Author's Notes: I feel like if you all knew how much of this was written and how little I have posted because about ten thousands words into the first draft I felt like I made a mistake and went back and re-wrote a huge chunk you all would no longer like me. Anyways, I promise this all plays out, I know the timelines get a bit confusing with the bouncing timelines but it is the only way to really get the whole story out.

Our story left Alicia in a hopeful place with her once love Reggie in the current timeline, and a place of hopelessness with Jason in the past timeline. Hope being the key word in both timelines.

"You've got some nerve Blossom." Alicia stood at the edge of Sweetwater River, trying to fight the tears she knew were brimming in her eyes even though she wished they'd disappear. Jason had asked her to meet there at eleven, it was now twelve thirteen; the moon high overhead, her curfew a laughable joke now.

Jason stood across from her, his hands deep in his letterman jacket's pockets. "I didn't think you'd wait." His voice remained unwavering, almost uncaring in tone much to Alicia's dismay.

"Well you blew me off the last two times you were going to meet me, what else was I supposed to do?" Alicia asked biting her lip to try to keep her voice from showing how upset she was getting with each passing moment.

She hated to admit it but she wasn't sure if she was angry or overjoyed. Jason had came to the party with Polly over a week ago now, and since he had been keeping Alicia away. Avoiding her calls, ignoring her texts, brushing past her without a word, like she was nothing but a stranger to him all without any reason. Polly had been almost glowing every time Alicia saw her at the Cooper house, or at Pop's, it made Alicia ill to stomach every time she saw that brilliant smile from the blonde.

"Maybe spend time with your boyfriend." Alicia turned to face Jason for the first time since he had pulled up on their meeting spot with those words, his eyes were focused on the ground beneath his feet.

Renegade tears tumbled from her eyes as she blinked trying to take in his presence and words as a hole. Something wasn't right, something was wrong with this entire situation. "Don't you dare bring up Reg." Her words dripping in cold venom as she choked each syllable out. "Can you even look at me?"

"No." Jason's instant response sent a chill down as he kicked a rock with his designer sneaker. "I... I'm sorry Alicia." He managed to say before Alicia made her body move towards him, she raised both hands pushing against his chest roughly, Jason stumbling back a bit before regaining his footing and standing there as Alicia found her balled fists crashing against Jason's chest as tears came out of her eyes.

"You aren't allowed to do this. Not now, everything was going so..." Alicia tried to choke out the words failing miserably.

"Alicia." Jason said catching her with both arms around her holding her against his chest. His face found it's way into his hair, he breathed in her sweet scent as she cried against him. "It's just too complicated, and I am sorry, but we can't see each other again. I'm sorry." He breathed in a hushed whisper that sounded as pained as Alicia felt.

She wanted to hear what was so complicated, she wanted to know why but instead she pcuhed against his chest and escaped his grasp. Walking over to her Jeep and starting the engine refusing to look at the boy standing on the river's edge as she shifted gears into reverse, seeing his outline in her headlights before she spun her body around to watch as she backed up and tour out of the gravelled path.

The river's edge would forever be marked in Alicia's memory as the place she risked so much to lose it all.

"You look absolutely beautiful." Alicia's mother gushed as she played with the curl that hung loose close to Alicia's face as she stood in the living room of Keller house dressed in the slim black dress with the crisscrossing straps down the back. Their mother pushing Alicia and Kevin to take a photo together dressed for the dance, so proud of how beautiful her children looked in their in dress clothing. "Kevin are you going to pick up Betty? How I wish I could get a picture with her with you two as well. All of my children in one photo." Alicia's mother rattled on as the doorbell chimed pleasantly.

"Prince douschebag is here." Kevin's snide remark going unheard by their mother as Alicia punched in lightly in the arm.

"Shut it, and behave." Alicia whispered as she turned to face Kevin. "How do I look? I mean honestly?" She began to run her hands over her dress noticing how she found herself getting nervous for the first time in a long time over a date with Reggie.

"Like a high class prostitute." Kevin smiled at Alicia, who in turn returned the gesture. "Remember I really don't want to be an uncle, okay?" He joked as he noticed Mrs. Keller had disappeared to answer the door.

Alicia found a laugh slipping out of her lips as she heard a whistle coming from behind her. "You look..." Reggie began as she crossed to him, he was clearly trying to find something appropriate to say as Mrs. Keller stood so close to the couple. "You look amazing." Reggie said as he placed a hand on her side.

