Lex sat his plate down and grabbed Lizzie, crossing her little body over his arms, while clicking a button to power off the movie projector. "I'll give you some privacy."

"Thanks."

I count the seconds until he leave, playing it cool as if I wasn't eager. "Jim."

"I got your voicemail, explain what's happening?" I tell him about the confusion with Lex being after me, about him helping out by taking files from his father's office, about exposing Mr. Pierce. I leave out Lizzie and that I'm with both of them at a luxurious house. He'd get mad a that.

"Oh."

"I wanted to involve you but your temper would have got in the way. Like in the parking lot."

"I can control myself."

"Says the guy who stormed off like a bitch." I joke.

"That was about you spending time with him, I don't like that." I felt an argument fueling his voice.

"Well you need to drop that feeling, talking to him is helping the situation more than the police are." I say defensively.

"I could have done the same thing I have access to Mr. Pierce's office as well."

"Please stop comparing dicks right now, Alright, I didn't want you involved!"

He chuckles harshly. "Well sorry."

"Can we just drop this and move on?"

"Right, just move on...cus it's that simple...Amanda..... I want to support you and look after you more than anything, but you won't let me. Why? But you'll him help you cus he has money, and all girl care about is getting a guy with money!" He growls.

"It's not like that, you know I'm not a gold digger, you've know me long enough to pick that up!" I hiss.

"I can say the same to you...you known me long enough to realize that I love you."

I freeze, my cheeks flushing, my body shaking. What did he just ssaaayyyyy!!! A long silence follows before I collect my thought and speak. "I know you do. I picked up hell of hints that...I don't want that with you. Or him..."

"Don't lie to me, you want him just because he's rich and good looking!" He spits.

What the fuck is wrong with him?!! He sounds like a fucking dog with rabies "Bye." I hang up. Rubbing my temples. This is why I kept him from all this, he's impulsive and blinded by rage. I don't think I want to talk to him for a long while.

"You okay?"

"Were you listening."

"No." Lex sits beside me this time, taking his plate of food in his hand. "And yes, you were pretty loud, so I heard most of it."

"Great...if you say anything similar to what he accused me of, I'll punch you in the balls."

He laughs, a creamy, deep noise. "Alright, we're friends."

"Friends." I give a sly smirking go back to eating. Not feeling an appetite at all.

...

In the morning, I get a good look at a bedroom I stumbled into in darkness. Fresh white sheets, light brown bed frame and wardrobe, a window seat, cushioned, looking out onto the back of the house. A lake, pretty trees and grass that's meant to be in heaven. I feel strangely better, maybe I needed to left out my anger with Jim. Now, just put him out of mind since he was so paranoid and crazy. I thought he wasn't that type but hey, I only knew him a year so. It's not like I can't forget a guy.

I skip breakfast, not being hungry, and go The the rock climbing room. Colorful rocks stick out like stepping stones, but out of place, zigzagged on a flat, stone wall that circled the room. In socks, I approach the climbing rocks, slipping out of them. Lifting my hands up stone at a time, gripping, determined to challenge myself, to distract myself, to strain myself for relief since I wasn't having sex anytime soon.

I get halfway to the top when a shout halts me. "DON'T FALL!" Lex yells up, a bit hesitant.

"DON'T JINX ME!" I hear the pulling of something below me, I look down to be a soft, huge mat, Lex set it up below me. "DON'T DOUBLE JINX ME."

"We need to get going on calling those girls. Fall."

"What the fuck, no,"

"It's not gonna hurt, trust me, this mat is super thick."

"I'll climb down."

"Pussy." I groan out in irritation, my legs wobble from the height I reached. "Oh, you're gonna let me get the last word. Cool. I win."

"FUCK." I let go of the wall rocks, and fall backwards, my hair whipping like crazy, covering my whole face, my neck relaxing, my mind relaxing, stress leaving my spirt." My body hits the mat, bouncing on softness. I laugh, my cheeks raising up high and tight. "you."

He extends his hand. "Feel better already, don't you?"