A/N: Thank you all for the amazing feedback! I love the reviews. :) This chapter is going back eight months, the next will move back to present day. I can't wait for the next chapter! Enjoy!

Eight months earlier...

Alex Cabot pulled out of her garage into the misty April rain. She couldn't help but laugh at the old adage, 'April showers bring May flowers,' as she made her way down the street headed towards the quaint downtown area of Daniel Island. Having recently moved back into her childhood home after numerous renovations, she was ready to buy some new bed linens.

While picking up some takeout the night before at a local Greek restaurant, she noticed a fine home accents store and thought she might check it out before heading out to downtown Charleston. As much as she loved the big downtown, parking was a beast and it was guaranteed to flood even in the smallest of rain storms. Altogether, it was something she didn't wish to deal with on this rainy Monday.

Pulling out of the club, she took the roundabout to the main drag. Making her way, she could remember riding bikes with her best friend in high school, laughing, being young and wild...the memories were bittersweet. She was forced to grow up far to fast after her father's death.

As if driving on autopilot, she suddenly realized, she was in the islands downtown. Spotting the fine home accents store, she pulled into a spot right out from the entrance. Pulling on her favorite field jacket, she smiled at the stores name and logo, it was cute and well thought out, Coastal Wrens Design. After all the thought she'd recently put into naming her own company, she could appreciate the cleverness behind using the state bird in the name.

Sitting on the floor surrounded by the latest shipment of kitchen supplies in the back room of her store, Kim Greylek sighed at her best friend. They had at least ten more boxes to unpack, price, and setup, and so far Casey had spent the first three bitching about her Sunday night dinner with her parents. Once again, her friends parents, more like father had made an ass of himself.

"So, here we are sitting in the middle of Virginia's...Virginia's, Kim! And he is going on and on about how my sisters are all successful and have nice jobs and a career, and then my Mom chimes in how Elle I married, and they both just look at me and ask...are you ready for this, 'When do you think you might actually get a real job, Casey?' All I could do was stare at them, and flatly reply, 'I am a writer.' Then my dad just had to drive the knife in a little deeper with, 'What have you published? You can't call yourself a writer until you publish something.' My mother tried to make up for him, but I just thanked them for dinner and left. I swear, I am finished with Sunday dinners...finished!"

Pinching the bridge of her nose with one hand, Kim started passing Casey the priced hand soaps, "You most definitely are a writer, your stories are way too detailed and drawn out."

"I just hate that they can't support me. I am not asking for money, just their emotional support. Is that too much to ask?"

Sighing once more Kim interjected, "Casey, I love you, but you have to stop."

"Seriously?" The redhead woman said as she placed the three bottles of hand soap on the shelf. "After all the times I have listened to you complain about Serena and how she made your house too colorful, or watches one too many Romance movies, or always wants you to go for a run across the Cooper River bridge early Saturday mornings then walk the market with her? Seriously, seriously!"

"I was kidding, just kidding. You know, I think I should go get us some coffee, what do you think?" The brunette asked with her hands up in surrender.

Smiling at her best friend, Casey replied, "I think if you really want to make it up to me you have them add a shot of espresso to it..."

"Oh joy," Kim groaned as she stood, "Just what you need, more caffeine..." Walking into the main room of the store to get her keys, Kim saw a blonde exit her SUV and make her way to the door. "Casey, we have customer!"

"Okay, be right there." Casey called back as she made a path through the boxes.

Watching the blonde open the door, Kim thought she looked familiar but couldn't place her, until she took her sunglasses off. "Good morning," Kim started, "Welcome to Coastal Wrens Design, my name is Kim..."

"Greylek, right?" The mystery blonde interrupted.

Confused by the woman's knowledge, Kim nodded yes.

"You probably don't remember me, I'm Alex Cabot, we went to high school together." Alex explained holding out her hand.

Shaking the woman's hand, Kim nodded finally recognizing the woman, "Yes, you and your mother moved away after...so have you moved back?" Kim caught her major slip and hoped the blonde didn't take offense.

"Yes," Alex smiled letting the nervous woman off as she moved to look around the store. "I managed to buy my childhood back and have spent the last four months renovating it. Anyway, now I have my furniture in and am ready for new bedding and whatever else catches my eye. Do you all sell sheets and other bedding essentials?"

"We sell it all, although the bedding would have to be special ordered." Kim replied as her heart sped at the potential sale.

"Perfect," the blonde smiled.

"I was about to run out to grab a coffee next door, would you like one? My associate, Casey is here and can help you till I get back."

"That would be lovely, thank you." Alex hummed.

"Okay! I finally managed to make a path through the back," Casey smiled brightly as she walked into the front room.

Hearing the familiar voice, Alex turned her head in the direction from which it came and locked eyes with the beautiful redhead she had not seen in years. "Casey..."

"Alex?" The redhead replied walking over to give the blonde a hug. "Oh my god, I haven't seen you in...what ten years?"

"Just about! How have you been?" Alex asked as Kim saw the opportunity to run for coffee.

"Good, great even. What about you?" The redhead asked with a genuine smile.

"I've been good, thank you." The blonde replied as she bowed her head and looked at her feet for a minute, before looking back up. "So, I am in the market for some new bedding and Kim said you all could help me out with that?"

Casey could see something more hiding behind the blondes eyes, but decided not to push her luck. "Yes, right this way," Casey said as she led the blonde through the store, past the table settings and linens, to the back area where she'd seemingly built a box maze, muttering, "I am sorry about this," as they made their way through. Once clear, they were in the back section just for bedding.

