Fix It

Chapter 15 - Dealings

Sophie's P.O.V

The cold air hugged me tightly as I tried to push it off. Shivering from its embrace, I pulled my jacket closer to me. Alex was beside me, hands shoved in his pockets with his beenie low on his forehead. His eyes were wild, searching everywhere without intention. He looked lost and with the news that I broke to him, I don't blame him. His face was still fresh with tears staining his raw cheeks. His lashes brushed his cheeks in comfort, long from the strain of his crying.

He looked broken yet furious, like a hurt lion. An animal filled with pride, 'The King of the jungle' they call it. I've never met one but I believe Alex fits the creature's description well. His eyes held anger, I've read that only a strong man cries when his anger reaches his peak...I never thought the t**t was strong but the way he reacted to such grab news was impeccable. I get angry when I get the wrong flavoured ice cream.

His footsteps were hard and hasty, desperate to reach the museum for assurance and answers. I've fed him nothing but bad news today so I made sure that my sharp tongue dulled a tad bit. I wanted to comfort him, he looked like he needed a hug, just like he did when I broke the news to him. It was about twenty minutes ago in Joe's Ice-cream parlor. I was sitting in the lonely corner, sheltered from human interaction.

We were both eating some ice cream while he waited for my news.

"Um...Remember when I told you that the youngster shouldn't see you?" I rubbed the back of my neck, scared to break the bad news to him. His brows furrowed as he took another scoop of ice cream from his cup. I gently reached out for his hands, holding them in mine, awaiting his answer.

"Yeah, He didn't see me though so what's up?" My knees kept bouncing up and down underneath the table. Alex took note of this and the grip on my hands increased, it became tighter and tighter every minute. "Spit it out already Soph." I wanted to make a sarcastic remark like I usually do but this....this just wasn't the time. “Alex...um…” His knees began to bounce as well. He was clearly getting anxious, so anxious that he began to nibble at his nails as well. “Is it that bad?” The look on my face was filled with nothing but pity. “Yeah….He saw me.”

A bolt of huge lightning struck the tree in front of us. My whole body took a screenshot, terrified of what Mother Nature had in store for this world. What did Zeus want this time? Didn't he taunt us enough? We were near the museum now and I dread calling my dad but I needed to confirm what I told Alex and find a solution. It was as if my life is a pathetic fallacy because as soon as I thought about the bad news the stupid rain began to fall. 'Seriously Zeus, what is your problem!!' The droplets showered the earth. Trying to wash away the pain and suffering but not even the tasteless liquid to stop such a fate.

My hair was soaked and so was my jacket, it felt like I had two offspring in my arms, tugging onto me even though I was trying to put them down. Another huge lighting bolt stuck, this time it was on a light post to the side of us. Alex hugged his jacket closer, pulling his newbie further down his forehead. He reaches for my hand which I gladly took. Running off into the rain, he carried me with him until we reached an old house with a huge porch dry enough for us to rest.

His eyes looked empty but he reached for my jacket, slowly tugging the wet fabric off of my body, thankfully the rain didn't drench my dress nor did it drench his underclothing. Nevertheless, he reached into the bag on his back pulling out a long yellow dress that he stole from his mother's closet. "Here put this on, I'll turn around." How could he forgive me after what I've done? Take care of me after I've ruined his dreams and hopes...hopes and dreams. His reaction to my news should have been worse but it wasn't. I remember him looking at me with pain filling his eyes quickly.

“Huh? What does that have to do with anything?” His hands tightened around my wrists. Not even a pair of soft puppy dog eyes would help him. “Remember when I warned you that no one should see me and you said that it wouldn't matter?”

“No..No...Don’t tell me that it did something...did it rupture the timeline or something?” Tears filled my eyes ready to overflow. “I’m sorry...I’m so sorry," I said, terrified of breaking such a happy spirit. How could my first time in the field be so disastrous? How am I to be the next guardian when I do this!? "Because I’m from a different planet, it did less damage but it still did damage.”

“What damage? Did it...Did it? What did you do?” He asked, stuttering over his words? I took in a huge breath as I prepared to tell him the news that would break him forever.

So why is he here looking after me? I thought that he hated me, wanted me dead or something. The one time that I would actually understand his ridiculous ways he managed to surprise me again. I slowly tugged the half-soaked clothing off of my body before tugging on the sunny dress. My undergarments are soaked but I wouldn't dare tell him that. Just the thought made my stomach flutter. "I-I'm done." He slowly turned around, looking me up and down before moving closer.

Soon he was directly in front of me, I began to step back until I fell onto an old bench beneath me. He bent down, resting on his heels as he brought his hand closer to my face. "You have a little something here." His calloused fingers rubbed something from under my right eye, soon he revealed it to be a lash. Blowing it away I stared at him, confused as to how broken I knew he was yet how we'll he concealed it. Did he always do this?

“Your mother, her time has lessened, she no longer has her three days...she doesn't have much time at all."