Alicia threw down her pen in frustration. She had been trying to work on a paper for her creative writing class, but she just couldn't focus. Her mind kept drifting off to thoughts about Lance. He was all she could think about lately. They had known each other for 2 weeks exactly now. He would either come up to the club to see her or she would have a 3 hour conversation with him on the phone each night. Either way she saw him or talked to him everyday, except for today. It was her night off and she decided to take advantage of it to catch up on her neglected homework, but it just wasn't working.

"This isn't going to work, I should just give up while I'm ahead," she muttered to herself as she shut the notebook she had been writing in, and picked up her cordless phone. She dialed Lance's number from memory, and waited for him to answer.

"Hello?" an unfamiliar, male voice answered.

"Um, can I speak to Lance?" she asked.

"May I ask who's calling?"

"Ally."

"Alright, hold on," she heard him then yell for Lance. "Lansten, Ally's on the phone!"

After a few seconds she heard Lance's deep voice come on the other line, "Hey."

"Hey, what's up?" Alicia asked him.

"Nothing, what are you doing?"

"Being as bored as hell."

"Same here."

"You wanna come over and watch a movie or something with me, or are you too busy?"

"A movie sounds good. I'll be over in 20 then, OK?"

"K, I'll see you then."

"Bye." She hung up the phone, and went down the hall to her room to change into a more comfortable outfit and find a movie for the two of them to watch.

Seventeen minutes later Lance knocked on her apartment door. She opened the door, and greeted him with a warm hug. He was wearing a pair of yellow cargo pants and a dark blue, fuzzy sweatshirt. She felt so warm and comfortable in his arms.

"Have you had dinner yet?" she asked him as he followed her over to the couch.

"No, I was gonna pick something up, but I didn't know if you had eaten yet," he answered.

"I'm not much of a cook, but for you I'll make my specialty."

"And what's that?"

"Pizza Bread!"

"Um, what's Pizza Bread?"

She looked at him as if he were crazy. "You mean to tell me you've never had it? You have no idea what you've been missing! C'mon, I'll show you."

She grabbed his hand, dragging him into the kitchen area of her apartment. She opened one of the top shelves, grabbing two plates from it, and set them on the counter top of the sink. He watched her as she retrieved the ingredients from her refrigerator and pantry; bread, pepperonies, mozzarella cheese, and pizza sauce. She used a spoon to spread the pizza sauce onto each of the pieces of the 3 pieces of bread placed on each plate, then sprinkled the mozzarella cheese overtop, and added 3 pieces of pepperoni to each piece of bread to top it all off. she put the two plates in the microwave, cooking them for 1 minute and 15 seconds.

"And what's so special about that? It's just like regular pizza only on bread instead of a crust!" Lance said.

Alicia rolled her eyes, and said, "Just eat it, and you'll find out."

"OK."

After they had finished eating she asked, "So, was I right?"

"Yeah," he replied defeated.

"Told you, I'm always right."

"Sure, I believe that one."

"Oh, you wanna bet, Mississippi?"

"Sounds like a good idea to me."

"Fine, what's your bet then?"

He thought for a minute then said, "Since you think you're always right, if you're wrong about one thing tonight you have to kiss me. But if I'm wrong about anything, I have to kiss you."

"I like this bet."

"Yeah, that's 'cos I thought of it."

"Whatever, you're wrong. So I guess that means you have to kiss me then?"

"Gladly," he replied before leaning forward, placing a hand on the side of her face, and kissing her gently on the lips. His lips were so soft against hers, she didn't want to part from them. When he did, though, he looked deep into her eyes. Without any notice, he kissed her again, this time lingering for a few seconds longer.

"what was that for?" she asked, when he pulled away from her for the second time.

"I thought your eyes were just hazel, but they have flecks of brown in them, so I was wrong," he answered.

"I don't think anyone's ever noticed that before."

"Well, now someone has."

~~~*~~~

Justin knocked on Mallory's front door. He had asked her out the day before, and planned on taking her to a romantic dinner and walk around downtown Orlando.

Holly answered the front door seconds after he had knocked. "Hey, J, come one in. Mal'll be down in a few minutes," she said, extending the door so he could walk inside.

"Thanks," he replied as he sat down on the leather couch in the front room. He only had to wait two or three minutes until he heard the sound of Mallory's footsteps coming down the stairs.

He looked up at her as she approached him and what he say took his breathe away completely. She was dressed in a deep blue dress that hugged close to her figure showing off her to die for curves and reaching to her ankles in length. It was spaghetti strapped, and the straps crossed over each other in the back, and she had matching sandals to go with the outfit. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun with a few curled strands left out to frame her face.

"Wow, you look amazing," he commented as he stood up form his seat on the couch.

He handed her a red rose that he had hidden behind his back the whole time. "Thanks, you're so sweet," she said.

"No problem, it's all my pleasure," he told her, then extended his arm out to her. "Shall we?"

She took hold of his outstretched arm, and let him lead her out the front door to his ruby red Mercedes Benz.

~~~*~~~

Lance and Alicia sat snuggled up next to each other on her couch watching "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer." The movie was already half way through as they sat together watching it, Lance's arms wrapped around her and her head resting on his shoulder.

"Comfy?" he asked her.

Alicia nodded her head, replying, "Always am when I'm with you."

He kissed her forehead softly. "Good, cuz I am too."

