The music vibrated in the throats of the Zeta Phi Kappa house attendees as the temperature climbed through the 80's affected by the body heat from the dancing in the living room. Red cups with ominous smelling alochol stood on every surface that was flat, some covered futilly with a Sharpie carved name. Scantilly clad girls flirted, made out, and rejected the fraternity brothers at the University party.

A group of three girls were hovered in a corner of the living room, eyes darting between each other and the group orgasm in the center of the room. One girl, with honey blonde highlights and black lowlights sneered furrowing her dark brows, "What could they possibly be doing to keep from dropping children on that floor?" Her V-cut tee shirt didn't cling to her curves, and niether did the simple boot cut jeans.

A dark hair girl, jet black hair to be exact, chuckled, "Leena, honestly, I don't know why you even come to these parties. You just rag on everyone the entire time. Some of us are actually here to have fun." Her pale lips twisted into a grin as she surveyed the room. There was a thin once inch scar about 3 centimeters to the left of her lips down to her chin. The crimson cami tugged tightly as it was gathered across her chest, and fell short of her midriff exposing two inches of her skin. A short black mini skirt with lacy two tiered ruffles hung at her waist, following black fishnets to her patent leather round toed 3 inch pumps.

As he looking around the crowded room a young man sighed to himself. 'I don't know why I came here." He muttered. "I really don't want to be alone tonight but then again THIS seems much worse." As the music pulsed through him the young man stood up reaching his full height of 6'0. His dark black clothes matched his dark eyes as he scanned the room once more. He couldn't help but let himself get lost in the music. It wasn't much of what you called dancing but more of swaying. Each sway made his head spin though he wasn't quite sure why. He watched as the other people in the room danced, flirted and carry on. "I need to find me a girl." He thought with yet another sigh. He ran his hand through his short brown hair and began searching for just the right one. He began walking around the room searching, each step he took was always redirected by someone getting in his way. "damnit" He muttered pushing half drunk girls or half drunk guys out of his way.

The blonde sneered at her dark haired companion, and wrinkled her nose, "Why do you come? You hate alcohol, X." She crossed her arms across the tight white shirt, and looked away from the group.

"Children," emitted the third body in a shrill voice. She was pale with an auburn bob and side swept bangs across her brown eyes. She wore a dark green mini dress with black leggings and bright pink converse; conversation starters, "Ladies, let's not ruin this lovely evening with a bicker." She shook some of her hair back, "Oh, oh, look. Tall dark, and handsome at 3 o'clock!" She brushed her shoulder in the young man's direction casually, with a grin towards the one called Leena.

"Esther, honestly. I do not come to these things to pick up..." She looked at him, with an eyebrow raised, "He is a little cute. But he looks like he doesn't fit. Not a brother."

"Certainly not a sister, if that is what you're implying," X murmured cooly, her grey eyes cutting over to him, "He doesn't even have a wingman." She chuckled, "Ten bucks says he comes over for Leena."

"You are so on!" Esther raised her drink to X, and laughed shrilly.

He kept watching his step every now and then glancing around the room. He shoved his hands in his pockets at this point and lowered his dark chcolate brown eyes. He was quickly becoming furious with the stupidity of the people around him. "Alcohol is just the most vile substance on this earth and yet, people still drink it." He muttered looking up again only to catch sight of a beautiful girl. In a moment he stopped breathless. Her beauty struck him speechless. He couldn't tell much but that was probably because he wasn't exactly concentrating. His mind swirled. "Should I go speak to her?" He finally realized that there were other girls, not as womanly looking as her, standing with her. "It's going to be impossible now." He muttered knowing full well what girls were like around guys." He straightened up not realizing how hunched over he was. He then proceeded to walk over to the group of girls. "I better not make this too obvious." He thought sharply as he looked at each girl in turn.

"Good Evening ladies...are you enjoying yourseleves?" His dark eyes flickered and his eyebrow raised questionably waiting patiently for either of them to answer

Esther elbowed the dark haired girl, with an excited giggle. The one called X wrinkled her nose, and elbowed her back, "Sh!" She murmured, shaking some of the loose waves of her black hair from her face, and placing a hand on her hip.

