Here's another chapter. I'm kinda sad I haven't got more feedback for the last chapter. So I decided I will update again if I get more reviews. A few word, just sg guys, really, please.

Anamia 1: I can't be thankful enough for you always reviewing my stories. It means a lot :)

Birdcrap: I'm glad you like it. Thanks for the review :)

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CHAPTER 8
SCARED

Alex stood in front of the Taylors' house. This dinner was the last thing she needed. She hadn't been able sleep for two days. First because she worked in the bar, and then when because of Tim and how upset she was with him.

"Hi, Alex," Julie opened the door, smiling at Alex.

"Hi, Julie," Alex tried her best to smile back, following Julie to the house.

"Good evening, Mrs. Taylor," Alex greeted Mrs. Taylor who was at the kitchen.

"Hello, honey. I'm so happy you could make it," Mrs. Taylor smiled at Alex warmly.

Like I had another option, Alex groaned mentally, but didn't say anything.

"Hi, Coach," she nodded to Eric who sat in front of the tv, watching a game.

"Hi, I'm glad to see you here. You could help me with this," Eric said, still watching the tv.

"Eric! Leave that poor girl alone," Mrs. Taylor looked narrowly at her husbrand.

"It's okay. I would be happy to help," Alex said.

Finally, something good could come out of the dinner, Alex thought as she sat next to the Coach.

"Oh, sure, you like football. That's my reaction because of Jules, she isn't really into it," Mrs. Taylor explained. "Your dad was the Panthers coach, right?"

Alex felt her stomach clench, her body stiffened, the blood drain from her face. She couldn't reply, so she only nodded. Alex didn't like talking about her dad. Talking about him was one thing she never did.

"I'm sorry if I…"

"It's okay, Mrs. Taylor," Alex swallowed hard.

It wasn't Mrs. Taylor's fault that she didn't know her rule number one: Don't talk about dad.

After the football game, they spent the evening in an uncomfortable silence. Alex only rummaged in her food.

"So I heard you live with the Riggins boys," Coach said.

Alex nodded. She wasn't in a very talkative mood, her mind was full with everything else that was going on.

"I wonder how that happened," Mrs. Taylor looked at Alex, curiously.

"They're like family," Alex shrugged.

"I see," Tami nodded. "Congratulations for the concert. Julie said you did a great job," Tami said after a few moments.

"It was Landry and the band. They were awesome," Alex said.

She wasn't used to getting praised and didn't really know how to react.

"But you wrote lots of songs for them," Julie smiled.

"Oh, you write songs?" Mrs. Taylor asked Alex.

"Yeah, it really isn't such a big thing," Alex answered, shrugging.

"Sure, I remember. You also sing, right?" Mrs. Taylor pushed further.

"Not really," Alex shifted uncomfortable.

"But I saw a video where you…"

"That was a one-time mistake," Alex interrupted Tami.

Alex and Tami talked about school. Mrs. Taylor explained that she knew it could be hard to work and go to school and be alone at her age, but Alex had to understand she couldn't let her ditch school. Alex promised she would try to be there everyday because otherwise, Mrs. Taylor would have to suspend her.

Alex was on her way home. She was eager to get to her bed. She thought about how great it would be to finally get some sleep when, out of the blue, a dog ran in front of her car. She pulled aside the wheel. People say you see your whole life in front of your eyes when you're near to death but Alex only saw a vivid image of her dad's dead body as the car spinned with her out of control. The car crashed into a wooden fence. Alex hit her head hard on the dashboard.

She sat there, frozen. She couldn't move. The fear paralyzed her. But that was only for a moment. Alex shook herself mentally, took a deep breath and tried to start the engine.

"Dammit," she yelled, hitting the wheel when the car refused to start.

Alex crawled out of the car, sitting on the ground, leaning against the car. She felt she couldn't keep herself together. Her head hurt like hell and her whole body was shaking. But the worst part was the terror she felt, the thought she could have died the same way her dad died. Her eyes filled with tears as she reached into her pocket for her mobile.

"Yeah?"

"Billy," Alex started but her voice faltered.

"What's wrong? Are you all right?" Billy asked, concerned.

"Can you come for me?" Alex tried to swallow her tears.

Alex told Billy where she was and waited. After the terror came the numbness. She just sat there, staring in front of herself, waiting for Billy. She didn't even realized when the truck stopped next to her.

"Lexy," Tim jumped out of the truck, running to Alex. "God, what happened? Are you alright?" he asked, kneeling beside her, taking a look at her bloody head. "I have to take you to the hospital."

"I'm fine," Alex answered, wiping away her tears. "I just wanna go home."

"Lexy…"

"Please, Timmy. Just take me home." She moved her gaze to meet Tim's eyes, tears rolled down her cheeks again.

Tim nodded, silently.

"Can you walk?" Tim asked.

Alex nodded, reaching for Tim's hand to help her stand up.

On the way home, neither of them talked. When they arrived Alex went straight to bed and Tim told Billy what happened. Billy said he would go back for the car so Tim could stay with Alex.

"Are you sleeping?" Tim asked, stepping to his room.

No answer came from Alex although Tim could see she wasn't sleeping. He laid close to her but she moved away. They laid silently there. Neither of them could sleep. Tim was the first who broke the silence.

"Why did you call Billy and not me?" Tim asked, staring at the ceiling.

It shouldn't have bothered him. The point was nothing serious happened but still, he should be the one Alex called when she was in trouble.

"I didn't want to bother you," Alex shrugged.

"What?" Tim looked at her in disbelief.

How could she even think something like that? He would leave the Super Bowl if she was in trouble.

"I dunno. I thought maybe you could be with Garrity," Alex said, turning her back to Tim.

Tim didn't answer to that. He let out a huge sigh and reached for Alex, turning her toward him.

"You're stupid," Tim sighed, leaning his forehead against Lexy's.

Alex didn't answer, she felt her eyes burning, tears started to roll again. Tim didn't know what to say. He never knew how to handle a crying woman so he pulled Alex closer, starting to kiss away her tears. Alex shivered as his lips touched her cheek.

"Don't do that again. You scared the crap out of me," Tim said, pulling away Alex hair from her face.

Alex nodded silently. Tim could feel her body stiffen as he pulled her close to him. He thought about letting her go, but she looked so tired and scared, so fragile, he wanted to confort her so much. She was like that little girl Tim found crying alone on the playground many years ago.

Tim sighed as he felt Alex body finally relax, her arms reaching around his waist, her face buried to his chest. Something moved in his stomach, a strange feeling he couldn't identify as he watched Alex breathing peacefully. He couldn't even think about what he would do if something happened to her. He would never forgive himself, Tim thought.