Hey everyone, Lightheart77 here with chapter 16! Wah-hoo! Okay, so I'm sure everyone is wondering what the heck is gonna happen in this chapter, and let me tell you, it's gonna get good. Will Alexa go on that date? What will happen on said date? Will they kiss again!

… I cannot say. You must read to find out. But don't worry; this chapter will not leave off in suspense as the last ones did. And it has so many parts that I think you're all going to like :) So please read on and be sure to review at the end!

Chapter 16: A date… with Chase?

"…would you like to go out with me?"

Alexa's eyes went wide and her face red. "Are… Are you asking me out on a… date?"

"Does it sound like I am?" he questioned.

"Well, yeah."

"Then sure," he replied with his voice more confident. "But would you like to? I'm sure you got sick of that plane food and after that craziness in India, I figured you might want something to make up for it."

"I—"

"You can pick the place since you know the city better than I do," she could hear the smile in his voice.

Alexa was silent for a moment, taking in the possibilities and soon replied, "Fine. But no funny business… you hear me?"

"I hear you," he chuckled. "I'll pick you up in a couple minutes. Later." The line then went dead.

"Wait…" but it was too late. She sighed, putting her binucome back into her bag. "I didn't even tell him where we could go…" she grumbled as she went to go get the rest of her things.

When she walked into the computer area, she found Jamie typing up some more programs. "Hey," the vixen said, noticing her friend come by. "So, I've got it all figured out for out meeting with your father's old friend tonight. And since he still runs the old museum, the best time for us to strike a deal would be 9:00 tonight; an hour after the place closes," she explained.

"Okay," Alexa agreed. She packed a few more things into her bag and slung it across her shoulder and went to the door, "I'll meet you guys there. You're in charge of the Thievius Raccoonus while I'm gone."

"Wha—are you kidding me?" Jamie nearly yelled. "Where do you plan on going?" she asked with her eyebrows arched.

"Well… I guess, you could say, I'm going on a date," she said softly.

Jamie gasped, "Oh my gawd! That's awesome!" She jumped to her feet and hugged Alexa. "This is great!" she released her friend to look at her. "It's your first date too, isn't it?"

"Yeah…" she said rubbing the back of her head somewhat embarrassed. "So, let's hope it goes well."

Jamie chuckled and patted her on the shoulder, "Good luck."

Alexa nodded, "Here's hoping. See you later." She then walked out the door and took a few steps past the stairs going from the safe house. She looked around to try and find the male raccoon but he wasn't in sight. He's so… impatient… he didn't even wait for me to tell him where could find me and we could go… she complained to herself. I wonder what that ride was that he mentioned…

She stood there for a moment and then her ears perked up, hearing a rev of an engine in the distance. Soon, she could see that it was a motorcycle with a cloud of dust behind it. She couldn't tell if it was him because his face was hidden by the helmet's tinted visor, but it had to be. Who else would know someone was out here?

He… he drives a motorcycle? She thought, standing there in shock.

The motor bike closed the distance in seconds and the rider had it slide to a stop, kicking up plenty of dust. Alexa coughed hard, waving her hand to get the dust away from her eyes. The rider took off his helmet when the dust cleared and it was indeed Chase. He had a bit of a shy smile and said, "Sorry about that. Happens when there's nothing but sand out here."

"You drive a motorcycle?" she questioned.

"Yep," he nodded getting off his bike. "Isn't it awesome? I've had it for about two years and she hasn't failed me yet." He then grabbed an extra helmet from the motorcycle's back storage area and handed it to her, "Here you go."

Alexa took into her hands and felt how heavy it was. That's when she got a little worried. "I've never exactly ridden on a motorcycle before…"

"It's not that hard to learn," Chase simply stated.

"But—"

"Unless… you're scared," he grinned.

Alexa glared at him, with her face turning red from being frustrated and flustered. She then shoved her head into the helmet and crossed her arms, retorting, "I'm not scared."

