A/N: Reviews = Awesome, and they let me know if you might have missed something or I might have not explained something well. So in case I dropped the ball, Abbie and Serena are dating and they were friends with Kim and Casey. Alex and Abbie have been best friends for a while and Alex hangs out with Kim, Serena and Abbie. Casey however, living somewhere in Upstate New York hadn't met Alex until moving back to the city she'd just heard stories. Ok, enjoy!
"Drinking, tipsy, and drunk take on a whole new meaning when mixed with karaoke." Casey says observing the crowd as she takes a seat at the table with her friends.
Wrapping her arm around Casey's shoulders the already slightly drunk Serena attempts to whisper, "Just wait till Abbie sings to me, it's so hot!"
"Okay, I a place the motion to cut Southerlyn off for the rest of the evening." Kim states while watching the sloppy blonde.
Alex knocks her fingers on the table and says, "Motion passed."
Abbie pointing a finger at Alex exclaims, "Who made you judge! I object you, should recuse yourself for personal conflict of interest with me."
"Your wallet made me the judge Carmichael, and when you don't wake up with a 300 dollar bar bill in the morning you will thank me." Alex states.
Abbie mumbles, "Fine," as she picks up the song list and attempts to read. Alex looks at Casey and smiles.
"So Alex, what are you going to sing?" Casey asks while trying to pass Serena off to Kim.
"I have a song in mind, but mine are always a surprise. Are you going to sing?" Alex asks as she stirs her dirty martini with the skewered olive in her drink.
"No idea. Honestly, I don't know if I will sing anything." Casey admits. Alex laughs and hands Casey her martini before saying, "Drink up then, Abbie and Kim won't let you leave until you do." Taking the martini she watches as Alex pulls the olive from the little sword with her teeth. Casey quickly takes a large sip of the martini trying to cool herself down from the sight and ease her guilt from finding Alex so attractive in the first place.
"So who is it tonight Alex?" Kim questions with a laugh.
"Yes, Al-ex dooo tell…"Serena stammers as she tries to take a sip of Kim's drink.
Finally Abbie picks her song and writes it down on a card, passing the card and book to Kim, she looks at Alex and begins, "Yeah Alex, who is the unsuspecting victim to your web?" She adds a wink to her friend letting her know that she is only playing the part, but their comments still embarrass her in front of Casey.
In a way Alex feels like she shouldn't let it bother her, but it does any way. She doesn't want Casey to see her as a womanizer, but it looks like there is no changing it now. Receiving the card from Casey she writes her song down and goes and hands it to the guy running the karaoke.
Casey can see that Alex is hurt by all her friends joking and she feels bad for her. While Alex is away, everyone starts wondering what Alex will sing tonight saying that it always has to do with another girl in the bar. Serena adds seriously, "Al-ex has a great vo-ice she could sing to meee any d-ay."
"Hey, and I don't?" Abbie exclaims as Kim and Casey laugh.
After a few songs Abbie's turn arrived marking the four capable women's turn to sing. Casey watched as Abbie ended up serenading Serena with If Tomorrow Never Comes by Garth Brooks, which was cute when Serena started to cry. Kim followed with You're so Vain by Carly Simon and rocked it. Then it was Casey's turn.
Casey nervously walked up to the stage. All her friends cheered her on excitedly and she very cautiously started to sing Taylor Swifts song We are Never Ever Getting Back Together. A few lines in Alex yelled, "Sing it Case! You got this!"
With Alex's encouragement Casey began to sing along full heartedly feeling as if she were Taylor Swift. She didn't know if it was Alex's martinis that helped her loosen up or the blonde's giant smile as she sang, but she was having a great time. As the song ended she headed off stage as Alex headed up. Passing Alex, Alex said, "You did great Casey."
Sitting back down at the table Casey was congratulated by her friends. Watching Alex start up on the stage their friends began to guess who Alex was after tonight. Watching the blonde approach the microphone Casey notice she had her clutch in her hand which made Casey think she was going to leave after singing.
"Alex really has the most beautiful voice I can't wait to hear her sing." Kim said with a smile to Casey.
Suddenly the background of Sarah McLachlan's Fallen began and Alex started to sing,
Heaven bent to take my hand
And lead me through the fire
Be the long awaited answer
To a long and painful fight
Truth be told I've tried my best
But somewhere along the way
I got caught up in all there was to offer
And the cost was so much more than I could bear
Though I've tried, I've fallen...
I have sunk so low
I messed up
Better I should know
So don't come round here
And tell me I told you so...
We all begin with good intent
Love was raw and young
We believed that we could change ourselves
The past could be undone
But we carry on our backs the burden
Time always reveals
In the lonely light of morning
In the wound that would not heal
It's the bitter taste of losing everything
That I've held so dear.
I've fallen...
I have sunk so low
I messed up
Better I should know
So don't come round here
And tell me I told you so...
Heaven bent to take my hand
Nowhere left to turn
I'm lost to those I thought were friends
To everyone I know
Oh they turn their heads embarrassed
Pretend that they don't see
But it's one missed step
One slip before you know it
And there doesn't seem a way to be redeemed
Though I've tried, I've fallen...
I have sunk so low
I messed up
Better I should know
So don't come round here
And tell me I told you so...
