Auhtor's note:

Hey hey people! Thank you so so soooo much for all of the reviews, alert adds, etc. I was reading them and smiling like an idiot. They're may or may not have been dancing several happy jigs involved...

My new goal is 45 reviews. I think that's reasonable.

Thank you to everyone that voted on which story we're gonna be writing next. I got 7 votes for Alek to prove he isn't ashamed of Chloe at a basketball game, 2 votes for how Chloe loses her remaining lives and 1 vote for discovering the family secret thingy. C is the obvious winner so I'll start working on that right away. Anybody have a certain way that they want Alek to prove it? PM me if you do. I'll still take votes though!

Don't forget to read the reply reviews at the end. Very special thank you to Lil5weetie and Kylee-Cat. There reviews saved this chapter! I dedicate this to you two!

What did you all think about episode 9? The ending was epic! Random Chalek kiss! Yay! I don't know if I should be excited for next week because that episode looks amazing but ! Or maybe sad because it doesn't seem like it has much hope for Chalek and it's the summer finale and abc family might not give it another season. I will forever hate that station if they do that! Tell me what you think in a review or PM! If you haven't seen the promo and/or sneak peeks, I suggest you go to Youtube and watch them stat.

Diclaimer: I own The Nine Lives of Chloe King as much as I own Paul's epic sidekick-ness, in other words; I wish!

Enjoy the story and don't forget to review.

"These are fascinating."

Alek put down the stack of papers he was looking through. The name "Giuseppe Luca" was typed neatly on the label of the file folder. Giuseppe Luca was the Italian Mai that the Order had mistaken for the Uniter half a century ago. He had been shot by an assassin, presumed dead, but seen a few months later. Truth is he had visited an exceptional doctor and survived the gunshot. The truth that he wasn't the Uniter came when the Order attacked and he never woke up. Before that day, the Order had catalogued everything he did, every routine he had and everyone he dealt with. They stalked him to find some sort of fatal weakness. There were similar files for all important Mai, such as pride leaders and lead hunters. Alek had been slightly disturbed to see the one about his aunt and after reading about a late-night rendez-vous at a hotel in town with an unknown male Mai, promptyly closed it and shoved it to the bottom of the pile. Files had been created for Alek and Jasmine because they were the Uniter's protectors.

"They did the same for Chloe," Brian announced sliding the largest of all the files across the table to Alek.

Alek opened it, his eyes growing wider with evey page he looked at. There were transcripts of every conversation that took place in her house when she talked to Amy, Paul, her mother, Alek, Jasmine, Frank even Brian and Lana on the phone.

The next set of pages were blueprints of her house, school and Varese Vintage. After that came Chloe's class and work schedules, habits, frequented locations and her mother's work information. The rest of the documents contained every bit of Chloe's life including pages and pages of photographs of Chloe with all of her friends, Lana, her mother, Valentina and anyone else she's interacted with in the last few months. Alek chuckled at the picture of him laying in Chloe's bed with a panicked, awkard Chloe and an angry Meredith standing beside him. Then his face flushed when he saw the photo of Chloe, clad in only a lacy strapless bra and matching underwear, jumping around her room with Amy, getting ready to go clubbing.

Brian saw Alek's face and smiled, knowing exactly which photo the Brit was looking at given he'd had virtually the same reaction.

The two spent the next hour or so going through the remaining files and watcing and listening to the video and audio surveillance clips on Brian's laptop.

Alek's phone chimed, interrupting the comfortable silence. He pulled it out of his pocket and upon reading the message was unable to keep the goofy grin from spreading scross his face.

From: Chloe

Message: Hey! Where r u? Jas nd I r hving movie day. Waitn 4 u 2 watch the horror movies! Hurry up nd get ovr here! (BTW J says bring dinner)

-Chloe

Brian watched in silence as Alek tapped out a reply and pocketed his phone.

"Chloe?" Brian guessed with a knowing look.

Alek debated denying it but realized it would be pointless. "How'd you know?"

"The look on your face," Brian responded, "I used to be like that whenever Chloe texted me."

