Lila fiddled with her skirt as Raven approached the men in the family room.

Charles and Xavier were playing chess. Hank and Sean were seemingly arguing about whatever movie they were watching, Alex was staring at them in annoyance.

Walking through the entrance, Raven placed her hands on her hips as she looked at them all irritated. She wore a short maroon dress, cinched at the waist with a dark belt and a scarf hanging from her neck.

Behind her, Lila was in a small plaid skirt with sheer tights underneath. Her white sweater kept her warm as she fisted the long sleeves.

"We're leaving, losers," everyone's head perked up.

Alex's eyes trailed over in disinterest until he realized that we included Lila. And Lila was wearing the prettiest little outfit he's ever fucking seen.

Sitting up straighter, all the guys started speaking up at the same time.

"And where might you be leaving to?"

"I want to go!"

"You should be doing something productive rather than running errands."

"Where the hell are you going?"

Lila peaked around Raven's taller figure at the sound of Alex's low grumble. It sent a shiver down her spine, she has now been the one avoiding him after their conversation. Truly she just wanted to give him the space he wanted.

So why was he getting so mad lately?

"I have some things I need to get, Lila offered to keep me company." Raven pinched her friends cheek with a dry smile at the rest of their group.

"We'll be back soon," Lila spared Charles a reassuring grin.

"We can come," Alex stood up abruptly. He gripped Hank by the collar of his shirt and dragged him up as well.

Erik glanced over with a raised brow as well as the british telepath in front of him.

"It's not safe for us to be going out in public especially in pairs." Alex said it as if it was obvious.

Lila's breath hitched a little but still tugged on Raven to try and sneak out while they fought over it.

"None if you should be going out at all. We have more important things to be doing ." Erik crossed his arms tightly with a sour frown on his face.

Charles scoffed quietly, "They're children Erik. Stop with the face, you all are free to go. I just ask you to be back by night."

Lila pursed her lips as the other boys were standing and getting ready to leave. Raven huffed and dragged Lila over to the door.

"One of you can drive since you insist on hijacking our plans," Raven tossed the keys backwards without looking.

Lila looked back, seeing Alex had caught them. Holding his arm out, he shoved Sean back from snatching them.

Their eyes met, sparing him a tight smile.

Unbeknownst to her and Alex the three others were making eyes at each other. Raising brows suggestively and nodding towards the car.

"Hey Lila? I'm going to sit in the back with Hank, why don't you take shotgun?" Raven nudged her.

The brunettes mouth fell open, stuttering out a response. "U-Uh I can sit... well I'm sure Sean would like to- but... okay fine."

They all laughed quietly at the short mutant, she felt Alex walking besides her.

"You know me and Raven would've been fine, right?" she side glanced him while speaking quietly.

Scratching the back of his head, he sighed. "I know that... but I told you I'm always going to worry about you."

Lila's nose scrunched up, pursing her lips in apprehension. While she stayed silent he could feel waves of doubt rolling off of her. He sighed quietly and opened her door for her.

Huffing, she pouted her lips up at him with a glare he couldn't help but think was adorable.

"Stop- Stop trying to be nice to me because you feel bad," she whispered to him.

Alex scowled, as the others were busy talking to one another he took a step closer. Boxing her in between the door, his hands cupping the side of her neck.

Lila gasped sharply as he craned her face up to him, eyes piercing her.

"Stop with that shit," he hissed quietly.

Shaky breaths fell from her lips as her gaze darted from his eyes to his mouth hovering over her face.

Her face twisted up once again in confusion and eventually annoyance before their friends began sitting down in the car.

"Alex," she mumbled while looking at him under her lashes. "You don't have to keep doing this."

"Doing what?" his deep voice made her shudder.

She swallowed while nibbling on her bottom lip, "Pretending. I know you just want to be left alone, we're not in the cells anymore and you want space. You don't have to watch over me because you feel responsible."

Before Alex could say anything else she slid to sit down in the passenger seat. Folding her arms over her chest, she didn't look at him while examining her skirt.

