AN: Hey everyone! You guys were really amazing with your reviews this past couple chapters, so I'm putting extra effort into writing the next one. This chapter is kind of filler until I could think of what the hell to make the 'Kelly Clan' like. And I missed Summer, so she's in this chapter. Also, I realized re-reading this story that I didn't at all give you an image of what Kris looks like, so I gave you a little bit in here too. I also realized that I took A LOT of liberties in writing more about Alex's past, I mean her father's a DA? Where'd that come from? But I felt like that show didn't elaborate enough, so I was forced to make it up. Next chapter we see what life as a Kelly is really like. Two reviews and I start writing. So hurry, hurry. I'm counting on you. Until next time, farewell.

"Coop… Coop…Coop!" A voice makes itself aware from beside me, breaking into my consciousness and drawing me back into the world. That voice was the only thing holding me to the ground like an anchor slowly being pulled up and out of the water. My other senses followed my hearing as I started to feel the hard surface of my car supporting me from behind and someone shaking me back and forth trying to wake me up. Then came the smell of the salt water and sand close by; the sense triggered memories of someone I know that always smelt like the ocean, though I couldn't recall who. The next sense I became aware of was the salty taste of what I assumed to be my own tears, though I couldn't remember why I'd been crying.

I was fully aware then except for my sense of sight, and that worried me. I started to ask myself if the cause of the blackouts could also cause blindness. Then I realized my eyes were closed. Cursing myself for being so stupid I opened my eyes and recognized Summer next to me. She looked worried and that would have concerned me if I wasn't so used to that expression.

"Are you with me?" Maybe that phrase would have been useful a little bit ago when I talked to… her, but that was all behind us now. Now I didn't know what to think. I sure as hell didn't know where to go from here.

"Yeah." No, not really. I'm not even with myself half the time. But I'm always somewhere else. I'm always with… her.

"Coop, What happened?"

I broke eye contact with those big brown orbs and realized the inconvenient setting of this conversation. I had to get out of here. Here was too close to there, and there was where… she was. "Not here." I replied choking down my tears.

"Okay… Come on." She took my hand and helped me to her car. It probably wasn't a good idea for me to leave my car here again. Leaving my car here meant I'd have to come back eventually, but then again didn't I want to?

She drove me to the house of horrors and parked the car in the driveway. She looked at me expectantly and I started my story. I told her everything's that happened up until last night, including Mr. BAD's motives, "that bitch's" appearance, and the blackouts.

"Last night we slept together… and it was probably the best night I've had… in a very, very long time. Then this morning… she was gone when I woke up. I decided to confront her about it and she said that it meant nothing because it wasn't supposed to happen. I told her… that I was in love with her and she… said she needed some time to think."

"Coop… I'm so sorry."

Tears started streaming down my cheeks and for the first time I didn't want to stop them. "I just don't understand Sum! It's not supposed to be this way! We're supposed to be together! She's supposed… she's supposed to love me." A hysterical fit hit me as I starting banging angrily on her dashboard. "I laid out everything for her and she threw it away, Sum! She tossed it aside like it meant nothing to her at all! Like I mean nothing to her at all! And for what? For that stupid bitch?"

I hated whatever her name is. I hated her with every fiber of my being. She might have been a really cool person deep down; we might have even got along on normal circumstances. I probably wouldn't have hated her so much is she wasn't just sooo… perfect. Not perfect in the sense of pure awesomeness, but perfect as in… perfect for Alex.

There is nobody I had pictured as more Alex's type than that bitch. With her stupid side –swept, dark purple, bob haircut stretching to a little over half the length of her neck and amazing hazel colored eyes. She wore bright-orange eye shadow so it contrasted her hair and eyes stunningly. Her retardedly amazing athletic but slim figure and bone structure that could give Alex's a run for her money served as a death blow to my ego. Whatever her name is was definitely hot, I'd probably do her if I liked girls other than Alex, and that was the reason I hated her. If she had been ugly I wouldn't have minded at all. But the fact that I have competition with someone that's known Alex for practically her whole life AND was totally gorgeous sucked ass.

"I thought you said that Alex said they were just friends."

"She did. But you didn't see the way she looked at Alex. You can tell half of her life has been chasing after that girl. I can't compete with that."

"Coop, you don't have to. Alex is crazy about you. Stop being in denial and accept that."

"Is it denial if you've been rejected?"

"You weren't rejected; you were just… put off. There's a difference."

"Well, my pride says otherwise."

"Fuck you're pride! Did it ever occur to your pride that Alex may have stuff going on in her life that's too complicated to deal with while trying to sort out her feelings for you?"

