I let out a little sob. I had to admit-I was a little scared. I felt so extremely small and lonely in my huge house, with no one else there.

Alek's POV

I stomped out of Chloe's house, my face red. I stopped a couple feet from her door and leaned against her walls, breathing heavily, the cold seeping into my back. I raked a hand painfully through my tangled blonde hair.

That was our first real fight. And it was horrible. I felt like I just stabbed myself in the heart a million times. I heard Chloe collapse to the floor and let out a sob. I closed my eyes and clenched my fists, wanting to run back in and immediately apologize. I wanted to pull her into my arms and rock her back and forth, like I did the day her dad left. But I didn't. I knew she would just push me away and scream at me some more. So I picked up my gym bag, and for the first time since I was five, slept in my own room on a Friday night.

Chloe's POV

I woke up Saturday morning on my own. I blinked and sat up, the first time I've woken up without a certain blonde British boy sitting on the bed next to me. I blinked back tears and stood up, getting ready to change. But then I saw something on my desk that caught my eye.

A can of Dr. Pepper. I was extremely confused for a moment-we had run out of Dr. Pepper cans at home. But then I remembered: A couple years ago in eighth grade, Alek and I were talking about when we were going to have our very first fight. We had promised to stay best friends for eternity, and a stupid little fight wouldn't tear our friendship apart. So we made a little pact.

"So the morning after we have our very first fight, we won't say 'I'm sorry.' Because we're too close for the 'sorry's. After so many times of hearing sorry, the word practically means nothing." Alek explained.

I was sitting beside him on the couch, and I instantly knew what he meant. We just had this connection, and our thoughts just..clicked.

"So instead of saying I'm sorry, we could make a gesture that would mean I'm sorry. Like..." I thought of something totally unique and odd to do.

"We could give each other a can of their favorite soda." Alek joked. But I actually liked it. My eyes brightened and I laughed.

"Can we really?" I exclaimed.

So there it was. The can of Dr. Pepper that I forgot all about, yet he remembered ever since 8th grade. I smiled and looked out my window to his house. His blinds were shut. I frowned. On the rare occasion he was home, he never shut his blinds. We had a giant sketching pad that we wrote each other messages on, like in the You Belong With Me music video. I quickly got dressed and ran to the market to buy a pack of Coke. I got his can of Coke and quietly snuck up to his room. His parents were out working, so he had the house to himself. I could hear him snoring softly, and I rolled my eyes. I remember when I was little, I used to think that whenever he snored, it was because he was choking on something. I would always jump on him, slap him awake and cry until finally one day my parents told me that snoring was completely normal.

I placed the Coke can his desk and hesitated. Normally I would just jump under the covers with him and go back to sleep, but now I didn't know.

"So you remembered." His voice pierced the calming silence of the morning. I gasped and my eyes flew to his bed, and he had rolled around and was now staring at me.

"No, you did. You reminded me." I smiled softly. He smirked.

"Be happy, King. I ran out to the market to buy you that stinking can of Dr. Pepper at 3 in the morning."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"But the only 24-hour market is like, an hour away."

He shrugged. I laughed and tackled him on the bed.

"You seriously are the greatest best friend I could ever ask for." I hugged his neck.

"I know, cutie. I missed you." He hugged my back. I smiled at his ridiculous nickname for me.

"But really, Alek. You really are sweet." We laid there for a moment, soaking in our friendship again.

"So..ready to catch up on our movies?" I asked suddenly. He laughed and sat up, running his hand through his hair.

We spent the rest of the afternoon watching movies, talking, and eating. After a while we got bored and drove to the mall. In the car we sang along to our favorite song, which happened to be on.

"WHEN SHE WAS JUST A GIRL, SHE EXPECTED THE WORLD. BUT IT FLEW AWAY FROM HER REACH, AND THE BULLETS CATCH IN HER TEETH. LIFE GOES ON IT GETS SO HEAVY, THE WHEEL BREAKS THE BUTTERFLY!" We screamed out. Alek's car was a convertible, and people looked over at us oddly. But we just ignored them and laughed.

We got to the mall and walked in, and I immediately felt stares. I was used to it, though. Almost every girl stared at Alek shamelessly. After shopping for about two hours, we got tired and went out into the parking lot to drive home.

The rain was coming down in painful drops, and they pelted our heads as we sprinted to the car, having not brought our umbrellas. And I sprinted right into the whole reason my best friend and I were fighting in the first place.

Brian.

Alek's POV

We shopped for hours, and we ran to my car in the pouring rain. I had to catch Chloe from falling flat on her face a couple times-it was quite adorable, actually.

I slammed the trunk closed after tossing in our bags, and I heard Chloe grunt and a loud thump. I whirled around, ready to pick her up from the ground and expecting to see her soaking wet on the ground, sitting in the middle of a puddle.

But someone else already caught her for me. Her wrists were secured in his hands, and they were staring at each other. I cleared my throat loudly, and Chloe looked at me and stepped back.

"Hi, Brian." She half-waved.

"Chloe." He smiled fakely. "Alek."

"Brian." I spat out. We were standing there awkwardly, staring at each other. Well, in my case, glaring. I could see Chloe looking back at me, and then up at Brian. All three of us were completely soaked now, and water droplets were dripping off the curly ends of Chloe's wet hair.

