In need of stress relief....(Alex tag Any)

[Alex Bridgerton]

"Father if you think for one moment that your idle threats will work, you are sorely mistaken. I want to be here, why can you not see this is best for everyone." Alex pleaded. "Can you not see. This is where I belong. You can go home, and live as if I never existed. Why must the London society even know about this....I know you father, you can keep this quiet."

Mr. Bridgerton just looked at his daughter, "No, Alexandra. You have Bridgerton blood in your veins and that means more then what you have done. Everyone in the Bridgerton family has gone on to be married and successful. I will not allow one of us to leave the path that the Bridgertons were destined to lead. So you will return. You will, in one years time, when you are finished with school, marry the young man you grandfather and I have chosen for you. This is your path and you will follow it. I will not have an American boy...or two lead you astray. I am here to save you my child."

Alex sighed as she ran her hands over her had and through her hair, "I am tired of this argument father. Nothing will make me leave. As for the American boys I choose to keep company with....there is nothing you can do. Ashley and Gregory are fine men and you will not do anything to them, just because you have a prejudice against America because of what I choose to do. I choose to date Ashley, I choose to have a sexual relationship with him and I chose to give birth to a Kai. I do not regret it. I choose to come back and I choose to stay here and be a mum to Kai. You must accept this."

"You also choose to abandon your son for two years. You choose to leave that child motherless for the first two years of his life. No mother would ever do that to their child. So that must tell you something. You were willing to leave once. I have no doubt you will leave again. Had that boy meant so much to you, you never would have left the first time." Mr. Bridgerton was good at psychological manipulation.

Alex tucked some hair behind her ear, "I did that because you threatened to have Ashley arrested and my son thrown into foster care. I did what I did because I thought it was the best way to protect the man I love and my son. So keep your hurtful words. You forget I am your daughter. And I know all your tricks. Now I must go. Because being near you is causing me to be sick..." With that said Alex turned and walked out of the house slamming the door. Some nerve her father had. She would show him. She was not leaving.

Alex knew she had a lot to answer for when Kai was older and could understand, but Alex prayed she developed a stronger bond with Kai when that happened so he could forgive her. She got into the car her Aunt let her use. She was still getting use to this whole driving thing. God, the weather was awful. But she just needed to drive. To get away. So Alex just drove until she was at the Pier. She got out of the car and ran to the nearest building she could. It was some weird looking lounge thing. Alex took a seat. She was not about to go home anytime soon. At least her father was staying in a hotel.Alex dug through her purse looking for some aspirin, "Bloody hell, Where is the aspirin when you need some...." She said to no one in particular.

[Haden Kiley]

Despite his popularity, Haden didn't like staying out late at all hours. He was essentially a homebody and quite proud of it. But somehow, that evening, he just couldn't seem to sit still. His mother realised it and asked him if he wanted to help with her accounts. The pair seemed to settle into a comfortable silence and managed to finish up three quarters of her accounts when his mother forced him to leave.

"How old are you?" His mother sighed, throwing her pen on the table as she leaned back into her leather swivel chair. Looking up from the papers he had been sifting through half the night, Haden frowned slightly. "Sixteen." He simply answered. "Exactly...so why are you at home?" The question was met with another frown before it relaxed into a smile. "You getting tired of me, mom?" The easy smile Haden had on reminded his mother of her ex-husband and she too smiled.

"You know, your father used to ask me that same question a few years before you were born...most every night before we go to sleep. He'd turn to me and ask me that."

Haden slid the pen he had been holding on to the table he was working on and leaned back in his chair. The grin he had on suggested he was actually eager to find out the answer. He seldom hears his mother talk about her ex-husband even though they were still good friends. Hearing about his father made Haden feel a bit connected to the man. "What was your answer?"

"Up to the day we got our divorce finalised, it was always never."

"What changed?"

Something shifted in his mother's face which made Haden lean forward for the answer. "A story for another day." She shook her head lightly in amusement. "It's a Sunday night, sixteen year old boy. Get out of here. That's an order." His mother got up from her chair and pulled Haden out of the office.

"Oh come on mom, it was just getting good." Haden tried to sidestep his mother but it was as though his mother anticipated his every move and blocked him the whole way until he was at the front door. "Go on, boy...get!" she laughed, pushing Haden out the door. Jamming the car keys into Haden's pocket, his mother waved him out of the door. "My cell!" He tried persuading his mother to open the door. The door opened a crack and his mother's face appeared with a little smirk as his cell phone gave out his caller ringtone, vibrating from his pocket.

