I actually meant to get this in sooner but at least I finished this time. I'd like to thank all of the subscribers for liking my story so far. Sorry if you don't like author's notes and such. -awkward laugh- I hope you enjoy this chapter!

"It's Algar but call me Al." The stranger said

It was...unsettling the way he said it. All seductive and dangerous. I grimaced and layed back, pulling the quilt all the way around me. Olivia's eyes narrowed.

"You look familiar." She made a face and leaned back toward him. He sighed.

"I'm not surprised you don't remember me, Olivia. It has been awhile since you've seen me." Olivia hopped up hurriedly.

"Oh, I can't believe I forgot! Algar!" She lept up and embraced him. Me and Violet shared a look. How did she know him? Violet shifted her feet and came to sit next to me. She gave me a disapproving look, as disapproving as she gets anyway, and yawned. She layed back next to me and made a face when I refused to give her covers. Olivia seemed to notice the awkward tension in the air and just waved off the fact that she knew him.

Okay...?

I looked away from her and at Alan. He was staring at me. No, not staring, leering. I flinched as he extended his hand near my face.

"What pretty hair." He wound a strand around his finger and then uncoiled it. I bared my teeth at him and he laughed. "That actually kind of hurt." He stepped away from me and gave Olivia a light tap on the shoulder. "I'll be seeing you then." He walked out of my room and I heard the front door close. Weird... I looked up at Olivia and she was staring after Al distrustfully. I grabbed her arm to make her look at me.

"Olivia, what's going on?"

She gave me a small smile.

"Don't worry about it." I sighed heavily. She was really annoying sometimes. Olivia looked at the door and then back at me.

"Is it true that you...you know...with Algar..." I blushed slightly and looked away from her.

"Had an extremely humiliating kiss where Al drooled all over my face? Yeah, but I'm trying to repress it." I responded evenly. It wasn't a lie either. She laughed and patted my hand on the way out the door. Violet followed behind her and paused just outside the door.

"He's hurting you know."

My heart clenched.

"Who?" I whispered.

"Jack." His name surrounds me. A chant. A memory. A spark. Happiness.

The feeling dies before I get a chance to latch on to it.

"Why should I care?" I snarled.

"You wish that you didn't." She stepped away from the door.

But she was right...I really, really wish I didn't.

The first thing I noticed about Ezra when he came in was how tired he looked. His clothes were in perfect condition as always but his mahogany eyes looked even more worn out and ancient than usual. I was lounging on the couch with Violet when he had burst through the door so Violet and I had jumped out of our skins when he came in.

"Alice." He greeted me fondly. I was surprised. After everything I would think that he would hate me. Like everyone else in that home.

I stood up and smoothed out my shirt.

"H-hey." I swallowed to compose myself a little. "It's great to see you, Ezra."

He smiled and moved to stand next to me.

"The same to you. But I'm guessing you're wondering why I wanted to see you." Okay, straight to business.

"Yeah. Does this have to do with yesterday? When I passed out in the club?"

"Well yes it does." He said grimly,

"Why don't we go for a drive."

"So what you're saying is...since we are 'willingly' being apart, we're hurting more than we would if the bond was completely severed?" I asked. Ezra had tried explaining it the best he could but I was still a little fuzzy. Apparently since Jack broke up with me and I left, the bond that we still share is overwhelming us. Me in particular.

"That's mostly it." He said. We were sitting in Mae's car in front of their house. One I used to call mine. He wanted me to be there when he told Jack for some reason. Like it'd help anything.

"So...how do we fix it? I mean, Jack...he doesn't..." I couldn't bring myself to say it.

"Love you anymore?" Ezra said. I flinched like he'd slapped me. "Because that's not true. There is not a thing called 'loved'. Love doesn't have a past tense. You still love him don't you?"

I swallowed.

"Yes." I whispered softly.

"Then we better go in."