"Lo, where the hell were you?" Mel asked.

Loren was at her locker getting her stuff to study for her History final the next day. She was going back to Eddie's. There was no need for her to stay at school any longer today. Her body guard was leaning against the wall keeping an eye on her. She had told him that she got turned around in the crush of students. He seemed nervous that he had lost sight of her, but was content with her explanation. If Eddie ever found out that he had lost sight of her, he would not be happy. No need to cause more chaos.

"You know how everyone is around here," Loren said trying to laugh it off. "I just got stuck with the wrong herd."

"Are you sure?" Mel asked.

"Yeah, of course," Loren answered slamming the locker. "I gotta get back to Eddie's. I'll call you later, okay?"

"Okay," Mel said. "Hey, what happened to your arm?"

Loren looked down and saw fresh scratches on her left forearm. It must have happened when she was pressed up against the bricks. She hadn't noticed them until now.

"Nothing, I fell in that herd I was talking about," Loren said. "I gotta go. Later."

Mel watched Loren rush out of the school with her body guard close behind. Something was off with her best friend, but she couldn't figure out what it was. She started to get her books out of her locker when she heard Adriana talking on the phone rounding the corner. Mel didn't feel like dealing with her drama today. Adriana and Phil were on again off again, and Mel didn't want any part of it.

"I just wanted to see if she was going to be home tonight," Adriana said to whoever was on the other line.

"Look, Trent, I understand, but she said she would consider me moving in with you two. I wouldn't ask if I wasn't desperate," she pleaded.

Apparently Adriana's mom had shacked up with some guy, Mel thought. That's why she didn't want anything to do with Adriana. Mel was the last person who would say she liked Adriana, but no one deserved that. Mel knew what it was liked to be rejected by your biological mother.

Mel shut her locker and started to walk away when she came face to face with Adriana.

"Yeah, I understand," she said to the person on the other line. She jumped seemingly surprised to see Mel standing in front of her. Adriana finished her call and delivered her patented mean girl look on Mel.

"Look, you better not say anything to that rock star wanna be," Adriana said.

"Loren? About what? I don't know what you're talking about," Mel said. She was trying very hard to remember that Adriana had just lost her father and appeared to be breaking up with her brother.

"You didn't hear who I was talking to?" Adriana asked.

"Some guy named Trent," Mel said.

"Exactly, so don't tell your BFF about it, okay?"

"Why would I tell Lo?"

Adriana just shook her head, "Nevermind. Whatevs, I have to get to class."

Mel didn't quite understand the conversation she just had with Adriana. She was trying to be nice to her since no one deserved to lose their parent, but she was making it very hard.

As she was trying to figure out how Loren fit into her conversation with Adriana, Adam walked by.

"Adam, wait," Mel said.

"I have to get to class," Adam said as he worked on the combination to his locker. Adam and Mel had lockers close to each other, so it had been practically impossible not to see each other after every class.

"Adam," Mel said trying to fight the whine in her voice, "Why won't you talk to me?"

"What is there to say?" Adam asked. "I tried to make this work for us, but you obviously don't. I'm willing to give up everything for you – "

"That's just it, Adam" Mel said interrupting, "A relationship shouldn't cause you to 'give up' on everything. You have to live your dream. I love you enough to want you to do that."

"And I love you enough to realize that my dreams are nothing without you, but you apparently don't see it that way."

Adam and Mel stood staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity before the late bell rang.

"Now you've made me late to class," Adam said as he slammed his locker. "Look, I just think it's better that we break up now than have the long goodbye this fall before I leave and then we end up just fading away from each other."

"Is that really what you want?" Mel asked.

Adam just shook his head and walked around her down the hall. Mel looked at his retreating back and wondered how their seemingly awesome relationship could have gone so wrong. He was perfect for her. He loved her quirkiness and her spontaneity. She loved his stability and the geekiness in him. It seemed like a great match. So why was she the villain when she loved him enough to let him pursue his dream?

Nora came out of the shower in her robe with her wet hair wrapped up in a towel. Max must be down at the club because she was alone in the apartment. She walked over to the wall and looked at all of his gold records hanging. She giggled as she remembered listening to Max's songs in her room as a teenager completely in love with him. She always thought that Katy was the luckiest woman in the world. They seemed so perfect for each other, and their love showed in their music. She walked back over to her suitcase and started to pick out her clothes for the day. The door opened, and she heard an intake of breath.

"You must not understand how sexy you are wrapped in just a robe, or you would not be torturing me like this."

"Really?" Nora answered. She was still a little miffed about the addition of Daphne and that Italian stick figure Stefania for the next six months. "I would have thought you'd get used to it."
"No way," Max said as he walked over to Nora and put his arms around her waist. "You smell amazing," he said.

"Mmmmmm," Nora moaned as Max started to kiss her neck.

"I think this silly little robe needs to go, though," Max said as he untied the sash and let it fall. Nora had on nothing underneath but her panties. She felt wicked. Max let his hands run under her robe and around to her back. He pulled her up against his body, and she loved the way he felt. He tugged the robe down over a shoulder as his lips followed the path down her neck and across her collar bone. He reached up and grabbed the towel on her head and let it fall to the floor. Her hair spilled down across her shoulders and the scent of her shampoo, rosemary and mint, enveloped them.

