Enjoy! But please read the Authors Note at the bottom... I need assistance...

Alex's POV

I woke up to the buzzing of my phone on the bed side table. I felt the hot sunlight from the window on my feet that stuck out from under the too-small sheet. I let the phone ring, my face squashed against one of Reid's fluffy white pillows.

Once I had woken up though, there was no hope for dreamland to come back. I propped myself up on my elbows, my stomach against the mattress as I looked over at Reid. His eyelids didn't flutter at all, so I knew he was still sleeping. His chest rose and fell, the sheet barely covering his naked body. I looked down, oh, I was the cause. The white sheets (that I was sure were a present from Quincy) were wrapped around my thighs to the small of my back.

I smiled as I watched him sleep. Yeah, I guess he looked 'peaceful'... but I loved the way that he still had that mischievous look about him when he slept. He could have probably woken up right then and there, tied the sheet in a huge knot around me, thrown me over his shoulder and run away with me.

That looked pretty damn awesome in my head.

I was also smiling big time because of the warm glow over my feet; I wriggled my toes.

Summer was almost ending, but it was getting pretty damn hot out. August moving into September; where I would turn seventeen and Baby Boy would turn eighteen and yet, still be able to pull off the cute Baby Boy act.

The phone started its frantic buzzing again, almost screaming silently for me to pick it up. I leaned over and looked at the ID: Rachybug.

Okay, so I guess I had to be nice, even though I was in a dreamily perfect mood. She was my best friend after all. "Rach?"

"Oh thank god... I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye."

"What?! You're leaving now?! It's like-!" I turned to look at the clock and then smiled sheepishly, "-like... only three in the afternoon."

"Yeah. Only." She laughed nervously into the phone, "Look, I'd love to talk more, but we really have to hit the road if we're to get there before tomorrow." She snorted, "Tell Reid I said bye and remember, you have to come visit me some time up here. Bring Reid or whatever, him and Pogue can hang out. But we need some girly time, okay?"

"We do." I agreed, smiling and twirling a curly strand of my hair, "okay... well I guess I'll see you in... a week or so."

"Don't say that!" I heard her cringe, "we'll talk. You'll call right? Almost every night?"

"I'll try... If I don't, you call."

"Mkay... Right, gotta go- oh Pogue says hey. Bye!"

I laughed, "Bye."

I put the phone down smiling again; I felt today was going to be a good day. Nothing in particular came to mind that would take the smile and sun away from me.

Reid inhaled a whole load of air, his blue eyes opening slowly, blonde eyelashes catching in the late summer light. He smiled, reaching up and putting his finger to the tip of my nose, "Morning..."

"Afternoon."

He grinned, "yeah."

I leaned down and kissed him softly, pulling back and leaning on his chest, "What do you wanna do today?"

"Well," he started, licking his lips and twirling a bit of my hair, "first, I'd love to have a shower. But I want to have a shower in the lake, down by Maggie's place. Maybe get a coffee there afterwards."

I smiled wider, "That's perfect." I thought of Maggie's place and her irresistible cocoa, or her addictive coffee, or tropical teas. She was a crazy girl, but she was a good friend of some of us. A bit like Nicky's. He knew the boys almost off by heart, and they were 'tight'. Well Maggie and ran this coffee store that me and the girls basically lived in when we came to Ipswich. "So... we'll swim in the lake, get a coffee and then what?"

He grinned, "Well... I'm sure some dorky freshman somewhere is trying to crank up a party tonight, and you know how pathetic those are when people like us aren't invited?"

"Oh it's horrible..." I closed my eyes.

He grinned, "We can call up some friends... and some friends of friends... get some Jocks to bring the booze and girls to bring the fun." He smirked down at me at the last part.

I sighed and sat up, clutching the sheet to me, "Well get your trunks boy, and let's go."

He grabbed up some jeans and boxers, shoving them on. I couldn't help but stare the whole time. I grabbed up my bikini and a light blue dress, slipping it on. I rolled my eyes as he walked out the door. I grabbed a spare pair of grey boxers, my phone and his, shoving them and my wallet too into a small bag.

We walked down to the lake, stripping down to my swimmers and diving in. I swam a few meters before coming up for air. Reid has his boxers on and ran, bombing into the water and spraying me.

We twirled around in the water, tagging each other and seductively swimming passed each other. After wards, i got changed back into my dress, wet swimmers underneath and wet hair already curling but still dripping.

