A/N

Hehe...

Chapter 49.

*****

"Why the hell did I let you talk me into that shit?" I hissed feeling my head throb as I gave up trying to get out of bed.

"Aw, the hangover will pass. You were a hit." Shiloh ruffled my hair. "And you had fun."

"What's the point if I can't remember anything?" I asked annoyed as I took the tablets Claire held out to me and swallowed them before I thanked her and I took the glass of water her other hand held.

"Oh, I have a lot of memories, Alexander." Shiloh waved his cell phone. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm just incredibly shocked Jordan was the one who threw up and not you." Claire said.

"I probably drank twice as much as he did." Jordan said with a shrug.

I grabbed my phone as the noise began to blast but I sobered a little when I saw the name. I looked at Shiloh.

"Oh yeah, Ser- Diego called." he said.

"Last night?" I asked.

"Yes, you were talking to him but you got distracted by this guy –" He laughed and I felt my heart drop, "Don't worry, I handled it."

"What do you mean you 'handled it'?" I asked before I answered the phone. before I could speak Sergio did.

"Had quite a bit of fun last night, didn't we Alexander?" His voice was cold.

"I can explain." I gave a relieved smile hearing him laugh.

"Shiloh already did." he said before I heard him mutter, "Wow, this is crazy..."

"What is?"

"Nothing. How's your head?"

"It's never been better." I muttered annoyed. He laughed. "How's Dave?" I asked.

"He's great, so am I, Alex." I chuckled, "Have you seen Clyde?" he asked.

"No, should I have seen him?" I asked.

"No, I'm just asking." he chuckled, "I miss you." I smiled.

"I love you."

"I love you more..." I smiled before I heard him sigh and it fell as I furrowed my brows, "Be careful, alright?"

"Why? What happened? What's going on?" I frowned.

"Nothing. Ben just informed me that Declan's gang has been really silent lately... They're up to something and we can't figure out what it is because our men in his crowd have gone silent along with them. You don't have to worry about it though; I've already planned for any move they can make."

"I'm not worried." I said smiling. He chuckled.

"I'll see you in a couple of days; Dave's convinced me to stay here... well, Dave and... other things... damn..."

"You better be talking about the weather." I said sourly.

"I didn't even mention anyone!" He laughed. "Your jealousy is cute. I love you so much."

"Say hey to David for me." I rolled my eyes. "Have fun." I chuckled as I hung up.

"Aw, that was so cute!" I looked up and my jaw dropped a little when I realised I had forgotten that I was surrounded by my friends.

"You're more whipped than I am." Shiloh said.

"That's impossible." Jordan and I spoke in unison.

Shiloh frowned as we laughed.

"Aw," Claire turned Shiloh's face to hers and kissed him but their kiss was cut off by my flinging a pillow into their faces. "Alex!"

"Don't make out in my room... or anywhere."

"Yeah, it's weird." Jordan grimaced and Claire and Shiloh laughed as he hugged her, "Can we get breakfast now? I'm starving; my head still hurts too much to cook."

"Yeah." Claire agreed.

"Okay." I grabbed my sunglasses and my friends laughed.

-----

Later in the afternoon, we all hung out at our house for a while before Shiloh and Claire left for a date leaving Jordan and I playing Grand Theft Auto. It was about two when the doorbell rang and Jordan shoved me so he could get by even though he could just have walked around the couch. He was just mad I had shot him in the head a few times.

"Ha." Jordan gave a half-laugh in disbelief once he had opened the door before he tried to shove it closed again but a foot stopped it from shutting. "Damn it, I should have swung it and broke his foot." I chuckled as he said that looking at me. I jumped to my feet and headed over to see who Jordan was so annoyed by as he asked, "How the hell did you know we live here?"

"He lied to Sebastian. What are you doing here, James?" I asked.

James' light brown hair was brushed back neatly leaving nothing hanging over his forehead or his blue eyes. His clothing was casual formal; his style had not changed much. He owed the way he dressed to his father, I don't think I have ever seen that man in anything but a suit. James was good pretty good looking, I would not admit that I thought that to anyone, least of all him.

His presence gave me mixed emotions. I was annoyed and still a little hurt at the same time, and I wanted to punch him in his face. I smirked. According to Sergio I could pack a punch, I should ask Ben if it's true just to annoy him. I loved messing with Ben, he got annoyed so fast. Sergio probably wouldn't appreciate that. Damn it, I missed him so much. James' speaking snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Before you try to swear at me or shut the door in my face again –" James lifted a bag to Jordan. Jordan took it frowning.

"You're not going to gain sometime alone by bribing m – whoa. I'll leave you alone." I rolled my eyes as Jordan left making his way upstairs. He'll sell me out for paint brushes. That's Jordan for you.

I shook my head.

"Alright, goodbye." I tried to shut the door but James' foot had not moved, he must have guessed I would shut the door. I pulled it back but he lifted his hands to the door seemingly realising my intentions.

"Just hear me out." he said.

"James." I frowned.

"I'm not here to try to convince you to get back with me, I've tried that. I get it now, Alex. You've moved on. You're with him – Sergio – and I finally accepted that... I respect it. You're happy and that's the most I can hope for... but... I want us to be friends." he said before adding, "Please?" as he held his hand out to me.