"Alright then," he put his helmet back on and hopped on his bike, looking to her, "Then come on."

Alexa gulped; "Okay…" she then got on the bike behind him as he started the bike up.

"You're going to have to hold on. We're going to go fast."

"Hold on to what?" she questioned, looking around the bike.

Chase laughed, revving up the engine, "Me; what else?"

"You've got to be kidding. I'm not going to—" But she didn't get to finish her sentence as Chase shot forward. "Gah!" she yelped, grabbing hold of his waist tightly, as he laughed again. "That's not funny!"

"Come on, you know it was," she could hear the smile in his voice again. He then went even faster, and the cloud of dust behind them only grew bigger as they approached the city after fifteen minutes.

As they did turns and stops, Alexa couldn't help but feel paranoid; she always felt like the bike was going to tip. It's okay, she kept telling herself, closing her eyes. He knows what he's doing… They then hit a speed bump that caused them to jump just a bit and she then thought: Please let him know what he's doing! "Chase! Do you even know where we're going?"

"Not yet," he called back. "But that's the fun of it." It was ten minutes later that Chase finally found a good spot for his bike. He pulled in and cut the engine, noticing that Alexa still hadn't released him yet. "You can let go now."

Alexa hopped off before he could even finish his statement, yanking off her helmet, giving a sigh of relief to be on solid ground. "Okay… I'm so good with walking."

Chase chuckled, pulling off his helmet. He ran his hand through his hair and replied, "So, you don't like motorcycles, huh?"

He had a smug smile on his face that just ticked Alexa off even more. She shoved her helmet in his hands and snapped, "Fine. If that's how you're going to act, then I'm just going to go eat dinner by myself," and she stomped off.

Chase sat there for a moment stunned, but then he noticed she was getting farther away and shouted, "Wait!" He clumsily got off the bike and locked up the helmets, nearly forgetting his keys as he ran after her. "I'm sorry," he stated, walking besides her. "I didn't mean to offend you in any way."

Alexa turned her head away from him with a "Humph," and walked faster away.

"Aw, come on," Chase said, keeping pace with her. He finally then walked in front of her so she'd stop, "I'm paying."

Alexa smiled and looked to him, "That's what I was hoping for, 'cause I have no money to pay anyways."

She continued to walk ahead, while Chase stood in astonishment that she had duped him like that. But he then smiled, catching up to her again, "Very sneaky, Ms. Cooper."

"Well, I need to be. I am supposed to be a master thief after all," she chuckled.

They walked a few more steps till they reached a café with the name of La Entredóre. "I've heard that this place is amazing," Alexa stated.

"Where'd you hear that?" Chase asked standing next to her.

"My parents…" she said with a sad note. They were so happy when they came back home too…

Chase noticed that she looked glum and replied, "Oh…" but then he took her hand to try and cheer her up and said, "Well, come on. If it's that good, then we need to hurry, or there might not be any tables left."

As he walked her in, she blushed a light pink and mumbled, "A-alright…"

They walked into a comfortable waiting room of warm tan walls and dark wooded chairs and tables that had beautiful flowers stand atop of them. There were only a few people in there, lingering around the podium, trying to get a table for however many they needed.

Chase stopped her at one of the chairs and said, "Wait right here. I'll get us a table." He smiled and let her hand slip from his as he walked off to the podium to speak with the gentleman behind it.

Alexa sat down and looked to the floor, trying to get her thoughts together. Why does he keep taking my hand like that! She put her hand on the back of her neck and felt a chain and realized that she was still wearing the necklace that he gave her. And why am I still wearing this? she thought irritably to herself, staring at the hollow heart around her neck. He's just playing with my emotions… isn't he?

"Hey," she looked up and saw Chase walking back over to her. "We're in luck," he grinned, "They have a table for two left."

"That's… great," she said with her voice detached.

