Life continued. And, it was good.

"Alex! Oh my god! How the hell can my dress not fit on prom night!" Christine's screech echoed down the hall of Tyler's mansion. I stood behind her in the mirror covering my ears.

"Christine! Relax! I'm not done taking the strings out yet!" The pink dress that looked magnificent on her, we soon discovered was also the most complicated thing on the planet.

What we hadn't noticed at the store, was that there were thirteen separate ribbon ties that spread from the bottom to the top, that all blended in with the dress due to color and the fact that there is fabric behind them so that no skin shows…I'm pretty sure the ribbons are for size differences. And of course, all the ribbons came done up one side…which means I had to take them all out and then weave them between the tiny silky holes.

Then, there was the zipper. It started in front of her left leg and ended behind her right shoulder. Yeah. Through the ribbon section. Three ribbon sections to be exact.

Christine, was not happy.

"Oh fucking hell! Alex! It's going to fit right?" She begged, holding the right side of the dress up for my ribbon weaving ease.

I shook my head at her panic. "Yes, Christine…I'm…almost done…" I had to constantly have one string in my mouth, between my teeth to keep it taunt, with the other one weaving. I worked it through the bodice boning, pulling gently and keeping it tight over her chest.

Christine stood still despite her protests, trying to see the huge mirror Tyler had set up for us over my head by only moving her neck.

I pulled them out over my head slightly, tying them tightly, and locking them in the little metal hooking on the inside of the dress. "There." I exclaimed, stepping to the side and letting her look at herself.

She looked absolutely gorgeous.

She smiled brightly and turned towards me. "Now it's your turn. Get dressed, we only have-" She glanced at the clock "-fifteen minutes!" She nearly screamed. "Get dressed!"

I moved quickly, letting her tuck my shirt in and then pull it out in just the right places before slinging the jacket around my shoulders. I sat and pulled on my shoes and her strapped pink dancing shoes.

"God I'm glad we got our make-up on before getting dressed." She sighed out looking in the mirror one final time, and dusting imaginary dust from my suit. And yes. Our make-up. She was all dolled-up, and she put me in classic black eyeliner, it made my paleness attractive when coupled with my even more scarlet hair. (She'd dyed it again the day before, much to my dissatisfaction)

She gave me a smile and I grinned back at her. "You look hot Alex." She grinned, hugging my arms.

"And you as well Christine." I nodded formally before we both broke out into giggles.

"Alright guys, I'm coming in." Tyler's voice came from in front of the door just barely a second before the door opened. "Wow." Tyler's voice breathed as our eye met. "Alex you look…" He appeared to be lost for words.

"Dead sexy?" Christine offered, sending me a wink before gracefully moving out of the room.

Tyler's eyes traveled down my body and back to my eyes. "I would have preferred the word beautiful…but I suppose that works as well." He joked approaching and wrapping his arms around my waist.

I grinned and stood on my tip-toes to peck his lips. "You look nice too." I teased, rubbing noses with him.

Tyler chuckled. "I love you." He murmured, not giving me time to respond before he captured my lips.

I grinned into the kiss, pulling back rather quickly. "I love you too…now let's go." I laughed out, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the door. "We're going to have fun if it kills us." I giggled out, knowing how much Tyler really didn't want to go.

Tyler rolled his eyes, but followed me out of the house and into the limo with Christine and Peter nonetheless. "Yeah yeah. Be glad I love you." He whined, kissing my cheek.

And…it was freaking awesome!

Tyler and I danced every slow dance…his arms clamped around my waist and mine around his shoulders. Like a fucking fairy tale. He even made prom king, with Teresa Gooding has 'his queen'.

We hung out, made-out, even found a dark corner for a serious make-out session. And, it was awesome, for it being my first dance and all. Never thought I'd go with Tyler Kimbal let me tell you.

Tyler grabbed my hand and lead me out on the veranda of hotel we were having the dance at. Damn rich schools. "You know Alex, I took Kayla to her senior prom too?" He asked idly, playing with our laced fingers.

I rolled my eyes and smiled, "What a mood killer Tyler…" I joked gripping his hand with both of mine and kissing his shoulder.

He chuckled at me before turning his back to the sky to face me. "I'm trying to make a point here babe, try to be serious?" He asked, despite the smile on his face.

I grinned wider and turned my gaze to the left, I was good at this whole flirting thing now. "I can try." I laughed out, bringing his hand up and kissing it.

Tyler shook his head and kissed my forehead. "I love you Alex. And…I feel the need to point out that I've never felt this way for anyone one the face of the fucking planet." He moved my, now not smiling, face so that I was looking straight into his clear storm-cloud eyes. "I've never felt this way. Not for Kayla…not for Brad."

