Thanks everyone for being nice to this story! Okay, to answer your questions: Yes, Alex will be a permanent character. Yes, there are Animorphs in this story. Yes, you have to be patient! Thanxbye!


Chapter 7

"Mom, you're gonna be late!" Taylor yelled from the kitchen where she was tying up her shoes. "I'm leaving!"

"Wait!" I said, getting up in bed, but she was already flying past me towards the door.

"Love you!"

"Bye!" I called, as the door slammed shut.

I fell back against my pillows, head in my hands.

I was grateful. I hadn't dreamt. Perhaps cause I had gotten so little sleep…

I looked at the clock, and moaned.

"I'll just go in late," I said…

An hour later I was showered and dressed and nearly fed. I grabbed the rest of my bagel as I moved towards the door, a whirlwind of hands checking my hair, my purse, my workbag…

I opened the door.

"Oh!" I cried out in shock. "Sorry…"

Alex stood there, as surprised as I was.

"Sorry," he echoed. "Is this a bad time?"

"I was just heading out," I explained, and he stepped aside to let me through. I shut the door, and locked it.

"Walk you down?" he offered.

I nodded.

"Look," he said, as we were half way down the steps. "I think we got off on the wrong start. Yesterday was pretty weird…Maybe we should start over."

"I'm busy," I said briskly.

"What kind of busy?"

"What?"

"Are you 'avoiding me' busy, are you really busy, are you not busy but-you-were-planning-on-doing-nothing-so-you-really-are-busy, busy?"

"Really busy. I have work."

"After work. Would you like to have dinner?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Look," I said, stopping on the stairs and facing him. "I don't want to start a relationship with you."

He looked surprised. "I wasn't expecting one. It's just that…Taylor! I haven't seen you in NINE years! I want to talk to you."

"We talked last night." I resumed walking.

"It wasn't enough."

"I know," I said suddenly, gently…"And I'm sorry. I'm just…very stressed out right now…I have this complicated piece due, and I'm working a nine-to-five job, and trying to spend more time with Ashline-

"Is that her name?"

I stopped talking. "Yes. That's her name."

We walked more slowly, in silence…

"I'd like to meet her," he finally said.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"Why not, Taylor?"

"Because she doesn't know where I come from. She doesn't know about you, or Hope, or anyone else."

Alex looked at me sadly. "Then what's the harm? Tell her I'm an old friend. We are friends, aren't we?"

I studied him. "I don't know…"

We reached the bottom, and walked outside.

I stepped forward to flag a taxi.

"Please, Taylor," Alex said. "Can't we just have dinner? Get to be friends again? Acquaintances, at least?"

A yellow cab pulled up.

I opened the door, and looked at him.

"Come to my place for dinner. Around six o'clock."

He was smiling as I drove off.