3. Blow it up

As soon as he got home, he found his mom waiting for him with worry practically written on her face. He sighed out loud.

"How was your day?" She asked gently, trying for a smile.

Ever since that fateful day, his parents had been trying hard to make up for everything they could've prevented if they had just noticed what was going on in his life. This annoyed Xander.

They surely didn't care before so what do they want to prove by caring now? Caring in the wrong way by the way, as it just resurfaced the memories.

"Oh it well really well." Liam answered for him, casting Xander a sly look.

Shaking his head, Xander stomped off to his room. He was thinking about the race at Red Wolf tonight when Liam barged in.

"Nope. You're not coming."

Xander glared at him. "And how will you stop me?"

Liam waved his phone. "I can call about-" he counted on his fingers, " - four people who will be ready to lecture your ass out if you go."

Xander winced. "Whatever."

He had other plans anyway.

He went to his and Liam's study. His gaze hovered over the papers spread out on his table. They were the supposed peace treaty documents with his family. Xander's dad had asked him go through them instead of letting him get his revenge.

"I don't want more bloodshed." He'd said, not meeting Xander's eyes. " And besides, you don't have anything to prove that it was them who did it."

Xander skimmed over the contents of the documents.

It was like any other peace treaty between Mafia families but something caught his eye. In the centre of the page, written in bold letters were the things that would violate the treaty...which gives them the right to act accordingly.

Meaning, if that asshole violates the treaty, Xander was free to punish him however he liked.

And among the long list of things that could violate the treaty, one small line brought a thoughtful look on his face.

"No attacking or provoking either parties. If provoked even in the slightest the treaty will be broken."

Now all he had to do was to trick that asshole into provoking him so the stupid treaty could break and he could kill him.

Xander's lips curled upwards in a sinister smile, a feral look crossing his eyes. He signed the papers.

Just then Liam entered the study. Seeing Xander signing the papers, Liam blinked.

"Did you even read it?"

Xander rolled his eyes. "Obviously."

Liam walked to Xander's table, picking up the papers. Reading the contents, his sapphire eyes similar to his brother's got a satisfied look. "See this is why you should let dad do this kind of things. There are like so many loopholes."

"Which you are not going to use." They heard their dad speak from the door.

Liam gaped at him in disbelief. "Then why did you even write them?!"

Ethan sighed. " There is a time and a place for everything. And now is not the right time."

"Sure." Xander said, sarcasm dripping his voice. "I'll wait like last year and this time get actually killed in the process."

"That's not what I mea-"

"I should've just left when I had the chance." Xander said, looking at a photo frame hanging on the wall. "At least he'd understand and actually believe me."

Ignoring Ethan's calls, Xander left the room banging the door loudly.

Ethan sighed tiredly, massaging his temples. He wanted to make amends with his son, he really did but helping him in his revenge when he's clearly blinded by his anger would just get him hurt again.

And besides, now was not the right time. Especially since Georg-

"Why?" Liam's sudden question interrupted his thoughts.

"It's...a long story." He answered vaguely, " You kids don't need to be concerned about it. Just focus on th-"

"I'm sorry," Liam interrupted, a sarcastic smile so similar to his brother's overtaking his face, "Don't need to be concerned about it? I don't think so dad, since it's stopping us from getting what we want."

"What you want is revenge."

"Yeah," Liam spat, "something you should be after considering your son almost died. But you aren't. You don't even care!"

"I do care," Ethan snapped, his eyes flashing with anger at Liam's defiance. "That's why I'm stopping you from getting killed this time-"

"You seriously think he won't do anything?" Liam interrupted. At Ethan's silence, he scoffed." You have no idea, do you?"

"Check his knuckles and hands. Maybe you'll see why I'm so intent on finishing this shit."

Liam then glanced at the secret compartment in Xander's desk, reserved for his ancestor's diary. "It's not just revenge for him dad..." He looked back at Ethan. "He thinks it's his justice and I, for once, agree with him."

Xander laid on his bed, staring at his phone. Should he text her? Would it be weird?

He couldn't bring her out of his thoughts. The way she looked so beautiful when she smiled, not that she wasn't beautiful when she wasn't smiling. He could state at her eyes and get lost in the copper and gold hues. He never thought brows eyes could be this beautiful.

Before he could text her, a message flashed on his screen.

"Did you know there was a fucking Villin club near fucking red wolf?!"

