"I was hoping I'd run into one of you."

Jackie whips around from where she stands in the wine aisle of the drug store.

"Andy!" Jackie gives the tall, blue-eyed man a hug. "What are the odds that you'd be home when I'm in town?"

Andy Warren grins shyly. "To be honest, I had run into Donna last week and she told me you were coming. I, uh, made sure I'd be around in case you wanted to catch up."

"Oh, you are too sweet," Jackie says, smiling. "Yeah, Alex came with me. Justin wanted to stay home, though."

"Too bad, I miss the little guy," Andy comments.

"He's not so little now," Jackie admits. "He's thirteen and taller than me."

"Well, you're not too hard to beat," Andy says teasingly. "I'm surprised you made it out here. This is the first time since… well, the last time I saw you, right?"

"Yeah," Jackie says with a nod. "It's just been… busy, you know."

"I know all about it," Andy says. "You know me, I don't stop working."

"Oh, I remember," Jackie says. "I did live with you for a year."

"Yeah." Andy looks lost in thought for a moment, then returns. "Hey, you doing anything tonight? I'd love for us to be able to catch up."

Jackie thinks about Daniel and how pissed he'd be if he even knew that they were talking right now. "Oh, I can't impose," she says. "I'm sure Donna's going to want me to help with dinner anyway."

"It's no imposition at all," Andy insists. "And Donna would understand. Don't make me beg, Jackie." He shoots her a smile.

"Okay," Jackie says. "I was just kind of killing time right now. If you aren't busy we can catch up for a little bit when you're done shopping."

Andy picks up a bottle of cabernet sauvignon. "All I need is right here."

So, they check out and drive separately to Andy's house. They catch up, naturally, and before Jackie notices it, she's finished three glasses of wine, as has Andy.

"So," Andy finally says, "How's Daniel?"

"He's… Daniel," Jackie admits. "He didn't want me to come, I don't think."

"He never liked me," Andy points out.

"Yeah, he mentioned something about you before I left," Jackie openly says.

"Well, what did he say?" Andy inquires.

"He just didn't want me reaching out to you," Jackie tells him. "He would've rather us not catch up, I guess."

Andy snorts. "Guy was always threatened by me."

"Yes," Jackie agrees. "And with absolutely no reason to be. I never gave him any reason. We were always friends, that's all."

"Oh, I know," Andy says somewhat snarkily. "You know, for the longest time I thought you were just planning on working it out with him eventually… that's why you held back."

"Held back?" Jackie asks.

"From, uh—" Andy clears his throat. "From me." His face slightly flushes. "But then you went and hooked up with that guy you knew from school, so I knew that wasn't it… that we were just friends."

"Andy," Jackie says gently.

"Does Daniel know about that?" Andy asks. "I'm sure he wouldn't hate me nearly as much if he did."

"No," Jackie confesses. "And he never will." She bites her lip and looks up at her friend. "Andy, you know that things were just weird back then… and then, Daniel came back and I did what I thought was right and I went back with him."

"What you thought was right," Andy echoes. "So are you saying it wasn't?"

Jackie is quiet for a moment and then sighs. "I… I don't know. I think it was good for the kids. I think it was good at the time… I'm just not sure if it, overall, was good for me."

"Jackie, the guy's a total ass," Andy declares. "He cheated on you, he's always picked arguments with you… you told me all this shit before, remember?" He frowns. "And you know I was the guy to take you and your kids in. I was the one to be there for you the whole time, and the kids for that matter."

"I didn't ask you to do any of that," Jackie says defensively and sighs. "You can't get mad that I didn't choose you, Andy."

Andy is now visibly pissed. "Yeah, but why not choose me, Jackie?" He stands up and paces as he talks. "I work way harder than that guy ever has. I've always respected you, treated you and your kids well, and I never asked for anything back."

"And I appreciate all of that, but we were friends," Jackie points out. "That kind of shit doesn't mean I'm gonna magically fall in love with you. Would it have been convenient? Of course, but love doesn't work that way. Do I want to be in love with a sneaky jackass who cheated on me and drinks way too much and seems like he doesn't care about my feelings sometimes? No, but that's what happens." Jackie angrily wipes away a tear from her eye that was threatening to fall. "You can't help what you feel, Andy. That's why I never bothered you about how you felt. Because I know you can't help it."