Chase cocked his head to the side, "You don't sound like you're happy about it."

"Oh… sorry," she said, getting back to the real world. "I've had a lot on my mind lately."

"Hm…" he nodded. He held out his arm for and continued with, "Well, let's take our seats, okay?"

"Okay…" she then actually took his arm without complaining.

Chase looked to her worriedly. Whatever's on her mind must be really messing with her. She didn't even try and push me away when I offered my arm. Huh, I wonder what it is… When they reached their table, Chase pulled out Alexa's chair for her, and then he sat himself across from her. "So, Monsieur, could you please get us some water to start with?"

The waiter nodded, "Very good. Here are your menus," he handed them the booklets and said, "And I shall be back to take your orders momentarily," and left.

Let the awkwardness begin…

Both the teens were half way through their meals and still they hadn't spoken that much to each other. Both of them not exactly sure what to say, therefore just kept quiet.

Alexa sat, toying with her food with her fork, eating little bits every once in a while. We haven't said almost a thing… maybe this was a bad idea…

"Is the food alright," Chase asked, trying to break the silence.

"Hm… oh, yes… just fine," she mumbled. He must be getting desperate to talk if he had to ask such a clichéd question to start a conversation… what could we possibly talk about… she thought about it for another moment and then it hit her. I've got it! She picked up her bag from the side of her chair and began to rummage through it. "Chase," she stated, causing him to look to her for finally talking back to him, "I found something and I wondered if it belonged to you." She finally found the picture and showed it to him.

Chase's eyes went wide with joy, and a smile of relief came across his lips, "It is." He took it from her hands and looked to it with memories coming back to him. He laughed quietly to himself and murmured, "I thought I had lost it." He looked back to Alexa and asked, "Where did you find it?"

She crossed her arms and bluntly said, "My room back in Calcutta."

"Oh…" he snapped his fingers as if he had just realized something, "The one place I didn't look. I suppose Ken already told about me carrying you to your bed, right?"

"Why do you think I'm not strangling you right now?"

"And I thank you for that," he laughed.

"So… who's the picture of?" Alexa questioned.

"Hm? Oh…" he looked back down to the picture with a warm smile, "My little brother."

"You have a brother?"

He nodded, "Yes. But this isn't a very recent picture. You can see how worn it is in the corners from being handled so much. And he's only seven years old… Would you like to see it… the recent one, I mean."

"Sure," Alexa said, taking some interest.

Chase reached into his coat and pulled out the other picture. He handed it to her, and explained, "He's going to be ten soon. I hope I can go see him when it happens…"

Alexa looked at the picture and saw that the boy hadn't changed much from the other picture, but he did seem more tired and thinner; he almost looked ill. But his black hair was still in the same mess it was, his blue eyes still bright and his smile still as big and happy as ever. Still in the conversation as she examined the picture, she asked, "How come? Don't you see your brother?"

He shook his head no, "I haven't seen him in four years."

"What?" Alexa looked back to him with shock.

Chase only smiled and replied, "Yeah. It happens when you have to watch someone for that long until they make a move."

"You've been watching me for four years?" she questioned, her voice raising a bit in volume.

"Not my fault," Chase still kept the same smile. "I was kind of forced into it."

"How?"

He sighed, "Never mind. You wouldn't want to hear it…"

"No, come on," she said earnestly. "Tell me."

He looked to her a little surprised. She actually wants to know…

She frowned, misreading his expression, "Aw, you can tell me. Who am I going to tell?"

"I suppose that's true," he chuckled. He thought about it for a moment on what to say. He wanted to give her a truthful story but not with all of the details. If he told her everything at that moment, she'd probably leave the room and never want to see him again. And he didn't want that to happen. "My father had me do this since I was thirteen as you can guess. My brother… he's been sick for the longest time and my father has a grudge against the Coopers… so to make sure my brother got cared for, here I am."

