A/N: So this story roughly takes place way before TDK and a little but after.

I have a question for you all, Would you rather see all the events leading up to TDK. OR would you rather me fast foward and just have a series of flashbacks showing what happened and why things are the way the are.

Its up to you. And I would really like to know what you all think. =]]

Haha I'm getting so ansy ans ahead of myself. 'Cause I have like so much planned for later on, its just writing it all out is a pain.

Well let me know what you think.

-Ellie

It was early, as far as she could tell anyway. Light streamed through the shades drawn on her windows. She was in that early morning not really awake but not totally asleep realm. Her bed was warm, the comforter was bunched around her shoulders, and her long tresses were slightly covering her face. Her back was facing the window and her front was facing the rest of the room. Alessa knew she didn't have to be up early today, but she was still on that school schedule.

She sighed, realizing that she was finally awake, and looked around. The side of the bed next to her was still warm, but there wasn't a body present. She sat up slightly, yawning. The blankets fell into a jumble around her waist and she realized that she wasn't wearing her pants anymore. That didn't faze her, she usually kicked them off during the night if she got hot. What struck her was a whirlwind of thoughts, all about last night and what had occurred.

Her pale eyes widened. Oh God. What had she done?

She had never been really good at the art of seduction. Or maybe she was and just never knew. It wasn't like she had all of this experience or anything. She had other friends sure, boys that liked her yeah, but never had she really even tried to tempt a boy, let alone what she did to poor Jack last night. Her sultriness surprised herself a great deal, she could only imagine what had been running through Jack's mind...

She thought that over and blushed lightly. Never mind, she really didn't want to know.

She thought over the events that had taken place in her room the night before. She thought she would've felt used, dirty, but in fact she didn't. She didn't feel any of those feelings. She felt shocked of course, and a tad embarrassed for being so crazily forward, but she felt happy. She didn't regret it. She just hoped he didn't either.

--

Jack sat at the kitchen table, a steaming cup of coffee was in his hands. His gaze was straight ahead of him; but his aqua eyes were glazed over and his look was a million miles away.

He had gotten up much earlier than he had expected, than he wanted, but he couldn't help it. The sun had just started to rise when his eye opened. The body that was tucked under his protective embrace was warm, soft, small.

It was Alessa. His Alessa. His best friend. His girlfri--

No.

His best friend, his only friend. Alessa was only his, truly his, in his dreams.

But wait, memories of the night before had started flowing through is mind. Jack knew that memory would be one of his personal favorites forever. But it wasn't a dream, it had actually happened. She had chosen him, she had picked him. Jack had never even kissed a girl that wasn't Alessa. He had never really wanted too. One look at her and anyone could see why.

Long legs, thin waist, heaving chest, thin lips, bright smile, dark tresses, pale eyes. It wasn't his fault his best friend happened to be devastatingly beautiful. But one of the many things he adored about her was her modesty and obviation to it. He knew she really had no idea exactly just how gorgeous she truly was. It was almost sickening to look at her for too long. She was like his drug, she helped him breathe and he kept her entertained.

Jack sighed.

He placed the cup of coffee on the table and let his head drop down onto it. He groaned. What was he going to do? He was getting mixed signals from her. One minute their best friends, the next she's mad at him. Then she's defending him and the next minute she was blowing him!

He was crude and he didn't care. She was testing him, something he didn't usually allow to happen. That whole Alessa and his rules thing popped into his mind, her being the exception to them.

He didn't have plans, plans just blew up in peoples faces. Plans were something to expect, he liked to surprise people. If something didn't go "according to plan" it messes everything up, then one would have to start all over again. He didn't like that very much. But as he sat with his head on the table he considered someway of talking to Alessa about the night before. He was planning, he hated it, but it was what needed to be done. He knew with her he would need to know before hand what to say or do. He couldn't mess this up. This was his one chance at having her, all of her. He couldn't ruin it. If one day of planning is what it took for them to finally be together, then he would happily forget his own beliefs for a while.

--

Alessa bounded down the stairs, it was still early, seven or eight-ish.

She walked into the kitchen expecting to find her mother, but instead found a dirty blond haired boy sitting at her kitchen table drinking coffee. His back was conveniently facing her and she silently thanked god for this short time to think.

Alessa watched the fine muscles of his back as he haunched over in the chair. A warm sensation spread through her body at the thought of him. She had seen him without a shirt on many times, but for some reason after last night...everything about him just seemed more...sexy.

She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as she continued walking into the kitchen. She walked over to the sink, grabbing a cup out of the drainer. Turning to face him for the first time, she went over to the fridge and pulled out the orange juice. She could feel his gaze on her, penetrating. She looked up from poring her drink to meet his eyes. Oh, those eyes. He was staring at her with a mixed look, it was confusion, lust, embarrassment, love, and lastly, determination.

