�Yeah,� Eva said taking her stuff in the bathroom. �I can�t wait to sleep in my own bed again.�
�Me either.� Eva walked from the bathroom and sat on the bed. �So who�s Michael?�
�Huh?� She looked at him.
�Who�s Michael?�
�My ex; I told you that.�
�Yeah.� He sat next to her. �How long did ya date?�
�About two years.�
�Why�d it end?�
�I told ya he cheated. I wasn�t good enough so he cheated. He cheated with some slut that was new in town.�
�The girl he was with earlier?�
�No; someone totally different.� She sighed.
�I take it that it really hurt you.�
�I don�t want to talk about it.�
�You�ll feel better.�
�It happened a long time ago, Alex, and I don�t want to get into it.� She got up and walked from the room. Alexander followed her and they went downstairs. �I don�t want you badgering me about it either.�
�I just wish you would talk to me.� She looked out the one window and Alexander looked at her. �It�s been three years and I know something is bothering you. I wish you would talk to me about it.�
�There�s nothing to talk about, because nothing is bothering me.�
�Why do you insist on lying to me?�
�I�m not. God, why do you insist on accusing me of stupid things?�
�I�m sorry, but I just want you to trust me.�
�I do trust you, Alex, so you have nothing to worry about. It�s just that nothing is bothering me.� She looked at him and grinned. �If there was you�d be the first to know.� He just looked at her. �I promise, Baby.� She walked over to him and gave him a kiss. �You�re always so worried over nothing.�
�I just want you happy and safe.�
�And I am. I�m happy because I�m doing what I love and I�m with you. I�m safe because I�m with you.� Alexander smiled. �I never felt this safe.�
�And that�s how I want you to feel.� They hugged. �I don�t want you to be afraid or feel hated. I want you to feel loved and safe.�
�I do and it�s all thanks to you.� She hugged him tighter. �I don�t know what I would do without you, Alex.�
�You�d probably be with some bum who only wants you, because you dance for the Backstreet Boys.�
�Probably.� They chuckled. He can never find out, Eva thought to herself, no matter what Jacqueline says. He can never know. It was a secret that was part of her life and will always be a secret part of her life. She sighed and left Alexander go.
�Are you sure nothing is bothering you, Baby?�
�Yeah.�
�Well you�re giving me that vibe that something is.�
�I�m sorry you�re getting that vibe, Babe, but everything�s cool.� Alexander just looked at her. �It�s probably just the possibility that J might be pregnant at such a young age. It�s just scary. She�s not even twenty yet.�
�Well she and Nick will work it out.�
�Yeah.�
�We really can�t do anything for them anyway. If they are pregnant we�re just going to have to be there for them.�
�Yeah.� She sighed.
�Are you sure that�s all that�s bothering you?�
�Mm-hmm.� She nodded.
�Alright.� He grinned. �Let�s go get something to eat.�
�Ok.� They put their arms around each other and walked out.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Nick, where�s Jackie?� Eva asked.
�She�s in with Dr. Carey,� Nickolas replied. �He wanted a couple minutes to examine her.�
�Does he know what�s wrong?� Eva questioned.
�So far he thinks it�s the flu,� Nickolas said. �He�s running some tests.�
�I want to see her,� Eva said.
�When the doctor says it�s ok,� Alexander said and Eva nodded. �What happened? How�d she end up here?�
�We were taking our things upstairs and she passed out,� Nickolas said.
�She fell down the stairs?� Eva questioned all panicky.
�No,� Nickolas assured her. �Of course not. I was right behind her.�
�Oh thank God,� Eva said letting out a relieved sigh. �Just as long as she�s not hurt.�
�She ain�t,� Nickolas said. �She�s just sick.�
�At least that�s all it is,� Alexander said.
�Yeah,� Eva agreed.
�Mr. Carter,� Dr. Carey said and they looked.
�Yeah,� Nickolas said. �How�s my girlfriend?�
�Miss Montgomery has the flu and she�s dehydrated,� Dr. Carey replied, as Nickolas looked at him. �We�re rehydrating her now.�
�Ok. May I see her?�
�In a few minutes.�
�When can I take her home?�
�In a few hours.� Nickolas nodded. �As long as she doesn�t get any worse.�
�What does that mean?� Eva wanted to know.
�I�m not saying it�s going to happen,� Dr. Carey began, �but Miss Montgomery has had the flu for about a week. It usually gets worse before it gets better.�
�Oh, ok,� Eva said. �May I go see her?�
�Sure,� Dr. Carey replied.
�Good,� Eva said walking away. �What room?�
�The nurse will take you,� Dr. Carey said and Eva walked away. �Mr. Carter, I�ll need to talk to you and Miss Montgomery in a few minutes alone.�
�Is everything ok with Jackie?� Nickolas worried.
�Everything�s fine.�
�Ok.�
�Just meet me in her room in five minutes.�
�Alright.� Dr. Carey walked away, as Nickolas sighed and sat down.
�You ok?� Alexander asked sitting next to his friend and Nickolas looked.
�Yeah.� Alexander nodded and they sat in silence a moment. �Actually, Alex, I think Jack might be pregnant.� Alexander looked at him shocked. �I found a pregnancy test in the hotel bathroom the other week�well the box.�
�What about the test itself?�
�I didn�t find that.�
�Did she say anything about the test?�
�Not yet.�
�I�m sure she will.�
�Yeah.� He sighed again. �I tried bringing it up to her, ya know, but I just didn�t have the nerve, ya know.� Alexander nodded. �I�m just afraid that she�ll accuse me of invading her privacy.�
�Well, if she is pregnant then it�s your privacy too.�
�I know. I�m also afraid it�ll change things between us.�
�Well it could only be for the better.� Nickolas got up.
�Maybe so.�
�Just talk about it with her when she�s all better.�
�I guess it�s a good idea.�
�It is.�
�I really care about her and I just��
�Well if you�re shagging then ya got to feel more than that with her, Bro.�
�Why�s that?�
�Most people don�t have sex unless they�re in love.� Nickolas looked at him. �Are you in love with her?� Nickolas gave a nervous chuckle. �You�ve been together for, like, two years, so are you telling me you don�t love her?�
�I didn�t say that.�
�So you do love Jack?�
�I didn�t say that either.� Alexander looked at him confused. �I care about Jack and want to be with her.�
�Why do you have a problem with admitting how you feel for a girl?�
�Look what happened with Fallon.�
�Right.�
�I just don�t want to get hurt again.�
�Well Jackie ain�t going to hurt you.� Nickolas sighed and Alexander watched him walk away.
CHAPTER 7
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