Last Chapter! Enjoy.
palex80 : Took some time, sorry. Well it's on now.
Marina-B'tt. : Oh you watch both shows but didn't realize it's the same actress? Lol I've got a talent in that. I can recognize someone I only saw five seconds in a show once. I think Olivia is Bisexual in House too, right? ( Don't watch that show) So anyays, Glad you like it and thanks a lot.
Aranchy : Hockey makes u drink beer? Hum you must be skating very straigh on the ice… hahah just fooling around. I only like Corona though. And lol about Mischa being bi. Can't w8 for her new movie.
shassy25 : Who wouldn't trust Alex? XD And don't freak out but I think you called Trey your « dear friend ». Ohhh right he's your fav character I forgot. Lol.
LillianGish : Awn I'm really enjoying your deep reviews. And glad you are liking my characters'evolutions.
hunterwm : Thank you, and can't promise anything about Malex.
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Save Me
Chapter 36 – Let's be honest
Alex and Summer had left for almost half an hour now, and Marissa was wondering where they were. Remembering they went up the stairs, she decided to follow them but, before she could have taken a few steps, Ryan appeared.
"You want to dance?" He asked. Marissa chuckled.
"You, Ryan Atwood, want to dance?" She teased him. He smiled.
"Well it's a slow" he said, offering his hand. "How hard can it be?"
"I'm sure you'll find a way to mess it" Marissa said again, although she did take his hand and let him lead her. They stopped in the middle of the dancefloor and Marissa passed her hands around his neck. This time again, she couldn't help but think of Alex. How good would it be to dance a slow with the blonde? Maybe she'll get the courage to ask her later on. Ryan wouldn't mind.
"So...?" He asked after the dance, curious to know her impressions. She smiled.
"Surprised. You didn't step on my feet." He rolled his eyes.
"I'm a Newport Boy now." He bragged as they walked back to the mini bar.
"True" Marissa winked. "You're the new Luke."
"Hey!" Ryan protested.
"Coop!" Summer suddenly screamed. "There you are." The couple jolted as Summer appeared, closely followed by Seth.
"Oh hey Sum, where's..." Before she could have finished her sentence, her best friend interrupted her by asking some very random question to Ryan. Just then, Marissa felt someone take her by the hand and she instantly recognized the owner.
"Come here" Alex whispered and, before she could have protested, dragged her away. Marissa could hear Summer talk to Ryan while they left, teasing him about the slow.
"What's going on?" Marissa asked, confused. Alex abruptly stopped and turned around to face her. Her eyes were strict and determined, as if she was on a mission or something. She placed one of Marissa's hands on her waist and kept the other one in her hand as she pulled the girl closer.
"Just keep dancing" She said, waltzing their bodies. Confused, Marissa let the blonde lead her. Yes, she did wish for this a few seconds ago, but she had this unpleasant feeling that Alex wasn't telling her something.
"You just disappeared." She started, doing her best to ignore the weird behaviour and to enjoy the girl's company. How much lamer could she get?
"I know" Alex replied. She pulled her a bit closer, their eyes still connected. For a second, Alex looked above her shoulder. Curious, Marissa turned around to see what she saw, but the blonde quickly put her hand on Marissa's cheek, forcing her to look at her.
"You're acting weird" Marissa said again. On second thought, she didn't like this. This time again, she got no answer from the blonde who brought their bodies even closer, her hand travelling down the brunette's lower back.
"... you're not wasted, are you?" Marissa asked this time, trying to figure out what the deal was about. Alex looked up again, her hand slowly caressing the girl until she reached her neck. She checked one last time above Marissa's shoulder.
"I'm sorry about this." She whispered, her eyes flicking at her lips.
