Alex had spent the night in the pool house with Ryan and Seth. Seth was laying on the floor with a couple of pillows on him. Ryan was passed out right next to him and Alex took the bed. They were awoken by sunlight hitting their eyes, "Good morning Newport bums! There are fresh bagels in the kitchen and you all need to get ready for school." Sandy froze as Alex poked her head out from underneath the sheets. "Alex…what a pleasant surprise what are you doing back in town?"

"Uhh."

"She's a friggin millionaire and she needs to go back to school to get her diploma. Yadda yadda blah blah oh hey mind shutting the blinds and calling me in sick? K thanks night night." Seth said as he sat up then dropped to the pillow. Sandy looked from his son to Ryan who was now awake and sitting upright. "It's true…can she stay here?" Sandy looked at Alex who was taking the covers off herself and moving to the side of the bed. "Well there's no harm in it. Welcome to the family Alex!" Sandy made his way over to hug Alex whom gladly received it. He then sat next to Alex and put a comforting arm around her. Ryan smiled and looked at the clock. He decided to get up and get dressed. "Thank you Sandy."

"Oh no problem," Sandy threw his hand forward in a no problem way with a smile on his face, "Kirsten will be totally fine with it. Hey why don't you get ready for school and come get a bagel. Do you need any help bringing your stuff in?"

"No that's ok, but I don't want to be a burden to anyone are you sure its ok to stay here?"

"Oh don't be silly Alex I invited you a while back anyway remember?" Alex smiled of the memory of Sandy coming to talk to her about Seth and then invited her to come over anytime. Sandy got up and started toward the door, but stopped first to kick Seth, "Wake up and get dressed." Sandy continued to the door. Seth rolled over and yelled at him as she exited, "You know that's child abuse!" Alex just laughed and got up. She also kicked him, "Ow! Ok now it's just rude. Where are you going?"

"To get my stuff and get dressed."

"Oh ok well I'm going back to bed." Ryan walked out with loose jeans on and a black sweater over it with a white t-shit underneath. "And where are you going?"

"Bagels." Ryan walked to the door. "Ok I'm up! Gosh! Are you all happy?" Seth got up and procedded to run out of the pool house and into his own.

After Seth got dressed the whole family was sitting in the kitchen watching Sandy put cream cheese on his bagel and talk about what a master he was at doing so. Alex walked in and Kirsten turned to look who had walked in. Alex had her hair down. She was wearing a white tank top with a brown leather jacket over it. She had on faded blue skinny jeans. She had a book bag slung over her left shoulder as she stood in the entry way. "Alex hi," Kirsten gave her a warm smile, "please com join us." Alex walked over and dropped her bag along the way. "Sandy was just putting cream cheese on bagels you want one?"

"I would love one thank you." Alex smiled as Sandy handed her a bagel. "So Alex you are free to stay here as long as you want." Alex's eyes went wide as she looked up at Kirsten, "Really?"

"Yes, we would love to have you and help you in any way we can possible. You are apart of this family now and plus I get the daughter I've always wanted to go shopping with." Kirsten smiled and gave Alex a hug. "Thank you," Alex muffled in her shoulder, "You welcome."

"To Alex!" Seth raised his cup of orange juice. Everyone followed with raising their cups.

"Yes to Alex."

"To Alex!" they all said. Alex blushed and took a bite of her bagel as she soon smiled. They whole morning was full of laughs as the kids said goodbye to Sandy and Kirsten. They piled into the car and Ryan drove off to school.


"Hey Coop what do you think about this top?" Marissa and Summer where in Summer's room helping her pick out a top for the first day back at school. Summer held up a pink sleeveless top to go with her white jeans. "Yea I like it." Marissa said while sitting on Summer's bed. Summer put the top on and walked over to the mirror. Marissa pulled a bottle of vodka and took a sip. Summer turned around, "Coop its like seven in the morning."

"Yea well early for me is like five." Summer rolled her eyes and picked up her bag. "Let's go." Summer walked out the door followed by Marissa.

When they arrived at school in Summer's car they got out and started towards the steps to get to class. "Have you talked to Seth at all this summer?"

"Um here and there yea. Why have you talked to Ryan at all?"

"Here and there." Both girls walked up the steps when there heard a car honk its horn. It was Ryan as she honked at a stoner kid to get out of the way. They pulled into a parking spot right next to Summer's car. Seth was the first one out. He put his bag over his head and closed the door. "Hey look there here." Marissa started down the steps as Ryan got out, but froze when a third door opened from the passenger's side. Summer walked down the steps to be next to Marissa. At first they saw the back of a brunettes head. She had a brown leather jacket on with faded blue skinny jeans. "Whoa when did Cohen pick up another misfit?" Summer said as the both waited for the girl to turn around, "Do you think Ryan got a new girlfriend?"

