A/N: Well, so much for a regular uploading schedule! I've recently been on a MAYHEM craze and just churning out the chapters (I was sick the whole week...) so let's just enjoy this while we can, hm? Tell me what you think about what happens! And don't forget to rate & review :) -Jojo

Westchester, NY

Rosewood Avenue

Thursday, 14th September

9:45 AM

The sun was shining as Alicia Riviera made her way down Westchester's main shopping street. Her glossy brown hair was up in a high ponytail and had a bouncy curl at the end, and she was wearing a pair of skinny black True Religion Jeans with a cream Tory Burch blouse and a sequined Gucci blazer. A pair of four-inch calf-leather Louboutin ankle boots and her favorite ruby red Kate Spade tote finished the look.

Alicia felt great. It was a quarter to ten and she had already had achieved amazing things, including, but not limited to, picking up five monogrammed silk dressing gowns, organizing food and drinks and choosing between Love Actually and Valentine's Day as a movie choice (Love Actually always won). I just don't understand why neither Claire, Massie or Kristen returned my texts! We were supposed to do this errand-running together. It's not like this is my party to organize. In fact, Kuh-laire is the one who is constantly pushing to make this happen!

As she was in the middle of her mental rant on the way to the Petit Tea Salon for a quick break, her BlackBerry vibrated. It was Dylan.

"Dyl! So happy to hear from you. What's up? And since when are you awake before ten-thirty?"

Dylan sighed at the other end of the line. "I've been up all night."

"Oh, Dylan," Alicia fake-cooed, bypassing a harried-looking mother with a stroller and a toddler in each hand, "what's wrong?"

"I have a dilemma."

"Spill."

"Yesterday I got a tip about The Daily Grind that could potentially ruin my mother's career, and my boss basically gave me an ultimatum—either I lose my job or I ruin my mom's!"

"Oh, poor Dylan. Suck it up!" Alicia snapped. "Just dish on your mom. She'll bounce back faster than LiLo after rehab. And you will have that promotion in your pocket you always dreamed about!"

"How do I know Merri-Lee's going to bounce back? And plus, way more people depend on the show than just my mom."

"Do you care about them?"

"Not really, but that's beside the point."

"No, it isn't! Look, Dyl, my advice is to be selfish and do what benefits you the most. Dish, dish, dish! Embellish if you need to." She checked her rosé-gold Michael Kors wristwatch and crossed the street to the tea salon. "Who cares about your mom's co-workers? She'll be fine, and you will be more than fine. And so will TMZ. And your boss. And essentially, the entire world."

"Leesh, you are so not helping."

"I am! I'm telling you what I would do if I were in your position. Honestly, just do whatever the hell you want. But don't say I didn't tell you so if everything goes drastically wrong when you don't broadcast the tip."

"Right."

"Now, unlike you, it seems, I have things to do and places to be. See you tomorrow! Kisses."

"Love you too. Bye."

Alicia hung up and dropped her BlackBerry into her tote.

In Alicia's opinion, the Petit Tea Salon was the cutest café in all of Westchester. Unfortunately, however, Alicia hadn't been the first to realize this. Its honeysuckle walls were crammed with Ivy League graduates with their toddlers, and yuppie mothers in Uggs and Dior cardigans battling for a box of pistachio macarons with a cup of Earl Grey. The three attendants behind the counter, with their hair up in matching buns and wearing cute floral aprons with frilled edges were doing their best to satisfy the crowd, but there was a sheen of sweat on their upper lips and strands of hair had escaped their updos.

"Ms. Riviera!" Eléonore, Alicia's friend, exclaimed from behind their counter. She brushed a strand of auburn hair out of her face and turned to Alicia. "The usual?"

"As always," Alicia replied with a smile. Eléonore nodded and quickly filled a polka-dot Styrofoam cup with Alicia's favorite Kusmi BB Detox tea they ordered especially for her. A single raspberry macaron joined the package.

"There you are."

"Thank you, Eléonore. You're a life saver." Alicia received the cup and the macaron and handed Eléonore a few bills. "I would love to stay and chat, but I see you're busy, and so am I. Kisses!"

She left the store as quickly as she had come with a wave of her fingers and a trail of Dior Addict.

Outside, the streets were gaining pedestrians and Alicia sat down on a bench in the sun, sipping her tea and taking small, dainty bites of her macaron. Nothing was up on Instagram or Twitter. She spent a few minutes watching people pass by her spot until she had almost finished her tea and was down to the last morsel of her macaron. She was about to stand up and throw away her cup when she saw a familiar figure about to pass by.

