It has been a while. Well I've been busy. Please enjoy this chapter and review review review.

Dreams on Fire

Jay POV

I can't shake the feeling. You know, the feeling that something horrible is happening to my Lexi. I speed up my car. By the looks of it Mr. Simpson can tell I am pretty worried. Am I the type to freak out over some feeling of dread I keep feeling? I guess I am. Lexi hasn't called me. I told her to call me if she needed anything, but… I don't think she would ever actually would. She isn't really the type to ask for help, even if she really needed it. God this drive is taking forever. Last time I checked it was 7:16 and now it is only two minutes past that. I am starting to shiver from anxiety. I look at Mr. Simpson, who looks almost as perturbed as I feel.

"It's probably nothing." I half-heartedly tried to reassure him and myself. It didn't work for either of us. The phone rang and I grabbed it.

"Hey, it's Marco." I was never this happy to hear someone calling my phone. His voice was dripped with apprehension and I knew that Lexi had told him what she deals with at home.

"Do you know where Lexi is?"

"I have no idea, that's why I called you." His voice quivered and he continued "Ellie, Paige, and I got together because none of us have seen her today. Is she at your place?" I paused. I wanted to answer him but I didn't want to crush his hopes of her being okay.

"Yeah, she is but… Marco I am scared for her. She wasn't being responsive and I couldn't get a doctor because her mother's boyfriend would find out but I had to get help. Mr. Simpson is in my car with me riding back to my apartment. I can't shake the feeling that something bad is happening."

"Well get back as soon as possible. I am getting some of the guys together for backup and I'll meet you at your apartment.

Ellie POV

I could tell that Marco was struck with panic. He is pretty emotional and sensitive and well, this is serious. I; however, am not as emotional as he is. I am still frightened. I went to the police office as we had discussed. I wanted to look up her mother's boyfriend and see if he had a record. His name is Moniek Valieri, at least that is what she told me. The Police Station was hustling and bustling, vans moving in at out. The doors were constantly swinging open and slamming shut. Dogs were barking and officers were talking worriedly. While eavesdropping, I noticed that their faces were etched in worry.

"Did you hear about…" I couldn't stand anymore depressing dialogues about kidnappings, rapes, molestations, suicides, and murders. I had enough to worry about here. Right now. The thing that surprised me the most about the Police Station was that it seemed actually inviting. The outside walls were a mix of dark red and sky blue. Under the sign that said Police Station were the words "devoted to protecting and restoring this community from the beginning" in green, cursive lettering. This rejuvenated my hopes of Lexi's health. In an odd sort of way, I was comforted.

Jay POV

The drive took just short of a lifetime. During this time, I brought up memories that Lexi and I have had. The good, the painful, and the others that had made me feel such a fire in me for her.

The sun was setting, and for once in a lifetime I had the opportunity to take a nice long look at Lexi. From the beginning she told me not to call her Alex because that was apparently what her dad used to call her. I have never met her dad. I think he died before we met. Lexi was so much like nothing I have ever seen. Her dark brown eyes showed me alone much of her life. Not actual events, but emotions she had felt. I saw confusion from when her dad was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. She wasn't a little kid like so many thought. She knew what so many thought she was too young to understand. She felt their pity and abhorred it. She could only imagine what they were thinking "poor lady, pancreatic cancer can't be beaten. That is what the statistics show at least. And her child, having to grow up with only one parent. Poor, poor thing." The thing Lexi didn't understand was why God would do that to her. Was she that bad? Why God? She would ask him night after weary night.

I saw betrayal. He supposed that was from when her mom chose her boyfriend over her daughter. The daughter that had always supported her and never once wavered in her love. The hurt after her mom once again returned to her boyfriend when all he had done for her daughter was cause nightmares and pain. It was almost too much, looking at the one I felt so much for. Lexi was closer to him then even a twin would have been. I couldn't look anymore at her eyes. Tears were falling from my eyes at the hurt she had felt. I focused on other parts of her body. They were leaning against a maple tree, and her shoulders were not slumped in surrender like he would have expected. They were straight, and her head was held high.

I could tell how hard it was for her to remain brave for the world. She deserved more than anyone to collapse in front of me and start balling. In reality, I hoped that she would. Most of her strength is spent in trying to look like she has everything in control, I noted. Her face shows her heart. Her eyes are squinted, not like an oriental's, but as in trying to forget the present. She looked like she was about to cry, but couldn't. What amazed me the most was her mouth. Her jaw was dropped in awe of the sunset.

After all she has been through. All the suffering, pain, betrayal, stress, angst, and confusion; she still keeps her mind open for the beauty in life. I look at her, more in reverence of her then of the sunset. "After all you have been through, how can you still see beauty and hope?" She looked at me with a hard stare. She did something even more unexpected. She smiled.

"How can I not? Even with its bit of suffering and pain, the world is magnificent. How much more will it be without pain and suffering. How can I worry about later when I am out here, with the guy I love, whom I might even be in love with, and witnessing one of the most beautiful things ever created?"

The title is from the movie Slumdog Millionare. Great movie. Well did you guys like this alex from Jay's memories? I sure did