"Ohmigawd, Lex. He's so sweet." Taylor had arrived at Alexa's apartment several hours before, and hadn't stopped asking for details the entire time. Alexa was barely able to catch her breath. "He actually said that? Wow..." Taylor placed a hand over her heart dramatically and sighed. "It's so romantic."

Alexa flicked the dishtowel that she had in her hand at Taylor, "Oh stop it."

Taylor hopped up on the counter, "Oh come on, you have to admit the whole thing is really cool. First you just happen to meet, then you turn him down, which I still say was incredibly stupid, but I guess it all worked out anyway, because here you are, dating a Backstreet Boy. Makes a person really believe in fate."

"It was A date. That doesn't constitute dating. I may never see him again."

"Stop rationalizing. Have I ever told you how annoying that is? He's going to call you." She jumped off the counter and went into the other room before Alexa could question her. "Unless of course you did something completely embarassing and you just didn't tell me about it."

Alexa rolled her eyes as she followed her. "I didn't do anything." She thought for a second, "Unless of course you count ..." She was hit in the head with a flying pillow. "I"m kidding, I didn't do anything. I swear."

"Okay, okay. I believe you." She took Alexa by the shoulders, "I still can't believe you actually went out on a date with a Backstreet Boy. You are going to go out with him again," Taylor looked at Alexa, trying to figure out the answer for herself, "right?"

Alexa bit her lip while she thought. She knew she'd had a good time on the date, but did she want to do it again? Did she really think it would go anywhere? Did she want it too? She sighed quietly, "I don't know."

Taylor looked as if Alexa was growing a second nose. "You don't know? You had a great time with a guy that millions of women would love to go out with. Heck, some of them would kill to be within three feet of him, and you don't know?!" Taylor was clearly frustrated with Alexa.

"Stop Tay. I don't know means, I don't know. Wait and see if he calls, and then I'll make a decision. And just for the record, that millions of women thing is part of the whole weirdness thing."

"You are so frustrating!" Taylor looked as if she'd like to force Alexa to make the right decision right then and there. But she knew better. "And he will call."

"We'll see."

"He WILL call," Taylor re-iterated.

"How do you know?" Alexa glared at Taylor. She was tired of this conversation. It was all she'd thought of all day, and now Taylor was pushing her about it. "You've never even technically met him."

"Have to. He came to the clinic this afternoon. He was looking for you." Taylor dropped the information casually, while she studied the design on a pillow.

"He what?" Alexa was stunned by Taylor's calm announcement. "No, don't repeat it. How could you not mention this earlier?" Alexa flopped down in a chair, not really angry with Taylor, but more annoyed than she had reason to be.

"Come on, Lex. You're not mad now, are you? He came by to see you. Isn't that a good thing? He's obviously interested."

"What are you, the Alexa and AJ fan club leader or something? Lay off a little."

Taylor raised her hands in truce. "Okay, okay, I won't say anymore." She put down her hands and turned to look at the phone as it rang. "Telephone."

Alexa rolled her eyes, "Thank you Captain Obvious." She watched Taylor pick up her stuff and head to the door, before she turned back around.

"I told you he'd call." Taylor opened the door and slipped out before Alexa could respond.

"Hello," Alexa picked up the phone, only semi-surprised to find out that Taylor was right.

"Alexa, hi."

She twisted the phone cord around her finger. She almost wished he hadn't called, then she wouldn't have any decisions to make.

After a pause, he continued, "I wanted to tell you I had a good time yesterday."

Alexa nodded to herself. When she spoke, she did it softly as if saying anything out loud would affect her decision. "So did I."

"Good, so you want to do it again then?" It wasn't really a question as far as Alexa could tell, and that bothered her a bit. How could he be so confident, he barely knew her? Then it dawned on her. He was confident because people rarely said no to him. He gets what he wants. She suddenly knew what her decision was.

"I don't think so." She unconsciously held her breath, waiting for his reaction.

"What?" He obviously didn't get it.

Alexa took a breath, making sure she was still certain of her decision. "I don't think we should go out again."

"Why?"

Alexa wasn't prepared for the demanding tone of AJ's question. She didn't know if she could explain why. "I ... I just don't think there's any point. It ... it could never work." She knew it sounded stupid.

"Okay, listen," his voice was very clear, "we're not talking lifetime commitment here. I like you, and want to see you again. You obviously feel the same way or you wouldn't have seen me in the first place."

Shaking her head, Alexa sighed. "Why waste our time. You're famous, and I'm a doctor. It's not exactly compatible." She was grasping at ways to make her point, and she knew it.

"I already told you all that fame shit is all image. We're normal people." He stopped, and Alexa didn't know if he expected her to respond. "Okay, fine." He sighed, clearly exasperated with her. "It was nice to know you Alexa, maybe I'll see you again sometime."

Alexa chewed on her lip, already unsure of the decision she'd made. "It was nice to meet you too. Thank you."