Alek nodded his head, looking away wishing they could return to talking about the Order.

"You love her," Brian said. From the tone he used, it was obvious that it wasn't a question. He was stating something that he already knew definitively.

This time Alek didn't bother denying it. It seemed that no matter how much he tried to deny it every one could see through him. Jasmine, Valentina, Amy, even some of his friends from school and now Brian. Everyone except Chloe, the one person that needed to know. Alek looked Brian dead in the eye, knowing that they wouldn't be going back to their old conversation anytime soon. "So do you."

Brian shrugged and said somewhat wearily, "Yeah…I do…'

"You don't sound so sure."

"It's just…I…." Brian started, stumbling over his words. Alek raised an eyebrow, intrigued. If Brian admitted to not loving Chloe then Alek would have an even better shot with her.

Brian took a deep breath and continued. It's just that after finding out all of this I feel like I don't really know Chloe. How can you love some one you don't really know? Plus I see now that there's no way we can be together with the curse and all so I've been trying to get over her."

Silence fell over the two, this time an awkward one. Alek's phone went off again with a text from Jasmine who decided she wanted Mexican for dinner.

"Tell her," Brian said randomly.

"What?" Alek asked confused.

"Tell Chloe how you feel about her. Ask her out," Brian said, sadness in his eyes.

"Are you serious?" Alek questioned incredulously, "You're really telling me to go after the girl you love…or used to love?"

Brian nodded his head yes, knowing how ridiculous the situation must seem but needing to get to his point. 'Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing. I want Chloe to be happy and I can't do that. You can though. Plus I'm pretty sure she feels the same." Brian's face was crushed by the end of his statement. He quickly turned to reach into the bag behind him and pulled out a small piece of paper and a pen.

Alek's heart was racing by the time Brian stopped talking. He wasn't sure how to take Brian's confession. He sounded sincere but Alek couldn't help but think that maybe Brian was planning revenge by getting Alek to confess his feeling and be brutally rejected – not to mention humiliated – by Chloe. Still, he couldn't help but smile and be filled with hope at Brain's words. I'm pretty sure she feels the same. About Alek. It was like a dream come true for him. Just as he was about to ask Brian how he knew, the human started talking.

"My dad's planning on sending me away to an office in Connecticut next week. He doesn't want me to stay because he thinks you or anyone else is going to come after me. I don't want to be apart of this now that I know what it is though so I'm taking what money I have and moving closer to my mother's family in Florida. I'm over 18 so my father can't stop me," Brian rushed out in one breath. He was getting kind of desperate for this conversation to end. He scrawled something down on th piece of paper and handed it to Alek. "I bought a pre-paid that my dad hasn't tapped. Call me if you need anything.'

Alek took the card from his hand and looked down at the number written in messy handwriting before sticking it in his back pocket.

"Do you think you could tell all of this stuff to my aunt. She really should know,' Alek said, gesturing widely to the array of files and CDs.

Brian shook his head, "I can't but you can take all of them to her yourself. I made copies and these are yours."

Alek stood up as if to leave.

"Hold on a sec," Brian said causing Alek to sit back down and look at him expectantly.

"This might seem like a stupid warning but be really careful."

"We are. That day was a mishap and it won't happen again," Alek defended.

"No, no, not that,' Brian hurried. "You see, the Order doesn't only kill Mai by sending guys with knives after them. They poison their food, make their cars' breaks stop working so they crash, have heavy objects fall off of buildings onto their heads. The only thing that kept this from happening to Chloe is that she would wake up and that my father wanted to see her breathe her last breath. Now he's pretty desperate to see her dead so he'll start using all the dirty tricks he has to eliminate her lives one by one."

Alek was frightened by what that meant. The only way to keep her completely, 100% safe with the new threat was to put her into hiding, something Chloe refused to do. It would mean she couldn't eat out, couldn't walk down the street without a Mai checking everything first. She would have every bit of her life more guarded than the president and knowing Chloe she would hate every second of it.

