"Chyna, cut it out. I saw, but it's a girl's night. I can hook up with him another night."

"You are insane, but I love you!" she exclaimed planting a drunken kiss on Lexi's lips.

Lexi rolled her eyes. "Yes I know dear."

"Just for the record, I think you should go for it."

"Well I'm not going to. Some other time," she said as she turned towards Armani Guy. "Sorry we have to get out of here."

"We?" he asked incredulously. She pointed between her and Chyna and his face transformed at the realization that she was going to leave without him. He'd put in all that work for nothing. She could tell he wasn't pleased. They'd hit it off, but she wasn't ready to go home with him yet. Not tonight at least.

"Sorry. I know you have that meeting," she quickly improvised. "Maybe we can meet up some other time."

"Well I'm leaving the city tomorrow, but maybe I could get your number and the next time I'm in town we can meet up."

Chyna grumbled something in her ear, but she swatted her away not wanting to hear her voice of reason. Of course she should go home with this guy, but that really wasn't going to help her tonight. Even through her intoxication, she was thinking more clearly then her best friend. She was too drunk at this point to go home with this guy and even though he helped her forget Jack, which was always a positive, he wasn't sticking around anyway. In Chyna's world, that was all the more reason to go home with him. Lexi felt differently about the subject. So she quickly punched her digits into his Blackberry and then dragged Chyna to the door.

As they drove back to Lexi's dorm, Chyna kept staring at Lexi in dismay. "I don't want to hear one word," Lexi said pointing her finger in Chyna's direction.

Chyna pulled a zipper across her lips, but raised her eyebrows in further disapproval. A few minutes later as they entered the dorm, Chyna couldn't hold it any longer. "You should have gone with him."

Lexi giggled. "Yeah I probably should have, but there will be other guys and other nights."

Chyna scooted closer to Lexi as they reached the top of the stairs and began walking down the stained hallway Chyna had been so uneasy about earlier that afternoon. "Yeah, but he was delicious."

Lexi giggled again. "Yeah I guess he was."

"I hope he calls you though."

"I doubt he will," Lexi said coming to a stop in front of the door and fumbling for her keys.

Lexi pushed the door open and immediately veered towards the bedroom. Chyna shut the door behind her and walked towards the lumpy couch. She plopped down allowing her aching feet a reprise from their tormentors. Just as her butt hit the cushion, she jumped up screaming in terror at the realization that whatever she just sat on was not a cushion. And now it was moving. Chyna jumped up and down in fear, but unable to move her feet to carry her away from the unknown person.

Lexi darted back out of the room sobering up as soon as she heard the blood-curdling cry echo throughout the apartment. "Chyna what is it?" she cried unsure what she would find. Lexi gasped in surprise at what appeared to be someone rising from the dead. The figure's head hung limp and arms were stretched out in front like Frankenstein's monster. A low menacing moan escaped the person. Just then the figure's head snapped to sideways as Chyna slammed a pillow into the side of his head. Lexi rushed back to the front door, latching on to the handle in the event that they need to make a run for it, and flicking on the dorm light.

Chyna brought the pillow viscously back down on the intruder several more time before a yell escaped the person who was sitting there. "Oww, stop that."

"Get out of here! You can't take our stuff!" Chyna screamed smacking him across the face another time.

"I'm here to see Lexi, Goddamn. Chill out," the intruder cried shielding himself from Chyna's assault.

"Chyna stop," Lexi demanded her feet frozen in place as she stared onwards. Chyna paused mid-swing and then brought the pillow back down to her side. She glanced back at Lexi in confusion. The intruder looked to where she had spoken ignoring the possibility of another attack. Lexi's throat caught at the sight. "This is Jack."

"Jack. Jack Jack. You mean the Jack?" Chyna asked stumbling on the name.

Lexi nodded. "Yeah."

"Well then," she mumbled tossing the pillow onto the loveseat, "guess that's my cue. Sorry." She walked to Lexi and gave her a quick hug whispering into her ear, "Let me know if you need anything sweetie," before retiring to Lexi's door room.

"Jack, what are you doing here? How did you get inside? How did you know where I was?" she asked letting loose a string of questions that had flown through her head at the sight of him.

He just stared her in awe. He stared at her like he'd never seen her before. He stared at her like she was his lifejacket and he was sinking.

"Jack," she whispered the earlier memories that she had briefly escaped were clouding her vision once more.

He stood quickly and scooped her into his arms. "I've missed you so much," he whispered sweetly into her ear.

