Alex could do nothing but smile while she packed away her medical supplies.
"Sorry! I didn't even tell you how I cut my head"
"It's ok, you don't have to tell me anything you don't want"
"I want to! I swear, it just slipped my mind." She paused for a while. "I was hiding from my mom, I sneaked out the window, and…" she laughed. "Fell in a tree" she said with a smile. "What are you doing next Saturday?"
"Working, why?"
"I think it's a great time for first dates?" she said looking hopeful.
"I'm working late but…if you don't mind doing anything later it's fine by me"
"Could pose a problem" Marissa raised an eyebrow and continued. "But I'll figure something out"
"I love it when you're suspicious" said Alex returning the raised eyebrow.
"You'll love what I'm being suspicious about even more". She smiled and kissed her again. It became more heated than they expected, but neither minded much. Marissa was now lying on top of Alex, still kissing.
"Stop" said Alex, turning her head, a disappointed Marissa on her chest, rising and falling with her intense breaths.
"I don't want to" she pouted.
"You have to, ok? Trust me."
"Ok" she sighed. "Why?"
"I don't want you to regret anything, and here, on my stupid old couch you might. If there's even a tiny doubt in my mind. It's not happening. At least not until Saturday" an uncomfortable Alex smiled.
"I understand," stated Marissa simply. And kissed her gently.
"Hey I'm really hungry, want some food?" Marissa nodded. Alex ordered out and sat back down.
"I love it when you're not at work" Marissa smiled.
"Me too" she said giving Marissa a playful hug.
"I've never really had company like you"
"Me neither, it's odd"
"But Good?"
"Very" she smiled. "I'm going to go call the bait shop see if I can have next Saturday off," she returned. A miserable expression on her face. She'd been gone a while. "No luck" she said. Incredibly crestfallen.
"It's ok" smiled Marissa weakly.
"It's really not." She paused to breathe. "Maybe we should just wait. I don't want to spend too much time with you"
"You don't?" said Marissa. Hurt.
"It's not like that. Its just things can turn out wrong so quickly if you rush into things."
"Well what do you want to do about it?"
"I tell you what. We don't see each other so much during the week. We can call each other, but for no more than an hour. And if you come round. You're not allowed to sleep. House rules" she said smiling.
"And on weekends?" Marissa said, more than hopeful.
"Your ass is mine, Friday through Monday" she grinned and kissed her.
Alex was true to her word, on Sunday night she kissed Marissa goodbye. She felt slightly down, but she just wasn't accustomed to being alone yet. They called each other regularly. And on Wednesday Marissa went to Summer's house.
She let herself in as always, and went to the bedroom. Summer was just laying listening to music.
"Hey sum" she smiled.
"What's going on?" Summer snapped abruptly.
"What do you mean?"
"You haven't even spoke to me since Friday, you weren't at school! What's going on with you?"
"Nothing really"
"You can talk to me though right?" she said softening a little.
"Sure, if you want to know?"
"Ok" she said, blank.
"Promise not to freak?"
"Ok" she repeated.
"Me and Alex are dating."
"Thank god!" she exclaimed.
"What?" Marissa said, more than confused.
"I thought you'd just found a new best friend and wanted nothing to do with me!"
"You did!"
"Yeah" she said slightly more embarrassed at the situation. "I was scared that you were just going to go be friends with her. Leave me. I don't need that now. I need you."
"Aww Summer" she sat on the bed and hugged her. Summer began to cry.
"What's up?"
"Well I'm so confused!"
"Tell me, I know all about confusion"
"Me and Zach are on a break"
"Why?"
"Take a wild guess" Summer said. Less than amused.
"Cohen?"
"Bingo"
"Where did this come from?"
"I don't know I guess it just never left"
"Do you mind?"
"Not really, I just don't know what to do!"
"What feels right?"
"When I'm with Zach, I feel happy, but I feel nervous, not the Good kind. When I'm with Cohen, I feel happy. I feel calm, I feel excited…I feel more for him. I know I do"
"Does it not freak you out?"
"A little. But it's expected if we were together once"
"Yeah I suppose"
"But what if I leave Zach and Cohen doesn't even want me?"
"Cohen isn't going to pass you up again"
"You think so?"
"I know so"
"Anyway you…" she smiled changing the subject. "What about you and Alex, how did this happen?"
"I don't know…I like her."
"And?"
"Well I just do. Nothing much more too it. There's no point in trying to classify what I am. I like her, I'm with her. Suppose that's it."
"Are you happy? You seem a little distant. Your mom's worried. She hasn't spoke to you since she got back"
"I'm ok. I'm wary of the whole situation. I really don't want to talk to her. I've been sat in my room listening to music for two days. I called you a few times. But I had no luck."
"And school?" There was something innocent about the inquisition that was happening between them. Despite the fact they were asking one and other questions they wouldn't just come straight out with, in the company other people. They had a bond, obvious just from their relaxed conversation.
"School. Hmm"
"You hate it don't you."
"Yeah"
"Rebel" she laughed jokingly.
"I'll come back tomorrow…I need something to fill up my time before Saturday"
"Saturday?"
"First date" she grinned.
