Part XXIII:

Alex sat on the grass under the shade in the quad. She was reading a few books just to burn her free time. Bianca slowly appeared behind her and watched her read over Alex's shoulder. The girl smiled.

"You know… You could just sit beside me and I'll tell you all about it…" Alex suddenly spoke.

Bianca smiled and sat beside her.

"You never change… You still know when I'm snooping around…"

"Of course…" Alex smiled and turned to her friend.

"Have you told her yet?" Bianca asked as she started to play with the grass using her hands.

"No…"

"You have to tell her…"

"I will… Not to worry…"

"Alex… You have to tell her…"

"Look… It's no big deal… I just don't want to worry about things that have already happened…"

"Still… She should know… You do know honesty was the reason you turned away from me…"

"I know…" Alex dropped her head the stared at her book.

"I know you're happy. I just don't want anything to mess it up…" Bianca pulled her legs and rested her chin on her knees.

"Don't worry…"

"I worry… Because I care…"

"I know…"

----

Marissa was walking towards the library when she bumped into DJ. The boy took hold of Marissa's books that were scattered across the floor. Marissa didn't bend down. It was just going to be another day of DJ harassing her to go out with him.

"Hey… I was wondering…" DJ started to ask as he stood up and handed Marissa's books.

"No." Marissa replied sternly.

"No… No… No… How many times do I have to repeat that?"

"Come on Marissa… Alex won't mind. Besides… You know we're meant to be…." DJ ran his hand on Marissa's cheek making the brunette shiver.

"STOP IT!" Marissa started to walk away but DJ grabbed her bag making her snap back to him.

"Let go!" The brunette screamed.

The students on the hallway turned their heads but didn't do anything.

"Come on Marissa… Don't fight it…" DJ pulled Marissa towards him and started to kiss the girl.

Luckily a hand came in between their lips.

Alex's.

"I think you're trying to kiss my girlfriend." Alex gripped DJ's hand making him let go of Marissa.

She held her girlfriend's hand gently. A smile crept on Marissa's face. She grabbed Alex's arm and started to pull her away. Alex didn't budge though.

"So what? People change… I'm going to change her mind…" DJ smirked but Alex kept her cool.

"Keep dreaming…" Alex grinned back and turned around.

She smiled lovingly at Marissa who smiled back at her too. They knew nothing can break them apart. All they need is trust and honesty.

----

"Are you alright?" Tiffany plopped beside her sister and looked at her inquisitively.

Bianca rubbed the back of her neck on one hand and handed her sister a towel using the other. She didn't reply in words, but her deep sigh told her sister that something was bothering her.

"Hey… What's wrong?" Tiffany asked again.

"It's that guy DJ… He was hounding Marissa again. Good thing Alex was there… He was hurting her…"

"Are you worried about Marissa? Or about Alex…?"

Bianca nudged Tiffany a bit before her reply.

"Both…" Bianca sighed again and stared off into space.

"What happened with you and Alex back in Oklahoma?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean before we graduated high school. Why did you two break up?"

"Because… I wasn't ready to be out back then…" Bianca replied then sighed in regret.

"But you told me…"

"It wasn't enough…"

"Are you going to…?" Tiffany started to speak but was immediately cut off.

"No. Marissa makes her happy. That's enough for me…"

----

Alex and Marissa were in Alex's apartment watching shows on TV. Marissa had the control so she was flipping over the channels to see what's interesting. They came across a special on Beavis and Butthead.

"Did you know they always thought they were going to get laid wherever they were taken?" Alex suddenly mentioned while kissing Marissa's neck.

"How subtle of you… Frustrated much?" Marissa grinned as she messed with Alex's hair.

"Aren't you? I mean… No sex till graduation?" Alex made a shocked face which made Marissa giggle.

"What's so funny?" Alex grinned and started to tickle Marissa.

The two started the tickle fest and ended up on the floor. Marissa was on the losing end.

"ALEX! STOP!" Marissa laughed as Alex straddled her.

Alex acknowledging her girlfriend's plea stopped tickling her. She spread her legs and let Marissa sit in between them. The brunette rested her head on Alex's chest and sighed. Alex just smiled and wrapped Marissa in her arms.

"DJ worrying you?" Marissa asked softly then kissed Alex's chin.

"No…" Alex replied.

The two were silent for a while. They were staring at the TV screen that was showing Barney and Friends.

"Honey…" Alex started to speak.

"Hmm?"

"I want to tell you something…"

"What?"

"Bianca was my first girlfriend…"

"What?" Marissa was stunned and turned around to face Alex.

"She was… Technically. We were secretly together in High School…"

"Oh… What happened?"

"I couldn't keep it a secret… She wanted it to be a secret… I gave up and broke up with her…"

"Oh…"

Alex just smiled at Marissa hoping she wasn't going to go hysterical.

"We never did it. If that was the next question…" Alex took Marissa's hand and squeezed it gently.

Marissa smiled and squeezed Alex's hand in return.

"Do you still love her?" Marissa asked looking straight into Alex's eyes.

"As a friend yes. She told me I should tell you. At least you heard it from me. Not from some other person…"

"She did?" Marissa asked rolling her eyes.

She just wants me to get jealous…

"She's not using it to make you jealous…" Alex suddenly said surprising Marissa.

"She wants us to work out… She cares…" Alex smiled reassuringly.

Marissa rolled her eyes again.

Yeah… She cares so much… Because she still loves you…

"It was difficult, but she still is a good friend. Much like Jodie…" Alex explained as if she heard everything in Marissa's head.

"So no worries?" Marissa asked Alex seriously.

"I would never cheat on you…" Alex replied staring straight into Marissa's green eyes.

"Neither will I." Marissa smiled and pulled Alex into a loving hug.