Author's Note: Okay, this chapter is similar to 'Commencement', '25', etc. Let me know what you think! Thanks for the great reviews, so far. Sorry it's been a little while…I've been moving around. Rated for one curse word in this section.
Three weeks passed before Alex saw Zoey again. It was a rainy day outside, with the temperature well below the forties. She sat on her cot, shivering slightly as she worked on her chemistry homework. She felt something drop around her shoulders and looked up to see Zoey with a blanket.
"Thought you might need this," Zoey said.
"What do you want? A weekend in Paris? A getaway to the Hamptons," Alex asked, a strong bite to her voice. She turned her back to the other girl, trying to read her book.
"Adam wants me to come visit him at Dartmouth," she said, "But mom and dad have already said no."
"Zoey, I swear to God, I can't keep doing this," Alex said, pushing the blanket off. "Take your blanket and just go."
"Why," Zoey asked, "Because you don't want to lie to them again? Because you don't want to see the life you never had?"
"Because your parents are so great and you don't even know it," Alex shouted, "because it hurts to spend time with people who tell you they love you when that love is not for you. Because you don't know what it's like to have no one care about you, then to meet this family who has so much love and to know that that love will never be yours." Tears filled her eyes as she screamed out her anger and pain. Zoey stood back, startled by the girl's outburst. "I can't do it, Zoey, because they're so great and it hurts to leave, knowing I'm hurting them by pretending to be you."
"Okay," Zoey said, "I'm sorry I asked you." Alex could hear the hurt in her voice and closed her eyes. Maybe switching with Zoey for the weekend wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.
"It's okay," Alex said, "You wouldn't understand." She wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. "Actually, would you mind if I took your place this weekend? I'd like to kind of say goodbye to them."
"Yeah," Zoey said, "Switch places after dinner on Friday?"
"Yeah," Alex said. "I'll see you then."
"Okay," Zoey said, reaching out to hug her. Alex hugged her back, letting her go before leaving.
"It's supposed to be a quiet weekend around the White House," Zoey said as they changed in the bathroom. "You're going out to some club tonight with Anna and Rachel. They're two friends from school." She tossed a picture over the wall, which Alex caught.
It showed Zoey with a red head and a blonde. "Which is Anna and which is Rachel," Alex asked, pulling on a pair of jeans.
"Anna's the blonde, Rachel's the red head," Zoey responded. "I'll be back Sunday."
"Same place," Alex asked, referring to her dorm room.
"Same place," Zoey confirmed. She walked out, putting the baseball cap on backwards, pulling the rest of her hair back.
Alex walked back out and stood next to her, straightening out the clothes she wore. "Good luck," Zoey said, looking the girl over.
"Thanks," Alex replied, "Have fun with Adam. He's a good guy."
"Yeah, he is," Zoey said with a blush. She hugged Alex quickly, then picked up the girl's backpack, leaving the restroom.
Alex watched with sad eyes as they arrived at the White House. She was supposed to have dinner with Anna and Rachel before going to the club.
She was in Zoey's room, changing into jeans and a green sleeveless silk shirt. It showed off the flecks of green in her eyes. Her hair had been slightly curled, falling over one shoulder. She pulled on her brown heels, fastening them before starting on her makeup.
"Be careful tonight," she heard Abbey say from the doorway.
"I will," Alex said, turning to face her. "You and Dad doing anything tonight?" She turned back to the mirror, carefully applying mascara.
"Just staying in, which is a blessing," she replied. "When will you be back?"
"Around two," Alex said.
"One," Abbey said sternly.
"Mooooom," Alex whined.
"One," Abbey said again, arms crossed and eyebrow raised.
"Fine, one," Alex conceded. She smiled sadly on the inside. She'd never had anyone to fight with about curfew before.
"Gina and Carl will be going with you," she added, "No arguing about the agents. We agreed on it. Remember?"
"Yeah,yeah," Alex said.
"And don't try to ditch them," Abbey said, walking towards her.
"I won't," Alex said. She put on her lipstick, then turned to the older woman.
"Blot," Abbey said, holding out a piece of tissue. Alex blotted then looked at her with a smile. "Beautiful. Gina and Carl are waiting downstairs."
"Okay," Alex said, "I'll see you later." She kissed Abbey gently on the cheek, then left the room.
"This place is great," Rachel exclaimed as they walked into the club.
"Yeah it is," Alex said with a bright grin. She had been grateful that Carl and Gina had worn street clothes, blending in with those around them.
The trio turned their coats and jackets in, then went on to the dance floor. Alex could feel the small panic button in her pocket. Zoey had given it to her, telling her to keep it on her at all times.
The night wore on, with the girls dancing the entire night. Alex herself, danced with a few guys, thoroughly enjoying herself.
"I've gotta go to the bathroom," Alex shouted, "I'll be back in a minute." She laughed, then headed off to the bathroom.
She walked into the bathroom, knowing that Gina and Carl's eyes were on her at all times. "I need to sweep the bathroom," Gina insisted, stopping Alex.
"Go ahead," Alex said. She waited, jumping up and down. She had waited until the last minute to go to the bathroom.
Gina emerged a minute later, giving a heads up. Alex finally entered with a sigh of relief.
She was washing her hands when she looked up and saw a man enter the bathroom, wearing glasses and a hat. "Excuse me, this is a girl's restroom," she said.
"I don't give a fuck." Her heart stopped as he saw her pull out a needle and before she could scream, plunge it into her skin, releasing a liquid. She passed out immediately, slumping forward onto the counter.