Alek's phone chimed again interrupting his thoughts. Chloe texted him again, asking for extra guacamole on her burrito and chips and salsa for her and Jasmine.

"I'd better go," Alek said standing up.

Brian stood up as well. "Yeah, same here."

They shook hands.

"Thank you... for everything," Alek said quietly. "and I'm really sorry for attacking you."

"Don't worry about it. You were protecting Chloe. Thank you for that," Brian said, smiling.

"I hope you get to Florida alright."

"Take care of Chloe…and yourself."

Alek picked up the heavy bag and walked out to his car thinking that maybe Brian Rezza wasn't that bad. For a human.

(A/N: Hope you guys didn't hate that part too much. I know it's a stretch but I needed some way of showing that Brian wouldn't get in the middle of Chalek...for now. ;P)

About an hour later, Alek stepped out of the elevator, struggling under the weight of three stuffed Chipotle bags, a tray of sodas, a big white box in a bag and the enormous black canvas bag from Brian. Unfortunately there were only three apartments on their floor and their's was at the very end, around the corner. He finally reached the door feeling as if his arms would snap off. He put down the canvas bag patting his pockets for his keys. He finally got the door open.

The apartment was dark, the only light coming from the television. Alek could see Chloe and Jasmine sitting on the couch, leaning on one another, watching the girls on screen arguing. Neither of the two Mai acknowledged his entry.

"You know, if I was an assassin you'd both be dead by now," Alek said loudly, smirking.

He heard Chloe laugh and his smirk turned into a small smile.

"We knew you were there, Alek," she said.

"We just didn't care," Jasmine finished, chuckling.

Alek's smile became mischievous, "Well, if you don't care then I'll just take two of these Chipotle bags back down to the doorman…'

Instantly the two girls leapt to their feet and rushed to Alek.

"Yay! You're back!" Chloe exclaimed, somewhat sarcastically, grabbing the tray of drinks. Jasmine gave her cousin an exaggerated hug and took the brown bags from him.

The three made their way back to the saofas. Alek took Jasmine's seat on the couch next to Chloe. She opened her mouth to protest but one pleading look from Alek made her turn and take a seat on the love seat. Normally, Jasmine would have physically moved Alek but she let it slide, desperately wanting her cousin and her best friend to stop pining after each other and just get together already.

Chloe's head snapped up as Alek sat down beside her instead of Jasine. Her face flushed and she looked away shyly, as Alek spread both of his arms along the back of the couch and therefore right behind her head.

Normally she would have a smart remark about personal space but after finally admitting to herself how she felt about Alek, she couldn't help but feel awkward around him. Plus, her heart wasn't helping by speeding up. She tried desperately to calm it, knowing that Alek and Jasmine would hear. The latter smirked at her, receiving a glare from Chloe in return.

Alek's knee bumped Chloe's as he stretched out further. The girl's eyes widened at he electricity that shot through her body at the contact. Chloe tried to hide herself and put distance between their bodies by cowering into the armrest. Jasmine opened her burrito and watched the two in amusement.

Alek reached his arm around Chloe's retreating figure to grab his Coke. He expected to have his arm smacked away and to be chastised for his lack of manners; instead Chloe wrapped her arms around herself, ducked her head and looked in the opposite direction. Alek took a sip of his soda and studied Chloe as he started unwrapping his food. Every time he got near her she cowered away but she didn't seem scared of him. How could she? Instead she seemed embarrassed. Alek couldn't fathom why she would feel that embarrassed. She looked beautiful in her purple tank top and balck & white pajama pants with her curly blonde hair plied on top of her head. Plus, Alek had seen her dirt and grass covered men's sweats with twigs in her hair and sweat all over her body and she hadn't cared at all. Something was off with Chloe and A;le wanted to find out.

He leaned back towards Chloe and put his mouth next to her ear. "I don't bite…unless you want me too," he whispered in her ear.

The combined effect of his suggestive words, his proximity, the feeling of his breath tickling her ear and his accent sent al the blood rushing to her face and a shiver down her spine. Finally, she decided she had enough. She placed a hand in the center of Alek's chest and shoved him away as she sprung from her set.

