CHAPTER 7
Sneaky Little Minx
Pulling herself out of her stupor, Alex walks back to the house. Inside, just like any other day, Seth was already up watching tv and eating a bowl of cereal.
'Hey.' Alex plops down next to him.
'Hey, how was your night after you took Marissa home?' He wiggles his eyebrows.
'I didn't take her home, she stayed here.'
'I know. How was it?'
'How was what?'
'Oh, come on, Alex. I'm not getting any, so I've decided to live vicariously through you. I would have chose Ryan, but lets be honest, I've gotten more action than him.'
Alex lets out an annoyed sigh. 'Why is everybody always ragging on my brother? And I doubt very much you've gotten more than him. He may not have had much, but it's more than you.'
'If you say so.'
'I do.'
Jodie comes in from the kitchen, putting cream cheese on a bagel.
'Hey, whore.'
'Hey, slut.' Alex greets.
'Hey, geek.'
'Hey, Jodie.' Seth waves.
'When did you get here?'
'You were outside looking like a doofus, and wouldn't react when I blew the horn. You know I don't stick around when weird shit like that starts happening.'
'You saw The Exorcist years ago, and it still has you freaked,' Alex shakes her head. ' And you call me soft?'
'Pft, screw that. There's a fine line between soft and cautious, stupid and brave. Besides, I look far too good to risk marring this beautiful face. Anyway, how was last night?'
'Why does everybody keep asking that? I mean, damn, it's starting to irk me.'
'Irk? Were you born in the 50's, Alex? 'Cause nobody says that word.'
Seth nods. 'I'm afraid she's right, Cuz.'
Alex lets out another annoyed sigh. 'Look, nothing happened with me and Marissa last night. I'm going back to the pool house now to get some more sleep. Don't bother me, unless it's something good.' She walks to the pool house.
'Something happened.' Seth says.
'No doubt about it.'
'Alex.' Jodie shakes the sleeping girl.
'No, Mommy. I don't like eggplant.' Alex mumbles in her sleep. Jodie hits her, waking her up.
'I am not old!'
'What?'
'You called me mom.'
'My mom's not that old! And didn't I tell you not to bother me?'
'Yeah, but Marissa's here.' Alex instantly gets up and runs to the house.
Jodie shakes her head. 'If the girl wasn't my best friend, I'd kick her ass for being such a sissy.'
In the living room Seth has his arms wrapped around Summer trying to teach her how to play his latest video game. Marissa is sitting to the side, laughing at Summer's complete inability to do anything her boyfriend instructs. Alex sits next to her.
'Hey.'
'Hi.'
'I think maybe we need to talk?'
'Okay.' Marissa agrees. They look towards the other two expectantly. For once, Seth is the first to pick up the hint and walks away. Summer stares back and when Alex makes a shooing gesture, she shakes her head.
'Oh, I'm not leaving. Something happened last night and obviously you want to talk about it, and I want to know. So, go ahead.' Rolling her eyes, Marissa takes the blonde's hand and leads them to the pool house. When Alex sees that Jodie is laying on the couch playing her PS2, she clears her throat.
'Hey, guys. Hi Marissa. You know, if you've come in here for a nooner, go ahead. I'll listen, but I promise not to peek.' Alex throws a shoe at her, and barely misses.
'Whoa, that almost hit me!'
'I can try again if you like.'
'No need to get violent. Besides, you know I can take you.'
'Get out!'
'I'm gone.' Jodie raises her hands and leaves.
The girls sit on the couch staring at each other a few for long minutes.
'So, now that we've done the cliched awkwardness, did you want to talk about something specific?' Marissa asks.
'You know what I want to talk about.'
'Last night and this morning?'
'Yeah, I mean, last night you were really drunk. Do you even-' She suddenly stops and narrows her eyes. 'To be hung over you look really good. And this morning when you woke me, you were all smiles. I don't know what type of constitution you have, but I'm jealous.'
Marissa simply smiles at her and Alex continues.
'Of course, it wouldn't matter either way if you weren't really drunk.'
'How did you figure it out?'
'Aside from what I just said? We were never more than 10 minutes away from each other whole night. Granted, I didn't figure it out until just now.'
'Well, I didn't really know how to tell you and I thought it would be easier that way.' Alex gives her a weird look.
'Yeah, that made sense in my head. The point is, I like you and I want to be your girlfriend, and from what Jodie told me, you feel the same way.'
'What?'
'What, what?'
'The Jodie part. What did she tell you?'
'Stuff.'
Alex shakes her head. 'You're not gonna tell me, are you?'
'No, so... why are you being so weird?'
'Hmm?'
'You're never this passive. Did I do something wrong?' At this point Marissa begins to worry.
'No! Of course not.' Alex's sudden assertiveness makes Marissa smile once again. 'It's just that, after so long, I'm finally getting what I want and I don't know how to act, what to do.'
'A first good step would be to kiss me.' Alex smiles and strokes the other girl's face and Marissa mimics her, before they slowly lean in and their lips connect. Gliding her free hand across the taller girl's clothed back, Alex tugs slightly so that they are laying and Marissa is half on top of her.
'Hey, are you-- argh, my eyes.' They look up to see Ryan with his hand over his eyes and his back turned.
'Haven't you heard of knocking? I know our parents taught you better.'
'Don't worry. Next time I'll send Seth in first.'
'That'll be all we need.'
'You're cousin worries me sometimes.' Marissa admits.
Alex turns and rubs her arms. 'Don't worry, I'll protect you from him.'
'Aw, you're so sweet.' Sensing they are about to start kissing again, Ryan quickly jumps between them.
'We shouldn't keep the others waiting.'
Reluctantly they follow him out of the pool house and to their friends. Alex immediately tackles Jodie when she sees her.
'You knew, didn't you?' Alex asks with false anger.
'About what?'
'Last night with Marissa.'
'No, I just know something happened.'
Hearing a soft 'uh oh', Alex turns to see Summer getting up and inching away. She stalks towards the shorter girl until her back is against the wall. Summer puts up her hands to stop the other girl.
'Now, Alex, remember we're all friends here.' Suddenly, she is lifted off the floor, being spun around in circles.
'Thank you, thank you, thank you!' Summer stares at her still a little afraid before shrugging.
'You know, if you really wanted to thank me, I haven't seen the Prada summer collection yet.'
Alex rolls her eyes and places her back on the ground.
'And if it was up to me, you never would.' Alex sits behind Marissa and kisses her cheek before wrapping her arms around her. Summer sits on Seth's lap and snuggles into his chest.
Ryan and Jodie meet each other's eyes and Ryan looks as if he's asking should they be each other's 'cuddle buddy'. At the same time they answer the unspoken question.
'Naw.' Jodie sits next to him and throws an arm over his shoulder.
'You wanna go with me and pick up girls tonight?'
'Yeah, sure.'
'Cool, but fair warning; don't be too jealous when I get more than you.'