"I don't unders..." Marissa whispered back, watching Alex get closer. She closed her eyes the moment she felt the soft lips on hers. The contact lasted for a few seconds before Alex pulled back a little, taking a chance. As expected, Marissa fell in the trap and kissed her back. Both relieved and disgusted of herself, Alex ran her tongue on Marissa's lower lip. She could feel the brunette's desire to be kissed harder and couldn't help hating herself as she granted her wish. Marissa's hands were now getting their way under her shirt and she tried very hard not to enjoy the contact and remain focussed.
"What's going on?" She finally heard.
"Oh my God" Marissa panicked in her ear as they slowly pulled back.
"Ryan..." she chocked. The look on his face was so broken Alex felt like drowning herself in the pool at that moment. He slowly looked from Marissa to Alex.
"... I must be the dumbest person on earth." He told nobody in particular.
"No" Marissa assured him, tears falling down her cheeks. "It's not like that."
"She cheated on you" Alex interrupted. Marissa's blood froze. What the hell was Alex doing? Ryan gulped.
"When?"
"Few months ago" Alex said again, she and Ryan both ignoring Marissa. "I'm sorry Ryan, trust me I am..."
"Have you two... did you have sex?" Before Marissa could have reassured him, Alex confirmed again. That's when her boyfriend disappeared in the crowd. She wanted to chase him, beg him for forgiveness, explain him how she just got played, but something stopped her. And that something was holding her wrist pretty tightly.
"Let me go!" She screamed at Alex. "Can't believe it... what's gotten into you?" The blonde couldn't find any answer and stood straight, her eyes fixing Trey. Her facial expression probably gave it away because Marissa immediately became suspicious and followed her stare.
"You knew he was here?" She asked, her voice more accusing than questioning. As Alex kept it silent, the evidence hit her.
"... you played me." She stated, broken.
"I had to do it." Alex explained herself, making an effort to look at Marissa. "Ryan had to know so Trey would stop..."
"Oh shut up" Marissa hushed her, fully disgusted. "Don't disguise your selfish act into something heroic."
"Marissa..." Alex protested as the girl disappeared in the crowd. Clearly, the brunette didn't get why she did this.
"Marissa" She called, trying to reach the girl's wrist and pull her back, but students were blocking her way and the brunette was slowly disappearing from her viewpoint.
"How did he take it?" Summer asked. Alex turned around.
"It was stupidest idea ever" She blamed her. The brunette winced.
"I'll tell her it's all me." She promised.
"Hell no." Alex told her. "Then she'll hate us both and we will be screwed. Now I'm sorry but an angry and heartbroken Rissa isn't the best thing to set free around here..." Without finishing her sentence, she left Summer and kept pushing her way through the dancers.
When Alex reached the mini bar, the first thing she did was run to Summer's room and check if Marissa's car keys were still there. Her heart sore when she noticed they weren't. Worried and cursing herself for not heading outside right away, Alex sprinted to the back door.
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She couldn't believe it. And here she was, enjoying the kiss. Stupidly hoping Alex wanted her back. How could she be so stupid and, more importantly, how could the blonde do this to her? There were other ways of handling Trey, of telling Ryan... Furious and broken, Marissa grabbed her keys and left the house, her eyes searching for her car. She didn't care about the alcohol in her blood. She didn't care about where she was going neither. She knew Alex didn't have a car and couldn't follow her, and it was a good enough reason to drive away right now.
Falling on her car a few times, Marissa finally managed to unlock the door and got in, turning on the ignition before even closing the door. Her vision blurred by tears, she drove away, stopping only a second to close the door she had forgotten open. She was too wasted in sorrow to notice or care about the person following her.
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Alex held her ribs as she tried to regain her breathe. She should have asked for Summer's car keys, but what for? She didn't see Marissa leave, she didn't know since how long she was gone, or where, for that matter. She had lost her. And if anything happened to her pretty face, Alex would most probably be the one blamed for it. With reason.
The blonde started to walk down the streets. She knew it was useless but she couldn't go back to the party, and standing still was driving her insane. That's when she remembered that Jodie was suppose to pick her up and nervously dialled her number, praying for her friend to be close by.