"We need plates!" she said quickly before rushing into the kitchen.

Alek stared after her, smirking because he could have that affect on her but wondering if the effect was good or bad. He watched her walk away, admiring the strip of pale, unblemished skin of her lower back where the pajama pants slipped down slightly and her tank top rode up.

"Stop."

The voice surprised Alek. He pulled himself out of his thoughts and turned to his cousin. "What?"

"Stop doing this, Alek," Jasmine repeated crossing her arms over her chest.

Even though he knew what she meant, he decided to feign ignorance hoping she would drop it. He didn't feel like talking about a girl with Jasmine, especially not when said girl was I the next room and had super-hearing. "Stop what?"

"Stop acting like you don't care. I know you lo-"

"Shhhhh!" Alek jumped up and slapped his hand onto Jasmine's mouth "She can hear you," he hissed, so quietly she almost couldn't hear him. Jasmine glared at her cousin until he removed his hand. Instantly his expression went from frantic to sad and confused.

Sometimes he thought Chloe liked him back and got prepared to make a move but she always ran back to her human. Now said human was falling out of love with Chloe but that doesn't mean she felt the same about him.

Alek had fallen head over heels in love with Chloe and knew that even if she rejected him, he would feel that way the rest of his life. He would be her protector for several more years, decades even, and if he wasn't he'd still be around her. Valentina would do everything she could to keep Chloe with the San Francisco pride, therefore in Alek's life.

Jasmine took note of his expression and pulled him onto the loveseat next to her with a sympathetic smile. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and he let his head drop to her. The last time they sat like that was when they were 14 years old.

Alke had just arrived in America after being abandoned by his adoptive parents. Back then Alek was scrawny with a high-pitched voice. He spent most of his time in his room, except when Jasmine forced him to go training once a week. One day Alek came home from going to the bookstore with a bloody face, a body full of bruises and a serious limp. He had gashes in his thighs where he dug his claws to keep from fighting back and possibly killing the human boys that jumped him because of his "funny accent." Valentina had been out of town on business so Jasmine took it upon herself to clean his wounds and ice his sore leg. She offered to go find the boys and make them pay but instead ended up holding him as he finally let out the tears he'd been harboring since he started transforming.

After that Jasmine and Alek became very close. She helped him train harder to gain strength and control of his new abilities. She introduced him to some other Mai their age and he made some friends but he was still having trouble readjusting to the human world. Valentina hired a tutor instead of making him go to school until 2 ½ years ago when he transferred into Marina High with Jasmine. By that time, all of the training had taken away the scrany and replaced it with lean, hard muscle, the acne had disappeared and puberty had finlly made his voice a lot deeper. Some of the older Mai guys taught him basketball so he quickly made the school team. From then on he was the gorgeous, cocky, British basketball star and most popular guy in school.

At that moment, sitting on the sofa with Alek thinking about the possibilities of getting his heart broken, was the first time in over 2 years Jasmine had seen her cousin's vulnerable side.

"What do I do, Jas?" Alek asked.

Jasmine looked down at him. "Tell her how you feel. Kiss her."

Alek lifted his head and shook it. "I can't. What if she turns me down? I couldn't deal with that.'

"She won't," Jasmine tried reassuring him. He scoffed. "I'm serious, Alek. Just trust me."

Before Alek could reply, Chloe emerged from the kitchen with a stack of plates. Alek pulled away from Jasmine and moved to sit back on the sofa. Chloe sat in the armchair after passing out plates. Alek tried not to let the hurt he felt show on his face as Chloe purposely moved her hand away to avoid coming in contact with him when they both reached for a napkin at the same time.

Jasmine put Paranormal Activity on. The three ate and watched in silence, Alek and Chloe staring at only the TV and Jasmine looking between the two and the screen.

Jasmine put a second horror movie on and when it ended, Jasmine stood up.

"Well, as fun as this was, I'm going to bed," she announced, cleaning up her mess. "The sexual tension in here is unbearable.'

