Part XIX
"Where's Alex?" Lindsay barged into Marissa's room with Ryan in tow.
"She uhm… (SNIFF) went out… (SNIFF)"
"I'll go find her." Ryan offered kissing Lindsay's cheek before leaving.
"What's wrong?" Lindsay sat beside her sobbing sister.
"I'm being stupid…"
"Well… You're only human…"
"No… I am stupid… I shouldn't have agreed to DJ… I should have told her…"
"Riss… Whatever it is that you did… You can't change that… All you can do is work on what's here right now…"
"But what do I do?"
"Find Alex... Work this out… You do want to work this out right?"
"I do…"
Inna suddenly appeared in the hall way.
"Ryan can't find her."
----
Alex walked the cold streets of Boston. There were people already awake, welcoming the New Year. Reaching a familiar apartment, she sat just outside the door. She watched children blow their toy trumpets and some students passing by with speakers in full blast. She let out a small smile.
"At least the rest of the world is happy…"
She turned her gaze to the ring in her finger.
"I hope you are…"
----
Back in the Cooper Mansion, Caleb and Ryan were practically calling everyone in Boston trying to find Alex. Jodie and Summer were looking in the backyard, just in case Alex was just hiding. Marissa stood just beside the pool looking at the ring Alex gave her.
"She still loves you…" Inna spoke from behind her.
Marissa turned and smiled awkwardly. It felt weird to hear those words from Inna.
"She'll come back." Inna added stood beside Marissa.
"She hates me…" Marissa replied looking sadly at her ring.
"She doesn't… I'm sure she just needed air. She loves you a lot…"
"I wanted us to talk about it… I… I love her so much it scares me… She's my first… I… Didn't know… Realize what I was doing…"
"Well sometimes… Being in love makes us crazy… And I'm sure she left because she didn't want to say things she couldn't take back… She loves you enough not to hurt you…"
"And I didn't even bother thinking about hers…" Marissa threatened to cry but clenched her teeth.
"Hey… We're allowed to make mistakes once or twice in this lifetime… Don't let your biggest mistake be letting her go…"
Marissa stared at her ring and tears fell. She felt Inna's hand on her shoulder.
"Well how about trying to call her?"
----
Alex still sat outside the cold Boston air. The sun was about to rise in a few hours.
How long have you been there?
A voice asked. Alex turned and smiled in reply.
"Just a few hours… I didn't want to wake you and Jessie up."
"Come inside." Katie took Alex's hand and welcomed her inside.
"Sweetie, better make one more cup. Alex is here." Katie yelled.
"Hi Alex! I'll be right there!" Jessie yelled back from their kitchen.
Alex took her coat off and sat on the couch. Jessie emerged from the kitchen with a tray of hot choco. She handed Alex hers.
"Thanks." Alex smiled and took a sip.
"So why are you not at your girlfriend's?" Katie asked sitting next to Jessie.
"Felt like getting air…" Alex replied sipping some more.
Just then Jessie got a call.
"Sweetie… I have to go. Emergency…I'll call you when I get there." Jessie stood up and changed.
Katie stood up too and waited by the doorway. Alex watched them intently. Jessie came down and waved at her goodbye. Leaning in to Katie, Jessie gave her a peck on the lips.
"I love you. I'll call when I get there…" She whispered to Katie but audible enough for Alex.
"I love you too." Katie rested her forehead on Jessie's and kissed her lips before letting her go.
"When did you two meet?"
"High School." Katie replied closing the door.
"I thought you were together for six years?"
"We're married six years."
"So… You've been together since then?"
"Not technically. We were on and off…"
"Why?
"Well… She went to Australia on my senior year. Stuff in between…" Katie sat beside Alex.
"But you still ended up together…"
"Call it fate…"
"Think I can find someone for me like that… I mean like how Jessie is to you?"
"Don't think you have it yet?"
"No…"
"What if it is but you refuse to acknowledge it?"
"What if I do but she doesn't?"
"Hmm…"
"Guess the great Katie Singer doesn't have all the answers to all my questions."
"Wait up! I'm thinking here!" The two chuckled then began to speak again.
"Let her know you're the real thing Alex. Reassurance… Everybody needs reassurance…"
"What do you do about her unconscious flirtations?"
"Step in between. Show whoever that is that she's your girl and you're hers."
"Well what if she initiated it?"
"Damn… Tie her on a leash?"
They both laughed.
"But seriously. When it comes to jealousy drag her to where you can talk alone and settle it privately. At least you can prevent it from getting worse."
"Speaking from experience?" Alex arched one of her brows.
"Definitely…" Katie nodded and chuckled again.
"So… aren't you supposed to be somewhere?" Katie asked grinning.
Alex nodded and smiled.