It was Blake Frazier, one among Xander's very short list of close friends. He, like Xander, was an heir to his Mafia family. The only heir in his case. The Fraziers were second to the Knights, being the only loyal ally to them since years.

Blake was a year older than Xander and Liam, already in the second year of his college in NYC. He could also be considered Xander's best friend if only Xander didn't detest the word friends.

Xander's lips curled in distaste at the name Villin.

"Let's blow it up." He texted, Blake's response bringing a smirk to his lips.

"Got the bombs ready."

"Great. I'll be there in 10."

He changed our of his school uniform into a hoodie and black ripped jeans paired with his dark combat boots. He put his gun in his waistband, taking an extra pack of bullets just in case. When he was about to take his mask, he stopped and glanced back at the phone.

Maybe she'll text him first.

He his his mask in his pocket, glad for its size as it only covered his eyes, not the entire face. It was black in colour with red lines curving into designs, resembling the mask of Adam Taurus, his favourite villain.

"Nerd." Liam had called him when he first got the mask.

Careful not to catch the attention of his parents, he sneaked off through the window. A guard or two passed on the ground, patrolling but Xander was careful not to get caught.

He entered the garage, the keys to Liam's bike in his hand.

"And where are you going?" A familiar voice stopped him. Xander didn't bother turning around as he started the motor cycle.

"To blow something up."

Tobias sighed. He was Xander's personal guard, following him since Xander was five years old already getting in trouble. He knew what happened in his past. He should've prevented it, that was his job but he had been called away by Ethan Knight on a mission, leaving Xander unguarded.

It was also around the time when things were really tense between the father and son. So Ethan hadn't bothered with sending someone else to guard Xander as he wanted to teach him a lesson.

But of course, it did not go as he planned.

"You don't have to follow me, you're not my guard anymore." Xander said, annoyance at his parents creeping in his voice. He had refused to take a personal fuard after the incident, even if it was Tobias himself. "Just tell them I went to Red Wolf...if they even notice."

Before Tobias could reply, Xander was off.

"This isn't going to end well." Tobias thought with dread as he noticed Liam walking in with his dad following behind.

__________

Xander met up with Blake at the entrance of Red Wolf.

Red Wolf was was a huge mass of property on the end of the city, belonging to the Knights and Fraziers. There were race tracks here, weaving through the abandoned streets with buildings on the brink of collapse. The races were managed by a a subordinate family called the Marrins.

Blake Frazier greeted Xander with a friendly smile as he hugged him. "How have you been?"

Xander shrugged. "The same."

Blake squeezed his shoulder in understanding, his dark grey eyes flashing with pain and regret.

He had been too late that night.

He always wondered if what happened could've been prevented if he was with Xander when he needed him, when he was so alone and lost, his own family having turned against him. Blake should've noticed. He should've talked some sense into Liam. But it was too late to regret now.

"So what was the club you were talking about?" Xander asked.

Blake scowled. "I found about it last night when I was...er extracting info from a-"

"Extracting?" Xander raised his eyebrow.

"Yes. Extracting." Blake nodded as if it was completely normal. "He was spy from the fucking Villins. I was going to tell you because i didn't want you getting distracted from school. Speaking of, how was it?"

Xander leaned on bike, crossig his arms on his chest. "It was," Alexandra's face flashed in his mind for some reason. "Pretty good actually."

Blake blinked at the boy he'd come to love as a brother. The boy who was broken like a glass, shattering again and again by the people around him. He could swear he saw Xander's expression change from his usual stoic one.

Maybe this new school was good for him even if he and Liam couldn't be there.

"Let's blow it up?" Xander asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. Blake took out his phone to show him the address. " It opened up recently. They're using a fake name..."

Their plan was simple. Get in there, find possible underbosses of the Villin family, kidnap them and burn the place down.

Getting in was easy. The club was in the fairly populated part of the city, a few blocks from Red Wolf. They climbed up to the top floor of the building next to the club.

"Cams?" Blake asked.

Xander roamed his eyes over the building and the small alley between the building and the one they were standing on. " How about we give them a scare?" He asked, noticing a camera at the side of the building overlooking the huge queue of people.

Blake curled his lips in a smirk. "I thought you'd never ask."

Sharing a look, the walked a few steps back. Then they ran at full speed and jumped off the building onto the next one.

Putting their masks on, they searched for a way in. Easily enough, there was a door, probably leading to the stairs downwards.

They broke the door.

Their guns ready in their hands, they descended downstairs.