Alek and Chloe turned their hands around to look at her. Chloe was bright red and wide-eyed while Alek glared at Jasmine. She mouthed "Do. It." at Alek before turning to whisper something in Chloe's ear. Chloe blushed even more deeply and smacked Jasmine, who laughed and ran to her room, on the shoulder.

"I'm gonna hit the sack too," Chloe said, standing up.

"Good night," Alek replied.

"Good night, Alek," Chloe said before disappearing into the hallway.

Alek sighed quietly as he watched her leave. His mind was immediately flooded with thought of Chlo. He remembered Jasmine's and Brian's words and wondered if and how he should tell Chloe that he's in love with her.

Alek switched the TV back to Fios and flipped through until he found an old basketball game. He wrapped himself in the blanket Jasmine had left on the couch and watched the game intently, trying to distract him from all thoughts of Chloe. He was almost asleep when he felt something poking him in the side.

"Jasmine!"

Chloe barged into Jasmine's room. Instead of going to the guest room she was staying in when she left the living room she went straight there.

Jasmine looked up from the book she was reading by her window. "Yes, Chloe?"

"What was…that?" Chloe said quietly, incase Alek was listening, gesturing towards the living room.

"Two people that are obviously in love with each other but are too stubborn and clueless to tell each other," Jasmine said putting down her book.

Chloe closed the bedroom door and took a seat on the end of Jasmine's bed.

"I'll tell him," Chloe sighed. 'I promise.'

A huge smile erupted on Jasmine's face. "Really?" Chloe nodded, turning her heads to stare at the wall on the other side of the room. Jasmine rushed to her door and opened it. She made an exaggerated "after you" gesture to Chloe who shook her head.

"Tomorrow," the blonde said, "maybe next week."

Jasmine sighed and shut the door. She came and sat beside Chloe.

"Alek's not as strong as he seems," the brunette said, suddenly very serious.

Chloe looked at her friend, studying her face for some clue as to what she was hinting at. "What?"

"Alek's been through a lot with losing his parents then transforming in front of his adoptive parents and having them throw him out and moving to America. He used to get bullied a lot when he came here but don't tell him I told you that."

Chloe nodded, surprised. Alek was bullied? Chloe couldn't imagine the sexy, strong, popular Alek Petrov she knew ever being the victim of bullying. Without even relying on his Mai abilities, Alek could easily pummel any bully.

Jasmine continued. "He's been hurt so many times so, please, don't you hurt him too."

"Never." Chloe's reply was instant and ernest. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I hurt Alek."

"That's good to know."

It wasn't Jasmine's voice that replied. The voice was male and accented, British to be exact, and coming from the now open doorway. Both girls looked up shocked. They were so absorbed in their conversation that they didn't hear him approach.

"How…how much did you hear?" Chloe asked, nervously.

"Enough." For once Alek wasn't smirking. He looked touched and very pleased.

Neither one said anything for a while, just staring at each other as Jasmine looked between them. Finally she cleared her throat.

"Okay, I really am going to bed now so both of you get out." She got up and pushed Alek out of her door. She turned back to Chloe, winked at her and made her leave as well.

Chloe stepped into the hallway. Much to her relief Alek was nowhere to be found so she just headed for the guest room. Just as she passed Alek's open door he called out to her. She stepped hesitantly into his room.

Alek was standing in the middle of the room looking at her. He had taken off his shirt and Chloe tried – and failed- to keep a blush off of her face as her eyes skimmed over his bare chest, muscled arms and six-pack. He motioned for her to come in as he took a seat on the edge of his bed.

"Yes, Alek?" she asked, stepping further into his room and taking a seat on his desk chair.

"I just wanted to say thank you for what you said to Jasmine," he said quietly, staring at her.

"It's nothing. Really." Chloe replied shyly, looking away.

"Either way, it means a lot," Alek insisted.

Finally, Chloe brought her eyes up to meet his.

"I care about you, Alek," she admitted. "I'd never hurt you. I'd sacrifice as many of my lives as it takes to save yours."

