Chapter Two: Conscious Intentions
"Where are you? You were supposed to meet me a half an hour ago." Ryan said worriedly.
"I'm at Chili's house, I know and I'm sorry, I guess I just lost track of time."
"That's okay; I just wish you would have called me."
"I meant to, but then…" Marissa trailed off, glancing at Alex, who was currently busy talking to Volchok.
"Then what?" Ryan asked, drawing Marissa's attention back to the phone in her hand.
"Huh? Oh, I fell asleep." Marissa said, which wasn't entirely a lie; she did indeed fall asleep.
"It's getting late, how about I pick you up for breakfast tomorrow morning?"
"Breakfast?" Marissa repeated.
Her mind was melting into the floor right now from her alcohol consumption, spinning from seeing Alex again and wandering to tomorrow's events. Johnny's big surf competition would take up most, if not all, of the afternoon and then there was bound to be more partying in the evening. With her head already pounding and her body threatening to collapse from exhaustion at any moment, Marissa was in no mood to wake up any earlier than was necessary to support Johnny in his competition, but she had to make it up to Ryan somehow, right?
A quick breakfast and a kiss or two, in exchange for a whole day of beach bumming? Ah, what the hell? "Sure, breakfast sounds great." Marissa wanted to slap herself for what she had just agreed to, but Ryan spoke before she could get her hand quite that close to her face.
"Alright, pick you up from your house around eight?"
"My house? Eight?" Marissa wanted to shoot herself.
Great, not only did she have to wake up super early, but she had to drive back to her own house which meant waking up at, at least seven in the morning and the fact that her car was nowhere in the vicinity may be a problem.
"Don't forget." Marissa rolled her eyes at Ryan's reminder.
"I won't."
"Okay, I love you."
"Yeah, you too." Marissa mumbled before she quickly hung up.
"Your boyfriend checking in?" Volchok laughed as he saw that Marissa had finally gotten off the phone.
Marissa rolled her eyes yet again at another idiot's remark. "Hey Johnny, wake me in about seven hours, okay?"
"Sure, what for?"
"I'm supposed to be going to breakfast with Ryan."
"Alright, you can crash in the spare bedroom down the hall."
Marissa nodded and bid the four of them goodbye before she disappeared in the direction of the nearest hallway.
"Do you think she realizes she just went into the bathroom?" Chili asked the other three, Volchok and Alex shared a glance.
"I'll make sure she gets a safe place to sleep." Johnny said before he went after Marissa.
After only achieving three hours of uneasy sleep out of her supposed seven, Marissa woke up the next morning to a certain someone shaking her lightly. "Johnny, go away…" Marissa mumbled into her pillow.
"You said to wake you up in a couple of hours so that's what I'm doing." Marissa let out a groan before covering her head with a pillow.
"Marissa, if you don't get up, I'm going to take that pillow and hit you over the head again."
Marissa shot up to see Alex sitting at the edge of the bed with sleepy eyes and a small, tired smile.
"Alex?! I thought Johnny was supposed to wake me up?"
"Well he was, until he partied a little too hard and I said I'd do it instead so he could get some sleep before the competition today."
"Oh, well as long as you're still up, can I ask you a favor?"
"Hm, it hasn't even been a full 24 hours since we see each other for the first time in over a year and you're already asking me for favors?" Alex let out a laugh and Marissa smiled.
"Will you drive me to my house?"
"You still live in the same place?"
Marissa shook her head. "I'm staying at Summer's now; Dr. Roberts and my mom are dating."
"Your mom and Summer's dad? No way."
"I know; crazy."
"And you're okay with this?"
"It's better than living in a trailer."
Alex stared at Marissa, brows raised, shock evident in her features. "Marissa Cooper in a trailer? Yeah right."
Marissa just grinned and standing up, she asked. "So…you gonna drive me?"
"Yeah, it'll give us a chance to catch up anyways; Kevin has told me so much about you." Alex grinned and Marissa gulped, before they both exited the beach house, got into Alex's jeep and took off.