"The guilt trip? Nice method Sum… IF MAKING ME FEEL WORSE WAS YOU'RE GOAL."

"Get your head out of your ass for a moment and realize that not everything is about you! God Coop, I swear… you're worse than Cohen sometimes."

"Fine. What am I supposed to do then?"

"You wait like a good little girl and maybe, just maybe, you'll prove to her you're mature enough to deal with something like this right now."

"I don't want to wait for our lives to be over. Will it be yes or will it be… sorry?"

She shakes her head at me and gives me THAT look. "Paula Cole? Really Coop? Really? You're such a nerd." I grin at her from the passenger seat as she hugs me. "But I love you anyway. Call me if I need to go rage black out on some fools, because I will totally kick Alex's ass if there isn't a good reason for breaking your heart."

"I will."

"Good. Now get out of my car woman. I've got to go make sure Cohen hasn't shot himself in the foot."

"What?"

"It's a long story; call me every once in a while and you might learn what's going on in my life." I hadn't been there for Summer like I should have been recently. It'd gone on long enough to have my best friend license suspended. I could only hope to be able to change that soon.

"Sum?"

"Yeah?

"Thank you… for everything."

"Don't thank me. If a little birdy hadn't convinced me to come get you I would have left your ass in the parking lot." She drove off after saying that with a smile letting me know she'd never really do that to me, but considered it.

I entered the house with a heavy heart unsuspecting of my worst nightmare sitting at my counter like he owned the place. "Mr. Daily… I didn't know you'd be here."

"Well I was thinking that you'd have to come home eventually, so if I waited long enough I'd get lucky."

"Did my mom let you in?"

"She didn't have to… she gave me a key." Great… best news I've hear all day.

"How convenient." I comment sarcastically. He approaches me in that all-powerful manner of his slowly, arms behind his back like he was in a meeting.

"I'm assuming you forgot out little date last night. After all I don't see any other reason to justify you not showing up. You aren't the type of person to stand me up… are you?" His question was forceful, like he wanted me to know what the right answer was because he was telling me. He seemed angrier than I had ever seen him.

"Nope, I forgot. I'm sorry."

"You won't let it happen again… will you Marissa?"

"Never."

"So please share with me where you were last night."

"I was here studying for a Spanish test." Having sex with the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on.

"You wouldn't be lying to me, now would you?" He was in my personal bubble all of a sudden and I was backed up against a wall. I had to say that handsome face was really scary up close.

"Of course not." I'm lying my ass off.

"Really? Because I called Mrs. Cooper-Nichol. She said you'd been gone all day." Damn her. He put his arms up against the wall blocking any exit I might have had. "You know… Marissa, I'm a man of great importance. People would die to get on my good side. It's not exactly exaggerating to say that a lot of people would do ANYTHING to please me. This might be because I offer great fortune to those few that succeed, or because the ones that fail to do so seem to… run into a very unfortunate streak of bad luck; choose whichever reason you wish, it doesn't matter to me. Just know that I can be an excellent ally, or a terrible man to cross. And one of the things I consider to fall into the crossing category is lying to me. We wouldn't want to do that now, would we?"

"No."

"Then be a good little girl and behave. The sooner we can get this all over with the happier all of us will be."

"Speak for yourself." I say breaking eye contact. The comment would have been better had it been silent, but it came out, and I'd felt the repercussions instantly.

"Excuse me?" He demanded an explanation that I refused to give. He tried to force it out of me. It must have made him angry that I wouldn't look at him, for he grabbed my chin and forced it forward with unexpected strength, then held it there.

"Nothing. Nothing at all."

"That's what I thought." He moved from me and released his hold. I walked cautiously towards the stairs but he grabbed my shoulder before I got a safe distance away. Braiden gripped hard. Hard enough to bruise. "I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation."

"I think I have a pretty good idea."

"Think of this as the merger of the decade. We get past this and both of our lives will be smooth sailing. My business will take off with nothing standing in its way. And I take my business very, very seriously. Anything in the way of that goal I will deem an immediate personal enemy and it's not pleasant to be on that list."

"You need me."

"I do… but there are other ways for me to get someone to cooperate. Especially if they have as many friends as you do." He paused and squeezed harder. "Is that clear?"

"Crystal."

