Trapped In Lace

Thirty Nine

"What's going on mum?" I ask as we walk inside

"It's your grandad" she says

"What about him?" I ask

"He uh... he died" dad says

"What?" I state in shock tearing up

"What do you mean he's died? I was going to visit him next week" i say tears falling down my face

"Lily, i know" my dad says

"But- why?" I ask and only now I'm realising that my hands are shaking and Lizzie holds my hand, I look down to see her crying and I pick her up and hug her

"A chest infection" my mum says

"When's the funeral?" Leo asks

"Two days" my dad says

"We're flying home tomorrow night" my mum says and i nod

"How long for?" Emma asks as Leo hugs her

"We're spending Christmas there" my dad says and i nod

"Do the public know?" I ask

"Your grandmas is putting out a statement at seven, which is in ten minutes. We wanted to tell you before you found out by someone else" my mum says

"Is there no way we can bring him back?" Lizzie asks

"Unfortunately sweetheart we can't" my mum says trying to keep herself together for us and I put Lizzie down and walk over to my mum and hug her

"It's okay to cry mum" I say

"I don't want to upset everyone" she says

"You won't, crying just makes you human" I say and she smiles gratefully at me

"Come on Lizzie, let's go and... I don't know" Emma says

They all trail out of the living room and it's just me standing in it and i put my hands over my mouth.

He's gone.

I need to get some fresh air, I can't.

I can't, I can't think straight.

I walk out of the house and I just keep walking.

•

•

I think it's been more than an hour.

I've been sat under this oak tree for what feels like forever but I just can't stop crying.

"Lily?" A voice asks and I see Alex walk towards me

"Why aren't you answering your phone?" He asks, "everyone's looking for you"

"I didn't take it with me" i sniffle

"I'm sorry about your grandad" he says

"It's okay, it's not your fault" i say and he pulls me into a hug and I wrap my arms around him and cry.

"I'm sorry I'm getting your shirt all tear stained" I say

"I can buy a new shirt" he mumbles

"God why am I so pathetic, I'm going to be an awful queen. Running away at the first sign on tragedy" i say

"No, your going be an amazing queen. I saw how you were with those kids today, lily your brilliant with them. You talked to each and every single one of them, like a human being, equally. Christ, you got a job so you could send equipment to people in Kenya who need it. Your the most caring and generous person I know. Lily your amazing and you need to stop being so hard on yourself and you need to give yourself some credit" he tells me

"Thank you, your not too bad either" i say and he chuckles

"I'm going home to England tomorrow" I say

"You are?" He asks and i nod

"Looks like it's not going to be my first Christmas in America" i say

"There's always next year" he says

There really isn't.

"Can you tell Mary that I won't be able to work until I come back?" I ask and he nods

"Yeah, but I think she's closing until Christmas tomorrow anyway" he says and i nod

"How did you know where I was?" I ask him

"Just a gut feeling" he says and i nod

"I should get back to where I'm staying" I say

"I'll drive you" he says

"Thank you" i say

"It's no problem" he says and we both stand up we walk along the path and i feel something land on my head.

I look up and it starts to snow.

"It's snowing" i say

"It is" he says and i smile

"My grandad always said and this is kind of creepy, but he said the day he dies you'll know about it because it will either be sunny or snowy" I say

"What?" Alex asks confused and i laugh

"I know, I didn't get it either but... is there some sort of special powers in this family I don't know about?" I ask and he chuckles as the snow is coming down quicker

I look up to the sky, "it's really snowing"

"It's your christmas wish" Alex says and I turn to him and hug him.

"It is" i say and he hugs me back and I pull away from him.

I look up at him.

God has he grown again?

"If you mention another thing about my height I won't be happy" he says and i laugh

"There's the lily smile I know" he says

"The lily smile?" I ask

"You know when you laugh and you smile at the same time and then your eyes disappear" he says and i laugh before stopping suddenly

"Oh my god they do" i say seriously

"Don't worry, it's a cute trait" he says and I look up at him

"You think I'm cute?" I ask

"You think I'm a Greek god" he says and i blush

"You've got me there" i say

"Wow, I never thought you'd admit it" he says

"Well, I can't deny it" i say and all of a sudden the wind blows and my hood blows down and my hair flies everywhere

"Alright grandad, calm it with the wind!" I shout and Alex laughs

The wind actually stops, "okay that's creepy"

"Yeah but it's so cool, do it again" Alex says and i laugh

"Like what? Blow us over with the wind?" I ask and he laughs

All of a sudden the biggest gust of wind makes me stumble back and grab onto his arm for support but he just ends up falling with me.

I scream slightly and Alex just laughs.

He lands next to me before standing up laughing at me.

He offers me his hand and I take it and he pulls me up and our bodies are much closer than we expected.

I look up at him and his eyes trail to my lips and my eyes flicker to his lips before up to his eyes again.

He leans in and i find myself moving towards him and he presses his lips against mine, I move my arms up around his neck and his hands move to my lower waist pulling me in closer and I stand on my the tips of my toes.

The kiss just feels like everything in the world is just silent, like it's just us and nothing else. I've never experienced anything like this with anyone before and it's addicting.

We pull away from each other and we smile at each other. He takes my hand and we walk towards the car.