Okay this is fair long & my first Malex story. We blame Anna and a lot of England rain and my love for Season 2 of the OC. Anyway, I'll probably do this in two or three chapters, maybe more, I don't know. But this opening one is quite long because I had to set it all up, next chapters will be shorter.

Oh, and I don't own anything because the show was cancelled.

Chapter 1: Back To Basics

The blonde haired girl let out a deep sigh at the sight before her. She was back in Newport where the women lived with heels up their asses and the men with something similar there too. She liked this place though, even as she left fighting those tears two years ago she actually liked this place. The sun was setting and it made the whole place look calmer.

"Are we going to go or what, Alex? It's very romantic and all but I'm tired and I want to look my best tomorrow." Alex smiled at the sound of Jodie's voice next to her. She would have given anything to not have to come here alone and Jodie had jumped at the chance saying the view of women in bikinis on the beach was a lot better after going back to LA and screwing around.

"For what?" The blonde tilted her head as she looked at her friend, the ever present purple streak made itself known in the dying sun.

"Checking out the value around here. It's been a while." She put her feet up on the dashboard of the jeep. Last time they had been here it was cherry red but Alex traded it in for a blue one. Jodie never remembered why, her friend had just mumbled something about bad memories and starting fresh.

"Yeah." She trailed her reply as she started the jeep again and drove off. Hopefully her old job would still be there as would some old faces. She shook her head, she was over Marissa and even if she wasn't the ocean eyed girl had hurt her deep before and there was no going back.

-

"I was out with Summer, Ryan, stop being so protective of me!" Marissa Cooper was as far to the edge as she could be with Ryan. He had turned up out of the blue at Summer's house demanding why she didn't tell him where she was.

"Then why didn't you answer your phone?" He hated getting jealous like this but he turned quickly at the thought of his girlfriends lips on somebody else and ever since the Trey incident and the crash, which had put her into a coma for a month, he had been like her bodyguard, not her boyfriend.

"Because I was having a good time with my best friend. Chill out." She went to her bedroom door and opened it hoping he would take the hint. "It's getting late, Ryan, I want to go to bed." She listened to him sigh and give up like he always did, he never fought for her anymore, and watched as he walked towards her.

"Do you want to go to the Bait Shop tomorrow? Seth and Summer will be there and maybe a few others."

"Okay. I'll be there about 8." It was a statement, she didn't want him to come to her house and she didn't want to see him until 8 the following night.

"See you there." He kissed her cheek softly and left her bedroom.

Marissa waited until she heard the front door click shut and waited a few moments before letting out a sigh and shutting her own bedroom door. She picked up her phone and saw the five missed calls and three messages all from Ryan. And for what? It wasn't for anything important he just got jealous. She closed her eyes as she fell onto her bed, his jealousy reminded her a bit of Alex and how she had gotten herself so worked up. Just as quickly as she had laid down she sat up. She was thinking about Alex again. This had been an ongoing thing recently, after Alex had left she forced herself to stop thinking about her and it had worked. Up until she had the car crash. She could have sworn when she had woken up she had seen the blonde haired beauty sitting next to her and she saw her in her dreams for at least a month afterwards. But for two years now she hadn't heard a thing from her. She's probably moved onto another girl. Marissa closed her eyes and laid back once more, sleep not taking too long to come over her.

-

Jodie sat outside the Bait Shop watching the people go by. Alex had been inside and was probably at this moment begging for her old job back, that was if anyone even remembered her. She caught sight of a couple walking towards her, both had dark hair and they were clinging to each other something sickly. She knew the guy, Seth or something, from last time she had been here but he seemed oblivious to her. The girl finally seemed to peel away from the guy, who changed his direction, and walked even closer to where she was sat, she was quite hot in an innocent-yet-not kind of way. She recognized her, maybe she'd done her in the past, but she didn't dwell on it. She was never good with faces.

"Hey. I was just wondering if you know where the owner of this place is? Have you seen him?" Summer asked the woman. Only to be answered by the shake of the head.

"No. I've been away from here a while so I don't know who owns what. My friend is in there at the moment with someone though, that could be him." Jodie picked up the bottle of water she had bought and took a long drink before continuing. "She'll be out soon." As soon as the words came out of her mouth the door opened and Alex stepped into the sunlight.

"I got the job. I start this Monday so two days off to do nothing." She stated. Her eyes moved to the extra person near Jodie and her face shifted from happy to shock. "Summer?" God, she hoped that was her name. It was Marissa's best friend after all and she should know her.

"Alex. What are you doing back here?"

Jodie stood up and placed herself next to Alex, not to be one left out of a conversation and mainly because Alex didn't seem to be too happy. "I'm Jodie." Her voice was sarcastic but she wanted to be known. "We came back because Alex needed some space from LA. How do you know each other?" She liked being nosy.

"I - When I was here I knew Summer's friend." Alex stammered but found her composure. "Marissa, you've met her." She looked at Jodie and instantly her friend knew everything she needed to know.

"Oh. Well nice to meet you." She nodded at Summer and looked around for the boy but couldn't find him. "We should get going, we've just settled into a place and we need to unpack everything and make it somewhat livable." She let Alex say a quick goodbye before she dragged her friend away, talking about her job.

Summer watched at the two women made their way to a parked car and quickly fumbled around in her small bag for her phone. She grasped her prize and quickly typed in something and hit send before she saw her boyfriend re-appear.

