Part XIV: Too Much Good News
"Mom?" Alex asked again.
Kirsten turned around and picked up her bag then went to the living room. Alex was still in fear. Marissa saw her girlfriend's eyes; she would want to hold her right now.
Slightly trembling, Alex used all her strength to ask her mother again.
"Mom you know Marissa's parents?"
"Yes honey I do..." Kirsten plopped into the couch.
Feeling the weight of the world in her shoulders, Alex envisioned what her mother was about to say; the classic Romeo and Juliet. She was in love with a girl who was meant for another. She is in love with the enemy's daughter. She will never see Marissa from here on.
Her heart breaking in every inch of thought the flowed to her head. Slowly sucking out the life in her. Alex went pale.
Marissa looked at Alex worriedly. But she had to stay put. She cannot hold on to her so called "friend." Any implication on her actions from Kirsten may prove to be doom for their relationship. She stood still watching her girlfriend.
"…Your dad attended the same college as Caleb Cooper. They were friends." Kirsten answered as she turned to look at her daughter.
THUD!
As if tension was literally sucked out of Alex, she fainted. With all the things that ran wild on her head; Caleb Cooper, Marissa's father, was just Sandy Cohen's, Alex's father, old time friend.
Marissa hurriedly came to Alex's side brushing her girlfriend's hair. Kirsten worriedly took her daughter's pulse. When Kirsten realized her daughter was still alive, she stood up and went straight to the kitchen to get ice for Alex's soon to be throbbing head.
Marissa, making sure Kirsten was already in the kitchen, kissed Alex's forehead and squeezed her hand reassuringly. Like what sleeping beauty would have done on true love's kiss, Alex opened her eyes smiling at the sight of her girlfriend.
"You scared me…" Marissa's eyes looked at Alex worriedly.
"I'm sorry… She scared me…" Alex whispered, gently pulling Marissa into a kiss.
Kirsten who was about to enter the living room, but stopped dead on her tracks. She saw an intimate moment. Deciding to leave her daughter alone for now, she went back to the kitchen. Promising herself to talk to Alex as soon as her "new friend" leaves.
Slowly Marissa parted from Alex, helping Alex sit up. Alex took Marissa's hand and stood up to sit on the couch.
Just so Kirsten would not barge into another act of intimacy from the two she decided to yell out.
"Marissa is Alex awake now? I'm just crushing some of these ice cubes…"
"Yes Mrs. Cohen!" Marissa yelled back gently caressing her girlfriend's head.
Kirsten walked into the living room, and watched how Marissa looked at her daughter.
"So much love in her eyes… but…" Kirsten whispered and then shook her head.
This wasn't the time to worry.
"Can you put this on her head honey? I'll just call her father to tell him I'm here already." Kirsten handed the ice bag to Marissa then proceeded to the bedroom.
"I was worried… I thought that my parents and your parents were enemies or bitter rivals…" Alex's looked at Marissa with sad eyes.
"Honey… even if it were true… I'll run away with you." Marissa gave Alex a quick kiss on the lips.
----
"Hi honey. I'm at your daughter's apartment already. The flight was ok. Oh I met your daughter's friend, Marissa. She's the daughter of Caleb! I need to go now honey. Your daughter had a slight concussion. Please call me back when you get this message." And with that Kirsten sighed.
She sat on her daughter's bed thinking of what just happened.
Alex is alive and well, not sick, has exemplary grades. – Good
Marissa is her new friend. Caleb's daughter. Means she's been raised well. – Good
Alex kissing Marissa intimately. – I don't know
Alex probably dating Marissa. – I don't know
Alex seemed to be happier than she's ever been. – Good
Kirsten smiled.
"If Marissa makes my daughter happy, I just have to deal with it. I hope it goes the same for Sandy."
She sighed and stood up to see how her daughter was.
----
Ryan scanned the crowd looking for familiar faces at the Logan International Airport. He turned and found Jodie screaming.
"Ryan! Ryan! Over here!" Jodie screamed her lungs out.
"HEY!" Ryan gave Jodie a friendly hug.
"Where's the little squirt?" Ryan asked as he scanned an Alex free airport terminal.
"She's at home with Marissa. Her mom arrived today too… So… I came to pick you up." Jodie smiled.
"How are they? I mean are they doing well?" Ryan asked again as he took his luggage.
"Yeah they are. Practically inseparable." Jodie giggled.
"Good! Good! Are they out? I mean… have they told their parents?"
Jodie's smile disappeared.
"No."
"Bad." Ryan frowned as they walked out the airport.