"Louis!" she exclaimed, almost walking into his arms. "What a surprise."

Louis grinned. His hair was in its usual curly state and today he was wearing a lavender cashmere Ralph Lauren sweater with dark wash Diesel jeans and a pair of worn Toms. A pair of black Ray Bans finished the perfect laidback look.

"Alicia," he said. "Nice to see you. How are you?"

"Oh, I couldn't be better. I've actually been busy running errands for the reunion tomorrow. I'm so excited!"

"So is Massie, it seems."

"How is she?"

"Oh, she's doing great. She went to New York City with her mother this morning, actually."

"Oh, really? And they left you here?" Alicia smiled at Louis, transferring her weight from one leg to another. "Come, let's sit down."

"Oh, I decided I wanted to explore Westchester a bit." The two of them sat down on the same bench Alicia had been sitting on just a few moments ago. "After all, this is where my wife grew up!"

"So you want to find out some of her history?"

Louis shrugged. "I just want to understand where she comes from a bit better. She's such an enigma."

"You think so?" Alicia arched an eyebrow. "I can tell you from many years of friendship with Massie that once you've understood how she works, she's as easy to read as an open book. What's wrong?"

"You know that feeling when you answer a question your teacher asks you, and you're sure you'll be right, but you're dead wrong?"

No. I never participated in class. "Totally."

"The mortification, the sinking of your heart, the realization that you've done something wrong … that's what I feel like now."

"Is it … is it because of Massie?"

Louis paused. "You know, I don't even know why I'm telling you this? Do I even know you?" He made as if to stand up.

Alicia grabbed his elbow. "I swear I won't judge you. And anything you say here will never escape my lips. Ever. You can trust me." She gazed at him, into his electric blue eyes, and could almost feel his resolution break inside of him. Now I've got you.

"It's just … sometimes I feel like Massie and I went too fast. Way too fast. I've known her, what, half a year? Can I even get to know someone so well that I want to live my entire life with them? Or is this just post-marriage depression or something? I thought Massie and I would be the perfect fit. I thought I knew her so well … I feel like I never knew her. There's a side to her that I've never seen. And I don't like it."

"What happened, Louis?"

"After the lunch yesterday, she was so distant. She seemed to be scheming the entire time. Something had gone wrong … And then at dinner yesterday with her friend Claire and her boyfriend, Cam, she was friendly on the outside, but afterwards she was icy and didn't even talk to me."

Alicia frowned. "That sounds exactly like the Massie I used to know, Louis. Did she ever tell you about her life in Westchester?"

"She told me about you guys, and her school, and that she … that she wasn't exactly the nicest girl. But we never went into detail. She told me she changed." Louis' voice broke, and he buried his head in his hands. "I just don't know what to do! Did I do something wrong? Is she angry at me? Or was how she was with me in France just an act and this is the real Massie?"

Alicia laid her arm around Louis. "Massie used to be one of the meanest girls I knew. She would do anything and everything to get her way. And no matter what she tells you, it's my firm belief that no one can change who they are. The Massie you know is not who she is, at least not deep down, and I think it's just a matter of time before the real Massie resurfaces."

Louis looked at Alicia, disbelief clouding his eyes. "Do you really think that? That how she was in France was just an act?"

"Not an act, at least not entirely. I think it was a way to try and forget her past. But like I said—you can't change who you are, least of all Massie."

For a few moments, Louis simply sat there, thinking. "…Thank you, Alicia. That was really helpful advice."

Alicia smiled and looked in his eyes. "I hope so," she whispered, and then she leaned forward, Louis leaned towards her and their lips met and Alicia felt their tongues intertwine as she slung her arms around his neck and her heart skipped a beat.

Suddenly, Louis pulled away and looked at his lap. "I … I'm sorry. I should go."

"No, wait!" They both stood up and Alicia held his arm. "Don't go."

Louis pulled away, and without another word, he left.

As soon as he was gone, Alicia grabbed her bag. Yes. Everything was going as she had planned.

As she walked, she pulled out her BlackBerry and thumbed through her contacts. She dialed a number she thought she would never again see and waited for him to pick up.

Beep, beep. "Hi, you've reached Derrick Harrington. I can't pick up right now, but feel free to leave a message after the beep!" Beeeeep.

"Hey, Derrick, it's Alicia. I know we haven't seen each other in forever, but we need to talk…"

A/N: Aah, don't you just love those little cliffhangers ... ;) And Derrick made a reappearance! What a surprise. And for all those wondering: Derrick x Massie was my favorite couple in the books … Just saying. -Jojo