"He's told you all good things I'm sure." Marissa grinned and Alex stared at her, brow raised.
"I didn't know the two of you dated."
"A dumb mistake on my part and after you left, we didn't exactly keep in touch."
Alex nodded understandably and since she didn't pursue the subject any further, the air around them filled with those familiar awkward silences when neither knew what to say next.
"What are you doing back in Newport?"
"Same reason you went to the Dawn Patrol, to support a friend in the Pac West surf competition today."
"Which friend?" Marissa asked curiously.
"Kevin."
"Really? I didn't know you two were friends."
Alex shrugged. "Most people don't."
"So where are you living these days?"
"Actually, I moved back here, for now anyway."
"Where are you staying?"
"Kevin's, at the moment."
"You can't be serious?" Marissa turned in her seat to look at Alex.
"Um yeah, is there a problem?"
"Yes there's a problem, I can't let you stay there."
"It's just until I get my own place and besides, why not? I don't mind."
"Hello, have you seen his place lately? Last time I was there, there was a snake in the bathtub!"
Alex smiled. "Remind me not to take a shower there any time soon."
Marissa stared at the blonde rather bewildered as to why she would even want to step foot in that mess, but then again she probably didn't have any other place to stay, so making up her mind she said.
"You can stay at my place." Alex raised an eyebrow at this suggestion.
"You can't honestly expect me to accept that offer."
"Why not?"
"No offense Marissa, but it'd be awkward."
Marissa scrunched up her nose in thought, Alex was right, but then again, she did live in a mansion with way too many unoccupied rooms. Sure, there were still four other people living in the house and sometimes it seemed like the most crowded place in the world, but as they say, the more the merrier, right? After that last remark from Alex, the girls' conversation lulled to a stop and Marissa was lost deeper in her thoughts as they arrived in the driveway of the Cooper-Roberts household. They sat there in another awkward silence and Marissa was about to get out of the jeep because Ryan was supposed to pick her up at any moment, when Alex decided to pursue the once dropped subject.
"Marissa, why did you date a jerk like Kevin? You deserve better."
Marissa turned in her seat for what seemed like the tenth time since she had sat down. Alex waited for the other girl's answer, knowing that Ryan's name would come into play somewhere; she held back the urge to roll her eyes.
"And who do you think I deserve?" Marissa asked a now, very surprised Alex.
"Ryan?!" she croaked.
"What?!!" Marissa stared at the blonde, clearly confused.
"No," Alex pointed. "Ryan's arrived; he's here to pick you up for breakfast."
"Oh!" Marissa laughed as she got out of the jeep.
Ryan honked the horn, wishing Marissa would hurry up and wondering who the hot blonde was in the driver's seat. Marissa signaled to Ryan that she would be a moment as she walked around the front of the jeep and taking something out of her front pocket, Marissa dropped it into the driver's lap. That was when Ryan decided to get out of the car and see what was going on.
"What's this?" Alex asked as she stared at the key in her lap.
"I think being back in Newport is getting to you Alex Kelly, it's a spare key."
Alex rolled her eyes. "I know that, I mean why are you giving it to me?"
"To move in of course, you can't honestly expect me to let you live there with only Kevin and his sleazy bros for company." Marissa said just as Ryan joined them.
"Hey, what's going on?" Ryan asked as he came up and kissed Marissa on the cheek.
"I was just giving Alex here a spare key."
Ryan stared from his girlfriend to the girl who was going to have two sleazy ex-cons kick his ass a year ago. "Alex?!" he said shocked. She only nodded in reply and turned back to Marissa.
"Marissa no, I can't take this." Alex protested.
"Too late, you can either accept the offer or leave it. If you need any help moving in, I'm sure good ol' Volchok will be eager to help. Or Seth might be inside visiting Summer, you could ask him." Marissa grinned as she walked with Ryan back to his car and they took off, leaving a slightly perturbed Alex behind. Once they were on the road towards their destination, Ryan asked.
"What's the deal with you giving Alex a spare key? I mean, I don't even have one."
