Graffiti

Chapter Sixteen:

"What are you doing?" Alex asked. His cheeks were red from the cold, his ears were sticking out of his thick black hair. His sea coloured eyes were calculating my every move. He'd thrown on some old leather jeans and a white shirt. 

I, however, had my hair tied up, was wearing a thick black jumper and a pair of Alex's jeans. I was also packing. "I'm leaving," I said, monotone.  "I'm sorry, I just can't do this, OK? You're never going to settle down with someone like me, and even if you were, I'm not ready for that, so it's for the best if I just leave."

Alex dropped the orange bag he was holding and ran over to me. My white case was strewn on the sofa, lounging there without a care in the world. "Where are you going?" Alex asked, prodding at my clothes in the suitcase. 

"Anywhere. As long as it's at least five-hundred miles away from here." Tears were forming in my eyes and only the shadow of Macon outside of the cabin stopped me from turning to Alex and telling him everything. 

"You mean, you're leaving? Tonight? On a train?" 

"More like a plane," I confessed. Alex looked so heartbroken, and I just couldn't face it any more. I grabbed my case, dragged it to the front door and prepared myself for leaving. Hot breath tickling my neck prevented me from opening the door. 

"Please," Alex whispered in my ear. "Stay. I promise, I can change." 

Oh, Alex, I wanted to say, you're perfect just the way you are. And, I love you because of it. I'm so, so sorry, I wish it could be different. 

"No. I've made up my mind. I'm going." 

Alex growled and slammed his palm against the door. "No," he ordered. "You're not going, and, if you do, I'll follow you. Do you want to know why? Because... Because... I love you, OK? I love you. I love you. I love you." Alex had paled and was watching for my reaction. 

I masked my face, inside, though, I could hear my heart shattering into a thousand, million tiny little pieces. "Move your hand," I said in a thick voice. 

"You're still leaving?" Alex asked, absolutely horrified at the idea.

I had to be tough. I mustered up all my strength and turned to face him. "What? Did you seriously think that three tiny words were going to change my mind? I bet you say that to every girl who has walked out on you before. Let me guess, you love me like you love cheese pizza? You love me so much that when a newer, better version comes around, you'll just stay with me? 

"I'm not stupid, Alex. I know when I'm being played. But, I don't blame you, OK? It's me, I promise you, I'm just so bored of this city and it's pretty little lights. You know that I don't stay long, it's my nature. I'm trapped here, I have to get out before I suffocate."

Alex stepped back and I felt horrified. I was making a terrible mistake. I had to stop. I needed him to understand. That was when it happened. I let numerous tears streak downy face in uneven patterns.

"You promised me," Alex began, his voice shook with emotion. "You promised that you'd stay with me. You said you were starting to fall in love with me! What happened?"

All of a sudden, in some uncanny way, Alex's bright green eyes became coated in an unexplainable darkness and lost their happiness. His black hair had been run through his hands that many times that it was sticking up in all directions.

"Goodbye, Alex," I whispered as I opened the paneled door.

"No!" Alex gasped. "I don't believe you. Something has happened, you wouldn't just leave. What's wrong? Tell me! I can help you! Please... Just don't leave!"

I shut my eyes tight and tried to block everything out. "Alex," I gurgled out through my tears. "I can't tell you, I'm so sorry. I have to leave; I'm protecting you."

The shadow of Macon stepped forward and I knew that I'd given too much away. "I'm protecting you from me," I hastily added.

The shadow retreated.

Before Alex could even say anything else, I grabbed the case and started to traipse away, silent tears flowing down my face. My blurry vision was probably the reason for bumping into someone. Their arms went around me and squeezed me tight.

I breathed in... Alex. He'd somehow gotten in front of me and was stopping me from escaping.

"No, Luna. You're hiding something. I will not let you go, I want you, OK? No one else. You. I don't care what you've done, how bad it is, I will help you, but you have to trust me.

"I've only known you for a few weeks, but I know that you run when things get too tough, and that's fine. It really is. I'm just not letting you go this time, I won't let you run. You're going to face the problem. With me by your side. For ever." 

Alex's little speech just brought on more tears and suddenly I was like a human water fountain. "Alex," I whispered as I dropped my case carelessly to the floor, and wrapped my arms around his waist like a cobra. "Alex, I'm sorry, it's your dad."

Alex, like lightening, pulled out of the hug and grabbed my shoulders. For some incomprehensible reason, he was searching my body. "Did he hurt you?" Alex asked frantically. I shook my head.

"He said that if I didn't leave... He'd kill me, which I didn't mind until he said that it would affect you. I swear, I wasn't going to leave but then he said he'd follow you, and- and I couldn't see a way out. Now, though, I've ruined everything! He'd said he'd shoot you if I told you! Oh, Alex, I'm so sorry! It's all my fault," I whined. 

"Hey, it's OK." Alex grabbed my case and suddenly his muscles tensed like a snake ready to pounce. 

"Well, well, well. Son, hasn't it been such a long time?" Macon's gruff voice asked. I slowly turned around, to be welcomed by the sight of a pistol. The long, sleek black barrel was pointing directly at...

Me.