Chapter 2:

Next Morning: More like Afternoon

Summer had been packed for about ten minutes and was now waiting for Marissa outside, where one of the servants had conveniently put them, all five of them. After waiting for another minute Marissa pulled up, stereo blasting to nothing good about goodbye by Hinder.

"Easy with the music there Coop, at least wait till we get on the highway and I can sing for you." Immediately Marissa's hand went to turn up the stereo even louder. "Do it and I'll go rage blackout on your ass." Summer stuck her tongue out as Marissa got out of the car to help the shorter girl put her luggage in the trunk, and some in the backseat.

"Gee Sum did you have to bring so much? I only brought three bags, what do you need five for?" Marissa closed the drunk and both girls got into the car.

"One of them is just shoes, you never know what parties we'll come across and I want to represent Newport, and then say something Lukeish like 'This is how we roll in the O.C. bitch whattt', oh I am so saying that."

Marissa gave her best friend a 'never say that again' look as she pulled out of the driveway. "First on the list, find Jodie, and pray Alex isn't there because if she is I will have no chance in hell of getting her back."

"Coop don't think like that and I don't think Alex is stupid enough to go back to that sleaze anyways, and if she did, those shoes are going to come in handy. Especially when I shove my four inch stiletto's up someone's ass."

Marissa gave Summer a look, "Easy with the rage blackout Sums, not while I'm driving."

"Sorry, I'll try to keep myself under control. Is Jodie's place at least nice? It's not all dingy and dirty and nasty smelling is it?"

"From what I remember it was actually really nice, and I totally see why Alex lived there with her for so long. It might not be up to your standards, or your taste but the place is actually nice it's, damn what's the word of looking for." Marissa snapped her fingers a couple times.

"Quaint?" Summer interjected.

"Yeah something like that, but I don't care about Jodie not unless she can give me Alex's home address, or at least tell me where she is if she knows.

After ten minutes of silence, Summer turned up the radio which was playing, Listen to your Heart by DHT.

Almost immediately Summer noticed Marissa's face change from a smile to a frown. Marissa noticed her best friend looking at her. "Sorry, it just,"

"Reminds you of Alex, got it. Did you want me to turn it off?

"No I love this song, turn it up." As the music once again filled her ears Marissa went back to thinking about Alex and how much of a mistake it was to let the blonde girl go.

I know there's something in the wake of your smile.
I get a notion from the look in your eyes, yea.
You've built a love but that love falls apart.
Your little piece of heaven turns too dark.

Listen to your heart when he's calling for you.
Listen to your heart there's nothing else you can do.
I don't know where you're going and I don't know why,
but listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye.

Sometimes you wonder if this fight is worthwhile.
The precious moments are all lost in the tide, yea.
They're swept away and nothing is what it seems,
the feeling of belonging to your dreams.

Listen to your heart when he's calling for you.
Listen to your heart there's nothing else you can do.
I don't know where you're going and I don't know why,
but listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye.

And there are voices that want to be heard.
So much to mention but you can't find the words.
The scent of magic,
the beauty that's been when love was wilder than the wind.

Song after song Marissa thought about Alex, and finally let Summer take over driving as she stared out the window watching as everything passed by, with only one goal on her mind. Another hour later Marissa was directing Summer as best she could remember to where Jodie's house was.

"I think this is it." Summer parked in almost the exact place that her and Alex had the night they came to get Alex's heart back, the heart Marissa still wore, and when she wasn't wearing it carried it in her purse or somewhere with her. Immediately she thought about sitting in the jeep with Alex has the blonde girl tied the necklace around her neck. She could remember feeling Alex's warm breath on her neck, and the look in her eyes. Why was I so stupid. I just really hope she isn't with Jodie because that would break my heart, even though I completely deserve it, I'm not sure I could handle. Oh well I guess it's time to find out.

"Coop, earth to Marissa?" Summer waved a hand in front of her friends face snapping Marissa out of her gaze, "Come on lets go talk to Jodie, so we can check into the hotel."

