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Chapter Seven

Jealousy

He honestly didn't know why he felt this way. It wasn't as if Wesley was a bad guy. He was just boring was all and kind of smug. He looked smug to Nathan at least with his good looks and perfect attendance. Seriously, what high school student didn't cut a day or two every once and a while? It was only normal. Maybe that's why Nathan felt the way he did. And for some reason Sally hated him. It wasn't that he was jealous… no it was concern. After all, no one could be that perfect.

It was silly to be acting like this. Lily was his best friend and he should be happy for her. And besides he had a girlfriend. He was dating Sally. But then why was he jealous? Sure Lily was beautiful and funny and sweet, everything a guy could want, but this was his friend, his best friend. Besides Lily would never feel the same way about him. She was way out of his league. Sometimes he didn't even know how she could be in his life. One thing he was sure about was that Wesley wasn't good enough for her. Most men weren't.

How did everything get so complicated?

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Mark Sloan walked down the hospital hall exhausted after a complicated surgery. He was still in his blue scrubs and scrub cap. When he was about to turn the corner he heard a faint noise coming from the closet. He paused and lightly placed his ear on the door. After a few moments of listening, he quickly recognized the whimpering. It was the same noise he had heard on the night he destroyed her heart. He hesitantly opened the door and sure enough he found Lexi huddled in a ball on the floor with tears streaming down her face. Without a second thought Mark joined Lexi on the floor and pulled her into his arms. Feeling her this close to him again felt so right, but also brought memories of how their relationship had ended.

Mark Sloan was tired yet excited from his most recent surgery. He had made a significant contribution to the medical field with his clinical trial and hopefully he would be published just like his best friend Derek had been a couple of years back. He hurried to the locker rooms so he could inform Lexi of his latest triumph. When he arrived in the locker rooms he heard the unmistakable laugh of his live in girlfriend. Jealousy instantly flowed through him. She was flirting with Justin Wilson again. He had tried to ignore it at first, but now the jealousy was flowing through him.

He got Lexi alone from Justin and confronted her at their home after a silent ride home. He still remembered the fight that ensued.

"What's wrong with you Mark," Lexi had asked, "you were weird the whole way home."

"So how long have you been flirting with Justin?"

"What?" Lexi asked shocked. "Justin and I are just friends Mark I can't believe your being weird about this. Your friends with Callie and you two used to sleep together."

"Did you used to sleep with Justin?" Mark asked.

"How could you even think that Mark?" Lexi shouted. "I love you and I would never do anything to jeopardize what we have."

"Didn't look like it when I walked in on you two. It must be a nice arrangement. I'm out there with the clinical trial making the big bucks and you are having an emotional affair with Justin!"

"Are you implying that I'm using you for your money?"Lexi asked appalled. "I can't even believe you would say something like that. Fuck you Mark." She marched up the stairs leaving Mark alone. He knew that saying that was crossing a big line. It was unforgivable. He slowly followed Lexi up that stairs and found her getting ready for bed. He intended to apologize about what he said, but then he saw the earrings. He didn't remember those earrings.

"Are those new?" She hesitated before he answered.

"Yes, they were a gift."

"From him huh?" Mark asked with his jaw clenched. Lexi didn't answer. "I guess that's my answer." With that Mark exited the house and proceeded to make the mistake that ended his relationship forever.

He woke up next to the strange woman the next day. She wasn't ugly. In fact she was quite pretty, but she wasn't Lexi. He cursed himself. How could he have done this to her no matter how mad he had been? He exchanged pleasantries with the woman and quickly left believing that he would never see her again.

When he got home he found Lexi in a chair in their living room. Her eyes were red and she had probably been up all night. "Mark I'm so sorry." Lexi said throwing her arms around him. "I'll stop talking to Justin I promise. I love you not him." He let her grovel and plead not saying a word about his infidelity. He told himself it was because he didn't want to hurt her, but looking back it was because he was being a coward.

A few months later the woman from the bar turned up pregnant and after a paternity test there was no mistaking that it was his child. Her name was Phoebe Michaels and at twenty two she couldn't handle being a mother, but she couldn't face an abortion. Mark told Lexi everything and she moved out that night. It wasn't the baby that made her leave. She told him it was the lies. She was right to leave him. And so that was the end of their sad tale. The only good that came out of it was his son.

"I'm okay now." Lexi whispered, bringing Mark back to the present. "You can let go." That was something Mark never wanted to do.

"Tell me why you're upset." Mark pleaded.

"It's nothing," Lexi said, "I just had a fight with Justin is all."

"That's not just all. He doesn't treat you like you deserve to be treated."

"From what I remember you didn't do the best job either."

"Your right, but I would never do that now. I've grown up, had a son. I know what's important in live. You're important to me Lexi." Lexi got out of his grasp and stood up quickly, Mark followed her lead.

"You can't do this to me now Mark!" Lexi yelled. "Where was this almost nineteen years ago? I'm married, I have a child now. I am not that girl anymore that lived with you for months while your deep dark secret grew inside Phoebe's stomach. And you know what's sad? I would have stayed if you would have told me what you did right away, but you let it go on for months! And now I'm just stuck and, and…." She stopped due to the tears that were now flowing freely. Mark pulled her into a warm hug.

"It's okay Lexi." Mark soothed. Hearing his voice made her feel safe for once. It distracted her from her feuding with her husband. Mark took her mind off her young son James who was caught in the middle of his parent's arguments. She was tired of begging Justin to spend time with his son and she was tired of ignoring his infidelity with a fellow doctor and Mercy West. "I'm here for you no matter what." Mark assured.

She felt his breath on her skin. His strong arms were warm against her. She hadn't been this close to someone in so long. She hadn't felt loved in so long. Before she knew it, his soft lips were on hers planting tender kisses. She hadn't been kissed like this in over eighteen years.

"I can't." She said pulling away. "I'm not a cheater." Reluctantly she pulled away from him and left Mark alone in the small supply closet.

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"Someone is knocking on the door." Jackson called.

"God forbid you answer it." Lily teased.

"I'm in the middle of a math problem." He replied. Lily rolled her eyes and went to answer the door where she found Nathan. She left the door open and walked back into the living room. Nathan followed suit closing the door behind him. He took a seat on the coach next to Lily who didn't meet his eye.

"Turn that frown upside down." He teased. He could have sworn he saw her pursed lips flicker up for just a second. "Come on Little Lil. I'm sorry that I was acting like-"

"An asshole." Lily supplied.

"Well that's a little…no your right I was an asshole."

"Well as long as you know." Lily grinned.

"I'm sorry Lily. I have no right to be mad. You are allowed to go out with whoever you want and I promise that from now on I'll support you. I love you Lily you're my best friend in the whole world."

"I love you too Nate." Lily said.

"So do you forgive me?" Nathan asked hopefully.

"I forgive you." She said. Nathan pulled her into a hug. "You can let go now."

"Right." Nathan said reluctantly pulling away. His chest felt suddenly empty without Lily to embrace. He had never felt like that before.

A/N- Well here it is. I won't be able to post again during the week because of a huge research paper, but I will really try hard to post something on the weekend!