"So, we primarily sell Savoy sheeting. They are an amazing 400 thread count Egyptian cotton percale sheet. It's like sleeping on a soft cool cloud, they are the best sheets I have ever owned and super durable." The redhead explained.

"I didn't think a 400 thread count was that great..." Alex stated flatly looking at the price on the sheets.

The redhead knew the blonde was playing her, but she played along anyway, "If you are buying cheap sheets then no it's not, when you are buying quality top of the line sheets then it's amazing."

Looking up into Casey's sparkling green eyes, Alex knew she'd been caught. Smirking at the redhead, she continued, "You know your stuff. So, you really like these sheets?"

"Yes, I do."

"How many sets do you have?" Alex countered.

"One." Casey said holding firm in her footing.

Leaning against the wall as she enjoyed the redheads firmness, Alex countered, "If you love them so much, why do you only have one set?"

"I'm a writer and I am working on my first novel, working here part time to pay my bills. I saved, it was all I could afford to buy."

Alex couldn't help but smile. Casey was just as vivacious as she remembered her being when they were younger. Never one to back down from a challenge. "Gotcha. Now tell me one thing, what size bed do you have?"

"Excuse me?" Casey questioned with a puzzled look.

"I am wondering because I need to buy a bed for my guest room, what size is appropriate, like can I get away with a full or should it be a queen..."

"Oh," the redhead stumbled being saved from her awkwardness as Kim reentered the store, "I have a queen, that should be big enough."

"Great," Alex said giving Casey a nod as she sat down at a window seat to flip through bedding books as Kim past around the coffees.

Watching the blonde flip through the books, Casey realized she didn't know what the blonde actually did for a living, "So, Alex what do you do for a living?"

The instant smile that fell upon the blondes face was breathtaking, "I build boats, specifically cutter sailboats. I just got my company up and running here in Charleston. We will have our first launch party May 1, you both should come. I'd love to have you."

"What's your company's name?" Kim questioned.

Laughing at herself, Alex added, "The name is Finnick Boating."

Taking a sip of her coffee, Kim nodded unable to keep her dry wit at bay, "That's an interesting name. What inspired it, The Hunger Games?"

Casey instantly covered her face with her hand embarrassed at her friends obvious error in question. However, Alex's bright laugh quickly eased her fear. It was beautiful and lively and made her heart skip a beat.

"Finnick was my dad's name, boating's pretty obvious." Alex stated rather matter of a factly.

Casey couldn't help but laugh hard and deep at the situation. It wasn't that funny, it's was just the dry humor mixed with Alex's laughter hit at the perfect moment of caffeine bliss and adrenaline. She laughed so hard she had to lay back on the floor to gain control of herself.

The sound of Casey's laugh was hauntingly beautiful, and watching the redhead on the floor laughing caused flashes of her past to flood Alex's mind. Shaking her head clear, Alex asked Kim, "Well, I love these sheets, so I will take three sets of the king size and two queen, but I can't decide on the bedding. Kim, are you an interior designer as well as a shop owner?"

"Yes," the brunette explained, "It gives me a space to work out of and better prices on the merchandise."

"Wonderful," Alex continued standing, "Would you be interested in helping me decorate my house, and finding coordinating bedding?"

"Absolutely," Kim quickly answered standing and grabbing her phone to book the appointment, "I can work anything out this week," she said skimming her calendar.

The tall blonde nodded, "How about tomorrow?"

"Sounds perfect, we will be there at 10, does that work?"

"Sure," Alex answered as she walked across the room to gather her belongings, "Oh, are you two good with dogs?"

"Yes," Casey answered still puzzled by the quizzical look the blonde seemed to keep giving her when she thought no one was looking.

As Kim rang out Alex's purchases and took down her address, Casey couldn't help but look the blonde over. There was something interesting about this woman she use to know. Something she couldn't put her finger on yet; something she wanted to know more about.

Seeing Alex turn around and face her, Casey was a bit startled. "For you, Ms. Novak. Since you like them so much, you should have more than one set," Alex said handing Casey the bag containing the queen size sheets.

"I can't take these," Casey stumbled.

"Yes, you can. You just reach out and take the bag." Alex said with a smile before whispering, "It keeps this from being awkward."

Casey just laughed as she saw Kim's eyes go wide. Without another hesitation she took the bag, and bid the mysterious blonde a fair well. Watching Alex pull away, Kim shook her head, "We may have hit a gold mine in a customer."

Later that evening, Casey drove home from the grocery store. Reaching for her phone, she picked it up and called her mother. Hearing her mother's deep soothing voice cross the line with a warm, "Hello," Casey smiled.

"Mom, you will never guess who I saw today."

"Who, honey?" Laura Novak asked.

"Alex Cabot."

"Really? I haven't seen her in probably ten years. Finn and Sophia were such nice people, it was so sad what happened to Finn." Laura stated, before stopping, "Casey, sweetie, I am going to have to call you back, Elle is beeping in and she and Spencer are about to board the jet to Portland. Let me see what she needs and I will call you right back."

"No worries, I love you." Casey replied.

"Love you too, baby."

As the call disconnected, Casey pulled up to her condo and retrieved her groceries from her Volkswagen. Climbing the stairs to her unit, she unlocked the door and walked inside. Letting out a deep sigh, she kicked off her shoes and flicked the lights on with her elbow as she walked into the kitchen.

Placing her groceries down on the kitchen counter, she quickly retrieved one of her stemless wine glasses and poured a nice size glass curtesy of the leftover bottle from the night before. Taking a long sip, she turned to begin to unpacking until her attention was pulled back to her cell phone with the sound of a text alert.

It was from Elle, and read, "Stay away from Alex Cabot, she can't be trusted."