BullsEye

Chapter Eighteen

Alexa's P . O . V

"Auntie, I'm gonna be perfectly fine for Christ's sake, you don't need to worry about anything Besides, I have Jake with me" I told my auntie for the twenty second time this morning as I've been trying to convince her to board her flight back home that she's planning on suddenly ditching at the very last minute.

"Mom! Come on... You've packed your suitcases already what's with the sudden change of mind?" Jake asked sounding frustrated.

"Who would watch after you kids when I'm away a million kilometers away from you both in an entirely different country" She replied fretting over the issue.

"We'll be fine Mom, you don't need to be worried" Jake stated gliding over to where she stood.

"We'll be fine" I echoed reaching over and taking one of her hands in both of mine.

"If anything happens to either one of you, I won't be able to forgive myself" she replied placing one of her palm on the right side of my cheek and the other on Jake's left cheek shifting her uncertain gaze between us.

"You worry too much mum, we'll be fine." Jake told her while I nodded in support and affirmation.

"You both will be fine?" She asked looking deep into our eyes as tho searching for a trace of assurance.

"We will"

"We will"

Jake and I chorused in response.

"I promise" I added nodding firmly.

"I love you both so much" she declared pulling us both into a warm hug and she went on stating some rules.

"Make sure to call me even if you catch so much as a cold" She added rubbing gentle circles on our backs.

"I'll go put your bags in the car okay?" Jake said pulling out of her embrace and rushing upstairs to fetch her luggages.

"Be safe okay?" She whispered to me.

"I will" I replied tightening our hug.

"Breakfast is ready" Mrs Cruz announced from over the table causing Aunt Audry to loosen her grip on me.

She walked over to where Mrs Cruz stood arranging out little tea mugs and tiny spoons.

I didn't bother to listen in on their conversation because I was totally certain she was going over to promise Mrs Cruz the whole world to just look after us.

I rushed upstairs to find Jake holding two suitcases coming out from the first room by the left on the hallway where Aunt Audry stayed during her many weeks here.

I walked over and helped him with the smaller suitcase and he flashed me an appreciative smile and mouthed a thank you as we climbed down the stairs.

We took the suitcases out of the house and loaded them into the booth of Jake's car then entered back into the house to enjoy our breakfast of Toasted bread and tea.

"I'm gonna miss you both so much" Aunt Audry informed us as we exited the house after she bided farewell to Mrs. Cruz and a few other of the maids present in the house at that moment.

"I'm gonna miss you too Auntie" I replied hugging her slightly.

"Hey! You're gonna miss your flight if we don't get going now" Jake barked out as he urged us over to the car where he stood.

"Don't raise your voice at ladies son" she bit back taking my hand in hers and leading me towards his car.

"Hey! I ain't no driver, who's gonna sit in front with me?" Jake complained eyeing us both as we got comfortable in the back seat.

"Allie come up front" He added when Auntie and I exchanged looks between ourselves chuckling and saying nothing.

"Who's gonna sit behind with Auntie?" I asked increasing my chuckling.

"Oh Jake, would you get in and drive already" Aunt Audry replied rolling her eyes at her son.

Jake climbed in and kick started the car to life and pulled out into the road heading for the airport and the rest of the journey continued with Jake's frequent grumblings as he sped down the road while Aunt Audry and I chatted away.

"You both take good care of yourself okay?" Aunt Audry said to both off us as we rushed into the Airport just in time as the announcement of her flight was being made.

"Take good care of yourself too Mom, I love you" Jake replied pulling her in for a quick hug and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Bye kids" she called out waving as she ventured further leaving us behind.

"Bye"

"Bye"

We chorused as we stood waving and watching till she was out of sight.

"It's me and you now Coz" Jake said smirking at me

"What a nightmare" I replied sighing out loudly.

"No uh.... I believe you meant to say, what a . . ." He started speaking in a way too pleased voice.

"Oh please be quiet and let's go" I said cutting him off as I rolled my eyes at him and snatched the hand he was using to make his self appraising gestures in mine and led him through the thick crowd that probably resembled a large group of tiny ants from far above.

