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Alex's back pains couldn't have come on a worse day. It was Friday night, and the Bait Shop was once again packed. The fact that she was consistently busy did help the blonde get her mind off her pains, but it never lasted long. Mandy kept insisted that they'd be fine without her. Jodie even offered to help out, but Alex wasn't going to leave on one of their busiest nights. Besides, she'd just go home to an empty apartment anyway. She definitely didn't want that. She'd rather suffer through her back pains.

"A long island please," ordered a customer.

"Two bud lights," ordered another. Alex set to work on their orders. She was setting down the two beers when one of the other bartenders slipped and bumped into Alex. The blonde sucked in a breath and somehow managed not to drop the beers.

"I'm so sorry, Alex" apologized the bartender. "It's just so busy, and orders are coming in so quickly-"

"Don't worry about it," Alex said through clenched teeth. "Can you just tell Mandy that I'm taking a break in my office." Alex didn't even wait for confirmation. She made her way to her office, trying carefully to keep herself coming into contact with anybody else. However, with the club being so packed, she didn't completely escape unscathed. She made it to her office and let out the scream that she was suppressing once she was in. She went over to her desk and took out the bottle of aspirin. She popped two in her mouth, only to realize that she didn't have anything to wash it down with. Great. She forced herself to swallow it down and went to lay down on her couch. She buried her face in the cushion and waited for her medicine to kick in. She took that time to bask in her solitude. However, she was soon interrupted.

"I have a present for you!" came a voice.

Alex groaned and mentally cursed herself for not locking her door. "Go away Jodie."

The Latina rolled her eyes and ignored the girl's remarks. "How's the back?"

"Fucking great!" mumbled Alex.

"Well, being the nice person that I am, I went out and got you a heating pad. I figure it'd work better than ice." Jodie paused for a bit and then smirked. "Plus, I know you like it hot and steamy."

Alex couldn't but smile. She lifted her head up and there in Jodie's hands, was the heating pad. She gave her friend an appreciative smile. "Thanks, Jodie."

"Don't thank me yet. Let's see if it helps first." Jodie went and stood next to the blonde. "Is there an outlet nearby?"

"There should be one right next to the couch."

"Ah, I see it." Jodie went to plug it in. "How hot do you want it?"

"The hotter, the better."

Jodie smirked. "Same old Alex." Alex simply rolled her eyes. The Latina set the pad to it's highest setting. "Ready?" Alex nodded and proceeded to put her head back down. Jodie lifted the back of Alex's shirt high enough to accommodate the heating pad. She placed it on her back and sigh of content was instantly heard. Jodie chuckled. "I take it that it's helping."

"I don't know, but it sure feels good." There was a knock at the door. "Come in."

"Hey, I was just coming in to check on you."

Alex looked to see that it was Mandy that had entered. "I've been better, but the medicine should kick in soon. I'll be out soon."

"Take your time," insisted Mandy. "Everything's under control for now." Alex gave her a skeptical look. "Well, maybe not under control, but we can handle it. I'll come get you if we get really slammed. Well, I'm going to so that doesn't happen."

"Thanks Mandy."

"No problem." She gave Jodie a nod and left.

A silence fell upon the two friends, but it was nowhere near uncomfortable. "You know," stated Alex a few minutes later, "you still haven't told me the reason for your visit."

"Do I need a reason to visit my best friend?"

"Well…no, but I get the feeling that you do have a reason. Three weeks is a good amount of time….your job just let you have it off?"

Jodie just shrugged her shoulders. "I told them that I was taking it regardless, so yeah…."

Another silence ensued. Alex lifted her head and looked at Jodie. "Sorry, I haven't been the best host. I mean you've been here almost a week now, and we haven't really done anything. All you've really done is hang out with me at work. I know that's not the most fun. You don't have to hang around me you know. Explore Newport some. It'll probably be more fun."

Jodie shrugged her shoulders once more. "I don't mind. I'm enjoying my time here. I like hanging out with you here, even if you're working. I came to visit you, not Newport. Besides, it beats coming up with the right variety of music for Marissa's party, which I'm apparently going to DJ."

Alex gave her friend a sheepish smile. "Sorry. I was trying to get Marissa in a better mood for your visit."

"Al," Jodie began, "Marissa's shitty mood is pretty much a permanent thing as long as I'm here." She decided to ignore the defeated look the blonde was giving her. "Anyway, even if you did have free time, she'd monopolize it."

"Jodie…"

"Listen Alex. You're my friend and I love you. I know you don't want to hear this but, I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't say something." Alex braced herself for what was coming. She knew that Jodie was going to say whatever she wanted to say. Trying to stop would be futile. "Marissa treats you like shit, and you know it. I know you love her, but don't let that excuse her behavior. She only spends time with you when she needs to or after you've begged her to. I mean, you shouldn't have to beg her. She's your girlfriend for fuck's sake! She doesn't even spend that much time with her friends anymore. She doesn't even come home sometimes. She's off doing god knows what. She's forever off with that Volchok guy. I know you've seen the way he looks at her, and how his hand always seem to be touching her somehow. I haven't even been here all that long and I've noticed it! I don't want to think she's cheating on you, but-"

"Then don't. She's spending more time with me now and-"

"That's because I'm here!" exclaimed Jodie. She was starting to get irritated. She didn't want to take it on her friend, but she wasn't going to allow her let Marissa off the hook that easily. "She thinks I'm here to steal you back. She seldom lets us be alone. When she can't be here herself, she sends her friends here to look after things. Don't flatter yourself and think it's because she loves you and the thought of you with someone else scares her. That's bullshit and you know it." Alex turned her head away, not wanting to hear anymore. She could feel her tears building up with each word that comes out of her friend's mouth.