Goosebumps cascaded up her arms as they circled his neck. "I've missed you too," she admitted.

When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes breathing her in. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" She couldn't believe this was happening to her. She felt like she was so drunk that perhaps she had passed out and was dreaming about Jack being here.

"Don't ask that. I'm sorry for everything. I ended it with Kate. All I saw was you when I looked at her."

"Me."

"Yeah. I was an idiot for staying with her. You're what I want."

"Me?"

"Yes Lexi, you."

"Oh," she whispered breathlessly, pushing her fingers up into his dark thick mess of hair and twisting the strands around her fingertips.

"I shouldn't have come like this."

"No you shouldn't have," she agreed shaking her head.

He pulled back to look at her and her breath caught again as his brilliant blue eyes locked onto her. "I really am sorry for everything Lex."

She nodded knowing he meant it. She let the memory of him telling her that he loved her for the first time wash over her. It had been so long since she had allowed herself to think of that without tears springing to her eyes. He was here for her. He'd come to New York for her.

"I didn't mean to scare your friend."

"Oh don't mind Chyna. She's probably already asleep. How did you get inside anyway?" she asked her brow furrowing.

"One of your roommates let me in. I just told her I was a friend of yours and that I'd wait to see you," he said sheepishly.

"Ugh," she groaned, "you could have been anyone. I'm going to have to talk to them about this."

He pulled her closer against his again. "Well aren't you glad they didn't turn me away?" he asked his mouth turning into his characteristic smirk.

"Very glad," she agreed allowing his lips fall on hers and savoring the taste of him. In fact, what was going on in her head was how glad she was that she hadn't gone home with Armani Guy, because what she had come home to was nothing compared to what she had found at a club. She applauded herself for her stubborn nature.

"Lex?"

"Yeah?" she mumbled licking her lips.

"I love you."

"I love you too," she said for the first time allowing herself to tell him how she really felt. Then she got lost in Jack's kiss once more.

Thanks to my awesome reviewers: Cupid's Psyche (and all her wonderful descriptions and giving away the plot), iris oasis (I really appreciated your review) and PeterMoore (for your patience with me getting chapters up)!

K.A. Linde Something Special I used to be a little bit shy I kept my deepest feelings inside Speaking up to you about my Emotions has always been hard But this just can't wait Tonight I feel a little bit brave So I won't let one more day pass without you explaining what we are - Kelly Clarkson "Don't Let Me Stop You"

Chapter 17: Present.

"Mmm," Jack grumbled holding onto Lexi's waist tightly, "where ya goin?"

Lexi sighed back into his embrace loving the feel of him pressed against her. At the same time, her stomach rolled knowing that she shouldn't be wrapped up in him like she was. She had been lying there half the morning her stomach knotting and unknotting for every thought she had about Jack. They had talked the night away and managed to stay closer to the friend's side of the spectrum, but she knew they couldn't stay there. She knew she didn't want to stay there. Nor did he. In fact, he had been the one that said that he wanted to be with her. Luckily, she had kept her wits about her just long enough to extract his lips from her and tell him she wanted him, but only if she could have all of him.

Yet, it was still nagging at her. If she had really meant that, she would have left last night. She wouldn't have stayed up with him and imbibed a bottle of wine. She wouldn't have woken up this morning with his arms wrapped around her and his body pressed tight against her. He had a girlfriend, and the last thing she wanted him to be doing if they were to try to be together again would be to cheat on her. She shuddered at the thought her throat closing up as she attempted to swallow the bile that had threatened to escape at that image.

"I...I'm going to make some coffee," she whispered attempting to extract his hands from around her middle.

"No. Don't leave me Lex," he begged nuzzling into her neck and trailing light kisses across her skin.

Her body reacted wonderfully to his touch forcing her back to arch and head to lean back. "Jack you can't do that."

"But I wanna," he mumbled obviously still half-asleep. "You taste so good."

She giggled at his slurred speech and attempted to push him away again. That only made him latch on harder to her. "Jack, come on."

"I love it when you talk dirty," he muttered seductively, biting down on her earlobe.

Lexi smacked him playfully on the arm and wiggled out of his embrace. "I'll be right back."

"Don't be too long," he said his face nearly covered by the covers once again.

