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"I'll have a rum and coke please," ordered a brunette, "but hold the rum. Oh, could you make it a diet coke, too?"

"Taylor, wouldn't it have been easier to just say diet coke?" asked the blonde bartender.

"I did, didn't I?" Taylor turned to look at her boyfriend. "Ryan, isn't that what I said?"

"Yes, sweetie," replied Ryan.

"See!" exclaimed the brunette. "Alex, you should probably get your hearing check. I mean, it's pretty vital to your job, you know."

Alex looked at the girl completely dumbfounded. She looked over at Ryan. He just shook his and gave her a look that told her to just go with it. "I'll get on it. Be right back."

"So….," started Ryan, "did you get any letters?"

"No," the girl sighed. She felt defeated.

Ryan hated to see his girlfriend so down. "Don't worry," he said, trying to comfort her. "It really is still early. I haven't gotten any yet. Give it another week or so."

Taylor knew what Ryan was saying was true, but she couldn't help but worry. "I know. I just…I can't help it." She cupped his cheek. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"For being so patient with me. I know I haven't been the most pleasant person to be around these days."

"I haven't noticed." Taylor couldn't help but smile at her boyfriend's words. She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss.

Unfortunately, their kiss coincided with Alex's return. Alex couldn't help but feel a little envious. She was happy for the two, and she was glad that they were still going strong. Still, the feeling of envy was still there. "Get a room," she joked. "Here's your order-rum and coke, minus the rum. Sorry, it took me so long. I had a couple of orders ahead of yours."

"Alex, you were gone for like a minute, if that," replied Taylor. She went to sip her drink. "And it's diet too! Alex your skills are so awesome!"

Alex just shook her head. "Thanks."

"So Alex," started Taylor, "has Marissa received any letters yet?"

"What kind of letters?" asked a voice from behind. The three turned in the direction of the voice.

"Marissa!" shouted Taylor. She went a grabbed Marissa into a hug. "How are you? I feel like I haven't seen you in forever!"

"I'm good," replied the brunette, "but I would be better if you would let go and let me breathe."

"Oh, sorry." Taylor released her grip on Marissa and gave her a sheepish smile.

"No big. So what kind of letters were you talking about?"

"College acceptance letters"

"Oh. I don't know. Did I, Alex?"

It took a second for the blonde to realize that Marissa was talking to her. "Oh….um, not yet."

"See, there really was no point in my applying."

"It's still early, Marissa," responded Alex, echoing Ryan's earlier words.

"Whatever," dismissed the brunette. "Actually, I was wondering if I could talk to you for a bit, Alex."

The bartender couldn't hide her surprise at Marissa's word. "Um, let me just tell Mandy. I'll only be a sec." With that, she left.

"So where's Summer and Seth?" asked Marissa.

"They should be here soon," answered Ryan, "if they aren't already. What are you up to tonight?"

"Just hanging with Volchok and whatnot."

"Oh!" exclaimed Taylor. "We totally need to hang out soon. The six of us. It's been too long! What do you say Marissa? Come on, it'll be fun."

"Uh…" started Marissa.

"Come on!" continued the brunette. "I'll get Summer on you, and you know you don't want that!"

Marissa couldn't help but give a slight chuckle. "No, I don't, but I'm kind of busy this week. Maybe next week?"

"Sure," replied Taylor, "but don't think I'll forget. I'll call you, and so will Summer."

"Well, I'll have to talk with Alex about it. I mean, she's the busier one-with work and all."

"Ask me what?"

Marissa turned to see Alex returning. "Nothing. So are you free?"

"Yea," answered the blonde, "but let's hurry. I don't want to be gone too long, in case it gets slammed again."

"Well, you girls go chat," stated Ryan. "We're going to see if we can find Summer and Seth. They should be here by now."

"Okay, and hey Taylor?" Alex said. "Don't worry. They'll come." Taylor couldn't help but smile. She leaned over and gave the blonde a quick hug. "Thanks," she whispered.