I mouthed several apologies to the many people I bumped into due to my inexperience when it comes to finding my way through crowds of people.

We continued the rest of the journey in silence and that allowed the thoughts that have been in my heart all night to creep back in

"Haples" repeated continuously in my mind as I mindlessly watched the buildings breeze by.

"What's the matter?" Jake asked pulling me back to the present.

"Nothing" I replied shaking my head before sighing and sinking into my sit.

"I've been talking for the past five minutes and you weren't even listening" Jake complained frowning and timing his glances between me and the road as he was still driving.

"Did that lady at the office say something to you?" Jake added in a softer voice when I didn't respond.

"What lady?" I asked immediately turning to face him interested by his question.

"That Miss Brown lady from the office" He replied in a serious tone.

"You've been spacing out since ever then and you're doing it again" he added not giving me a chance to speak. Well, not that i had any words to speak.

"If she said something to you then I swear she's getting fired first thing tomorrow morning" he continued clenching his fists on the steering wheel and doing the same thing with his teeth.

"Who fires someone on their first day of work?" I asked chuckling and totally ignoring the seriousness in his voice.

"A concerned big cousin" he replied placing one hand on his chest as if to show his sincerity.

"So come on, tell me, what's the matter?" He asked me returning the seriousness to his voice.

"It's just..... I've been feeling suffocated recently" I simply told him.

"Why?" He inquired

"You know, being at home in the same house where I grew up with my family and now it's just me, like...... It's really affecting my mental health. I think i really need a long vacation" I lied not wanting him to know the real reason behind my wanting to leave. Not that it was completely a lie though, because if I'm being honest with myself, that house brings a lot of memories I needed to be away from for the time being.

"I could arrange for a flight so you could go join my Mom over there in L.Q, she'll be more than happy to have you" Jake reasoned thoughtfully.

"Oh? And have her take us for a surgery and permanently attach me to herself? No thank you" I immediately declined which caused Jake to laugh out loudly.

"So tell me, where do you wanna go?" He asked

I am definitely going to Haples i concluded inwardly even without thinking.

"I don't know..... I just wanna go somewhere I'll be alone and clear my head for sometime" I replied him returning my eyes back to the road.

"Okay, we'll plan towards that together when we get back home" he concluded.

"But there's one more thing!" I said immediately after nodding my head in agreement with his conclusion.

"What's that?" He asked facing me briefly.

"Auntie is so not gonna let me go off on my own, it will take her nothing to catch the next flight back home" I informed him frowning.

"Don't worry about my Mom, I'll handle this one for you, just leave her to me" he replied chuckling.

"Aww..... Aren't you my Favorite cousin" I cooed pulling at his cheek.

He slapped my hand away from his cheek and beamed with pride as I praised him.

Well technically, he was my only cousin because Mom was the only child of her parents which left me no maternal Aunties nor Uncles not to even talk of cousins and Jake on the other hand, was the only son of Aunt Audry which basically meant nothing calling him my favourite cousin because I got no other cousin but seeing how sheepishly he was smiling at my comment, i just let it slide.

"We're home" Jake announced as he pulled over in front of the house.

"Oh.. are we? I totally didn't recognize my own house" I replied in a sarcastic tone as I got out of the car after yanking the seatbelt off and stretched my body yawning loudly.

"Someone looks exhausted" Jake commented as he walked over to where I stood.

"Totally" I replied nodding.

"Come on, let's go in, have plenty of rest then we'll plan your vacation" Jake said holding out his hand for me.

"When do you intend on leaving?" He inquired when I took his hand in mine.

"As soon as possible" I replied shrugging as I held out my free hand and grabbed the door knob.

"I'll be in my room, we'll talk over dinner" Jake informed me as we climbed up the stairs.

"Yeah Yeah Yeah....... It's fine" I replied waving him off as I increased my pace and ran off leaving him behind.

I entered my room and kicked off my shoes then jumped head first without thinking on my bed.

And in went my head slamming into the headboard with too much force.

"Ouch!".