They sat in silence for the rest of the movie, unaware that there was someone else watching them, planning something. Finally, though, when the movie had ended and the credits were rolling, Lance stretched his arms and back, and looked up at the clock hanging on the wall above them.

"Damn, it's late," he remarked in between yawns.

"If you're too tired to drive you can stay here for the night," she told him.

"I think that's a good idea, I don't feel like dying in a car accident tonight anyway."

She laughed. "Are you sure that's the only reason why you're gonna stay?"

"Yeah, well, that and the fact that you're here."

Alicia reached up, kissing him long and softly on the lips. When they parted he asked her, "And what was that for?"

she shook her head, and said, "No reason, just felt right to do."

"So does this mean I'm more than just a manager and friend now?"

She kissed him again, this time more passionate to let him know what the answer was.

"Is that a yes or no?" he asked sarcastically.

"It's a definate yes."

~~~*~~~

A pair of cold eyes watched through Alicia's bedroom window from outside the apartment walls as Alicia and Lance slept next to each other on her bed. Anger boiled in those eyes as Lance subconsciously wrapped his arms around Alicia's waist, pulling her closer to him.

"No one's going to step in my way," the watcher thought gruffly. "No one."

Alicia cuddled up against Lance's body, resting her head on his chest while she slept comfortably in his arms.

"Just wait," the onlooker grunted, and disappeared into the shadows of the twilight.

~~~*~~~

Justin had taken Mallory to a small French restaurant for the romantic dinner he had planned, and now they walked down the deserted streets of downtown Orlando. They walked silently onto the boardwalk peering out onto the beach and ocean.

"Where are we going?" Mallory asked as he took her hand in his.

"You'll see," was all that he replied.

At the end of the boardwalk a long, white limousine awaited their arrival. Mallory gasped in surprise and admiration.

"Did you plan this all?" she asked.

He nodded, saying, "Only the best for such a beautiful lady," She blushed a deep red, and he hit himself on the top of his forehead. "That was completely corny wasn't it?"

She laughed, then answered, "We'll just pretend it wasn't said."

"Thanks."

They stood staring into each other's eyes for a few minutes before Justin pulled away from her addicting gaze, and said, "Shall we be on?"

He squeezed her hand gently, and lead her toward the limo. He whispered something to the driver before opening the door for her and letting her climb inside. he followed in after her, shutting the door behind them.

"Now where are we going?" she asked in impatience.

"Just be patient and you'll see."

A few minutes later the limo stopped, and the driver opened the door for them. Mallory stepped out first and immediately her eyes landed on the large dock before her where a carnival was set up.

"A carnival?" she asked.

"If you don't like them we can go somewhere else, I just think they're really fun," Justin said, hoping he hadn't screwed up.

"I love them, Justin. I can't believe you put so much thought into this, though. You're too sweet."

"Eh, only when I truly want to be." They both laughed.

"Thank you, though. So far this has bee one of the best nights of my life, and it's all because of you."

"You're more than welcome, mal. But, hey, it's just about to get better! C'mon, we've got some rides to try out!"

He grabbed her hand once again, dragging her towards the entrance of the carnival.

~~~*~~~

Alicia woke up the next morning in Lance's arms. She felt so safe and warm laying right next to him in the comfort of his arms, she never wanted to get up, but she knew she'd have to eventually.

When he noticed she was awake he kissed her cheek lightly, and asked, "Good morning, baby, how'd you sleep?"

"Good, you?" she asked back.

"Better than ever."

She rested her cheek on the soft skin of his chest and closed her eyes again.

"Going back to bed?"

She shook her head. "I haven't woke up yet, and I don't plan on it either."

He chuckled softly, understanding the meaning of her words. "Can I stay asleep with you forever then?"

She looked up into his deep green eyes, replying, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

He titled his head down a little to kiss her soft and passionately before pulling away with a groan as he spotted what time it was on the wall clock out of the corner of his eye.

"I'm sorry, baby, I don't want to but I have to get going. I promised Justin and the guys I'd meet up with them this morning before you and I went over to the studio. Forgive me?" he asked sincerely.

"I guess, but you'll have to do some serious kissing up later," she replied.

"I know," he kissed her a second time before adding, "hey, why don't you come with me anyway? You already know Justin, but you can meet the other 4. I'm sure they'd love to meet you."

"That sounds like a good idea, just as long as they won't mind me tagging along with you guys. Lemme take a shower then I'll be ready, OK?"

"I'll be downstairs waiting then."

He kissed her forehead briefly before sliding out from under the warm covers, and onto his feet. He pulled on his cargo pants over the boxers he had stripped down to the night before, and Alicia couldn't help but comment on how good he looked without a shirt on.

"Mmm, you look sexy in the mornings. Nice abs, baby," she said.

Lance laughed, replying, "Yeah, well, I try."

He pulled his sweater over top his head then walked out of her room, leaving her some privacy before she got into the shower. Alicia sat up on her bed, and as she did she noticed a piece of paper stuck to the mirror of her dresser that hadn't been there the night before. She slid out of bed and walked over to the dresser, pulling the piece of paper from the mirror.

She unfolded the letter to see "He could never love you the way I do" scrawled out in a sloppy handwriting. She immediately dropped the letter as if it were a hot coal. Her hand shot up to her face as she held in a terrified scream, tears of horror running down her pale cheeks.