"No!" said a high pitched voice defiantly.

"Yes you will!"

It was a warm afternoon in September as piercing tones were carried away from a kitchen window by the wind.

"No I'm not. I can do whatever I want to, you don't let me do anything anymore!"

"That's not true. Where do you think your going?"

A resonant slam shook the white Victorian as a young girl marched irately from the yard.

As soon as her feet hit the pavement, she broke into a sprint with only one destination in mind.

The girl slowed down to a walk when a comforting sight came into view: the park. A small smile tugged at her lips as she thought of all her happy childhood memories. The park was surprisingly desolate, the old swings swayed lonely in the wind. She caught one and sat, welcoming the warm breeze that washed over her flushed face. She sighed sadly feeling more depressed then ever as she slowly began to swing back and fourth.

Sunlight leaked through the canopy of leaves, illuminating the girl as she swung.

A single tear escaped from behind her tightly closed eyes. Angrily she wiped the tear away, thinking about the words her mother had said. Why she let her mother get to her she would never know.

It was the worst fight they had ever had. A stupid argument that had been started by the rising temperature of heat in the house since morning, very much like the tension that had been building between them. That afternoon the air conditioner decided to go out. Yes, very convenient timing in September. Not.

Her mother, already strung and angry, decided to launch into her about her late night outings with her friends. Her accusations were harsh and searing. Never had her mother said such things. She tried to brush them away, to not care and just shrug it off. They weren't true.

What hurt the most was her mothers distrust in her; it never used to be like that. They used to get along perfectly, were like best friends, that is until one hot July evening. Then everything came crashing down around her.

Another lone tear escaped at the thought of her father. Memories of him still haunted her every time she came across a stray photo that her mother had left forgotten. In every picture he was always smiling and so full of energy and life, and to think it was taken away just by a simple thing called fire.

The girl closed her eyes again, the faint sound of sobs and sirens slowly retreating into a dark corner of her mind.

Wearily, she dragged a hand through her long dark tresses as the wind played with them across her face.

Her mother had loved her father very much; his death had broken her. There were times when they would be eating dinner together that Alex would catch a glimmer of tears in her mother's faraway eyes. That was all her mother let her see. But sometimes late at night when she thought her asleep, she would hear sobs from her mother's room.

It pained her to see her mother like that, and would comfort her. In the early hours of morning silence would envelope them and there would be no need for words, they both felt and thought the same. The tension that normally hung over them would subside and she would be her mothers little girl again.

After her father's death, her mother stopped smiling and laughter never rang in the house again. She became immersed in her job, a workaholic. No longer were Sundays a day where they would hang out in the kitchen, looking up an old worn out recipe in a frail cook book her mother's grandmother had given her. No longer were nights full of fun and merriment as they gathered around the t.v. to watch their favorite drama show.

It seemed all they ever got finished with anymore was fighting. If it wasn't one thing it was another. She sighed as she felt a headache coming on, a dull ache in her temples, when she thought of the way she had yelled at her mother. But she didn't understand. Sometimes she became restless, and just had to leave and take her mind off things.

Why did she have to make things so difficult? What was wrong with her leaving on a Friday or Saturday night with her friends to blow off some steam? It would save them a lot of arguing she was sure of it.

That would all change however when she graduated in the spring and moved out to go to college at the nearby Chicago University. She was positive of her acceptance, her grades were perfect, she had a 4.0.

It didn't come easy for her though. She had worked hard to earn her good grades and to get back into the swing of life. Her grades had relapsed after her father had passed away her junior year and she started to become less sociable. The only thing she did passionately was her dancing. She was and still is the co-captain of the school dance team. And ever since that night of her father's death, she and Gram started talking again.

Gram... she sighed when she thought of him. They had been friends since grade school, best friends even. He had been with her through thick and thin and he was always a person she had trusted to go to when she needed guidance, and help. He was always willing to sit down beside her and let her cry on his shoulder. Not caring that by the time she stopped his shoulder was damp with tears. He would always lend an ear if she needed someone to talk to.

Junior year however that all came to a screeching halt. He had betrayed her trust and that was hard for someone to gain back once they had broken it. Especially when they were so close. Her feelings had been crushed and she stopped talking to him for months.

She was sure she had loved him. And somewhere deep inside her, she still felt something for him. But she didn't know if it was love or not. Maybe it was just a deep affection for a cute boy she had always known. She really didn't know. She did know that his actions had complicated things, their friendship especially for a while there.

That was another thing that kept running through her mind since last year. Had he ever felt anything for her beyond the affection of a friend? She wasn't sure, she never found out. She had run away before she could tell him of her feelings. No matter, all that mattered now was that they were starting to talk again and being able to pretend that nothing had happened.