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Marissa stopped the car in the middle of a large parking spot. The lights still on, she got out of the mustang and walked a few steps before going back to it, not knowing what she was doing anymore. Ryan was gone. Alex betrayed her to worst possible way. Summer was stuck with a huge party to deal with... And someone was getting closer. Marissa could hear him. She didn't even care anymore. She had nothing left to lose. The steps stopped.
"Don't worry baby" She heard the familiar voice. "She's with me." Turning around, Marissa found herself facing someone she thought she'll never see again. Putting the phone back in her back pocket, Jodie took a few more steps forward and caught the sobbing girl in her arms. She thanked God for having had the reflex of following Marissa instead of nicely waiting for her friend.
"Oh honey..." She hushed her former roommate. Why was everybody broken around her? Why did Alex have to reduce them all to this? Slightly angry at her bestfriend, she carried Marissa to the Jeep and sat her down, taking the keys of the mustang from her.
"Alex..." Marissa slurred. "Don't call her." Jodie sadly looked at her.
"She needs to know. Guilt is probably killing her right now..."
"Don't care." The brunette replied. "She deserves it." Jodie tenderly caressed the girl's face while she waited for her friend to come get the mustang. Marissa used to be so strong. Seeing her like this hurt more than anything. And then there was Helena. Not to forget Jodie herself that Alex had also hurt once upon a time.
"Yes" She approved, whispering. "She does."
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Alex parked the mustang in front of Marissa's house, behind her own Jeep, and stepped in the house. When she had finally reached the parking Jodie had directed her to, her friend simply gave her the keys and walked back to the Jeep, no word spoken. Alex didn't dare ask about Marissa. But the more she was waiting to see her, the more she was going crazy. She had to apologise. She had to make her understand how she felt about all this. How it was the complete opposite of selfishness.
The front door was unlocked and Alex silently walked in, closing it behind her. She had come in this house so often she had no trouble finding the bedroom. As she appeared in the doorframe, her friend looked at her. Marissa was already passed out in her bed. That's when the tears came by themselves. Fear, guilt, relief, they were all there.
"Alex..." Jodie whispered, getting closer. As much as she hated what Alex had done, the girl still remained a part of her and she couldn't afford seeing her like this.
"Thank God you were here" Alex said, her voice shaking. "I keep telling myself... I can't stop wondering... what if..."
"Don't." Jodie hushed her. "Don't torture yourself."
"Jodie this is all my fault!" She sobbed.
"It's not." The latina insisted. "You never told her to grab the wheel." The blonde shook her head.
"Still is my fault." Her eyes were fixing Marissa, hoping the girl would open her eyes and maybe ask for her. Reading her mind, Jodie answered her question before she asked it.
"She doesn't want to see you." Unable to hide her disappointment, Alex simply nodded her head. She expected it, but it still hurt.
"We should go." Jodie sighed. "Before she wakes up the next morning and sees you." She could tell it was the last thing Alex wanted to do.
"Let me at least make sure someone will keep an eye on her."
"Okay" Jodie accepted, watching the blonde grab the phone and leave to make a call. She walked back to Marissa and caressed her cheek. Fresh tears had appeared as the girl still pretended to be asleep. Jodie bent down and kissed her softly on the forehead.
"I'm sorry you witnessed this." She whispered.
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Alex didn't go back in the bedroom after she had made the call. She stayed close to the door, waiting for him to come. The conversation didn't last long. If there was one thing she and Ryan both had in common, it was their love for Marissa, and their ability to make the girl pass before every issue. He didn't have to ring the bell. Alex had heard his car and was already waiting for him, door opened. She didn't explain much. Marissa could do it later if she wished.
"You're leaving tonight?" Was the first thing he asked. She nodded.
"She's upstairs with Jodie. Tell her I'll wait in the car."
