Memories

Chapter 2

Marissa quickly picked up her stuff and ran in the direction that Alex ran off in. She hadn't expected Alex to run off so soon, and she wanted to talk. She wasn't going to declare her undying love for her, she wasn't ready for that yet, but she wanted to apologize and say how much she missed her. When she got on the road and off of the beach, she looked around, but found no trace of Alex. She didn't hear any cars or sounds besides the ones coming from the water. She looked back at the beach, remembering that Trey was still there, she ran to her car and sped home.

As soon as she got home, she jumped into the shower. She tried to get the feeling of Trey's hands off of her body, but staying in there too long made her feel uneasy. After drying herself and putting on a pair of pajamas, she lay down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. 'She's in Newport and she saved me…' She turned to her side so she could open a dresser that was next to the bed. After removing some clothes, she pulled out a picture frame, and touched the glass longingly. It was the only picture that she had of herself and Alex, together. They were laughing and smiling on the beach, in their swimsuits, on the sand.

"Where are you? Why did you leave me, again?" Tears came to her eyes as she thought of Alex leaving for the first time.

"I think I might go back home..." Marissa couldn't believe what Alex was saying, she was really leaving Newport, and it was all her fault. "Save some money, go back to school… Actually looks kinda fun…" Marissa wanted to tell her that she didn't want her to leave, that this was all a mistake, but she didn't have the courage to, she was such a coward. So, she looked at the bon fire, away from Alex's sad eyes.

"Yea, from really far away…" Marissa turned back to see Alex's, almost desperate, eyes.

No words were exchanged between the two as they looked at each other, longed for each other, but nothing was said, so nothing was done… Marissa got up and smiled, which Alex followed suit, and they hugged. It was heart wrenching, Marissa could hear Alex trying to stop her tears as she buried her face into Marissa's shoulder, and Marissa just held on desperately, not wanting to let go, crying, just trying to not let the moment end, but Alex pulled away.

"Come on, you're gonna miss the human pyramid…" They both laughed, but out of necessity.

They walked back to the bon fire, side by side. Marissa wanted to reach out and grab Alex's hand, just like the night at the Bait Shop, but was too afraid to. Marissa watched as Alex touched Ryan's shoulder, and caused him to turn around.

"I'm sorry…It wasn't about you…"

"I know… It's okay…" She turned around to face Marissa again. Marissa wanted so much to tell her that she loved her, and that she made a huge mistake about spending so much time with Ryan, but didn't. So, they looked at each other, Marissa watched as Alex looked her up and down, one last time, just as she did when they first met, before giving a weak smile and walking off, and all that Marissa did, was watch.

And tonight, Alex had come and saved her, she didn't know why, or how she was there, but she didn't care. She was just glad that she was. Her cell phone ringing interrupted her thoughts and she wiped her tears before answering without looking to see who was calling.

"Hello?" She was hoping it was Alex, but it wouldn't make sense for her to call.

"Hey, Marissa, it's Ryan. I was just calling to see how you were."

"Oh, I'm fine." She sniffled a bit as she tried to contain the disappointment in her voice.

"You don't sound fine, is something wrong? Did something happen to you?"

"What? N-no. I must have caught a cold when I was outside today…" Ryan didn't really believe her, but didn't want to push the subject. He'd ask Trey about it when he got back.

"Oh, then I'll let you get some rest… Night, Marissa."

"Night, Ryan…" She put down her phone and picked up the picture frame again. After staring at it for awhile, she picked up her phone and went to her contact list.

"Alex Kelly…" It was barely a whisper, but it was the first time she had said Alex's name in such a long time, and it tore her apart. It was the first name on her list but she hadn't dialed the number in two months. She didn't delete the number, because if she did, she would have felt that there was no tie between her and Alex anymore. Also, if she deleted it, she would have no way to reach her when she had the courage to tell her how she really felt. She closed her phone and looked away in disgust. Even after Alex saving her, she didn't have the courage to call her and say thanks. She put the picture frame back in the drawer and closed her eyes, trying to forget about Trey, and this night. When she closed her eyes, she saw Alex, saving her from Trey, and tried to imagined Alex, there with her, holding her protectively, like she would all those nights before.