Her dark blue eyes turned upward as she looked into the dark canopy of leaves over head and sighed for what seemed like the fiftieth time that day.

"Why such a long face?" came a deep masculine voice from behind her making her jump.

"Gram," she said, with a hand over her heart. "Don't scare me like that."

"Sorry. You just looked so sad sitting here all by your lonesome. So I decided to join you. So what's up?"

"I was perfectly fine here all by myself and nothings up. I'm just swinging." Came her soft reply.

"Oh well that's nice and all, but are you going to answer my first question?" he slid into the swing next to hers and twisted it around so that he was facing her.

"Nothings wrong."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Now will you please leave me alone to whalep in my own self pity please?" Alex said icily turning her blue eyes to meet his dancing emerald ones.

She was only met with an amused chuckle. Alex scowled and looked down at the ground.

Why was he the only person that made her this mad? Alex glanced over in his direction and had to admit that he looked very cute as he laughed. The wind tossed his chestnut dark locks and his emerald eyes danced with laughter.

"You Alex Deon feeling sorry for yourself? How so?" he said grinning boyishly.

"Yes. I am. Sorry if it seems too childish for me to do so."

"Well it doesn't really solve any of your problems you know."

"So? Who cares." she said turning her head away from his haughtily and beginning to swing yet again.

Suddenly he stood and with one brief, but sturdy motion, caught her swing with one hand. "Hey-" she started to protest, but she was silenced when his face was suddenly very close hers.

He was crouched down in front of her so that he could see her face. It bothered him when something was bothering her. She might think she can act and get away with saying that nothing is bothering her, but he knew better. Her usually graceful movements were now stiff, her beautiful blue eyes were now clouded over and her mouth was set firm as it dared to never smile again.

"I care. Alex what is bothering you?"

"I-"

"Don't give me any of that its nothing crap. Now tell me the truth... is it your mother again?" Gram said turning very serious.

Alex stared at him for a very long while before finally she breathed out. "Yes..."

Gram nodded and went to say something else when he noticed a stray tear escape from her eye, and slowly more started to follow. Before he could say something she began.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to cry so childish, it's just that... she misses him so much Gram. She won't stop thinking about him and its tearing her up inside. I can't even talk to her anymore and when I do all we ever do is argue. We had a fight just now not that long ago. I said some pretty mean things... I just want all of this to stop you know?" Alex said between sobs.

Gram could only nod. He could not begin to be able to understand what Alex and her mother must be going through. He had never lost a parent. But there was nothing childish in the way she was crying. Alex hardly ever cried, only when something really got her down. She was such a strong willed girl and let nothing ever stand in her way. And to see her break down like this and look so fragile just broke his heart.

He opened up his arms and Alex gratefully accepted the invitation and sank deep into his warm embrace. She could smell his cologne against his neck and feel the rising and falling of his chest.

Closing her eyes, Alex wondered momentarily what it would be like if things hadn't happened the way they did last year.

Gram was thinking along the same lines and was silently cursing himself for his mistake.

He loved the smell of her hair, and the way her head seemed to fit perfectly against his shoulder. Maybe if things had been different in the past they could have had similar situations like this. But he had made a stupid mistake and now he was paying for it.

"Hey I know what will make you feel better," Gram said looking down upon her.

"What?" she asked raising her eyes to his.

"You know that car show that's in town? Adam is showing off his new ride. Come on Alex you know you are dying to see it!" Gram said grinning at the look of pure joy crossing over Alex's face.

If it was one thing Alex loved it was cars. She had loved them ever since she was little. Ever since the day she had walked in on her father fixing up his old chevelle and handing him the monkey wrench.

"Ok," she said a smile spreading across her face for the first time that day. Quickly she stood up and brushed the dirt from her jeans. She held out a hand which Gram gratefully took. He had not been standing for more then a second before he was already getting hauled off by Alex in the general direction of the car show. "C'mon slow poke!" she said laughing.

It was everything she dreamed it would be and more. Hundreds upon hundreds of classic cars lined the parking lot. The sun glinting off of all their shiny hoods. The owners sitting beside them with proud and smug smiles playing across their features.

Nothing could possibly ruin her mood now that she was in her own little side of heaven. Gram could only smile when he saw the giddiness of her expression.

"Shall we go find Adam then?" Gram asked taking out a hat and slipping it on to shield the harsh rays from the sun.

