"What am I going to get Summer?" Seth asked Alex and Ryan as they walked through the extremely crowded mall.

Ryan looked over at him as they walked, "I'm sure you'll think of something."

"What about you Alex?" Seth turned to the blonde next to him. She had a phone to her ear, but looked at Seth, engaging in the conversation, "What do you get the girl that has everything?"

"Umm…" Alex wriggled her eyebrows, "A trip to next year's fashion week."

"Isn't that in Paris?" Ryan asked looked across Seth.

"Actually, it starts in New York, then goes to London before ending in Paris," Alex answered before her attention was taken by the person on the phone, "Travis! God do you know how hard it is to get a hold of you? I've been on hold with your secretary for twenty minutes…"

"Do you think Summer would want a comic book?" Seth asked Ryan, "Say All-American Comics Number 16?"

Ryan glanced over at Alex before answering, "I think that's what you want." He stopped outside a jewelry store window and looked in at a necklace. "I don't know what to get Lindsey either."

Both boys looked at the necklace for about a minute and when they looked up, Alex was gone. Seth scanned the large crowd before spotting the blonde inside the jewelry store, pointing to something in one of the displays.

Apparently Ryan had already spotted Alex because he was making his way inside. The blonde held a while velvet box in her hand that was snapped open showing two diamond chandelier earrings. "What do you guys think? For Kirsten? From all of us?"

"Those look great," Ryan told her and looked at the blonde, "And I can pay my share because a couple thousand dollars appeared in my bank account last night."

"Merry Christmas?" Alex smiled.

"Hey," Seth looked at Alex.

"Don't be mad at me just because you don't check your bank account everyday," Alex bumped her shoulder with Seth's.

Seth put his arms around Alex's shoulders, "Then I'm in for my third too."

They walked out of the mall into the cold, bags on their arms. Alex's phone rang as she dumped her purchases into the trunk of Kirsten's car. When she answered, Seth looked at Ryan who didn't look too happy.

"It what?" Alex asked, "Oh…okay. I'll pick it up…Thanks." She hung up and sighed.

Ryan got in the driver's seat and Alex occupied the passenger's. Seth leaned forward from the backseat. It was quiet as they pulled out of parking lot.

Alex was the first to break the silence, "Can I get you guys to do me a favor?"

"Sure," Ryan nodded.

"Can you go pick up something I got mom this afternoon?" Alex asked, "I can't cancel on Marissa. I've been…I've been messing up with her big time and she's been great about it, but…who knows how much more she'll take from me."

"Sure thing Alex," Seth nodded and patted her arm.

"You guys are the best," she replied, "I'll give you the address when we get back."

A few minutes later, Ryan added, "What's going on with you and Marissa?"

Alex sighed, "It's me. All me. The more I achieve at work and school, the less time I'm spending with her. And I want to be with her. I do. There's just so much to do."

"Maybe you should find someone else to work in your place," Ryan suggested, "Be a normal college student."

"I've thought about that," Alex mentioned, "I've also thought about selling the whole thing. Just take my share and walk away."

"Whatever you do," Seth added, "Spend more time with Marissa."

"I want to and I make time to, but when I do something comes up and by the time I realize how long I've been working, it's too late," Alex sighed, "I'm just trying to make a better future for her…for us, but if I keep working like this I think there won't be an us."

"I'm sure you two will be okay," Ryan reached over and took Alex's hand.

She tiredly laid her head back on the headrest and rolled it to look at Ryan, "I hope so. I don't want to lose her again."

"What are you going get Alex?" Summer asked Marissa. She had just gotten back from her dad's house and had joined Marissa in the living room of the Cohen house.

Summer shrugged, "What did you get her for her birthday?"

"Dinner at her favorite restaurant and a black lacey teddy sort of thing," Marissa mentioned, "She doesn't buy things for herself. She pays the bills, buys food, and gets me what I want. The only time she gets things is when I'm with her and I talk her into buying new clothes."

"She does look good," Summer leaned back on the couch and looked at Marissa, "I'm sure whatever you get her she'll love."

After a short paused, "I think I'm going to take her somewhere she hasn't been in a while."

"Great," Summer looked at Marissa, "Where is that?"

As Marissa started to open her mouth the front door opened and Alex walked in followed by Seth and Ryan. The blonde walked over and leaned on the armrest next to Marissa on the couch, "You ready?"

"Always," Marissa stood up and looked at Summer who smiled, "I'll see you guys later."

"Bye Coop."

"So are we going to your mom's first or to eat?" Alex asked on her way out to the car.

Marissa thought for a moment, "We should eat first. You'll need the energy."

Alex chuckled, "Thanks."

Right before they got to Marissa's car, Alex took Marissa's hand and turned her around to kiss her. Marissa leaned into the kiss, missing the feel of Alex's spontaneous PDA.

"What was that for?" Marissa asked, smiling at her girlfriend.

Alex grinned, "I haven't done that in a while, have it?"

The brunette shook her head.

"I'm sorry," Alex whispered and pulled Marissa to her, the taller girl caught completely off guard. Marissa relaxed into the embrace, reveling in the feeling of Alex's arms around her.

Marissa groaned, irritated at the sound of Alex's phone ringing. She pulled away and wrapped her arms around herself, "You better get that." She muttered before stalking off to the other side of the car.