Jorja locked the front door to the music shop, breathing a sigh of relief, as she leaned back against it. "Finally! That was insane!"

"Tell me about it," Drake commented, hoping up onto the counter, "Do you always have that much business?"

"No, usually it's pretty slow around here. This was great for business, but I'm exhausted" Jorja answered, moving over behind the counter and leaning against the wall.

Drake turned to face her, bracing his hands on his knees, "So, you hungry? You wanna go grab something to eat with me?"

Alexis looked up from her place in front of the cash register, ceasing her count of the money to see her friend's reaction. To her surprise, Jorja's face flooded with color, and she shoved away from the wall, crossing her arms, the familiar look of animosity returning to her face.

"Just because you can get any bimbo you want to go out with you, doesn't mean you can get me to." Jorja said, her voice like ice, before turning on her heel, and disappearing up to her apartment.

"What the hell!?" Drake exclaimed, jumping down from the counter. "Why does she hate me so much?! Come on, Alexis, seriously, you've gotta tell me, she's driving me insane!" Drake raked his hand through his hair, pacing back and forth.

"Ok, you gotta stop pacing!" Alexis said, grabbing Drake by the elbow and dragging him back to the makeshift stage, pulling him down next to her. She turned to face him, sitting Indian style. "Look, if I tell you, you have to promise not to tell Jorja that I did. I mean it."

Drake shrugged, "Ok, so what's the big deal? Why's she like that?"

Alexis raised her eyebrows, "Promise?"

"Yeah, yeah, I promise!"

Alexis fiddled with the cord on her sweatshirt, hesitating before she began the story, "You know, she was only five where her parents died. Her brother, he was 21, and he got custody. Mostly because they didn't have any other family. I guess her case kinda fell through the cracks. Anyways, He took care of her, if you can call it that, until her eighteenth birthday, then he took off, leaving her with this store, and all his debts. Some birthday present, huh? When he left, she had to put her whole life on hold. She fixed the store up, and managed to pay his debts off. Now she's just struggling to keep it going."

Drake sighed, "Yeah, that blows. But… I still can't see what it has to do with me."

Alexis shrugged, "She doesn't trust easily. Especially guys. And your reputation didn't help much."

"That's not my fault!"

Alexis raised her eyebrows, "Oh, really?"

"Ok, so it's a little my fault. But I really like her. Do you think you could talk to her for me? Please?"

Alexis rolled her eyes, "Oh, fine. I'll talk to her. But I'm not promising anything."

Drake grinned at her, getting to his feet, and offering her a hand up. "Talk to her. And call me, let me know what she says. I'll see you later."

"Night," She answered, closing the door behind him.

……………………………………………………………………………………………...

Jorja sat on the couch, her back against the armrest, and her legs pulled up under her, a pint of ice cream in her hand.

"Hey," Alexis said, sitting on the opposite end of the couch, "You ok?"

Jorja's eyes were red, as if she'd been crying, "I'm just mad."

"At Drake?"

Jorja sighed, putting the ice cream carton down on the coffee table, and picking up a throw cushion, hugging it to her chest, "More at myself." She said sniffling.

"At yourself? Why?"

Jorja buried her face in the cushion, her answer muffled by it.

"What?" Alexis asked, reaching over to pull the pillow away from Jorja's face.

"Because I think I like him." Jorja answered, her voice miserable.

"Ok…" Alexis said slowly, "And why is that a bad thing?"

"Oh, come on, Alexis! You of all people should know. I can't handle being hurt again. Especially not now. I've got way to much crap going on without him." Jorja grabbed the ice cream again, digging the spoon in, her eyes welling with tears.

Alexis reached over offering her friend a one armed hug. "Oh, sweetie. C'mon, he's not that bad. Why don't you give him a chance? He might actually surprise you."

Jorja sniffled again, wiping the tears from her face, and pushing up from the couch. "I don't know which is worse, liking him, and not doing anything about it, or dating him, and getting my heart broken in the process.

She disappeared into the kitchen, and Alexis could hear her putting the ice cream away in the freezer. When she came back out, she leaned against the door frame, hugging herself. "I don't know, Alexis. I just don't want to get hurt again. What should I do?"

Alexis drew a deep breath, her heart aching for her friend. "I can't tell you what to do," she said slowly, "And I can't guarantee you that Drake won't hurt you. But you can't live your life hiding from everyone just because they might hurt you."

Jorja nodded, giving a watery smile. "I'm gonna hit the sack. I'll see you in the morning."

Alexis smiled back, "Goodnight," she answered, turning and heading to her own bedroom. She got ready for bed, and crawled beneath the covers before she pulled her cell phone and calling Drake.

He answered on the first ring, "So, what'd she say?"

"Well, hello to you too." Alexis said drily.

"Yeah, hi. What'd she say?"

Alexis rolled her eyes, "I don't know, Drake. Maybe you should just back off for a while. Give her some space."

Drake breathed a frustrated sigh, "What, she hates me doesn't she? Well, fine, I don't even care! I've got a date with Meredith tomorrow night anyways."

"No, Drake, that's not what I-"

"Just forget it, Alexis. It doesn't even matter."

Alexis opened her mouth to protest again, but Drake had already hung up.

From across the apartment, she could hear strains of Jorja's guitar, accompanied by her soulful voice. Alexis bit her lip, setting her phone on the night stand. She couldn't help but think she'd really just screwed something up for both her cousin and her friend. She clicked her bedside lamp off, pulling the covers up to her chin, and staring at the wall.