When I walked up to the Hale house the next morning, he was waiting for me on the front steps. He stood when I showed up with nothing but the clothes on my back and a small cosmetics bag in hand. "You actually came?" Peter called out to me. I wasn't sure if I was going to love or hate this guy. He was very charming and definitely easy on the eyes, but I couldn't tell if he was incredibly sarcastic, a total jerk, a manipulative bastard, or a bit of all of the above.

"I'm here, aren't I?" I continued heading towards the house. "I figured, eh, what the hell."

"I'm surprised you actually trust me."

"I don't," I rolled my eyes.

"Clearly enough to come back," Peter pointed out. "I mean, after all, I did try to kill you only twenty-four hours ago and then had you come back here mainly for my own selfish reasons." He was incredibly blunt, and I couldn't tell if I appreciated it or if it made me want to punch him.

"I just have nothing left to lose at this point and figured that this is better than going to jail." Peter didn't have a response to that, so he simply led me to the bathroom that I showered in yesterday morning. I set my cosmetics bag on the table and took out my razor, sample sized shampoo, conditioner and body wash.

"You know," Peter spoke, "I did some thinking earlier during my shower this morning and came to the conclusion that you don't actually have to shower with me."

"What's the catch now?" I eyed him.

"There is no catch," he shrugged. "Perhaps, Miss Alex, I just genuinely feel bad for what you're going through right now after I unnecessarily threw that knife at you, and would like to get to know you a little bit better."

I laughed as I began to strip. "You don't have any friends, do you?" I accused, standing there in my shorts and bra. I began to kick my boots off as Peter responded.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," he held his hands up. "That's not a very nice way to put it, Alex. Can I call you Alex?"

"You already have," I smirked. He shielded his eyes as I began to unclasp my bra.

"You could have warned me, I'd at least like to show you a little respect. But, I guess you're right. I'll stay here while you shower in case someone comes home, I'd hate to have someone call the police on you. I won't peek though."

"I don't care, Peter," I rolled my eyes as I turned on the water and stepped into the shower, closing the curtain.

"You seem surprisingly okay with a stranger seeing your naked body," he pointed out. I heard him close the lid of the toilet, probably to give him a place to sit. "Am I missing something here?"

"Let's not talk about it," I responded dryly as I began to wash up. That brought back memories that weren't exactly pleasant. I wasn't too thrilled with Peter beginning to pry into my personal life already, but I had no other choice but to make a friend in this town, especially when said friend was offering a place to bathe and maybe even sleep in the future.

"Alright then. So where are you from, Alex? Clearly the south, but where? Your southern belle voice doesn't exactly match your 'I don't give a shit' attitude."

"Louisiana," I answered. "New Orleans. I'm from the Garden District, but went back and forth between there and the French Quarter when my parents divorced when I was sixteen until I turned eighteen. I had to settle in the French Quarter because of work. Sometimes you gotta learn to grow up real quick."

"How old are you now?" he asked.

"Twenty," I answered. "Didn't go to college. I was there for a semester. Couldn't afford it."

"I didn't go either," Peter smiled. "Waste of time, if you ask me. I was right about you being in my age bracket, too."

"You are very observant," I noted. "Any more theories about me?" At this point, I was just trying to amuse him.

"Oh, plenty," Peter confirmed with the slightest hint of sarcasm in his voice. "But, I'm sure you aren't willing to get too personal yet."

"Is that also a theory?" I laughed. He chuckled.

"I suppose. Is it right?"

"Very much so," I grinned. "But, hey, try me. Let's see what you got."

"Virgin?" Peter asked next. I chuckled.

"That is for me and my dorm room to know and for me and my dorm room only," I answered. He laughed. "What about you? I think it's only fair that I ask the same."

Peter paused before answering. I already knew it though. "No."

"Liar," I called him out.

"What? Come on, Alex. Look at me," he pressed. I giggled, sticking my head out from behind the curtain.

"You may have a pretty face," I smirked, looking Peter up and down, "but that doesn't mean anything if you're an asshole," I winked as I went back to my shower.

"Oh!" Peter laughed in shock. "Hey, you know what? I'm going to let that one slide."

"How gracious of you," I dryly thanked. Peter just laughed as he moved on to the next question.

"When did you leave New Orleans?" Peter asked. I frowned.

"A few months ago, probably six or seven. I just got here about two weeks ago." As I finished my shower, I turned the water off and Peter passed me a towel. He didn't realize it – or maybe he did - but his hand was awfully close to my chest. "I stayed in Los Angeles for about a month, and then San Francisco for a month as well. It's probably better that I left."

"Why did you settle on Beacon Hills?"

"A lot of abandoned locations," I stepped out. I removed the towel and began to dress. Peter initially turned away, but I could feel his eyes on me. "This place is pretty remote, too. I'm currently living off of the money I have left-over from New Orleans. It's still quite a bit, but it's dwindling. Gotta focus on the essentials first, y'know?"

"Can we hang out?" Peter then asked. I smiled at him once my shirt was over my head and on my body. I was surprised that he hadn't asked me why I was telling him anything at all. If he did ask me, I wouldn't have an answer for him. I honestly didn't know why I was confiding this information in a stranger; even if I were to use him, I didn't have to get so in detail about my life. I didn't need him to help me, it was just convenient, and so why I even bothered surprised me about myself. There was something about Peter Hale that struck a chord with me, however, that resonated on a completely different level than anybody else. We were two of a kind, really. You could see it in his eyes.

"I suppose," I smirked. "It's the least I could do for you letting me use your shower."

Peter smiled. He may have been dry and sarcastic, and even a bit of an asshole, but I could see right past that tough exterior of his. He was a lonely soul just like I was.