Sorry for taking so long. Neal and Tom didn't want to cooperate with me. So I had Alex beat them over the head until they did.

Anonymous responses:

to hurrybee: Yep. That's basically right.

to mememe: Um… Which thingy? The summary? I wrote it that way so I wouldn't have people reviewing or messaging (without having read the story) just so they could tell me that Alex is a boy. But, yes, in this story, he is female. Does that help?

to Allyx: Thanks for the ideas. I'm happy that someone asked to see what I have planned.

05

"I've got it!" Alex called, grabbing the phone. "Hello?"

"Hi. Um… Is Alex there?" a somewhat familiar voice asked.

Alex frowned slightly. "May I ask who is calling?"

"Uh… Neal."

Her expression brightened. "Hi Neal. How are you?"

"…Alex?"

"Yeah… Are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah," his voice had turned sheepish. "I just think I sound like an idiot on the phone."

She laughed. "You sound fine."

"…Thanks. Um, are you doing anything today?"

"Not really. Why?"

"Would you like to go out?"

"Sure, but I have school tomorrow."

"Oh… Well, we can do it on Friday if you want."

"Today's fine." She rattled off her address for him. "When will you be here?"

"…Hour sound good?"

"Sounds great. See you then." She hung up shortly after.

"Who's Neal?" a male voice asked, causing Alex to turn and look at the teenager sprawled over her bed.

"A potential boyfriend," she answered, sitting next to him. "Why Tom, jealous?" she teased.

He jumped to his feet, one hand clutching his chest and the other thrown out as he staggered dramatically. "Oh woe is me! Whatever shall I do now that I am not the only man in your life?! I fear that I shall just… expire," he cried, finishing with a gasp as he let himself crumple to the floor.

Alex laughed and threw a pillow at Tom. "You are such a dork."

Tom sat up and grinned as he ruffled his dark hair. "You know you love me for my ruggedly good looks."

She raised an eyebrow before replying tartly. "Well it certainly isn't for the scintillating conversation."

He gasped, eyes shining with laughter. "Thou woundst me, mine fair lady. I'll havest you know that I am much more than a pretty face-eth."

Tom paused to frown slightly, exchanging a look with Alex that showed both were thinking the same thing: That didn't make much sense.

"Anyway," Alex started after a pause. "You pretty much just proved me right. And are you willfully forgetting about Ben?"

"He doesn't count," Tom shrugged. "He's old enough to be your dad."

"He isn't that old. He's only a little older than your brother," Alex protested.

"Okay. He's still family to you."

"So are you."

Tom glowered at her. "Do you have to shoot holes in my arguments?"

Alex grinned. "Yep."

Tom sighed. "Fine. What are you going to wear?"

An hour later, Neal knocked on the door. He half-expected Alex to answer so he was a little surprised when Jack did.

"Can I help you?" Jack asked, gaining a blink from Neal for her clear American accent.

He shook himself mentally. "Uh, yeah. Is Alex here?" he asked, unsure if he might have gotten the wrong house.

"Who are you?" she countered, sounding suspicious.

"Neal," he said, frowning slightly.

Her expression cleared. "With the cupcakes, right?" His mild blush was enough of an answer for her so she laughed and gestured him in. "She's upstairs."

"Thanks," he said, turning to go the way she pointed.

"Oh. Mr. Smith?"

Neal turned back at Jack's voice. He fell back a step in surprise since she was less than a foot from him and he hadn't heard her move.

Jack smiled darkly. "I'm Jack and Alex is like a baby sister to me. If you hurt her… Well, I won't leave you in one piece, if you catch my drift," she said, eyes flicking down then back up to his. Her smile widened when she saw the flash of panic in his eyes. Apparently, soldier or not, a threat to his 'little friend' by a calm yet obviously (to him) psychotic American woman is enough to frighten any man. The additional threat from Ben the night before certainly didn't help any.

Neal nodded frantically before nearly sprinting up the stairs. He paused at the top, uncertain of which door prior to hearing laughter a couple doors down. He walked over and lifted a hand to knock when a cry of "Tom!" roused his curiosity.

