CHAPTER FOUR: cheating on you

Marissa put her keys in the ignition and sped out of the driveway. She had snuck into her (Summer's) house, covered in paint about an hour ago, at 5:30, and she was finally leaving an hour later. Marissa was supposed to be getting ready for a party with Summer at seven, but she wanted to go see Alex first. Why she wanted to she couldn't tell you. Marissa turned left off her street, going toward Alex and Alyssa's, and Kate's, apartment. Ten or so minutes later she pulled up next to it. The door was open so she walked in.

"Alex." She called, looking around. "Hey Alex!"

"Hold up!" Marissa heard a voice call. She walked over to the main room and sat down on a beat-up old sofa. Just being in the same house as Alex as giving her chills, but you know, the good kind of chills. A few minutes later Alex walked into the room, wearing pair of ripped jeans, a Franz Ferdinand shirt, and a pen stuck behind her ear.

"Hey." Alex said, brightening up when she saw that it was actually Marissa sitting on her couch, "What's up?" Marissa shrugged, managing to look relaxed, even though she was fairly sure that she had accidentally eaten a herd of live elephants and they were now having a frat party in her stomach.

"Ryan told me that I was supposed to 'look out' for you, so… if you need anything, just call me." Marissa explained. Alex flopped down on an overstuffed arm chair.

"Same to you." She said. "Oh, and Ryan said he'll be back Sunday at one." They sat there for a bit, both a little uncomfortable and awkward.

"So." Marissa said. "You and Ryan used to date."

"Yeah." Alex answered. "For a few months and all."

"Months?" Marissa asked, surprised. "As in four weeks?"

"Actually, like, um. . " Alex did some figures in her head, "Around 24 weeks."

"Six months!" Marissa was shocked. "He said you dated for, like, a few weeks." Alex laughed.

"That's Ryan for you." Alex said smiling. "Always trying to protect his girlfriend." She and Marissa both shook their heads. Marissa frowned a little.

"Yeah, it gets kind of old after a while." Marissa said, trying to smile.

"Yeah, but you love him, so…" Alex finished for her. Marissa nodded.

"You get it." She said. "Summer just thinks it's sweet. It drives me crazy." She noticed something on the coffee table and quickly changed the subject. "Well, that's, uh, interesting." Marissa tried not to laugh, but failed miserably.

"Yeah." Alex rolled her eyes and grinned at the sound of the other girl's laughter. "Kate's an 'artist'." Alex said with sarcasm, gesturing at the painted sticks in a shot glass that sat on the table. Marissa sat back on the couch, but squealed suddenly and shot up.

"Something bit me!" She said, putting her hand on the small of her back. and practically dancing around the room. Alex started laughing, but stopped when Marissa glared at her. Alex smiled apologetically and crawled over to the sofa to find whatever had 'bit' Marissa. Marissa hung over Alex's shoulder, watching carefully. Alex was having some trouble concentrating with Marissa standing so close. She could feel the brunette's breath in her ear. Alex stopped crawling and sat up a little, unconsciously trying to get closer to Marissa. Marissa leaned close to Alex, inhaling her scent, her lips a centimeter from the blonde's neck.. There was a freckle right behind her ear. She was barely resisting the urge to kiss the older girl right . . .on. . . that. . . freckle. Marissa slowly leaned closer. What the HELL? She thought, quickly pulling away, her heart racing. Alex took a breath as she felt, more than saw Marissa pull away.

"So." Alex said, her voice a little rough. "Let's find that, uh, biting, animal, thing." Alex finished awkwardly. They both moved toward the couch, both on their knees, but this time Marissa kept her distance from the blonde girl. Alex stuck her hand into the seat cushion and pulled out …a…. needle? "Oh, yeah." Alex laughed. "Did I mention that Alyssa was a fashion designer?"

"No!" Marissa said, only half-angry. "You left out that tiny detail." Alex started laughing and Marissa tried to hit her. Alex caught the younger girl's hand and they both stared at each other for a second, blue eyes locked with green. Marissa's hand was burning where Alex was grasping it. Her fingers were soft, her thumb pressing into Marissa's palm. Marissa watched the older girl's eyes flick to her lips and found her eyes on Alex's lips. They both slowly leaned forward. Marissa stopped only centimeters away from Alex's lips. The older girl's eyes were open and Marissa looked into a pair of clear blue eyes that watched her cautiously.

Then Marissa impulsively leaned forward, touching Alex's lips with her own. They stayed that way for a millisecond. Then, Alex moved her lips on Marissa's and brought her other hand up to the brunette's cheek. Alex's body tingled, from the tip of her head, to her toes. Marissa ran her fingers through Alex's hair and returned the kiss, just as fiercely. Marissa was glowing and she grinned into the kiss. Alex smiled back, both of them completely forgetting the world around them. They continued the kiss, kneeling on the carpet, bringing their bodies closer and closer.

"Honey, I'm home!!" Alyssa called as she walked into the room backwards, carrying groceries. Marissa and Alex jumped away from each other faster than you could say "cheater". Alex ran her fingers through her now loose hair and tried not to look at Marissa.

"Hey Lyssa." Alex said huskily, then coughed and talked normally. "Kate's out on the beach."

"Okay." Alyssa said, setting down the bags and looking at the two girls kneeling on the floor suspiciously. "Hey Marissa."

"Hey." Marissa replied, then glanced over at Alex. "So, I'll see you later." Marissa said, walking out. After she'd left Alex walked over to help Alyssa unpack the food.

"What was that all about?" Alyssa asked, nodding her head toward the door that Marissa had just walked out of.

"Just awkward, you know." Alex lied. "With the whole Ryan thing."

"Oh." Alyssa nodded, seeming to buy that excuse. "By the way, are you going to that party tonight?" Alyssa asked, putting some milk in the fridge. "Shit, I forgot the eggs." Alyssa groaned.

"Yeah, I'm going to go." Alex said. "And I'll pick up some eggs later."

"Alright." Alyssa said. "I'm gonna go find Kate." Alex nodded as Alyssa walked out the door. A couple minutes after Alyssa had walked out the door Alex fell onto the couch.

"SHIT!!!!" She yelled as loud as she could.

Marissa jumped into her car and flew out of the neighborhood. 'Shit.' She thought. 'What the fuck am I doing?' She hit the wheel angrily and sped onto the main road. She glanced at the clock. 6:55. Marissa hit the wheel again. She was gonna be late. She swerved into another lane and streaked down the road.