"Ok." Was all Ryan gave for an answer. He wasn't sure how he felt about Alex right now. She did sleep with his girlfriend, but he knew Marissa, and there was no way the blonde would have forced her to do anything. And he could tell Marissa was happier with Alex than she had ever been with him. Then again, was he ready to let go?
"Please, tell me when she wakes up." Alex asked. "And don't mention I..."
"Ok." Ryan agreed again. An awkward silence took place.
"Okay." Alex whispered back. "Good night."
"Yea. Goodnight to you too." Ryan politely answered, watching Alex get in her Jeep before heading upstairs.
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When Ryan got upstairs, Jodie didn't tell him Marissa was awake, or how she found her, or anything at all for that matter. She simply said goodnight, grabbed her stuff and left. Eyes still closed, Marissa felt her former boyfriend sit on the chair previously occupied by Jodie and take her hand.
"I forgive you" he whispered. Marissa had to be very strong not to cry at that second. He came back. Alex told him everything and he still came back. That was how much he cared. Then why was she so sad?
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The ride was silent. Alex had sat in the passenger's seat, knowing she was in no condition for a long drive. Jodie came only a few minutes later and, without a word, turned on the ignition and left the driveway. They didn't even turn on the radio.
"... How's Hele..."
"Don't say her name." Jodie cut her. She had her limits. Seeing as Alex remained silent, she explained herself.
"The night you broke my heart, two years ago, I had promised myself to never let you do it again. But I failed."
"...Jodie..." Alex begged, unable to hear that right now.
"Twice." Jodie kept going. "You broke both Helena and Marissa, and here I am, picking up the pieces after you both times."
"I didn't want this." Alex cried. She had never cried that much. Never felt so low.
"You've got issues." Jodie said again, unimpressed by the tears. But it was all an act. She knew Alex enough to tell the girl had never cried like that after a break up. Sadly, not even for her. Jodie abruptly stopped the car.
"You need to tell me what you want." She said.
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"...Ryan." Marissa mumbled, opening her eyes.
"Hey" The boy smiled, helping her to sit up. "How are you..."
"I'm sorry." She cried. "For everything I've put you trough, for the way you found out."
"It's okay."
"No it's not." Marissa insisted. She took a deep breath.
"I can't be with you." She waited, avoiding the eye contact. She could hear Ryan stand up. He saw it coming... more or less.
"I promised Alex I would keep an eye on you." He remembered, unable to leave the room.
"I'll be fine." Marissa assured him, smiling weakly. Ryan seemed unsure.
"Go" She said again. Nodding his head, Ryan walked to the door.
"We're still friends, aren't we?" She smiled again, honest this time.
"Of course we are."
When he shut the door behind him, Marissa let herself fall back on her bed. She jumped from two lovers to none. Smiling, she closed her eyes. Ryan knew. Trey didn't hold anything against her anymore. The ball was in her yard. He would most probably run away, scared she would tell Ryan. Feeling free for the first time, she drifted to sleep.
She woke up an hour later when someone else opened the door. Looking up, her eyes crossed Alex's. They both stood still for a moment, then, slowly, carefully, Alex got closer. Marissa didn't move. She watched as Alex took off her top and kept getting closer. She didn't react as the girl reached the bed and lay on top of her. Their eyes remained connected. The whole conversation was there.
"I made a mistake" She finally whispered, her fingers caressing Marissa's cheek. She waited for an answer that didn't come before softly kissing her. That's when she felt Marissa's hand in her back as she held her closer and flipped their bodies to be on top. When they opened their eyes again, Alex could see a smile on Marissa's lips.
"Guess what" She said. Alex waited.
"We're not cheating on anyone tonight." The blonde felt the same freedom Marissa had experienced an hour ago and a smile formed on her lips as well.
The End.
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Thank you all for reading. I hope you enjoyed.
Oh and sorry for the lack of Helena and Jodie scenes. (I might write a shot epilogue about that. But not right now)
Ethereal-123