WPFAE (long name btw) - I'll go ahead and put your fears of Malex violence to rest. I don't plan on them hitting each other ever again. That's not to say there won't be violence in the fic cause.... yeah, there will be. And this Alex does/will let Marissa get away with stuff, but she has her limits and will put her in check if she feels she needs to.

As for the rest of you guys, thanks for the reviews. They're greatly appreciated.

CHAPTER 2

"How did this happen?" Marissa asked herself for the fiftieth time in the last couple of minutes. Well, she knew exactly how it happened, exactly how the blonde's touch felt, the shuddering breaths and husky moans she'd let out. Each and every detail. She just didn't understand why she'd let it happen.

After their reunion they had just stood and stared at each in the silence before the blonde's stomach began to protest the lack of food.

Once they had filled themselves at the nearest diner they'd moved to one of the lesser used spots on the beach. There still wasn't much talking. Just Alex reminiscing about the things the two of them and their friends had done. Half the time Marissa would smile fondly at the memory, the other times she'd give a biting comment on how they could have still had them had Alex not left. Though she knew the comment hurt, Alex simply smiled and went back to looking at the ocean.

"I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing."

"I can't." The blonde picks up a handful of sand and watches it slowly fall between her fingers.

A few more minutes of semi-uncomfortable silence goes by.

"I still love you, you know. I always will."

"Alex..."

"Right, sorry."

Marissa lets out a deep sigh. She honestly didn't know what she was doing there with the blonde. A part of her was still in love with Alex, that was for certain, but a bigger part of her was hurt and afraid. It had taken her so long to be able to think about the blonde and not just breakdown on the spot. It had hurt and she never want to go through that kind of pain again. Maybe one day, especially since Alex was back and trying to fix things, she'd be able to get over it and let go of any lingering anger. The question was: even if she did get over it would she ever truly forgive her? Would she ever be able to put all of her trust into the other girl and not worry? Marissa didn't know and she dreaded finding out because she knew there was a good chance the answer would be no.

"Would you like to go back to my place? Watch a movie or something."

Marissa turned to her. She knew she should say no. Going with Alex would only lead to badness and confusion. Or it could lead to some extremely good things that would turn to bad and confusing the next day. 'No' was on the tip of her tongue. Nonetheless she found herself agreeing.

When they'd first arrived she'd been a little overwhelmed. Alex had moved back into her old house and it looked exactly the same as the last time she was there.

They had actually sat and watched a half decent movie together. Marissa had even made it out the door and down the steps afterwards before Alex had chased her, kissed her as hard as she could, putting as much passion and raw emotion into it as possible. At first contact all of Marissa's reservations were forgotten and she gave in. Immediately they were back on the couch. This time with something completely different on their minds. They took the time to slowly refamiliarize themselves with the other's body. To learn anything that had changed to to savor every second of it. Eventually they had moved upstairs and that's where Marissa currently found herself.

Trying to ease herself off the other girl wasn't working. Every time she got any wiggle room Alex would tighten her grip. Finally, she moved them to the edge of the bed and slowly slipped off the side. Alex mumbled her subconscious displeasure before rolling back to the middle of the bed. Marissa leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, went downstairs to find her clothes and then quietly left.