"She's my friend, it's the least I can do, and otherwise she would have to stay at Volchok's. Not to mention that my mother would flip out if she saw you had a spare key."
Ryan couldn't argue with her on that one, he couldn't blame Marissa for not wanting someone to have to stay with that guy.
"She's a friend who is also your ex, in case you've forgotten."
"I haven't forgotten; how could I?" Marissa said heatedly, surprising even herself.
At that last remark, Ryan's knuckles became white from gripping the steering wheel. "Why is she even back in Newport anyway?"
"Surf competition this afternoon. What is your problem? Why are you acting like this?"
"Marissa, imagine if you arrived at the Cohen's to find out that Teresa or Lindsay had come back to Newport and that I all of a sudden invited them to live with me, how would you react?"
Damn, I hate it when he's right. Marissa thought to herself before answering.
"You have a point, but it's only till she gets a place of her own, I mean you understand don't you? Besides, she might not even accept my offer; she outright declined it the first time."
Glad to know that it's my girlfriend who really wants her ex to move in and not the other way around, how comforting. Ryan thought to himself as they arrived at the diner. As they occupied a booth, Ryan changed the subject.
"What are you getting for breakfast?" he asked as he looked over the menu.
"Same thing I always get." Marissa answered, rather annoyed.
Ryan nodded and waved the waitress over.
After getting things cleared up with Dr. Roberts, Julie and Summer, Alex had the approval to move in for the time being and Summer offered Seth up for manual labor. Alex made sure to call Volchok just in case Seth wasn't quite up to par, who said he would be over with the rest of her things whenever he got around to it. Knowing Volchok, that could be anywhere from a half an hour to next week.
"No, Seth, what are you doing?!" Alex yelled as she carried her sofa that Seth was supposed to be helping her with, up the winding staircase.
Alex held the top of the sofa a couple of inches away from the steps and Seth was a ways down from her, not faring so well as he was getting tired of trying to keep the bottom of the sofa from crushing his toes.
"What am I doing?" Seth huffed, sweating and his breathing shallow. "I'll tell you what I'm doing Alex, I'm dying! I need a break." Seth said as he let go of his end of the furniture.
"Seth no!" Alex yelled as the sofa began to make its way back down the half of staircase that the two had barely managed to conquer.
"Oh great." Seth mumbled, as he gripped the side of the sofa to keep it from trampling his body as it tried to slide back down the stairs. "I forgot about the consequences of letting go of something that you're trying to get up the stairs when you're the one stuck at the bottom of it."
"Thanks Seth." Alex rolled her eyes just as someone walked through the front door. "Kevin! Finally, someone useful! Come help me with this, would you?" Alex yelled to the blond silhouetted in the doorway.
He nodded as Seth kept the sofa from sliding any further, Volchok took over and Seth quickly got out of the way.
"Whew, glad that's over!" Seth said as he stood in the main hallway.
Once Alex and Volchok returned from situating the sofa in Alex's new room they started on their second trip up with more of her things when Summer walked into the hall, joining Seth who was now leaning against the wall so that he was out of the way.
"Seeing as Volchok is here, I take it Cohen wasn't much help?" Summer asked, rather disapproving of having the surf nazi in her house.
"Not with those chicken arms of his." Alex almost laughed as the two disappeared upstairs again.
Summer hit Seth on the arm. "Ow, what was that for?"
"Because you're weak and spineless and Alex is now living in my house."
"So you're not okay with Alex moving in?"
"I'm okay with it; I just wish Marissa had at least mentioned something about Alex even being back in town! Besides, with all their history, don't you think it'll be awkward?"
"Maybe."
"Then why would she go and invite her to live with us?"
"They're friends and she would've done the same thing for any of us if we would've had to live with Volchok."
"Oh, Alex was living with Volchok? Well that explains why Marissa invited her to stay here, but still…"
"Marissa and Ryan haven't broken up in weeks. It's got to be a new record." Seth said, changing the subject.
"Oh, but I feel a break up coming. I have a sixth sense about those two."