Lexi trekked out of the room in nothing but her red boy short Victoria's Secret underwear and one of Jack's old band t-shirts that was much too big for her. She padded down the hallway and into the living room. Her eyes roamed the maze of candles displayed around the room and sighed heavily at the memory of last night. She had promised herself she wouldn't do this. Just as importantly, she had promised Chyna that she wouldn't do this to herself again, and it was going to be harder to calm Chyna down than herself. She knew Chyna wouldn't be happy with her, but there wasn't much she could do about the situation right now. All she had to do was wait around and see what would happen. Besides, of course, leaving the apartment and returning home this minute.

But she couldn't do that. She physically was not capable of leaving him like this. Yes, things had happened in their past that kind of made her despise him. Yes, he was as arrogant as they came. Yes, he had a girlfriend who he had been thinking of marrying.

Despite all that, she couldn't leave. She had wanted to be with Jack for so long that the thought of leaving him without finding out if they actually could be would just break her heart all over again. She knew that she had probably given him more chances than anyone else would have bothered with, but those women just didn't understand what she was going through. If they weren't willing to push through the hard times and truly savor the good times, then they didn't understand men at all. Everything wasn't always going to be peachy keen, and Lexi knew that, but she had been around Jack long enough to know how he works. And one thing she knew, the one thing that kept her going through it all, was how she felt about him.

She had never wavered in her affection for him. Six years was a long time to wait for someone. And though times had been trying, Lexi knew deep down that Jack was what she had always wanted. Everything and everyone else had just been a distraction to help her forget him.

Lexi pressed her cold hand to her head hoping to soothe out her concerns. Exhaustion was starting to set in and the last thing she needed was to add a headache to that mix. She fumbled around in her purse until she located her cell phone, then trudged into the kitchen and began brewing a pot of coffee.

She had a missed call from her parents that she knew she ought to return right away. She was supposed to have gone home yesterday, but with everything that had happened with Jack, Ramsey, and Bekah, she hadn't been able to get away. Guilt pushed past exhaustion on the top of her list as she cleared away her parent's number, and punched Chyna's instead. She couldn't face her parents just yet. They would know something was up if she called them before downing a few cups of coffee first.

Chyna picked up after a few rings, and by the sound of her voice, she must have still be sleeping. "Hmmm? Hello?" she mumbled into the phone.

"Morning sunshine."

"Alexa is that you?"

"Yep. Sorry I didn't call you back the other day."

"I'm sorry, am I supposed to know you?" she grumbled irritably into the phone. "The Alexa I know never forgets a phone call."

"Oh shush you. It's not like you don't forget to call me back."

A long yawn escaped Chyna. "Fine. What's up? I'm sleeping."

"Actually you're awake now." Lexi heard rustling on the other line and rolled her eyes.

"I'm only half-awake. Hold on chica. Let me kick him out. I have no idea why he thought he could stay the night." A loud smacking sound could be heard and a howl from Lexi assumed the gentleman who had shared her bed the night before. A slur of words in Spanish cut through the line and Lexi was pretty certain the majority of which were not pleasant. Chyna's voice raised an octave as she insulted him back in Spanish. A smashing sound followed from what Lexi guessed was one of the pieces of priceless china she kept around her room breaking into a million pieces. A second later a door slammed and Chyna returned on to the phone. "Sorry about that. He doesn't speak much English, but he's maddeningly handsome with all that Latin passion. Mmm mmm mmm."

Lexi giggled at her best friend. "I'm sure he is, knowing you."

"Now spill everything. You went on a date and then didn't have the decency to discuss all the sordid details with yours truly. I'm just horrified here. Does that mean it went too well and you've been locked in his apartment for two days or did it go so bad you were afraid to talk to me?" she asked waking up at the prospect of sharing dating stories.

"Neither I suppose. I just had a lot going on, but I had an amazing time if you must know," Lexi offered loving how excited her best friend soundeda.

"And I must. Tell me everything. Who is he? Where did you find him? What did you do? Where did you go? How good was he in the sack?" she asked adding extra emphasis to the last question. "I can't believe this happens when I'm so far away," she groaned sounding ridiculously sexy for such a disappointing sound.

Lexi shook her head at Chyna's over-the-top personality. "We had a picnic at a laser show just outside of the city. It concluded with a gorgeous fireworks display that he rearranged with the park specifically for us."

"Ooh la la," she cooed, "Not candlelit dinners and caviar, but we can work with it," she interjected. "So who is Mystery Man? And please, do give me details!"

"He's actually...Bekah's brother. His name is Ramsey. Ramsey Bridges," she said cringing as she uttered the words. She bit her lip as she waited for Chyna to erupt on her.

"Bekah. Jack's Bekah? Hmm...well interesting turn of events, but again we can work with it. What's he look like? Is he sexy?"