"One picture, then you can go and have fun." Alicia's mother gushed as she grabbed hold of her phone and took more than one picture of the couple. Even in Alicia's heels, Reggie still stood over her with that brilliant smile that no one could ever say no too. "You kids have fun." Mrs. Keller insisted after Alicia put an end to her pictures by grabbing her phone and clutch and kissing her mother on the cheek. Kevin had managed to sneak out the door to head to the dance as Alicia played model for her mother, much to Mrs. Keller's disappointment.

"Of course, mother, I'll text you as soon as I get to Cheryl's and we promise to be careful and not to get the Sheriff called on us." Alicia said as she pulled the front door closed behind her, taking Reggie's arm as they walked out to his new beat up work in progress muscle car in her driveway.

Reggie walking over to open the passenger's side door for her. "You really do look amazing Ali." He whispered as he brought his lips down towards hers, pressing against them so gently it felt like a dream. "Your carriage awaits princess." He grinned as she pulled open the door.

"Such a lovely carriage, how many rubberbands does the engine have this time." She said as sat in the seat.

"Only six." He laughed as he closed the door and ran around to the other side, climbing in himself, smiling ear to ear as Alicia ran a hand through her hair. Alicia felt so happy yet deep in her chest she felt this unnerving feeling that she couldn't seem to shake or identify.

"Alicia!" Josie waved from a booth at Pop's Chocolate Shoppe. Alicia was originally just going to pick up something to eat, dressed in her sweats and old tshirt, not wanting nor expecting any attention to be drawn to her and her tangled blonde hair in the messy bun.

Alicia smiled as she took a deep sharp breath before crossing to the table, Josie was sitting at with her fellow pussycats. "Hey guys." Alicia did her best to fake a convincing smile as she stood at the table.

"It's been a while, your mom said you were not feeling well last time I called." Josie gushed as she patted the empty seat next to her.

"You look like you haven't slept in weeks." Valerie added only to recieve an elbow from Melody. "What we were all thinking it?" Valerie defended.

"I just can't seem to sleep at night, Kevin says its all the energy drinks, you know how he likes to rag on me about them." Alicia explained as she felt the fake smile faulter. It truth it had been a week since Jason had met her on the river's edge and she was thankful the school year was at a close because she could hide in her room in bed in sweats and avoid people if she wanted. She had ignored phone calls from Cheryl, Josie, and especially Reggie who seemed completely intent on apologizing in person about the party that was weeks ago.

"You need to lay off those things, they are really bad for you." Melody said as sipped at her vanilla milkshake.

Pop Tate walked over to the table and placed a to go bag on it infront of Alicia. "I put it on the Sherriff's tab, have a good night ladies." He said with that warm kind tone that only Pop Tate could have you not question his motives.

"Were you coming to Cheryl's tonight?" Josie posed the question just as Alicia was going to use the fact her food showed up to as an excuse to make her escape back to her bed.

"Uh..." Alicia paused. She remembered seeing Cheryl send a text message invitation to a small intimate gathering of friends, which in turn meant a fancy little party that with an exclusive invite list. "I hadn't planned on it, I actually kind of forgot it was tonight..." It was a stupid excuse but it was the first she could think of.

"Sounds like you need to go home and get ready. I'd recommend starting with a shower." Josie grinned. "I can pick you up around six thirty if you want." Damn Josie for wanting to be the one to rescue her from herself.

Josie had always been the kind of friend who would never let someone suffer alone, being her friend was a true blessing for anyone she felt that connection with. Had it not been for their childhood, Alicia sometimes doubted if Josie would have ever been her friend.

"Ali. Just do you know, that wasn't a question. We will be there to pick you up at six thirty." Valerie grinned at her as Alicia stood up.

"I guess I'll just eat on the way home then," Alicia said trying to put her classic playful tone back in her voice. She excused herself saying her goodbyes with the promise of seeing them in a few hours, as she walked out of Pop's shop.

She was climbing into the Jeep when she heard the bell on the door once more. It was Josie, approaching her car as Melody and Valerie watched from the window of the diner. "Alicia, wait up." Her voice called as she tossed her belongings across the front seat into the passengers seat. "Listen, I know somethings up, Reggie wont be there. If that's what you're worried about." If only she even had the vaguest idea what she was really worried about.

"Thanks Josie, I'll see you tonight." Alicia said as she climbed into the Jeep its windows still down.

"Maybe, you can tell me what's wrong then, deal?" Josie said leaning into the open window as Alicia turned the ignition over.

"Six thirty?" Alicia asked avoiding agreeing to Josie's offer.

"Yeah, see you then." Josie said backing up dropping the topic knowing she would get nothing out of the other girl. Knowing a lost cause is a lost cause; but a lost person can be found with the help of others.