"Oh…" she looked back to the picture once more and handed it back to Chase. "Your brother's very cute though."

"Yeah," he agreed, looking at both the pictures again before he put them back into this jacket. "He's a real good kid."

"What's his name?" Alexa asked curiously.

"Chris," he stated.

Alexa froze at the name. She had heard it before. "My name is… Chris." That's what that boy said his name was back in my dream… But Chase's brother is too young to be him. Could it be that Chase used his brother's name so not to give his own…?

Chase then noticed that she was looking him funny and inquired, "What?"

"So, if you've been watching me for four years… then you were watching two years ago, right?" she questioned, formulating the thought.

"Well, yeah. Why?"

Alexa gulped, "Are you—"

"Are you done with your plates?" the waiter asked, interrupting her.

"Huh, uh, sure," Alexa handed over her plate, as did Chase.

The waiter laid them atop his arm with ease and then asked, "Could I interest you two in some desert?"

Chase grinned to Alexa, "I would think you'd have some kind of sweet tooth, right?"

"But you're already paying for the meal. It would be too much for me to as—"

"Your finest piece of chocolate cake with two forks please," Chase said to the waiter, ignoring her.

"Yes, sir," the waiter bowed his head and walked off.

Alexa sighed, "You can't take no for an answer can you?"

"I guess you could say that I'm just stubborn," he chuckled.

Alexa stared at him with a questionable expression, thinking, There it is again. That boy's voice in his… it can't be Chase, could it?

"If you don't want it, you don't have to eat," he said, disrupting her thoughts.

She rolled her eyes and replied, "Why waste good food?"

"What a good way to live by," he laughed.

"Almost like 'You can never be too careful'?"

He nodded with a chuckle, "I guess."

"Your cake sir," the waiter said, putting the slice between the two. "Anything else?"

"The check would be nice. Thank you," the raccoon said thoughtfully.

"Yes, sir," and he went away again.

"Go ahead," he said beaming, "You take the first bite."

"Well…" Alexa was about to refuse, but she then looked to the slice. The cake looked soft and moist, and there had to have been at least three different kinds of chocolate in it that just made Alexa's mouth water at the thought. Curse my love of chocolate! "Alright. I'll try it first." She grabbed one of the forks, cutting off a small bite and put it in her mouth. "Mm… This is amazing!" she noted as she chewed.

"Really?" Chase questioned, taking the other fork and trying it for himself. "Hm… it is."

"I never lie when it comes to chocolate," she laughed, taking another bite.

"I guess it's something you develop when you have guys always giving you sweets to win you over, huh?" he said bluntly, taking another bite.

Alexa coughed a bit on the bite she had in her mouth, "What? No! Well… maybe. Valentine's Day was always the worst though." She took a drink to wash down her throat, sore from the coughing fit.

Chase laughed, "I guess that's true. I remember one year you had so many, you had to get Ken and Jamie to help you get them home."

"Oh, yeah," she said, remembering the year clearly. "It was actually last year. I remember how troublesome that was… but out of all of those, I think there was one really sweet."

"You mean rot your teeth out sweet?" he asked, thinking of all the candy she got that day.

"No! I mean sweet as in nice," she snapped. "It was just a simple card, nothing really fancy, and a little piece of chocolate shaped like a rose. And the card is what I remember the most. It was hand written, so I think they came from the heart because I don't think I've read any store cards like that," she chuckled. "Even today, I still know the words…"

"Really? What were they?" he asked curiously.

"Hmpt… you're gonna think it's cheesy."

"No, way. Promise," he said sincerely. Especially if I wrote those words…

"Alright…" she sighed. "'Beauty… Brains… and Strength,'" she recited, trying to remember the words clearly. "'Three things so very hard to achieve, in yet you have done it all. Maybe one day… you and I can be with one another and I tell you the truths I know… that my heart was taken by you and I hope you know me soon…'" she chuckled sadly at the last part, "'Happy Valentine's Day' signed with no name."

