Chocolate Chip Pancakes and Conversations

Pancake House

After Alex had finished taking a shower and Marissa had changed the girls headed out to the local pancake house, for pancakes of course.

After finding a cozy table in the corner of the restaurant, it took the girls barely any time at all before they knew that they wanted it. Soon, there was a short stack of chocolate chip pancakes and one with blueberry pancakes.

"So um, Alex who was that guy that came up to you on the beach?" Marissa asked before taking a bite of her pancakes.

Alex looked up at her girlfriend, swallowing her food she answered, "Oh that was just an old friend, from back in L.A. he was just checking up on me." She didn't know if she wanted to get into all the details about her once star studded soccer career, that she had given up when she left her parents.

"Oh, isn't it kind of out of his way?" Marissa asked trying not to pry.

"Uh yeah I guess, he had some business to take care of though, we really didn't talk much about details."

Marissa dropped the subject seeing as though Alex was more than trying to avoid it at all costs. About a half an hour later the girls finished eating and decided to head back to the apartment.

Apartment

Almost the minute the girls got to the apartment the phone started to ring. Causing Alex to stumble to find the it under the clothes and magazines. "Hello," her face fell, "this was supposed to be my day off," now Marissa's face fell, "okay fine, yeah I'll be in later, as in not right now and not anytime soon, but I'll be there eventually. Bye" She hung up and tossed the phone onto the couch.

"Work?" Alex nodded, "but don't worry I'm not going anywhere just yet after our little fight last night I'm not letting you go that easy, and did I mention how sorry I was about losing my temper?" She placed a soft kiss on the brunettes lips causing Marissa to smile. "Hmm I think you might have mentioned something about it."

The two then snuggled up on the couch and decided to watch some old black and white movie marathon on t.v. About half way through the second movie Marissa fell asleep, deciding that the girl must have been really tired, Alex turned off the t.v. and just laid there with the brunette in her arms contemplating what to do about her sudden proposal and thinking about "you know who" along with the other friends she left behind. They weren't all like Jodie, in fact most of the were the complete opposite and didn't like Jodie too much.

For Alex the hardest part about leaving wasn't her parents, she was glad to get them out of her life or at least out of her way. It was leaving the people that she was so close too and that was the main reason that why she left she didn't keep contact. It was selfish, yes, but it was the only that she could handle and it, it wasn't fair but that's just how it had to be. Finally Alex got up, Marissa still fast asleep, she crept into their room and retrieved the business card.

When she got back into the living room to get the phone Marissa stirred. Alex sat back down on the floor and leaned against the couch. Contemplating for a few more minutes whether she should call Danny or not, once again thinking about the people she left behind. How would they feel about her returning? In the end she realised it didn't matter she had missed playing and she missed them, two years was a long time to be away from the people you cared about. She started dialing the number but when she looked at the business card the four last numbers were smudged and she couldn't make them out. Alex cursed being stupid enough to put the card into her wet shorts.

As if on cue Marissa woke up, and immediately noticed Alex's lack of presence on the couch. "Hey what are you sitting down there for?" She sat up and rubbed her eyes in that cute way that made Alex smile.

"I just had to make a call, but I should get ready for work, walk me?" Alex stood up and then put her hand out to help the brunette up. "Sure I'd love to, you shouldn't have let me sleep we were supposed to spend quality time together." Alex laughed "well I guess you're just going to have to owe one then".

Sunday and Monday seemed like a blur to Alex, and today was the day she had to make her choice if she wanted to play she'd have to drive down to L.A. and let Danny know in person. She thought about it all day and she still hadn't told Marissa about it, she wasn't really sure why she just hadn't. As fate would have it Marissa called Alex at lunch and told her that there was some emergency and Summer needed Marissa's help, which led Alex to believe it had to do with Seth, and in that case Summer needed all the help she could get.

Once four o'clock rolled around Alex had made up her mind. She got up off the couch, put down her beer and went into her room. For a few minutes she rummaged through the closet, finally finding what she had been looking for. A fair size blue and white gym bag. Opening the bag Alex found what she was looking for, a pair of cleats, not her favourite pair she had left those behind when she left, and she'd have to buy a new pair but the pair she had would do. Also finding a pair of blue soccer socks that barely fit and her old shin guards Alex closed the bag. She changed quickly, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and headed for her jeep.

