hacked title number 6

Lex lifted his eyes and looked at her.  He didn't say anything, just looked, studying her.  His blue eyes seemed to be asking without words, "Is that really how you feel?"

Layla blushed and looked down. She didn't say anything, but her body language made it clear; she did feel that way. She did care for him, honestly and truly.

"I heard what you said," Lex said simply.  "Earlier."

"Wh-what do you mean?" Layla asked, her face getting a bit redder.

"I think you know exactly what i mean," Lex said in a level tone.

Layla whimpered a little and tried to hide her face. "You weren't suppose to hear that...." She said quietly.

"I guessed when you started with saying how you were only telling me because I was asleep," Lex said dryly.

"I'm sorry." Layla whimpered. "I... I was scared to tell you. I'm finally starting to feel happy, and I don't want to screw up and lose it. Besides, you don't feel the same... do you." She sniffed a little. Oh god, she was an emotional wreck now! She felt so embarrassed, but she knew she should have told Lex sooner too. In a way it was good to finally get it off her chest, but it still made her squirm a little too.

Lex's hand crept across the bed, and his fingers curled around hers.  "It's okay," he whispered.

Layla looked at Lex. She felt lost, and searched his face and eyes for anything. She didn't know what exactly she was looking for or hoping to hear, but those two words and the pressure of his fingers on her hand helped a bit.

"I..."  Lex hesitated then took a deep breath.  "I don't know what I feel.  I feel something, but I don't know what it is.  Layla, I've spent my entire life focused on not feeling.  I don't know what feelings are except that... I feel them now."

"Maybe I can help?" Layla offered softly. "If you describe it, I might know."

Lex closed his eyes.  "If I knew how to describe it, I could probably name it."  Realizing that sounded sharper than he intended, he added, "But thanks.  I'll think on it."

Layla nodded, and fell quiet. Just her luck. The guy she falls head over heels for doesn't know how he feels about you. Way to go, girl.

"Safe," Lex finally said.  "You're safe for me."  That was one feeling he could identify with, no matter how rare.

Layla furrowed her brow at him. "What do you mean by that?" She questioned curiously.

Lex lifted his shoulders in the faintest of shrugs.  "I feel safe around you.  Like you make a place safe."

Layla smiled at that. She felt fuzzy inside hearing that. "Well, I feel safe around you too."

"That's good.  I like keeping you safe."  Lex closed his eyes tiredly.  "Where's Ash?"

"Still out, I think." Layla said. "I would imagine he would be back before lunch at least." She smiled a little to herself. He liked keeping her safe.

"That's good," Lex mumbled.  "He needs out some."

"He did seem pretty tense." Layla hesitated. She wanted to ask Lex why he and Ashton seemed so uptight and cagey here, but figured that this wasn't the time nor place for it.

"Can't believe he's lasted this long in here," Lex mumbled, keeping his eyes closed.

"Well, it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't sleep last night." Layla said softly. "When I asked him about it last night, he mentioned all the stuff in here helped, but not enough for him to feel relaxed."

Lex just grunted and looked at his balloon.  "Anything to make it seem not like a lab.  Not like a torture chamber."