Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding 1)

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."