Leena rolled her eyes at her two friends, "Seriously, act your age." She was the first to look the man up and down, and smirk, "We'd like to think so."

Esther took a sip from the cup, and was the next to speak, "This is one of the better parties on campus. You can always count on a good crowd whenever this house throws a bash." She looked down the red SOLO cup and frowned, "Empty, sad."

"You don't need anymore," X retorted with a thin voice, "We're rationing you. Remember?" She looked to the man with an angle of the head, "What of you? You don't look like you're having too much fun."

"We could fix that." Esther giggled, before Leena cupped a hand over her mouth, "I think 3 is too many for her."

The young man grimanced and managed a smile. "Not my type of party honestly." He thought for a moment. "I can't let it be so obvious that I was desperate not to be alone." He reminded himself. "My friends said they were going to be here." He took one look around the room before continuing. "I guess they bailed without even thinking to call. Typical of them actually. So here I am" He gestured to himself in a way for emphasis. "Alone and quite bored. Although, now that I've met you three I'm pretty sure my night will be a little more exciting." His smile widen. "Speaking of which may I inquire of your names? I am Derek, Derek Delore." His eyes surveyed each girl indiviually once again waiting patiently. The smile now grew more easy.

"Really?" Esther managed through Leena's hand. The blonde girl secured her hand on the girl's mouth, and smiled at Derek, "We're just keeping up appearances, not really much you can do on a Saturday night around here. We're not really into sleepovers and girly things." She snickered at an inside joke.

"You have to practically drank her out!" Esther said pushing Leena's hand away, and point to the dark haired girl beside them, "She cleans up nice though," Esther patted X on the back.

"Nice save, buddy." X murmured, crossing her arms.

"Oh, where are my manners!" Leena exclaimed, and smiled flirtatiously, "I'm Belinda Carter. But they all call me Leena."

Esther shook some of the aubrun hair from her face with a grin, "Esther Montgomery. No affiliation with the governor or his family. Scout's honor," She said putting her hands on her hips.

The last of the trio was silent with a look of horror on her face. She pursed her lips, and cleared her throat quietly, "X." She said cooly, and looked at her friends, "I'm- I'm going home." She pushed past the two of them, and went for the coat closet.

The two airheads looked at each other, and blinked. Esther frowned, "I've NEVER seen her run out of here faster." She looked at Leena, who in turn called after her, "ALEXIS!!! YOU DROVE!" She smiled at Derek, and pushed Esther, "Go retrieve her."

Esther whimpered, "Fiiiiiine, Burns, get your ass back here!" She called traisping after the dark hair girl who was fervently trying to find her jacket beside a couple who desperately need their closet back.

Leena smiled impishly at Derek, "Honestly, I don't know what got into her! Usually she just stands here quietly..." SHe thought for a moment, "Do you know each other?"

Derek stood there quietly. "Nice to meet you Leena." It dawned on him just a moment after she left and her friends called her name. "Alexis!" His mind screamed. He pursed his lips to keep from screaming her name out loud. He was silent trying to compose himself. "I--I guess in a way you could say we do." He finally admitted. He stared off in the direction she had gone. "It was awhile ago actually so I'm surprised she remembers me so well." He blushed lightly which may of looked odd againist his somewhat dark features. He was mentally trying to block the memories from spinning and flooding his mind but so far to no avail. His dark eyes dropped to the ground. "So if you aren't into "girly sleep overs" then what do you like to do?" He asked trying to sound casual but his voice remained low.

"It's, my pleasure," Leena said smiling again, although her eyes followed after her two friends. She rose her brows, turning her attention back to him, "Wow. No one ever knows her, she's kinda an island in herself, but I think she likes it that way."

The two girls stood by the coat closet arguing for a moment, but it seemed that Esther talked Alexis into coming back over.