Reid put on his other boxers that I brought and threw the other ones in the lake. I frowned, "What the hell?"

He shrugged, "Got more."

I laughed as he danced around, trying to get his jeans onto his wet legs. He yowled in pain when a stick slashed across his leg, falling against a tree and hitting his head on the branch.

I ran over to him, kissing it better until he complained I was missing the spots and took my lips hostage as a punishment. He was a silly boy.

We walked into Maggie's, Reid holding the door open for me. I grinned at his shirtlessneess, glovelessness and beani- I wasn't even going to bother...

"Alex! You're wet... it's not that hot in here, you can't be melting!" Maggie came up from under the counter, her dark eyes wide with excitement, chalky pale skin glowing in the light and black hair in two lose plats down over her shoulders.



"Maggie, what's up?" I walked over to her, holding my hand up as she high-fived it. Her arm was covered in deep colored bracelets and fingers covered in spider web rings, nails painted purple. She grinned her toothpaste add smile.

"Ah, nothing really. Mom's out of hospital now and she is insisting on working at my crib," she rolled her eyes and chuckled, "I know what she's after though. She's like a damned three year old, always wanting the cookies..." she smirked and said lowly, "...always getting caught with her hand in the jar, too."

I laughed, rolling my eyes, "Oh I missed you, Maggie."

"Hell girl, I've missed me too... But that aint stopping me from nothing. What will it be? Coffee?"

"Nah, I think I'll go for a milkshake. What do you want, baby?" I turned to Reid. He was staring blankly at Maggie, his eyes hard. "Reid?"

Maggie looked at me and then him again, "This boy got no words for me?"

"Maggie Quarts? Like as in, the chick whose dad owned the pub down the road?"

"Oh, mate, that was my Papa. He died when I was sixteen."

"How old are you now?" He frowned.

"Twenty, and still young, i'd like you to know," She frowned back.

He chuckled, "Sorry... Uh, nah, it's just..." He laughed, "Don't you remember me?"

She looked at him for a moment and then narrowed her eyes, leaning closer. She sniffed, "Nope. You don't smell like anyone I should remember. Should I?"

He folded his arms and I watched in curiosity. "You tutored me when I was a freshman." He held his hand out, "Reid Garwin."

"Reid... Garwin... Reid Garwin," she muttered his name a few times before opening her mouth and then suddenly snapping it shut. She looked at him and then grinned, high-fiving his hand, "What up, Blondie! Yeah, I remember you now... Didn't know for shackles how to handle 'pie'."

I grinned as his cheeks went slightly pink and he retracted his hand. "Yeah... that's me."

Maggie grinned at me, pointing at him, "Oh, I liked this kid. I tutored him for a few months back in the day, and golly was he a pain in the ass."

I laughed, petting his head, "He can be like that."

She nodded, "Anyways... looks like a load of horny, hungry teens are heading our way. Milkshake and...?" She held her hand out to Reid.

"Make that two." He smiled.

-

We sat in the booth, Reid had finished his milkshake and mine sat lonely in front of me as I picked at a doughnut. My summer glow was fading slowly.

"What's wrong, Baby-girl?" Reid leaned forward. I shook my head, not wanting to bother him with 

any of my crap. "Come on... I want to hear your crap."

He knew me too well. I sighed, "Maggie tutored you when you were a freshman?"

"Yeah?" He shrugged, "What do you want?"

I fiddled with a napkin, the green-eyed-monster scratching my throat for words. "Uh... Well... I was just wondering,"

"Spit it out, Alex." He sighed.

"Did you guys do anything other than homework?"

There was a long awkward silence before Reid sighed again, "Alex-"

"I just wanna know." I whispered to him.

He looked up at the counter and then back at me, his blue eyes guilty. I knew my predictions had been right, "A little... but not much. She was a senior at the time! She was young and she was attractive and... she was female. I was a sex addict back then, Alex," He tried to reason.

I laughed once, "You still are."

"At least I'm not a man-whore anymore." He said, and then grinned at me. I couldn't stay mad forever. I sighed and sipped down more milkshake, angry at myself for letting jealousy get the better of me. Stupid Alex. He loves you...

-

I sat on Reid's bed as he picked up random clothes without looking at them and shoved them into a much-loved black gym bag.

"Do you really have to go?" I pouted as I watched him pack.

He stopped and turned around, "Baby, I'll see you in a week." he smiled.

"I know, but-" I played with the strap of the gym bag.

