My Hometown Love

Chapter 32 - Gone

Lexie’s P.O.V

I felt my heart break just a little. Here I was ready to confess my feelings and he has to go. I know that it’s not his fault and he’s going to save lives. I was just bummed because I had this whole thing planned out. But, I knew that my feelings are not important right now because this doctor has to go save lives.

Hence, I quickly shifted my focus back to the agitated Kevin in front of me.

“Okay, so did you tell Jake?”, I asked.

“Yeah. He’s cool with it but I need to go home and do a quick pack before heading to the hospital.”, Kevin replied as he glanced at his watch, mentally calculating the amount of time he had.

I knew I had to step up. Especially after everything he has done for me and my family.

“Okay. First things first, get in the car. I’m driving you.”, I said.

“Don’t trouble yourself, Lexie. I can manage. I was about to use Jake’s car and have him pick it up at my house.”, Kevin replied, thinking that he can change my mind.

“Get. In. The. Car.”, I said as I glared at him.

I almost peed myself laughing, watching how Kevin bolted for his life to get in the car.

**************

Kevin’s P.O.V

This girl has a death stare that I don’t wanna mess with. That was why I scrammed to the car without turning back when she offered to drive me.

I turn over to see Lexie focusing intently on the road as she expertly navigates to my house with time to spare.

“Thanks for the ride Lex. I’ll go pack and head over to the hospital. I’ll see you when I get back.”, I said as I got out of the car and prepared to shut the door.

“Excuse me?!”, she said with a high pitch.

I opened the door and popped my head back in the car.

“What? What’s wrong?”, I asked.

“I think you misunderstood the gravity of the situation. You need to go pack as fast as you can, and I will be right here to take you to the hospital when you’re done. That is not negotiable.”, she replied with a small smile at the end.

I knew I was in no position to say no, plus, she’s right. I will save so much time if she drives me. I nodded and rushed up to pack. 10 minutes later, I’m back in the passenger seat with my luggage bag as Lexie heads to the hospital.

The closer we get to the hospital, the more I get this weird aching feeling like I was going to go away for a long time and not get to see Lexie. I don’t know if it was the adrenaline rush or the crisis in Salem that made me wanna tell her how I felt before I left.

She stopped the car in front of the hospital. I could see my attending in front of a van in the distance. I turned to see her removing her seatbelt and turning to face me.

*************

Lexie’s P.O.V

I turn to face Kevin with the resolve to tell him how I feel. However, the minute I come face-to-face with him I couldn’t move myself to do it. I kept thinking how unfair it is to spill my heart out and send him on a life-saving mission with my feelings clouding his head.

I bit my lip as I swallowed down my words and faked a smile. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I felt some sort of sadness like he was going far away from me and I wasn’t going to see him again. I tried to dismiss the thought wandering in my head.

Control yourself, woman! He’s not going to war! Get it together!

“So, thanks for the ride, Lexie.”, Kevin said as he slowly started prepping to get out of the car.

“Sure, no problem.”, I said as I gave him a small smile.

He responded by nodding his head before turning away to get out of the car. Just as he was about to lift himself out of the car, I quickly gripped his arm to get his attention. He turned around, curious about my actions.

“Be careful.”, I said sincerely as I looked into his eyes.

His eyes softened as he smiled and patted my hand before getting out and shutting the door. I sink back in my seat as I watch him walk away from me. A tiny part of my heart wished he would turn around to look at me for the last time. But the logical Lexie took over from the romantic Lexie and sent a signal to my heart to shut up and to stop having expectations.

I sighed deeply as I put on my seat belt and prepared myself to start the car. I turned the engine on and the radio started playing Michael Bublé's ‘Close Your Eyes’. I mumbled under my breath at the universe playing songs that made me wanna cry.

I was about to shift gears when I see Kevin running across the road and towards the car. Alarmed, I quickly unlock the car and drive closer to him.

“What happened? Did you forget something?!”, I blurt out as soon as he opens the car door and stick himself in.

Kevin kneels on the car seat and tries to catch his breath.

“Kevin? Is everything okay?”, I ask persistently.

“Shhhhh!”, he yells as he stares right at me.

I startled back at his shushing, clearly confused and worried.

“I need to tell you something.”, he finally says.

I remain silent, anticipating his next words.

“I don’t know why, but I feel that I can’t leave without telling you this. Just know that this wasn’t how I planned on telling you. But, I rather tell you now than don’t get the chance at telling you at all.”, Kevin says as he reaches over to put his palm on my hand.