The blonde chuckled, "I'm here on a scholarship for ballet, surprisingly." She angled her head, a couple locks of back falling over her shoulders, "So I spend most of my free time studying or reading. Sometimes the girls and I go to movies, or parties, but only on occassion."

Esther and Alexis approached them again, but this time Alexis was looking anywhere but in Derek's direction. She crossed her arms and watched the seconds tick by on her clock. Esther rolled her eyes and waved to a few friends across the room.

"Do you go here?" Leena asked with a smile, "I don't think I've seen you around campus before, but then again, there's almost 30,000 students here!" She laughed again.

"Ballet huh?" He asked quite interested but also very surprised. "I didn't take you for a girl who liked to dance considering the obvious, you being here and standing in a corner. I would of thought you'd be out there on the floor dancing." He took his chances and glanced at Alexis but said nothing. He then turned back to Leena. "To answer your question, No I don't go here, atleast not yet. I'm currently home on leave from the Army but I'm going to talk to my commander about being released for a time, to atleast do a year in college and if I like it then I may continue to the four year thing." He then blushed suddenly. "I'm sorry I must be rambling again. I've never been good at speaking to girls, I mean, women like yourself." He then took another chance to look at Alexis but quickly turned back toward Leena before the pain of that time came back and the memories ate at him.

"That," Leena pointed one french manicured nail at the unsightly naughty dancing in front of them, "Is not dancing. That is sex standing up. With clothes on. Dancing is a beautiful expression of a person's body in harmony with the pulse of a musical piece," Sheput a hand to her mouth, "I've been dancing since I could walk. My parents told me to get a fall back, so I went to college." She rolled her eyes, "No Juliard for Leena."

Alexis was still avoiding his gaze, but this time was twisting a black and red braided bracelet around her wrist. Right over the gang symbol she had tattooed palmside when she was only sixteen. When he had met her. The wavy black hair was curling over her shoulders, and into her face, disguising whatever emotional mask she wore that moment.

"The army?" Leena frowned, "Oh, the army's awful. You have to get out of there." She said with a serious face, "You know with the war and everything, it's not safe for you." The blonde took a chance and put her hand on his arm, "Besides, college life is, really fun." She drew back suddenly when Alexis looked at them.

The dark hair girl scowled, and with pursed lips she said, "You're not rambling." The cool silky voice cut with a malicious undertone, "Don't flatter her to think she's a woman. He's just flirting." Alexis shook some of the loose hairs from her face, "How much more of this to I have to stand, I need to get back to the apartment, Leena." Her pale face was ashen, except for the fire in her cheeks. It was quite obvious she was reliving some painful memories of her own. Or perhaps, not wanting to confess to any crimes she may have committed.

"Don't be so pushy, Lexi," Leena cooed, while Alexis visibly flinched at the nickname, "It's only a little after one."

Derek smiled looking from Alexis to Leena. While looking at Leena he replied. "Why not try for Juliard? I'm sure you could make it. I've never seen you dance but I can tell a good dancer when I see one. As for me the army is the only place I feel at home despite the war and everything else. It's not as bad as it seems. Sure it can get pretty bad at times but what in the world isn't like that?"

Then turning to Alexis he replied in a calm voice. "Me flirting? I'm bad at that even my army brothers say so but I guess that's what happens when you get hurt by someone you fall for." He finished in a hard tone, his eyes dark and full of pain from the memories. He blinked once and the look was gone.

He turned back to Leena again. "I've heard college is fun though..I guess that's part of the reason I'm going to try it...but." He then looked at Alexis and back to Leena again. "It seems that Alexis wants to go so I won't keep you any longer. I'm pretty sure I should go too. It'll be boring without you here and I have some reading to finish up." He then blushed again and lowered his eyes. After a moment he looked back at them. "I could give you my number if you'd like. I don't go out much because for the current moment I'm saving to get a new car. Mine was..." He cut off abruptly then restarted. "We'll just say I'm sharing one with an army brother of mine."

