Are you okay to come in with us?" he asked her. She looked stunned, as if in disbelief that he'd asked her and not demanded it of her; she nodded gently and took a deep breath before standing and leaning on him to help her down the stairs and into the room. 

Holding her hand, he closed his eyes and focussed on his thoughts; 'You're safe Maggie. I've known this guy all my life. He's my best friend. He will not hurt you, I promise.' nodding, she eased a little bit and slowly made her way in to meet Paul.

                                                                                        * * *

She positioned herself slightly behind Kyle, showing only half of herself and politely declined his hand shake, Kyle gave Paul a quick shake of the head to reassure him not to worry. Maggie and Kyle sat on the couch and Paul on the seat opposite; it was a long and awkward silence, Maggie could hear Kyle breathing heavily, she took his hand and looked into his eyes; 'I have told him about Ashton. I'm sorry. He does not know that you are a Seer.' she blinked and released his hand, running her hand through her long hair she looked at Paul.

"I'm sorry I kept him from school today, I'm assuming he old you what happened last night?" Her voice was small, weak, almost ashamed as she spoke to him; Paul nodded at her and grunted uncomfortably.

"Look, Maggie, I'm sorry for what happened to you, I really am. I've got my own issues with Johnson's cousin and I'd happily take mine out on him along with yours. I don't know you, you don't know me. But he says you're special," he jerked his thumb at Kyle and said "and that's good enough reason for me to move in on that prick." he spat the last words out and Maggie smiled sweetly and declined the offer of revenge.

She tried to explain to them that she didn't enjoy the idea of exacting revenge; she only wanted it so that no-one else suffered at the hands of Ashton.