Brian and Chloe made small talk about school, while I stood there and rolled my eyes. The guy was a horrible conversationalist. Another reason why Chloe should like me better than-

Wait. What? Chloe and I are best friends. Nothing more, nothing less. I love her-she's more than a sister, even more important than any of my girlfriends that I've ever had. But I definitely didn't feel anything romantic towards her. Did I?

Well, that's why you're jealous of Brian, right?

Stop it. I'm not jealous of Brian.

Then why do you always get so mad when they talk?

I shook my head, stopping my internal war.

"So, I was wondering if you would want to go on a date with me sometime. Maybe some coffee tomorrow afternoon?" Brian asked Chloe, rubbing the back of his head. My blood boiled, and I clenched my fists.

"She's not going. She's hanging out with me." I interjected. He looked up and glared at me.

"She can speak for herself."

Chloe whipped her head back and raised her eyebrows.

"Since when? We never made plans." She argued.

"We always hang out on weekends." I urged her to say no with my eyes. She looked at Brian again.

"That would be nice, actually. I'll go."

Brian smirked at me.

"Great. I'll see you tomorrow, then." He turned on his heel and walked into the mall, his hands in his pockets. I stood there in the rain, looking at Chloe sadly. She looked back.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked quietly.

"What am I doing?" She exclaimed. "You've dated before, and I never did anything to stop you."

"Brian isn't a good guy for you." I furrowed my eyebrows.

"And you think that all of those sluts you dated were good for you?" She glared. Then, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I-I'm sorry. Can we just not fight, please? I don't like it." She said, her eyes still shut. I looked back to the entrance of the mall, where Brian had disappeared into. She looked at me with her big blue eyes, and couldn't help but compare her to a little puppy, with her huge eyes and wet hair.

I nodded stiffly and gave her an extra jacket I kept in my trunk, and we got into the car. We were silent on the way home, some of yesterday's tensions back again.

I hated Brian from the moment I met him. He pretended to be this sweet guy, but I knew deep down inside he was a jerk, who played with girls' hearts.

He was destroying everything. My friendship with Chloe, Chloe's love life, which should be with a guy who would truly love her and love her more than he did himself.

But you know what they say.

Destroy what destroys you.

Holy flip, you guys. Just..HOLY FLIP. You..the reviews..AOGHAWOUGHWIUGHIUH. I'm so happy. :'D I got TWENTY reviews on my first chapter. UGH. I LOVE YOU GUYS. I know that may not be a lot to some people but to me that's just..amazing. Thank you so much.[':

Kimberly: I absolutely love you![: You were the first reviewer, so thanks! You're so sweet.

TwilightFreak28: Thank you! I always have trouble coming up with original plots, so thank you so much![:

nn: I hate Brian for ruining everything, too. :[ And no. I'm going to make Alek and Chloe hate each other for the rest of their lives and Chloe and Brian will have babies. ...Just kidding! I shuddered at the thought of that. XD Thanks so much for reviewing! :D

Anon: Oooh, thanks! I'm glad my story was an exception.[; I was about to make them Mai, but I didn't really want to deal with the Order, so yea. :/ Thanks for reviewing!

laughingsince98: Yes, a jealous Alek is a cute Alek.[; Thank you!

mbj2323: OH..MY..GOD. YOU'RE AMAZING. Your review was so, so nice.[: Thank you!

crim5oncr0w: Awhh, thank you so much! And I'm updating! And it's only been a day? Aren't you proud of me?[; 'Cause I am..ahha.

Yudith88: Yea, if I had a fight with my best friend who I've known since I was little, I would break down and cry in a corner.]: Anyway, thanks for reviewing! ^_^

Stephanie: I'm updating right now! So, two days later! Is that good?[: I hope so.

Linhohbabycakes: Thank you so much! You're so sweet!

mystarryworld: Oh, thank you! You have a nice day, too!

ashley: Awhh, thanks! I know-whenever I write intense scenes like where they're arguing or fighting or something, my heart starts pounding and my hands shake a little. Is that weird? XD Anyway, thanks for reviewing!

anon: Ahaha you are seriously the sweetest thing.[: Seriously. I'm seriously like, stoked that you think this might be one of the best stories-because there are so many amazing 9LOCK stories out there already. Thank you for reviewing!

nn: Did you review twice? O_O Or is there two nn's or something? Whatever. Thank you![:

XxjoejonasfanxX: Oh my gosh, thank you![: I wish I had a friend since birth, too. :/ But my best friend is a boy and I've know him since kindergarten...does that count? Ahaha. Thank you for reviewing!

gator19: YOU ARE AMAZING! Thanks for reviewing :'D

ImAPrettyLittleLiarAria: Oooh, I love PLL.[: Best show ever. I think Brian's a creeper, too. :/ I mean, I bet he stalked Chloe on the way home from school and that's how he knew that was her house. **shakes head disapprovingly** And we all love a jealous Alek, don't we?[; Thanks for reviewing!

sapphyre-elizabeth: Your review left me with a ridiculous grin on my face for the rest of my DAY. [: I love you.

laurensyd96: Thank you so much!

Kat: Oh my gosh, thank you! You're so sweet :'D

Thanks for reading the next chapter! If you can, do you think you guys could be amazing and review again? That would mean the world to me. Thanks guys! Love you.