"Amanda?" AJ asked, staring at his girlfriend.

"Who's she?" Amanda asked coldly, glaring at Jessica. Jessica glanced at the floor. biting her lip.

"This is my best friend, Jessica," AJ replied calmly.

"Sure," Amanda said snidely. She continued, still glaring at Jessica, "Why don't you go home, little girl? Go back where you belong. We're celebrities, we don't need little people like you around. Go home where you BELONG!" Jessica shrank back against AJ, shaking her head fearfully.

"I cannot believe you just said that," AJ said coldly. "Get out."

"But baby..." Amanda whined.

"Out," AJ commanded sternly, holding Jessica closer to himm.

"Fine," Amanda scoffed. "But at least I didn't cheat on you with some fan who's barely 13 years old." Jessica rolled her eyes.

"Amanda, Jessica is my best friend. We've known each other forever. If it's that I was hugging her, it's what friends do when one is upset. Obviously,you wouldn't know that, seeing as you don't care about anyone enough to offer a shoulder to cry on."

"Whatever," Amanda scoffed, reeling from his last comment.

"Just leave, Amanda. I don't want you here again," AJ said, his voice colder than ice. Amanda stalked out of the house, her tires squealing as she backed out of the driveway and roared down the street. AJ pulled away from Jessica and started pacing down the hallway.

"I'm sorry, Age," Jessica said softly,

"What for?" AJ asked, stopping. He walked back towards her, standing in front of her. "It was a long time in coming. Don't worry about it."

Jessica nodded slowly.

"Look..." AJ said, staring into her light blue eyes, "Whaddaya say we just hang out here, maybe order some good Chinese food, watch a movie or something?"

"That'd be nice," Jessica smiled. AJ nodded. She stared up at his suddenly taut, drawn, face. "I think you're the one who needs a nice long bath now," she whispered, taking his hand and leading him to his bathroom. He stared down at her blankly as she led him to the tub. "Do you need me to undress you?" she asked, only half kidding. He just shrugged. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes briefly before reaching out to him. Shaking her head, she turned to go put on the water. She felt his arms around her waist and closed her eyes, gasping softly, so he wouldn't hear.

As he started nuzzling her neck, she turned around. "AJ..." she warned, then stopped as she saw the tears running down his face. "Oh, AJ," she whispered. She traced her thumb over his cheek. Kissing his eyelids, she got rid of the unfaltering tears. "What's wrong, Alex?" she whispered. He continued staring blankly at her. "Alex... please... show me you're alive... something, anything... oh God, AJ... I'm so scared... please," she whispered hoarsely at his blank, unfocused expression. "Alexander," she whispered, taking his hand and kissing his palm. "Please, I need you, I need you so much..." She turned away from him as sobs raked her body.

"Jessie..." his voice whispered hoarsely.

"Oh, AJ!" she exclaimed, spinning around. He pulled her to him and they hugged tightly, neither wanting to let the other go.