I'd never considered running away for real until after Mr. BAD left. It seemed like the only solution to all of my problems. Who'd really miss me anyways? My mom? Are you kidding? She's the first one willing to sentence me to a life of misery just for a few extra dollars. Summer? She had Seth, and after that way I'd been neglecting her lately I'm surprised she came through for me today. Ryan? He'd get over it. Probably just find another preppy brunette like Taylor Townsend. Alex? Her bags are probably already in the back of her jeep. She always seemed like the type of person to run away from her problems. So I set out with the full intent to get my car, pack my bags and head out to god knows where. But nothing ever really works out the way we plan it.

I don't quite remember traveling to The Baitshop from my house, but I'm guessing I probably walked. Nothing was ever quite too far away to walk in Newport. The club was pretty busy that night so it was no use trying to get in and say goodbye even if I felt like I wanted to. I unlocked the door to my car and climbed in, then remembered that this might be the last time I'd get a chance to watch the tides change from that bench on the pier.

I walked over to the spot and sat down promising myself twenty minutes before I had to leave. Part of me just needed to say farewell. I don't remember how long I sat there but it must've been longer than twenty minutes because the sun had completely disappeared and the moon was reflecting over the water at that perfect angle.

I didn't need to look to know who it was that walked up from behind and sat there beside me. I always felt her near me, even when she was far away. I knew her scent. I knew the sound she makes when she walks. I knew that way my heart started beating faster whenever she was close by.

She stayed silent for a while but I didn't mind. I was still supposed to be angry with her, but it's hard to be angry with someone when you keep picturing their naked body in your head. Finally after I noticed the tide change, and I assume she does too, she says bluntly "My dad's dead."

I didn't really know what to say to that little bit of information. She didn't exactly like the man, but he was her dad. I decided to say what the statement made me think. "Wow."

"That's what I said." I look at her. "His funeral's tomorrow and I wasn't invited, but my best friend and my boss were."

"Family reunions are never fun anyway." She chuckles at my comment.

"Thank you for being the only one that hasn't apologized for my loss."

"It wasn't really a loss, of course I wouldn't apologize for it."

"You understand me better than anyone else I know."

"No I don't, I just pretend to." My sarcastic remarks weren't discouraging her from continuing as I'd hoped.

"Come with me."

I didn't need to inquire about what she was referring to. I would have replied with an 'I'll think about it' if I hadn't remembered what Summer said earlier. "Do you want me there?"

"I need you there." Her face was that of pure honesty and I couldn't refuse those pleading eyes.

"Okay, I'll go to your estranged father's funeral, but only because you asked nicely." She smiled and I'd knew I'd done the right thing for once. If she smiled about it something there was no way it could be the wrong thing.

"Thank you."

"Thank you for needing me."

"You're probably excited to see the Kelly Clan." (AN: Thanks for the nickname reviewers! There were two different people that called it that and I was amazed, so thanks. You know who you are.) She observed.

"Oh yeah, totally. I'm excited to see people with personalities just like you." I say with a sarcastic tone and she smirks.

"Just promise to not hit on my brothers and I think we'll be okay." She said stretching out on the bench and laying her head down on my lap to look up at the stars.

"Who said anything about your brothers? I'm thinking you're sister dude, maybe even your mom. See just how close the resemblance is."

She laughs and I rest a hand on her stomach subconsciously while stroking her hair. "That is so wrong on so many different levels." She says while laughing.

"Aw, someone jealous?"

"Always." I hear her say under her breath but I refuse to respond to that statement. "You won't like them anyways. My sister looks like me but is less awesome, and my mom's just a manipulative bitch."

"Sounds like my family."

"My two younger brothers are total assholes to me. But that's just cuz they're jealous I've got more game than both of them combined. I stole both of their girlfriend's one time, it was hilarious. And my older brother… he's pretty cool. You'll like him the most, I guarantee it."

"It sounds to me like you're the excited one."

"I just want to tell them to kiss my ass one last time. They never thought I could make it on my own. Said I was too irresponsible or whatever."

"You'll sure show them."

"Hell yeah I will, especially when I pull up in a candy red Mustang." She grins at me with THAT smile. The one that showed off the world's sexiest dimples.

"I think I understand why you need me there now. You LOVE my car."

"Well it is a pretty amazing car. I'm more of a Camaro kind of girl myself, but still. No though, that's only one of the reasons I need you there."

"What's the other reason?"

"My dad just died, Rissa. I might need a little bit of moral support or whatever."

"And there's not someone more suitable for this job at your disposal?"

"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…. Nope. You, just you." The way she said it made me think that there may have been a double meaning in that statement. But I didn't want to read too much into it. I was just fine here, now, with her, even if I didn't have all my answers yet. All I needed to know was that she needed someone, and I was glad to be there for her in a time like this. I'll save my running away until next week.