Here it is. Enjoy, it's a bit longer than usual.

Disclaimer: yada yada yada

"Oh," I said and he looked at me curiously, "My name's Alexis, by the way, but call me Alex," I said and he smiled,

"Marcus, call me Mark," he replied and I returned his smile.

I was right, Italy was going to be fun.

One year later.

My phone rang for what had to be the seventh time today. And as usual, I didn't pick up,

"Lex this is getting ridiculous," Mark said and turned off the TV, turning from where he sat to look me in the eye, "It's your birthday, you can't expect them not to call." He put a hand on my knee and I leaned back, he was right, but I still wasn't picking up the phone. None of them had left any messages on my phone so I figured it wasn't life or death. Marcus rolled his eyes when I didn't say anything and turned back to the TV with a sigh,

When my phone started to ring again, I went to get it but Mark was faster, he ran to the kitchen bench and flipped it open,

"No! Marcus I'll kill you!" I cried but that didn't stop him,

"Hello Alex's phone?" he grinned and I could hear Pogue's voice on the other end, "Yep, she's right here, I'll just get her for you," he smirked and I crossed my arms over my chest,

"Alex, take the phone,"

"No,"

"Stop being so immature, talk to him,"

"No," I said and he gave me a warning glance, "Fine! Jesus!" I cried and snatched the phone,

"Hi Pogue," I mumbled and I could hear him laughing on the other end,

"Hey baby girl,"

I resisted the smile that was threatening to creep onto my face,

"Happy Birthday! I just wanted to say that and… when are you coming back? It's been a year Lex," he asked and I sighed, frowning as I remembered why I hadn't been picking up the phone.

I was silent, not knowing what I could say to that,

"You are coming home soon right? I mean… like I said, it's been a year," he said and I could hear his frustration, I felt sorry for him but I wasn't coming back. Ever,

"Pogue… I need some time, what you guys…" I took a deep breath, "what you guys said… it's not all that easy for me to come back from," I confessed and walked away from Mark's questioning gaze,

"I know Lex, but we really miss you, we all felt like complete dick's for what we said,"

"Not Caleb," I muttered and I knew Pogue heard me, because the next thing I knew, he was arguing with someone over the phone, "Pogue," I warned but the next thing I knew, Caleb's voice was coming through the speaker.

"Hey Alex," he said grumpily and I hung up. Feeling extremely immature, I threw my phone at the bed and ran my hands through my hair. That was a mistake, Marcus shouldn't have done that. I sat down on the edge of my bed and stared at the wall, he was wrong, but at the same time he was right. I wasn't going to get anywhere if I didn't face them sometime soon. But did that sometime really have to be now? I sighed and stood up, leaving my phone in the bedroom. I walked out to the living room and sat down next to Mark, he looked at me and frowned,

"What happened?"

"Don't worry," I mumbled and tucked my feet under my butt. He put an arm around my shoulders. I sighed and leaned my head on his shoulder, an hour later I decided I was too tired and frustrated for anything but sleep.

"I'm gonna go to bed," I said and removed myself from the couch. Sure, Mark was an amazing listener. But it wasn't for the first time that I really needed Michael. I walked into the bedroom, lay down and closed my eyes, erasing all thoughts of the guys from my mind.

I woke up to a loud knock on the door and Michael yelling, I groaned and rolled over,

"Can you get that Lex?" I rolled my eyes,

I went to the door and flung it open, forgetting to look through the peep hole and regretting it completely when I opened the door to four very determined boys.

"Shit," I muttered and started to close the door but Pogue was already half way through. I took a step back as they all entered the flat,

"Hey Alex, who is it?" Mark asked loudly from the kitchen and I went running for the kitchen, sprinted up behind Mark and hid behind the counter, "Um… okay?" he looked down at me and laughed, "Is it the creepy stalker guy from 305 again?"

"Worse," I whimpered, just as Michael and Reid came marching into the kitchen.

"Uh… hi," Mark looked at me from where he was standing, eyebrows raised, I muttered something unintelligible,

"This is Reid, Alex's brother, I'm Pogue, this is Tyler and Michael, Caleb's not here," Pogue announced as I peeked around the corner of the counter, my head snapping up at the last statement. I knew it was meant for me,

"I'm Marcus," he said and opened his mouth to say something else, but Reid started to speak,

"So you're dating my baby sister?" he asked and I groaned loudly from Mark's feet. "Hey Alex," he said and continued the interrogation, I spun around and leaned my head against the back of Mark's knees, feeling like a little kid again. He looked down at me and smirked, just as Michael came around to my side, eyebrows raised and sat down across from me.