My eyes widened in a way I was sure was comical…or would have been if not for the circumstances. "Tyler…" I started vainly, blinking up at the beauty of moonlight shining down upon my boyfriend, like a prince in a fairytale.

He shook his head, "Alex, I just want you to know that." He swept down, soft hands cupping my jaw and neck as our lips sealed in a loving embrace.

My arms melted their way up his back, grasping his shoulders before he pulled back slowly.

"I don't know if there are words to express how happy I am with you Alex. How much I love you and how glad I am that you accepted that damn agreement." Tyler grinned crookedly, a grin different than his usual perfectly even smile. "And for my trust fund of course." He chuckled out with mischief in his eyes.

I burst out a small laugh and whacked his shoulder. "Charming, you dumbass." I laughed out at him, rolling my eyes.

Tyler grinned and reached up, wiping the tears I hadn't known were there from my eyes before picking me up and spinning me around, making me squeal.

"Tyler! Team photo, come on!" Jack Flagstone called from the veranda door.

Tyler shook his head and sent me a look of inquiry, making me smiling and nodding for him to go. "Go on, I'll wait here." I told him, sending him a smile.

Watching him go, I leaned back on the ledge and stared up at the sky. I…I think I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Tyler. And, the way it looked, I just might do it. I-

"You didn't really believe all that did you?" Tina's nasal voice cut through the peaceful night like an electrical fire. My gaze snapped to hers like motion sensors. "Oh…how sweet…you actually did." She stepped closer, reaching and playing with the vines hanging over the veranda, leaning one hip against the side of the ledge, looking like a fallen angel in her porcelain colored prom dress.

I must have blinked or looked confused because she continued. Or, maybe I just looked pissed off and she knew it was working.

"Tyler Kimbal is the play boy of the century. And, well, look at yourself. Would you give that up for the likes of you?" She asked it in a tone of honey. The sweetness and caring in her voice was driving me insane. "I mean really, you had your uses. Virgin, no parents to deal with, and of course he needed you for his trust fund." She names them off while picking leaves off the vine. While picking out pieces of my heart.

I shook my head slightly. "No. Tyler and I are in love." I stated proudly, nodding my head to my words.

Tina smiled sweetly at me, throwing the leafs across the veranda, a warning of what she would do to the pieces of my soul she now held with just those few words.

"Oh, I have no doubt." She told me, holding her hands up sweetly in surrender. "But, Tyler loved Brad too, more than he'll every really care about you." She snidely remarked, still coming across sympathetic.

I shook my head at her. "Brad's a whore." I spat, feeling my heart aching in my chest.

She nodded sympathetically. "Oh, sweetie I know he is. That's why Tyler doesn't deserve you, and, well lets face it. He's out of your league." She sent me another small delicate smile. "And, I'm sorry if this is upsetting you, I'm trying to be nice. I just don't want to see you hurt…again." She patted my arms like it was acid and was about to speak before the veranda door opened again and Tyler reappeared.

"Hey Tina," He nodded. "Jack wanted me to tell you that he'll give you a ride to Chris's party if you get down stairs." He nodded at her, wrapping an arm around my waist.

I meshed my face in his jacket. "Are we going to the party?" I asked his chest, rubbing my face and gripping him hard.

Tyler wrapped his arms around me tighter. "We don't have too if you don't want to." He told me gently.

I smiled to myself. How could he not love me? "No, I want you to have fun. We'll go." I grinned at him, leaning back and pecking his lips.

Tyler sent me a look that asked if I was sure and at my nod sent me his usual perfect grin. "Alright, lets go."

Tyler pulled me down stairs, and into the limo where we changed into jeans and plain button down shirts on our way to Chris's house.

Tyler sent me a grin as we pulled up to Chris's. "I love you." He murmured, pecking my lips and pulling me out of the vehicle.

I smiled, about to respond, before three jocks came up and wrapped arms around Tyler. "Come on man!" They were already drunk. I was now glad that I didn't have any of the punch which was obviously spiked.

I watched him go and shook my head. I was used to Tyler being pulled off randomly. And, while his friends were too chicken shit to actually do anything to me, they weren't exactly friendly so I avoided them at all costs.

Three hours later I had yet to really see Tyler. That was cool though. I had to stay sober, I knew that, and really and truly alcohol disgusts me. But…I guess I'm bias. Either way, it was totally pushing one in the morning when Christine walked up to me a grave expression on her face.

A sense of dread filled me to the bone. "Christine…what-"

"Go upstairs Alex." She grabbed me tight and hugged me to her chest. "I'm so fucking sorry." She sobbed tightly into my chest.

