Book 3: Chapter 57: Seth

Book 3: Chapter 57: Seth
Seth

Her eyes met mine. The wild green that always held a fire in them, always giving away exactly what she felt if you looked close enough. The heat in her gaze showed both relief and anger, but she looked away first, so I continued. 
“I don’t think we’ve met, I’m Seth.” I put my hand on the younger boy’s shoulder. 
“Oh, Lexy has told us about you!” The little girl, Izzy, squealed excitedly, not giving the boy a chance to respond as she rushed back in with her princess pjs already on. "I can't believe you're here!" 
“Seth, meet Jamie, and Isabelle. Guys, this is Seth. Now go get into bed please. I won’t ask again.” She used her parent voice. The one I'd heard her use on her sisters a million times. “You can pick his brain apart in the morning, Iz. Now go.” 
The kids sulked off, mumbling to themselves, and I stared at Lexy intensely. 
"When did you get here?" She asked after she scanned me over several times, no doubt looking for injuries before she looked back down at her papers. 
"A couple hours ago. I went to my mom's first." I admitted. 
“Go ahead,” She stated tiredly, her voice devoid of all emotions. “Say it.” 
“There’s a little girl in my tent,” I stated, and her head snapped back up. “My mom and her were making cookies when I came in. Is there something you'd like to tell me?” I kept my voice light, hoping that she'd catch the slight teasing, hoping that she would talk to like she used to. 
She seemed lost for a moment. Her lips forming an 'oh' but no sound came out for a moment before she said, "They're my family. I found them at my lowest of lows.They saved me in so many ways. Izzy and Jamie and Lysabeth were all in a prison together. When we got out, they stayed with me, and when that became too unsafe, I left them with your mom who had my sisters. They are the only people who I have not failed completely." Her voice broke slightly, and my heart broke more. She had carried everything on her own for so long now. I didn't know how to make her see that I would help her carry it too. 
I reached for her hand and pulled her up before she had time to protest. 
“You haven’t failed me, Alexandra Jane Marks.” I pulled her close to me, and I could see in her eyes that she was worried about the papers on the ground. I brushed a loose strand of hair out of her face as she looked up at me. “Not even close.” 
I leaned in and kissed her lips softly, closing my eyes, certain I was dreaming. She tasted exactly like I remembered. She w 
“Lexy.” I whispered against her lips when I finally pulled away. “It’s time for bed now, pretty girl.” 
"But I'm working," She tried to argue. 
"It will still be there in the morning." 
I led her toward the flap that I assumed was a bedroom and she as so tired she didn't fight me on it. I hated that defeated look on her face. 
I knew the kids were probably still awake somewhere in the tent, but I took off my shirt and threw it on the floor anyway before climbing into bed next to me. 
“You’re staying?” She mumbled sleepily, and I wondered how long she would have fought her exhaustion if I hadn't walked in. 
“I’m staying.” I confirmed, pulling her close to me. 
“Good.” She mumbled, her eyelids already fluttering close. 
I stared at her for what felt like hours. I couldn't believe how much had changed between us again in such a short period of time. Our fates had always been intertwined. I knew I needed to end things with Kris, but I was hesitating. For 2 years, I had spent every day with her. For 2 years, she had been there for me. A friend in a dark time. She had been the most important person to me during that time when I was convinced Lexy was never coming back. But now Lexy was back, and my heart wanted her more than anything else in the world, and Kris didn't even compare if I was being honest. And the way she was acting, had me cringing that I had ever been sucked into her orbit in the first place. 
Eventually I drifted off, but I awoke when someone's hands pulled on my shoulders. 
"What the hell?" I grumbled, turning over to see Kris in a nightgown that barely came down to her mid-thighs. My eyes grew wide, and I turned back toward Lexy who was still sound asleep on my other arm. "What the hell are you doing here?" 
"Come on," She whispered, giving Lexy a look that told me she also didn't want to be caught in her tent. 
I didn't move. "Why?" 
She didn't answer. She just shook her head and looked around nervously. Like Lexy would wake from her sleep and kill her being in her sacred space. Actually, that didn't feel that far off... 
I slid my arm out carefully from Lexy. I didn't want to leave her. I didn't want her out of my sight at all after the day we'd had. She had put on her brave face and was pretending she was fine, but I knew better. I saw right through her act. She could act tough all she wanted, but I knew something wasn't right with her. There was something about her that felt so broken, but I couldn't pinpoint what exactly, I just knew it was wrong. She was keeping all of us all at a distance and it worried me... A lot. She had every right to hesitate to trust us after everything that had happened 4 years ago, but this was different. 
The bed creaked as I shifted slowly and pointed for Kris to grab my shirt for me. She handed it to me as she stared longingly at my body, and I quickly threw it on before following her out into the night. And when we finally made it out of the tent, I demanded, "What the hell do you want, Kris?"