Chapter 4

" So, wanna hang out later? We can watch some movies or something," Marissa said to Alex, when they were in their English class later that week. " You can bring Jodie, and I'll bring Summer."

" Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, they'll just spend all night bickering."

" Well, Jodie promised you she'd make an effort, and I have my ways of persuading Summer. We can try, anyway. If it doesn't work out, we'll just lock them in a room together 'til they sort out their differences."

Alex thought about how she would like to be locked in a room with Marissa. This was immediately followed by the thought: whoa, where the hell did that come from? That is so not what I should be thinking about this girl. She passed it off as temporary insanity, and looked at Marissa once again.

" Okay then, but if they end up knocking each other out, I am blaming you."

" We'll just have to make sure that this night is fun for all of us, then, won't we?" said Marissa in a flirtatious tone, looking directly into Alex's eyes.

"Oh my god, what am I doing?" she thought to herself. " Think about the plan Marissa. Just the plan. Not what you'd like to do…Oh my god, stop right there. This isn't happening. No, there are just paint fumes or something. Yeah, that must be it."

Alex looked at Marissa oddly as she saw a shadow of something that looked very much like panic flit across Marissa's face. Sometimes she thought she would never understand this girl. She cleared her throat, looking at Marissa pointedly.

" Did your mind have fun on its little vacation?" she asked, sounding dead serious, like she was actually interested in knowing the answer to that question.

" Huh?" responded Marissa dumbly.

" My presence is so wasted on you," said Alex, shaking her head. " Anyway, I promised Jodie I'd meet her, and she hates when I'm late, so I'd better go. I'll ask her about tonight, I'm not sure she'll come willingly though."

" Well, you'd better bring her unwillingly then," Marissa responded jokingly. She couldn't believe she was rethinking the plan. Summer was going to be so mad at her. She decided on a new plan, involving getting Summer and Jodie to be friends. That way, everyone was happy. After spending some time with Alex, getting to know her a little, she didn't think she could bring herself to follow through with the plan.

The only problem she was having with Alex at the moment was that she wasn't willing to be entirely open about herself. Marissa could tell she was holding back, and was curious to find out why. After all, she'd been nothing but honest with Alex. Okay, so maybe that was a slight exaggeration of the truth, but still. She was nowhere near as guarded as Alex.

" Oh, I plan to," said Alex. " Anyway, I'll see you later," she said, waving slightly at Marissa as she walked away.

At Jodie's, Alex was asking her to come to Marissa's place that evening. She knew exactly how to convince her.

" Summer's going to be there," she informed her.

" Well, in that case, so will I."

Alex smiled, glad her plan had worked.

" Alex, surely you didn't think that would actually work? I know you, and I know you were just trying to trick me into hanging out with your girlfriend and the nut job. Did you see what she did to me, today, by the way?"

" It was kind of hard not to, Jod, and Marissa is NOT my girlfriend."

" But you want her to be."

"No. I keep telling you. I am not letting another girl walk all over me and wind up breaking my heart."

" So you do like her? You're just scared that she'll hurt you. Come on, Al, you know that's no way to live."

" I never said I liked her."

" Keep telling yourself that Al. At least I don't deny that there's something between me and Summer."

"You and Summer? Please. The girl really doesn't like you, Jodie. Besides, she's straight.

" But Marissa's not. Summer told me. Well, more like I forced the information out of her, but I'm getting off track here. Why don't you just go for it with her, Alex? I've seen her looking at you when she thinks no one's looking. Just think about it."

" No way, absolutely not."

" Fine, it's your choice. But I think you're gonna regret it later."

" Well, that's for me to decide. And I want a friend right now, not a girlfriend. I'm not like you Jodie, I don't have to hit on any remotely attractive girl."

" I resent that. I'll have you know, I have standards. Only the really hot girls get to be with this," she said, gesturing towards her body.

" You know, Marissa's kind of hot. Maybe she should be on my to do list, what do you think Al?"

" I thought you wanted Summer. And Marissa's totally wrong for you."

" Yeah, she's more your type, isn't she?" said Jodie slyly.

" No, she isn't. I don't like that kind of girl, remember?"

" Sure you don't," replied Jodie, abandoning her argument for the time being. "Anyway, I've decided to come tonight. As long as I can get Summer drunk."

" You'll be lucky," said Alex. She'll never accept anything from you."

" Except my hot body. Yep," she said, nodding to herself, " she'll want me, I know it."