Soon enough, two guards came running up, probably having seen them in the cameras. Before the guards could say surrender they were shot dead.

This continued until Blake found a VIP room. Unfortunately no one was in it.

"This looks familiar." Xander said as he narrowed his eyes at a dagger placed on the coffee table. It was a vintage bronze dagger with the initials C.C carved on them.

Xander gritted his teeth as he recognised it.

Connor Callaghan.

"Does it belong to him?" Blake asked, his expression mirroring Xander's.

Xander nodded, raising his jeans and strapping it on his leg .

"Let's go."

They found nothing. Or no one important enough. "This is definitely weird." Blake said as they finished hiding the bombs in different places. They would find a safe way out then they'd trigger the timer.

Xander frowned, his eyes scanning the crowd from the terrace like place overlooking the dancefloor and the bar. They'd manage to evade the guards by discarding their hoodies. It was too easy especially since the crowd was full.

It's a good thing not many recognized their faces as they'd removed their masks. Xander's phone buzzed, like it did the previous 10times but he'd ignored it. This time when he took it out, he was relieved he did.

"Hey."

It was her. He felt a giddy smile creep up on his lips. She texted him first. He guessed it was only natural since he'd been the one to talk to her first.

"Hi. How are you?" He texted back, aware of Blake's eyes on him. Then he wondered if he'd texted back too soon. Would it look like he was waiting for her text? He....was though.

Raising his dark brows, Blake peered at his phone. Then he looked back at Xander. Then again at the phone. "What the hell?!"

Xander's lips twitched. "She's my new friend.'

"A new friend." Blake said, nodding to himself. " And a she." He suddenly smirked.

"You have a crush on her don't you?"

Xander's jaw dropped. "Wha- I ...no!"

Blake snorted. "Keep telling yourself that."

He began descending down the stairs, leaving behind a stunned Xander who was lost in thought. "You coming lover boy?" Blake called, a teasing flint in his eyes.

"Don't call me that when you're one yourself." Xander retorted, breaking out in a run.

Blake was beside him, weaving through the crowd and the hideous stench of sweat and other things. "Speaking of which, how are things?" Xander asked.

Blake smiled. " She's coming around."

Xander elbowed him in the ribs, smirking. Blake felt his cheeks heat up, deluding himself it was the warm temperature. He pushed Xander, earning a chuckle from him. It was good to finally see him free and laughing like this. Man they really did have the weirdest idea of a brother's night out.

Xander suddenly stopped, looking down at his phone. " I accidentally opened Liam's text." He said, looking so done with himself.

"Did you guys fight or something?" Blake asked as the walked out of the building like they didn't just sneak in to place the bombs.

Xander shook his head. " No but... He's yelling through the texts to come back home." He rolled his eyes, " Home he says."

And he was back. The cheerful and carefree mood he'd had just now was gone in seconds replaced by his signature sour one with a permanent looking scowl on his face and the cold, almost chilling barrier on his eyes.

Before Blake could suggest pranking Liam, Xander frowned, texting something in a hurry. He suddenly looked up towards the five star hotel right Infront of the club.

Blake followed Xander's widened eyes to a girl dressed in peach coloured dress stepping out of the car, her brown hair let loose like a curtain shielding the side of her face as she bent down to retrieve her fallen phone. He could see the scowl on her face that strangely looked familiar.

Blake was shocked to see the cold in Xander's eyes morphing into awe. Blake's face broke out in a grin. This girl, whoever she is, was good for him.

"So, how about we blow the building up and then go for a fancy dinner?" Blake asked, putting his mask on.

They crossed the road and moved to the alley close to the five star hotel. Xander nodded and Blake pressed the button of the black phone sized remote in his hand.

Soon, sounds of explosions were heard along with the roar of the panicking crowd. They didn't care that they were killing people, hell most of them could be innocent. But this is the way of the Mafia. This was their life.

As if it could make it better, they'd placed the bombs suckh that the ones on the top floors would go off first, causing panic and that uproar would be enough for the crowd to try to evacuate. Besides, the bosses and the undebosses, the important people would all be in the VIP sections on the top floor. Their job would be done even if they missed something.

"You still up for dinner?"

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Alexandra had just texted Xander when a knock sounded on her door and her brother came bursting in.

"Dad wants you to get ready. We're going out for dinner."

"What the fuck?!" She cursed out loud, loud enough for her mom to hear from the other side of the door. "Honey no cursing." She reprehended her gently.

Alexandra stood up, " But mom, I don't want to go." She protested, her pink lips in a frown.