She was lost in his gaze, in his eyes. They way his light eyes held hers, to the way they roamed over her figure with such a longing, burning in them. She never even realized what happend until he shot up from the table and was by her side faster than she could recall. Alessa shook her head and looked down at the counter, that was now, covered in orange juice. She had been so caught up in her staring contest with Jack that she had totally forgot everything she was doing. Unfortunately that included pouring her drink.

Yeah, real smooth.

"Shit."

She grumbled as she reached over to grab a dishcloth. Her hand met Jack's as they reached for it at the same time. They both jumped back at the sudden warmth from that simple contact ignited. Their eyes met once again. Alessa chewed on her bottom lip as Jack sucked on the inside of his scar. Nervous habits they had acquired over the years. The down part of knowing everything about your best friend/potential lover is that one can always tell when the other is nervous or upset or angry. And right now both Alessa and Jack knew just how nervous and uncomfortable they both were at that moment.

Alessa was the first to break the gaze. She picked up the dishcloth and started to wipe up the spilt orange juice. Jack's hand lightly grabbed her wrist, stopping her from cleaning and forcing her to look at him. He grabbed her chin with his other hand and lifted it up to look at him. Her eyes were still downcast and she was still gnawing on her bottom lip.

"Alessa..." She didn't look up. "Why are you so nervous?"

Her eyes finally met his and she sighed.

"Its just...its just that this is turning out to be much more...awkward that I intended." He looked down at her, into her pale eyes.

"Alessa, its only awkward because your making it that way. I'm fine. Now I know you don't want to talk about last night in your kitchen so go get some pants on and meet me outside."

"Where are we going?"

He smiled at her. "To the spot. I figure so much has gone down there, so many firsts and startling conversations that it might be the most appropriate place for this one."

She nodded, seeing his reasoning, and walked out of his warm embrace up the stairs to her room.

--

It was cool outside, the weather was cool in a post-Winter sort of way. The snow melted in Gotham leaving it with the crisp air of Winter and the rainfall of spring. That awkward in between was Alessa's favorite time of the year. She loved the cold air, being hot made her sick.

They made their way into the clearing of tall grass. A beat up recliner sat under the big tree, and few old rugs lay on the grass. Along with them was a broken down coffe table and a few other knicknacks that they had acquired from over the years. This place, "the dome" as they sometimes fondly called it, was theirs. It felt safe, like home, or how home used to feel anyway.

Jack sat sideways in the old recliner with his feet dangling off the armrest and his back against the other. Alessa stood facing him, her arms at her sides, looking at him.

"So..." Jack started.

"So."

"Alessa."

She picked her head up and stared at the clear sky. "What."

"I'm not upset with you if that's what you think. Actually, its quite the opposite really."

She looked back at him, into his crystal eyes. "Really?" He looked down to his lap, avoiding her longing eyes.

"Yeah, really. I mean, I dunno why you want me...you could have any boy in Gotham. But if you want me, you can have me." His eyes travelled up from his lap, over her figure to her eyes. The look in his stare was so fierce and demanding that it overwhelmed her. She almost wanted to look away but she couldn't. "All of me."

They stared at one another for what seemed like an eternity before Alessa finally spoke.

"Do you..." she paused, breaking the contact and looking down. "want me?"

Jack stood up off of the recliner and made his way in front of her. He brushed her dark bangs out of her face. "God yes."

Her eyes drifted up to his only to close a second later as his lips descended upon hers. The kiss was more gentle than the last one they had shared, but not without the same intensity behind it. His hands roughly grabbed at her hips, grinding them against his own. Her hands wound in his curly tresses, pulling his face closer to hers. When they broke apart for air Alessa's eyes were still closed.

"Jack," she panted. "what if...but what if we break up? Then what will we do? I'm not about to loose you forever just because you cant seem to keep it in your pan -"

"Alessa!" She looked up at him, her mouth slightly agape. "Can you for once just shut the fuck up and kiss me."

"Okay"

--

Alessa awoke to an incessant beeping noise in the air. She sighed. She was so warm and so content, she didn't want to get up from the cocoon she had made for herself. But the beeping was driving her borderline suicidal. She opened her eyes and took hin her surroundings. It was dark, for there were no windows to let in light. She reached over the body next to hers and switched off the alarm clock that sat on the night stand. She let out a tired yawn and ran a hand through her dark tresses.

"Jack."

When he didn't budge Alessa rolled her eyes. "Jaaaaaackk." He released a groan and turned on back, pulling a pillow out from under his head and placing it over his eyes.