The words made Alek unbelievably happy. However he didn't want her dying for him. He tried to protest. "Chloe-"

"No, Alek. No matter what you say I always will," she cut him off. He didn't argue and the two sat in silence.

"I have something to give back to you," Alek said suddenly.

Chloe quirked an eyebrow as Alek got up to retrieve something from beside his abandoned shirt.

Chloe's eyes widened when she saw what he was holding.

"This isn't something Jas would have so I figured it was yours," he said handing her the copy of HerStyle with the blaring headline True Love: Is he the one?

Chloe took the magazine from him, refusing to meet his eyes, 'Did you…did you read it?"

Alek scoffed, "Why would I read a girl's magazine?"

Chloe let out a sigh of relief.

"However," Alek continued, "I did skim the page it was open to."

"What page was that?" she asked nervously, tucking a curly strand of hair behind her ear and looking down.

Alek grabbed her chin gently and tilted her head up so he could look her in the eyes. He leaned down so close that Chloe thought he was going to kiss her.

"You know." His breath tickled her lips as he whispered the words to her. Chloe's eyes drifted shut only to snap open when Alek released her and straightened himself.

"Chloe, what does this mean?" Alek asked cautiously. He knew he was the reason they were having the conversation but he was still terrified that he misunderstood the situation and was about to make a fool out of himself.

"You'll laugh at me," Chloe looked away, blushing slightly.

"No, I wouldn't," Alek said sincerely. He tried to catch Chloe's eyes so she could see that he meant his words but she kept looking everywhere but at him.

"I'm not telling you," Chloe said, jumping from her seat and trying to flee from his room. Alek grabbed her wrist to stop her, not painfully but tight enough that she couldn't pull away.

"Chloe."

She sighed, knowing that the conversation was inevitable at this point.

Alek watched nervously, still holding Chloe's wrist, as she looked down and mumbled something that Alek couldn't understand.

"I can't hear you."

She spoke again, only the slightest bit louder.

Alek sighed, "Chloe-"

Before he could Chloe burst out, "I like you! Okay, Alek? It means I like you! Hell, I think I might even love you! So go ahead and laugh or reject me but now you know!"

Alek stood up so that he was face to face with Chloe. He had a huge, idiotic grin on his face. Alek wanted desperately to kiss Chloe but had one final thing to clear up before he'd let himself accept this and be happy.

"What about Brian?" He slipped the hand that was griping her wrist down to intertwine with her own hand, while his other hand gently held the side of her face, tilting it up towards him. This time Chloe didn't avert her gaze, instead she stared in to his eyes, getting lost in the beautiful pools of brown.

"He's…he's not you," she said quietly. As soon as the words left her mouth, Alek's lips crashed down on Chloe's. The kiss was soft but still passionate and urgent and sent a rush of warmth to every inch of both bodies. Chloe wished that it could have been her first kiss instead of the one with Xavier. Alek puled back slightly to put his ips beside Chloe's ear.

"That's good because I know I'm in love with you," he whispered.

Alek wrapped his arms around Chloe's waist as she put hers around his neck and they stood for a while beaming at each other, happier than they'd ever been. Eventually they leaned back into each other until their lips met again.

This time the kiss was heated as they pressed their bodies together as close as possible. Chloe moaned lightly as Alek's tongue slipped between her lips.

"Keep it down in there!" The two broke apart as Jasmine shouted from her room. "And use protection!"

Chloe blushed for what felt like the 100th time that day.

Alek chuckled. "I think I'm going to have to go kill my cousin now," he joked.

Chloe smiled up at him, "Don't be mad at Jas. After all she's a big part of why we're finally…together?" The last part came out as a question.

Alek smiled back at her. "I guess you're right about that…girlfriend."

For the next 30 minutes they remained like that, wrapped in each other's arms, alternating between soft kisses, smiling at each other and whispering sweet nothings. Chloe let out a huge yawn, remembering how tired she really was. With a final kiss she pulled away from Alek. "I'm gonna go to bed. See you tomorrow. Good night."

