Disclaimer: Don't own The O.C. or House M.D. (made a small reference to it)

Olivia Wilde and Mischa Barton are amazing and I wish that Malex lasted longer, but since it didn't we have fanfiction to dream up what we wished would happen. Thank you Fanfiction!

This is my second Malex fic, I was inspired by… some personal experience, and the fact that some of the stories that I'm currently reading haven't updated in a really really long time. So I decided to write one haha. This is an AU but Alex works at the Bait Shop still and they're still in Newport. Alex and Marissa are best friends, Alex and Jodie are friends/ co-workers, and Marissa and Summer are best friends. Marissa's known Summer longer. Summer and Seth are dating. Ryan is single, but he and Marissa aren't together, they tried it before but it didn't work out. And off you go…

For You to Notice

"Are you sure you don't wanna go with us?"

"Yeah, it's not like I can still get a ticket now anyway,"

"But… it's PROM!"

"Didn't we already discuss this?"

"…noooo…"

"Oh really? I think you're lying to me"

"Yeah. I am…"

"I know you too well,"

"But, Alex, I can't believe you're not going to your Junior Prom!" a tall, lanky brunette said exasperatedly to her best friend. The blonde she was talking to exhaled loudly and closed her eyes for a second. The two girls were sitting on a bench in a park watching the people pass them by. The shorter girl opened her eyes again before replying.

"Marissa, I already told you that dances aren't really my thing, I have work tonight too," Alex explained again to the brunette, as she brushed her bangs away from her face, the purple streak still visible.

"Fine, but next year you're definitely coming with me and Summer, we're going to make you,"

"I'll just hide from the two of you, it's not like it's hard to do that…"

"You want me to use force on you Kelly?" the taller girl challenged, smirking as she spoke.

"Hmm, you using force on me is… intriguing, but I don't think you can handle me Cooper," Alex paused to emphasize her word choice of 'intriguing' before smugly finishing her sentence.

"Oh, stop with the House allusions" Marissa told her sighing.

"I believe you're pedantic diction makes you sound pretty smart," Alex continued as a smile slowly crept up on her face.

"Smartass,"

"You're one too, we're in the same AP English class… and I always catch you sleeping, or in the process of falling asleep… it's a wonder that you used 'allusion' correctly"

"Shut up, Alex! I do not"

"Oh yeah? One of the upsides of that class is that I sit directly across from you on the other side of the room and it's hilarious to see your head almost hitting the desk everyday." Marissa playfully shoved her best friend away from her, trying to knock her off of the bench. Luckily, Alex caught herself in time and held onto the sides of it.

"Looks like someone's been watching me during class…" the brunette winked as she folded her arms over her chest.

"Yes, I'm a stalker and I stare at you just cause you're incredibly hot," Alex said with a monotone voice, even though it was mostly true in her mind. "Also, you're in my line of vision and I actually HAVE to look at you,"

"Damn, here I thought my best friend was checking me out,"

"Sorry, I only do that when you're not looking," the two girls began laughing together. But in Alex's mind every word she said was true.

"So," the blonde began, "it's you, Summer, Seth and Ryan?"

"Yep,

"Well, it's a good thing I'm not going then, I wouldn't want to intrude and be the fifth wheel of the group,"

"Alex, you know that's not true." Marissa told her.

"Mmmmhmmm,"

"Just because Summer and Seth are dating doesn't mean that Ryan and I are, that ship has sailed... you'd be the first to know about everything anyway,"

"Yeah……" Alex said unconvincingly.

"Alex, stop that, you're my best friend, I tell you everything, you know that," Marissa continued, she looped her arm with Alex's and rested her head on the blonde's shoulder. Alex stiffened at Marissa's touch, but she relaxed and sighed. The shorter girl could feel her heart beat rapidly in her chest; Marissa's scent reached her nose. It was distinctly her smell, and Alex loved that. Sadly, she knew that the moment couldn't last forever and she had to cut it short.

"I gotta get ready for work, and you should too," the blue/green-eyed girl stated after a minute.

"Oh, yeah," Alex stood up and instantly missed the warmth that was around her right arm. Marissa rose to her feet as well and Alex could have sworn she saw a flash of disappointment go across her face.

"You can always text or call me …you know, if you start to miss hearing my voice…." The blonde informed her nonchalantly, a smirk once again gracing her lips.

"You're so full of it sometimes, you know that Kelly?"

"Only sometimes," Alex shot back, a smile now visible fully. Marissa scoffed and her eyes lightened up.

"I'll talk to you later then," The taller girl said as she got her bag.

"Yep, I'll be waiting," Without any hesitation, the brunette wrapped her arms around the blonde, who returned the hug immediately. After a few seconds they let got of each other.

"Bye,

"Bye friend," Alex called out as Marissa walked away.

"Marissa Cooper, you have no idea what you do to me…" the blonde said under her breathe once she was gone. She tucked her hands into her jean pockets and began to walk towards her car.

-Few Hours Later-

Alex finished passing out a couple of drinks to the people around the bar. Looking at her watch, she turned around and called to her friend.

"Hey Jodie, I'm going on my break okay?"