"Huh…" So my words… they really did touch her… wow, he thought, with a smile growing.

"I just wish I knew who sent it," Alexa continued, "That way I could thank him for the great card and the little chocolate. It was one of the most thoughtful gifts I ever got from a guy." She looked to Chase for his reaction, but saw that he was staring at her with this amazed look on his face, smiling. "What?" she asked, taking another bite.

"You really read all of those cards?" he laughed quietly.

"Skimmed really… but those words on that card stuck. I really liked them," she said, glowing with a small smile.

"I think you were right about one thing with that card," Chase stated, taking another bite.

"What?"

He swallowed, "That guy took those words from the heart," he smirked.

Alexa blushed and looked down at the table, asking, "How would you know?"

"Let's just say, I feel for the guy," he took another bite, so they'd get off the subject.

"But—"

"Your check sir," the waiter said, handing the small booklet to Chase.

Okay, this waiter is really starting to get on my nerves… Alexa thought irritably.

Chase looked at the check and nodded, "Figured that…" He then put a hundred dollar bill in the booklet and handing it back to the waiter, "There you are. I'd like the change."

"Very good, sir," the waiter nodded, taking his leave.

Chase looked back to Alexa and saw the shock on her face. "What?" he asked.

"'What'? What do you mean 'what'?" her voice wavering from surprise. "How much are you paying for this meal?"

"Not that much. Besides, it's not even my money," he stated, eating another bite of the cake.

"What?"

"Thank Rico Katz," he winked. "I mean, security was horrible and well, I had nothing better to do. So, why not raid his safe?"

This made Alexa laugh and nod in agreement, "What a thief does to make a living."

Chase chuckled, "I suppose so."

They were down to the last bite of cake, and the two actually fought over it with their forks. But in the end, after a few clacks of the metal smacking against each other, Alexa got the bite with her fork with a "Ha!" and a smile. Chase glared at her as she ate it but still couldn't help but smile at how cute she acted.

"Your change sir," the waiter said in his usual monotone voice.

"Thank you," Chase took out his change from the booklet and left a ten as a tip, pocketing the rest. "Ready to go?" he asked her, standing up.

Alexa drank the last of her water and stood up beside him taking her bag, "Yes."

They walked out together to the street. The sun was setting behind some of the buildings and the street lights began to blink on. The streets were crowded with people leaving for home and others going out to enjoy themselves for the night.

"So, anything else you want to do?" Chase asked, leaning up against one of the light posts.

"Well…" she looked up to the big center clock that read 7:30 P.M. What the hell. Maybe I could just stay out a little longer. "I've always wanted to go window shopping in Paris..."

"You haven't done that before?" he questioned with disbelief.

"Not really. The only times I got to go to Paris is when my mom drags me to a clothes store and then drags me home before I could," she explained.

"I see…" he nodded.

"Besides, I thought you knew everything about me," she replied smugly.

"Most. I said most everything about you. There is a difference," he said matter-of-factly.

"Right…"

"Well then, let's go," Chase stood up straight and moved his arm in front of him, saying, "Lead the way."

Alexa gave a small smile and walked ahead, with the male raccoon right behind her. It amazed both of them how many great things there were on the streets of Paris. Alexa was able to get absorbed in the art supplies and some "How to Draw" books. While on the other side of her, Chase was captivated with some other books of fantasy and adventure though he mainly read those books for the fighting scenes. They kept going from store to store, actually interacting with each other like a… almost like a couple. But, every time Chase would try to be a gentleman and buy Alexa one of the sketch books she liked, or a CD she thought was awesome, she would always refuse.

"And if you do try and buy anything for me, I won't accept it," Alexa stated, as they walked out of another shop to the streets.

"You and your pride," Chase sighed.

"Well, my pride and I are just fine with our own money, thank you very much."

"Alright, alright; no need to have a fit," he snickered.