"Don't lie to me, Haden." She waved her phone in the crack at the door before shutting it. "You don't have a curfew, young man. Enjoy it!" He heard his mother yell from inside. Haden laughed at his situation. It was quite rare that a teenager had a problem with getting out of the house that his mother had to practically shove him out the door.

Haden checked his phone for the time to find that it was still only eight pm. Turning around, the weather seemed to have calmed down from the deluge from the morning. He slid his phone out and checked through his phone book to find someone to hang out with but he found no one he was close enough with to 'hang out'. Which to him was pretty sad.

Shrugging, Haden went to his mother's Lexus and drove around town for quite a bit until he stopped at a pretty non-descript bar. Slipping into the semi-dark and a bit hazy joint, he walked to the bar and sat beside a girl rummaging through her purse before ordering a club soda. A bit tame for Haden but then again, he was only sixteen. If they carded, at least he would be let off with a warning and at least he didn't drink anything heavy.

When the girl cursed loudly, Haden was taken aback. "Uh...the pharmacy is two blocks down if you need aspirin." Haden muttered as he accepted his drink and paid for it. Sipping a little of it, he turned to the girl. "You need help?"

[Alex Bridgerton]

Normally Alex barely cursed. She was raised to be a prim and proper English lady after all, but when it came to her father and how much of a tyrant he could be, she just could not help it. Well, more like she did not want to help it. Letting out a curse irritated her father to no end. Of course he was not here at the moment, but still. It was a silent rebellion she enjoyed.

Alex sighed and ordered a coke. She looked at the boy who answered her question, "No thank you, I doubt an aspirin would help. I was just frustrated over parents...that's all." She said in her English accent giving the boy a smile. She was getting good at not talking so proper all the time. She sipped her drink once the waiter brought it over to her, "I appreciate you asking." She told him.

"I am sure the ache in my head will cease once I have had a few deep breaths and some distracting conversation." Alex told the guy as she continued to sip her drink. He seemed nice, maybe he could provide that conversation. If not then she would simply find another way of distracting herself. She hoped.

"I know parents are supposed to know what is best for their children, but is it mean to wish that sometimes parents would leave us alone. " She asked with another sigh. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, "Forgive me for ranting a little." God this guy must think she is a total loon. "My name is Alexandra. Please to make your acquaintance.

[Haden Kiley]

When she looked up, Haden couldn't help but admire her looks. They weren't as timeless as Lana's but this girl was hot. Eyecandy. And her refined accent made her that much more appealing to Haden. He should really stop thinking about the mocha skinned beauty now. He was in the presence of another kind of beauty. He had to appreciate her without thinking of another girl.

In the midst of his admiration, her frustration over her parents was something he didn't have experience with. Even when his parents were going through their epic divorce, Haden had not once been angry with them. They still showered him with love no matter what and he had such a good relationship with both of them which was rare in a teen his age, evident in this girl's relationship with her parents.

But ever the charmer, Haden verbally sympathised with the girl. "Not a problem, really. I can't say I feel your pain but I know a few people who have that problem," he gave her a boyish grin before taking a long gulp of his soda. "Ah...I'm good with distracting conversations if you don't mind my company." Having been brought up a little differently than most boys, Haden's speech had a little lilt in it that helped with him making girls swoon and think he had an accent.

Another reason why he loved his parents so much. They were smart enough to force him to learn how to speak eloquently, among other things.

"Well, it's not exactly mean. It's natural, I assume." He offered some condolence. When she apologised, he shook his head in amusement. "Nothing to apologise for. We're young, we have issues. Ah, pleased to make your acquaintance too, Alexandra. The name's Haden." He took her hand in his and placed a kiss on the top of her hand, all the while looking at her squarely in the eyes. Eye contact was key when trying to win anyone over for the first time.

[Alex Bridgerton]

Alex could not help smiling around Haden. He was very nice, sweet and quiet cute. Then he spoke and he might sound like he had an accent. Of course everyone had an accent according to Alex, she was from London, so to her all Americans talked funny. Either way it was nice to listen to. Not to mention Haden was cute, so...where was the problem. She gazed back into his eyes as he spoke and kissed the top of her hand.

"A true gentlemen. Please call me Alex and I would love the pleasure of your company." She told him as she sipped her drink and motioned for a refill, "May I ask what brings you out on such an evening. With the unpleasant weather I would rather be home, but sadly I decided getting out of the house was more to my benefit."