"Jack. Get up."

Alessa stood up and stepped off the bed and turned on the lamp next to the alarm clock. Jack grumbled something incoherent, muffled by the pillow.

"I'm giving you five minutes or I'm leaving without you. You got me?"

Jack raised an arm in the air to signify that he had indeed 'got her'. Alessa rolled her eyes before wandering into the bathroom. She stripped down and turned on the water before getting in. The hot water washed away the sleep from her system and she felt more awake. Through the glass of the shower door she saw Jack shuffle in with his eyes half closed, shirtless, and his hair sticking up in various places. He stopped in front of the sink and started to brush his teeth as she got out of the shower.

"Are you going to take one?"

All Jack did was nod, he wasnt particularly coherent this morning. It probably had something to do with the intense make out session they had until the wee hours of the morning. Not something smart to do the day your suppose to be returning back to school. Jack's face was...better, for lack of better word. The bruise on the right side of his face had faded into a sickly yellow-purple color, but his eye was still purple. For the most part though his face had healed considerably fast, and besides that first day after the fight, he said the bruise didn't bother him at all.

It had been seven days since the fight and even though Alessa had only gotten one day of suspension, she had stayed home with Jack. He hadn't gotten off so easily, he and Tommi both received a week of suspension for the fight. Now they were returning to school on a Tuesday, and they were sure to be the talk of the week. Especially since they were an item now.

God, she just couldn't wait to hear what people had to say about it. She knew Tommi was bound to blow a gasket, it would be hilarious, she couldn't wait.

It felt so right, her and Jack. It felt natural, like they had always done this, and they always would do it. Even though they hadnt gone farther than that night a couple days ago, she felt hot all over whenever he touched her. She was yearning for him to do...something to her. She hated waiting, but she knew that when Jack was ready he would make his move, and it would be amazing. It felt like they were married. At the thought a light blush flooded over her cheek bones. It really did, even more so since they had his whole house to themselves.

The night before Jayne and Richard had gotten into a massive screaming match about something that had escalated into something bigger. In the mists of the argument Jayne had sent them both to Jack's house for the night. Alessa didn't want to leave her mother there, alone with that maniac, but she had no other choice as Jack drug her out of there. So now here she was in Jack's basement bedroom, getting dressed for school, and waiting for him to wake up enough to have a decent conversation.

As she was pulling on her jeans Jack stumbled into the room, rubbing his eyes. He looked six years old again in that instant and she found herself smiling.

"Mornin'."

"Good Morning." She smiled. "Did'ya sleep well?"

He looked up at her as he was putting on his jeans. "Well as good as I could with you pouncing on me." He smiled at her.

Alessa gave a look of mock shock and indigence. "Me pouncing on you?" He nodded. "You were the one who couldn't keep their hands to themselves Mister." She poked him in the chest for further emphasis. Although she wasn't all that threatening with a smile trying to break out on her face.

"Hey," He put his hands around her waist. "Thats Mister Jay to you."

She laughed and slapped his hands away. Faking a brooklyn accent, "Whatever "Mista Jay". Finnish getting dressed ya big lug." She rolled her eyes and walked over to the dresser that contained some of her things.

--

The walk to school didn't take as long as they would've liked. The air was crisp and the breeze made Alessa's hair whip around her face. Before they knew it they were at their lockers and the bell rang for class. Everyone in the hallway was whispering in hushed tones and glancing the couple's way none to conspicuously. Nothing about them seemed out of the ordinary to anyone, they stood next to the locker they shared, they talked and smiled about their own jokes and stories. But what made everyone stop in their tracks was when the bell rang for First period, Jack drew Alessa close with his hand cupping her cheek. They stared into each others eyes before closing them, and before Jack's mouth descended upon hers. It was a light kiss, more than a peck, but less than their usual kisses. The hallway was silent. Even Tommi Smash couldn't say anything as he stood there watching in horror as the girl he liked kissed the boy he hated.

As soon as the kiss started, it was over. Jack and Alessa separated and smiled before releasing one another. Before they went their separate ways Alessa pressed a quick peck to Jack's lips, then turned and sidled down the hallway. Jack shook his head before turning the opposite way and heading towards his own class.

Everyone stood speechless, staring that one another in silent shock. They all knew it was bound to happen, Jack and Alessa becoming a couple, they all just didn't think it would be so soon and right after the fight no less. Tommi turned and punched a locker before stalking off angrily. The rest just shrugged their shoulders and shook off the daze they were in by mulling to their classrooms; with the girls gossiping and the boys shaking there heads. Well a lot of strange things do tend to happen at West Gotham High.

--

ehh some what filler-esque. But some minor important details.