Expect The Unexpected

Chapter 11

My shoulder is being shaken roughly.

"Elizabeth? Lizzy, wake up!"

I groan, nuzzling into my pillow.

"Elizabeth!"

It's Mom.

"Lizzy, honey, wake up!"

I open my eyes slowly, looking around the room.

I fell asleep on Ben's shoulder. My head is on his lap now.

I sit up.

"What?" I mumble.

"Do you want to change?" Mom asks. "You're in a lot of clothes."

"What time is it?" I mumble.

"Ten thirty." Ben replies.

I nod slowly and stand up.

"Let me go get stuff from the truck."

I stumble slightly as I get up.

I feel drunk.

I've slept about an hour and a half in three days, and that was just now.

"I'll go with you." Ben says.

I don't reply, I just shove my feet in my boots and stumble into the garage.

Ben follows me after he puts his boots and coat on.

I go outside and I get to the truck when I realize I don't have my keys.

Tired, I rest my head against the ice cold metal.

I don't have a coat. I'm shaking.

"I forgot my keys." I mumble.

He takes his coat off and drapes it around my shoulders, and then hands me the keys.

Exhausted, I shove the key in the door and twist it.

It opens, and I crawl inside.

He crawls in the passenger side and shuts his door, making it clear we're not going anywhere.

I shut my door also, and start the truck, blasting the heat.

The air is cold right now.

I slide across the bench seat, into his warm arms.

He holds me for a long time. The truck heats up and I turn the heat down.

The only sound is the wind and my air vent. It's nice and cozy and quiet.

"You know, it took me a week after I left to realize how stupid I was." I whisper, pulling away from him to look at him.

"What do you mean?" he asks.

"I mean, I'm in love with you. It's you. It's always been you."

He's quiet for a long time, studying me.

"You mean that?" he whispers.

I nod.

"Yes."

We're quiet for a long time, him studying my face, me studying his.

"God, you have no idea how long I've been waiting to hear you say that." He whispers, and then he leans across the bench seat and closes the distance between our lips.

ALEX'S POV

"They're not back yet?" Stephen asks.

"No."