He lifted my chin and looked into my eyes, an amused look on his face, "Now, I'll miss you too. But I'll see you soon."

"Okay." I said finally.

He kissed me and slung the bag over his shoulder, "Bye, Alex! See you next week."

I grabbed his arm and yanked him forcefully towards me, catching his lips back on mine and making the kiss last much longer than my lungs could stand. 

"No kisses for a week? Gotta at least make the last one good, hon." I smirked.

He smirked back and stroked my cheekbone with his thumb. Then my phone started ringing, "Hold on, babe, don't leave!" I snatched it up from my purse and put it to my ear, "Hello?"

--

"What if they don't like me?" He panicked.

"They will!" I brushed him off.

"You sure?"

"Yes, dammit." I rolled my eyes, "It's only my brothers. They're sweetie pies, you'll like them." I wasn't sure if that was a lie or if my mouth was automatically telling the future for me. "I've got two… Both older. Don't let Scott fool you though, he's like a teddy bear… unless you're on his bad side." I chuckled, "But he's a sweet heart, yet is a little lacking on the good-joke-side." "Ah, like when you're parent's try to tell a joke, but it doesn't work?" "Exactly." I laughed. "You know that they'll love you, right?" Reid frowned and I had to laugh as we waited at the end of the parking lot to campus. He really was freaking out. "We'll see…" He muttered, rubbing his wrists.

Finally, after we both sat there for ages, occasionally singing a few lines of a song and then dropping it, a huge, scratched up, muddy, monster ties attached, deep green Ute charged around the corner, missing the curb and almost jumping over a sweet white car parked at the end. I beamed, my brothers were here.

I stood up quickly, grabbing my bags up and waiting for the Ute to stop. The lights blinded me as the car pulled to a halt in front of me by only about a meter.

One door opened and there was a thump, "Bambi!" My oldest and largest brother had been driving. Go figure. He bounded up to me like a huge dog and swung his arms around me, lifting my tiny body into the air and swinging me around.

He was huge, like six foot five and a half huge. He put me down and pet my head, "I've missed you Bambi,"

"I've missed you too, Stud Muffin." I said, beaming up at him. "And way to drive… I see you gave Nugget a pain job." I eyed the car admiringly.

"Yeah… She's a beauty huh? But I swear to the depths of hell, Jay almost ruined the fuckin' radio this morning." I frowned and he folded his arms, biceps bulging under his short white sleeves, "Car sick."

My mouth cracked open slightly as my eyes flicked to the passenger's side. James, my nineteen year old brother grabbed onto the top of the door, swinging out and landing smoothly on his feet. A slow grin brushed over my lips as I saw the little dork I remembered.

He was rather lanky, almost as tall as Scott, his dark hair curly and in his eyes. He wore a band tee shirt with ripped jeans, I swore that's all we ever wore.

He walked around the side of the car boyishly and swung his arm around my neck, crushing me to his side, "Bambi, you little devil…" He ruffled my hair, looking up and pushing his tongue to his cheek, "Who's this?"

I gasped and looked over my shoulder at Reid; I had almost forgot. "Oh! Uh… Jay, Scott… this is Reid," I took a small breath, "my boyfriend."

Reid's blue eyes snapped to mine and then to my brothers. They were all silent, and I almost expected there to be a giant explosion of dirty words from Scott's mouth and James slipping on his Brass Knuckles.

Instead Scott laughed.

It made me jump as I looked at him, stunned. He was grinning big time as he walked over to Reid, circling him once and then looking at James.

I bit my lip and cleared my throat, "He goes to school here with me…"

"Who made you think you can start messing with my little sister?" Scott whispered lowly at Reid and I saw his face start to pale, his lips clamped together. I'd never think something like this would intimidate him at all, but then again, your girlfriend's twenty one year old brother threatening to dislodge your manhood probably was like swimming with sharks.

"Uhh…" Reid swallowed.

"Scott, shut up." James rolled his eyes and let go of me, walking forwards and holding his hand out. Reid took it and they shook hands. "He's only messing with you. So you're a senior here?"

Reid nodded, "You too?"

"Ah, I wish." James sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets and smirking, "the days when I used to be prom king."

"Prom queen, you mean, Jay." Scott's booming laugh made me all warm inside. I'd missed my two lame brothers.

"Hey, asshole, you're the one who was in the cheerleading squad." James rolled his eyes.