Marissa took a deep breath and exited the car linking arms with Summer they walked to Jodie's front door. Before the door was even open they could hear music playing from inside. Marissa went to ring the doorbell but stopped herself so without thinking twice Summer knocked on the door. Moments later they were face to face with Jodie.

Jodie's was shocked when she opened the door to see Marissa, and a feisty smaller brunette standing next to her. "What are you doing here?"

"Is that any way to greet people?" Summer retorted cause Jodie to grin ever so slightly. "Look Jodie we didn't come here to fight or anything I was just wondering if you knew where I could find Alex?" Marissa cut in before the two got into a real cat fat.

"And why should I tell you, you broke her heart from some guy." Marissa looked down at the ground immediately thinking that Jodie knew that because her and Alex had gotten back together. "Since I'm tired and had a good day, she's not here, and no we're not dating but we are friends. So if you're here to break her heart and cause her any more pain than you already have just know you will not like me and my foot." Jodie let the two girls inside, "do either of you want a drink?"

"No thanks," both girls responded as they sat down on Jodie's couch. "Wow Coop you were right this place isn't bad, and that's saying something coming from me."

Moments later Jodie appeared with a piece of paper in her hand. "I don't know what is compelling me to do this, but Alex has been a complete wreck since she got back, and I can't stand to see her unhappy, so here is her address and her cell phone number is the same, but I put her house number on there anyways."

Marissa took the piece of paper and read over it. "Thank you." With that Summer and Marissa got up and went to leave.

"I don't know what it is about you but you get to here and she's finally getting her life back on track, so don't screw it up." Marissa merely nodded as her and Summer walked out of Jodie's house thanking her one last time. Summer got into the drivers seat and the two girls headed for the hotel they had made reservations at.

Hotel - An hour later

After checking in the girls went up to their room, and got settled in. Summer decided to jump in the shower leaving Marissa alone to think about what she was going to do. When Summer got out of the shower a half hour later Marissa looked like she hadn't moved an inch as she was still staring at the piece of paper with Alex's address and directions.

"Marissa just go see her, because it's not like you're going to be able to sleep." Summer put an arm around her best friend letting the taller girl lean her head on her shoulder.

"I don't even know what to say, if she wants to see me. She just left Sum, the landlord said she left so fast she didn't even pick up her security check." Marissa began to tear up.

Summer sighed, "look sweetie just go see her, I asked the guy at the front desk when you were talking to the bell boy and he said that place is about twenty minutes from here."

"You're right I should just go, and if I have to courage to actually see her I will, she's probably working though."

"Coop just go, I'll stay here and hold down the fort and call the guys and our parents and let them know we're alright and we'll getting settled in."

Kelly Residence - 45 Minutes Later

Marissa took a quick shower and changed before heading out to try and find Alex's house. She thanked Jodie for giving her such detailed directions. As she drove down the road she wondered if Jodie had sent her on a wild goose chase because all the houses were the size of the mansions in Newport if not bigger. Coming to the end of the road Marissa seen a huge house, that looked like it's back yard was the ocean, just as she was about to turn around she double checked the piece of paper and noticed that the address on the house matched that of the one on the piece of paper. The house was huge, at least the size of Caleb's, deciding to check it out instead of turning around Marissa shove up the driveway and parked her car.

She sat in her car for about ten minutes before finally getting the nerve to get out. Slowly she walked towards the front door, part of her hoping Alex would answer the door, part of her hoping that this was after all the wrong house. Letting the adrenaline take over her she rang the door bell and waited.

A few moments later she heard the door starting to open. Her head told her to run in the opposite direction but her feet felt like they were cemented to the ground, her heart began to race and before she knew it the door to the Kelly Mansion was open.

A/N: Thank you for the reviews they keep me inspired to write and I'm glad you like it. Please keep the reviews coming I love them, and hopefully I'll have the next chapter up soon.