26

Listen, I am a nice girl.

So if I'm a bitch to

You, you need to ask

Yourself why.

We're two weeks later. In those two weeks, I've received three more threats, each worse than the last. The day I woke up, the boys had decided that from now on, wherever I go, one of them should be with me. I had refused but the boys did not allow themselves to change their minds. Alex stays with me most of the time. He walks with me to classes and sneaks into my bed in the evening, "Because something can happen in the night too" Alex had said with a grin when I asked him the first night what he was doing in my room. Jax and Owen stay with me when Alex can't or when I want another company.

It is now December and almost Christmas, and so is my birthday. We now have a week of exams and then a week of deliberations before the holiday starts. I am having dinner with my friends when I see Kim and Finn arguing in the distance. Anxiously I look to the words exchange when Kim steps back to us. She has tears in her eyes but pretends nothing has happened. I put my hand on hers and squeeze it reassuringly. The relationship between Kim and Finn hasn't been going so well for a few days.

Kim had drunk a little too much after a match and had mistaken another boy for Finn. She had stepped to him and kissed him, right in front of the real Finn who had gone to get her a glass of water.' He wants to take a break in our relationship, to think,' she says as she rests her head on my shoulder. I squeeze her hand again compassionately.

Kim and Finn are super in love but Finn's heart has been broken, so I understand he wants some time to heal it back. On the other hand, I also feel sorry for Kim because Kim wanted to tell Finn that night that she loves him. A break would break her heart, too. I look next to me where Alex is, and I think about how lucky I am with him. Kim apologizes and goes to the bathroom. I move closer again to Alex who puts his arm around my waist and kisses me on the cheek.

Our relationship has become very strong, we know everything about each other. It seems like I have known him all my life even though we have only been together for two months. I still feel the butterflies in my belly when he touches me and my cheeks turn red when he looks at me. I also give him a kiss on his jaw which makes him smile sincerely. 'Not at the table. And not in front of us. It's weird to see our little sister with our best friend being sticky,' Jax and Owen both say with disgust on their faces. Alex grins at them and gives me a kiss on my mouth which makes Owen and Jax jump straight out of their chairs. 'I would start running' I say to Alex.

Alex also jumps straight and starts running with Jax and Owen on his heels. I look at the three of them laughing as Alex is being tackled by Owen. I look at my girlfriends, 'Do you want to go Christmas shopping later today?' I ask them excitedly. They're both nodding, yes. "No," Alex says when he puts himself next to me again. "No?" I look at him questioningly. "No. You're not going shopping without one of us and we have training so no one can come with you," he says seriously.

I look him straight in the eye when I bend my hands in a fist, something I always do when I'm angry. I see that Owen also notices my hands and he walks up to Alex, but not before I open my mouth. "No? Too bad, you're not my dad and I can do whatever I want" I say angrily back. This time it's Alex's turn to look at me angrily. "I may not be your father but I maybe your boyfriend. You can't leave without protection," he says angrily. Now my knuckle is turning white. "I don't need protection, I'm not a little kid anymore. And I'm not gonna be alone, my girlfriends are there too.'

I say between my teeth. 'Yes, you are. You are a little child who still needs protection because from the moment a confrontation is going on you dive away like a scared duck that can't do anything. You're useless' Alex shouts.

The table becomes silent and my shoulders sink. Alex's eyes soften as he wants to grab my hand. "Lily, I..." he starts but I pull my hand out of his reach and stand up. 'I am going' I say without looking at him and walk to Lexi's car.

I've already bought a present for almost everyone. Alex tried calling me a thousand times, but I just turned my cell phone off. "He didn't mean it like that," says Jax who went shopping with me. I ignored him the first hour but he said he just wants me to be safe and spend some time with me. He also had to do some Christmas shopping. I shrugged my shoulders and walked into a sports shop. I walk to the cash register and ask for the t-shirt I ordered.

With that, I bought all my Christmas presents and say goodbye to my girlfriends. Jax drops me off at home. The door flies open and Alex walks towards me. Before I can do or say anything, I am already in Alex's arms. "Sorry" he mumbles as he grabs me harder. 'I didn't mean it, really. I'm just worried. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you. I love you.' He goes on. My heart starts beating faster as I slowly put my arms around him and let my head rest against his chest.

"I love you too.'