She made her way to the door and just as she opened it, Alek appeared behind her. In one fluid motion, he shut the door, spun her around and cornered her against the hard wood, his hands on either side of her head.

"I think I know a better way to spend the night than sleeping," Alek said with his usual cocky smirk. "Plus, I believe you still have some moves to show me." He put a hand against her stomach, gently pushing her into the door. Chloe smiled, remebering that day in the hallway when she talked to him for the first time in two years, months ago.

"Subtle."

Alek winked at her. "I'm not trying to be."

Giggling, Chloe ordered, "Just shut up and kiss me," to which Alek happily obliged.

As the kiss deepened he took one of his hands off the wall and ran it down her arm, leaving a trail of goose bumps on the flesh, before settling it on her hip. Chloe cupped his neck in one hand while the other made its way around Alek's waist pulling him closer.

They kissed and kissed, pulled back to breathe and kissed some more.

Chloe moaned again as Alek rubbed his hand up and down her side and slipped her own hand into his back pocket.

Alek pulled his lips from hers and brought them back to her ear. "What is it about my ass with you and Amy?" Before Chloe could reply, Alek recaptured her lips in his.

Chloe spread her fingers out in the big pocket of his loose jeans, scratching one on something. She pulled the offending object from his pocket and moved her face away from his to see what it was. Her eyes narrowed as she glared down at the thing in her hand and back up at the boy it belonged to.

"Alek, why the hell do you have this?"

Cliffhanger! I think I like those a bit too much... Can you guess what it is? I gave a hint somewherer earlier in the chapter...did you find it? Give me your guesses when you REVIEW. Like I said before, my new goal is 45 but 50 will make me jump around my room like a banshee!

Okay, some things to cover.

Anybody remember the scene in this chapter where Alek is leaning on Jasmine's shoulder when Chloe is in the kitchen? There was that backstory/flashback thingy about Alek when he first came to America. That idea just popped into my head so I included it. Does anybody think I should turn that into a full on story?

Next, if anybody here lives in or is very familiar with San Francisco, please tell me in a review or PM me because I need help coming up with a good location for the next chapter.

I know some people find the fact that Alek and Brian get along kinda weird. So know I ask you...do you want a fight between the two? I loved the fight scene in the last episode so...yeah. Tell me what you think.

Would you all prefer I replied to your reviews privately or is this okay?

Okay, review replies:

Duffster21: Thank you! I agree, I agree, I agree, I agree and I agree. Your review made me smile. :)

bangelluvforever: Ahhhh thank you! Hope you liked this update!

Lauren: Victory for Chalek indeed!

Isob3l: Thanks for voting! Your welcome and look at this... I'm mentioning you again. LOL. Thanks a bunch and hope you like this chapter!

xinception: Haha! Thats liek the face I had one at the end of episodes 7 and 9. So glad you think my story is stupid face and eye wriggling worthy!

Emilyjaden101: Thank you! I'm pretty sure you had the longest review of that chapter: maybe even the whole story! I'm glad you liked protective Alek and the quiz. And thanks for voting!

Alanna-Banana1987: I can understand where you're coming from. You're review inspired me to consider a Alek/Brian fight. What do you think?

Kylee-Cat: Thanks a bunch! Your review helped me write this chapter! I was wondering how to get Chloe and Alke together and I one scenario written but I didn't really like it. You inspired me to have Alke find the quiz results so huge thanks! Hope you liked it!

Lil5weetie: Thank you! You also helped save this chapter without knowing it. I forgot that the whole scene before Alek came back to the apartment was originally going to be in chapter 2 so I typed it in the other document. You made me remember that I left it out and otherwise it wouldn't make sense.

Crutchly, Anna H. Caldwell, J-M-S123, SpeakNow4, sweetsilence3, smoudy97, Godess of the Sands: Thank you sooooo much for reviewing and/or voting. Hope you enjoyed.

Hope I didn't miss anyone or misspell names!

Thats all for now folks! Dont forget to review with answers to the questions I asked, feedback and well...anything else you wanna tell me about TNLOCK or the story.

Until next time!