The dread turned to white hot fear. "Christine…what are you talking about?" I wished my voice wouldn't quiver.

She ripped away from me and pushed me towards the stairs. "The third door on the left…just go…" She sobbed over the music, leaving me to walk dazedly up the stairs.

I stepped slowly, gripping the stair rail so I didn't fall, either from my dizziness or the people rushing down the stairs. I'm not sure how I counted the doors, or knew the difference between right and left or knew how to open the door.

But I somehow managed to open the door, the right one, slowly, tentatively. And…there it was. Tyler's dark hair and flawless back, hips jerking as he thrust quickly into Brad. Brad, noticing the light, looking over and sending me a victorious grin. He moaned louder than I imagined possible. "Oh god yes Tyler!" He nearly screamed, never losing eye contact with me.

Tyler's head turned in confusion before he sent his gaze behind him over his shoulder. His icy eyes widened in shock at the sight of me, and even from this distance, I could see the drunkenness bleeding out of his eyes. "Ale…" His voice faded, before he bolted off of Brad as if he was on fire.

The room was silent, even the noise in the hallway behind me stopped and I think someone shouted to turn the music down.

I watched Tyler stand beside the bed with the sheet around his waist struggling for words. Brad looked up at me proudly, still sprawled out on the bed with a smirk of his face.

Then, the weirdest thing happened. My breath hitched, and my nose and eyes burned as tears rushed through my sinuses. Then…then I could hear something shattering inside me, and there was suddenly a dense void in my chest.

My mouth hung open as I observed the two men in front of me, my vision already blurring with the traitorous tears. I felt betrayed and used and…exhausted. Utterly exhausted with life.

Tyler was scrambling to pull his pants on when I finally found my voice. "You win." I whimpered with my croaking voice, making Tyler freeze for a moment to stare at me, but I kept my focus on Brad, desperate not to fully crack. Not to give that whore the fucking pleasure. "You can have him. I don't want him anymore." I finished quietly with a smile, despite the tears running down my face and the sobs breaking though my chest.

Then, I spun on my heel and walked away, walked away from the scene of the man I love-loved fucking another person. I left the door wide open, hearing the crowd starting to form.

"Alex! Alex, please wait!" I heard, picking up my pace to an almost jog as I fled from Tyler's voice shouting after me. "Damn it, Chris!" He screeched, his voice taking a desperate quality I had never heard before. The second round of panic shot through my system as I bolted down the stairs to the best of my ability.

The second my feet hit the landing I bolted through the crowds and toward the door, the music was back on- if it had ever really gone away, but I could still hear Tyler behind me. I picked up the pace again, now fully cursing that the crowds didn't part for me.

"Fuck Kid!" Chris Graves grabbed me from behind and spun me around to face him. I avoided looking at Chris; more preoccupied with the two girls over his shoulder. Kristen met my eyes before turning from my tears ashamedly. Tina smirked at me, looking less like an angel and more like a plotting demon, she raised her red plastic cup in a toast and mouthed a simple 'I Told You So' causing a very wet sob to erupt from my chest.

"Please Chris, please I'm begging you, let me go." I begged, almost falling to the jock's feet, the tears falling even harder. "Please!" I pleaded, hearing Tyler parting the crowds behind Chris and trying to calm down because of it.

I opened my eyes when Chris sighed and drug me over to his door, reaching in and picking his keys out of the key bowl. "Here, take my truck." He sighed, moving to the side and dropping a quick kiss to my forehead. "If you don't take him back, look me up." He murmured.

I nodded in shock and stared up at him. "Thank-"

Chris threw the door open and pushed me out. "Hurry up!" He shouted, slamming the door shut. I could hear Tyler's and Chris's shouts even has I moved off to the other side of the street and until I got in Chris's large truck.

Somehow, possibly completely on autopilot, I made it home. My real home. The house with the 'for sale' sign in front.

I threw the truck in park and ran over to the porch. Storming through the front door I could here the screeching tires of the limo and Tyler screaming before the think oak blocked it out.

"Alex…? Alex what the fuck is going on?" I looked up at the worried face of my sister and wanted to vomit. I didn't deserve her worry. "Alex, what happened?" Kayla asked seriously.

I cast my gaze down. "Tyler…he-"

"Alex! Alex come on open the damn door!" Tyler banged on the door violently. "Alex…Alex please…please…" The pounding stopped and I could tell he was leaning against the door.