Alex could only nod as she was led pass all the nice cars. She saw a very nice old chevelle that looked like the one her dad used to own. A sad smile crossed her face for a moment. He never did get to finish it. It was still lying abandoned in their garage... untouched. Gram and Adam both had volunteered to finish it, but Alex and politely turned them down. It was her father's car and he should have been the one to finish it.

Alex was knocked out of her sad thoughts by seeing a very beautiful sight. A 76' jade green String ray Corvette in mint condition was sitting in her path just waiting for her.

"It's beautiful," she breathed out.

"Expect anything else from Adam?" Gram asked laughing.

"Somebody say my name?" came a voice underneath the car. Suddenly a boy rolled out from underneath the car. His wife beater was smeared with grease and sweat. His piercing blue eyes looked up at the two before him as he laughed and quickly stood.

"Glad you could make it!" he said grinning, wiping the grease off his hands.

"You know I couldn't let Alex miss out on this," Gram smiled down at the girl in question. Well actually he didn't have to look that far down. She was pretty tall herself about 5'10 or so where as he stood about 6'2. Adam was even taller then both of them being about 6'4. It must be the Italian in him Gram thought dryly.

"Oh hi there Alexandra didn't even notice you were there," Adam said jokingly.

"Wow the great Adam Mesaro actually noticed a presence besides his own. What a shocker," she joked back.

Adam could only grin as he pushed back his dark medium length hair from his eyes.

Adam Mesaro was one of the richest boys at Alex's school and one of the best looking. He had all the girls falling for him with his piercing ice blue eyes that seemed to tear one to shreds with a glance, his dark features, lean muscular body, and his reputation for being a bad boy. But all in all he was still one of Alex's most cherished and loved friends.

"I'm not that much of a prick thank you. Now do you want to see the car or not?" Adam asked looking down at Alex as she smiled up at him happily.

"Of course I would love to!" she said excitedly going up to the car and jumping up and down like a small child would at a candy store.

Adam smiled a small smile that he only reserved for her. His eyes softened as he watched her, loving the way her face lit up.

"It's so beautiful," Alex said in mere wonderment after Adam had fully shown her the car.

"So are you going to race it?" she asked mischievously.

"Nooooo not this baby. This is for show and my own personal enjoyment only," Adam said stroking the hood lovingly.

Alex snorted "Oh c'mon you scaredy cat! I thought you were the great Adam Mesaro!

Mr. Bad Ass himself!"

"I am!" Adam retorted. "Just not this car. The Skyline yes... but not this one."

Alex's eyes widened. "You got a skyline?!"

"Yup!"

"But aren't those...illegal?" she whispered.

"Not when you know the right people," he said grinning from ear to ear.

Alex rolled her eyes, but they instantly lit up again when she saw two very familiar guys walking towards them.

"Aaron!" Alex said running up to one. "Where is my dear Cassie?"

Aaron and her best friend Cassie had been going out for almost a year now. Alex had known long before that Aaron had a huge crush on Cassie, but of course Cassie never noticed because she was too busy being captain of the dance team, and she was rather dense when she wanted to be. So Alex had helped Aaron finally work up the courage to ask her out and now they were very happy together.

"Well I am calling her right now-" Aaron started to say, but he was cut short when Alex immediately grabbed the phone.

"Thank you!" she said giggling "I'll only talk to her for a second!" she said teasingly.

"Yeah and in girl talk that means... what an hour?" he asked his green eyes teasing.

"BYE!" she called running off so she could talk to Cassie in private.

"What a tool," Nick, the other guy said as he shook a head of chocolate wavy locks, his keen brown eyes smirking. The guys laughed at his comment, making Aaron glare.

He grumbled something incoherent before he smiled at Gram and Adam. "Hey so you ready for the big race tonight?" he asked Adam.

"Well Michael has been souping her up for me so she should be good and ready," Adam said with a smug expression.

"The skyline right?"

"Yep."

"Oh man, you're going to kick some major ass tonight." Nick grinned.

"We bringing the girls?" Aaron asked taking a seat on the hood of the vette'.

"No!" Gram immediately said making all three guys look at him.

"Dude why not?" Aaron asked looking at Gram critically.

"Because Reed is going to be there and you know how I don't trust him around Alex,"

Gram said getting defensive.

"Dude if you care about her so much why don't you just tell her?" Nick asked taking out a can of Mt. Dew from the cooler.

"You know why..." Gram growled before stalking off.

The wind blew as Aaron rolled his jade eyes and brushed a strand of auburn out of them. "I don't understand him sometimes. I mean it's obvious that Alex was nuts about him. Feelings like that just can't go out the window can they?"

"I don't know." Adam sighed looking off in the distance where he could see Alex pacing back and fourth and laughing at something Cassie was saying. "He apologized, but I don't think she ever forgave him. Hell she gave him the silent treatment for months.

