Hey, Ladies. Long time no update, but now here's a nice long chapter. Hope you like it. Thank you so much for the reviews and new faves/alerts. I love getting know your opinions, it helps where I should heading with this. Keep it coming ;)

betareader: Fleur LB

song: Satellite Heart by Anya Marina

CHAPTER 4
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU, MAN?

"Morning," Alex greeted Billy with her eyes still half closed.

She was wearing one of Tim's Panthers jersey. Alex remembered complaining about sleeping in her clothes, so Tim had thrown it to her. Last night was crazy and the morning after was insanely bad.

"Morning," Billy looked over at her, not bothering to hide the fact that he liked what he saw.

"What are ya staring at? Haven't you seen a woman in a jersey yet?" Alex rolled her eyes as she sat to the counter.

"Did you know you're even louder when you're drunk?" Billy asked.

"Just give me a beer and ice cream. Tell me you still have ice cream all the time," Alex said, leaning her head at the counter.

"You want ice cream and beer?" Billy raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Yes. I'm hung over so I need a beer and ice cream," Alex groaned.

"Here ya go, crazy chick," Billy put a bottle and a box of vanilla ice cream in front of her.

"Hey, Timmy," Alex smiled when Tim appeared in the kitchen. "We had a great night yesterday."

"Yeah, you surely had. Are you drinking beer?" Tim looked at the bottle in Alex hand.

"Yep. Do you want one?" putting ice cream into her mouth.

"Why are you drinking beer at 7 in the morning?"

"Since when is it a problem for you?" Alex looked narrowly at Tim.

"Since he's with the nun," Billy laughed.

"Amazing. Next time I see you, you'll be singing gospel songs with the bitch," Alex said, rolling her eyes.

"Why can't you just let her be? You were kids, Sawyer. Move on," Tim said, regretting his words at the moment they left his mouth.

The spoon stopped in Alex's hand as she listened. She knew this was going to happen. Though she'd hoped Tim wouldn't choose Lyla over her. What was she thinking?

"Fine, I'm out," Alex said, hopping off her chair and starting to the door.

"Lexy," Tim grabbed her arm, trying to stop her.

"Fuck you, Riggins," Alex said, pushing away Tim's hand.

"Do you wanna go in my jersey?" Tim asked.

"Why? Have you got a problem with it, too? Here's your damn jersey," Alex took it off and threw it to Tim's face, leaving herself standing only in her bra and panties.

"You can give it to your precious love," she yelled, grabbing her clothes from the floor.

"You don't even have a car," Tim said as Alex opened the door.

"But I've got legs," she said rushing out of the house with her clothes in her hand.

"Nice ones, actually," Billy said causing Tim give him a nasty look.

Alex wanted to get her car but the walk to the bar was longer than she thought so it was the middle of the day when Alex finally arrived at school. She was so mad at Tim, she could kill him. Alex felt betrayed. Tim was her best friend. He had to know that it still did matter, even if they were only kids back then.

Tim knew how lost she was after her dad died. He knew because he was the one who helped her through it. And now he threw it in her face like it wasn't a big deal. It was a big deal, no matter how old they'd been.

The hall was full of students. Alex hoped she wouldn't run into Tim or Lyla because she wasn't in the mood to deal with them.

"Hell if that isn't little Alex Sawyer the Smash sees over there," Smash laughed at her.

"Hey there, Smash," Alex grinned.

Alex always liked Smash. He had big mouth and it was irritating that he talked about himself as "The Smash" but at the same time it was fun to be around him because he could always made her laugh.

"Little Alex Sawyer who isn't so little anymore," Smash grinned, turning Alex around.

"Does the Smash like what he sees?" Alex smiled at him sweetly.

"The Smash definitely likes what he sees," Smash nodded.

"That's great, cause you won't get any closer," Alex laughed, giving a light kiss to Smash's cheek.

"Call me when you change your mind," Smash waved at her.

"Hey, girlie, I was looking for you everywhere," Tyra yelled when she saw Alex. "I asked your worse half but he refused to answer."

"Don't even mention him," Alex groaned.

"I see, Tim did it again. What a surprise," Tyra rolled her eyes.

"Hey, Alex," Julie stopped next to them.

"Hi, Julie," Alex smiled at her.

"Hello, ladies," a guy greeted them, stopping next to Tyra.

"Alex, this is Landry. Landry, this is Alex," Tyra motioned between them.

"Nice to meet you. I'm her boyfriend," Landry grinned at Alex.

"You are not my boyfriend, Landry," Tyra groaned.

"You can keep that saying, it still will be true," Landry answered causing both Julie and Alex laugh.

"I gotta go get my schedule," Alex said.

"We can walk you there. Julie's mom is the principal," Tyra said.

"Your mom is the principal? Poor girl," Alex shook her head, looking at Julie.

"Tell me about it," Julie sighed.

"Don't listen to her. Mrs. T. is awesome." Tyra rolled her eyes.

"Hello, I'm looking for Principal Taylor," Alex stepped into the office.

"Oh, hi. You must be Alexandra Sawyer," Tami greeted Alex behind her table.

"Alex."

"Alex it is then. Have a seat," Tami motioned to the chairs.

"I'm just here for my schedule," Alex said.

