Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The five stages of grief played like a broken record in Alexis' mind. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. She kept thinking she just needed to get through these five stages and everything would be alright.

Nicholas was coming towards her with a bottle of water, "Alexis?"

She looked up at him with watery bloodshot eyes.

"It's been almost twenty-four hours since you heard about your friend and you haven't moved from the couch. I have an appointment for one of my designs. Are you going to be okay here alone? Should I call Chace?"

"No!" Alexis shouldn't have answered so adamantly because it caused Nicholas to give her a strange look.

"I don't want to leave you alone. Is there anyone I can call to stay with you?"

She shook her head. Yesterday had been horrific. It had been confirmed that Ivy was found dead in her apartment. She had been suffocated. Alexis didn't move, didn't eat, and didn't sleep. Nicholas slept in the loveseat across from her so that he could keep an eye on her.

"I don't want to leave you alone. It's not safe Alexis," Nicholas was wearing a suit jacket.

"Are you going on an interview Nicholas? I thought you only did freelance?" Her question surprised him since it was so out of the blue. He still answered it.

"No Alexis. It's not an interview. I'm having a meeting about one of the ads I created for a local clean-up campaign. Apparently they thought something was wrong with the logo I created and they want to discuss it."

"They couldn't discuss it over the phone?"

"I asked and they said the guy in charge wanted to meet face to face. I don't know why. Some of these suits have no vision whatsoever."

Alexis smiled, trying to push back her guilt regarding Ivy, "You're so artistic. I bet your real parents were artists."

Nicholas grimaced, "It doesn't matter what they were. They gave me up for adoption."

"Yeah, I bet they were artists. Do you know what I used to think my parents were?" Alexis asked ignoring his previous statement.

Nicholas thought the conversation was strange but he went along with it since it made his sister stop crying, "No, what?"

"Astronauts."

Nicholas gave a grin, "Yeah. That's interesting because I used to think you were an alien."

Alexis didn't give him a reaction like she normally would have and Nicholas sighed, "You know...I can reschedule my meeting. I think I need to stay here with you."

"No. You should go. I'll be fine. I'll call a friend over."

"Are you sure?" Nicholas asked.

"Yeah. I'm positive. Please go before I start to feel upset that you're treating me like an invalid," Alexis picked up her phone and dialed Gabby's number.

Gabby picked up and her hello was filled with sniffles and sobs.

"Can you come over?" Alexis asked her friend.

"Sure I need to talk to you anyway," Gabby answered and they both disconnected the call.

Nicholas watched his sister and sighed, "I'm not going to be able to wait for your friend. Make sure you lock the door, okay?"

"I will. Stop worrying," Alexis stood up and walked with her brother to the door.

"Who's coming over? Is it Chace?" Nicholas asked, glancing at his watch.

"No it's Gabby. I don't think you've ever met her."

Nicholas laughed, "I guess I haven't. Her name sounds familiar though."

Alexis shrugged, "Hurry up and make some money bro. I want you to buy me something good to eat before you come home."

"McDonalds?" Nicholas smiled.

"Gross," Alexis muttered.

"Okay, how about Popeyes?"

Alexis rolled her eyes, "That's my brother...the big spender."

Nicholas pulled his sister into a hug and whispered, "I'm sorry Alexis. I know this is hard on you. I wish I could help you but we're going to get past this okay?"

She nodded, a fresh batch of tears forming. "Okay...okay. I'm backing away before I cry all over you."

Nicholas was walking out the door when Alexis called out to him, "Hey Nicholas..."

He turned back around, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing...just don't forget."

"Forget what?"

"Your promise to me."

"Promise?" Nicholas didn't understand what she was talking about.

"Your promise not to leave me, remember?"

A faint memory of Alexis telling him of Deandra's brother being sad that his sister died came to mind. Alexis was asking him not to die on her too. He gave her a big smile and waved, "Come on sis' you know I'd never leave you. Not unless a supermodel asked me to."

He laughed and walked away, getting into his truck. Alexis watched him drive away and a sadness filled her. She was afraid that she would be left alone soon. Both Deandra and Ivy had been killed. What if something happened to Nicholas? She didn't know what she would do.

Twenty minutes later, Gabby was ringing Alexis' doorbell.

"Gabby," Alexis tried to hug her but Gabby didn't return the embrace. "How are you holding up?"

Gabby's nose was red from crying and her eyes were a pink color. "Alexis we need to talk."

They sat on the sofa and Gabby continued, "The police talked to Ivy's parents."

"Did they get any news on who did this?"

Gabby shook her head, "No, but they know why it was done."

Apprehension filled Alexis, "What do you mean?"

Gabby shook her head in disgust, "You know exactly what I mean Alexis. Why didn't you tell us?"

Alexis opened her mouth but no words could come out.

"Here you are...the supposed smart one from our group and you couldn't even tell us that someone was targeting your friends? Wasn't Deandra's death enough? Ivy's dead and now your psycho stalker is probably going to come after me!"