Although she technically was inside right now wasn't she. She was inside and warm and practically dry since the rain had lightened up. So she could not complain really. Although her thoughts briefly drifted to Ashley, and Kai. Alex was positive Ashley had Kai all bundled up and looking cute. Alex would love to see Kai, but in weather like this, she would never take Kai out. She would keep him inside so he could not get wet and chance a cold.

"I must say I have not very many people since I moved here a few weeks ago. I am definitely beginning to enjoy meeting so many new people." She gave Haden a charming smile. "Please tell me what kind of fun activities are there to do around here." she turned her body a bit more toward Haden so she could look at him in a comfortable angle.

[Haden Kiley]

She had this air about her that Haden was drawn to. Nothing special. Maybe it was just because she was really beautiful and the accent helped plenty. She sounded like a sultry lounge singer to Haden. With a wave of his hand, he called the bartender to refill his drink. "I try what I can," he grinned at her compliment. He prided himself in being a gentleman and after years of practice, it came naturally to him that compliments like that never wavered him.

"Well, I would have stayed home but apparently my mother thinks I'm too young to start living like my grandfather." He chuckled lightly, tipping his head down to look at his drink before thanking the bartender. Taking long sips from his drink, he turned to Alex. Having heard the slight change in her tone when she talked about home, Haden wondered if he should call her on it but decided against it because she would tell him if she wanted to. He wasn't about to pry into people's business. He knew he wouldn't want anyone doing it to him.

He wanted to tell Alex that he was actually a homebody but he knew that wouldn't sound completely becoming of a gentleman with his status so he kept mum about it until she asked about fun activities. "Ah well...I'm usually invited to things but when I'm not, I usually hit places like this." He motioned to the whole lounge. He grinned and shrugged. "If you're the type to have actual fun, I suggest you try the pier. Or the bowling alley down town. That's where most of the student body congregate on the weekends. They have live bands performing and sorts."

"What brings you down to LA...I'd have loved to stay in London if that was my home town. You are from London aren't you?"

[Alex Bridgerton]

Alex let out a small laugh as Haden mentioned staying in, but his mom thought he should go out. "I would be in agreeableness with you. I see no problem with staying inside on a today such as today. especially one where the weather for the most part was absolutely dreadful." Alex told him. "I decided to come because it was much better then staying in at the moment." She did not need to go back on her rant.

"I have been to the pier. They have some sort of place with rides, which seemed interesting. However, bowling, is not familiar to me. Do not hold this against me, but back in London I did not get out much. My days were planned with my education and various family events or social gala I had to attend." The price she had for being a Viscount's daughter, even if the name was all her family had, the title really meant nothing except prestige. Thats all.

"However, I would love to check the place out. I happen to enjoy my job, which is some sort of dinner with a show. defiantly different then London." She told him as she sipped her drink. "many things bring me to LA." She said. "My son. I left him after he was born because my father had me convinced it was for the best. I finally realized that was not the case and now I am back to be in my sons life." She said honestly. Let him judge her how he wanted, she had a son and she was not ashamed.

"Although London is lovely. You sound as if you might have been before is that true?" She asked hoping the conversation was still going. "I do miss it myself from time to time, but LA is my home now and I am glad to be here." She was being honest. LA was her home as long as Kai was here.

[Haden Kiley]

Haden hadn't expected to be in the presence of a teenage mother. Although it wasn't such a big deal to him, it still kind of surprised him that the girl would be so easy to confess what could probably have been damaging evidence if it went into the wrong hands. But her history sounded like it came from the 16th century where girls were bred to be wives from the day they started walking and talking. Either she was the daughter of an aristocratic tyrant or her parents were just plain crazy.

"Is he with his father now? Your son I mean." Haden didn't want her to feel uncomfortable about herself so he tried his best to remain nonchalant about it even though he still found it abit odd that such a young girl could feel that she was responsible for another's life. He commended her for it no doubt but it still seemed so odd. He supposed it was the generation he was born into. Blame his mother for having brought him up in a technologically advanced generation.

The change in conversation made him relaxed and he nodded, confirming that he had been to London. "An uncle of mine stays in Sussex. I visit him quite often and when I stay longer than a week, he usually convinces my mom to bring me to different parts of England. So far, London's probably the one place I haven't covered fully in my tours." He smiled affectionately at the memories of his uncle's vast sprawling estate deep in the woods and the adventures his fun-loving uncle usually came up with.

"I've been here my whole life," he admitted. "I don't intend to stay here forever though. Once I get my diploma, I'm getting out of here." He had told his mother this a long time ago and although she had objected to the idea especially since his father left, she knew she couldn't hold on to him forever.