Disclaimer: This work of fiction is all my own. My property, and no one else. The scenes, characters, and events are fictional, and -hopefully- in no way harms a person, living or dead. This story is rated M, so if you dislike foul language, violence, sex, drugs, and/or rape, then I strongly advise you to turn your eyes.

Author's note: Okay, so I wrote this (or at least started to) at 10 at night, so if it seems like if its moving slow, then its because I'm a little sleepy. So sorry for that.

Another problem I keep having when typing up my chapters is that pop ups radomly clutter up my screen, and happens even more when I'm having creative juices flowing through my body. So when that happens, I'm distracted, my train of thought is pushed over a cliff, and I feel like flipping shit on my computer :(. But then I remember that I usually take notes on my ipod as I go into this story, so I can just look at it and remember what I was writing about, so all is good :).

And remember, its just fiction from my wierd mind. Do me a solid and just go with it.

Summary: Alexandra has never been the on to attract attention to herself. Just another art student trying to get by in life, can one encounter with a stranger change all of that? What if they weren't what you thought them to be? One day they're angels, and the very breath of your life. Other's, they are your very nightmare that you can't escape; but does Alexandra want to escape?

RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING RING RING RING RING RING RING RING!

I ignored the constant ringing as I kept sketching on my paper. I was so close to perfecting the man's eyes, but when Amy's voice bellowed through the ansswering machine, I accidentely jerked my hand, effectively drawing a line through his face. I sat in stunned silence then grabbed the paper and ripped it in half. I threw it on the floor with the other drawing and leaned my head on the table. 'So close, damn...' Ever since I got home from when I helped the guy at the cafe, I've been trying to draw his face. I keep trying to capture that mysterious feeling he had, but I can't seem to draw the emotion in his eyes. They either end up looking dull and lifeless or have the completely wrong emotion and he looks too happy. I sighed when I started listening to Amy's voice.

"... you reclusive rat, but dammit, I want to see you! Why won't you answer the fucking phone? Tom was so worried when you didn't show up, and when he called you, you didn't answer! He even called me, while I was ever so nicely cuddling with my long term boyfriend, and when I call you, you don't even answer! Are you in some sort of trouble? If so, just tell me, and I will help you! Just fucking call me back, you ho!" The beep of the answering machine silenced her voice, and there was silence in my apartment again. I leaned back in my chair and looked towards it. I knew I should've called Tom, but I felt like this was more important.

For the first time in 3 months, I had inspiration to draw something new. I felt invigorated, had renewed energy... I felt on top of the world, and all because I met a guy. Well, more like helped a stranger in need, but I now had a subject to work on. I was still a little unnerved about his eyes, his overall personality. He seemed really nice, but underneath, behaind those eyes, I saw something more than that. I saw something dangerous and violent in his eyes. Like he's seen more than his share of horror to last a person two lifetimes. Looking back on that day, I guess you could say I developed a mini crush on a very beautiful stranger. I know many people who've done that, and I'm pretty sure I won't be the last to do so.

I got up and stretched my arms in the air, breathing deeply and exhaling really loudly. BRRRRIIINNNGG! I turned around and looked at my door when my bell rang. I put my arms down and walked cautiously and opened it to see a delivery man holding a huge bouqet of multicolored roses. I gasped as I looked down at them, and the man cleared his throat to get my attention. "Are you Alexandra Williams?" He smiled at my nod handed me the flowers. "These lovelies are for you, sent by- oops! Almost ruined it." He smiled again and handed me the flowers. "Have a nice day, ma'am." He turned and walked away from my apartment. I closed my door and went to sit on my couch. I pulled out a card that read, 'A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet. You are a diamond surrounded by dirt, and I wish to whisk you away from the life you are trapped in. I will be there, no matter what. With Love, Your John Doe.' I sreread the card and blushed. Someone quoting Shakespeare for me? I placed my hands in my lap and searched through my brain for who would send me this. I don't think any of the few friends that I have would do this as a prank; Amy was in a relationship, even though she liked to flirt with everything she saw; Tom would... Tom! He probably did this to try to get my attention. I frowned when I looked at the flowers and then at the card. 'But he know's that I know him. He wouldn't sign as 'John Doe', so it might be someone else.' But who, I wondered, and picked up the flowers and went out of my apartment. I proceeded to walk down the steps to the side of the building and threw the flowers in the dumpster. I contemplated throwing the card away, but opted for keeping it; whoever sent this knows I enjoy Shakespeare a lot. I put the card in my back pocket abd turn to walk back in the building when I spot a black car parked at the back of the alley. I tried to see if anyone was inside, and it looked like there was. Why anyone would be parked at the dead end of an alley perplexed me, but then my eyes went wide. They could probably be drug dealers in that car! I look at the ground and go back inside to avoid seeing anything that might land me dead.

