A/N: For those of you reading my other stories… I’m not quitting them. To be totally honest, I haven’t felt like writing anything lately, hence the lack of updates. This story was in my head when I woke up one morning, so I took a stab at it. Doesn’t mean the others are done; in fact, they’ll still have priority. But I write whatever I’m in the mood to work on; otherwise nothing would ever get done. Hope you like this!

Prologue: The Beginning

It all began innocently enough.

I had two weeks left before the start of my senior year of high school. My boyfriend, Drew, was away for another week, and I was working almost every day at Applebee’s downtown. All I was doing that day was welcoming the new kid who moved in next door. After all, that house had been empty for a long time, and I was curious – not to mention a little bit bored.

I couldn’t have known how bad things would get.

***

I don’t know what I was expecting when the front door opened. It certainly wasn't this – a black-haired, green-eyed god. He opened the door and flashed a brilliant smile at me, leaning easily against the door frame.

"Hi," he said, and my mind instantly blanked.

I'd known there was a boy living here, one my age, but I guess I'd assumed he'd have been more ... well, normal looking. This guy was gorgeous, and all thoughts of Drew instantly, regrettably, flew out of my head.

I blinked, getting my thoughts back together. "Hi!" I stuck my hand out at him. "I’m Alexis Scott. I live next door. I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood."

He grinned slowly, one side of his mouth irresistibly turning up farther than the other as he took my hand. "Zach Benton."

And that's how it started. I wish it was how it ended.

***

Zach was a nice guy.

Because I had nothing else to do after and before work, and because Drew and my best friend Paige were both out of town with their families, I had plenty of time to get to know him.

I knew that he'd moved here from California to live with his grandmother, who'd just bought the house. I knew that he liked hockey and basketball and riding motorcycles. That he was saving to buy a motorcycle of his own. That he too would be a senior at Winchester High School when it started in a few weeks, and he was afraid he wouldn't be accepted. He never mentioned college, but I assumed he had plans for it.

I helped him get settled in to his new home, showed him around town. He began coming to my work to have lunch with me.

I'm not sure exactly what happened that first week. From the moment I met him, it was like we were two pieces of the same puzzle, fitting together perfectly. We just clicked. When I wasn't working or sleeping, I was with Zach.

Did I feel guilty? Well, sure. I loved Drew; we'd been together for two years, and I had a deep spot in my heart for him. All I had to do was think about our first date to remember why I loved him, how shy and polite he was the whole night – and how his face had turned flaming red when he kissed me goodnight. He’d always been so sweet to me, and I knew he would always be there for me. But the chemistry Zach and I had ... I just couldn't resist it. It was like a fire, starting in my heart and growing into an inferno, engulfing the rest of me.

Still, before you hate me, I'm not a cheating person. I knew that what we had could never go any farther than a good friendship, at least not until Drew got home and I could talk to him, re-evaluate us.

Which is why I went with Zach that night, the night before Drew returned - to talk to him, explain how I couldn't hurt Drew. I was sure he would understand.

He didn't.