"Alex, I'm sorry, I didn't- I mean- I never-" Kayla looked down at me. "I think I'm going to leave you two alone…I suddenly have somewhere to be at two in the morning." She rolled her eyes and marched over to the door, opening it and having Tyler nearly fall on top of her. She glared down at him. "You're a fuck up." She said simply, marching off into the night of the yard.

Tyler watched her go before turning to me, giving me a full view of his red blotchy face, tears running down his cheeks and his eyes blood shot. "What you saw was-

"What? What was it? Tell me. Was it an 'accident'?!" I forced my eyes to go cold and glared through my hair and over my glasses. It made me glad I had switched from my contacts in the limo. "Is that what you were going to say?" Tyler's wet, red blotched face looked shocked.

"Alex-"

"No!" I screeched, my glasses falling slightly down my nose with my flail. "I guess this really was all a ploy to keep me around long enough to get your trust fund." I spat at him, watching his eyes widen in shock. "Tell me, were you fucking him the whole time? Every time we fucked-" I hissed that word like poison. "-every time you held me or we just talked you were wishing I has him weren't you?!" I screamed.

"No!" Tyler begged, "Alex, please listen to me. I-"

"Fuck you!" I screamed, turning my back to him. "You fucking listen to me this time! You've crossed the line Tyler. I'm done. It's over. Get the fuck out." I growled over my shoulder, leaning slightly against the entryway to the living room, trying to muffle my tears.

I listened as Tyler turned and went to leave before stopping suddenly. "No."

I stiffened in despair.

"No, I'm not going to leave. I told you before. I love you more than life itself." I felt two strong arms wrap around my waist. Tyler's warm breath was on my neck and ear before my earlobe was being pulled between two full, slightly chapped lips. Moving to the special spot behind my ear, turning me on in a way that only he knew how…and making my stomach queasy.

"Please let go Alex…" Tyler whispered pleadingly until I relaxed into his embrace. The love I still felt for him flowing through my veins.

"This is the last time Tyler." Was all that was said before Tyler was pulled into my welcoming mouth. My moan went straight to both of our groins. Breaking the kiss he moved up the stairs and, pinning me against wall, moved us both to my bedroom.

Throwing me on the bed Tyler stripped his shirt, the well-built muscles there flexing with his movements. "Tyler…" I started, unsure now, knowing that he had just been with Brad.

He shook his head, shushing me while crawling slowly over my body coming to fall between my legs. "Just let me have this, one more time please." He purred, looking deep into my hazel eyes as I lay under him, running one hand through my hair the other removing my glasses.

I sighed and pulled Tyler down on me, wrapping my legs around his waist, grinding our erections together. "Uh, damn Alex…" Tyler moaned before claiming my mouth again, running his tongue along mine gently, grinding down onto me hard.

I groaned loudly into Tyler's mouth has his hands drifted to my ass, groping hard while grinding into my cock. Tyler chuckled before moving to my neck and unbuttoning my shirt with one hand.

"Tyler, please, just…" I tried.

He shushed me. "Baby please, I love you. If you never let me within a hundred feet of you again, please, let me have tonight." He whimpered, resting his forehead against mine. His words left me breathless with the look in his eyes. The gut wrenching desperate look.

"Please don't fight me, please." He closed his eyes as if prying and my resolve broke.

He hurt me, but, I could deal with that pain in the morning. Fuck what he did tonight, for now. I'll love him tonight, like I have been for months, and I'd hate him like I want to in the morning.

"Okay." I whispered, making his eyes open. "Just for tonight, it ends tomorrow." I finished by connection our mouths and digging a hand into his dark hair.

Tyler smiled into out kiss and reached a hand down into my jeans and boxer-briefs, making me kick my shoes off so he could fully remove them. Taking the liberty to remove both my socks as well.

"Alex." I opened my eyes, which I didn't notice I had closed. "Alex, I love you. I just- I don't know what the fuck I was thinking with Brad," I watched him steadily as he fumbled over words. "I don't even really know, one minute I was with the guys, drinking and playing pool…then I was upstairs…" He trailed off, placing his hands on my slightly jutting hips.

"Tyler, you only have until morning," I put my hands over his. "don't wait it babbling."

His eyes went sad for a moment, but I forcibly swallowed the guilt rising in my throat. He took a deep breath. "Then…lets not waste it having sex." He smiled sadly at me, crawling over me and wrapping his arms around my waist. "Let's talk." He nuzzled my ear. "For the last time."

A/N: Does anyone know what today is? It's the birthday! So, lets all say 'happy birthday' to Slim Pickings Lead to Drastic Propositions. Happy Birthday!

And, it's un-beta'd but, I did my best to catch the mistakes. Next chapter? It all comes out.