She wanted to get away as soon as it was possible no matter how 'awesome' was Julie's mom. Alex never had great relationship with teachers. They didn't like her because she was a problematic kid and she didn't like them because they didn't like her.

"You'll get it after we talk," Tami said, taking a stack of papers from her desk. "Did you arrive just now?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Can I ask you why?"

"I had a little car problem," Alex sighed, bored.

"Alright. From now on try to be here for first period. So, you're emancipated, right?" Tami asked, reading the papers in her hand.

"Yes, ma'am," Alex sighed.

"That's a big responsibility for a 17-year old," Tami said.

Alex shrugged. She could take care of herself. It wasn't such a huge deal. She was already emancipated before the papers, she didn't even get money from her mom. Maybe there wasn't car racing in Dillon, but Tyra already said she could work in Applebees.

"Your grades are quite good," Tami smiled at her.

Alex never really cared about learning, but she read a lot and other things just stuck in her brain. She always got good grades when she decided to write something more on her paper than just her name.

"But you got six detention in only one semester," Tami looked at the papers, surprised. "How did you avoid getting suspended?"

"My mom slept with the principal," Alex answered simply.

"Excuse me?" Tami looked at her, shocked.

"I made the same face when I found out about it," Alex smiled cynically. "But my mom was happy, I wasn't, so everything was normal."

"I see," Tami nodded with wide eyes. "Okay, Alex. As you may know things here… don't work like that. But I can tell you for sure that if you try to stay out of trouble, we won't have any problem."

"I'll try," Alex said, thinking to herself that trying and doing were not the same.

"And if you need any help, you can come to me anytime. I know it can't be easy being alone at your age," Tami smiled at Alex.

"Can I get my schedule now?" Alex asked, standing up.

"Sure. Here you go, honey." Tami gave her the papers.

"Thanks. Goodbye, Mrs. Taylor."

Alex couldn't decide what to think about Mrs. Taylor. She seemed to be a thorough woman but there was something about her that made her different from other people Alex had met. Everybody judged her from the first minute and they never bothered to get know her.

There wasn't a clean card for Alex. But Mrs. Taylor didn't look at her with pity or scorn. She looked at her with concern and it surprised Alex. Maybe Tyra was right about her, Alex thought.

After school Alex went to Applebees with Tyra and got the job. She would start next Monday. Alex was glad she got it, because she could spend more time with Tyra and she really needed money.

In the evening Alex decided to go to the field. She sneaked in just like she did at the cemetery. Alex sat down at the middle of the field and just enjoyed being there. She breathed in the smell of the grass and stared at the stars above her head. There wasn't a sky like that anywhere else in the world.

So pretty/so smart,
Such a waste of a young heart

Alex started to sing. She did it sometimes. Just sitting and singing about her thoughts, about her feelings. It came naturally for her.

What a pity/what a sham
What's the matter with you, man?

She continued, allowing herself to think about Tim.

Don't you see it's wrong/can't you get it right?
Out of mind and outta sight

What did happen with them? They used to laugh together at Lyla, made fun of her and now…

I'm a satellite heart/lost in the dark

Alex felt terrible about fighting with Tim. He meant too much to her, enough to hurt her. That was why she didn't trust people. They always let you down.

I'm spun out so far/you stop, I start
But I'll be true to you

"Hi," a guy greeted her from behind her back.

"Oh, hey," Alex turned around. "You're Landry, right? Tyra's non-boyfrinend boyfriend," she smiled at him.

"Yes. I just saw somebody was on the field and you know… It was beautiful. What you sang. It was great."

"Thanks," Alex stood up, dusting her jeans.

"I've got a band. You should listen to us, maybe you could even sing with us," Landry suggested walking next to Alex.

"Oh, I don't sing, at least not in public."

Singing was a sore point for Alex. Her dad adored when she sang, he called Alex his little singing bird and always said she was going to be a famous singer. After his death Alex didn't sing anymore. Several years later, she started to sing again. But never in public. Alex only sang when she was alone and only because singing made her calm.

"But I'd like to see your band," Alex added as they left the field.

"Great. Then, we'll talk about it," Landry grinned at her, happily.

"Sure. Good night."

"Bye," Landry waved.

Tim was on his way home when he saw Alex's car next to the field. He wanted to make up with her. He hated fighting with her. He knew he was out of line bringing up what happened with Lyla when they were kids. But he also hated that Alex was making him choose between Lyla and her. Why couldn't he love them both?

He stopped the truck next to Alex's car and got out. He started toward the field when he saw a movement in the car. He went to the car and saw Alex was sleeping on the back seat. Tim sighed and knocked on the window.

"What?" Alex woke with a start.

"What are you doing?" Tim asked, smirking at her.

"What does it look like to you? Trying to sleep, dude. And you know how much I hate to be awakened," Alex groaned, giving a nasty look to Tim.

"You didn't say you don't have a place," Tim said.

"You didn't ask and it's only until I'll get my first paycheck from Applebees," Alex answered.

"Come on, you can stay at my place," Tim sighed.

"Isn't there a rule about girls sleeping on your couch, too?" Alex asked, sarcastically.

"When did you have to sleep on the couch? And there are no rules, Sawyer," Tim smirked, heading to his truck.

"Why does she have to be so complicated?" Tim thought as he started the engine.