Jodie saw the pained look on Alex's face. She hated knowing that she put it there, but she had to say her piece, and Alex needed to hear it. She got off the couch and crouched down next to the blonde's head. She took her hand, placed it on Alex's cheek, and turned her face so that they were looking at each other once again. She took a breath before she continued. "Alex….she's not spending time with you again because she wants to. It's because she needs to. She doesn't want you, but she still considers you as hers. Even if she doesn't want you, she won't let anyone else have you. She sees you as something to have. Something to keep around cause she likes the hold that she has on it. She doesn't see you as someone to love. She doesn't lo-"

"What the hell is going on here!" Marissa was livid. She was told that Alex was in her office resting. The brunette was actually worried. She knew that Alex's back was bothering her, but apparently it was worse than the blonde had let on. She quickly made her towards Alex's office only to find her girlfriend with her ex….again. With their faces so close and Jodie's hand on Alex's cheek, it looked like they were about to kiss-if they hadn't already. Marissa's worry was instantly filled with anger. "Well?!"

"What does it look like?" answered Jodie. "I'm trying to get it on with your girlfriend. Didn't you know that Alex loves getting it on at the workplace? I'll try to be gentle this time. Apparently pinning her up against the wall last time wasn't such a good idea." She knew she shouldn't have, but she couldn't help herself.

"What!" exclaimed Marissa. She closed the door and turned her head to look at her girlfriend. She was gripping on the door knob like her life depended on it. Well, maybe not hers, but Jodie's just might. This newfound information of how Alex had hurt her back wasn't exactly helping either. In the blonde's defense, Alex had told her that Jodie had pushed her into her office door. Marissa instantly didn't like the sound of that. Alex assured her that it was nothing, and it was just an accident. Now Jodie is saying otherwise. Add that to what she just walked in on and well, Marissa was beyond enraged now. Still, she somehow found it in herself to not immediately believe what was coming out of the Latina's mouth. However, her girlfriend had a lot of explaining to do. "Alex," she said expectantly.

"Jodie." Alex's voice was a bit soft, but there was no mistaking her tone.

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself." The Latina got up and went to go sit on the desk.

Alex let out a sigh as she slowly got up into a sitting position. The aspirin hadn't fully kicked in, but the pain was more bearable now. When Jodie saw that Alex was trying to sit up, she rushed to help her friend. She didn't want the blonde to strain herself too much.

Watching her girlfriend struggling to just sit temporarily made Marissa forget her anger. That was, until she saw Jodie coming to her aid. She may have just been trying to help, but given what she saw earlier and Jodie's remarks, Marissa couldn't help but get even angrier at the sight. She rushed towards and grabbed Jodie's hand. "Keep your hands off my girlfriend!"

"Watch it," warned Jodie as she pulled her hand out of Marissa's grip, "I have little patience for people who put their hands on me. I have even less for you."

"Well, then maybe you should just stop whoring yourself around! Don't you feel pathetic at all? Spending all your time with a girl that doesn't want you? She chose me! Get that through your thick, skanky head."

Jodie took a step towards Marissa. However, before she could retaliate, Alex got up and stood in between the two. Getting up so abruptly resulting in a sharp pain coursing through her, but she didn't have time to dwell on that now. "Marissa. Jodie. Stop. Please."

Marissa crossed her arms and gave her attention to Alex. "Answer my question. What the hell were you two doing?"

"Nothing," answered Alex. Jodie came in to give me a heating pad for my back. She was just checking up on me, and keeping me company until the medicine kicked in.

"Why the hell was she touching you then? Why did it look like she was going to kiss you?"

"I'm right here, you know," interjected Jodie.

Marissa glared at the Latina. "Jodie," pleaded Alex. Jodie held up her hands in surrender and returned to her previous position on the desk.

Alex gave her a grateful smile before turning to face Marissa again. "I was in a lot of pain. I turned my head to try and hide it. Jodie was just trying to make sure I was really alright." It wasn't a lie really. She was in pain. It just wasn't because of her back.

Marissa simply looked at Alex. She wasn't sure if she should believe Alex. Alex had never lied to her, but still. Her eyes darted back and forth between Alex and Jodie for a bit. Suddenly, she turned around and left.

"Marissa!" Alex called out. The brunette chose not to hear her. She needed to go. She bumped into a variety of people on her way out, earning her some choice words. Marissa didn't care though. Then, she bumped into Ryan.

"Whoa!" Ryan laughed. "Someone's in a hurry."

Marissa had no time for this. She was about to walk off, but a better idea popped into her head. "Sorry, Ry. I just wasn't really looking. So where's Taylor and the rest of the gang?"

"They aren't here yet. I thought I'd get here before them and try to grab a table. It's a busy night. Alex must be swamped."

"Uh-huh. So do you want to dance?"

"Uh…"

"Great. Let's go." Marissa dragged Ryan onto the dance floor. She started to dance with the boy rather closely, seductively even. Ryan wasn't sure what was going on, but he was starting to feel a little uncomfortable.

"Uh…Marissa I don't-"

"Come on Ryan, it's just dancing. Let loose a little." She flashed him her most innocent smile. Ryan still wasn't completely comfortable. He didn't match her moves, but he tried to dance with her as best as he could.

Alex rushed out of office to find Marissa. She finally found her. The brunette was throwing herself onto Ryan. A part of her knew what Marissa was doing. However, that didn't stop the breaking of her heart. It continued to break as she watched her girlfriend press herself into another guy, into her ex.