He quickly took out a piece of paper and a pen. He quickly wrote his name and number on it. Giving it to Leena he smiled. "Here you go. If you're ever bored or just wanna hang out give me a call." He nodded his head toward both girls. "I hope I'll see you around once I get things straight. Have a great night." As he walked away he sighed with relief. He tried hard not to do a double take toward Alexis. A familar pain shot through his chest. He ignored it. "He knew the feeling right away. It was the pain of a broken heart.

"Because, I'm almost too old for a proffessional career anyway," She waved a hand, "I'm happy where I am." The blonde tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, "Well, if it suits you." She wrinkled her nose.

Alexis scowled at him, her jaw set and her full lips pressed together hard, "Yeah, well, I know how that feels. Sometimes people just aren't who you thought they are, are they Derek?" SHe crossed her arms, "It's a shame really." She shrugged, and shook her head, "Let's not do this."

"College is really fun, especially if you know who to hang out with." Leena said biting her bottom lip, and elbowed Alexis, "Yeha, I guess we better go..." She perked up when he said about his number. Alexis grimaced when he said something about his car, she lost all color from her face at that moment. Leena grinned, "That's fine, we all share Lexi's. I'm not opposed to driving you around."

Leena took the piece of paper, and nodded, "Gladly." Alexis grabbed her arm, and murmured something into her ear. The blonde frowned at her friend and shook her off, "Yeah, I really hope to see you around!" She smiled at Derek as Alexis pulled her off to the door.

He stopped to watch them leave. As Derek watched them go the pain grew stronger in his chest. It was unbearable but he wouldn't let the emotion seep through into his eyes. "I let her have all of me that night. I can't do that again. It's over. No girl should get close to me ever again." As that thought passed through his mind the pain shot from his chest to his stomach. It felt like his heart had dropped then splattered. He walked out and walked to the street. He began walking along in the darkness to his apartment which wasn't far from where the party had been held. His mind flashed to Leena as he walked. He smiled and sighed. "She's indeed beautiful but is she like her..." He couldn't speak her name. The pain would not subside. He saw the apartment not to far ahead. He sighed in relief as he walked almost half way ran to the stairs. He threw open the door and locked it back. He walked to his room and began to undress and change for another day of loneliness and blocking out pain. As he stripped off his shirt he stared at himself in the mirror. The memories flooded his head once again.

"What the hell is wrong with you, X?" Leena said shoving the number into her pocket as the climbed into the old red Jeep. She jerked her seat belt on and crossed her arms like a pouty child, "I was totally into that guy. So what if you know him, you've had your chance."

Alexis's knuckles were white on the steering wheel. His steering wheel. After four years, she was still driving his car; she couldn't let it go. Her lips were pursed, "Shut UP!" She screeched throwing the car into Drive and barreling down the street, "You don't know what it's like for me okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, YEAH!" Leena tossed off, "It's always about you!"

"Have you ever loved someone so much that you would do anything for them? ANYTHING? Give up yourself, your morals, your family?" Alexis didn't dare look at Leena as they turned into the apartment building's parking lot, "And then just have them show that they don't love you back? They don't respect you, or your body or your sacrifices. You thought they understood you, and suddenly, you've lost all faith in them? Do you really know what that's like?!" The pulled into a sport and put the car in park.

Leena looked at her roomate shocked, "no." She murmured.

"Well I do. It feels like someone ripping your heart from your chest, and dragging a cerrated knife across it multiple times," Alexis fought back tears, "And the only thing you can do is Run, run away from that feeling becasue if you don't it just might kill you."

"Lexi-"

"Please, please don't call me that." She interjected.

Leena gave her a comforting smile, "Alexis, I had no idea."

"I haven't seen him since, since that night." She ran her fingers across the dashboard, "And, I thought I was over it, over him, but.. It's just. It's all wrong." She blurted out, yanking the keys from the ignition.

"I won't call him if that's what you want?" Leena offered.

"No, he's got enough shattered self esteem as it it..."

Leena rose a brow, "Maybe you two should talk about what happened-"

"No." Alexis said flatly getting out of the jeep.

