Reviews make me smile. :) At least five reviews for next chapter. Do me a favor, if you like it, review it. I love that you add it to your story alerts, but it makes me happier if I get feedback. I don't care if it's a 'good job'. As long as it's there. :)
Enjoy.


The car ride with Nate had finally become more relaxing once she made an effort to make small talk with him. For some reason, anything Alex had to say had Nate fascinated, which made Alex take a little more time to think things through before speaking them out loud to him. It made her nervous to say anything wrong.

They talked about everything, really. About what they planned to do after the show, about what their dream town to live in would be, about their prior hobbies, about favorite everything, anything at all. Whatever came to their minds, they spoke it out. Alex was elated at this fact, at the fact Nate seemed so much more comfortable around her now, when only a few hours before he had seemed frustrated.

Alex wanted to keep talking and talking to him, but they finally had to park to a fast food restaurant Nate had spotted and pointed out, but Alex really hadn't paid much attention, just nodded and let Nate park there.

"This looks promising," Nate muttered to Alex as they walked inside. Alex shot him a smile and Nate quickly looked away to the lunch menu. Alex bit her lip and looked at the lunch menu as well, trying not to be distracted by the proximity of their bodies. Her attention was solely on the lunch menu, as the cashier took the order for the people in front of them.

"What would you like?" Nate asked Alex suddenly, ad she tried not to jump with surprise. She looked over at Nate, catching his eyes if only for a moment, but her heart started racing wildly all over again. So she looked at the menu and pretended to study it for a little while more.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I did tell you I wasn't hungry," she added, flashing another smile at Nate. This time, Nate smiled back, and Alex couldn't look away. His smile was so amazing; it made you want to melt right in your spot.

"You did mention something along those lines," Nate said casually. "But I think I didn't listen. And I don't think I will listen," he winked at her and Alex couldn't help but giggle, even if it wasn't in her nature to do so.

"Well, then just get me some fries. I love the greasiness," Alex looked at the menu once more to see how much the fries cost, just to be sure he wasn't wasting too much money on her.

When she looked back at Nate, he looked surprised. "Wow," he said after a moment. "A lot of girls would never admit that," he said, and Alex shrugged.

"Well, I'm not like a lot of girls," Alex promised. "Trust me." And with that, the two other people in front of them left and they took their spot, Nate taking a bit more time than Alex.

The cashier was female and had long, pretty fake blonde hair, Alex noted, and her uniform was a bit too tight on her body. When she looked up, Alex noticed that her eyes were a piercing blue as she looked at her and smiled, then she looked at Nate and her eyes bugged out.

Alex was preparing to snicker, expecting this to be one of Nate's crazed fans, but as she looked over at Nate, he seemed to be shocked and—dare she say it—embarrassed. Alex bit her lip and glanced back at the cashier, who was smiling flirtatiously at Nate. Alex's fist closed and her stomach boiled. Who the hell did this girl think she was?

"Hello, Mr. Gray," the cashier said, her voice seducing. "It's nice to see you again."

Again? Alex thought this was impossible. How long had Nate been in Savannah, anyway? Old friend? Not likely, Nate would've mentioned it to her, wouldn't he?

Alex's stomach whirled as she realized she didn't think so.

"Uh, hello," Nate said after clearing his throat. "As well." He glanced at Alex with a frantic look, but Alex couldn't make anything of it. What was going on here? She didn't really understand, all she knew is that she wanted to order and leave this stupid girl behind them.

"Well, is your head better?" Alex turned to the girl and caught her wink at Nate, and Alex suddenly felt very, very angry.

"We would like to order, please," Alex practically spat, and the girl looked at her in surprise.

"Oh," the girl blinked, and Alex looked at her nametag. It read 'Coral'. "I didn't know you were there. I guess I got too caught up," she said this with a smirk and looked down at her ordering machine. "What would you like?"

For you to leave, Alex said silently, but sighed. Before she spoke, though, Nate took over.

"Just two sodas, an order of fries and a burger," Nate said quickly, and if Alex didn't know any better, she would say he was trying to get away. "Please and thank you."

Coral looked at Nate, confused, but nodded anyway and placed their order, and asked if they wanted anything else. Nate refused, and after paying, they went to find an empty table and wait for their food.

"Who was that?" Alex couldn't help but ask as they took their seats. It wasn't as if curiosity could hurt anyone, and it wouldn't give too much of her feelings away, right?

But Nate didn't even look up. "No one," he assured. "No one at all."

--

After lunch, they drove back to the studio in silence, Alex all the while thinking about Coral, the girl who had flirted with Nate. All throughout lunch, people came up to Nate and asked him for autographs and pictures, and though Alex wasn't bothered all that much, it still annoyed her some. The people there acted like she was invisible. What if she was on a date with the guy?

Her stomach whirled at the thought. But she wasn't. So she stayed silent and tried to keep her thoughts coherent.