"Alright, break it up," joked Ryan. "See you guys." He looked at Alex, grateful for what she said to Taylor. "Thanks, Al."

"Anytime." Alex waved goodbye to them. She turned towards Marissa. "Let's go to my office." The two made their way into the blonde's office. Alex went to shut door. She turned around to face a rather disgruntled looking Marissa. "What's up?"

"Al?" questioned Marissa. "Since when did you and Ryan get so chummy?" Alex just shrugged her shoulders. She wasn't exactly sure either. However, if she had to guess, she'd say it was probably when he paid her a visit many months ago.

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"Hey"

Alex looked up to see who had spoken. She was surprised to find that Ryan was the owner of the salutation. "Hey." Both just stood there as an awkward silence overcame them. "So...what can I get you?" Alex asked, breaking the silence.

"Just water, please." answered Ryan.

Alex got him his water and went to check on her other customers, not that there were many.

"Slow night, huh?" the boy said when Alex came back.

"Yep." Alex wasn't trying to be rude, but Ryan wasn't exactly her favorite person.

"So, I've been meaning to talk to you," started Ryan. "I just haven't had the time. Plus, I'm a little scared of you."

This surprised the blonde. "Of me? Why?"

"Well, for one thing, I know for a fact that you are surprisingly strong." Ryan thought back to that night when Alex nearly took his head off with a beer can. That night was so long ago. "I just...I just wanted to apologize." Alex gave him a questioning look. "For teaming up with Julie and all."

"Ryan, that was like almost a year ago."

"I know. Like I said, I've been busy. Listen, I know that you are tolerating me for Marissa's sake. That's very big of you." Alex simply shrugged off his compliment. "I just want you to know that you have nothing to worry about. I'm not going to try to steal her away from you. I also know that while you encouraged her to continue our friendship, it's not something that's easy to see. Especially, since she seems to increasingly spend more time with me."

This angered the blonde. What Ryan was saying true, but he didn't need to rub it in her face. "Look, if you've come over here to gloat-"

"No!" interrupted the sandy haired boy. "I don't know why Marissa's doing that. I just want you to know that nothing's going on. We're just friends. Also...I've been thinking of making myself less available for Marissa."

"Why?"

"Like I said, I know it's not easy to see your girl hanging with her ex all the time."

"You don't need to do me any favors, Ryan."

"I know. I'm just letting you know what I'm doing. If it happens to benefit you also, then so be it."

Alex looked at Ryan. She wasn't sure what to make of his gesture, but if it meant that Marissa would spend less time with him, then she'd take it. Another wave of silence fell upon them. However, it wasn't as uncomfortable this time.

Ryan decided to break the silence. "So I'm going to go. How much do I owe you for the water?"

"Don't worry about it. It's on me."

"Thanks." Alex simply nodded. "I'll see you around, Alex."

A truce was reached between them that night. Ryan was true to his word also. He stayed away from Marissa as much as he could without making her suspicious. He even spent some nights with Alex at the Bait Shop on its slower nights. They both knew that Marissa wouldn't think to look for him there-a fact that saddened Alex. It was during one of these nights that Alex mentioned Taylor's interest in him. It wasn't long after that when they got together. It was also during these nights that they bonded...well, their version of bonding. They didn't talk much, but Alex appreciated what he was doing. And when he and Taylor got together, their friendship seemed inevitable. Taylor wouldn't accept her boyfriend and friend not being friends with each other. It was a little awkward at first, but eventually Alex found that hanging out with Ryan wasn't that bad. Plus, Taylor was always so upbeat and happy, and neither one of them wanted to be responsible for taking that away from her. Eventually, she found that she even had fun hanging out with her and Ryan. Of course, Alex chalked that up to Taylor's contagious personality. They finally had something else-someone else- in common besides Marissa.