"Whatever, see ya." The phone line went dead, and Alexa heard the dial tone. Instead of feeling relieved all she felt was sad.

Alexa tried to avoid Taylor as much as possible. Whenever Taylor would come near her, Alexa would walk away. She knew it was incredibly rude, and it bothered her to treat a friend that way, but she didn't feel like explaining to Taylor. Especially not when she knew what Taylor would say, and she was thinking the same things, herself.

Nearly a week had gone by before Taylor finally managed to corner Alexa in her office. "Why are you avoiding me Alexa?"

Alexa looked up from her paperwork and sighed. "I'm not avoiding you, I've been busy." She went back to her work.

"Whatever. What happened?" Taylor sat down in one of the chairs in front of the desk.

"Shouldn't you be working?"

"I'm on break." She studied Alexa carefully. "It's something to do with Mr. AJ McLean, isn't it?"

Alexa put down her pen. Obviously Taylor wasn't going to let her work. "Yes, it is. And I'd prefer not to explain."

"What did he do?"

It surprised Alexa how quick Taylor was to blame him. "He didn't do anything except ask me out again. I told him I didn't think it would work."

Taylor's eyes grew larger as Alexa spoke. "I told you he'd call, why did you turn him down? Again?! You have so lost it, Lex!"

"It's my life, Taylor. I didn't want to deal with a demanding pop star in it."

Taylor shook her head, "Whatever, you're still stuck on this �why does he want me' crap. You just won't let yourself be happy."

"Who says I'm not happy."

The smirk on Taylor's face told a multitude of stories. "You've been a complete bitch all week. Doesn't seem particularly happy to me." Taylor suddenly realized something. "I know why you've been avoiding me. You knew what I was going to say, and it's exactly what you've been thinking. Dammit, Lex. Why?"

Alexa shrugged. "This is what the guy does to me after one date, can you just see a couple of months from now?"

"How do you know it wouldn't work out well?" Alexa shrugged. "You didn't even give it a chance."

Alexa half-smiled, "True. But no regrets, right?"

Taylor stood to leave the offfice. "I think in this case, you're allowed a few."

"Dr. Reeves, you're needed out front, right away." It was a few hours later, when Alexa heard Taylor call for her. She rushed out of the office and down the hall, running straight into someone who was blocking her path. "Excuse me," she said without looking up.

"Certainly,"

Alexa stepped up to the nurses's desk. "What's up, Tay?" She looked around for signs of an emergency and seeing none, she looked at Taylor.

Trying to suppress a smile, Taylor waved one hand in the direction of the hall. Alexa turned her head slowly, taking in the numerous people standing there, before her eyes cam to rest on him. "I sent him to your office, but you ran him down on your way here."

"What's he doing here?" Alexa's voice was hushed as she watched him step toward the desk.

"I don't know," Taylor responded, equally hushed, "If it was me, I'd have given up. You're not worth this much trouble." Alexa shot her a look, before Taylor continued, "This is chance number three, Alexa. Don't you dare screw it up again." She turned smiling at AJ. "Hello, again. Sorry about that, I should have warned you, she's like a mack truck when she's rushing."

He shrugged, "It's okay."

"Okay, so Dr. Reeves," Taylor looked between them, "you've got a break now, right? I'll tell Dr. Norman about the patients in rooms two and three." It was obvious to everyone what Taylor was doing.

"Thanks, Tay." Taylor rushed off, patient files in hand. "What are you doing here?" Alexa tried to be calm; him showing up there had made her anxious. Especially after the discussion with Taylor earlier.

"I wanted to talk to you. Is there someplace? I'd suggest walking but people would recognize me and then it would take forever."

Alexa nodded. She didn't understand the celebrity mob mentality thing, but whatever. She motioned to her office, and they went there. She shut the door behind them and then sat at her desk, fiddling nervously with a pen. "So you wanted to talk?" She was surprised at the tone of her voice. It was much colder than she'd intended.

"I thought I'd try again."

Alexa tried reading his eyes, but they were veiled to her, and she assumed hers were the same way. "Why?"

He sat forward, his elbows on his knees. "I told you. I like you."

Alexa didn't like that answer. "But why? There are hundreds of girls out there. Why bother with me? Especially now."

"Honestly?" Alexa nodded, hopeful that honesty was what she'd get. "You didn't know who I was, and once you did you didn't care. You treat me like a normal person." Alexa started to speak and he shushed her, "Hold on, I'm not done." He took a second to think. "You're using the fame thing to push away, which means you won't use it for yourself. And you won't let me use it as an excuse. I like that."

Alexa's forehead crinkled while she considered what he said. "That makes no sense, but it does make sense." She finally looked at him.

"So?"

"So, what?" Alexa didn't know what was supposed to come next.

"So, do you want to go out again?"

Alexa nodded, and smiled. "That would be good."

"Good," he stood up, ready to leave. "I'll call you then." Alexa nodded and stood as well. "You know you're making me work too hard at this."

Alexa grinned, "Ah, but I'm worth it."

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