Sophia White walked in her room straight to her closet. Cole snickered as Alexandra grimaced. She was definitely going to pick out a dress for her.

"It's just a dinner," her mom said, sorting through the clothes, searching for the dresses she'd stacked at the far back. "And it's going to be just you kids and your dad."

"You're not coming?" Cole asked in disdain.

Their mom shrugged, pulling out a peach coloured knee length dress. " No, I have a lot of work to do. Papers to make. You kids go and have fun."

"Where the hell are we going?" Alexandra whispered to Cole, who rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Some five star restaurant. Olivia's request." He said doing the air quotations on the words Olivia's request.

Alexandra groaned. "Mom you can't be serious."

"Unfortunately I am." Sophia gave a small smile. " You need to talk to him, you know that. You can't... Cole would you mind leaving us for a minute? We'll be down shortly."

Cole grumbled to himself, stomping down the stairs.

Sophia held her daughter by her shoulders. "You need to talk to him. How long are you going to bottle it up?" Her warm honey brown eyes flashed with worry. " Alexandra he loves you-"

"If he did, he wouldn't find my replacement."

Sophia wrapped her arms around her. "That's not true. You can't be replaced. You and Cole are our lifelines. He's just... affectionate towards her because-"

"She's his beloved brother's daughter."

Sophia moved back, a frown on her lips.

"You know, you sound just like my mother. I can never tell when you're being serious or sarcastic."

Alexandra shrugged, a small smile overtaking her lips. " At least she kept dad on his toes. I wish I had that kind of power."

Sophia smiled like she knew something Alexandra didn't. " Oh but you do."

Alexandra begrudgingly got dressed up, leaving her hair in her ponytail. Snapping a picture of herself she sent it to Zayla. Her response was immediate.

"Remove that freaking rubber band out of your hair befor I come there and burn all of your black scrunchies down."

Alexandra snorted. She removed the band and looked at herself in the mirror.

She didn't particularly want to add something to her face. She was actually pretty satisfied with how she looked. She didn't use make up not did she want to in the future. She had fair skin, her dark brown hair that reached just above her waist sometimes matched the colour of her eyes. Overall, she was actually pretty the way she is and she acknowledged it, just didn't want to go overboard and become vain with her looks.

She didn't want to be like those girls or women, particularly her aunt who was Olivia's mom, who fretted over her skin for every single thing.

She was afraid she would become vain like the mother and daughter if she went ahead and tried to "perfect" her looks like her aunt said. She shuddered. She was perfect the way she is. And if a guy didn't like her that way, like her aunt would tease her most of the times, then he could go fuck himself up for all she cared.

At that though, a certain pair of sapphire eyes flashed in her mind, along with the way they looked so sincere when he'd said she was beautiful.

That warm feeling was back again.

She found her dad smiling fondly at her babbling cousin who was wearing a bright yellow coloured dress. Alexandra cringed, noticing her lips painted red. She's just 12 for god's sake. She could've at least chosen something that didn't make her look like a clown.

"Olivia there's something on your mouth." Cole said, handing her a tissue.

"Where?!" She tried to wipe her mouth. It was after the lipstick was all smeared, she realised it.

Alexandra highfived Cole, sitting in the backseat of the car.

As expected, Olivia started complaining about Cole to her dad and mom who'd come to see them off.

"You shouldn't have fallen for the prank." Sophia said simply, slightly pushing Cole towards the passenger seat. Cole, understanding what she meant opened the door. " Hey Alexandra remember the dare you didn't do last time?"

Her eyebrows went up to her hairline. "Yes?"

"Well I dare you to sit in the passengers seat." Cole flashed her a grin. Alexandra sighed tiredly and got out. "That's it?" She said, " You could've used it for something so much better."

'Nothing better than you being yourself again.' Cole thought internally, the grin on his face fading.

Cole closed the door after she sat, like a gentleman and sat in the backseat where a fuming Olivia was glaring at him.

Alexandra tuned out the conversation going on about some teacher at Olivia's school who had apparently scolded her. I'd like to personally thank this teacher. Alexandra thought, leaning her head back on the seat. She was feeling really tired.

She checked her phone, mentally smacking herself as she saw a text from Xander. She hadn't seen it when he'd replied.

"Hi. How are you?" Was his text.

She decided to be honest. " Pissed off I guess. And tired too."

His reply came a bit later. "Is everything okay?"

"On the way to dinner with dad and lil bro. Guess who's tagging along?"

