Authors note: Hello again to all my wonderful readers and reviewers. If you're reading this and you haven't reviewed, please do. If you have, thanks! So I'm sorry this took a little while to get up. The exams are in full swing at the moment but you'll be glad to hear I've actually finished this fic. SO all that's left is for me to post it. I'm going to have to spread it out a bit though. Anyway, hope you like the next instalment!

The harsh sound of her alarm brought Marissa out of sleep with a jerk. She was late for school again.

"Alex, come on get up, I'm late."

"mmph what?"

"I'm late for school…..Again"

"Shit, come on, you dress, I'll make toast, then I'll drive you there."

During the car ride Marissa chewed her lip and fiddled with her bag.

"It'll be fine babe, really" Alex reached over, taking Marissa's hand in hers.

"I'm sure it's old news by now"

Marissa wasn't sure, wasn't sure at all. It was one thing for Alex, this tough girl who could survive anything, but Marissa Cooper was a different story. She knew how easily she could and would break, she just didn't know how far she could fall.

"I'll always be there to catch you." Alex squeezed her hand as she said it.

"What?….How did you know…?" Marissa was speechless. Have I really got so deep into this that she even knows what I'm thinking now? How can she know that?

"It wasn't hard, it's exactly what I was thinking when it came out that I was dating Jody. Only she never said she'd catch me, and she didn't." Alex sighed, "I guess that was your job"

Smiling across at her Marissa reached out to brush an errant strand of hair out of her girlfriends face,

"We'll catch each other then."

Marissa felt some of her confidence restore and as the she stepped onto the path she felt ready to face her peers. She automatically raised her hand in a goodbye to Alex. Wait a second, what is there to hide now? They all know anyway. Turning she ran back over to the jeep and leaning over the drivers door kissed Alex long and passionately. Smiling into the other girls mouth she pulled back,

"Bye" She whispered breathlessly before turning once again and striding towards the school entrance, a smile firmly fixed on her face. For the first time it was a genuine one as she walked into the school. Today, she would wear no masks.

Seth still couldn't get over it. Ryan's ex was kissing his ex. It repeated through his head like a mantra. Even weirder than that, Marissa Cooper was dating a GIRL. He didn't doubt the water polo team would have a good long locker room talk about that, before having a group chest waxing session. In fact, despite his constant looks of shock whenever someone reminded him about Marissa and Alex he was happy for them. But he wouldn't mind those photos…….

Ryan was taking it a little harder. It wasn't that he was still in love with Marissa or anything, it's just he had always figured that if she was with another guy he could compete. How on earth was he expected to ever compete with Alex? But he supposed if they were both happy then it couldn't be all bad. The other pupils had already learnt not to make cruel remarks about the two girls when Ryan was near. He hadn't hit anyone yet, but he had come very close to it when he had caught someone about to write crude graffiti all over Marissa's desk.

Marissa opened the door to their flat gently. Calling out for Alex she got no reply. She must still be at the bait shop. Making her way slowly to the bedroom she sat on their bed head hanging low. It was so much harder than I thought it would be. The whispering, the laughing, the taunts. She shuddered and lay back on the bed, reaching out for Alex's pillow and breathing in her absent scent.

Alex found her still curled on the bed, face buried in a pillow that was tear stained. I shouldn't have let her do it, I know how hard it is. It was for me, but I wasn't even popular, only a few people even knew who I was. For her, it must be something terrible. Her entire world breaking apart. And there's nothing I can do to make it better. Alex sat on the bed next to Marissa watching her sleep.

Marissa was dreaming. She was running down the schools corridors, all her friends chasing her. Pelting her with insults and taunts. She didn't know where she was going, all she wanted to do was wake up. Strong arms circled themselves around her waist and a soft hand brushed her hair out of her eyes.

"Shhh babe, it was only a dream, I'm here, I'm here for you Riss."

Still shaken from the dream Marissa breathed a sigh of relief. She was safe now, sheltered in her lovers arms and that was all that mattered. Turning to face Alex she wrapped her arms around the girl drawing her into a tight embrace. Burying her face in the blond hair she breathed deeply and felt her fear flooding away.

"Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"Was it this hard for you?"

"I don't know, I mean, it was different."

"But you had Jodie." Marissa's voice sounded tight, angry almost.

"It was different." Alex's hand traced circles on her Marissa's back, the contact tantalising through the thin fabric of her shirt.

"It was different because what we had, what Jodie and I had was different."

"Better?" Marissa choked on the word, but she needed to know. This was the conversation they both knew had been put off for much too long.

"Different." Alex's voice was firm this time. As much as she knew Marissa deserved to be told the honest truth she was afraid to say it.

"Alex. Please." Marissa tightened her grip around and brought a hand up to Alex's neck, drawing them together so their foreheads touched.

"I know it's difficult, but I need to know." Marissa dreaded the words that were coming. She's going to tell me that with Jodie, she had real love and it's not the same with me, because I could never measure up to Jodie.

"Jodie. Jodie was, difficult and argumentative. But she was confident and sweet at the same time. Jodie was the one who showed me what love is."

Marissa shut her eyes tightly. Her heart beat faster and her throat felt dry. The one who showed her what love is. That's right, she doesn't love you the same way.

"But you, god Marissa, you showed me that true love is more than what I had with Jodie. What I feel for you is so real, so much stronger and deeper than what I ever had with her." Alex paused and wet her lips.

"What I feel for you is so strong I'm scared nothing and no one else will ever be able to live up to this."

Alex shut her eyes and prayed that Marissa wouldn't be weirded out.

"Alex, I," Marissa couldn't stop the tear that seeped out under her eyelid. She struggled for words, "Ditto."

Alex's eyes shot open,

"Ditto? Marissa Cooper, I declare my undying love for you and all you have to say is ditto?" Alex was laughing now.

"Ditto" Marissa said it with more confidence this time. She kissed Alex,

"Ditto" Another kiss, and then another whispered ditto alternating between hopeless giggles.

Grabbing a pillow Alex swung at Marissa's head.

"Oh no you don't Ms. Kelly"

Marissa's hands pinned Alex's arms, and her body kept the other girls from moving. Laughing Marissa leant down to kiss Alex but before she could close the distance Alex had flipped them over so that she was now straddling Marissa.

"I don't remember ever giving you permission to be on top." She deadpanned with a shake of blond hair.

Suddenly Marissa wanted nothing more but to kiss her. Kiss her hard and never ever stop.