A/N: Only a few more chapters left! This will have a sequel, just in case you're wondering about unanswered questions:o)
Can I ask you a question please?
Promise you won't laugh at me
Honestly I'm standing here
Afraid I'll be betrayed
As twisted as it seems
I only fear love when it's in my dreams
So let in the morning light
And let the darkness fade away…
Can you turn my black roses red?
Drowning in my loneliness
How long must I hold my breath?
So much emptiness inside
I could fill the deepest sea
I reach to the sky
As the moon looks on
My one last tear has come and gone
Dying to let your love rain down on me
Can you turn my black roses red?
Black Roses Red

-Alex-

Me and Summer sat there watching TV waiting to hear from Ryan or Trey. I still don't know what they were going out to do. But Trey better have his key because pretty soon I'm locking the door. It's already 3 in the morning and I have to get up and go to work for 9.

I stoodup and turned off the TV because Summer started falling asleep on the couch anyway. I locked the door and walked back over to Summer.

"Summer," I whispered, "Come on, you can sleep in the bed, this couch is really uncomfortable. If Trey even comes home tonight he can sleep here."

"Okay thanks," Summer mumbled all groggy. She stood up slowly and followed me to the bedroom.

I turned on the lamp next to the bed and we both got under the covers.

Summer was laying on Trey's side of the bed, the left side, and faced away from me with both of her hands under her pillow. I reached toward my night table and turned off the lamp.

Summer rolled over.

"You okay?" I whispered.

"I guess."

"Okay. Goodnight."

"Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever heard how you have to experience pain to know what happiness is?"

"Yeah. It's very true."

"Well…what happens if you feel so much pain for so long that you forget happiness even exists?"

I just looked at her and didn't say anything.

She rolled back over too close to me so my nose was touching her hair a little. I put my left arm over her hip, just resting it there. We were both silent.

I woke up about two hours later and then couldn't fall back asleep. I was still in the same exact position I was before I fell asleep.

How is she letting me even touch her like this? Wouldn't she want people to stay away from her body? I suppose she's still asleep.

I don't know why but I slowly pulled her a little closer with my left arm. She didn't move or react to it at all. Wow she must be really deep into sleep.

-Summer-

I've been laying here up against Alex for hours and I still haven't been able to fall back asleep since I left the couch. I have no idea why. I'm just laying here, my mind tangled in static. I can't calm down my thoughts.

But I'm warm. I'm comfortable. I don't feel lost. But why am I too distracted to even fall asleep?

I continued to think. Thinking about the way I've been around Alex since she found me after Chris left. Thinking about how she hardly ever left me. How she risked her life defending me and just being around me. She could have been arrested in the hospital. Twice. She carried me, she cleaned me, protected me and genuinely cared. That's more than I can say even for Coop. I know Coop came home from her vacation early but she never even asked me what happened. And she never really talked to me about it. I told her because I needed to get it out. It didn't feel right keeping something from my best friend. I just hope she didn't tell anyone else. That could cause big problems. I can't press charges. No one believes me. He'll get away with it. Or worse, attack me for trying to turn him in.

But Alex is here now. She's been here. She's holding me. I'm not afraid when I'm with her. She feels like home.

Lying awake still, my eyes still shut, I felt her pull me closer. I pretended I was still asleep. I was waiting for something. I just didn't know what.

I'm not afraid of anything
I just need to know that I can breathe
And I don't need much of anything
And suddenly,
I am small and the world is big
All around me is fast moving
Surrounded by so many things
And suddenly,
How does it feel
To be different from me?
Are we the same?
How does it feel
To be different from me?
Are we the same?
How does it feel?
I am young and I am free
But I get tired and I get weak
I get lost and I can't sleep
But suddenly,
How does it feel
To be different from me?
Are we the same?
How does it feel
To be different from me?
Are we the same?
How does it feel?
Would you cry
With me here?
How does it feel?

Disclaimer: I do not own The OC or any of its characters. I do own Chris. The songs are "Black Roses Red" by Alana Grace and "How Does It Feel" by Avril Lavigne. They own the songs.