"How'd you find me?" I asked and wrapped my arms around my knees.

"We searched, sorry, I know you didn't want me to but we need you back in Ipswich," he said and I started to get up,

"Come with me," I said and helped him up, headed for my bedroom,

He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows at me, I rolled my eyes and sat down,

"You can talk now," I said and he grinned,

"You're coming back with us—"

"No I'm not," I interrupted and he raised an eyebrow, a trait he and his brother had down. "I have a life here now… with… with Mark," I choked out and Michael scoffed, "What?"

"You so don't love him," he said and I gaped,

"I so do!" I said hesitantly and he smirked, came over and sat down beside me,

"Maybe you do… but not the same as Caleb," he said and I stopped dead, my train of thought derailing immediately,

"I don't like Caleb," I said quietly and Michael burst out laughing,

"Of course you don't," he shook his head, "You reacted to his name Lex,"

"Why are you here?" I hissed and stood up, crossing my arms over my chest, and turning to face him.

"We came to bring you home!" he said loudly and I scoffed,

"This is my home now!" I yelled and gestured to the room, not hearing the footsteps coming down the hall until Mark had opened the door and was staring down at me in confusion.

"You okay Lex?" he asked and I swear Michael growled,

"I'm okay, I just need them out of my flat," I ran my hands through my hair and pointed to Michael, who shook his head and whispered on his way out

"Your flat?" he asked and I stiffened, realising my mistake.

"I meant—"

"Whatever Alex," and he walked out without saying anything else. My heart was thumping uncontrollably in my chest as I heard the front door slam. Mark came in after a while and started asking questions but I just waved him away and went,

"I need some air," I walked out of the apartment and down the two flights of stairs that lead to the man apartments in the building. As I reached the bottom of the staircases, I was stopped by the five voices coming through the entrance. Not just four. Five. Caleb.

My heart flipped in my chest and I knew I couldn't go out now. The creepy Italian stalker guy came past me and looked me up and down all creepy like before leaving. The guys stopped talking when he went through but when they resumed I tuned in as well, trying to hear what they were arguing about.

"She's not coming back Reid, she claims to be in love with that Marcus guy," Michael said snottily and Tyler joined in with his complaining,

"She'll come back, eventually," Pogue sighed and my heart fell, the guys had travelled all the way to Italy, only for me to reject their offer to continue leading Marcus on until he proposed. Which, I didn't doubt he would.

"Eventually isn't soon enough," Caleb muttered and I grinned, so he missed me? There was a long pause and Caleb continued hesitantly, "I mean, Sarah and Kate really miss her," I shook my head in amusement,

"Okay," Pogue said and I knew he was grinning,

"What? I mean it, they… told me to—"

"Whatever Caleb; I don't care, I just want my friend back," Michael cut him off and I felt a stab of guilt shoot through my heart at his voice, Michael really missed me that much?

"She's my sister," Reid grumbled and I grinned. They all really missed me. Then again, there was Mark to consider, he claimed to love me. I'd never said it back, I didn't believe in lies. Yet, ironically enough, I was living the biggest one of the century.

"There's not really anything we can do," Tyler said sadly, "She wants to stay here,"

"No she doesn't," Michael growled and everyone else went silent, including myself. "She still—"

I decided this was the right time to come outside, and marched straight into Caleb's back. I hadn't realised how close they were, I blushed furiously and ducked around Caleb and the boys, headed straight for the street, I remembered I was still in my big t-shirt and college shorts, a.k.a. pyjamas, I shook my hair out and chucked it up into a ponytail. It didn't matter that I wasn't wearing any shoes, I hardly ever did anyway. Leaving my feet calloused and Mark annoyed. He said he didn't want me to step on glass but I knew it was because, even though I wasn't the only person not wearing shoes. It was embarrassing for him to be seen with someone that immature.

Did I really just think that?

I shook my head and tightened the hair-tie, bringing myself into a slow jog. I ended up sprinting through all the back alleyways, they always freaked me out but today it was merely for the rush. I was brought to a halt when I reached the beach around ten minutes later. I walked into the sand and flopped down on the beach. It wasn't as crowded as usual, probably because it was lunch time. Shit. My eyes widened and I ducked my head back, looking upwards.

