Lonely Hearts

Chapter nineteen: Lincoln

I kissed Skye's cheek.

"Good morning, my love." I whispered.

She blinked awake slowly and smiled up at me, snuggling into me.

"Good morning." She mumbled into my chest.

"I'm getting out of here today." I said. "I need to find them. I need to find them today."

"Why?"

"Because I can feel myself losing hope."

"How are you going to find them?" She asked.

"I'll find a way."

She yawned. "Alright. Let me have a shower first."

She slipped out of bed and wandered into the bathroom whilst I watched her go.

Elliott appeared in the doorway and frowned at me.

"Can we talk?" He asked.

"About what?" I muttered, yawning again.

"About you and Skye."

"Can't it wait until I'm actually awake?"

"I find people are more truthful when they're too tired to think of a lie." He said. "What do you want with her?"

"She offered to help and I didn't have the strength to turn her down." I muttered, stretching on the bed.

He chuckled.

"What do you want with her?" He asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "Are you asking me if I'm going to use her?" I asked. "Or if I love her?"

He considered this for a moment.

"Both." He replied.

I shrugged. "I'm not going to let her down."

"That's not an answer."

I smirked. "I'm not going to use her."

"Still not an answer."

"So what do you want me to say?"

"Do you love her?" He asked.

I paused. I didn't love her. Not now. Not yet. But she made me happier than I'd been in a long, long time.

"I think I could learn to." I said eventually.

He gave me a long look.

"Well when you figure it out." He said, "let me know."

I grinned. "Will do."

~*~

Once I was showered and dressed, I bounced on the balls of my feet impatiently whilst Skye and Elliott said a long goodbye.

"You ring me if he gets out of line, yeah?" He asked.

I rolled my eyes as Skye reluctantly agreed.

"I'll see you soon, Skye." He said as I took her hand and pulled her away.

"Bye." Skye called as we walked down the street.

She sighed and fell into step beside me.

"Where are we going?" She asked.

"Just for a walk. It would do us good to get some fresh air." I said.

"You're not so keen on Ellie, are you?" She said, smirking.

"What makes you say that?" I murmured.

"You've been itching to get out of there since we arrived." She told me.