Growling frustratedly, Alex shut the door loudly and promptly started the car.

Lila sat in her seat quietly as everyone else spoke besides Alex who was quieter than normal.

~

At the mall, Lila was in awe. She'd never been in a store so big with so many options.

"We should go over there," she pointed to Raven who held her hand tightly. The three boys trailed behind them.

Alex rubbed his face, the girls were farther ahead so he could speak freely at the moment.

"I don't know what the fuck to do. I don't even know what I did."

Hank rose a brow while shoving up his glasses, "For starters the first night at the mansion you started acting different to her. That might be it."

Sneering at his sarcasm, Alex tugged at his blonde hair. "I was like that with everyone."

"She," Sean stressed while pointing to the pretty girl. "Is not everyone to you dude."

Sighing loudly, he couldn't even think of an argument or rebuttal to his friend.

"I'd be pissed too if I went through what you guys did- had feelings for each other- and then you acted like an ass."

"We- who said," Alex spluttered. "Who said we have feelings involved?"

Both boys looked at him like he was stupid.

"Alright but when a guy comes up- because they will- and tries to ask her out we'll see how you feel."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Alex glanced around as if to be on the look out for anyone interested in Lila.

And to his horror, all eyes were on the two
girls in front of them.

"Fuck, fuck- fuck," he hissed quietly. Jogging ahead as the girls went into the store Lila was looking at. Both girls split up to look at different things.

After the girls had bought a few things, the group of young adults found themselves at the food court. Lila leant against a pillar while holding some fries. She hummed happily while munching quietly.

The rest of the group was getting their own food, unbeknownst to her there was two boys around her age making eyes at her.

Brushing her hair behind her ear, Lila was in her own world. One of the boys began approaching her.

Lila gasped when she felt Alex press himself against her back, getting caught up in rushing towards her.

He had a mean glare on his face, warning the boy off as he pressed a hand to Lila's shoulder.

Peaking back at him with her head turned, Lila rose a brow.

"Can I help you? You've been acting weird," she mumbled quietly as her stomach fluttered at his proximity. She doubted he knew the affect he had on her, especially since she obviously was more interested in him that he is in her.

He gripped one of her fries with an annoyed look on his face. She wiped the side of his mouth with her thumb. Alex glanced down as she did, their eyes locking as her fingers lingers on his jaw. The brunettes breath hitched.

Lila squirmed around, "What is going on with you?"

"Everyone's fucking looking at you Lila girl," he hissed to her while leaning his head down to speak in her ear. She felt his breath fan her neck, making her suck in a breath.

"W-What's it to you who's looking at me?" she gained the courage to respond back with.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Alex sighed. "Can we drop this thing? This whole I don't care about you thing? You know that I do."

"How should I know that when you started acting different. I'm not a mind reader Alex, I know feelings change," she worried her lip while trying to distract herself while pushing through her bags.

Suddenly she was turned by the blonde boy, his hand cupping her face gently but still sternly. Lila yelped a little in surprise while looking up at him with wide eyes.

"Nothings changed, doll face. I just- I just fucked everything up didn't I?" he husked as his blue eyes flitted over her pretty face.

Pouting a little, she narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"Just a little, I was expecting too much. It wasn't fair to you," her voice was soft.

"I want you to rely on me. Just like we always have been," he brushed his thumb over her cheek slowly.

Lila took a breath but nodded.

"Me too."

"Yeah?"

She nodded again, watching him sigh in relief. Alex leaned down and kissed her forehead lightly. Her eyes slid shut and she leaned forward to rest her face on his chest, inhaling his scent for a moment.

She peaked up when she heard the click of Ravens heels, pulling away Alex sagged a little as she quickly hopped back over to her side.

Hank slapped his back, "Obviously you're in second place my friend."

~

i got my nails done and they go click clack while i type now lolol

do we enjoy this chapter? i'm gonna get back into the movie plot again