Alexa just stuck her tongue out at him and faced the front. It was then that she noticed a wishing fountain up ahead… one that looked very familiar… "No way!" she exclaimed running towards it.

"What?" he asked following after her.

She stopped the well's edge and looked into the pool of water about four feet deep and saw her smiling reflection. "I knew it. This is the same well that I wished in when I was fourteen…" She stared at the reflective water, shining rays of light that came from beneath the water's surface and then said, "I think it came true… but maybe not all the way…"

"What did you wish for then?" Chase asked curiously.

"You're gonna think it's silly…" she muttered, blushing from the fact that he would want to know.

"Ah, come on. I didn't think that card you remembered was cheesy or silly," he stated. Though it was the one I wrote. "I'd love to hear it."

Alexa sighed, "Okay, fine. Just don't laugh, alright?" She put her bag down besides the fountain's wall and jumped up on the edge of fountain with perfect ease and balance. "I wished that my friends and I would have a big adventure together in our life time and that we'd find the one perfect for us."

Chase stood there for a moment, taking in what she just said. He then busted out laughing, hard enough to bring tears to his eyes.

"I told you not to laugh!"

"I'm sorry," Chase was stuck in a chuckling fit. "The coincidence is just so close!" he laughed.

Alexa blushed from frustration and glared in the distance, crossing her arms, muttering, "Why do you think I didn't want to tell you." She began to walk around on the edge, as Chase followed by her side.

"I'm sorry. It's just such a coincidence," he tried to explain himself, calming down.

"Tell me about it… it was just a couple days later that I was saved by him…"

"Who?"

"Some guy…he saved me from a group of thugs that ambushed me on the way over to Jamie's house. I guess… I'm grateful to him because he actually walked me the rest of the way to make sure I'd be okay. Though he did disappear when I reached the front door," she mumbled to herself.

Chase stopped and laughed again.

Alexa stood beside him, still on the fountains edge, and inquired, "Now what's so funny?"

"I was going to ask you if you remembered that day," he said, trying to clarify. "That guy you're talking about…" he grinned, looking to Alexa, looking straight into her eyes, "was me."

"What?" she shrieked. She turned quickly to face him, but she over shot it and began to fall back in the fountain. "Ah!"

"Alexa!" Chase grabbed her hand but didn't have the right footing so he got pulled in with her.

SPLASH!

The two teens sat in the water, both soaking wet. Their clothes clung to their bodies and their hair to their fur. They looked to each other, trying to figure out how to respond to this situation.

Alexa broke first. She began to laugh.

"What?" he asked.

"You look ridiculous!" she chuckled.

He actually blushed at her comment and retorted, "Oh, yeah? Well, what kind of master thief loses her balance?"

Her laughing faded and she glared at the boy across from her as he glared back. But soon, both of them began laughing together.

They got up out of the water and headed up one of the hills near the town where the forest loomed close by. They used the branches to hang some of their extra clothes to dry. Alexa was left in her pants and undershirt, squeezing out her black shirt and socks and then emptying out her shoes. Chase was bare-chested, trying to get his shirt dry, along with having his shocks and shoes to dry. They sat down, looking up at the stars but with at least three feet between them.

"The stars are always so beautiful on a summer's night, aren't they?" Chase questioned, almost sounding poetic.

Alexa nodded, "Yeah…" A gust of wind brushed by them, and she shivered, grumbling, "But I can't believe it's the wind so cold on a summer's night!"

Chase chucked, "Well, you could swallow that pride of yours and come sit next to me for warmth."

"There's no way in—" she got cut off as another breeze came by, making her shiver again. She left out an annoyed sigh in defeat. She stood up and walked over, crossing her arms and sat next to the raccoon.

Chase grinned as a thought came to his mind. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, and then he put it on her shoulder saying, "You'll never get warm that far out, silly."

"Shut up!" Alexa said irritably but thought, Though… it is warmer next to him.