Derek walked over to the mirror and rested his palms on the dresser. The memory flashed before his eyes. The slamming door. The start of the car. The screeching tires. "Lexi!" He heard himself scream clutching his chest falling to his knees. "You thought I didn't love you. You thought I used you but that night..I--I gave you all of me...every single part of me..including my heart." He whispered to the empty room. He glanced toward the bed and back up at the mirror. All the fury built back up. He drew back his arm to throw a punch at the mirror but all of a sudden her face flashed in his mind. The mask she had wore tonight couldn't hide the pain and sadness he knew so well. "Lexi..." He whispered this time. A sigh of relief rushed through him.

"Alex." Leena said running after her as they moved to the first floor apartment, "You aren't okay with this. You need to say your peace, you know as well as I do, running isn't the answer."

"Bella." Alexis leaned against the door with her eyes closed, "You don't know. You can't possibly know how bad it hurts to see him. I can barely stand to utter those horrible things i said to him. Then and now." She put her face in her hands.

"Oh my god. This is serious."

"What?" Alexis said turning and unlocking the door, rushing into the apartment.

"You're still crazy about him!" Leena exclaimed, pulling out the number, and holding it out to her.

"I don't want that," Alexis pushed it away.

"I'll give him yours then!" She threatened.

"Can I go to bed please?" SHe whined going to her room.

"We'll talk about this tomorrow!"

"FINE! GIVE HIM MY DAMN NUMBER!" Alexis groaned from the next room.

Leena smirked sinking onto the couch in the living area, "I will. This is going to be all aptched up, thjanks to the matchmaker."

Derek stood up and slowly made his way to his bed. He sunk down feeling his weight slowly begin to even out on the bed. He laid back and looked at the ceiling. It had been four years since she had come into his life. Four years since that night and the day he regretted with all his heart. The day he didn't go after her. He let her run away unaware of the affect it would have on him. "After she left", he thought, "I wasn't me. I couldn't be me without her." It then dawned on him. "The army..that's why I joined." The pain in his chest grew as he remembered the conversation between him and his army brother Joseph or Joey. His mind wandered back to that night in camp.

"Hey D just wondering but why did you join the army?" asked Joseph one night while they were sitting in their camp bored out of their skulls. Derek thought for a moment, not sure whether to tell the truth or not, so instead he lied.

"I had to get away from home. College isn't an option for me right now. It costs way too much." Joey just looked at Derek then as if he accepted his answer he nodded and drifted off to sleep.

He sighed snapping out of the memory. "I couldn't tell him the truth." He whispered once again to the dark and empty room. "I couldn't tell him about Lexi, the girl of my dreams, the love of my life, the girl who tore out my heart and murdered it..murdered me. I couldn't tell him I had a death wish because without Lexi I was nothing." He sighed again and turned over on his bed. With one look at the clock he closed his eyes and drifted off to a place where she waited for him, in his dreams.

Alexis's cold eyes snapped open and she stumbled out of the bed, "SHIT!! Leena!" She whined, running out of her tidy room in boxers and a tank top with a shelf bra. Her hair was askew and she wore an intense frown, "Leena?" She looked around the apartment for for.

The living area was occupied by a Middle Eastern girl with multiple hair colors, and almond shaped hazel eyes. She wore a band tee shirt with old english letters that said, "Forever / Gone " and cut off jeans. Her legs were crossed as she sat on the couch with a text book, "It's Sunday, X, relax." The girl said without looking up.

Alexis ran her hand through her hair, "Oh, okay. I thought-"

"You thought it was Monday, freshman year when you scheduled that class for 7:30 in the morning and overslept so you went in that." She looked up, "What's stressing you?"

"Who said anything about stress, Siran?" Alexis asked with her lips curled, moving into the kitchen, "I'm not stressed, I just didn't get anybody at the party last night."

"Who was Belinda texting or calling this morning?" asked Siran, flipping her pages with a grin, "Because she mentioned your name, and our apartment address."

Alexis grimaced from within the fridge, "How long ago?"

"Two hours ago?" Siran looked back at her book.

