disclaimer: i disclaim all of the characters, songs, movies, and television and anything that doesn't belong to me that i might refer to or mention at any point in this entire story.

ok, got that over with.

CHAPTER TWO: something about you

Marissa ran her fingers through her hair and then rearranged some flowers in the lobby of her and Ryan's hotel. Jeremy Rochester was a big client and would bring in a lot of business and Marissa wanted her hotel to look amazing. She sat down on one of the couches and scanned a list she held in her hands. Her assistant had given it to her in the morning, but Marissa had only glanced at it a couple of times. Shit. She thought. She had completley forgotten to put toothbrushes and toothpaste in Jeremy's hotel room. Like they couldn't bring their own toothbrushes.

She stood up quickly and glanced at the clock across the room. 2:03 Jeremy, his manager, and all of his entourage would be there at 2:30. She had plenty of time. Marissa quickly crossed the room to the elevators. She stepped inside and pushed floor 14. Then, she turned to her right and came face to face with Jake Rivers.

Alex leaned her head back in her airplane chair and put her feet up on the seat in front of her. She felt someone looking at her and opened her right eye a little to look at Jeremy Rochester, who was sitting in the window seat next to her. He sat there staring at her.

"What?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, but smiling a little . He smiled back.

"Your the hottest manager I've ever had." He commented easily. Alex grinned.

"You got lucky." Alex said, closing her eyes again. Again, she felt him looking at her. This time she didn't even open her eyes. "What?"

"We'd make a hot couple." Jeremy stated. Alex snorted.

"I'm taken." She said. 'As if', she thought.

"Taken by a girl." Jeremy said, his voice conveying all of his teenage hormones. Alex raised her eyebrows, eyes still closed. She couldn't help but grin at his obvious fascination.

"No, I'm not going to make out with her in front of you." Alex told him.

"Damn." Jeremy said under his breath. The stewardess came over the intercom.

"We are about to land. Please buckle your seat belts." Alex slid her feet off the chair in front of her and buckled her seat belt. Here goes. She thought.

Marissa automatically took a step back from Jake. She sometimes had nightmares about that night five years ago. The way the night had turned out with Alex had pushed away most of the foul memories and replaced them with bittersweet ones. But to have him standing there, real and in the flesh, still as big and strong as ever, was scaring the hell out of Marissa.

"Jake." She said, her voice and hands shaking. Jake averted his eyes.

"I was kinda hoping to see you." he said. "Since you own the hotel and all." Marissa managed to nod. "Look, I'm so sorry about that night and I feel terrible, but I can't change it and I don't except you to forgive me. I just thought that I should say that I'm sorry." Jake finished his short speech and looked Marissa in the eyes. "I am sorry." He said and Marissa could hear the sincerity in his voice, as much as she wanted to deny it. As much as she wanted to hate him.

"You're right." Marissa said softly. "I can't forgive you." She pushed the button for the floor nearest to the one they were passing and the doors opened quickly. She stepped out and Jake started to follow her. "Don't." She said and went down the hall quickly, leaving Jake standing in the doors of the elevator.