Tait Mackenzie Soccer Fields, L.A.

Daniel Edwards went into his office, checking his messages one last time. "Damn!" he said as he realised there were no messages on his machine. Walking out of the building and onto the field where several players were warming up and others arriving, he looked on pleased with the team that he had watched grow up before his eyes.

"Hey Danny," one of the girls ran over to him, "where's this new girl you said might be coming?"

"Hi Riley, I don't think she's going to be able to make it, it's a shame to she's amazing at least last time I see her play. She would have been great in the midfield a real spark plug, but I guess her life is just to busy." He tried to conceal his sadness but the girl caught on.

"Don't worry Danny we'll just do well, we always do, hearts of lions right?" They both laughed.

Parking lot

Traffic had been murder, and she was more then a half hour late. Pulling into the parking lot, she jumped out of her jeep, and quickly put on her shin guards socks, and cleats before pulling her hair back in a pony tail.

There were six fields and all of them were being used, knowing she wouldn't recognize anyone but Daniel she immediately started searching for him, of course he was on the furthest field. Alex started to jog over to where she seen the older man standing. He was watching the team scrimmage, and reading over some of his notes.

"Sorry I'm late coach traffic was a bitch." He turned around with a huge smile on his face.

"Nice of you to join us Miss. Kelly. What do I owe this lovely surprise?"

Alex thought for a moment, "well I would have called but I put your card into the pocket of my wet shorts, needless to say the number was gone for the most part by the time I got home, and I wanted to play some soccer. Not to mention I think it's time for me to face my demons, or rather ex best friends." Alex looked out onto the field, some girls she had never seen before and others seen very familiar but she couldn't tell who was who, everyone had changed so much.

"They are still your friends Alex, they love you know as much as they did back then, they don't talk about you at all but every time we won a big game or a tournament they'd kiss there hand a point to the sky. The same way you used to, and they do it to honour you." Alex was still looking out at the field, she didn't realise how much she missed this game, but she was also looking for someone else other than just her friends. "She's not here Alex."

Alex looked back at her coach, "I wasn't looking.." he gave her a look, "okay I was so do you want to tell me how she is now?" He blew his whistler, "Sub! Cassie your out."

As the girl ran to the sidelines Alex ran in, tapping the girls hand who had just come off. Almost immediately Alex got the ball and at first it was a little unnatural to have the ball at her feet again but she quickly regained her composure. Watching from the other end of the field the two girls Alex had mentioned earlier looked on. "Damn she's pretty good, Chlo, she kind of moves like…" "Riley don't say it, but yeah she is pretty good, and she does move a lot like her."

Both girls looked at each other, "No it couldn't be." They both said in unison as they looked over at their coach who had a huge smile on his face. They continued to watch the girl as she passed and got the ball back, deaking out some of the less experienced players.

"If she's this good now and Danny says she hasn't played in awhile imagine how could she'll be once she gets back into soccer shape."

"I know we might actually be able to play our natural positions again, could you imagine that Chloe we haven't done that in a really long time."

"Riley I think you've had one to many concussions, defence is my natural position." Both girls laughed, snapping their attention back to the game when they heard the whistle blow. Looking up they seen their team with their hands up in the air, the new girl had scored. Hearing the whistle again the girls looked over at their coach, "Okay ladies get some water and hit the showers."

Half the team had never seen Alex before and were stunned at how good she was. They came up and introduced themselves, and told her that they were happy to have her. As she walked to the showers with them she seen a small group of girls go to the sidelines and talk to Danny.

That's got to be them, I don't think I could face them right now. "Hey I'll catch up with you guys later I think I'm going to work out a bit more." The girls nodded and headed to the showers. Alex spotted a stray ball laying on the grass, dropping her water she started to dribble up the field, getting reacquainted with everything. Not realising that there were people looking at her she continued her little display trying to remember all the moves she used to be able to do.