"Football team. We played foot ball!" Scott snapped, "Just because all the-"

"Hey!" I slapped his arm, though I'm sure he barely felt it, "Reid's gotta catch a train, and it's starting to get dark… Do you think we could get a move on?"

"Sure," Scott grabbed up my bags and made off to the car, shoving them in the back. I climbed up onto the side of the car, looking back at James. He looked at Reid, "You need a ride?"

"That'd be rad," Reid nodded and I grinned. I was glad my brothers approved.

-

"I'll see you on Monday… maybe sooner," Reid whispered in my ear as I stood with him on the platform. Smoke from an old man's cigarette trailed down to us, making me caugh slightly and clutch tighter onto Reid's shirt. He hugged me close and chuckled, "You're acting like a baby,"

"I'm not called Baby Girl for nothin', you know." I mumbled, looking up at him, "And we will be seeing each other soon. I want to meet your family too."



He grinned, kissing me for a long moment, his lips moving very slowly undermine, teeth grazing my lower lip as my tongue slipped into his mouth. The deeper the kiss went, the higher I had to stand on my toes.

"Okay, that's enough you two, you're making me sick." Scott said, handing over Reid's backpack. "My name's Scott, by the way. Scott Newbury."

"Good to meet you, I guess the cheerleading squad must miss you." He frowned, but still had a smile on his face. Scott's face was priceless and James was laughing, nudging Reid's shoulder.

"You're a smartass; I like you. I'm James, but people sort of call me Jay." He kept his hands in his pockets but Reid smirked at him.

The train slowed down and Reid grabbed up his bag, kissing me quickly and nodding to my brothers. He threw his bag in the door, and jumping in, holding onto the pole to look back at me. "See you soon, Baby Girl."

"Bye Devil Boy." I smirked, waving as the train started up again. It was starting to move when something suddenly came to mind and I jolted, "REID!"

"What?!" He called out the window, licking his lips.

"Where the hell do you even live?!" I jogged to keep up with the train.

"I take the train south to South Hamilton, and then I get one out to Beverly Farms."

"Where's that?!" I yelled over the noise, picking up my light jog.

"Near Manchester!" He yelled back.

"THERE'S A LOAD OF MANCHESTERS!"

"Look on a map! It's near the water on the coast, almost directly south from here! It's on the 127 highway!"

I was at full run now, and my chest was about to explode. My legs stopped and the train zoomed passed me, Reid's blond head slipping back into the compartment. I shoved my hands in my pockets and sighed, remembering what he said. Near Manchester… seriously, there was loads of Manchester's! Rachel lived in Manchester, but in Hartford, Connecticut. That was about two hours twenty from Ipswich; I hoped Rach and Pogue were driving okay. She had been in a rush.

I had always been sort of envious of Leah too. She lived in New York with her grandparents, since her real parent's were divorced. She'd not forgiven her parent's and rather she had nothing to do with them. She always invited us to the big city whenever she could. It was a bummer this time that she wouldn't be home.

I climbed back into the car and for some odd reason there was a long awkward silence. Instead I kept to myself and wondered about the other boys.

I had called Caleb earlier, telling him goodbye. He and Pogue lived in Ipswich. Poor guy was left behind, but he seemed to enjoy his alone time anyways.

That left Tyler. I had no flippin' idea of where he lived. I'd have to call him and ask, otherwise it would bug me.

It made me laugh every time I thought of it, but I'd never really forgotten the name of my hometown.

It just so happened there was a place up north half an hour. The town was actually 

called Newbury.

We weren't famous or anything in the town. My family I mean. Not many people took notice in our last name; I think that's why it never really got pointed out.

"Hey Alex?"

"Hmm?" I breathed, my forehead against the car window, watching lights go by.

There was a long pause before James spoke again, "Are you going to tell Dad?"

"Tell him what?" I pulled away from the window, leaning on the two front chairs so that my head stuck out between my brothers.

"That you're dating again," Scott laughed, "for all he knows, you're totally off the male race. Not since the last one."

I snorted, "We'll see…" There was a silence and so I leaned over James' lap, rooting around in the glove box and pulling out a load of CD's. I shoved in one of my favourite mixed tapes that I'd made for driving trips, which my brothers and I took often.

To get in the mood I skipped a song or two until we hit the good ol' Highway To Hell. All three of us screamed the lyrics, James and I, head banging, our dark curls flying like crazy.

Scott put up a hand and sung a whole chorus as I danced in my seat, James doing that weird move boys do when they're not driving, but pretending to? It made me snort.