"Well they break up; they get back together, whatever. It's a natural cycle. It has to do with the tides."
"No, it's different now. If they break up, Marissa could disappear. She could be swallowed up at Newport Union. It's like the Bermuda Triangle."
"It's a school, and its two miles away."
"It's just, those two need to log some serious couple time or our little foursome is going to shrink to about half."
"Well you two do live in the same house, why don't you talk to her about it once she gets home." Seth suggested and Summer smiled.
"Thanks Cohen." she said.
"Thanks for breakfast." Marissa said once they had been driving in silence for a good ten minutes.
"No need to thank me, so what are we doing this afternoon?"
"Actually I already promised Johnny that I would watch him surf in the competition, sorry."
"That's okay; we'll just do something tonight then?"
"Um, well after the competition there's this after party and I was kind of hoping to go, since everyone will be there, but if you want to do something, I can skip it."
"No, no, that's okay, just call me tomorrow okay?" Ryan requested as he let Marissa off at her house in time to see Volchok drive away.
"Okay, I will." Marissa said as she walked away from him, coincidentally forgetting to give him a kiss or even a hug goodbye.
Marissa slowly began her walk upstairs to her bedroom, thinking about how great it would be to take a shower right about now, when she passed the spare bedroom that was across from hers which happened to have music blaring, seeping out from underneath the door.
"Alex?" Marissa hoped as she knocked on the door.
There was no answer, which meant that whoever was occupying the room couldn't hear Marissa over the cranked music. She sighed and opened the door across the hall, her room, which also happened to conjoin with Summer's room. Removing her jeans and shirt and taking the clip out of her hair, Marissa once again, slowly made her way to her next destination: the shower. Marissa was almost there, just a few more feet, when Summer's voice halted her steps.
"Hey Coop! Glad to see you home for once."
Marissa took this comment rather offensively so she didn't turn around to greet her best friend, that and the fact that she was only wearing a pair of rather see-through undergarments. Sure, she hasn't been home lately, but she was busy with friends and school, what was so wrong with that?
"Hey." Marissa greeted as she now leaned against the doorpost.
"So I had to find out from, well, Alex; that she was moving in, thanks for telling me by the way."
"Sorry, I forgot and I was in a hurry to go out to breakfast with Ryan."
"It's okay; you were with Ryan, that's good."
"Good for whom?" Marissa laughed bitterly.
"Oh great, what happened this time?"
"You act like this is a daily occurrence." Marissa narrowed her brows.
"It practically is, not that I'm complaining of course. Come on; tell me what's up Coop." Summer said as she patted a spot on Marissa's bed for her to come and sit down.
"Uh Sum, I was going to take a shower."
"It can wait, this is more important."
Says who? Marissa thought to herself, regretting that she ever opened her mouth concerning the earlier comment. Sitting down on the bed, trying to cover some of her exposed body, Summer smiled at her and motioned for her to start talking.
"You know Ryan, he's always psycho overprotective and lately I think he's becoming jealous or something."
"Well you are hanging out with those guys from Newport Union a lot, Johnny in particular."
"So, Johnny's my best guy friend, that's all."
"I know Ris, but sometimes it seems like you to, are ya know, more than just friends"
"Well we're not, you know that and besides, Johnny didn't even come up in our conversation. He was rather uneasy about me inviting Alex to stay here, given our history, I mean; I don't see what the big deal is. I was fine while he may or may not have gotten Teresa pregnant and then went to go support them."
"Coop, you were not fine."
"Maybe not fine, but I certainly didn't handle it the way he seems to be handling everything nowadays."
"Yeah and how's that?"
"By jumping to conclusions, getting upset over nothing, the usual."
"Did you talk to Ryan about this?"
"That's the thing, he won't listen, and I just don't know anymore. If you're so worried about me hanging out with my friends, why don't you come to the beach with us today?"
"Alright, you know, I think I will."
"Okay, now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go take a shower."
