The Last Seven Lives

The First Time

AN: Wow! Another year has passed! I'm so grateful for everyone who hasn't given up on this story! It really means the world to me! I don't own TNLOCK! Wish I did!

Alek's POV:

I turn around and look at Kai. I really hope so. I wouldn't be able to live without Chloe. "Thank you, Kai. I really owe you for distracting my beautiful princess." He nods. "No problem, man. You really love her, don't you?" I smile and nod. "I really do. Kai, I know you were taught that Mai are emotionless monsters-" He cuts me off with a humorless chuckle. "That's putting it lightly." I chuckle and then become serious again. "I need your help with something." I pause for a moment and Kai motions for me to continue. "I want to propose to Chloe. Obviously, the engagement would last for a few years until we're older, but I just can't wait." Kai smiles and pats me on the back. "Dude, that's awesome! I know of the perfect store. It's kind of close to Chloe's old house though. A few blocks away actually. It's called 66Mint Fine Estate Jewelry." I nod and look down. That is kind of risky. Chloe could easily get home before us. A thought pops into my head and I look up swiftly. "How fast are you?" Kai runs around the apartment in lieu of answering. "I think we'll be good." He nods. "Just follow me." He runs out the door and I run after him after grabbing my backpack. We make it to 66Mint Fine Estate Jewelry in record time. It reminds me of a fancy courthouse with it's stone walls. Kai and I walk into the door on the right side of the building after passing a fire escape on the building attached to the jewelry store. The building is more rundown than 66Mint Fine Estate Jewelry. I walk up to the counter and the woman behind it smiles warmly at me. "What can I do for you, young man?" I smile back at her and rest my arms on the counter. "I need to buy an engagement ring." The woman bends down slightly and pulls out a book of engagement rings. "Of course. Were you thinking of buying a silver or a gold ring?" I look at Kai and smile. "Kai, what do you think?" He looks shocked, but thinks for a few seconds. "Definitely gold to match Chloe's hair." I nod and the lady flips open the book. "Here is our selection of gold rings. Were you thinking of getting a diamond or something more unique?" I turn to Kai again because I want his opinion on this. He takes a minute to think and then smiles. "I think you should go with a sapphire. It would match Chloe's eyes." I nod and the lady smiles. "I have the perfect ring for you, young man." She puts the book away and glides around the counter. "Follow me!" We make our way to an elevator and I feel the excitement bubbling up inside of me. The lady opens a tiny door next to the elevator that reveals a keypad. She types in a combination and the elevator opens. I follow Kai and the lady inside and decide to check on Chloe. After focusing really hard I hear her heartbeat. She's still in the car and I sigh in relief. The door to the elevator opens and I step out and immediately lose my breath. This is why they need a keypad to get into the elevator. The room is completely filled with rings. There's not an empty spot in the room. "Welcome to the Engagement Room." I look at the woman and she's smiling at me. I smile back and she turns her attention to the room in front of her. "Now to find your ring..." She walks further into the room and I turn to Kai. "I'm going to listen to Chloe. Can you get the ring and everything." Kai nods and I hand him my credit card. I step into a corner and listen again. She's with her mom now. I feel a hand on my shoulder and whirl around. It's Kai and I immediately spot the bag in his hand. I take the bag and gently set it in my backpack. "We need to go." He nods and smiles at me. "The credit card is in the bag." I wordlessly walk to the elevator and he follows me. We leave and make it back to the penthouse in record time.

I set my backpack down and listen in on Chloe again. I hear a phone ringing. "Hello?" I listen intently and wonder where Chloe is. I look at the clock and realize the run back took longer than I thought. "Hi, Miss King! I need your daughter's cell phone number." That voice! Where do I know it from? It's so smooth and familiar. "She has one of my books and I want it back. It's my favorite book in the whole wide world." Shit! I know that voice all too well! It's Lilah! Why is she back? Is she who Val was talking about? This can not be happening now. "Do you have a pen and paper?" NO! DON'T DO IT! My thoughts can't stop the events unfolding. All I can do is stand here frozen. "Yeah! Go ahead!" I listen in horror and as soon as the call is disconnected I jump into action. I turn to leave the penthouse and almost run over Kai. "Alek, I heard everything. You need to stay here and calm down." I feel the anger bubbling inside of me so I take a deep breath and find Chloe again. She's close so I try to contain my anger by sitting on the couch and turning on the TV. Kai sits beside me and pats my shoulder. I find a TV show that captures my attention. It's about a murderer who uses a dating website to try to find The One. He goes on dates, but all the girls lie about their flaws. When he finds the flaw he kills them in a way that accentuates the flaw. "Alek, open up! It's Chloe!" I jump out of my skin when I hear Chloe's voice. I guess the show, Eye Candy, completely drew me in. I compose myself and go to open the door. I smirk at her when our eyes finally meet. "What can I do-" I see a flash of blonde and then she's attacking my lips. I love how passionate the kiss is and know that this is the first time Chloe's feelings for me aren't exaggerated. Couples say they love each other all the time. It doesn't mean much at our age. However, I'm different. I know what I feel for Chloe is true love. This kiss is the first kiss where I feel that she has the same level of love for me. I groan into the kiss and pick her up with all these thoughts spiraling in my head. This should've been our first kiss because it's the only kiss that counts so far. It's the first kiss where our feelings are completely in sync with each other. I feel her legs snake around my waist and she breaks the kiss only to kiss my neck. "Chloe..." The word feels like a prayer and a plea at the same time. I feel her smile against my neck.