"Friends?" I sighed.

"Alexander, you say you've forgiven me... I cannot forgive myself unless you prove it. I know you don't have to, I know I don't deserve it but it eats at me... I can't move passed it..."

I bit my lip before I smiled as I reached out and took his hand to shake it.

"Sure." I chuckled as he pulled me into a hug and I patted his back a little awkwardly.

"So, I'm guessing you have to tell Sergio before we can grab an early dinner?" he asked.

"Uh..." Dinner with him just seemed so awkward in my mind.

"I'm not going to come onto you or anything, Alex. I just want to hang out, I missed you. We can catch up and then go bowling." He grinned.

I smiled and gave a nod. "You still suck at bowling, don't you?" I asked.

"For your information, I managed to get two pins down the other day." He retorted.

I laughed.

"Fine. We can go. I need to get my phone."

I walked back into my house and told Jordan I was heading out. We argued about if for a couple of minutes before he realised I had no interest in getting back with James. I grabbed my jacket and phone before I left.

We went bowling first seeing as there was time before we had to do dinner. It was weird; it actually was not awkward at all. It was like catching up with an old friend... Well, he was an old friend.

I guess I finally really forgave him and it felt like a relief.

"Where are we headed?" I asked realising we weren't headed to my house when he was supposed to be driving me home.

"I was hoping you wouldn't notice I wasn't taking you home until we got there." He said.

"I assumed so, where are we headed?" I chuckled.

"Surprise." he smirked.

"Oh God." I leaned my head back as I groaned and he laughed.

We drove for a while before I looked around.

"Are you going to kill me?" I joked as we drove through a less busy part of town. It was an industrial area.

James glanced at me with a smile that didn't reach his eyes and I narrowed my own at him.

"James." I said. "What is this?" I asked. He didn't reply as he bit his lip. "What's going on?" I hissed.

"I... only want to protect you. He's not good for you, Alex. I know him. He's sick, he's stupid, he has no future. He's just a pathetic drop out that will never be anything more than what he is and that's not right for you. He's going to hurt you and mess your life up. I won't let that happen. Try to understand... I'm doing this for you."

"What?" I looked up as we swerved and stopped the car behind a car that was already parked at the side of a deserted street. "What did you do?" I hissed, "What is this? James –" I was cut off by a tap on my window. I turned and froze as I stared into a gun.

"Get out!" The guy holding the gun called. I looked at James to see him step out of the car with nothing forcing him to do so. I stared shocked as he shut his door once he was out of the car. "Hey!" the gun hit the window. He hit the window again when I didn't move.

I fumbled for the door handle before I shoved it open and stepped out cautiously feeling my legs weaken when I realised we were surrounded... I was surrounded. Around me stood six other men, excluding James, five were armed and showing it and one was busy with his cufflink. He was wearing an obviously very expensive black suit; he looked around Kent's age. Way older than me. I stared at him trying to understand where I recognised his face from but I got nothing. His hair was slicked back, the same dark brown colour as my own.

"Alexander Richardson."

He knew my name?

I let out a cry when he suddenly stepped forward and swung his fist into my jaw.

"No! What the fuck did you do that for?! You said he wouldn't get hurt, the deal's off." James yelled trying to check my jaw out but I shoved him away from me. I didn't look at him as I ran my hand over my jaw.

"You're right, it is." I looked up but my heart stopped when an ear-piercing shot went off and his blood sprayed onto me.

I didn't move, I couldn't. I was frozen terrified. I watched as James' fell onto his knees before he fell to the ground. I gasped for breaths as I stared at him while feeling my stomach's contents rise.

"He was really annoying, don't you agree?" The man in the suit asked with a smile as he stared at the body on the ground.

"The worst." The guy that had shot him said frowning at James' lifeless body.

"What do you think, Alex?" The man asked amused.

I looked at James' body, there was blood leaking from his head onto the sidewalk. I felt sick... I lifted a shaking hand to rub some blood from my eye. I pulled my shaking hand from my face and caught a glimpse of James' blood and a piece of his brain matter and I lost it.

I bent over as I emptied my guts onto the ground in front of me.

"That's disgusting, Alex." The man in front of me chuckled as I coughed. Tears stung my eyes; I didn't look up as I stayed hunched over leaning on my arms as my hands clenched my knees.

I wasn't sure if the tears were because of the vomiting or because they just killed James. I blinked the tears away gritting my teeth.

"Funny. You look just like him..." I looked back up at the suited guy as he frowned while his dark eyes ran over me before they met mine again and he smiled, "I heard you've been looking for me."

I straightened myself clenching my fist to hide the fact that I was shaking as I stared at him a little afraid to say it but he seemed to be waiting for it because no one spoke or moved.

"You... You're Declan?" I whispered, my voice didn't hide my fear. How could it? They just killed someone on their side! They just killed James and fucking smiled about it! I had not even seen Clyde look this way after they killed Kyle.

"That's right." He smiled.

Before I could even think about what to do something smashed against my head and everything went dark.

*****