Adjusting to the light, she wasn't as surprised to feel Marissa cuddled into her side, her arm over her stomach again and her head on her shoulder. She didn't think it looked comfortable but Marissa's deep breathing seemed fine. She felt the light brunette slip her hand under her shirt just a bit but it caused her to take in a sharp breath of air causing Marissa to stir a bit but her eyes remained closed. Feeling Marissa's hand move again, her palm pressing into Alex's hip bone and pulling her closer Alex had to remind herself to breathe.

A few minutes later she felt Marissa's fingertips graze along her hip bone making Alex bite her lower lip and close her eyes tightly. When she opened them she looked down and saw Marissa with her eyes barely open. She didn't release Alex from her hold though, she seemed content to stay right where she was but she did stop her hand movement to Alex's gratefulness.

"I have to take Liv out," Alex mumbled using her dog as an excuse to get out of bed.

"Okay," Marissa said tiredly. Alex was happy she didn't push it as she slowly got out of bed once Marissa removed her arm from around her.

"Do you want breakfast before I head to work?" Alex asked looking Marissa over and she had to admit she looked adorable with the sleepiness still evident in her eyes and movements.

"Mmm I wouldn't say no to it," Marissa said as she rolled back over facing Alex.

Nodding to Marissa, Alex let out a low whistle and Liv came bounding over to her. Taking her time going downstairs, she held Liv close to her and descended the steps then set her down to watch her run to the door, opening it for her. She let the dog out and watched her from the door.

It only took a few minutes so Alex leaned against the door way and closed her eyes. She opened her eyes when she immediately felt slightly cold hands glide over her stomach, arms wrapping around her stomach from behind and pull her slightly backwards. Growing tense she looked behind her at a still sleepy Marissa.

"You took my heat away," she said in a whisper, her lips close to Alex's shoulder, making her breath linger on Alex's exposed skin.

Alex shuddered and stepped out of the embrace; again looked at her, slightly hurt as though she could see Alex's walls building back up, stronger and higher than before and possibly with reinforced steel. Taking a step back from Alex, Marissa looked her over, unsure of what to do. Unsure of what to do herself Alex, pivoted towards the door and let out a whistle, Liv bounding inside in seconds.

"Breakfast?" Alex asked, trying to find a safe conversation as she shut the door. Marissa nodded and Alex walked to the kitchen, leaving Marissa and Liv to follow her. Before she got set to making breakfast she grabbed a throw blanket off the couch and offered it to Marissa who took it and sat at her usual stool.

"Omelet and hash browns alright?" she said looking at Marissa who had the blanket wrapped around her shoulders now.

"Great," she said looking at the counter top and then briefly at Alex.

Grabbing herself a diet coke and popping it open she quickly worked on making Marissa the same eggs as before but this time with basic potatoes. She got everything out and within fifteen minutes she had everything on plates and juice in a tall glass for her and a small dab of sour cream on the hash browns with some pepper sprinkled on them.

Looking over the food Marissa said a sweet thank you and grabbed the fork and began to eat happily. Alex grabbed an apple and started to eat that while she gave Liv some of her own dog food and refilled her water bowl. Throwing her apple core into the garbage she excused herself to the upstairs saying she had to get ready for work and asked if Marissa was going to school.

"Yeah," she said after swallowing a large bite. "But I want to wait till you head off to work," she said with a barely noticeable smile.

"Why?" Alex said with confusion.

"I like what you wear to work," Marissa said with a shrug as she picked up her glass of juice and then drank from it, clearly allowing the glass to obstruct any chance at adding further dialog.

"Alright," Alex replied with a frown but headed upstairs for a very quick shower. Grabbing whatever she saw first in her closet she put on dark jeans and a dark blue, almost black v neck shirt and put on the same necklace she wore when Marissa first stayed over. Tying her hair back in a loose pony tail she put on very little make up, mostly a touch of mascara to make her eyes stand out more noticeably and rushed back downstairs in record timing so she wouldn't have to explain to Jodie why she was running late. She looked at Marissa who's jaw dropped just a little and walked into the kitchen.

"Done?" she asked looking at the plate that only had a little remaining on her plate.

"I can't eat anymore, it was delicious though," she said looking at Alex's eyes.

"I'm glad. So…you can pick whatever you want from my closet, but I really need to get going," she said resting her hand on the cool counter tops after she slung her bag over her shoulder. Taking the cues Marissa got up from the seat and made her way upstairs while Alex put the dishes and empty glass in the sink.

"Alex…" Marissa asked over her shoulder, "are you going to be busy tonight? I mean I don't want to take away your time with anything or anyone and I don't want to intrude on any plans…I was just wondering because no one's going to be at my house and I don't really want to be in a big empty house, but you can say no because I could probably stay at Summer's," she said in a rush. Alex just stared at her trying to process everything she said after it sunk in that Marissa was nervous.

