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●ALEX POV●

I threw everything into a duffel bag and hightailed it out of my place. The overwhelming feeling of to get to Trip's was gnawing at me. Why would Warren be there? He showed up WITH Aria . Was it not enough, our conversation last night?

I got to the house in about an hour . I don't know how many speed limits I broke but I didn't care. It was like my mind was possessed as I made my way into the house . I didn't see anybody and then I heard footsteps .

"Aria," I softly say her name .

She looks at me with anger in her eyes , "Why are you here?"

The way she asked that felt as if someone shot an arrow into my heart. She's never spoken to me with that tone and I only have myself to blame . "Why is Warren here?" Was what came out of my mouth, instead of I'm sorry or I miss you .

"What? What's that supposed to mean?" She asks me .

"You were with him last night and now, he's here with you. Why? What about us?" I steady my voice not to let it cracks from the emotions I'm feeling .

"Alex, I told you I needed space, " she reminds me.

"But not from Warren?" My voice grows louder.

"He's been a good friend to me ," she stands her ground .

"You're MY girlfriend," I say in near yelling tones.

That was when Warren stepped out of his room and ran down the stairs , putting his body inbetween myself and Aria , "don't yell at her," he says with a stern voice.

"Alex, stop already . We can stop the charades," she says stepping away from Warren's shield .

That was when Trip opened the door from his study. He and another person walked out, this person I assume is his therapist .

"What are you talking about?" I ask her.

"Warren knows the truth about us," she confesses .

It was like a shockwave passing through me . I didn't want him to know it was fake . Not because it would make things worse for work but because I needed time to change our relationship into a real one .

"Why'd you tell him?"

"I was mad at you and we were sharing things with each other . Besides, it was a favor for a favor, right?" She says.

"How about the wedding?"

"I don't know , I haven't figured that out yet," she says looking at me, "why are you here?"

"Because I messed up . I did the dumbest thing in the world and left you . I left you after we had the most incredible night together . I want you to give me a chance to properly apologize and hopefully for you to forgive me," I begin to spill out my feelings and thoughts .

"Alex, let's talk somewhere as little more privately, " she nods at Warren letting him know it's okay .

I glare at him, now he knows our secret . I wonder what he will do or has done with this knowledge . I'm not going to just let Aria go. Not with what's transpired between us .

We walk up to her room and she closes the door , "so you want to explain . You drove all the way over here, so I have no choice but to listen. You already told me about Penny , but why are you here?"

"Aria , I don't want to lose you. The thought that you could hate me kills me inside . Penny meant nothing to me and you're right I didn't think when it came to her . And that's the point I don't think . She was an irrational part of my life but with you , everything is deliberate. I have a desire to make you happy and that requires more than being impulsive. I know it's only been a few weeks but you make my heart feel things that I didn't know it could feel."

She sighs, "Alex, what you're done is impulsive. What are we doing? Really? This wasn't ever suppose to get this complicated between us, but now , I don't know ."

"It doesn't need to get complicated . I like you , a hell of a lot more than I ever thought I would . You're more than a pretty face to me ," I say softly as I stroke her arm.

"This isn't real," she says.

"It could be," I suggest .

"Warren knows we're not real," she reminds me.

This bothers me , "Why does Warren knowing an issue?"

She doesn't say much but the look on her face says more than words could . She looks torn and I know what that means . My heart ached , "did something happen between the two of you?"

Aria shakes her head, "no , even if we were in a fake relationship I wouldn't cheat on you."

"Then what is it?" I demand.

"I enjoy his company. I can't lie to him and I don't want to."

I'm afraid to ask but I need to know , "do you like my brother?"

And then Aria just breaks down in front of me . Our one night at the beach was all I got with her . I pull her into a hug and she embraces me back .

"Alex, I don't know what's happening with me. I just needed some space to put my feelings together . What happened on Saturday was more than amazing , it was one of the best nights I ever experienced. But that next day...."

I interrupt her , "I know . And I explained and apologized but if it means I need to apologize every day I will . I don't want to lose you."

"Before we dove into it , I had my doubts , my worries . I'm not the type of woman who sleeps with just anyone . You're only the second man to ever...."

And I felt like a bigger idiot after she confessed that. She was a virgin when she got with Dylan, no wonder she's reacting this way. I didn't make it any easier for her and now she's probably questioning herself , her choices.

"You're the only one that matters to me Ar," I hug her tighter ,"if this means I need to be more patient, then I will."

She nods, "thank you . I know this isn't ideal and we couldn't have prepared for all of this but everything is a little too overwhelming for me."

"Ar, I didn't realize some of my actions. In all honesty, you have become so much more important in my life and I won't pressure you anymore. I'm not going anywhere and if you'll still have me for the wedding, I'd be honored," I tell her as I watch her wipe away the tears from her cheeks.

"Of course, my family already thinks you'll be there , plus I don't want Dylan thinking he's got the upper hand here."

"We'll show Dylan and Bitchny what's up . Get everyone there jealous ," I joke , which garnered a cute giggle.

"We would have talked about everything before next week, I'm sorry if me bringing Warren here made you mad. I knew that Trip still needs to face some things and one of them is his relationship with Warren. But also, he needs a break ," she says in a soft tone .

"Warren works hard, that I know . But seriously, is there something going on between you two?" I know , I know they say curiosity killed the cat but I just had to ask again.

She gives me another weak smile , "nothing's happened between us . He's just been a great support to me . I feel comfortable, relaxed and confident around him . It's just how it was when we were kids."

That last sentence struck me . Does she remember her childhood? "Are you getting your memory back?"

"No, I just remember Warren . I recognized him immediately when we met again . I get flashbacks but they're all memories of me and Warren," she tells me.

Stab. That's all I feel . I know I asked but I can't help but feel it . I kiss the top of her head and leave the room .

Warren. I need to see him because I want to know from his side if anything happened . I trust Aria but I'd like to see the bigger picture here . So I walked a few steps down the hall way to his room and knock on it.

His footsteps are loud as he opens the door, "Alex."

"Warren," I reciprocate.

"You're probably wondering what I'm doing here," he says before I can get the words out . I nod at him and enter his room . That's when I see Warren for the first time . He looked relaxed .

"Did anything happened between you and Aria?" Just ripping off the bandaid .

"No."

"Do you want there to be?" I ask him.

"Yes."

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