Ryan's little plan did work. Marissa actually did spend more time with Alex. She didn't even mind being Marissa's second choice. All that mattered was that she got to spend more time with the girl. Unfortunately, that didn't last too long. A few months later, she met her new friends, and everything just went even further downhill from there.

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Alex shook herself from her thoughts. I really have to stop spacing out.

"Alex, are you listening to me?" questioned Marissa.

"Of course."

Marissa looked at Alex skeptically and rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She walked towards Alex and put her hands on her waist. "So, my birthday's a little less than a month away," she said as she pulled Alex closer to her.

Alex tried to control her breathing. She missed the brunette, and having Marissa hold her so this close felt wonderful. "Yea, the big 1-8. You excited?"

"I guess," replied the brunette. Her eyes were downcast and she was playing with one of Alex's belt loops. "To be honest, I'm more excited about the party aspect of it." Marissa looked up to meet Alex's eyes. "You are throwing me a party, right?"

"I…."

"You mean, you're not?!" Marissa let go of Alex and went to sit on the desk. "That's just great!"

"Marissa, don't be mad-"

"Mad?" interrupted the brunette. "I'm not mad. I'm royally pissed!"

"Marissa, I just-"

"You just what?" shouted Marissa. "I mean, you're my girlfriend, Alex. You'd think my own girlfriend would want to celebrate my birthday, right? Of all the girls I had to end up with, I end up with the one that feels my birthday is not worthy of celebrating. That's just great. It's fucking fantastic, I tell ya!"

Alex mentally counted to ten. She was started to get slightly irritated, and the last thing she needed was to snap at Marissa when she was already pissed. "I just…."

"You said that already. You just what?!"

Alex let out a sigh. "I just wasn't sure if I'd see you." Alex noticed Marissa's face softening. "I figured you'd be spending it with Volchok and crew. I mean, I want to, and I've thought about it. I even thought about throwing you a surprise party, but I quickly threw that idea out the window. The possibility of getting you to spend the day with me so I could take you wasn't exactly high."

Marissa got up and started to walk towards Alex. She cupped one of her cheeks. "Of course, I'd want to spend it with you." Her voice was gentle. "You're my girlfriend, Alex. Who else would I want to spend it with?"

Alex's heart soared. This was the side of Marissa that she missed. She wished she could find a way to keep her this way. She leaned in and gave Marissa a kiss. Marissa deepened it instantly. She pushed Alex backwards until her back hit the door. Marissa's lips soon left Alex's, only to latch themselves to her neck. Alex let out a moan. She definitely missed this. She let her hands get lost in the brunette's hair. One of Marissa's hands found its way under Alex's shirt. Alex was too caught up in the sensations of Marissa's lips to notice this at first. It wasn't until she felt Marissa's hand cup one of her breast that she snapped back into reality. "Marissa," she panted, "we can't."

"But we can"

"Marissa…"

"Are you really going to tell me that you don't this?" Marissa pressed her body into Alex, causing her the blonde to moan once more. "That you don't want me?"

"Of course, I do. I just-"The blonde's words were cut off by Marissa's lips.

Somehow, Alex found the strength to pull her lips away from Marissa's. "Baby, we're packed tonight, and Mandy's out there all alone."

Marissa stepped back from Alex. "So you're here kissing your girlfriend and you have another girl on your mind?"

Alex took a step towards Marissa, but the brunette only took another step back. "Marissa, I want to, but I can't shake off my responsibilities. You saw how busy we are tonight. We can continue this after I get off work."

"Something tells me you won't be that lucky. I have to go. Appearances to make, people to see. Make sure my party doesn't suck." With that, Marissa walked past Alex without so much a glance her way. A second later, Alex heard the sound of her door being slammed-signifying the departure of her girlfriend. Alex stood in her office for another minute, composing herself. She felt her tears coming, but once again, she wouldn't let them be shed. After she felt composed enough, she took a deep breath. She opened her door and headed out-ready to face to long night ahead of her.