"I'm not busy tonight, I have to do a few things but I'll be back by 9:30 so you can come at 10 if you want," she said gently.

"Great," Marissa said quietly and then quickly went upstairs to pick out some clothes. Alex took the opportunity to brush her teeth in the downstairs bathroom and came out as the lengthy, lighter brunette came down with one of the items she wore yesterday but with a pair of Alex's pants on. Liv tried to follow them out the door but Alex said a commanding stay so she sat down on the ground and let them close the door. Once outside Alex got into her jeep and Marissa in her own red car.

"Call me if anything changes," Alex called over to Marissa. Nodding back Marissa started her car and pulled out heading in the opposite direction as Alex.

Work went by smoothly. It was midway through the week so everyone seemed mellow. Jody didn't pick up on anything and she was able to leave earlier than usual. Making her way home she stopped to pick up a bunch of flowers to liven the place a little. Seeing that that only took a few minutes she grabbed some more ice cream, cereal for herself and the few items Jody did not so subtlety text her. She arrived home at five and was happy when Liv came bounding over to her but looked past her into the yard, if you could consider it a yard.

"What Liv? Do you want to go out?" Alex asked her as she set the bags on the counter and began to put the items away while she left the door open for a breeze to come in. Placing the flowers in a dark blue vase she took care of everything else and took Liv out. While she was coming back she got a warning about an incoming call as her phone vibrated.

"Yeah?" she asked in the phone a little nicer than usual since she knew Jody wouldn't call her.

"Alex? Don't you ever say hello?" A teasing voice came out of the device.

"Only in person," she joked back.

"Mmm well…would you mind picking me up from school…I got detention so I let Summer take my car back and now she's busy and so is everyone else but I could call someone else if you're busy," she said in a rush.

"Rissa, inhale, exhale," Alex said teasing her back.

"Okay." She said and paused. "So would you mind?"

"No, I'll be there in a bit, I'm just taking Liv out and I'll meet you out front." She said calmly.

"Oh, bring Liv," Marissa replied happily causing Alex to roll her eyes.

"Yeah Yeah," she said and click her phone shut. Still in her work clothes she locked her door and grabbed her puppy and sat her in the passenger seat. It took her less time than she expected as she parked her jeep to the side of the entrance and walked over to where she saw Marissa who looked really tense from Alex's perspective.

As she rounded a corner, giving her a better view of the front she saw the guy who was at the beach, yelling at her and then leering at her. When Alex saw him grab Marissa and hold her arms tightly she saw Marissa cringe and try to step out of the hold the expression seeing red came to her mind. She was livid, more than livid she wanted to kick this guys head and knock some sense into the bastard. Jogging over to her she stood beside Marissa and said in a commanding, cold tone-Stop. The guy released his hands from Marissa but didn't move back.

"We're talking," he said through his teeth and shoulders square.

"You're done talking." Alex said as her voice grew even more cold, from the corner of her eye she saw Marissa take a step back and move towards Alex and the guy seemed to grow more annoyed, his body language sending off anger. "It's time for you to go," Alex said not breaking her eye contact with this guy. The guy didn't get the hint and he took a step towards Alex.

"This time I'm not wasted," he said as he pulled out another knife behind his back and Alex grew more rigid and really, really angry, possibly the most anger she's ever felt in a long time. Really? This guy and fucking knives. Seriously! She said in her head as she moved Marissa more behind her, afraid to look away from this guy into her eyes.

"Trey stop it!" Marissa screamed from behind her, her fear making her voice almost crack.

Alex was happy no else was around, though she wouldn't mind a cop showing up, even though she generally has an aversion to them. She watched as Trey took a step toward her and Alex got into a sort of defensive, fighting stance. This needs to be over with, now. She said commandingly in her head. Trey made a swing at her with the knife and Alex grabbed onto his wrist, careful to avoid the knife.

She heard Marissa take in a sharp gasp and she twisted Trey's arm around behind his back. She was now positioned behind his back and facing Marissa. He kept his eyes to the ground then looked back over at Alex who had a firm grip on his entire arm. She bent it a little and pulled upwards. If she really wanted she could dislocate his shoulder. He tried to hold onto the knife but she knew this position made it really difficult to grasp anything so she turned his arm and applied a little more pressure making him drop the knife to the ground. She placed her foot on it securely and glanced at Marissa who looked like she was about to cry. God, what a fucking bastard. She thought to herself. This is the last of it.

"You do understand you're not allowed to talk to her again?" Alex asked but clearly commanded in her tone to Trey. He grunted in response and Alex clenched her jaw and pulled up on his elbow a little more making him fall to the ground more. "A clear answer would be best," she said as she pressed her knee into his lower back, digging it into his spine.