"So ladies what do you think?" Daniel asked his senior team members, the ones he coached since they were about five, now 18.

"From what we seen from where we were she has some promise." One of the other girls looked at Chloe. "Promise that girl has skill, and a lot of it, she looks kind of familiar too." The girls and Daniel talked for a bit longer before he told them to hit the showers before turning and heading towards his office.

Riley and Chloe were on their way to the showers with the others when they noticed the girl still playing with the ball. "You know I hate to say it Ri but she reminds me of Alex."

The other girl nodded, "Yeah I know, it's probably just the blonde hair we just should go take our showers and leave, it's gotta be weird though coming into an environment where all the girls have been together for far too long."

"I agree, but I really have to go test to study for, hey Meg, Nessa, go make nice with the new girl she screamed at two other girls."

"Hey easy killer, practise is done. I'm Meghan and this is Vanessa."

"We just wanted to say welcome to the team if you need anything don't be scared to ask one of us."

"Thanks," she continued to look down at the ball she was playing keep up with.

"Not so talkative I see, it's cool though we'll have you being loud and crazy in no time." Meghan laughed at Vanessa's comment. "We should hit the showers though, school tomorrow, oh joy." The two turned and started to walk away.

Before they got very far Meghan turned around, "hey killer you got a name?"

"Yeah, my name's Alex." She looked up.

"No way in hell! Alex as in Alex Kelly." Vanessa stuttered while Meghan stood there speechless. "

"Yeah not just anyone can move like that, and after that workout I'm starting to wonder if even I can. So how have you two crazy cats been?" She smiled.

Finally snapping out of their gaze the two girls ran over and gave Alex a huge hug. "We've missed your psycho ass around here, I can't believe it your back and its good to have you we need you this season." Vanessa gave Alex another hug.

After talking for a few minutes all three girls walked into the change room, most of the girls were almost ready to leave. Riley and Chloe were just putting on their shoes and talking to a few of the other girls when Vanessa and Meghan walked in with Alex.

"Yo dirt bags look what the cat dragged in." All the girls looked up and didn't pay much attention thinking that Meghan was referring to Vanessa.

Vanessa laughed, "Not me you idiots, meet your new and former team mate for some of us, Alex Kelly. Alex meet the ladies."

Some mouths dropped, and shock was written on the faces of the old and new players. Alex just stood there not knowing what to say, and knowing pretty sure sorry wasn't good enough. Alex scanned the room, "they're back there in the corner," Vanessa whispered in Alex's ear. Alex nodded in thanks before heading over to the corner.

"Mind if I sit down here?" she pointed to a spot directly in between the two girls. Shock still on their faces, "I'm sorry for not calling, or visiting, or any of that and," before she could finish Alex was brought into a huge hug, by the two girls. "We missed you two Alex."

The girls walked out to their cars after catching up for about a half hour. "Well this is mine, so I guess I'll see you guys next week at practise." She through her stuff into the back of the jeep.

"Why don't you come down in a couple of days we can all hang out." Chloe said giving Alex a hug. "I'd love to but I can't I have to work, but you guys should come up and see the place its awesome."

"Maybe we just will, call us would you." Riley gave Alex a hug before her and Chloe walked across the parking lot to Riley's red convertible.

Next Day

Marissa walked into the apartment to find it rather quiet, no music, no t.v. no Alex? Walking into the bedroom she spotted a blonde spot creeping from underneath the covers. Climbing into bed next to the blonde Marissa felt her stir, before looking up at her groggily, hey your home early I didn't expect you until this afternoon, I know how you and Summer like to party all night."

"Hun, it is the afternoon, did you go out with some friends last night or something? It's not like you to sleep in so late unless you're hung over."

"Yeah I did, met up with some people I used to know, but I'm not hung over, just tired, So why don't you come here and lay down with me instead of just sitting there because I'm not getting up anytime soon." Marissa giggled as the blonde pulled her down, and giving her a quick kiss before closing her eyes once again.

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A/N: I'll try to update as soon as I can but I'm in university and my midterms are coming up so I can't promise I'll be able to post as quickly as I am now. Please RnR though and tell me what you think I love the feedback.