"Yeah, ok then," the shorter dark-haired girl replied back. Alex wiped her hands with a towel and made her way to her office. A few people were throughout the whole club, but it was only 8. Once Alex got into the room she plopped herself down on the couch and took out her phone. After pressing a few keys on her phone and the send button she returned it back into her pocket and waited for her reply. 10 minutes passed and the blonde's eyes were almost completely shut when her phone began to ring.

"You do anything stupid yet?" she asked without greeting the person on the other line, she already knew who it was.

"No, but I am having fun so far," Marissa answered; Alex could hear the radio playing in the background. A smile spread across the blonde's face and she continued to stare up at the ceiling.

"I take it you got my text"

"Yeah, 'Hope you have fun and don't do anything stupid,' your concern for me is so touching, Alex,"

"It's how I show my affection for you,"

"Thanks, I appreciate it," Alex chuckled at Marissa's statement.

"You guys almost there yet?"

"Yeah, we left 15 minutes ago; I still think you should be here with us,"

"I'm sure you still do, you're a stubborn one Marissa"

"So are you,"

"But I can pull it off better,

"Yeah, right, so, who's performing tonight?" the brunette asked, changing the subject.

"The Imaginary Elephants, they're pretty good,"

"That's cool,"

"You don't know who they are huh?"

"Nope,"

"I'll let you listen to them later then,"

"Alright," a knock came from the door and a voice interrupted the conversation.

"Hey Alex, the band's here,"

"'Kay thanks"

"Hey, sorry, but I gotta go, the band just got here," Alex explained over the phone as she got up.

"Oh, okay then, I'll just call you later, you'll be up right?" Alex thought she heard disappointment in Marissa's tone in the beginning, and then it turned into eagerness.

"Yeah, of course, I get out at around midnight,"

"Okay then, I'll talk to you later,"

"Tell everyone I said hi"

"Sure, bye Alex,"

"Bye," the phone line got cut and Alex put her phone back into her pocket. She went out of her office to help the band set up for their gig. They were to perform at 9:30.

About 30 minutes later Alex was done setting up and went back behind the bar counter.

"Trying to keep your mind off of your 'best friend'?" Jodie questioned from across the counter.

"No, I'm trying to do my job that I get paid for doing," Alex explained as she took out a couple of shot glasses to wipe down.

"You sure Alex, cause isn't she with Ryan?" the Latina continued.

"Yes, and Summer and Seth,"

"Well then, whatever happens at prom stays a prom,"

"Shut up Jodie," Alex snapped to her co-worker. Jodie raised up her hands in defense and shrugged. She went back to work and the blonde sucked in a breath before doing the same. A few minutes later she felt her phone vibrate and immediately took it out. It was a text message and Alex opened it. She face instantly turned into a scowl and she shot a glare at Jodie, who smiled cheerfully back at her.

The text on her phone read:

"You probably thought this was Marissa, but it's just me, SUCKER."

Alex mouthed 'BITCH' to her friend, Jodie just smirked in return. Once Alex got closer to the bar, she spoke to her.

"You're a real bitch, you know that?" the blonde hissed.

"What? I'm just having a little fun, lighten up Alex,"

"God, I hate you sometimes,"

"Well, I'm the only one who can actually understand how you feel, so get used to it,"

"Whatever."

"I only speak the truth…" Alex rolled her eyes and shoved past the shorter girl to make last minute checks before the band performed.

Ever since Jodie texted Alex, the blonde got anxious as to if Marissa would text her at all during the night. Every so often she would check her phone for a missed call or text, but nothing came up. Finally her phone vibrated and Alex quickly opened the message.

"Whipped!" the blonde looked up and once again Jodie was smirking like an idiot and she put on a fake innocent look. The blue/green –eyed girl sighed angrily not just because she fell for Jodie's stupid tricks again, but because she knew what Jodie sent her was true.

-A Couple Hours Later-

Jodie managed to get Alex a couple more times with the texts, but the blonde retained her anger by working it off. The band finished up and the crowd began to disappear along with them. The Imaginary Elephants had a pretty successful performance. The audience loved their songs. Alex approved too, even though they seemed a little too emo for her taste. Once again the blonde checked her phone for any messages or calls from Marissa, to her dismay, there was nothing.

"Alex," Jodie called out to her friend, "Go to her, I've tortured you enough for the night,"

"Yeah, and what am I supposed to do when I get there? Confess my love to her?"

"No, just go, you're depressing me, you've been pathetic, and even though it was fun messing with you, it's actually kinda sad to see how wound up you are about this chick,"

"Jodie…"

"Will you go already? I'll cover for you, just surprise her, I'm sure she won't mind," After a few seconds of thinking it over, Alex nodded to her.

"Thanks Jodie, but you're still a bitch for screwing with me tonight,"

"That's what I'm here for," Jodie waved to the blonde as she walked away. Alex grabbed her jacket and car keys before exiting the club.

Umm, yeah I'm stopping here, I want to hear some feedback from you people hahaha. This is only gonna be 2 chapters (two-shot), the next one chapter should be up soon, I'm working on it right now.

The title is from a song by Dashboard Confessional, I didn't know what else to title this so I just chose a random song. Hope you enjoyed reading.

Review if you like! It's nice the hear from people who actually read this.

-The Night Life 13