THE STARKS ALLEY

14

KRISTIE'S POV

"Coffee for two," Izzy said, handing me a teacup of coffee. He was always enthusiastic in the mornings I spent with him. Well, when Monic wasn't busy hogging him.

"Thank you!! I just hate mornings."

"You always complained every morning." He laughed reminding me of years back, "I didn't think I'd ever see a zombie in real life, but that was before I met you."

"Izzy!!" I hit him on his hard shoulder, "Don't even mention that here."

"You'd still look beautiful even as a zombie."

"Would you kiss me as a zombie?" Izzy was clearly startled by this question. His eye brows were raised and it's like he stopped breathing.

"Would I kiss you?" He asked, still surprised.

Speaking my mind isn't a good idea.

"Forget it. I'm sorry I asked." I just had to walk away from this. It was bad enough I asked him that while I knew who his girlfriend was and that she already hated me. I could not even look at him.

"Wait!" He held me back. "Yes. I would kiss you. Any day, any time, any place. Zombie or no zombie." He looked directly into my eyes as if he could see that I maybe still liked him. He looked at my lips then back to my eyes, closer this time.

The tension was already high.

"I never stopped loving you Kristie."

"We can't." I pulled away from him before things could escalate as quickly as they had, "I have to deliver something. I'll see you later?"

"Yeah sure," he said scratching his hair nervously.

I couldn't kiss him. We were both in serious relationships and I could never betray Dale like that. I know Dale would also do the same for me.

I went over to Kelly. I had his cake ready. It was easy to tell Mr. Haymahn to baker me another one and he did it for free. He's like, the best neighbor anyone can have.

"I have what you want right in this bag," I said pointing into my bag.

"Nice," he said grabbing it from me and he opened it.

"Hey!" I closed it quickly, "We had a deal."

"Don't stress on it. Just come by to my place."

"That wasn't part of the deal."

"I want them to be as fresh as you today. Damn." He looked at me from my legs up, "Come to my place tonight." He then left with the cake.

IZZY'S POV

"How many times do I have to tell you?? She's just a friend!" I told Monic.

"I'm just not comfortable when she's around you."

"We've been together for two years; Are you going to let her come between us?" Monic was just overreacting. I didn't love Kristie, I loved her!

"You're the one letting her come between us!!"

"Baby, you need to trust me. After all these years that's the one thing that I expect from you." I held her to assure her.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what got over me," she laughed, "We came here to build ourselves and each other and I'm only tearing you down."

I took her out to make her feel better afterwards.

Loyalty has never been a problem for me.

KRISTIE'S POV

I was right outside Kelly's place, I mean, palace.

People here live like kings.

I rang the door bell and later, a man opened it. He was dressed in a tux. He must be their butler.

"Welcome to The Starks' residence." He showed me to the living room where Kelly was.

"Thank you, Chives," He said to the butler then he turned to me, "So glad you could make it."

"You have a great place... Palace, I mean."

"Dad, Kristie's here!" Kelly yelled and Kent walked in a few minutes later.

Kent is here too? Of course he is. He lives here!

"Make yourself home Kristie." He smiled at me, showing me the sofa.

"Actually, we're just gonna chill outside," Kelly said quickly as he held my hand. It felt like fireworks and I am not exaggerating when I say it made me a little light headed.

"Okay son," Kent said, winking at him. I had never seen Kent so happy to see me.

When we got outside, he sat in one of the sofas with his head in his hands, He seemed distress.

"I'm guessing you don't have the cookies huh."

"I do. I always keep my promises." He handed me a nicer bag than the one he left with earlier. The cookies were there.

"What's wrong?" I asked him, placing my hand on his back.

I didn't know that that question would lead me to stick around longer than I expected.