Alexis hit her head on the fridge door turning around, "WHAT?!"

"You should shower."

"Oh man!" She whined, running to the bathroom.

Derek put down the phone and just stared at it. Had that really happened? Did Leena just call him and tell him to come over? What for though? "Oh no..." The thought hit him like a bomb. "Alexis!" He quickly ran through the conversation in his mind.

"Hey Derek its Leena whats up?" Derek stared at the phone before answering.

"Nothing why? Is everything alright?" She just cut to the chase.

"Are you busy right now or sometime in the near future?"

"uhm not that I'm aware of unless you had something in mind." He replied with a hint of a smile. He grinned as he heard her laugh but then became serious as she became more direct.

You should come over like soon or within a few hours. Call before you come though ok?"

"Ok." He replied utterly comfused. Before he could say anything else or ask questions she replied.

"Promise?"

"Yes. Yes I promise." He told her sincerely.

"Good I look forward to seeing you soon. Don't forget to call." She abruptly hung up. Derek was left there to stare at the phone speechless. He was still half asleep so the whole conversation hadn't registered til a little while later.

"I can't believe this." He murmmured to himself as he snapped back to reality. "What if this really does have to do with Lexi..." He sighed. "Only one way to find out.." He thought as he picked up the phone to dial the number.

Alexis ran out of the bathroom in her towel, and bolted to her bed room, "I'm going to KILL her, Siran, I swear to every holy deity known to man!" The pale girl was flushed, as she threw on some khaki bermuda shorts and a navy blue polo. She combed her hair out, and put some of the usual make up on. Mid-mascara she looked in the mirror, why was she 'dolling up'? Was this Leena's deal? Alexis rolled her eyes and finished.

Leena laid in her room upside down on the bed, her red minidress clung to her body. The white leggings stretched down to her knees, and her gold painted toenails glinted by the open window. She flipped open the red razr phone, "Helllllllooo, Derek. Ready to come over?" She grinned on her side of the phone, "Because that's all I'm going to say, we should really talk in person." She giggled.

Derek was quite surprised at her tone as he answered "Yes. I'll be there shortly. Though I admit I don't know if you gave me directions to your place." He sighed quietly in relief. "Maybe this has nothing to do with Lexi..." He waited to get directions then hung up. He looked at himself in the mirror. His gray and blue ARMY shirt and bue jeans. He spiked his hair a little..or what was left of it since he had shaved it for the ARMY. Withone last glance he was out the door and speeding to the girl's apartment. All to soon It seemed as if he was at the door ready to know. Was he ready to face his past that could possibly rearrange his future? "Only one way to find out." He thought as he knocked on the door and waited patiently for it to be answered.

The Middle Eastern girl's voice could be heard behind the door, "BELINDA, YOUR GUEST IS HERE!"

Leena flicked Siran's hair as she moved through the apartment barefoot and answered the door, "Hey, Derek, so glad you could come over." She flashed a charming smile, "I have rehearsal in about half an hour, so we can't chill long." She ushed him in, and shut the door behind him, "That's Siran Asarashi, she's here for Physics and Biology- our little nerd." Leena smiled.

Siran looked up, "You sent her into a frenzy, I hope you're aware."

"I'm very aware; it's past noon, she needed to get up anyway," Leena assured her room-mate.

Suddenly, Alexis stormed out of one of the rooms down the hall adjacent to the kitchen, "Leena, did you hear me- HONESTLY!" She stopped in the archway between the kitchen and the living room. She sucked in a breath sharply and exhaled slowly through pursed lips, "you, Belinda, are a horrible, terrible, awful friend." She pointed an accusing finger.

Siran snapped her book shut, "That's my cue to leave," she stood and smiled at Derek, "Have fun with the kids," She waved and walked straight into a room adjoining the living room.

"Alexis, come on, we can have this fight later." She narrowed her eyes, "You remember Derek from last night?"

Alexis wrinkled her nose and crossed her arms, "Yes, I do." She said cooly, looking at Derek now.

