"If I accidentally kick you in the nostrils, i'm sorry." Alaska laughed, standing in her backyard after the Beach Club.

"Alaska! You just got your stitches out, child!" Gina yelled out the back door, Zane laughing from the kitchen as he stirred the noddles. "You better not be laughing."

"The timers gone run out!" Aisha shouted, holding her phone video.

"Ready." Tory confirmed, taking her stance as Alaska took a breath, doing a hand stand infront of her as Tory grasping her hands. "Okay, okay, I think I have you!"

"Okay, pull." Alaska tried not to laugh, knowing they'd tumble. Tory pulled upwards, Alaskas legs tightening around her head.

"Holy shit!" Aisha laughed from the steps.

"I don't trust you enough for this next part. I've heard you're not very good on your feet." Tory joked as Alaska positioned her feet behind her head.

She was giggling horribly. "I swear!"

"Hurry!" Aisha yelled at them.

Tory fell backwards, grasping Alaskas hands tightly. The Lee girls feet hit the floor, standing as Tory held onto her, inches from the ground. Aisha cheered for them as Tory and Alaska laughed, this time actually falling onto the group.

"Ready?" Zane coming around the corner made Alaska flip the video off, shoving her phone into her pocket. He insisted he bring Tory and Alaska to the hospital just to get a quick check over, both of them seemingly doing okay.

"Where's Tory?" Alaska asked, getting off the bed as Zane signed her discarded papers. "Did you wait with her?"

"Yes, she's okay too. Just bruised elbows." Zane said, the pair walking out to see the Nichols girl waiting for them. "You need a ride home?"

"I'm fine." she said back, eyeing them both. "Thanks for...paying the medical bill. I'll pay it back."

"Don't worry about it." Zane shook his head at her. "Let me give you a ride home. We pass your apartment anyways."

Tory looked to Alaska, who would only flicker her eyes at her every few seconds.

"What kind of music do you two wanna listen to?" Gina asked from the front seat, the car dark while the pair of girls rode in the back together. Neither answered, sitting far away from each other as they road through the Valley. "Okay, silence it is."

Alaska peaked over in Torys direction, seeing the brunette flicker her eyes her way as well. They both turned to the window quickly, making it seem like they hadn't been stealing glances at the other. Zane glanced back through the rear view mirror. "Tory, when will your mom need her medicine again?"

"Two weeks." Tory said back, the street lights passing over her pale skin.

"Is she doing any better?" Gina kept the conversation going, though Zane felt guilty when he saw the slightest look of betrayal on Alaskas face.

"Just the same as always." Tory answered, and it was clear she didn't want to talk about it. "Who was that guy?"

"Beth's ex." Zane answered her. "Police are looking for him now, he shouldn't be far."

"Why'd he try to light us on fire?" Tory went on, because it was clear the whole situation was so unexpected.

"He's a sick dude." Gina shrugged in return. "He's gonna do anything to get back at Beth. I just don't understand how he knew where we were."

"Someone had to have told him." Zane nodded in agreement, turning as the blinker shut off. "Alaska, how do you feel?"

"Fine." she said back, but she clearly didn't want to talk either.

Zane pulled infront of the apartments, parking the car. "All right, Tory. You be good."

"Thanks for the ride." she said, grasping the door. She looked back, finding Alaskas looking at her already. "Thanks for pushing me out of the way."

Alaska scanned her face, shrugging her shoulders. "Wasn't gonna let you burn."

Tory shut the door, the pair watching her get inside before driving off. Gina looked back at Alaska. "You sure you feel okay?"

"Yeah." she said back, and their was clear attitude in her tone.

Zane looked in confusion as he pulled out of the street. "What's that tone for?"

Alaska ignoring them. Gina leaned back to tap her knee, getting her attention. Alaska shrugged. "Doesn't matter."

"You mad we were being nice to her?" Gina asked.

"No." Alaska fought the urge to roll her eyes. "It's not about her."

"Then what's it about?" Zane asked, because he would have guess she was annoyed with their kindness to Tory.

"Eli." she answered from the back. "I don't want him to feel like we betrayed him."

"Babe, he's not gonna think that." Gina laughed slightly at Alaska. "We just gave Tory a ride home and made sure both of you were okay."

But, Alaska knew she wouldn't understand, no one would except him and his brain.

"Allie." Zane hummed as he drove down the highway, back to their house in Encino. "You can't base everything you do around Eli, love."

"I don't." she defended herself. "But he's fragile right now. And Tory is half of the reason why."

"Eli knows you aren't the type of person to just abandon her like that either. I'm certain that's something he likes about you." Gina pointed out as Alaska didn't say anything. "He knows you still care about her."

"I don't care about-" Alaska began, but she couldn't bring herself to actually say the rest of it. She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. You're right, i'm probably just over thinking it."