"No, he said he just wanted to stay single."

"Then who is…" They both freezed in their tracks as the girl turned around. Marissa knew that face anywhere. It was Alex Kelly. "Oh My God. When did she roll back into town and is she now going here?" Alex reached back into the car and pulled out a book bag. She put it on her left shoulder and closed the door. Seth and Ryan were waiting for her. Seth said something to Alex as she joined them. Alex punched Seth in the arm so it must have been something stupid. Marissa's eyes were dead set on Alex. She had a million of questions going through her head. "Coop? Coop?" Summer waved a hand infront of her best friends face. "Alex…" Marissa quietly spoke.

"You know Alex your really going to like this school."

"Yea its pretty cool."

"Ya think?" The three of them walked up to the school. "Wow its pretty big."

"That's why its partly awesome." Seth looked up the stairs to see Marissa and Summer staring back at them. "Oh hey look its Marissa and Summer." Alex froze as she searched the stairs. When her eyes finally saw the two girls she weakly smiled. "Hey I'm going to go check out the campus." Alex took off in another direction waving to the guys. "Ok hey meet us for lunch!" Seth yelled at Alex who took off. They boys made their way up to Summer and Marissa. "Hello ladies and how was your summer?"

"Hey Cohen." Marissa was still staring at Alex who was fastly walking into the business building. "She's back?" Ryan and Seth looked over to Marissa who was still in a daze. "Yea, she needs her diploma." Ryan added, "She's staying with us."

"And you're not a tad bit scared for your well being? She almost had you beat up last year."

"Nah…we talked. Were cool. She's cool."

"I'm going to be late for my class." Marissa took off up the stairs. "What's up with her?"

"Alex." Both boy's just nodded and said, "Ohhh." The three left standing made their way up the stairs and to their classes.


Lunch time soon came and Alex was sitting outside one of the school's cafés. She was reading a physics book. Seth and Ryan came up and sat down with her at the table. "So newbie how's the day going?" Seth asked as he took a huge bite out of his cheeseburger. "It's going good mr. garbage disposal." Ryan smiled, "Hey how come you took off so fast?"

"Uh I just didn't want to be late for my class."

"That's a lie!" Seth tried to yell but his food in his mouth made it more muffled. "OK OK are you guys like taking a detective class or what? I got freaked out over seeing…" Marissa and Summer walked up. Summer was quick to take a seat next to Seth. Marissa walked slowly and claimed the last seat next to Ryan. Alex was looking at Marissa and trying to avoid her eyes. Marissa was doing the exact opposite. Seth dropped his burger down on his plate and rubbed his hands together, "Ok this is awwwwwkkwaaaard." Alex kicked him from underneath the table. "Ow! Ok gosh."

"So Alex what are you doing back in town?" Summer politely asked. "Uh…I need my diploma so I'm here to graduate with you guys. I'm living with the Cohens."

"Oh well that's cool." Alex nodded and went back to her physics book. "OK hey well I'm thirsty Ryan, Seth lets go get something to drink."
"But I have a soda," Seth said pointing to his soda. Marissa was thinking in her head. "Oh please don't leave me here alone Summer." Alex was thinking the same at Seth and Ryan. "NOW COHEN."

"Ok." Seth and Ryan got up. Ryan gave a I'm sorry look to Alex. They left just Marissa and Alex alone at the table. It was the awkwardness moment of both of their lives. Meanwhile Seth Summer and Ryan were poking their heads around the corner trying to listen in on their conversation, "and they point of this was?" Seth asked Summer. "To get them to talk and get over their issues."

"Yea good luck with that." Summer hit Seth.

"Soo," Marissa started, "Physics huh?"

"Yea." Alex replied without taking her eyes off her book. "Listen Alex can we talk?" Alex put down her book and finally looked Marissa in the eyes, "About?"

"Lets grab a coffee after school."

"Cant' I'm busy."

"With what?"

"Unpacking."

"Can I help?" Alex took a deep breath in and out. "Sure."

"Cool see you later." Marissa got up from the table took her bag and walked off. This was Seth, Summer and Ryan's cue to rejoin Alex. Summer was the first to sit down, "Soo what were you to talking about?" Alex went back to her book, "Nothing…yet. She's coming over to talk after school." Everyone nodded and proceeded to eat their lunch. Summer couldn't help smiling to herself a job well done. They were in for a different afternoon.


Ok be honest is it good? Leave me a review. i like to hear your comments it keeps me motivated to keep the story going. Thanks