Derek looked from Leena to Alexis and back. He then realized Alexis was staring at him. He tried to keep his face blank. There was no use denying to himself that he had seen HIS jeep outside. Still, He said nothing about it. He waited for someone to say something because he surely wasn't going to be the first one. He wasn't sure what to say or what not to say. He wasn't even sure had he spoke what would come out of his mouth. So instead he kept quiet. He every now then would glance at Alexis. "I'm in the army." He reminded himself. "I am built to deal with pressure in all situtions." His face stayed blank but he wasn't sure how long he could hold out with the love of his life across from him staring at him.

"I remember her as well." He offered in what he hoped to be a confident voice. "Nice to see you again Alexis."

Alexis's left eye twitched just a bit when he greeted her, but she straightened a little, "Mnhmn," She emitted curtly, moving to perch on the bar stool next to her; one of three that sat in front of the ledge that branched between the kitchen and living room, "You too." She said in a shrill voice.

Leena smirked behind Derek, shoving him a little towards the couch, "Have a seat, I have to grab my things," She motioned to her room, "X, I hope you don't mind, I have dress rehearsal for the spring show tonight, can I borrow the car?" It was more of a passing demand as she went to her room and re-emerged with a pink duffel bag, and a pair of worn toe ballet shoes.

"No, that's fine. Take my keys," She pointed to the keyring on the hat rack by the door. It was more of an art piece than anything worth function, "You'll be gone later, I assume."

"Mnhmn." Leena said plopping right down onto the floor, and pulling on some Roman sandels, "But you'll be fine, I'm sure. Homework, Lucy, Siran; Esther said she might bring Asian for dinner if she's not with Danny."

Alexis nodded absently, still quite pale, and not taking her eyes off Derek, "Yeah, that sounds fine, Lee."

Derek sat down quietly as the girls spoke wondering if he should of brought up the fact that Leena had invited him there to talk. He then shook his head. "She set me up..She wants to to talk to Lexi..not her." He was careful not to narrow his eyes because he knew Alexis was still watching him. "Damnit girl.." His mind pleaded. "Don't do this to me...I can barely hold myself together..don't do this..." He looked at Alexis again. She was still as beautiful as he remembered. His heart twisted in pain at the thought but he tried hard notto show it. "She ran from me...She didn't want me either..just like she thought I didn't want her...how wrong you were girl...how wrong you were." His mind screamed still looking at her every now and again.

"Should I go then?" He asked. His confidence returning he knew for a short period of time. "I don't want to intrude or stop you from anything you have to get done."

"She's not busy. She probably just rolled out of bed," Leena said standing with a grin, "I'll leave now, nice seeing you!" She grabbed the bag and the keys on the way out. She shut the door softly.

Alexis bit her bottom lip, and slid off the chair, "You had to know she was going to do this? You, you had to know." She looked angry, but it was just a cover up; her eyes were just as pleading and upset as ever.

Derek stared at her without a word. After a few moment he replied. "I honestly had no idea...if I had known..I wouldn't of come...don't you think I get it Lexi?" He then stood up. He sighed with frustration. "I'll leave if you want. I'm not about to cause a scene...neither one of us are in a state to handle an arguement." He stated what he hoped to be matter of factly. He moved toward the door to make his exit had he been directly to do so.

"What?" Alexis shook her head, pieces of hair falling into her face, "Wait." She stepped forward, biting this inside of her bottom lip, "Derek. You know, you- you shouldn't go."

Derek turned slightly his hand on the doorknob. "Why not?" He asked staring into her eyes. "Don't you want me to leave? This is hard for both of us. I can see that. I'm not trying to make it harder for you Lex...It's been four years..." He let out a sigh and dropped his gaze as well as his hand away from the door. "four years..." He repeated softly more to himself. "I guess..I guess we may have some stuff to work out..."

• Forums are not to be used to post stories.
• All forum posts must be suitable for teens.
• The owner and moderators of this forum are solely responsible for the content posted within this area.
• All forum abuse must be reported to the moderators.