Not The End (Introduction) ~ Forgive But, Not Forget
Author's notes: This is my first fan fiction EVER so, it may very well suck. lol.
Disclaimer: I do not own The O.C. or any of these characters. If I did, Alex Kelly never would have left. =/
INTRODUCTION
Why is it the most beautiful love stories always meet such a tragic end? Marissa and Alex would have given anything to know that 'happily ever after' still existed. And they came close to it once. But, it burnt out, overcome by the flames of the bonfire that night...
The two share a final lingering gaze before standing up and embracing each other tightly, clinging to every last remnant of their love. Alex buries her face against the other girl's shoulder, willing back the sob which threatened to break through. And as her eyes flutter close, it is in this surreal stillness that she takes in Marissa's scent; her tall, slender form; the feeling of warmth against her cheek; the way the long silky strands of her hair intertwine so perfectly between her fingers; She wanted to remember it all, memorizing what was soon-to-be a fleeting moment. But, it's when she pulls away a second later that the chill of rejection and emptiness settles in, leaving her numb in its wake.
Their eyes meet sadly, both mimicing a faint, almost non-existant smile. Neither could bring themself to form the word 'goodbye' so, it remained unspoken, along with so many other things which should have been said. And just like that, Alex was gone. She walked away from the girl who had stolen her heart, and from the life she didn't fit into.
Her surroundings paled to a grey as she made her way further down the sandy strip. Alex didn't know where she was heading. 'But, did it even matter?', she wondered. She would still be alone upon reaching there. Clouds, heavy with moisture, swallowed what little light remained over the skies, resembling the fast darkening eyes of Alex, which brimmed with the sting of salty tears. Finally, her legs grew weak, forcing her to stop and sit down on a large piece of driftwood. The young woman blankly stared out straight ahead towards the ocean. And as a single wave rolled in, Alex smiled amidst her sorrow and whispered, "The tide... just turned." Yes, a change was coming. Though, what if you never wanted it to? Was it doomed from the start? Their relationship, that is. Had it ended before it even begun? It seemed so unfair. All Alex ever wanted was to be given a chance...
With a crack of thunder, a slow drizzle soon became a downpour. The sound of rushing water drowning out her cries, as Alex could hold it in no longer and allowed herself to breakdown. She hugged herself, gripping at the sleeves of her jacket, while slowly rocking back and forth between sobs. 'I-I didn't know... How could I have known..? That it would hurt this much...'
Marissa, on the opposite end of the beach, looked up towards that same sky as the rain soaked her to the very bone, dousing the bonfire which now suddenly meant nothing to her.
"Hey, Marissa, come on!", Ryan called, as everyone else quickly scattered for shelter.
She takes one last longing look into the infinite darkness, knowing that on this rainy day, Alex won't be there to keep her warm.