Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Six, Not a Rebound
Rating: PG-13 [mild swearing]

Summary: Alyssa worries about the implications of their quickly changing relationship.

Previous Chapter Don't leave bed

Current Chapter Not a rebound

Next Chapter Kaleidoscope of feelings

His hand laced with hers and Chris squeezed it slightly, "Don't leave, Lyssa. You're.... you're the best thing in my life right now. The one who's always been here. We can just stay here all day. Watch movies. Just talk. Anything. Please."

Her eyes wavered slightly on his, "I though you said you guys were going to record today."

There was a moment of panic in his eyes, "No. Not today. Tuesday. Today's still Saturday."

Alyssa sat up, moving to pull the blanket back into place, meaning she had to straddle him. Before she could stop herself, she leaned down, her lips brushing across his. Chris reached up to hold her in the kiss, but her hands intercepted his, pinning them down on the bed. He smiled into the soft kiss, though frowned when she pulled away.

"I'm going to shower — alone. You should go find us something to eat and me something to wear when I get out of the shower," she instructed, before moving off of him and the bed.

Chris threw off the blanket, hurrying to catch her from behind before she reached the bathroom door. His arms wrapped around her and he kissed her neck softly.

"Anchor the night, open the sky. Hide in the hours before sunrise. Pray for me not, I won't lose sight of where I belong and where you lie," he breathed in her ear before kissing it.

"Silly," she replied, though she was smiling. "Go find food. I'm going to shower."

Alyssa pulled away from him, entering the bathroom. Seeing his pout in the mirror reflected behind her, she struggled to not grin before closing the door. With the door closed, she headed to the shower and turned it on. Stripping while the water heated, she started at her reflection in the mirror for a few moments. Even in that moment.... she noticed something different. There was a luminosity to her she hadn't had the previous morning. She'd be a fool to not know it was Chris who had changed that.

But in the same moment she couldn't believe it. You don't fall in love with your best friend. It's just wrong. It ruins a good thing. And they had a good thing. Someone they could tell anything too. Someone who was always truthful back. Why would she fuck that up? Just because he though she was his soulmate?

No. He was rebounding. Rebounding from Vicky leaving. And she wasn't going to be his rebound girl, especially since he wasn't techinically single. Oh hell no. After her shower she was leaving. Going home. Putting distance between them. Yes. That was a good idea.

Stepping into the shower, she closed her eyes as the hot water started to flow over her body. She leaned against the tile for some time, just letting the hot water massage her cares away. Pulling away from the tile, she mechanically washed herself, smiling crookedly when she realized she was going to smell like him when all was said and done.

Turning the water off, Alyssa stepped out and wrapped a towel around herself. Leaning back into the shower, she wringed out her hair before braiding quickly. Heading to the door, she wiggled her nose, presuming her breath was probably nice and icky. Hell it tasted icky. Turning back to the sink, she pulled open drawers till she found toothpaste. Squirting some on her finger, Alyssa rubbed it over her teeth and gums. Not as good as brushing, but close enough.

Leaving the bathroom clean and minty-fresh, her eyes found Chris laying on his side on the bed, apparently watching the door.

"I was wondering if I needed to come in there and rescue you. You were in there for some time," he smiled, sitting up. "I ordered us some delivery. And I found you something to wear."

"Good boy," she smiled, a teasing glint in her eyes. "I'll get dressed while you shower."

Chris pouted, "I don't get to wa—"

"Nope," she cut him off. "Now go shower."

He obliged, pausing next to her to kiss her cheek. Waiting until she heard water run, Alyssa dropped the towel and pulled on the borrowed clothes. Obviously they belonged to Vicky and Alyssa presumed it was stuff she had left behind, having seen no hints of the woman in the bathroom.

Once dressed, Alyssa set to stripping the bed of its sheets and whatnot. With them not showering after the beach, the sheets would need changing. Not knowing the shower had stopped, as it did so when she was retrieving a new set of sheets down the hall, Alyssa set to work making the bed. As she stood after tucking the sheet around, she bumped into Chris, causing her to squeal.

"You should have told me you were behind me!" she playfully slapped his chest.

He grinned, "What fun would that have been?"

Her mouth opened to reply, but a doorbell interrupted her reply.

"That would be food," Chris stated. "You finish the bed. I'll go get it."

As if Alyssa would argue against it, as he walked away. Returning to her work, she shook her head as she smoothed the blanket in place. She should leave. Right then. Before he even came back up with the food. No, she'd meet him downstairs, eat, then leave. It was some walk back to her place and she wasn't going to do it hungry.

With that decided, she left the bedroom. Halfway down the stairs she ran into Chris carrying a large paper bag in one hand and a bottle in the other. Alyssa pulled the bottle out of his hand and continued down the steps, making him turn and follow her.

"No eating in bed?" he asked, following her into the breakfast bay.

"No," she responded, setting the bottle down.

Following her lead, Chris set down the bag and began to pull the Chinese takeout boxes out. Alyssa chuckled, sliding into a chair.

"That's not good bed food, silly. You'd get rice in the sheets and that would be horrible!" she teased.

"What would have been better?" he asked, sitting across from her.

She wiggled her nose, "I'm not sure."

Apparently deciding where he was seated wasn't good enough, Chris got up and moved his chair until he was next to her, "Seems they only provided one set of chopsticks."

"I'll use a fork then," she started to stand.

His hand went to her arm, gesturing her to remain where she was, "We can share."

"Chris," she warned.

A puzzled look came to his face, "What did I do wrong? Earlier you were..."

"I'm not going to ruin our friendship by being your rebound," she stated frankly, eyes meeting his.

"What? You're not," he quickly replied. "You're so much more. I've been thinking about it a lot, Alyssa. And you're more than everything to me. Now and always."

She remained quiet, eyes still on his.

"Sure I've not been conscious of it until now... until she voiced it. But... Alyssa, I love you. More than a friend," he stated softly.