Alex rolled up to Harbor just as Marissa's last class got out. She parked, got out, and stood next to her car so Marissa could see her.
She spotted Marissa at the top of the stairs. Marissa saw her and Alex could see her smile from a hundred yards away. She felt her heart speed up at the sight of Marissa.
"Hey," a guy walked over to Alex, "I'm Brett. Are you new?"
Alex shook her head, "I don't go here. I'm just.…"
Brett interrupted her, "Don't I know you from somewhere?"
"I work at the Bait Shop?" Alex suggested, uninterested in the conversation.
"Oh yeah," Brett smiled, "You're the girl that got into the fight with all those guys. That was hot."
Alex raised an eyebrow, "Why are you talking to me?"
"Would you like to go out sometime?" Brett asked, "We could go out on my dad's yacht after the SnO.C.."
"Does that work on all the girls?" Alex crossed her arms. She didn't see Marissa walk up behind Brett.
Brett shrugged, "Usually."
"I already have a date," Alex stated, "And I'm not looking for another one."
"Are you sure?" Brett asked, "I'm a lot of fun."
"I'm seeing someone," Alex opened the door and got in the car.
"How serious?" Brett leaned on the side of the car.
"Very serious," Alex huffed.
Marissa walked around Brett and stood next to him by Alex. She leaned over the door and kissed Alex. "Hey baby."
"Hey," Alex smiled when Marissa pulled away and walked to the passenger's side.
"Um Brett," Marissa looked over at a stunned Brett. "This is my girlfriend, Alex."
Brett couldn't really manage any words so Alex pulled out and drove off.
"Thanks for that," Alex told Marissa.
"No problem," Marissa smiled and took Alex's hand, "So what are you going to wear to the SnO.C.?"
Alex shrugged, "I guess I'll have to go get something. It's a formal thing right?"
Marissa nodded, "Yeah, but we'll have to make sure our outfits don't clash."
Alex smiled, "I think we can handle that. When is this…dance anyway?"
"What were you going to say?" Marissa turned in her seat.
"What?" Alex asked, "Nothing."
"You paused before you said dance," Marissa smiled, "What were you going to say?"
"Something along the lines of grope fest," Alex smirked.
Marissa chuckled, "It'll be fun."
Alex just nodded, "Sure."
When she pulled into Marissa's driveway, they both got out and Alex grabbed Marissa's bag.
"Do you wanna come upstairs?" Marissa kissed Alex.
"Mmm," Alex paused, "I can't. You have homework to do."
"How do you know?" Marissa asked.
"You brought your books home," Alex handed Marissa her backpack.
"Please?" Marissa asked tugging at Alex's sleeve.
Alex shook her head, "You have to study to get into a good college."
"Why? So I can support you in your old age?" Marissa smiled.
Alex beamed, "Yeah. I can't bartend forever."
Marissa kissed Alex again, "Alright."
"So when is the Harbor Grope Fest?" Alex asked.
Marissa chuckled, "Friday."
"That's in two days," Alex leaned back on the car, "I don't know if I can find a dress that fast."
"I have faith in you," Marissa smiled, "I'll call you after I'm done with my homework."
"Okay," Alex handed Marissa her keys and before she let go, pulled Marissa into a long kiss.
Marissa floated off toward her front door and Alex walked down the street to the Cohen residence.
When she walked into the kitchen, Seth was sitting at the table doing his homework. He looked up when Alex walked in and smiled, "I hear your going to the SnO.C."
Alex opened the fridge and took out a water bottle, "Yeah."
"I'm bringing a camera," Seth smirked.
"If you do, you'll eat it," Alex answered.
Ryan walked in and dropped his bag on the table.
"Are you going to the SnO.C.?" Seth asked Ryan.
Ryan shook his head, "I'm taking Lindsey to this play she's been wanting to see."
"Alex is going," Seth told Ryan.
Ryan looked over at Alex. "Really?"
Alex nodded.
"I thought you hated school events," Ryan sat down and got out a pencil.
"I do," Alex walked over to the table.
Seth wielded an invisible whip and made the sound effect.
"You really don't want to keep your teeth do you?" Alex asked.
"What are you going to wear to the SnO.C.?" Ryan looked up at Alex.
"I don't know," Alex leaned on the chair, "I've never been to a school dance thing before."
"Never?" Sandy asked walking in with his briefcase.
Alex turned around and shook her head, "Never."
"Why not?" Sandy set down his briefcase and walked over to the table.
