Happy Medium

Chapter Four

Author's Notes: I've confused myself on the flashbacks. These should be set back two years ago(2004 in Lost time- woah that sounds weird..sorry) when Alex was fourteen. Since I have lots of ideas for her flashback, and only a few chapters left of this story, I'll probably do more Alex-centric fics than anyone, and most likely under that will be Jack and Boone.

The familiar tune of "Bohemium Rhapsody", Alex's favorite song by Queen, filled the air. Around her, dozens of chairs were stacked on top of tables, and on the counter behind her sat a tub of unwashed dishes. She knew she should be tending to them, and closing up, but the grand piano that sat angled to the built-in stage seemed to call to her in a way she didn't understand, and Alex was just finishing up the second verse when the door opened and close, and looking up, she saw Adam walk in.

It was amazing, she had realized, how much you could learn, and learn to love, about a person in such a short time. Over the past week, Alex had been to two movie theatres she hadn't even known were there, and had eaten at restaurants with food items she couldn't pronounce. Though part of her was still reminding herself that he was probably just feeling sorry for her, the other part really liked him. The only thing they were missing was that first kiss.

"Hey," Adam greeted, coming up to her, "why'd you stop there?"

Alex gazed down at the piano.

"I don't know the rest."

"Mind if I join in?" Adam asked, inviting himself to sit next to her on the piano stool.

"Not at all," Alex said, scooting over to offer him the middle octave.

Adam played a few chords before starting where she left off.

"Too late,my time has come,

Sends shivers down my spine-

Body's aching all the time,

Goodbye everybody-I've got to go-"

He stopped when Alex began laughing.

"What?" He said, trying to act offended. "Am I that bad?"

Actually, Alex thought he was one of the best singers that had walked through the doors of the restaurant.

"No," she said, chuckling as she shook her head, "it's just- no wonder people look at me all funny whenever I sing that song."

"Wouldn't want to give them the wrong idea."

They stared at each other for a moment before Alex shook her head again, and turned on the stool, standing.

"I've got to get back to work," she said.

"That's cool," Adam said, jumping up and clapping his hands together, "mind if I stay? I can help."

"I don't care," Alex said, "my boss might kill me, but I'm the only one here who doesn't come in with a hangover, so in reality, I'm not going anywhere."

"How about some entertainment then?" Adam said, smiling, showing off his crazy 'mini-dimples' as she liked to call them. "And I swear, I won't break the window."

"Sure," Alex said, hiding her smile.

One couldn't help but to love his charm. Shaking herself out of it, Alex continued to smile, feeling as though she was in some sort of cheesy romance movie, as she picked up one of the dirty glasses, and Adam picked up the mic.

Hot tears poured down Alex's face as she ran, fleeing from the caves. Branches tour out as sand from the beach began peeping out from the dying grass, and she knew she was almost back at the beach camp, and she knew most likely the first castaway she'd run into would be-

"Woah, hold on there shorty!"

Sawyer. Great. She struggled against his grip, trying to break away.

"Would you just hold still?" Sawyer growled, and Alex sobed as she jerked, causing his grip to tightened, and small red fingerprints began to developed on her lower arm. "What the hell's wrong with you?"

"Let me go," Alex said, her voice cracking.

Her reply was another jerk to the arm, and Alex surprised herself by not protesting when he began pulling her towards the beach. She followed him a section of the camp a good distance away from everyone else, which had its advantages and disadvantages. Alex really didn't want to have to explain what was wrong, but then again, who even knew if Sawyer had good intentions? Lucky for her, he did, and stopped by some trees where he sat down, and took out a few water bottles. Alex, on the other hand, just stood there, arms crossed, blinking away tears.

"Well," Sawyer said, looking up at her, "you gonna sit? I don't bite."

Hesitating, Alex finally sat down a few moments later, pressing her back up against the trees rough bark but feeling no pain, and drawing her knees to her chest. Sawyer looked at her for a minute, and then handed one of the spare bottles to her. Alex took it, staring down at the ground as she did.

"You want to tell me what that was about?" He said after a few moments of silence.

"They think I tried to kill myself," Alex said quietly, "Sayid, and the others."

"Your mom too?"

Though spoken casually and harmlessly, Alex still glared at him.

"She's not my mother," she spat.

"Whatever you say," Sawyer shrugged.

"Why do you care anyway?" Alex said.

Her eyes burned from the tears, but she didn't dare swipe at them.

"Because I don't want the Doc and his right hand man to come after me once you've gone missing again," Sawyer said, and then lightened his tone, "so-" Sawyer grinned, showing off his dimples.

Alex felt a pit form in her stomach as his dimples began to look familiar, reminding her of a smile she knew so well, and would never be able to see again.

Sawyer took out a light and a cigaret.

"Tell me about yourself."

Instead of answering, Alex's eyes trailed to the lighter.

"What?" Sawyer said, a flame shooting in the air that brought on..

Flash..

Once again, Alex was watching the raft at sea, with its dead passengers, except this time, the dead Sawyer spoke:

"You smoke?"

Alex blinked, and found herself staring at Sawyer, who looked at her, confussed.

"No," she said finally, and cleared her throat to make her voice louder, "I can think of better ways of killing myself."

Sawyer raised an eyebrow as he inhaled a breath of smoke, and coughed it out.

"Sorry," Sawyer said, second guessing the cigaret and putting it out, "guess I've had one to many of these things. What were you saying?"

"Nothing," Alex muttered, "so..um..what do you want to know?"

"About what?"

"Me."

"Oh..right," Sawyer said, "you're a rocker right? So go ahead and tell me the same pity story you use on fans."

"I'm an orphan," Alex started simply, "was an orphan. Until I..my boyfriend- Adam and I, got ourselves a record deal in New York. I moved in with my uncle."

"So you never slept with him then?" Sawyer said with a smirk.

"Who, my uncle?"

"Your boyfriend."

"I'm only sixteen," Alex said, rolling her eyes, "and he was great. Really understanding about- everything.

"Did he know about your mother?" Sawyer asked curiously.

"I didn't even know about my mother," she pointed out.

"So what was life like as an orphan?" Sawyer said taking a drink from his water bottle, unsure if he should drink in front of a kid.

"Why do you care?" Alex said dully, not really wanting to think about it.

Sawyer shrugged.

"Just wanted to see how it was different from when I was a kid."

Alex looked up at him, surprised at how dark his tone had gotten.

"Sorry," she said quietly, "I didn't know."

"Don't be," Sawyer said, looking up at her again with a fake smile, "just another ghost in the closet."

"Skeleton in the closet," Alex corrected, part of her wondering if he had purpsofully said that, just to make her feel better.

"Same difference," Sawyer shrugged, and glanced over to where small figures beside a large object, also known as the raft, could be seen, getting into a heated arguement, "but as much fun as this is, I've got to go check this out."

"Sure," Alex said, not caring one way or the other if he stayed or went, "but I'm probably going to stay here for the night, so if Jack asks-"

"Don't worry," Sawyer said, standing up, "I'll let your boyfriend know where you are."

Scrawling, Alex threw a handful of sand at Sawyer, and he doged out of the way, laughing as he went. Alex watched him go until he faded into just another figure, and then sighed, leaning her head back against the tree behind her.

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long, and sorry it's so short! It's seriously not my fault, I've hardly been able to get on. Thanks so much for the reviews, and i hope you guys didn't abandon me!

P.S: I'll check for spelling later, I'm in a hurry, I just wanted to make sure I got something out tonight.

Coming up next, on "Happy Medium":

Alex learns a secret about Jack, and meets his father, all in the same night.

Thanks again!

October Sky