The drive didn't last nearly as long as I'd hoped it to. We pulled into the long driveway that rounded the back of our house. There was a long sleek car that my dad used for work and a dark jeep that was James'.

I hopped off the car and stretched as I looked up to my gorgeous white childhood home. I grabbed my bags and waited for Scott and James to catch up with me before walking up the porch stairs, where I had to stop and admire the white wooden swing perched under a wind chime. I had spent only one too many summers on it. I sighed in happiness and followed my brothers into the house.

Everything was exactly like I remembered it. Not a thing out of place. Trust my Mom to keep it in line. My eyes wondered from our old ginger cat, Zukki, to the spiralling staircases, the banister faded from the amount of times the boys and I slid down it, gaining disapproving glances from Mom. Speak of the devil...

"ALEXANDRA!!" Mom's high pitched voice came from the kitchen.
"Coming, mother." I dropped my bags and skipped to the kitchen, where the dimmed lights just showed Mom stirring a pot on the stove, her back to me, wearing her usual white pencil skirt, cream blouse and white suit jacket. However, her feet were bare against the tile floor. Her soft strawberry blond waves were wrapped up in a bun at the nape of her neck. She turned as she heard my footsteps and ran to me, still holding the spoon, "Oh, honey, I missed you!!" she sighed into my hair.
"Missed you too, Mom." I mumbled back, my arms trapped under her embrace. I awkwardly patted her elbows.
"Scott, feet off the table. And stop eating, dinner will be ready soon." She snapped 

at my older brother over my shoulder.
Mom let go of me and studied my face, turning my chin this way and that. "You look good, sweetie." she fingered the ends of my hair, "You might need a trim though..."
"NO, Mom. Leave my hair alone. Where's Dad?"
"Bambi!!" Came my Dad's voice from behind me, instantly bringing a smile to my lips.
"Daddy!" I jumped into his open arms, squealing as he spun me and tickled me.
"How are you, bumble bee?" His laugh lines were prominent as his face molded into its most familiar position; a smile.
"I'm great, Dad, you?" I pushed his glasses back up his nose, laughing as his eyes followed my finger and crossed over.
He ruffled my hair, "I'm always good, you know boring old me. Tell me about Spencer! Anything new?"
Scott jerked his eyebrows in my peripheral vision.
Dad saw this and grinned, "Anything I should know, Alex?"
"Nah, Dad, I'll tell you later." And as he moved off, I wacked the back of Scott's head.

I sat on the counter as Mom served dinner, and then placed myself next to James at the wide mahogany table that faced the back porch, giving us a view of our extensive yard and swimming pool.
I eyed my family quietly, studying their different personalities. There was Mom, sitting at the head of the table, her back to the glass wall, munching delicately on her greens. Not a hair out of place, her make up perfectly done, accentuating her big blue eyes and round lips. We usually argued or ignored each other, unless I wanted to be girly and we'd go out shopping and talk about fashion.
Scott, shovelling food into his mouth, hardly looking up or ... was he even breathing?
Dad, slowly chewing everything. He noticed me looking and gave me a cheeky wink.
James, done eating already, drumming his fingers on the edge of his plate, making the peas vibrate. Softly humming a tune, he looked at me and smiled.
I smiled back and finished my food. We were all so different. Jay and I talked about music and rocked out. He took me to my first concert when I was 11. Scott and I tackled each other at weddings, we played baseball at the beach; we were the Newbury Devils. Hyped, energetic, ready to make a mess and make people laugh.
Dad was a little crazy. He had a day job as an accountant, however he liked to build random things at home. Mom likes to cook with music, so Dad tried to install a radio into the oven. He ended up blowing up the oven and Mom remodelled the kitchen, adding a shelf for the CD player.

The silence was growing awkward now as I looked around the house, keeping my eyes from meeting one of my brothers or parents.

Mom went to break it, "Alexandra, have you got any-"

"-Who's up for some pool?!" James hit the palm of his hand on the table, making everything on it jump and kick back his chair before anyone could say anything. Straight after the words had come from his lips, Scott and I had jumped up too, 

"Yep!"

A/N: Okay! So I was thinking, instead of the same ol' Alex/Rachel/Leah POVs... For the holidays, would you guys like me to do it in other people's POVs? Most likely the boys, but maybe even someone else? Like one of Alex's brothers or something? Tell me what you think! ; )