Thank you guys' sooo much for the reviews, they keep me writing. Here's the next chapter, the fourth one is going to wait awhile I sort all my ideas for this story. If there's a certain scene you guys want in here, let me know and I'll fit it in.

Three –

"I don't know Chloe," he said. "I've never loved two people at once."

I reached forward, grabbed his right hand, and placed it in both of mine.

"You mean a lot more to me then you realize," I told him. He licked his lips.

"You already know how I feel about you, Chloe. I've made them clear a lot of times." He looked at the ground, refusing to look me in the eyes.

I leaned in closer to him. "Alek, I would like to be with you…if you still want."

"Chloe," his voice sounded hurt. "I don't want you to pick me because he's dead. Because I'm the only option."

I placed both of my hands on his shoulders and forced him to look me in the eyes.

"Alek Petrov, you're the only one that I want. It just took me longer than I expected to realize it."

And I meant it. He was always there for me – whether I needed him or not. He trusted me, he protected me, and he cares for me. He smiled. The most beautiful smile I've ever seen on his face. "I never really though I'd hear you say that, Chloe King."

I mirrored his smile on my own face. His eyes searched my face.

"Are you going to kiss me now or what?" I demanded.

He smile turned into a full grin. He leaned in and captured my lips in a searing kiss.

I wrapped my arms around his neck; he wrapped his arm around my waist, and very swiftly pulled me into his lap. I pulled away for a moment, and shifted in his lap.

"What are you doing?" he asked huskily. He opened his eyes.

"Getting comfortable," I said. I straddled his waist, and his arms tightened around me. He pulled my lips back to his again. He was the greatest kisser, I have ever met. He pulled away this time, leaving me breathless.

"So does this mean we're together now?" I asked.

"God, I hope so," he murmured.

I ran my hand through his hair. I kissed his lips quickly. He nuzzled my neck softly, and then buried his face in my hair.

"Let's get some sleep, sweetheart," he whispered in my ear. He smiled; enjoying that he could call me that. He kissed my cheek, and laid me down on the air mattress. He got up long enough to retrieve a long thin black blanket out of the box.

"I didn't have time to get everything I would've liked to get," he said. He threw it over both of us, and he slid his arm under my head, allowing me to use it as a pillow. He wrapped his other arm around me protectively. I turned over in his arms and wrapped my arm around him, too.

"Alek," I whispered. He kept his eyes closed, but he smiled.

"Yes?"

"I'm really glad that I'm here with you," I whispered. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

"Me too," he said.

I snuggled closer to him, and listened to his heartbeat until I fell asleep.

I woke up first then Alek. His arm was wrapped tightly around me, and my arms were around him, too. I pulled my arms back and moved his arm carefully and slowly off me. After making sure, he wouldn't get up I quietly got out of bed. I walked to the box that Alek had brought out of the closet; there were a few plates, forks, cups, and a small pan. Underneath it, I saw all the dried food and canned food. Wow. This boy really did stock up. I got started on breakfast.

When I was finished, Alek stirred in his sleep. He hand touched where I had once lain, and right when he felt nothing, his eyes snapped open and he sat up, wide awake and alert.

"I'm here," I said. His eyes snapped in my direction and he got up quickly and was beside me in the next second. He pulled me into his arms.

"Don't ever scare me like that again," he said fiercely.

"Alek can actually get scared?" I asked in mock horror. He smiled.

"When it comes to you, yes I can get scared. Chloe, seriously, don't do that again."

His concern made me smile. This cocky, self-centered, sometimes world-class jerk, was the most caring, sweet, and protective guy underneath. I liked that side of him. Well…I liked every side of him, even if some of them did annoy me.

"I'm sorry I scared you," I told him gently. "I won't do it again. But, on the other hand, I made breakfast!"

His mood lightened at my tone. I handed him his plate, as soon as he let go of me. We ate in front of the fireplace, which was really the most romantic thing in the world – even if we were in incredible danger. My phone beeped in my pants that were lying uselessly on the floor. I put my plate down and reached for it, when I pulled it out I saw ten missed calls and twelve text messages. Four calls and three texts were from my mom. The rest were from Amy. I looked at my boyfriend – wow, it sounded really nice to say – and waved my phone in the air.

"Can I call them and let them know I'm safe?"

"Just don't give away your location," he said. Like I even knew where we were. He motioned toward my plate. "You finished?"

I nodded and he collected our dishes, when he walked straight out the front door with them, I realized that he was going to wash it and to give me some privacy. I dialed my mom first.

"Where in the world are you?" she demanded.

"Mom," my voice broke. And her mood changed in an instant.

"Chloe, what's wrong?"

"Mom, I'm so sorry," I cried. Tears slid down my cheeks. I couldn't tell her the truth. But I wished with all my heart that I could. "I can't come home right now. But I just…I just called to let you I'm safe."

"Chloe if something's happened, you can tell me you know."

This was getting harder every second. If I stayed on the phone any longer, I was going to come home and I knew it. But I had to protect the ones I love. Two of them were already on the verge of dying. Thinking of Valentina and Jasmine broke my heart. I prayed with my seven lives that they would be okay. They had to be.

"I love you, Mom." My voice completely broke at the end. The sound of broken sobs.

"I love you, too Kiddo."

I hung up after that. She called again, but I ignored it. It's too painful, I thought. I may never see my mom again. I texted Amy instead of calling her.

Call you soon. Promise.

I placed my phone beside me and rocked back and forth. I couldn't stand to hear her voice. Anyone's voice, especially those that I left behind to protect. I wouldn't be able to take it. Alek didn't count, he was my rock, and only his voice could bring me comfort. Well, his arms, too.

My eyes shut and I didn't even try to wipe the tears away, they fell to my jeans and left water marks. A few seconds later, two arms wrapped around me. The ones that I needed the most. I looked up to see Alek's concerned expression. He didn't say anything, just let me wrap my arms around him and cry into his shoulder. I don't know how long I had been crying. But after a while he picked me up and carried me to the mattress.

"You're going to see them again, Sweetheart. I promise," he whispered in my ear. He lay down beside me and pulled me closer, allowing me to lay my head on his chest. He rubbed my back soothingly.

"Is there anything I can do?" he asked.

"You're doing just fine," I told him. I felt him kiss the top of my head. I could've laid there forever with him. His phone rang from his pocket. He didn't acknowledge it. When the person called again, I looked up at him.

"Aren't you going to get that?" I asked.

"Nope."

I gave him a disapproving look. He sighed and let go of me with one hand to retrieve his phone from his pocket. He answered it.

"Hello?"

Review. I enjoy making my chapters short, it gives me more edge.