"What are you doing here?" Alex asked her biological mother who was standing at the door with a group of people, one of which was holding a massive video camera.
"They want to do a mother-daughter interview," Leslie smiled down at her daughter.
"My mother's not here," Alex was suddenly furious. It hurt that her mother had thrown her out, but it hurt more now that she was trying to fake a relationship to get into the spotlight.
"C'mon Alex," Ryan told her and jerked his head toward her office door as the mob following her mother started down the stairs.
Seth and Ryan whisked Alex into her office and closed the door.
"I can't believe it," Ryan crossed his arms and leaned back on the door.
"I can," Alex sat on the couch in her office. Alex's phone rang on the desk and Alex looked at Seth who was closest to it. "Who is it?"
"It's got hearts all over the screen," Seth looked it over, "Aww, it's Marissa."
Alex took the phone from Seth and answered, "Hey."
"Hey," Marissa replied, "What's going on? There's a whole bunch of cars and news vans outside the Bait Shop."
"Are you kidding?" Alex huffed.
"No," Marissa answered.
Alex fell back on the couch, "I can't believe she's doing this."
"I'll call mom," Seth took out his phone.
"How are we going to get out of here?" Alex asked Ryan, Seth, and Marissa.
"Can we wait them out?" Ryan asked.
Seth nodded, "There's some Oreos in the desk next to some juice boxes."
"Juice boxes?" Alex asked, "Have you been hiding your snacks in my office?"
Seth nodded again.
"Didn't Mandy dye her hair?" Marissa asked.
"Yeah she's blonde now," Alex answered, "Do you want me to set you two up?"
Marissa chuckled, "No. I was thinking that she could come into your office. You could trade clothes and she could run out, they'll follow her, and you can sneak out to my car."
Alex smiled, "I don't think that'll work."
"Just try it," Marissa replied.
Alex sighed, "Alright."
She hung up with Marissa and called Mandy. "Hey I need a favor…"
When Mandy stepped in, she had her hair tucked under a baseball cap to so no one could see it. Mandy took the hat off and let her newly blonde hair fall down.
"I owe you," Alex smiled at Mandy.
Mandy shook her head, "It's no problem."
Alex looked at Seth and Ryan, "Turn around or something."
Seth laid on the couch with his arm over his face and Ryan turned to look at the posters on the wall behind Alex's desk.
They quickly changed clothes.
"Seth!" Alex rolled her eyes, "I saw you look."
"I was not," Seth answered.
Mandy smirked, "Alright so I just walk out the door."
"And go out the back door," Alex added, "We'll run out the front."
Mandy nodded, "Got it."
Alex adjusted the mini skirt Mandy had been wearing and put on the baseball cap, "Alright. Are you two ready?"
Ryan and Seth nodded.
"Let's go," Alex told them.
Mandy paused at the door, took a deep breath and slipped out. The door closed right behind her and a stampede of feet thundered away.
"C'mon," Alex told the boys.
They quietly snuck out of Alex's office. As they tiptoes up the stairs Leslie noticed that Mandy wasn't Alex and turned around. She spotted Alex who bolted for the door followed by Ryan and a panting Seth.
They jumped into Marissa's waiting car. The top was down so they jumped over the sides. Marissa took off and smiled at Seth who was stuck upside down in the backseat.
After dropping the boys off, Marissa parked in the empty beach parking lot. They got out and sat on the hood of Marissa's car.
"That was ridiculous," Alex sighed and laid back on the windshield.
"I know," Marissa turned to face Alex. She reached up and ran her fingers through the part of Alex's hair that wasn't under the baseball cap. "What do you say we get out of town? We can leave Friday after school's out."
"But that's prom night," Alex looked over at Marissa.
Marissa shrugged, "After this I wouldn't think you'd want to go."
"But you really really want to go," Alex stopped Marissa's hand from running through her hair again and threaded her fingers through Marissa's.
Marissa shrugged, "It's no big deal."
Alex raised an eyebrow, "No it's a huge deal. You've been looking forward to prom since I've known you."
Marissa laid back next to Alex, "I don't want to go without you."
"So I'm going," Alex smiled.
Marissa looked out over the ocean, "I don't want you to be uncomfortable."
"I'm sure they'll have forgotten about me by then," Alex followed Marissa's eyes.
"It's impossible to forget you," Marissa smiled.
Alex beamed, "Alright Shakespeare."
"You love it," Marissa looked over at Alex.
Alex kissed Marissa, "Mhmm."
"I can't believe your mom did that," Marissa laid back down.
"I don't know why I'm surprised," Alex sighed, "She's been taking credit for everything I've done since I was a little kid."
"I'm sorry," Marissa whispered.
Alex shrugged, "I'm over it."
"Where do you want to go? When my dad takes us?" Marissa asked a few minutes later. They'd changed positions and Alex's head was now in her lap while she stroked her hair, "Dad said he would take us anywhere we wanted to go."
Alex smiled, "You're dad said that?"
Marissa nodded, "It's like a graduation present."
"Where do you want to go?" Alex asked.
"I don't know," Marissa shrugged, "But as long as I'm with you it'll be great."
"Then how about we go be great somewhere there's a bed?" Alex asked.
Marissa looked down at Alex, "That would require moving."
Alex closed her eyes, "Then never mind. I'm comfortable right here."
Marissa smiled and kissed Alex's forehead, "I love you."
"I love you too," Alex murmured.