Erika nodded to him. "She's okay, because she's probably not even sick, Keith." With that, she sat down on a bench next to a tree and hesitated for a bit before starting. "You know, Keith... Alex and I have known each other since we were five. Marcus was our friend back then too, but we were all obviously very different. As kids, you are less concerned with things like popularity, money or power. Even Marcus was a sweet boy back then, because his father didn't hit him until he was ten." Erika paused, smiling slightly at the memory of the three of them. "We grow up way too fast these days. At least... Alex was forced to grow up very fast by his father. There were all sorts of expectations she had to fill and when her father found out she was exceptionally talented, a prodigy, in music, he decided she would become the best."<br/><br/>Erika looked over to Keith. "Around the time she was nine or ten, Alex sort of changed. She became obsessed with winning, power, money and popularity. Really, if you look at her today you know what I mean. I feel like back then I lost a huge piece of her, because of her father who was pushing all these selfish adult thoughts on her." A smiled appeared on her face, a sad one this time. "But then you came into the picture, after so many years of watching her lock herself up even further. I overheard you two talking at the party and I've seen you two together plenty of times. And it makes me happy because I see the old Alexandria come out a little bit around you, the one you've clearly seen in her."<br/><br/>With a sigh, she shook her head. "This is why we fought yesterday morning. I told Alex not to play any cruel tricks on you, because I've seen how much you care about her. And she needs it. She needs someone to force it on her. But if you bring up the subject with her, she'll always become bothered and nervous... and in my case she lashed out on me. That poor girl is so lost!" Erika blinked her eyes, pushing back tears. "All I wanted to really say, Keith, is that Alex is now clearly confused about her own emotions towards you. It's likely she'll put some dreadful plan into play very soon, so be on your guard if you still plan to be around her. Although, I would just recommend to leave her be and move on to someone else. She is not someone with whom you'll easily find love and affection."