Waking up the next morning, Lexi had one word in her mind; home.
She'd thought of going home all night, that she barely got any sleep. She suddenly developed this nostalgic feeling that was threatening to subdue her current anxiety; this was wrong, so wrong, completely wrong!
She isn't supposed to be feeling this way, at least not soon, she had a few more weeks to do here. She'd just finished her final examinations and then there is a graduation to plan and attend. She just hoped, whatever it was that's so urgent would be handled before her graduation.
She had just finished packing up and just then, Felicity walked into her dorm room. "Hey" Felicity said, "hey" Lexi responded unenthusiastically, "someone sounds dull, what's up?" Felicity pointed out sitting on her bunk bed.
"There's nothing to be excited about Fel, all I feel is anxiety, this is strange and I've been thinking about it all night that I barely got any sleep. I mean, why would they want me home all of a sudden?? I don't get it."
"Hey, hey, chill out! I'm sure is not that bad. Whatever it is, I'm sure it would be all over and you would be back before you know it" Felicity said trying to cheer her up.
"I hope so" Lexi said, "I know so, come on! Snap out of it already! You sound like you're heading for the gallows!" Fel said teasingly, and that had Lexi chuckle involuntarily.
"There! Just smile. Now, are you done? You're sure you have everything you need?" "yeah, I've got everything" "let's get you signed out then" Felicity said as she grabbed Lexi's box and they left for the front desk.
The sign out process didn't take time at all and in no time they were at the exit point.
Somehow, the news of Lexi's departure had spread throughout the entire academy, it's no surprise though, especially when you're the gunnery instructor and captain.
There were rows of cadets at the exit waiting for Lexi, and at the sight of her, a senior cadet made a call and they'll gave her a salute, she reciprocated by giving a salute too.
Something within her melted, she wasn't expecting all of this, 'just what would it feel like on the day she takes her final bow??' she wondered.
She finally went through the exit and at the end of it, an SUV was waiting for her, 'father never fails' she thought to herself, she had almost forgotten how it felt like to be a Greyman; it's been 4 years damnit!
Felicity was still with her, she stopped and turned to face her, "I'll call you as soon as I get home" Lexi said, "promise?" Fel asked, "cross my heart" she replied with a warm smile.
Fel was at the verge of tears, she has always been that emotional, a soft girl, her being in the military is an absolute miracle.
"Common now, don't cry, I'll be back before you know it" Lexi said softly as she hugged her, she too started getting watery eyes.
"I know, I know, you dare not keep me waiting" Fel joked and they both laughed.
The chauffeur came and took Lexi's suitcase and put it in the trunk.
"One more thing" Lexi said suddenly, and Fel looked on in expectancy.
Lexi brought her lips close to Felicity's right ear and whispered, "do not give those IDs till I say the word" "yes boss!" Fel said in like manner.
"Alright now, hurry in, your ride's waiting" Fel said nudging her towards the opened back door of the car and she entered.
"See you soon girl" Lexi said from the window, "see you soon GIC" Fel said and with that, the car wheeled away.
It takes about 6 hours to travel from Chersonese where the military academy is situated, to Quintin city where her family resides, and that meant 6 long hours of worrying.
Try as much as she may, she could not wave off the thought of what awaits her, Gabriel would not tell her why she had to come home so urgently, in his words, "I'm not allowed to disclose the reason to you ma'am, it's best if you learn of it in person."
The fact that Gabriel made the phone call was a huge problem indicator, Gabriel's her father's right-hand man, his assistant, his rep, his eyes, his spokesman; he was everything. Gabriel just represented Mr Anderson Greyman's business world, so why choose him of all people?? What happened to the members of her family??
And then it hit her, her family! What happened to them?? Did something bad happen to them?? Lexi became more worried than ever.
"Step on it Festus!" she ordered the chauffeur and he sped up.
They were in front of the Greyman's residence, a member of the security team manning the gate signalled for them to stop and they did.
The chauffeur wound down the car windows and produced an exclusive pass-card, the security upon seeing the card and who was in the car ordered, "open the gate!" and they drove in, just before Lexi rolled up her side window again, the security man said, "welcome home ma'am", Lexi merely nodded in response, her head was just too full to process a proper reply.
They drove down a long narrow lane with beautiful gardens on both sides of it, and at last they pulled up in front of a huge mansion; home.
A security opened the door for Lexi and she alighted from the car, "thanks" she said to him, "welcome home ma'am" he replied.
Lexi stood momentarily, letting the cool breeze wash over her face, there was just something about this place, even if she was brought here on blindfolds and without an inkling on where she was being taken to, somehow, just somehow, she would know it was here, the air was so different; her home.
By now, her suitcase has been taken from the trunk and now into the house, Lexi followed suit. And as soon as she set foot into the house, Mrs Blake the house keeper shrieked, "Miss Grey is home!"
Lexi's lips curved up into a smile, oh! how she missed being called that.
"Mrs Blake" Lexi said warmly and opened up her arms for a hug, the old woman without wasting any second, got engulfed in the warm embrace.
She remembered when Lexi used to be swallowed in her arms whenever she hugged her, but now it was her who was being swallowed, she has grown into a tall beautiful woman.
"I can't believe you're here, I wasn't informed about your return, I would have made your favourite! You've grown up so big and beautiful!
"Alexandra??" a thick but warm female voice called out, Lexi turned to the direction the voice came from and lo, it was her mum.