"I found a quiet place." He grinned at her. Her feet finally found the play button and she ran towards him, laughing as she did so.

-

Marissa Cooper didn't take well to change. When change came she drank and when she drank she passed out only to wake up to more change. But she made a vow that she wouldn't drink again. Damn conscience. When she was drunk it didn't speak to her.

"Coop, you'll never guess who is back! Alex Kelly. And she has her old job back, she must be here for a while."

She must have read that around fifteen times but the damn thing didn't change. Alex was at the Bait Shop and she was going to the Bait Shop. She didn't know if she should feel nervous or excited about going, all she knew is that her stomach was doing flips about a girl that left without hardly a goodbye two years ago.

-

Marissa sunk into the booth next to Ryan who automatically moved his arms around her shoulders, pulling her closer and keeping her there. Usually she liked that but tonight she wasn't in the mood for his clingy attitude.

"Hey Coop." He kissed the top of her head and smiled down at her. She moved and looked back at him smiling slightly and settling into the routine of forgetting about the fight before and just getting on with it. She was about to say something when Seth took his place opposite her and placed some drinks onto the table.

"Finally Cohen." Summer sighed grabbing her drink and swallowing a decent mouthful. "I was dying here." She smiled though when Seth put his hand on her thigh and relaxed a little bit.

"I bought you just water." He directed at Marissa. "I wasn't sure." He watched as she took the drink gratefully and waited until the glass was set back down onto the table. "That Alex is back you know. She isn't working though, here with some girl and she's looking hot." He flinched as Summers hand swatted him on the arm. "What? She does." He ignored the roll of his girlfriends eyes and silently fiddled with his glass.

"She's back?" Ryan sounded jealous. He looked at Marissa but didn't meet her glass and turned his focus to Seth. "Where is she?"

"Dancing, kind of, with some dark-haired chick." He watched Marissa's eyes flick up at that and she shifted in her seat.

"Gonna go to the bathroom." She quickly got up before anybody could say anything and left. Her eyes scanned for Alex, almost automatically and on their own, she could almost hear Ryan's jealousy and Summers thoughts on what was going through her mind but it had been playing on her mind all day and she needed to see Alex in the flesh to believe she was back. She finally locked on her, she had her head thrown back and was laughing at something and another girl stood close to her with both her hands on her waist. Marissa felt her stomach clench and suddenly it was the bathroom she needed to be.

-

"I've just seen that Marissa girl, baby." Jodie said as she fiddled with her friends top. "She looked right over then, kind of, ran away." She searched Alex's eyes as the blonde girl sighed.

"Dosen't surprise me. Wait right here, I won't be too long." She moved away from Jodie and walked to the bathroom, she needed to cool down and a splash of water would do the trick. She thanked the stars she had waterproof mascara on and she opened the door, only to walk into the person she didn't want to.

"Alex. Hey, hi." Marissa leant against the doorframe and looked down at the woman in front of her. She hadn't changed much, she still had the high cheekbones, pouty lips and striking eyes. Her body hadn't changed much either. Instead of hearing her voice Marissa received a tight smile as the woman who had been haunting her of late brushed past her and made her way into the bathroom. Without a second thought she followed and put her hands on the sink next to Alex's.

"What? Are you following me now?" Her tone was harsh and Marissa was hurt.

"No, I just - I haven't seen you in a while." She furrowed her eyebrows. What was her problem? "Besides, you're the one back here in Newport. How do I know you're not following me?" She folded her arms happy with her reply.

"I wouldn't have any reason too." She was blunt about it but she couldn't help the little smirk that pulled on her lips. The girl hadn't lost her sarcasm. Realising she shouldn't be so cold Alex turned to Marissa and smiled slightly, watching a glint of something in the others eyes. "I'm tired. I don't mean to be snappy."

"Oh. Well, maybe we can meet up sometime? How long are you here for?" She tried to focus on the lined eyes of her ex, if you could say that, but she found herself glancing down at her body. How the hell did she keep her stomach that tight? She was wearing a simple black vest top and skirt combo and yet she pulled it off to look so much better. The purple streak made itself known, too, in the bright light of the bathroom.

"Until the beer runs out in this place and I have no money left I guess." Alex shrugged. "So a long time around here." She watched a smile grace Marissa's lips and realised it had been a long time since she had seen something that genuine.

"Tomorrow? Me and Summer were going to go shopping but I think Seth has decided on something else for her." Marissa realised a little too late she seemed too eager and tried to back peddle quickly. "If you want too. I mean you don't have too I just thought we could catch up. " Alex seemed amused.

"Sure, Riss" The blonde replied. She liked this, it was awkward or emotional it was just comfortable and though it had been a long time it was like she could settle into a relaxed state with Marissa and not have to worry about the past. Damn, she thought about it again.

"I changed my cell. Here." She looked around for a pen and smiled when Alex handed her one. She felt her stomach clench once more at the use of the nickname by the waiting woman and she realised she missed it.

"You never know when a girl might give you her number in a bar bathroom." She watched as the other girl blushed and didn't know if she should feel smug or nervous. Were they still meant to make each other blush?

"There." The light brunette handed her number over. "Call me when you have time." Without a goodbye she quickly made her way out of the bathroom. Her heart was beating way over it's limit and she felt like she had just been hit in the stomach. God, she still had an effect on her. Quietly she made her way back to the table and finished the rest of her night with her friends. Tomorrow would be interesting.

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