“Tell me what, Kevin? You’re scaring me.”, I reply, afraid at his words, especially when he mentioned that he might not get a chance to tell me at all.

“Lexie Cooper, I have feelings for you. You drive me crazy and I think I’m falling for you. Hard.”, Kevin replies to my absolute surprise.

I try to snap myself out of the daze as I try to process what just happened. But before I could respond, Kevin is already backing away from the seat and ready to get out of the car.

“Kevin, wait!”, I yell.

“Wait for me.”, Kevin says with a wink before shutting the door and running towards his van.

As I see his van drive away, I whisper my response to an empty car.

I’m falling for you too.

***************

Kevin’s P.O.V

I sink deep into my seat as I sigh deeply. I look out the window, thinking if what I just did was a big mistake.           

The sound of my attending’s voice tears my focus away from the window and towards him.

“Ok listen up everyone. There’s been a big fire at a hospital in Salem, Oregon which has injured both patients and medical staff. They can’t transfer everyone to other hospitals because they are too unstable to be transferred and the other hospitals have reached their maximum capacity. So, right now as we speak they are setting up an army-grade medical camp outside the hospital to treat the patients. We will be joined by doctors from other outskirt hospitals and together you will help stabilize and treat the patients.”, my attending briefs.

I shoot my hand up to ask a question.

“Yes Dr. Walker.”, he asks.

“How long will we have to be there?”, I ask.

“Well the hospital isn’t completely damaged and they have already started their repair and reconstruction. So, as soon as the patients can be transferred back to their wards and enough hospital staffs are available to run the hospital again, we can come home.”, he replies.

I nod my head, signaling that I understood his response. Looks like I’m going to be gone for 2 weeks or even more.

*************

Lexie’s P.O.V

I parked the car outside Jake’s house but remained in the car processing everything. I lightly knocked my head on the steering wheel, as I cursed myself for not reacting to Kevin’s confession.

Why didn’t I say anything?

I kept my head on the steering wheel as I played back that scene again and again in my head.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!

I jumped at the sudden knock on the window next to me.

“You okay, Lex?”, Jake said as he signaled me to unlock the door.

“Yeah. I’m fine. Sorry if I took so long.”, I said I stepped out of the car.

“No problem. Kevin got there on time?”, Jake asked as we walked up to his house.

“Yeah. He did.”, I said solemnly before pretending to busy myself with some boxes.

“You sure you’re okay, Lex? You look upset.”, Jake asked as he put his arm around me.

“Yeah. I said I’m fine. Now go do your thing.”, I said as I shooed him towards the boxes.

Jake reluctantly left me as I stood in the hallway, looking at the bunch of family photos framed up on the wall. I felt myself choking on a sob when my eyes fell on the photo frame of Jake, Maria, Kevin, and me in front of the church.

I quickly made my way to the bathroom where I stood in front of the mirror as I talked to myself.

Who is this? And what have you done with the old Lexie?

The old Lexie doesn’t get upset over a boy and his feelings.

Oh, who am I kidding? Kevin Walker will be the death of me.

Kevin, please come back soon.

**************

Kevin’s P.O.V

I had just got back in the van after stopping for gas when I received a message from Jake.

Jake: Hey buddy. How are things so far?

Kevin: Hey Jake. Still 3 hours to Salem. Sorry for skipping out on helping you move.

Jake: Oh come on bro. You go do your job of saving lives. We’re good. Though your gal doesn’t look so happy.

Kevin: Really? Oh no. Dang it, I shouldn’t have said anything.

Jake: Why? What did you do?

Kevin: I confessed my feelings for her in the car and ran back to the van.

Jake: Oh wow. You finally did it, huh?

Kevin: Yeah but I don’t think it was a good idea.

Jake: Well, judging by how upset she looks, it may have the exact push she needed to realize her feelings.

Kevin: You think so? What do you think? Should I text her to clarify stuff?

Jake: NO! Just leave things as it is. Let her process it. Trust me.

Kevin: Okay, I’ll take your advice. So, I guess I’ll see you in 2 weeks or more.

Jake: Take care bro. See you soon.

I put my phone in my pocket as I try to shake my personal problems out of my head and focus on the current crisis. I decided to get some shut-eye so that I can be alert and get right to work as soon as we reach.

Hang in there Salem, we’re coming for you.