Disclaimer: I don't own the OC or the Once and Again Characters.
Rating: PG but may go up to R.
Part I: Following Your Heart
Love…
I read about it. I hear about it. I watch it on movies. I listen to it on songs. And for the past two weeks I have really been into romantic stories and movies. I have yet to find love again. I mean the one on one kind of thing. I have love from my friends. I have love from my family. I'm single. But I'm happy.
I stumbled upon a movie entitled Love Actually. My friend told me about it. It's funny because she told me about it on the first day of February: The month of hearts. The first few lines that Hugh Grant said in the movie made me watch it from beginning to end. I find the movie heart warming… Actually.
Love…
More often than not I use them on my fictions. But it isn't going to be as wonderful to see without knowing pain and suffering: Without meeting greed and hatred. Love is only wonderful because it overcomes all the odds only because people chose to.
Love…
Is the main reason this I'm writing this story. I swear I did reruns of Jessie and Katie's relationship on Once and Again for over a hundred times. Not to mention watching Alex and Marissa episodes on the OC. I wish they were still together in those shows. They're relationships seemed, real. My heart ached for Alex though. I must have watched the conversation she had with Marissa on her last episode on repeat a number of times. It's hard to let go of someone who you already learned to love. Pity. Marissa didn't realize it. I wish writers did a better job than writing Olivia's character out. Such is life.
I always did AU stories. But as the day of hearts approaches, I just thought maybe I should write something different. Something I would have wanted to see after Alex left Newport. Something that would have happened after Tiffany and Jake's wedding on Once and Again. I would have included Spencer and Ashley. But theirs, I think promises more surprises. I'm here for those I watched then lost.
For the love of Mischa Barton, Evan Rachel Wood and Olivia Wilde.
For the love of those who love.
This one's for you.
THREE WEEKS BEFORE VALENTINES
"KELLY! THE DELIVERY GUY IS HERE!" A man shouted, apparently he's one of Alex's employees.
After Newport and Marissa Cooper, Alex had returned to LA and finished high school. Currently working part time at a club her parents opened up for her, she managed to keep herself busy: Busy enough not to think about Newport and Marissa. She still thought about college. But as of present time, she wanted to clear her head and for before she took on college. She wanted to let go of her demons, her fears, her doubts: Which was named Marissa Cooper.
"Bill! Can you please do that for me? I need to help Jake with the show tonight." Alex replied taking a folder with her.
It was supposed to be another day at the club but as Valentines Day was about to approach, the club has been busy. Alex found themselves hand-full with the shows that were lined-up. Alex didn't really bother about what was coming up. She considered it as another-day-in-the-job kind of day. Nothing more special. The last time she did celebrate the dreaded day, was a day she wanted to forget. A quiet night on the beach, and the tide turning.
Moving on is such a pain in the ass.
"KELLY! YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS HERE!" Jake yelled out from the entrance door.
Alex doesn't have a love life as of the moment, but she had a feeling who could have dropped by. The girl stuck by her after their break-up and had been her good friend. Alex turned around with a smile on her face. She saw Jake get a swat on the side of his head for the person Alex was thinking of.
"I'm not her girlfriend. I'm her EX-GIRLFRIEND!"
"JODIE!" Alex beamed and ran towards her friend to give her a hug.
"Easy with the hug. They might think we were intimate."
"And you wouldn't want that?" Alex grinned pushing Jodie away gently.
"OF COURSE NOT! How else would I end up with a hot girl in bed on Valentines day?" Jodie smirked wrapping her arms around Alex's waist.
"I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT A CAMERA!" A voice yelled out startling Alex.
Alex knew the voice but couldn't remember where she heard it. She turned around to find a curly boy running to give her a bear hug.
"SETH!" She yelled out excitedly.
Seth just greeted her with open arms and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"How have you been Alex?" He grinned looking down at his friend.
"I've been good. How did you know I was here?" Alex shook her head pulling out of her friend's arms.
"Oh you know. Jodie left her number. We had good times behind your back… Secretly…" Seth rubbed his hand and licked his lips making both girls make fake-disgusted faces.
"Oh come on… Am I not hot?" Seth asked, pleading for a positive answer.
Both girls shook their heads making them frown.
"So what brings you all the way to LA Cohen?" Alex asked smiling at the boy.
"We wanted to visit you. See how you're doing you know."
"We?" Alex asked feeling her heart speed up.
"Yeah. We." Seth turned around to face the door behind him.
Alex did that same constantly taking in deeper breathes.
Summer slowly entered smiling at Alex. She was holding someone's hand. Alex could only sigh and look away. It was the tall brunette she wanted to forget.
Marissa Cooper.
Marissa shyly took her gaze to meet Alex's She felt her heart ache to see Alex's eyes turn from warm and happy to icy cold emotionless. She couldn't blame the blonde.
"Hi…" She squeaked out of her throat.
Alex just replied with a wave then turned around to do her job. She thought Jodie could entertain her visitors. She wasn't really up for it.
----
Katie ran after Jessie when they arrived at the apartment Eli has rented for the rest of the month. Eli had taken a side job in LA which could turn out to be a permanent job if he gets to impress the club owner. He took Jessie and Katie with him just because Jessie begged him to. Jessie and Katie were on a break from school. And they decided to spend the month with Eli. The two were going to be a handful, but Eli did like the thought of his sister spending the month with him: Especially if that sister had a hot best friend.
"Stop running around and help me with our bags! We need to settle in before dark!" Eli yelled out.
"Coming!" Jessie giggled taking Katie by the hand, grinning endlessly at her.
Walking towards the door, Eli watched them go all somewhat flirt with each other. Flirt? Yeah that's the right term. He would have been oblivious to everything but Jessie and Katie weren't really subtle at times. They can't keep their hands off each other. And ever since the wedding, it seemed as though they were in love. Yeah, Eli thought about it: In love. Could his sister be in love with her best friend? Eli couldn't really tell. He had to hear it from his sister himself. He wouldn't judge her: Whatever it was going between her and Katie.
Jessie and Katie entered the apartment and put their bags on the room beside Eli's. Eli made his way to the kitchen to start of dinner.
Closing the door behind her, Katie was greeted by Jessie's lips on hers. She felt the blonde's arms around her neck pulling her into a deeper more passionate kiss. Katie could only close her eyes and allow Jessie to have her way with her. Jessie pulled back from the kiss but didn't let go of Katie. She rested her head on Katie's chest and smiled.
"I love you…"
"I love you too…" Katie replied looking down to meet Jessie's sparkling blue eyes.
"Thanks for coming here with me."
"Wouldn't want to miss it for the world." Katie smiled bringing their lips together again.
"JESSIE! KATIE! HELP ME OUT HERE OR WE'LL BE LATE!"
"We should go…" Katie reluctantly pulled away.
"Yeah I guess… We get to share the same room though… So…"
"More make-out time?" Katie grinned seductively at Jessie earning her a gentle nudge on the shoulder.
"Yup… Totally… Now let's go!" Jessie smiled taking Katie's hand.
They were off to help Eli, off to have dinner, then off to see Eli at work. But it wasn't really the things that Jessie and Katie were looking forward to. They were actually looking forward to spend time together. As simple as that. Just spending time with each other.