They looked back up to the stars once again in peace when Alexa broke the silence.

"Chase… are you really the kid from two years ago that saved me?"

Chase gave a nod, "I said my brother's name instead of my own back then because, well… I wasn't supposed to tell you my name. Even so, I was told not to get close to you again." He chuckled, "Though, that was kind of broken when I tried to take the Thievius Raccoonus from you…" And with how we are now¸ he completed in his mind.

"So… I guess you got in trouble that day?" she questioned, looking at his scars.

"I guess you could say that." He looked to her for a reaction, but noticed how she stared at his scars and said, "But that's not where I get these scars."

"Then how did you get them?"

"Training, battle wounds, and other punishments," he explained, "But, no need to pity me for it. I've always been taught that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. So, I think this helped me be who I am today." He looked back up to the sky and continued, his voice smooth and un-breaking, "As long as Chris didn't get hurt for my mistakes and he was getting along fine, that made it just fine with me."

Alexa stared at him for the longest time after he said that. The way he said it, as if there was nothing to getting hurt, gave her a new respect and admiration for him. Made you… into the person you are today… she smiled to herself with the next thought, a strong, kind, caring, smart, and even handsome person. I guess… a person who cares and likes me too…

Chase looked back to her and smiled.

She blushed a little at the fact that she was caught staring at him but even still, smiled back. "Um… Thanks for taking me on this… date…thing. I had a good time."

"You're welcome," he replied. He then began to lean into her, as if he was trying to kiss her.

Alexa froze as her mind whirled, Oh, no! He's gonna try and kiss me again! What do I do? I've admitted to myself, somewhat, that I like him… but does that mean that I'd actually let him kiss me… Although her head was still thinking about it, she began to lean into him as well.

As their faces grew closer together, the clock struck to eight. Alexa disregarded it until it chimed that that it was forty-five minutes after eight. She pulled away with realization, gasping, "Oh, no!" She stood up and ran over to her things, trying to get herself pulled together.

Chase stood up and stared at the worrying half-vixen, "What's wrong?"

"I have to go," she explained, trying to pull her still moist shirt over her head and get her shoes and socks on. "I have to meet up with Ken and Jamie to do the ruby exchange. They are so going to kill me," she muttered as she grabbed her bag, making sure everything was in there.

"I'll give you a ride," Chase suggested.

"No, it'll be quicker if I run from here. It's only a couple blocks and by the time we get your bike, I will most surly be killed by Jamie," she stated, slinging her bag over her shoulder and starting to run down the hill, back into town.

"Then, let me go with you."

"It's okay," Alexa said, turning back to look at him. "I can take care of myself. After all, I'm not the girl I was two years ago," she smiled. "Thanks again for everything. Bye!" with that she kept running, heading towards the nearest power-line to walk on.

Chase sat back down in frustration, looking over to the clock, muttering, "Damn the clock… She and I were so close… I just know she was going to let me actually kiss her this time!" he laid on his back, grabbing his hair, "Why must time be so cruel…"

But then he looked back up to the stars and remembered how well everything else went, and said with a sigh, "Oh well… this actually went better than I thought it would have." He smiled, putting his hands behind his head, "She actually likes me…"

See, I told you it wasn't going to be a cliffy. Well, not exactly. I guess you're all wondering about what gonna happen at the ruby exchange… let me just say, it's gonna get very interesting (like I haven't said that before though ^^).

Well, I haven't decided on what the Alexa and Chase picture will be… I am but a lowly artist who sucks at poses (especially if I don't have a picture…) so please be patient with me. But I do hope to have it up soon, at least before school starts back up (I have like 3 more weeks before school! It's very sad T_T).

But other than my rambling, what did you all think? Please, please, please review! I really want to know about this chapter (first time writing a date scene…).

So, thanks again for reading and hope to see you when the next chapter comes up soon ;) Later!