Casey listened intently to the words as Alex sang them beautifully and flawlessly. Their friends all seemed shocked evidently the song was so un-Alex like. However, Casey thought that was the point to tell their friends to back off. The emotion filled in Alex as she sang the words was unmistakable like she felt a deep connection to every word. Even though it was a sad song when she finished the bar erupted in applause. When everyone settled back down Alex was gone.
Casey stood and started walking around looking for the blonde. Finally, she located her at the bar paying her tab. Casey takes a breath and asks, "Are you trying to sneak out?"
Alex turns and softly smiles, "Yeah it's been a long night."
"You sang beautifully." Casey says wishing Alex wouldn't leave.
"Thank you." Alex says as she signs her bill.
"You shouldn't let their teasing get to you Alex. They are drunk and don't know what they are saying." Casey blurts biting her lip right after not knowing if she should have said anything.
Alex nods, "I know, but it gets old sometimes. Thanks Casey." Alex pauses and touches Casey's arm before adding, "I will see you Monday." With that Alex leaves.
Casey returns to her table to find Serena and Abbie in the middle of a make out session and a very un-amused Kim waiting for her. "Oh my God there you are! I was beginning to wonder if you went home with Alex. Can we please go?" Kim begs.
Casey bangs her hand on the table quickly gaining the remaining three women's attention. "What the hell is wrong with you three? Drunk or not you all did nothing but tease Alex about her sex life the whole time we were here. Did you ever stop and think that you might be hurting her feelings?" Casey finished with a glare.
"Wow, if she uses that face in the courtroom she will make the defense piss themselves." Serena tries to whisper to Abbie.
"I think she is serious," Abbie nervously replies.
Kim starts, "Casey, we always tease her and normally she jokes about it herself. We just weren't realizing she wasn't in it tonight. We will apologize Monday." Abbie and Serena agreed and Casey nods.
Taking a cab home, Kim can tell Casey is super nervous. "Casey, everything will be okay we are almost home," Kim soothes. Casey nods while holding onto the door handle for dear life.
Trying to take her mind off of the drive Kim asks, "So why did you go on the defense for Alex tonight?"
Casey glares at Kim. She knows where the brunette is going with this statement. "She is a nice person Kimberly and you all were hurting her feelings. Did you not see the emotion behind her song?"
The cabbie pulled up to Kim's apartment building and Kim paid and motioned for Casey to get out. Walking into the building Kim replies, "Yet again I am sorry we hurt her feelings. Normally she makes the first joke and we go along with the banter. We all just missed that she didn't make the joke tonight. Like I said I will apologize. However, I did notice how close you and her seem to be…"
"Stop Kim, we are not having this discussion again." Casey groans as they start up the elevator.
Kim smirks, "We aren't discussing anything Casey, I was just observing is all."
Monday Morning….
Alex walked down the hall towards Casey's office. She had a funny feeling the redhead was directly responsible for her three friends coming into her office this morning to apologize separately. Honestly, she enjoyed having them apologiz even though she wasn't bothered by it anymore, it at least let her know they cared about her feelings. However, she also felt like she needed to let Casey know that she wasn't bothered so not to be upset with their friends.
Walking into Casey's office she laughs. Casey is sitting at her desk with her hands in her hair tugging lightly. She looks really stressed, but the expression on her face is so cute Alex couldn't help but laugh. "I am so sorry I am laughing at you. You are clearly stressed, but you look so cute right now," Alex laughs.
"Cute?" Casey questions with a raised eyebrow. Alex bites her lip realizing her choice of words. Now Casey laughs seeing the usually composed blonde look nervous.
"Anyway Cabot," Casey continues, "What do you need?"
"I came to say thank you for clearly sticking up for me Saturday, but you don't have to do that, I don't want you to put yourself out on my behalf." Alex says.
"Alex you were upset by their words and they needed to be more considerate of your feelings. If the situation was reversed I know you would do the same for me." Casey says.
Alex nods and says, "You are absolutely right I would do anything to help you."
Casey feels like Alex's statement means so much more but let's it go. "Can I help you with anything else?" She asks.
"Yes, you can tell me what is stressing you out." Alex replies sitting on Casey's couch.
Sighing and pinching between her eyes, Casey says, "I am just frustrated trying to find a place to live is all."
Alex laughs a little before saying, "Getting tired of your brother and ol'Kimmy?"
"You have no idea," Casey laughs, "They are so great and super helpful with Caroline, but I am so ready to have my old routine back. I just want a place to call home."
"What is it you are looking for exactly?" Alex asks.
Casey stands from her desk and walks over and sits on the opposite side of the couch. Sighing she says, "A two bedroom place, close to work and Caroline's school, close to a park since I can't have a yard anymore, not super sketchy, at a reasonable rate. You know the completely unobtainable in Manhattan at this time. I mean I can find stuff just not close to work, and I don't want to spend my entire evening after picking Caroline up battling traffic to get home just to put her to bed. It just sucks. I just need to settle I guess and hope something comes up next year." Casey lays her head on the back of the couch and rolls it to look at Alex. She chuckles a little and says, "You think I am completely crazy now don't you?"
Alex smiles brightly, "No, I think I have your perfect place."