Alex shrugged, "They're boring and pointless."
"Then why are you going?" Sandy smiled.
Seth made the whipping sound again.
Sandy chuckled and nodded, "I understand."
Alex looked at her phone, "I actually have to go back to work."
"Maybe tomorrow we can go SnO.C. shopping together," Seth told Alex.
Alex nodded, "Sure."
An hour later, Alex was directed the restocking of the bar and wiping down the counter while contemplating the reason she was going to put herself through the torture of the SnO.C.
"Nice place," the familiar voice of Julie Cooper said.
Alex looked up and saw Julie sitting in front of her at the bar. "Um…Hi? Can I get you something to drink?"
"Let's get to the point," Julie told Alex, "I don't think you should go with Marissa to the SnO.C."
Alex leaned on the counter, "Should I ask why?"
"You don't want to embarrass yourself and Marissa," Julie stated, "My daughter showing up with another girl to a school dance is definitely going to hit the gossip tree."
"You don't want me to go because it might look bad for you?" Alex asked.
"Well me and Marissa," Julie stated, "She goes with you, she's labeled for life."
"And you have no problem insulting someone who could fire you at the drop of a hat?" Alex took a deep breath, trying to remain calm.
"But you won't," Julie answered, "Firing me is bad for Marissa and your company."
"If Marissa didn't want me to go, then why did she ask?" Alex asked.
"Obligation," Julie answered.
"Hey Alex!" a guy called from the other side of the bar, "Homer's here."
Alex turned to the guy, "Tell him to unload everything and then see me in my office." She looked at Julie, "I have to work."
Julie stood up and picked up her purse, "I'd offer you money, but you're the one that pays me. Is there anything I can give you not to go?"
"I'm going if Marissa wants me to," Alex stated.
Julie nodded, "Fair enough. I have to go talk to my daughter."
As Julie walked up the stairs, Alex took out her phone to call Marissa, but heard Marissa's voice before she could put the phone to her ear.
"What are you doing here?" Marissa asked Julie on the balcony.
Julie said something Alex couldn't hear and then walked past Marissa out the door. Marissa looked down at Alex and then descended the stairs.
Just as Marissa walked up, Homer walked over, "Hey Alex. I gotta go."
Alex turned to Marissa, "Hold on a second."
"I'll be in your office," Marissa said a sounding a little pissed. She walked off and Alex got into the cash register to pay Homer.
Marissa was pacing around the office when Alex walked in.
"If you didn't want to go why didn't you tell me?" Marissa asked, her arms wrapped around herself.
Alex raised an eyebrow and closed the door behind her, "I do. Do you still want to go?"
Marissa nodded.
"Even though going with me would mean…" Alex started, but the end was muffled by Marissa's lips.
Marissa pulled away, but held Alex's waist, "No matter what my mom says or what anyone else says, I don't care what other people think. When we walk into the SnO.C., I'll have the hottest date there. I'm going with you because I want to go with you. I wanna go with you and I wanna be with you."
Alex dropped her head onto Marissa's shoulder, "I'm sorry. I should have know not to listen to your mom."
Marissa smiled and stroked Alex's hair, "It's okay."
There was a knock on the door before it flew open and Seth bounded in, "Alex!…oh." He stopped. "I actually came to warn you that Julie was coming, but I couldn't find my keys and it looks like she already changed back into a bat and flew off, so are you okay?"
Alex smiled and nodded, "Thanks Seth."
Seth nodded, "Well call me when you're done maybe we can go SnO.C. shopping today instead of tomorrow."
"You two are going shopping together?" Marissa asked.
Alex nodded.
"For the SnO.C.?" Marissa asked.
"Yeah," Alex added, "Is that a problem?"
"Just don't come dressed as Batman and Robin okay?" Marissa smiled.
"Don't worry," Alex smirked, "I never looked good with pointy ears."
"How come I have to be Robin?" Seth asked.
Alex just looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh yeah…" Seth trailed off, "Well, I'll be at home."
"I'm almost ready," Alex told him. Then she turned to Marissa, "Do you wanna come?"
"I would, but I'm meeting Summer to study for our history final. I have someone to support in her old age." Marissa smiled and kissed Alex, "But I'll call you later okay?"
"Okay," Alex smiled.
Marissa kissed Alex again and walked out.
"You ready to go?" Seth asked with a goofy smile.
Alex walked out of her office and locked the door. "Let's go."
Seth took a deep breath, "Shopping for the SnO.C., God help us."