"I don't think you're over thinking, it just seems like you're worried about him." Zane pointed out to avoid any self criticism. "But, you're worried about her too."

Alaska didn't talk for almost a minute. "Of course i'm worried about her."

"Is Demetri also their date or.." Beth trialed off, looking at the trio Zane was taking photos of.

"Oh? You think these two are all?" Gina rose her eyebrows her way. "Just you wait."

"Okay, do the pose you guys did when you were real little. You remember? At the cook out." Zane encouraged the three.

"Dad, that was so lo-" Alaska began, stopping as Demetri rose his hands above his head, having them hang like a monkey.

"You guys really don't remember? We did this pose all the time." he said in disbelief. Alaska and Eli shared a comical laugh, holding their hands up to do the same while Zane took the photo.

"Perfect. Oh, look at you, darling." Zane gave Alaska a twirl, her blue dress and shiny earrings very new. "I'm gonna cry."

"Dad, please don't cry." Alaska gave an embarrassed look.

"I won't." he promised, giving her a small twirl as Gina gushed. Beth walked over and started to talk to the boys, letting the pair have their moment in the kitchen. "What's the game plan for tonight?"

"Don't put too much pressure on my hand." Alaska nodded, her brace getting taken off this morning and was still sore. "And don't drink the punch."

"And don't get pregnant." he gave a stern look. "One slow song max."

"One slow song max." she smiled as he continued to sway with her, giving one more spin. "I'm glad I got my brace off."

"Me too, it was getting sad watching you knock on doors with your head." he nodded, making her laugh. "I'm really proud of you, Al. That recovery was painful and you turning down the pain medication couldn't have been easy. Your mom and I are just beyond proud of how far you've come."

Alaska could remember shooting up a year ago, she could remember being so out of it, so in pain, so on top of the world. She gave a sad smile. "It's been almost a year."

"One week away." Zane smiled.

"Hello?" a cheerful voice rung, breaking the two apart to look toward the front door.

"Wyatt, my love, you look so beautiful!" Gina gushed at the boy in his white tux, pulling a sharp Kody, who was in navy blue, behind him.

"Wow." Alaska rose her eyebrows. "Wyatt has taste."

"He's a handsome little fellow." Zane nodded his head. "Who's he?"

"Kody from math." Alaska nodded, looking toward Demetri. She stiffed a laugh as she whispered to her dad. "Look at, Meat."

They turned, seeing his jaw on the floor with a mix of jealously and annoyance on his face. The father and daughter duo laughed together, hiding their faces. Gina and Beth gushing over Wyatt and Kody, Demetri shaking his head. Zane nodded. "I'll go talk to him."

"Please do." Alaska begged as her dad walked off. Her eyes fell to Eli, who was already looking her way awkwardly. Alaska pointed at him, making a come here motion. Eli flushed, walking her way. "Figured I should save you before my dad starts giving Demetri jealousy advice."

"This might be the first time I don't need jealousy advice." he said, accepting her arms around his waist. They were on the same height with her shoes on, but it was nice to have her face pressed to the side of his. "You look pretty."

"You look pretty too." Alaska pulled back to whip an eyelashes from his cheek, holding it toward his mouth. "Make a wish."

Eli rose his eyebrows her way. "You believe in that?"

"I believe in essential oils, obviously I believe in this." she joked, making him laugh. Eli shut his eyes, Alaska smiled at him before he blew it from her thumb, grinning back at her. "What'd you wish for?"

"Can't tell you." he grinned, their faces close as he rubbed his nose against hers.

"You two make me so sick." Kody passed their side, opening the fridge. "Jesus, Alaska, you have the good stuff."

Alaska and Eli shared as odd look, her arms going around his shoulders, their bodies pressed together as they watched him. "Help yourself."

"Your house is so cool." Kody shut the fridge after pulling out the left overs from the night before, looking their way. "Wyatt was all 'Hey, meet me at Alaskas really big house' and I was all 'Okay' and was expecting a big house, but not this pretty of one."

Alaska tried not to laugh. "Thanks. I've lived here my whole life."

She cringed at her own words. Eli nodded. "Yeah, she has."

It was his turn to cringe, the two shared a look to shake their heads at each other for both their awkwardness. Kody grinned at the pair, leaning on the counter with a bead tilt. "You guys are cute."

"Well, we try." Alaska forced a laugh.

"No, I don't think you do." Kody laughed, shaking his head as he walked toward the silverware drawer.

"Happy prom, babe." Eli joked to get her attention.

"Happy prom, lover." she hummed, going back to their little hug with a kiss to his temple.

•

kylie speaks

finally my baby kody
getting some more freakin
lines! a little insight into him
before he gets his OWN
FREAKING BOOK!

alaskawitz vibing in their in
love bubble again.

wymeatri being jealous and
awkward again.