After getting all squeaky-clean and dressing in something a little more appropriate for the beach, like say, a pair of Bermuda shorts, flip-flops and a bikini top? Perfect. Marissa thought as she walked downstairs to surprising see Alex, who happened to be dressed similarly.
"Ready to go?" Alex asked as Marissa stared at the blonde's exposed midriff. Her toned abs evident underneath her beautifully tan skin. "Marissa?" Alex asked again. Marissa's head snapped up to meet Alex's eyes and they both smiled.
"Uh yeah, I didn't know you were taking me."
"Hey, you're giving me a place to live, what's a little drive down to the beach?"
"You know, you don't owe me anything, I mean this technically isn't even my house."
Alex shrugged as the two girls got into her jeep and headed for the beach. "You look tired." Alex commented as they got on the road.
"Gee, thanks." Marissa smiled.
"You know what I mean. You okay?" Alex grinned.
"I'm fine; I just haven't been getting much sleep."
"Too much coffee?"
"No, I don't think it's that."
"Bad dreams?" at this, Marissa turned in her seat to look Alex in the eyes. It was amazing how this girl, even after a year of not being around, could still figure her out.
"Maybe, something like that." Marissa whispered.
"If you ever want to talk, I'm here." Alex offered as she parked.
Marissa thanked her for the offer and they got out, meeting Chili and Summer down on the sand, Summer having already arrived while Marissa was in the shower.
"You guys are just in time to see your favorite surfers catch a sweet wave; do you see them way out there?" Chili pointed far off in the distance to their left.
They all turned their gaze towards the two figures surfing out in the distance just as Volchok achieved some great height, Johnny was right up next to him, and then Alex's voice made Marissa turn her attention away from the two boys.
"Volchok's using my board you know."
"I know." Chili joined in the conversation. "That's a pretty sweet board ya got there."
"Yeah I just hope he doesn't crash it like last time."
"Doesn't he have one of his own?" Marissa asked.
"He did, but then he wrecked it."
"You know it's so beautiful out here, it almost makes me wish I surfed." Marissa commented as she took in the magnificence of the waves crashing upon the beach.
"I can teach you sometime if you want." Alex offered nonchalantly.
"Hm…" Marissa debated the offer.
Remembering last year, when they used to hang out seven days a week, when they seemed almost inseparable. Marissa smiled as she thought about the first time Alex had tried to teach her to surf. She had to lie on a surfboard in the sand for three hours, the first lesson is always on the sand, Alex's words came back to her and Marissa broke into a goofy little grin.
"What's got you so happy Coop?" Summer interrupted and the grin vanished from Marissa's features.
"I was just thinking." Marissa answered as she now sat on the beach with the other three.
"Thinking about what?"
Marissa smiled and looked to Alex who turned her head once she felt someone's eyes staring at her profile. Marissa averted her eyes, slightly embarrassed that she had been staring and turned them back to the ocean just in time to see Volchok wipe out.
"Well?" Summer persisted.
Alex kept her eyes on Marissa, still attentive to the conversation that she had started as Marissa answered. "I was thinking about the first surf lesson Alex gave me." at this comment, Alex let out a laugh and Summer wrinkled her brows.
"I remember that, it looked like you were trying to dig your way to China."
"I almost made it too!"
"Yeah, too bad high tide came in and dragged you out to sea, then I had to go and rescue your ass before the current swept you away."
Marissa and Alex both laughed at this, remembering how Marissa had gone a good fifteen feet out before actually managing to get on Alex's surfboard. As Cosmogirl clung to the floating object for dear life, Alex was busy yelling at her to try and catch some waves. She caught some waves all right, just as they came crashing down upon her head.
Marissa let a contented smile grace her features as she laid back on one of the beach towels that Chili had put down for them, just as Chili whooped. Marissa sat up again to see why he had just screamed her ear off when Johnny came bounding over, followed casually by Volchok.
"You were great man!" Chili exclaimed as he slapped his best friend on the back.
"Yeah Johnny, you were awesome." Marissa grinned as she gave him a hug, thus getting her clothes wet.