She'd told Xander about Olivia and he related to herself, as he had a cousin of his own who was similar to Olivia.

"The bitch?" Alexandra tried to stop the laugh bubbling in her throat. "Yes." She texted back.

"What restaurant?" He asked.

"I think it's called the Blue Plate or something."

They reached the restaurant in the few minutes. As Alexandra opened the door, Olivia pulled back her hand, her fingernails digging in her skin. "I need-"

Alexandra roughly pulled back and got out of the car. A thunk was heard and she looked down. "Bitch." She mumbled, bending down to pick up her phone. Thanks to the screen guard it didn't break.

"Careful." George said, eyeing her phone.

"It's thanks to your new daughter." Alexandra snapped, grabbing Cole's hand.

George remained silent, not knowing what to do. He led them inside, curious to what Alexandra and Cole were whispering about.

The waiter greeted him with familiarity and led them to the table.

Alexandra checked her phone while Cole ordered for both of them.

"I might have a surprise for you." Xander had texted. She felt herself smiling as she texted back. " Oh yeah?"

"Look to your right, in front of you."

She did. And smiling at her, waving was Xander Black a few tables away but in the clear range of view. It was as if he had chosen that table on purpose to see her.

"Probably a coincidence," she chided herself, " Why would he do that?" She wished it wasn't. And her wish had actually come true. He had chosen table deliberately to watch her.

Her eyes shifted to the boy sitting in front of Xander. He'd turned around and was watching her curiously.

"That's Blake." Xander texted as Blake waved at her. Before she could wave back, Cole asked suddenly, "What's with the commotion?" He pointed to the people crowding towards the windows.

"Must've been an accident." George said, getting up to see the smoke rising from the building opposite to them.

Alexandra shrugged.

She stole a glance at Xander who seemed to be in a deep conversation with Blake. He smirked at something Blake said, nodding along with him and then throwing his head back with laughter.

That was the first time she saw him laugh wholly, his deep sound the music to her beatind drum of a heart. It was beautiful, just like him.

He fixed his eyes at her the moment she looked away, aware of how her eyes had drunk him in, the feeling of satisfaction spreading in his chest.

This game of glances continued, both unable to keep their eyes from wandering to each other, both feigning ignorance of their gazes drinking each other in.

He watched her every move, from the way her eyes softened at her brother to the way she bit the ice cream cone in her hand, with that killer smirk on her face, teasing her brother...and also Xander himself even if she didn't know.

At one point, she stiffened, casting her eyes away from her dad. Her brother said something to her dad at which Alexandra held his hand, stopping him.

Xander creased his brows in worry, something that didn't go unnoticed by Blake.

"Hey you all right?" Xander texted her.

She glanced down at her phone, and then back up at Xander. She gave him a smile that didn't reach her eyes. It was then George noticed Xander.

His eyes wide in surprise, he waved at them.

Xander cursed internally. He so did not want to go there and greet him.

"Let's go greet him." Blake said, " You can be close to your girl."

"She's not my girl." Xander said, already standing up and making his way there. Blake followed, muttering " Yet."

"Uncle George." Xander greeted as George stood up and shook his hand with a smile.

George then looked at Blake and for a moment stared at him. "Hello?" Blake asked awkwardly.

"You're Lucius's son right?" George asked with familiarity in his tone.

Blake nodded, confused. "How do you know my dad?"

"We were... acquaintances in the past." George said vaguely. Blake and Xander shared a look. George was definitely hiding something.

"Sit with us." George said suddenly, "You're already friends with my daughter. This is my niece." Xander noticed how he didn't introduce his son first. He also noticed the look that passed on Alexandra's face. Blake did too and raised his eyebrows.

"Sure." He answered before Xander could decline and took a seat beside Cole.

Xander helplessly sat beside Alexandra, thankful for the empty seat.

"Hey." He murmured, accidentally brushing his hand against hers.

"Hi." She said, a small smile on her beautiful face. Xander was really grateful to Blake.

"Hello." Blake said, leaning back the chair to see Alexandra.

"Hi." She said, the smile still on her face. Blake returned it with a friendly smile of his own. He could swear she looked familiar. Did he see her somewhere? That's not possible, he would've remembered a face like hers, especially by the way that smile was gone as if it was never there when she heard her cousin talk. She was exactly like Xander.

"So what are you kids doing here?" George asked curiously. This was a five star restaurant after all, two boys showing up in dark hoodies was something you don't see normally.