I went upstairs to my apartment to see Amy and her boyfriend Eric standing at my door. Amy glared at me but ran up the attack me in a fierce hug. I wrapped my arms and pushed any thoughts of mysterious admirers and drug dealers in black cars and alleys in the back of my mind.

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"Okay, so I don't understand. These are all sketches of the guy you saw?" Eric held up the torn page and arched an auburn brow. I nodded and heard Amy sigh next to me. "So you were going through an art explosion over here. Still, you should have called me; I would've understood!" She smacks me on the arm and goes back to drinking her tea. I look at her as she oggles Eric's ass as he bends over to pick up some more of my papers. She starts licking her lips and I nudge her arm to stop. She smiles smugly at me and sips her tea. "I don't know why you threw them away, Alex. They're pretty good, untill you draw marks all over them." Eric sits down on the couch next to Amy and throws an arm around her shoulders. She smiles and snuggles into his side and throws her legs up on my legs.

"Well, I can't get the eyes right. It may seem small to you, but I can't really call it a picture unless I capture the real emotion!" I lean back into the couch and sigh heavily. "Well, have you tried adding only color to the eyes?" For once, Amy ahd a good idea. That seemed more likely to work. "Yea, I never thought-" I was interrupted by the phone ringing. I reached over and picked it up and answered. I heard our boss' voice resigned voice through the phone, but he sounded more out of breath than sad. I can only imagine what he was doing. "Alex, I have a problem, and there is no easy way to say this. I can't keep you on staff, so I have to let you go. I'll be sending your last check, and a severance pay along with it, so don't come to work tomorrow." With emphasis, the phone went dead before I had a chance to utter even one word. I sat in stunned silence and lowered the phone to my lap. I barely registered that Amy and Eric were talking and laughing, and when they asked me a question, I didn't respond.

Amy shook my shoulder and asked me what was wrong. I looked at her with tears in my eyes. "I-I-I just g-got f-f-fired." I began bawling in tears and raised fists to cover my eyes. Amy sat up and rubbed circles along my back to comfort me. "Shh, shh, shh. It's okay, just tell me what happened." I calmed down my crying and took a few deep breaths. "The boss just called me and said that he had to let me go. No explanation; I don't even think he was the least bit sorry about it!" I curled in on myself and started crying again. How was I going to pay rent? For classes? Where would I even find another job?

Amy continued to rub my back. "Don't worry. I'll go to work on Monday and talk to him. He can't just fire you for no reason, I'm sure about that. Don't worry. Do you want to be alone for a while?" I nodded silently and I felt the couch shift when they got up. "I'll come visit you tomorrow, okay?" Amy kissed the top of my head and left the apartment locking up behind them. I sighed and lifted my legs onto the couch and curled them to my chest. That night I cried until I fell asleep, right there on that couch.

And I barely registered that there was a shadow of someone at my door shining under my door. And I knew it wasn't Amy or Eric.

It was him, but I didn't know at that time I was too gone in my own misery, succumbing to great oblivion.

Okay, I got TWO chapters out this week! I'm so pumped! So guys, don't get to review on your way out, and feedback, ideas, and questions are always appreciated. Thank you!