"Yeah," he angrily mumbled into the pavement as his breath expelled in a pained gasp.

"Good," she said coldly, without any emotion that resembled anger but was closer to resentment. He tried to break free of her hold again but she only twisted his wrist more and she heard a low snap. Jesus, I did not want to have to do that but he does not take the hint! Applying more pressure on his lower back knowing it would stop him from struggling more she leaned down next to his ear and whispered…

"You're a pathetic waste. It's time for you to leave town," she said and paused. "Unless you want the police involved and since I have this knife here with your prints on it I don't think it'll take much convincing since Marissa saw everything, do you get what I'm saying?" she asked bitterly. He nodded his head against the cement. "You're leaving-tonight." She made perfectly clear.

He again tried to break out of her grasp but she lifted his arm roughly and leaned back down to say in his ear a little louder than before… "Do you want me to dislocate your fucking shoulder?" He shook his head and stopped resisting a little. Slowly getting up, Alex kept much of her weight on her foot that was over the knife. He didn't try to swing at her, instead he slowly got up, looked at Marissa one last time, which made Alex want to punch him, but she clenched a fist and kept her gaze on him. He slowly stepped back and then jogged off without looking back.

A few seconds after she heard a car start and peel away, she let out a frustrated sigh and looked at Marissa who had a mixture of emotions across her face. Anger, sadness, fear, anxiety, worry, relief and a few others Alex couldn't place at the moment.

"Are you okay?" she tried to ask in a calm tone even though she was still very angry herself. Marissa looked at her for a few seconds and then nodded her head. "I mean, I'll be fine," she said quietly. Alex looked her over, her exposed arms looked a little red from where he grabbed her but they wouldn't leave any bruises. Still the marks made her really livid.

"Want to get out of here and go somewhere?" Alex asked somewhat quickly.

"Yeah, your place?" She asked wearily.

"Sure…let me just…" Alex said and trailed off as she took her shirt off, leaving her in a dark blue tank top. Bunching up the shirt in her hand she bent down and picked up the knife, mindful of closing it and kept it in the shirt as she walked with Marissa to her jeep, noticing that Marissa had become gravely quite.

When they got to the car Alex placed her shirt behind her seat and watched as Marissa was surprised to see Liv. It was the first time she saw her smile since she came to pick her up. She was happy Liv was a nice diversion. Opening the door Liv jumped up and placed her paws on Marissa's stomach as Marissa pet and rolled her face between her palms. Then picked her up and got in, setting the puppy on her lap. Buckling in, Alex looked over the campus and was content that no one had seen the fight since it was completely desolate. B

Backing out and heading towards her apartment Alex kept looking at Marissa who seemed content in giving Liv attention, but there was some tension underneath her attempt at seeming fine. Occasionally she would frown and bite her lip and when Alex focused on the road she could feel Marissa's gaze on her. Not wanting to push Marissa into divulging any information she decided to wait until they got to her apartment, for the light brunette to feel more relaxed or possibly after everything has sunk in and processed she'll tell her.

They didn't talk much through the ten minute car ride as the calm voices of Au Revoir Simone and then Azure Ray played through her I-pod. Arriving at their destination Alex switched off her iPod, looked at Marissa who picked up Liv in her arms and her bag and then followed her to the door once Alex shut everything off and slammed her door. Unlocking her apartment, she let Marissa step in first and walked in slowly. Luckily she wasn't right behind her, otherwise she would have ran unto her when Marissa abruptly turned around. Squinting at Alex, Marissa frowned and looked like she was about to say something.

"Yes?" Alex asked skeptically. Marissa frowned a little more but set Liv down on the ground who tracked over to her bowl, waiting to be fed.

"You lied," Marissa said with her hands on her hips.

"About what?" Alex asked honestly confused.

"You lied about how you got cut on the beach!" She said raising her voice. Oh hell. Someone needs to hit me. Marissa looks good even when she's angry. Where's Jodie to slap me when I need her? Alex asked trying to suppress a smile that was beginning to form due to her train of thought.

"Did you want me to tell you and have you worry?" Alex replied calmly. Marissa looked off to the side, bite down on her lower lip and looked back into Alex's eyes, both already knowing the answer, but being stubborn Marissa wasn't done yelling.

"He could have killed you!" She said, her voice rising again. Alex shook her head and Marissa narrowed her eyes.

"No. He couldn't, only by the off chance that he did hurt me and it was a scratch," Alex said crossing her arms in front of her stomach. Marissa's eyes went wide then she began pacing.