The door opens at that moment and I want to hit something. "Chloe, you forgot your-" I glance at Amy right when she spots us. "OH MY GOD!" She nervously laughs and starts to back away. I look at Chloe and she's already looking at me. I know what she wants to do and I nod. "Amy, I need to tell you something. I don't know how you'll take it." Amy just stands there waiting for Chloe to continue. I realize I'm still holding her and put her down as she takes a deep breath. "Alek and I...we...well...ummm..." Chloe struggles to tell her and I'm about to cut in when Amy just nods understandingly. Wait! Does she know already? How? "You were best friends in 6th and 7th grade. Paul and I know already." I'm too shocked to speak so I just look at Chloe. Her eyes are already searching for mine. Amy looks at us and smiles. "Chloe, you were very careless. One day, you rushed off and one of Alek's notes fell out of your bag. I followed you to the park since that's what the note said to do. When I got there I overheard you and Alek arguing about telling me and Paul." I try to keep the memory at bay and finally succeed. When I glance at Chloe I know she's not as lucky. "The day that Alek almost kissed me..." I watch Chloe carefully as she fades away from Amy and I. I know her mind is taking her back to that day. Her facial expressions mirror the ones I saw back then. Finally, her expression changes to one of complete and utter pain. I expected this. What I didn't expect was for her to crumble to her knees and start sobbing. I can't take any more of this and kneel beside her. "Chloe, it's okay! It's not real!" I see her face change again and I have my angel back. "You were so cold to me! I didn't know what happened between us!" She turns her attention to Amy. "You saw the whole thing! That's why you never-" Amy doesn't let her finish that thought. "It was the one secret I managed to keep. You were so devastated. All I wanted to do was take your pain away. That's why I didn't ask questions when you came to my house crying. I knew all the answers. I heard every word. You two were so caught up with each other that you didn't notice how close I was to you guys. I was right behind the tree that was a few feet away from you." Now I'm the one who goes into my mind. I was distracted enough that I didn't notice how close she was to us. I was so focused on my anger about being Mai and killing Chloe with one kiss. What if that happened again? What if Chloe and I fought about something and I failed to see danger lurking nearby? Chloe would die. I can never risk having that happen to her. Chloe's hands caressing my cheeks snap me back into reality. I look down at her and smile. I wrap my arms around her and enjoy the feeling of her body against mine.

I have to go talk to Chloe's mom. I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to keep myself occupied so I wouldn't go to her house, but I can't stop myself now. I slip off the couch I'm sharing with a sleeping Chloe and silently leave the penthouse. I make it to the house in record time and try Chloe's old window. It opens and I slip inside the house. I silently go downstairs and find Chloe's mom watching TV. "Surrender now and Mary will live." I silently grab the remote and turn the TV off. I feel my anger building. How can her own mother put Chloe in danger? "Hey! I was watching-" She turns around and stops talking when she sees me. I say the first appropriate thing that pops into my mind. "You just put Chloe's life in danger." I watch as her eyes widen and she jumps up. "Alek, what's wrong? What did I do?" I try to get my anger under control. "I got a call from Valentina. You don't know her. There is a mai girl who wants Chloe dead. Val warned me that one of us might get a call from her. I just thought you would be more careful." I watch her turn white as a ghost and put her hand over her mouth. "Why did you not stop me?" I sigh in frustration and run my hand through my hair. "I was too far away to reach you in time. I heard the whole thing though." I know she's going to ask how I heard her and I speak before she can. My anger is barely under control. I need to get out of here. I need to go back to Chloe. "Mai hearing. I need to go before I do something I'll regret." I swiftly run back upstairs and throw myself out of the window. As I run away I hear a clunk and then the sound of a mother's tears. The sound echoes my own pain and I run until I can no longer hear it.

AN: I rushed the ending to make my deadline of posting this before the end of May! I didn't know how to fill the time between Alek being with Chloe and then going to talk to her mom anyways! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!