Guys, I'm so sorry about how long it's been. You know how summer goes.

Chapter 20

Marissa stirred and opened her eyes just wide enough to see the clock. It read 10:38. She usually slept well passed noon, but she didn't need to today. There was no reason for her to stay in bed. For the first time in a while she didn't have a headache or a nauseous feeling reminding her of the night before. For the first time in a while she woke up feeling safe. She knew she no longer had to worry about her friends finding out, or paying the rent. She turned over and realized that Summer was already out of bed an on her cell phone.

Summer giggled, "I know. Ok, shut up! Yeah, we'll see you guys later. Bye Cohen." Summer closed her phone and turned around to the bed. "Oh Coop! You're up!"

"Was that Seth?" Marissa asked, wiping the sleep out of her eyes.

Summer smiled and nodded, "Yeah, I was thinking we could go over there in a little bit."

Marissa nodded, "Yeah, but first I have to go to Alex's."

Summer's smile faded and she instinctively lowered her voice, "But I thought that you guys were done! Last night you and Ryan-"

"-to get my stuff." Marissa continued.

"Oh, sorry. Guess I overreacted."

Marissa laughed, "Yeah, I guess so."

Ryan shuffled into the kitchen from the pool house and found that Seth was already up playing video games.

"Man, let it go, Zach's better than you." He said groggily sitting down next to Seth and picking up a controller.

"No Ryan, I can't let that go. Zach's already got better hair, I can't let him beat me at this too."

Ryan looked over at Seth, "Really? You like Zach's hair?"

"It looks like it's been touched by angles. It's just so feathered."

Ryan rolled his eyes and changed the subject, "So where were you last night when I got home?"

"I turned in early, why? Where were you?"

"I was just down at the pier."

"Ohh, the pier!" Seth said slyly, "Happen to see any cute redheads down there?"

"Seth, she's your aunt." Ryan reminded him, "and yes, I did. Was that your doing?"

Seth smiled triumphantly, "I got your back Ryan. So are you two good now?"

Ryan shrugged, "I don't know. I didn't talk to her."

"What? I thought you just said that you saw her."

"Oh, I did. I saw her, she saw me, she saw me with Marissa, I saw her look angry, and then I saw her drive away angrily."

Seth finally turned away from the television, "What? You were with Marissa?"

Ryan nodded, "I went to the pier, and she was already there, so we just hung out for a little while."

"But when you saw Lindsay, I mean, what did she say later when you went to talk to her and explain the situation?"

Ryan remained silent for a moment, "I didn't go after her," He finally said, looking at Seth.

"Really? Ryan Atwood, not chasing after a girl who's upset? My how the mighty have fallen!"

Ryan rolled his eyes, "Yeah, I don't know, I didn't want to have to explain the situation. She should never have been mad. Me and Marissa, were friends, and Lindsay should accept that right?"

Seth ignored the question, "Since when are you and Marissa friends?"

"Since tonight. It was really nice, just hanging out with her again…"

"Nice like, sunset on a fall day, or nice like getting your mack on?"

Ryan scoffed, but then didn't answer, "I don't know, neither I guess. I don't know. I'm gonna go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Shwhatev." Seth answered.

"Oh by the way, Marissa and Summer are coming over today to hang out."

"You just love hanging out Ryan Atwood!"

Marissa headed over to Alex's apartment. She knocked, but when nobody came to the door, she headed over to the Bait Shop because Alex was probably working. She saw Alex counting cash behind the counter.

"Hey" Marissa said quietly.

Alex looked up, locked eyes with her for a few seconds, but then continued to count the bills. "Hi."

Marissa walked up to her slowly, "Listen, I'm sorry. I never meant for things to end that way."

Alex looked Marissa straight in the eye, "But you did mean for things to end right?"

Marissa sighed, "Alex, this wasn't a plan. I'm just confused about everything that's going on. I can't change that, and I don't think that I need to apologize for that."

Alex felt her temper rising, "So you admit that you were just experimenting with me! Marissa, I never wanted to be an experiment! I wanted to be half of a good relationship."

"It wasn't an experiment! I acted on impulse. I had this attraction to you so I acted on it!"

Alex looked down, "But now the attraction's gone?"

Marissa took Alex's hands in hers, "It turned to infatuation. I'm sorry Alex. I'm so so sorry."

Alex let a tear drop to the ground. "Me too."

Alex leaned into Marissa and gave her a final, tender goodbye kiss.

Lindsay put her wet hair up in a towel, "Maybe I overreacted last night." She thought to herself. "If I talk to Ryan, he'll just reassure me that everything is fine, but I won't necessarily know how he really feels. If I could just talk to Seth, he couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it. Lindsay finished getting dressed, and headed out the door. She was halfway to the Cohen's when she realized that she couldn't go there. If she went there she would have to talk to Ryan and she didn't want to do that. Lindsay turned around and was about to head home, when she realized that Seth could be working. She decided she would go check the Bait Shop before she gave up. Lindsay walked in and was about to call out for Seth, but she heard movement in the main hall. She walked in, but then quickly ducked into a corner in awe. The sight before her was beyond comprehension there stood Marissa and Alex, hand in hand kissing.