He gently nudged the door, pushing it further ajar so he could peer in. What he saw, pissed him off rather thoroughly – not that he knew he was misinterpreting things.

What Neal saw was a boy pinning Alex to the bed, straddling her hips while she struggled.

What was really happening was that Tom was tickling Alex, his back to the door.

Neal shoved the door open and strode over, yanking Tom off as the bang of the door against the wall registered to the two teens.

Tom yelped in surprise at the rough handling, throwing his arms up in front of himself in surprise.

Alex blinked then threw herself forward and grabbed Neal's arm, the one not holding Tom's shirt, in both hands, stopping him from throwing a punch at Tom and quite probably knocking him out.

"Don't!"

Neal blinked and looked down at Alex, incredulous. "What? Why? He was attacking you!"

"No, he wasn't," Alex countered, trying to get him to at least set the cowering teen down, if not let go of him entirely. "He was tickling me. You know, playing."

"Playing?" Neal repeated blankly, and a little dumbly if he was honest with himself.

"Yeah. This is Tom. He's my best friend," Alex answered with a scowl. "Could you let him go now?"

Neal blinked again then gently lowered Tom the four inches to the floor.

Tom took a few steps away and glanced at Alex as he half-hid behind her. "Are there any more large, muscular guys I should know about so I can be ready to be nearly hit by them too?"

Alex smiled. "Not at the moment."

"Other?" Neal queried.

"Yeah," Tom piped up before Alex could. "That Ben bloke nearly took my top off."

"You know Ben?"

Tom shuddered as Alex laughed. She ignored the vaguely wounded look he sent her.

Neal looked between the two. "What happened?"

"Ben and I were out," Alex started. "Tom saw us and decided to pop out of the bushes and grab me. Ben didn't take that well."

"I imagine not," Neal smirked, looking at Tom. His lips pulled into a scowl when he saw the teen slip an arm around Alex's waist.

"How do you know Ben?" Tom asked.

Neal blinked. "…We've gone camping together," he answered after a beat, doing some quick thinking – though the glower he was sending Tom didn't waver.

Tom nodded, mock-sagely, then opened his mouth to say something else when Alex pushed him off.

She walked over to Neal and gave him a quick hug. "So what did you want to do?"

Neal smiled down at her. "I was thinking we could go for a walk and get dinner."

"Where're we going?" Tom asked, drawing another scowl from Neal.

Alex shot him a look. "Tom, you are going to go home."

Tom gasped, grabbing his heart almost exactly as he had earlier. "You're leaving me out? How cruel!"

"And yet, I'm certain you'll live," Alex said, rolling her eyes. "I'll see you at school tomorrow."

Tom pouted then shrugged. "Okay. Talk to you then." He had gathered his things and started out when he stopped and looked at Neal. "I might not be big or scary or able to fight, but that doesn't mean I can't find some way to make your life miserable if you hurt her." He shot a grin at Alex then disappeared out the door.

Neal turned to Alex, taking in her exasperated expression as he hooked a thumb over his shoulder. "Is there anyone else?"

Alex sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. "No. That's everyone."

He nodded, wrapping his arms around her in a proper hug. "Hi beautiful."

Alex blinked up at him. "Hi?" She ducked her head slightly, cheeks tinting a light pink, when she caught the look in his eye. "I just need to grab a jacket then we can go."

Neal nodded, suppressing a sigh, and let her go. "What would you like for dinner?"

"Anything's fine," she answered, grabbing a wallet as she threw on a jacket.

Neal followed Alex out of the house, barely blinking when she hollered to Jack that she'd be back later.

He walked awkwardly at her side, unsure of what she'd be comfortable with as far as contact was concerned so, even though he wanted to put his arm around her shoulders, he held himself in check. His gaze flew to rest on the back of her head when he felt her smaller hand slip into his. He smiled slightly, both because of that and at the way she was determinedly not looking at him to see his reaction. He turned his gaze forward again and lightly squeezed her hand, feeling rather cheerful.

Maybe this relationship would turn out well. He could use a bit of normalcy in his life.