"From what you actually watched." Summer hissed at her from behind Johnny's back.
Chili was talking to Johnny and showing him the video footage he had taken, Alex was congratulating Volchok on his efforts, everyone was busy with someone else, and so Marissa was stuck with this confrontation. She sighed as the other four started towards the stage.
"All I'm saying is that if Johnny really is your best guy friend, one would think that you would have spent more time watching him surf, rather than talking to Alex."
Marissa shrugged. "I did watch him surf and besides I've seen him surf a thousand times in the past, missing one little bit won't matter. I haven't seen Alex in over in a year and Johnny's about the most understanding guy in the world, so I'm sure he won't care. Like I told you before, we're all just friends."
"If you say so Coop."
"Marissa! Summer! They're about to announce this year's Pac West team." Chili yelled excitedly, waving them over.
Marissa didn't hesitate in running to catch up with the other four, leaving Summer trailing after her. Squeezing in-between Volchok and Johnny, she put her arms around the two boys and laughed when Volchok looked at her as if she was on crack.
"I'm here to support my two favorite boys in the whole wide world!" Marissa said in a mock baby voice as she planted a kiss on Volchok's forehead.
Volchok shoved the brunette away with a quizzical glance before he turned back to the stage in front of them. Marissa let both of her arms drop back to her side as someone on stage began to speak in the microphone.
"Alright, it's time to announce this year's Pac West team and first up is the winner of our sponsorship. First on our list is Johnny Harper! Johnny Harper, where are you? Come on up here!"
A round of screaming cheers erupted around Johnny, and Marissa hugged him in congratulations. With many pats on the back and even a punch to the gut from Volchok in praise, Johnny finally broke away from the crowd and walked onstage to be accepted. In a matter of minutes, another representative was at the mic and the overjoyed teenagers turned their attention back to the front of the stage.
"Second up is Kevin Volchok! Come on over Kevin Volchok!" the hyperactive announcer screeched and another round of cheers went out from an end of the crowd.
A bunch of his bros all shoved Volchok around in congratulations and Alex punched him in the shoulder, making him grin. Marissa slung her arm around the blond in a half-hug before he broke away and headed onstage.
It was nearing the wee hours of the morning and Marissa was exhausted from some major partying, walking slowly down the hallway she wanted to find a place to sleep, but it's not she'd be able to anyways, so she went towards the living room in search for a certain blonde who still had her purple streak.
"Alex?" she screamed over the music.
She found the blonde sitting on the sofa sipping a beer and Marissa soon sat down next to her. "Hey." the blonde greeted.
"Hey…" Marissa drawled out sleepily.
"You ready to go?" Alex asked as she set her beer down.
Marissa nodded and Alex grabbed her keys off the table. "Did Summer leave yet?"
"About six hours ago." Marissa answered and with that, the pair was already in Alex's jeep and heading back to their house.
The two prepared for bed by taking separate showers and dressing in their pajamas, Marissa in her usual comfy red flannel and Alex in a wife beater and silky black shorts. Alex situated herself under the covers when Marissa walked in holding one of her Care Bears. Alex turned to see Marissa standing in the doorway, clutching her favorite Care Bear and wearing a look on uncertainness.
"Hey Marissa, what's up?" Alex asked and Marissa only stared at Alex as she began biting her lip, she seemed to be rooted in the doorway. "Is something wrong?" Alex asked as she noticed that Marissa's hand was still on the doorknob.
"It's just; you remember earlier when I told you I haven't been sleeping lately? Well it's because I've been having these dreams, or rather nightmares about that night when I…when I…"
"It's okay, you don't have to say it, I already know what happened."
"How did you find out?"
"Word travels fast." was all Alex offered for an explanation.
"So I was wondering…I mean I would ask Summer, but she's asleep and I don't want to bother her, plus she snores. Unless of course you think it would too awkward, I mean given everything we've…." Marissa rambled quickly.
"Marissa, slow down, take a breath." Alex smiled at the girl who smiled back and started over.