"Please don't fire me!" I whined to the sky and let my elbows relax. Causing me to fall straight back into the sand. I worked at a deli down the road from my apartment. Not exactly my life long dream but Mark was a lawyer, so we did okay. Being twenty one, he was still in college. His parents had given him money for a flat and we combined it with my "college money" to buy one together. I wasn't regretting buying anything I'd bought in Italy. My red Vespa was the love of my life. It may have been a scooter, but I loved it like Pogue loved his Ducati if he still had it.

As I was lying down in the sand I realised I was still wearing my bikini from yesterday. It wasn't as stupid as everyone thought it was, I always wore my bikini. I yanked off my t-shirt and propped myself up on my elbows. The sun felt good on my skin I wanted to lie here forever. But that fantasy was rudely interrupted by a loud cough, I opened my eyes, ready to glare at whoever had disrupted my happy moment only to see my brother and Tyler standing in front of me. Tyler was looking somewhere other than my chest and my brother was shaking his head at me in disappointment. I grimaced and grabbed my t-shirt, pulling it over my head and sitting up properly.

"What do you want?" I demanded and Tyler grinned,

"You're coming back to Ipswich with us whether you like it or not."

"Um… how about no?" I growled and stood up, "Leave me alone Reid," I started to walk away but Tyler grabbed my arm and pulled me back. "What?"

"We need you back in Ipswich,"

"Yeah, you need me there, but half of you don't want me there," I said, even though I'd heard otherwise.

"That's just Caleb being a dick," Tyler muttered and I felt another stab through my heart, this time for a completely different reason. Reid elbowed him in the ribs and he grunted in discomfort,

"Well that's lovely," I managed to croak out, "But I like it here, a year hasn't changed anything," I lied smoothly and Reid picked up on it, but Tyler didn't.

"Ty, I need to talk to my sister for a sec," he said and Tyler walked away, "Just 'cause Caleb's being a douche-bag is no reason to stay here with the Latin Loser. Come home Alex," he pleaded and I almost gave in,

"As far as I've been told, only you, Pogue and Tyler want me back in Ipswich, as opposed to me staying here with Marcus and being happy? I think I'll stay," I folded my arms over my chest. But Reid wasn't having it,

"Caleb's lying, everyone knows that, and I know for a fact that Michael misses you," he said and despite what I'd heard earlier, I didn't believe him,

"I wouldn't be so sure," I muttered and Reid's eyes narrowed,

"If I have to drug you and drag you out of the country I will," he growled and I smirked,

"You won't get past security with an unconscious girl in your suitcase," But to my astonishment, Reid shook his head,

"Baby boy leant us his jet," he grinned evilly and my eyes widened when I realised he was serious,

"Reid, please don't make me go back," I pleaded,

"Why not? You love Ipswich,"

"Yeah! I do! But I don't love the fact that everyone thinks I killed Sarah!" I screamed and felt the tears I'd been keeping down for so long start to come up.

"Alex… No one thinks—"

"Why do you keep lying! Caleb thinks I killed her!"

"Who gives about Caleb?"

"Me!" I yelled and slapped my hand over my mouth, "I didn't say that," I whispered and he nodded, understanding,

"You have to come back Alex," he said softly and looked me in the eyes. No matter which colour I died my hair from my natural platinum blonde that matched my brothers, our eyes were identical. Wide dark blue, pretty much always filled with ideas sure to get us kicked out of and suspended from wherever we were hanging out. I put my head in my hands, weaving them through my currently light brown hair and nodded.

"I'll come," I mumbled and felt a strong pair of arms wrap around me, I looked up to see Tyler hugging the shit out of me, "Please tell me you haven't been listening the whole time,"

"I wasn't trying to but I heard it all anyway," he grinned and I narrowed my eyes,

"If you tell anyone—"

"No worries, everyone apart from Caleb knows anyway,"

"If Michael told I will kick his ass," I growled and Tyler smirked,

"No, it's just really obvious," he smiled and I frowned,

"Let go of me baby boy, I need to get up," I said and he blushed, removing his arms from my waist. I got up and brushed the sand off my shorts. "Now to tell Marcus,"

"Already done,"

"What?" I yelled and my brother laughed,

"We told him we were taking you home and he seemed fine,"

"That son of a bitch!" I yelled,

"What?" Tyler asked and I glared at him,

"He seemed fine?" I demanded and they shot looks at each other,

"Um… yeah," They both still looked completely confused,

I was speechless, "I'm leaving!" I cried and they finally got it, looking guiltily at the sand, "Stupid idiot doesn't get a goodbye now," I muttered and Reid got it. Tyler smirked but I don't think he understood the subtitles.

I didn't care. I was going home for the first time in thirteen months.

Shit.