When they arrived at the studio, thousands of people had filled it up in the while they were gone. Alex gaped at the full parking lot, but Nate parked in his reserved space and got out. Alex took her seat belt off and was about to open the door, when Nate appeared and opened it for her. She blinked and looked up, and Nate motioned for her to get out of the car. Alex complied and asked herself if all men did this.

Nate looked amused, but didn't speak as they walked inside, more people swimming around. Some were yelling instructions, others were laughing and other people were concentrated in what they were doing. Nate walked by as if this happened everyday, which Alex reasoned, to him, it probably did.

Suddenly, Nate took Alex's hand and tingles came running up her arms, and she jumped. Nate looked at her and smiled slightly. "Wouldn't want you to get lost here." Was all he said, before tightening his grip on her and leading her to the back.

Alex was in a daze the whole time. Nate Gray was holding her hand, and she liked it. She liked the warmth of it, the way it fit perfectly around her own, the way it seemed—only seemed, though—that he didn't want to let go, either.

Finally, they made it to the back, and after a moment of hesitation, Nate let go of Alex's hand. Alex bit her lip and looked down, feeling her cheeks get hot. She didn't want for him to let go. She missed his warmth already.

"Let's go inside," Nate said. "There's cameras already recording, but no one's in there. So you won't feel too self conscious," he added, and Alex nodded. It was as if people knew here in this show already.

Nate opened the door for Alex to go inside, and Alex entered without a second thought this time. Knowing that there wouldn't be fifteen guys waiting to meet her in the room made her feel just a little more at ease. Nate seemed to notice her mood change as well, because he smiled and pulled out her chair, and Alex sat in it quickly.

The room was small, with a squared table and a lot of folders stacked up in the opposite chair from Alex's. There were cameras hung in each corner, and a switch that read 'on' on 'off' in the very middle of the room.

"Okay," Alex heard Nate say, and she turned around to find out what he was doing. He was looking at the folders that were now in his hands, a look of concentration on his face He bit his lip as he went through each one, and scowled deeply at one in particular, throwing it with more force on the table. Alex wanted to see whose it was, but Nate had already covered it up with another folder.

"Alright, so, this is how it works," Nate told Alex after going through all the folders. He was still standing, both hands supporting him on the table. "I am going to ask you questions about all the contestants, and all you have to do is give me your opinion. Don't worry, I won't judge." He grinned at her and Alex's breath caught for a moment. He needed to stop doing that.

"Alright, let me just set these babies up," Nate said as he walked to the 'on' and 'off' switch in the middle of the room. He looked at the cameras, all four of them, and then switched the 'on' button, and the cameras all lit up with big, bright red lights. Alex's heart started racing. Nate turned to her and smiled. "Ready."

Nate took his seat and picked up the folders, looking one by one at it. "So, Alex Russo," he said, and Alex was surprised how his voice managed to sound so professional when a moment before he was talking so casually. "You are the lucky girl, huh?" there was a strange edge to his voice, but Alex didn't have time to look too much into it.

"Yes," was all Alex could think of saying, but she shot a smile too. Nate looked down quickly at the folders and cleared his throat.

"Alright, you've met all fifteen contestants," Nate said, finally looking back up to her. "And now you get to tell me your first impressions on them. I'll give my opinion, too," he threw in a carefree laugh, and Alex couldn't help but notice all over again how at ease he could be.

Alex nodded. "Alright," she said, stressing to remember every guy. "Shoot."

Nate nodded and opened the first folder. "Riley," he said. Nate held up the folder and showed Alex Riley's picture. Alex bit her lip.

"He seems…selfish," Alex admitted. "I can't work with a guy who's too into himself." Nate looked in shock, and Alex sent him a questioning look. Nate nodded slowly and closed the folder.

"My thoughts exactly," he muttered, but he seemed to be speaking to himself instead of her or the cameras, for that matter. "Uh, next, Dean," he held up the folder again.

Alex looked at the picture and studied it for a second. "He seems nice," she said. "Pretty cute. But he seems like a rebel. And his clothes weren't so impressive on him," she added, wrinkling her nose. Nate laughed and nodded.

"Agreed," Nate said, and Alex liked the fact that they were both thinking the same. "Next, Zeke, which I am sure you know," Nate paused. "How do you know him?" he asked. Alex sighed.

"Brother's best friend," she admitted, and Nate's face showed understanding. "But I see him as a brother, so it's going to be hard to see him as…as something else." Alex stated, almost shivering at the thought.

Nate had a smile on his face though. "Interesting," Nate mused. "I found him a bit strange, to say the truth. Alien talk?" he asked, and Alex laughed.

"My brother and Zeke are into the strangest things," she admitted. "Trust me on that." Alex smiled as Nate laughed along with her. It felt good to be able to make Nate laugh.

But Nate's smile faded as he grabbed the next folder. He gritted his teeth audibly and took a deep breath, opening the folder. Alex looked at it and saw the picture. She smiled slightly.

Nate sighed.

"Shane."