Blake shrugged, " We were in the neighborhood."

"He owed me a treat." Came Xander's reply at the same time.

They shared a look. " Yeah." Blake nodded, " I owed him a treat and we were in the neighborhood. So I thought why not here?"

"Odd place to treat your friend." George said, earning a look from Alexandra.

"Odd place to take your kids out when you're clearly gonna ignore them." She retorted. Cole put his hand on his face, letting out a tired sigh. Blake and Xander sensed the tension between Alexandra and her dad, who looked annoyed.

"I'm not-"

"Did you finish that equation?" Alexandra asked Xander suddenly, clearly trying to change the topic.

Xander shook his head. "I completely forgot about it." There was no such equation. But seeing the desperate look in her eyes, he played along. An idea popped in his head as he took out his phone.

"Did you know about the oncoming meteor shower?"

Like he predicted, her eyes lit up like the stars in the sky. " Yes! But we can't quite see it in the city."

"Because of the light pollution?" Blake provided. They nodded. Xander remembered a place. The tall looming trees but the clearing at the edge of the hill as if it was a canvas filled with stars and the city lights in front of it.

"Want to come see it with me?" The words left his lips, his eagerness showing in his voice. He would always go there whenever he could. It's been his sanctuary, his place. He hates anyone going there. It was his territory. And yet, he wanted to take her there. Why? Perhaps it was because he wanted to see the delightful smile on her beautiful face, her eyes shining like the stars. He wondered how they would look in the moonlight.

Beautiful that's for sure.

Alexandra nodded, excitement in her eyes. " Of course. I would love to."

George cleared his throat. " And where is this place?"

Alexandra wanted to ask why did he care. He clearly didn't when she needed him. So what does he want to prove now?

" Outside the city."

George raised his eyebrows, genuinely curious. Blake gaped at Xander. " Do you mean your spot? The one where no-" Xander kicked him under the table, subtly telling him to shut up.

"Yeah." He said smoothly, glancing back at George. " It's sort of like a hill."

"The sky would be so clear." Alexandra said nodding in approval, a smile gracing her lips. " I can't wait."

Xander flashed her a grin. He couldn't either.

After dinner, as they were walking out together, Blake elbowed Xander in his ribs. "A date huh?"

"It's not." Xander denied, feeling a little warm all of a sudden.

Blake snickered, the challenge shining bright in his dark eyes. " It will be. I'm betting on it."

Xander's lips quirked up " How much?"

"Now that's a huge fire." Cole's awed voice snapped their attention. He was staring at the now burning building on the opposite side of the road where a firetruck was putting the fire out.

George looked at Blake and Xander. "Wonder what happened." The look in his eyes said he knew it was them who were responsible for it and he did not look happy.

It was then Xander ander remembered his dad telling him that George was his best friend. So he guessed he probably knew who Xander really was.

A feeling of dread and disappointment erupted in his chest, scorching him from the inside. If George knew who Xander really was then he would want his daughter to stay away from him as much as possible.

No sane person wouldn't. After all, he was the heir to the most dangerous Mafia Empire in the US.

He didn't like it. For the first time ever, he found someone so someone so similar to him, someone he could talk with easily without wanting to shoot the other person in the face. It was exactly the opposite.

He didn't want to part with her. He should. He knew that, but he didn't like the feeling that came when he thought of it.

He snapped back into reality when he felt a hand gently touch his shoulder. He followed the smooth skin of her hand to her neck, where a delicate gold chain rested. Then up her face, her beautiful brown eyes looking at him in concern.

"You okay?" She asked softly, her brows in a cute frown.

Xander found himself nodding. " Yeah. Just thinking."

She retracted her hand as if she'd forgotten it was there in the first place. He was oblivious to the watchful eyes of George White and anticipating eyes of his best friend.

'You shouldn't let your hair down more often.' Xander wanted to say, 'because you radiate something so beautiful...it could just probe deadly... especially to me.' God he was turning into a sappy poet.

Alexandra gazed at his sapphire eyes that looked like twin flames of blue fire, beconeing her, to take a closer look....to burn in the warmth.

God what was happening to her?

"Speaking of the bet," Blake chimed in, noticing George's eyes on Xander, " You have to get me Liam's bike."

"Bet?" Alexandra asked, curious.

Blake opened his mouth to speak when Xander swung his hand over his shoulder. " You'll understand." He said with a teasing look in his eyes. For the first time ever maybe he wanted to loose.