"You may convince me to stay here for a while, Max Duran," Nora said.

"That's the point," Max said.

Dammit, Nora thought. She wanted to ask him what was behind him signing a six month contract with Daphne, but when he kissed her like that, all logical thoughts flew out the window.

"I'm so glad you're home," Eddie said as he wrapped Loren up in a hug the second she walked in the door.

"Oh my God, what is that smell?" Eddie asked gently pushing away from Loren.

"Formaldehyde," Loren said as she threw her backpack on the couch and started to walk up the stairs to the bedroom. "I'm headed to the shower right now."

Eddie laughed but quickly sobered as he turned to the body guard who had followed Loren into the penthouse.

"Did everything go okay?" Eddie asked.

"Yes Mr. Duran. Except – "

"Except what?"

"There was a fire drill at the school, which seemed really odd to me. I tried to stay close to Ms. Tate, but there were so many kids going in different directions."

Eddie started to get angry. "Was she alone for any length of time?"

"I lost sight of her for about two minutes," the body guard answered.

"I thank you for your honesty," Eddie said, "But this is unacceptable. You were supposed to be with her the entire time. She has to go back later this week, and I cannot have her unprotected."

"Yes, I understand. I asked her about the time she was separated from me, but she said everything was fine."

"She does seem okay," Eddie agreed. "I will call you with her schedule this week. She has a few more finals to finish."
"Yes sir, I understand," the man said. "I won't let you down again."

"I know you're a good man," Eddie said as he slapped him on the back and shook his hand. "I do need you to do one thing for me. Go back to the school in the morning and talk to whoever you can about the fire drill. Make sure it was planned and not something spontaneous or a prank. And see if anyone had eyes on Loren during the time you were separated."

"Yes, Mr. Duran."

Eddie opened the door and saw the man out. He had this nagging suspicion that something happened in the time that Loren was separated from her body guard. Eddie had learned that Loren hated to burden anyone with something bothering her, so it would be no surprise if she kept something from him. It wasn't vindictive, the way Chloe had done it; she just didn't want anyone to have to worry about anything.

About twenty minutes later, Loren came downstairs in one of his t-shirts and a pair of his boxers. Her hair was hanging wet down her back causing the avocado green shirt to darken where the water soaked in. He thought she looked adorable walking around bare foot. Her toes had the sexiest maroon nail polish, and her face, without a bit of makeup, was flawless in his eyes.

His beautiful Loren.

"I hope you don't mind," Loren said as she joined him on the couch. "But I seem to have forgotten my night clothes."

"It's only noon," Eddie laughed.

"Yes, but I spent my morning dissecting a mink, so that should count for something," Loren said.

"Sure," Eddie laughed. "My clothes look great on you," Eddie said taking in her look appreciatively. "But you do realize we have to go to the studio, right?"

"Right," Loren said sounding disappointed. She scooted over and sat next to Eddie and wrapped her arms around his waist burying her face in his chest. "Can't we just stay here, order take out, and forget anything else even exists?"

The rumbling of his laugh calmed her, but Loren was still rattled by the stalker. He threatened to take Eddie away. She could never live through that again. She heard his heart beating against her ear and hugged him tighter to remind herself that he really was here with her. He brought her comfort. The warmth of his body enveloped her and relaxed her muscles. There was no one else who could make her calm the way Eddie did. He was her strength and her inspiration. Every touch, every word from this point on would be burned into her memory. She never knew how important absorbing her surroundings was until she thought she lost Eddie. She vowed to always remember the little things between them, because they could be yanked away without warning.

"Perhaps," Eddie said. "But we've booked studio time. And besides, I have a surprise for you."

Loren lifted her head to look at him. "Really? What is it?"

Eddie kissed her cheek, "If I told you then it wouldn't be a surprise now would it?"

"Mmmmmm, I don't want to go," Loren said.

"Oh, c'mon now. I promise you're gonna like my surprise," Eddie said.

"Can you give me a hint?"

"Well, I've been working on perfecting it all morning."

"A new song?" Loren was excited about that.

"Maybe," Eddie teased. "Kinda new. You've heard part of it."

"I can't solve riddles right now. I'm just so comfortable here . . ." Loren said as she started to hug Eddie again.

"How about a compromise?" Eddie suggested. "I'll get take out; we eat and then we go to the studio."

"Can I take a little nap while you get the food?" Loren asked. "I'm just a bit tired."

"Sure baby," Eddie said. He gently grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back so he could look into her eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, fine," Loren said. She brushed her hair back with her hand and Eddie grabbed her wrist.

"What happened here?" he asked as he looked at the scratches and bruises on her forearm.

"Oh, nothing, I fell during the fire drill," Loren said. She quickly put her arm down by her side and tried to give Eddie her most convincing smile.

"What happened during the fire drill?" Eddie asked.

Loren knew she should tell him. Here was her opportunity. This couldn't be the first time Eddie's life was threatened; he would know what to do.

"Nothing," Loren said as she stood up. "I'm gonna go lie down. Come get me when the food's here." Loren walked up the stairs and cringed at the lie she just told. Eddie was furious when he discovered Chloe had been lying to him. She had to make sure that Eddie never found out that the stalker had actually spoken to her and threatened his life.