"Why are you acting like this is my fault?" Alexis stood up and took a step away from Gabby, wanting distance between them.

"How is it not your fault? A guy is after you and you didn't tell us! Then he started coming after your friends! Detective Winters told us everything! How could you Alexis?"

"I...I don't know. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Alexis was crying again, something she didn't think was possible.

"Sorry? Is that all you can say? Well I'm sorry Alexis but that doesn't cut it. Do you know how devastated Ivy's parents are? When I think about Deandra's brother, Damon, it makes me sick. He was so broken up over his sister's death."

"Are you trying to make me feel worse? It started off with pictures Gabby. Just random pictures taken from across a room. It could've been anyone! What was I supposed to tell you guys? Hey there might be someone watching you so be careful! I didn't know what to do! He said he would kill her if I went to the cops" Alexis defended herself but the words felt bitter in her mouth.

"Yeah well it looks like he killed her anyway, didn't he?" Gabby crossed her arms and stood up, "Listen, I didn't want to stay long. I just wanted to tell you that Ivy's family doesn't want you at the funeral."

"What?" Alexis was speechless.

"You're a psychologist, you should understand that it's probably hard for them to look at you when it's your fault their daughter is dead."

Gabby straightened her purse and walked past Alexis as if she wasn't there. After she left, Alexis sat on her sofa and cried.

Later that Evening

Alexis looked at her phone and wondered where Nicholas was. He still hadn't come home and several hours had already passed. She was still feeling raw and frazzled from her conversation with Gabby.

The doorbell rang and she hurried to the door and answered it to see that it was Chace.

"Hi Alexis."

"Chace, what are you doing here?"

"Your brother called me. He said you needed a shoulder to cry on. I'm sorry about your friend."

Alexis wondered why Nicholas would call Chace after she told him not to. "It's been a bad couple of weeks."

They were standing awkwardly at her door when he asked, "May I come in?"

Alexis just stared at him as if she didn't understand until he laughed. Then she excused herself and let him in, "You really didn't have to stop by."

"Of course I did. I wanted to make sure you're holding up okay."

"I'm fine."

"Riiight," Chace tried to hug her but she brushed him off.

"Alexis, did I do something?"

"What do you mean?"

Chace put his hands in his pockets, "I just feel like you've been brushing me off lately and I don't understand why."

"I haven't been brushing you off," she said knowing it was a lie.

"You don't think you have?" he asked.

"No," her voice came out at a higher pitch than normal, indicating it was a lie.

Chace laughed, "I call BS."

"What?"

"You heard me. I call BS. You've been avoiding me and I want to know why. I thought we had a great date and that you liked me."

"Chace," Alexis didn't know how to explain what was going on.

"Be honest with me Alexis. We both know a relationship never works without honesty."

"Fine, you want me to be honest?"

Chace nodded, "Yes!"

"You asked for it. The truth is that I'm scared Chace. Do you hear me? I'm scared!"

"Of being in a relationship?" Chace asked, surprised.

"No. Of you!"

"Me?" Chace didn't know how to respond to that, "I don't understand. What did I ever do?"

"Someone has been sending me notes, pictures, crazy texts. Threatening me. Someone has been doing all that and it all started about the same time you showed up Chace! There's something fishy about you and your too good to be true act."

Chace was quiet for a moment. He just stared at her in disbelief.

"Well aren't you going to deny it?" Alexis yelled.

Chace let out a low chuckle and Alexis took a step back.

"You're right," he whispered.

"What?" Alexis had yelled at Chace because she was frustrated but she didn't expect him to agree with her.

"I've been pretending to be better than I am. I've lied to you," Chace looked up at Alexis, "Shall I explain?"

She simply nodded, taking another step back.

"I only took this job...moved to Houston...all of it. I did it because of you," Chace sat down on her sofa and placed his head in his hands.

"What are you talking about?"

"I knew who you were before I moved to Houston. One of my clients listened to your radio show. She used to talk to me about you so I looked you up."

Alexis wasn't quite following him, "You Googled me?"

"Ugh I sound like such a loser...but yes. I Googled you. I saw your picture on the Heartbreakers website and I thought you were beautiful."

Alexis took another step back.

"Alexis," Chace continued, "Do you believe in love at first sight?"

"No. I only believe in lust at first sight."

Chace laughed, "Me either. At least I didn't. I don't know...maybe I still don't. The point is I purposely took this job when they offered it to me because of you."

"Why are you telling me this?" Alexis asked.

"Because I want you to know that if I seem too good to be true it's because I am! I'm trying my best to impress you. Bottom line Alexis- I like you!"

Alexis still didn't respond.

"I don't know anything about notes, texts, or threats. I have nothing to do with that."

"Why should I believe you?" Alexis asked.

"Because I'm asking you to."

Alexis shook her head. She didn't know what to believe. She wanted to believe Chace but something was holding her back. Just then her phone dinged. It was a message from a familiar number she dreaded to hear form.

She slid her finger across the home screen and looked at the message. It was a picture taken from across a restaurant. It was of her brother, Nicholas.