Andy sighs. "Yeah, well, maybe us catching up was a mistake," he admits. "Maybe part of me was hoping you'd realized you're too good for Daniel and that maybe you loved me."

"I'm sorry I can't give that to you," Jackie sadly apologizes, and grabs his hand. "I'll always be your friend, Andy." She stands up and lets his hand go. "I should get back to Donna's. They're probably wondering where I am anyway."

"Okay, Jackie," Andy says. "Bye."

Jackie gives him a sad look and leaves his house.

…

"Have you talked to Matthew?" Jackie inquires, looking at her daughter who is sitting next to her at the table.

Alex shifts uncomfortably in her seat, eyeing Jimmy. "Um, no. I called once and he wasn't home."

"He must be bored as hell without you there," Jackie comments.

"Yeah, well…" Alex pushes around the pasta on her plate. "He's got a bunch of homework to keep him occupied."

"Yeah, I'm sure homework is just as entertaining as you are," Jackie says sarcastically.

Alex stands up. "I'm not feeling that good. I'm gonna go downstairs and just watch TV."

"Oh, honey, what's wrong?" Jackie asks, looking at her daughter with concern.

"Um, headache," Alex lies.

"Okay," Jackie says.

"Drink some water," Donna offers as Alex goes downstairs.

She feels so disgusted with herself. After all the times she's told Matthew she wanted to wait to have sex, suddenly she's okay with losing her virginity to nearly a stranger?

Alex flops on the couch and turns on the TV, hearing footsteps on the stairs behind her. Probably Jimmy. However, she's surprised to be faced with Lisa.

"Hey," Lisa greets halfheartedly, sitting next to Alex on the couch.

"Hey," Alex responds.

"So, uh…" Lisa awkwardly pauses. "Jimmy told me about… you know."

"Did he tell you I have a boyfriend?" Alex asks, disgust present in her tone. "Ugh, I hate myself."

"Listen, I just wanted to tell you, you know, before he comes down here, that… well, he really likes you," Lisa says. "You're all he's been able to talk about since you got here, and… I know you have a boyfriend and I know you're leaving in a couple days, but just let him down easy, okay?" She looks at Alex who slowly nods. "It's the first time I think he's ever felt this way about a girl and I don't want it to ruin him completely." She laughs. "I mean, he already is pretty fucked up."

Alex sadly smiles. "I don't think he's fucked up at all. I think he's a really good, cool person." She looks up at Lisa. "You must really care about him, to go behind his back and tell me something like that. You're like a protective sibling."

Lisa slightly laughs. "Yeah, well, he is like my older brother, you know? Neither of us has any siblings and I've known him my whole life. That's why it's so shocking to me to see him like this."

Pounding footsteps are heard on the stairs as Jimmy quickly descends the staircase.

"What're you guys doing hanging out?" he asks, slightly confused.

"Oh, I was just telling her some headache remedies I've heard of," Lisa lies.

"Cool." Jimmy sits in between them on the couch and instinctively puts his arm behind Alex on the couch.

Alex instantly forgets her guilt and cuddles into him without thinking about it. Jimmy looks at her and grins.

"That's about all I can take of you two," Lisa admits, standing up. "I'm going upstairs. Be good, please."

Jimmy laughs in response as Lisa goes upstairs. He looks down at the small girl whose head is on his shoulder. "Comfy?"

"Yeah," Alex says as Jimmy snakes his hand around her waist. "Jimmy, I know we really, really shouldn't be doing this," she says, her voice small.

"Yeah," Jimmy agrees. "What about it, though?"

Alex gives a little sigh. "I don't know. I wish I could stop this but there's literally something inside me that won't let me. Maybe I just have no self control."

Jimmy lifts up Alex's chin with his hand so that she's looking at him. "No, that's not it. I understand the feeling, though, because I feel it, too." He leans in and kisses her on the lips.

Alex sighs again, this time out of contentment, and lays her head on his shoulder again.