"I was wondering if I could sleep with you tonight." Marissa said and then covered her mouth with her hand.
"No I don't mean sleep with you, I mean--"
"Marissa chill, I know what you meant." Alex almost laughed at the girl's nervous behavior. "Sure, I don't see a problem with it."
Marissa's face broke into a grin as she finally released her grip on the doorknob and walked in the room, shutting the door behind her as she turned off the light, covering the room in darkness.
Marissa, with unexpected nervousness, climbed in on the other side of the bed and got under the covers. She stayed on the edge of her side of the bed, not wanting to intrude upon the blonde's space when Alex spoke up.
"You know, you don't have to stay all the way over there and you don't have to be afraid to scoot closer to me, I promise I won't bite."
Marissa smiled at this and didn't hesitate in moving so that they faced each other, being so close that Marissa could feel the girl's warm breath on her neck. "Well, hello there stranger." Alex greeted which made both of them laugh and Marissa backed away somewhat.
"Good night." Marissa whispered.
"Sweet dreams."
"Yeah right…" Marissa mumbled, but since there was only about a foot of space between them, Alex heard her.
"Just think of me." Alex suggested and Marissa rolled her eyes playfully.
"Okay, I'll try." Marissa whispered weakly, hoping she'd finally be able to get a peaceful sleep as she closed her eyes.
It was as if the events of that night were happening all over again, flashes of Trey, the attempted rape and the shooting burst before Marissa's closed eyelids, making her wake up in a cold sweat. Blinking, Marissa sat up, taking in her surroundings and remembering where she was and who she was sleeping next to. Marissa stood up, her Care Bear having already fallen on the floor; she didn't bother to pick it up as she walked out of the room, grabbing her cell phone along the way, careful not to make too much noise.
Sitting down at the top of the stairs, Marissa rubbed her eyes and sighed as she dialed Ryan's number. "Yeah?" he mumbled.
"Hey, it's me." Marissa let out a shaky breath.
"You okay?"
"No. I mean, yes, but I had a dream, and Trey was there again and so were you and it was happening all over. Look, I'm sorry to wake you up, I'm just scared."
"I know, I know, but you don't have to be. Trey's gone. You should go back to sleep. I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay." Marissa sighed again, hanging up.
Alex woke up to find that the space next to her was now unoccupied and her bedroom door was left ajar. Getting up, Alex walked out into the hallway to find Marissa sitting at the top of the steps.
"Hey…" Alex greeted sleepily. "Nightmares?" she asked as she sat down next to the brunette, who nodded.
"Did you talk to Ryan about all this?" Alex asked.
"I tried; I mean you know how he is."
"Yeah, not much with words."
"He went through it with me; he should understand."
"I know, well, I'm here."
"If only Ryan knew that, that was all he had to say. I just wish they would go away."
"Well, let's make them go away then." Alex suggested as she put her arm the brunette.
"How?"
"Take your mind off things."
"No thanks, I don't feel like getting wasted."
"That's not what I meant, now come on." Alex instructed as she stood up and took Marissa's hand in hers, leading her back to the bedroom and shutting the door behind them.
Alex returned to the bed and motioned for Marissa to do the same. "I don't see how this is going to help." Marissa commented as she got back under the covers.
"Just trust me." Alex said as she moved closer to the brunette, so that Marissa could once again feel the blonde's breath on her neck. Wrapping her arms around the girl's waist, Alex pulled her close, holding Marissa to her as if to protect her from any harm.
Marissa laid there as she felt Alex's warm breath on her neck and could feel Alex's arms wrap around her comfortingly. With Alex holding her tenderly, Marissa realized just how much she had missed this feeling that she had loved every night for the short time that they had been together. Marissa let out a shaky breath, her body relaxing and her eyelids slowly getting heavier as her body seemed to meld into Alex's.
"Sweet dreams Rissa." Alex whispered as she placed a soft, caring kiss on Marissa's forehead and for the first time in a long time, Marissa drifted off to a safe and fulfilling sleep.
End Chapter Two: Conscious Intentions