Besides I don't think he cares that much for her. I mean if he really loved her he would have never did what he did."

"But it really wasn't his fault," Aaron said taking Gram's side. "I mean he was drun-"

"I don't want to hear it," Adam growled coldly, turning around to face Aaron. "Sure it was a wild party but he should have never gone off with Abby Keller to begin with. He knew she liked him and that it would hurt her, but he did it anyway. He hurt her once, why give him the chance to do it again?" Adam nearly shouted, gripping a wrench in a tight fist.

"Whoa dude calm down," Nick said stepping in between the two. "You sound like you like her or something."

Adam looked shocked for a split second before his expression turned indignant. "Alex? She's like a little sister to me. I just hate seeing her get hurt like that."

Aaron and Nick exchanged suspicious glances, but shrugged the notion off. Adam's outburst was one out of concern for a friend. It was a touchy subject, one they all tried to avoid. Plus Adam was going through a tough time right now and he had a very short fuse.

Adam's blue eyes seemed lost in thought. He remembered that day clearly. It was their

Junior year at an after party of the Winter Homecoming dance. All week he had to hear Cassie and Alex talk about the dance non stop and how Alex was finally going to admit her feelings to Gram. He had asked her to go with him and she had been ecstatic. The after party had been at Adams house and Gram had been intoxicated when his ex, Abby Keller, talked him into finding a room. Alex, having summoned enough courage to tell him what she felt, had looked for him, and stumbled upon them in an upstairs bedroom. He had found her outside in the cold, crying her eyes out with makeup down her cheeks.

Adam had been shocked and indignant when she told him and got up to confront his friend when Alex stopped him, saying it wasn't worth it. He remembered her asking him if he would stay with her because she couldn't find Cassie anywhere and she really needed someone. So he stayed with her and comforted her for the rest of the night.

To this day Adam still wasn't very sure why Gram did what he did. Gram swears up and down that he didn't know that Alex liked him, but Adam knew that was bull. Which was why it made him so angry. After that day Alex had refused to talk to Gram ever again and that was how it stayed till the night her father was killed in the fire. Gram had been the one to show up at the hospital first and they had been talking to each other ever since.

"Gram what a stupid mistake." he whispered.

"What?" Gram asked over hearing his name. He had finally cooled down enough, and to show his apologies, had brought another case of Mt. Dew.

"Nothing," Adam said giving him the cold shoulder which made Gram look at him puzzled. Adam had been acting very weird lately.

"So are we going to bring the girls or not?" Aaron tried again. "Because if not I have to think of an excuse to tell Cassie. And you know how hard that will be."

"HA! You're not the one that has to live with her," Adam said rolling his eyes thinking of his cousin.

"Bring us to what?" came a high pitched voice making all the boys jump.

"Oh..."

"Well..."

"Um..."

"You see..."

Alex looked back and fourth between the four boys with a puzzled look on her face.

"You want to come to the race tonight?" Nick asked finally, making the other three boys glare in his general direction; his brown eyes glanced back sheepishly.

"You guys seriously want us to go?!" Alex asked getting all excited.

"So your there?" Nick asked, flicking back his curly chocolate locks.

"Totally when and where?" Alex asked.

"1:00 at the docks," Aaron answered. "And I bet your mom won't know your sneaking out," he added dryly giving her a pointed look.

Alex let out a surprised mock gasp. "Aaron! Sneaking out?! Me?! Why the nerve of you to even 'accuse' me! What kind of daughter do you think I am?" They laughed at her antics, shaking their heads.

"A dishonest one." Gram said disapprovingly.

"Oh c'mon Gram. You know she won't let me go out. She's totally lame and you know

it." She said hotly.

Gram bent under the car, picking up a dirty wrench. "Well maybe she has her reasons Alex. Ever think of that?" he questioned sarcastically, righting himself.

"Yeah well don't tell me you have yours because I'm not listening to them."

"Okay stop it. Just stop." Adam pleaded, hands raised in surrender; their bickering was starting to give him a headache. Gram was about to shout, but Adam silenced him with a glare that read 'shut it'.

Sighing exasperatedly, Gram shut his mouth. Whatever. It was useless. She was too headstrong for her own good, and wouldn't listen to any sense. He knew her mother Amy disapproved of Alex's midnight disappearances. He knew her mother was just terrified that something was going to happen to her. Something that would take her daughter away from her just like her husband. Sometimes Alex just didn't think and it drove Gram nuts. Plus there was the whole Reed situation.

But that was a whole different story entirely...