"I can't have you keep defending me. What if you weren't there? He's going to come back and…" Marissa said as she walked back and forth as Alex looked on worried. Gently grabbing Marissa's arm Alex pulled Marissa slowly into her and wrapped her arm around her waist and her other arm around her back, forcing Marissa to stand still as she rubbed her lower back trying to sooth the tension out of the taller girl. Alex felt Marissa sigh into her and her body press closer to her as Marissa's arms wrapped around her shoulder. She kept making small circles on her lower back and she said in her ear rather authoritatively, "He's not going to bother you," and then she felt Marissa hold her tighter.

"No. He's…he's Ryan's brother. He's not going to leave. He has a reason to stay." She said into Alex's shoulder, her breathe grazing Alex's collar bone. Alex pulled away and looked at Marissa shocked.

"He's Ryan's brother?" She asked trying to control her voice. Marissa could only nod as Alex moved a few inches away from her, making Marissa drop her arms from around her shoulders and hold herself making her look unsure and bare. Alex instantly felt bad for moving away from her but she couldn't help by the information. Suddenly she felt a wave of exhausted hit her, the adrenaline leaving her body. She rubbed her forehead and pressed her fingertips against her temple.

"Doesn't matter, he's leaving town so you won't have to see him again," she said waving her hand in front of has as though she pushed Marissa's anxiety and thoughts that Trey would come back and bother her away. Marissa frowned at this new information.

"What did you say to him?" she asked becoming calm again.

"I bluffed, no big deal." She paused and looked at Marissa. "Do you want to take a nap? I just got really tired," she said pointing her thumb towards the bedroom. She noticed Marissa pause and think over what she was asking. She could almost see the gears going in Marissa's head…so she waited, shifting her weight a bit.

"Alright," came Marissa's short reply and so they both made their way upstairs after having a brief conversation about whether to leave Liv downstairs or take her with them. Alex decided she was fine and took Marissa's hand, barely holding it and she led her to the winding staircase. She dropped her hand as they climbed the steps and Alex for a brief second in her state of fatigue began to take off her top but stopped abruptly when she remembered Marissa was there and decided she needed to censure herself, she wasn't used to having someone share her room.

"Um sorry," Alex mumbled as she pulled the bottom of her tank top back down and headed towards her bathroom, but Marissa's soft voice made it over to her and she stopped suddenly when her mind processed what she heard.

"I don't mind," Marissa said playfully. Alex gulped and turned back to Marissa, trying to cover up her shocked expression but she clearly didn't do a good job because Marissa lightly laughed at her.

"Don't let me stop you," she said with a little more confidence as she stood there, her arms crossed over her chest as though waiting for Alex to get on with undressing. Alex couldn't stop her jaw from dropping. I must be going insane. Marissa acting all in control is hot…can this girl do no wrong? Yes she can, she can break your heart. She reminded herself as she shook her head as Marissa stood there with a smirk on her face. She turned to head back into the bedroom to quickly change.

When she came back, after splashing some very cold water on her face Marissa had taken off her sweater and grabbed the pajamas she wore last night wearing them again and looking comfortable as she laid in bed. She lifted her head and patiently waited for Alex to get in beside her. When she did she didn't hesitate to wrap her arm around her stomach and rest her head in the nook of her neck leaving Alex to smell her hair since it was right under her nose. Releasing a sigh Marissa looked up at her and looked at her with conflicted eyes.

"Feeling shy?" She asked as she pulled at Alex's shirt material and bunched it in her hand, disappointment laced her voice.

Alex made a point to not touch Marissa. She has a boyfriend, she has a boyfriend, she's your ex, she's your ex. She chanted in her head. Drawing out a long breath that she didn't realize she was holding she glanced at Marissa out of the corner of her eye and noticed she looked nervous but still very cute.

"Next time ask nicely and we'll see," she said quietly but with control. Marissa lifted an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by Alex's answer.

"I'll remember that," Marissa whispered while she turned over, untangling herself from Alex, her back pressing into the dark brunette's side. A few minutes of comfortable silence passed between them until Marissa mumbled into her sheets, "I'm cold."

Without any words or making any visible sound that gave away a response from Alex she slowly turned over to face Marissa and wrapped her arm around her waist, pulled her closer into herself and they settled into each other, Marissa edging further into Alex, forcing Alex's lips to touch between her shoulder blades. Alex moved her face back a few centimeters but let her nose graze the back of Marissa's neck, breathing in her scent a little more and her arms held Marissa tighter, having a mind of their own, but she noticed Marissa didn't mind.

In fact, if anything Marissa slowly turned her head to look at Alex who still had her eyes closed, on the edge of falling into a peaceful rest. Feeling Marissa's gaze on her she kept her eyes closed and managed to mumble a coherent command that came out softer than she intended.

"Sleep." Then she felt Marissa turn back and within a few seconds Alex was asleep. Her last thoughts being - I'm such a push over.