"So my little Summer, what did you manage to find out?" Seth asked, coming to sit beside her on the floor of her room, an arm wrapping around her shoulders.

"Well, Cohen this whole thing has to do with Alex."

"Alex?" Seth said, disbelieving. "As in my ex Alex who then dated Marissa who in turn broke Alex's heart? That Alex?"

Summer nodded. "Yes, Cohen that Alex."

"Huh."

"Huh? That's it? That's all your brain and come up with?"

Seth nodded. "Yes, because that was a twist I was not expecting. But it does explain why Ryan told me to leave it alone."

"He did what?"

"Oh, did I forget to mention that?" Seth said, trying to put on as innocent a look as he could but was only met with a glare from his beloved. "What? We both knew that something was wrong with them."

"That's not the point."

"Summer, what does it matter? No matter what the two of us would've gotten in between this sooner or later."

Summer watched Seth, trying to stay mad but finding that she couldn't. "All right. So what do we do?"

"ComiCon is this weekend in L.A." A smile played on his lips. "We could use that as an excuse to go to L.A."

Eyes narrowing, Summer watched her boyfriend. "And of course there's no self-serving reason in that scenario."

"Of course there is that's why I suggested using it as our excuse."

"I am not avoiding the subject, Jodie," Alex repeated, picking up her pace as the two did inventory for the club.

"Please. You're ducking this subject like a bobble head."

Alex sighed. "I don't see why you just can't leave this alone."

"Yea well I don't understand why you just won't admit it," she said, placing both hands on her hips.

"There's nothing to admit."

"Bullshit."

"And even if it was true, it wouldn't matter. Her mother was right, I was just the latest instrument of torment for her. I was just a filler until her and Ryan decided to finally get back together. I was just…just…" Alex felt the tears well in her eyes. "Nothing."

Jodie watched Alex's shoulders sink and noticed that she was blinking back tears. "Oh Alex, come here."

Normally Alex wouldn't have agreed, but when Jodie opened her arms to her, she couldn't resist. Damn it! When did I become such a softy!? She thought, but didn't pull out of the comforting embrace.

"You know what you should do?"

"What?"

"Go back to the O.C. and get your girl back."

Alex looked to Jodie as if she had just sprouted another head. "What?"

"You heard me."

"That's…that's…insane." Alex pulled away from Jodie. "Utterly insane."

"Look, either you do it on your own or I'm dragging you down there kicking and screaming and you know I'll do it too."

"You want to help me win Marissa back?"

Jodie smiled lightly. "If it makes you happy then I will, Alex. I want you to be happy and you're not happy. You're miserable…and you're not a good wallower."

"I'm not wallowing." She paused. "Am I?"

"Yes, and it doesn't suit you very well either." Jodie moved back over to her friend, placing an arm around her waist. "C'mon, every girl wants someone to fight for them."

"I did, it backfired."

"No, you fought with Ryan. There's a difference." Jodie laughed lightly. "You need to prove to Marissa that you're willing to make it work, even if that means dealing with her and Ryan's rocky relationship."

With a relenting sigh, Alex nodded. "Fine. I'll see if our boss will give us any time off."

"I'll come with you. You're going to need reinforcements."

A/N: Ok, I know this is a short chapter, but I'll make up for it. I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you to all my reviewers!