Part V: Talk the Talk

5 DAYS BEFORE VALENTINES

Jessie and Katie were left by their lonesome at the apartment the next morning. Eli has gone straight to the grocery stores for some supplies. The two girls were still sleeping soundly when he got out. There were no romantic kisses or make-out sessions, much to Katie's disappointment. Jessie was still firm on her decision: No kissing till Valentines.

"This is retarded." Katie leaned in to try and kiss her girlfriend but her lips met Jessie's fingers.

"You're retarded. Now behave." Jessie said sternly, pushing away the brunette slightly.

They have been watching shows on TV since they got finished their breakfast. And since then, Katie has been trying to have her way with Jessie but to no avail.

"HMPH!" Katie grumbled, turning her attention towards the TV as she crossed her arms in frustration.

Jessie giggled beside her, watching her pout and mumble incoherent words under her mouth. The brunette was too caught up with the no kissing rule that she forgot about touching.

Jessie caressed Katie's neck with her fingers ever so lightly. It gave the brunette goosebumps. But at this point, Katie was going to play hard to get. Jessie laughed and started to blow air gently to Katie's skin. It made Katie shiver to the ends of her spine. She closed her eyes, her breathing suddenly becoming erratic. Jessie smiled turning her gaze to the TV again. She bit her lip, her mind racing to a thousand things she would want to happen or Valentines. She felt Katie's hand over hers, squeezing it gently. She turned and saw Katie's green eyes looking at her lovingly. They rested their foreheads on the other. Their noses brushed gently against each others.

They know for a fact, that even without kissing, being in love is really a good feeling.

----

Marissa woke up the next day still with a heavy heart. She turned to find Summer still fast asleep beside her. She sighed, wishing she felt better. She rolled out of bed, careful not to wake the other girl. She walked towards the living room and found Seth sleeping soundly on the couch. She smiled, happy to know Summer had found a nice person to love. The smile was quickly replaced with hurt and tears. Alex. She felt her heart call out. The person she thought was nothing to her. The person she thought was dispensable. Is the only person, Marissa can't find herself to live without.

She ran her fingers through her hair as she walked towards the kitchen. She proceeded to the sink, washing her face to hide her tears. Just then something caught her attention: A shiny, silver object with a wooden handle.

A kitchen knife.

She stared at it for a while, not really knowing why. She thought of how pretty it was, how shiny it was. By this point, Marissa thought it was calling out to her, begging her to take hold of it. Marissa was about to take the knife when Summer appeared.

"Hey Coop, what's for breakfast?" Summer yawned oblivious to what just has transpired with her friend.

"I'm still checking." Marissa replied turning towards the fridge.

----

Eli arrived at the apartment, utterly tired with the lines and the groceries he had undertaken. He opened the door and found Jessie and Katie asleep on the couch, holding each other close. Their lips were inches apart. Eli could only use his imagination on what could have happened while he was gone. I think it's time we had the talk. Eli smiled and cleared his throat. He closed the door with force, waking up the two girls in fear.

"Ehem." Eli grinned watching to the two girls move away from each other as fast as they could.

"We, uh, fell asleep." Jessie explained her hands rested on her lap as she turned away from her brother.

Katie did the same, not daring to look at Eli.

Eli couldn't help but smile. He left the groceries and sat in front of the two young girls. His eyes bounced from one girl to the other, observing if one of them will have the guts to talk about their obvious "relationship."

"Eli…" Jessie spoke looking up to meet her brother's eyes.

"I love Katie."

"I know you do." Eli answered.

"No. Not that way. I love her Eli. I LOVE her." Jessie pointed out.

"I know Jess… I know." Eli smiled taking his sister's hand, it was cold.

"You know?" Katie asked with a shock expression on her face.

"Don't you think you flirt too much?" Eli shot them a grin as he started standing up.

"Now help me with the groceries." He smiled again walking towards the bags he left near the door.

"That was close." Katie whispered then suddenly leaned to kiss Jessie.

Jessie moved away and stuck her tongue out.

"Fine…" Katie mumbled standing up to help Eli.

She took some of the bags and went straight to the kitchen, mumbling at herself in frustration.

Eli turned and looked at Jessie suspiciously.

"What's up her ass?" Eli asked.

"Nothing much really." Jessie replied smiling at her brother.

"Thank you." Jessie added giving him a hug.

"You don't have to thank me for that Jess. You're my sister." Eli smiled down and let go of Jessie.

----

Alex was looking at herself in the mirror when Jodie popped inside her office. She was about to pay Marissa a visit. So she was checking on last minute touches on her wardrobe.

"Hey Alex... Wow! Who's the lucky girl?" Jodie looked at Alex from head to foot.

Alex was definitely dressed to impress.

"Nobody. Make sure you close out properly tonight." Alex reminded Jodie.

"Yup. No problem." Jodie replied as she watched Alex head out the door.

Eli bumped into Alex along the hall and just smiled at him.

"Is she going to where I think she's going?" He asked opening the office door to greet Jodie.

"I hope she is."

"Well at least that's another thing to look forward to tonight. My sister just told me about her relationship with Katie."

"How did that go?" Jodie asked sitting on the table.

"It went well I guess. My sister is torturing her girlfriend."

"Why?"

"She was being a smartass." Eli laughed thinking of how red Katie's face was when Jessie explained their no kissing policy.

"Well, let's just hope for the best." Jodie gave him a smile.

"Yeah… Hope for the best."

----

Marissa was left alone in her room, still gloomy about Alex. Summer and Seth had already left to go for a night out at Alex's club. Marissa wasn't really up for it. For all she knows, Alex still didn't want to talk to her. Even though she said she loved her, it wasn't enough to forgive her. It wasn't enough reason for Alex to see her. She stared out, the wind was blowing rather strong tonight. She watched the curtains fly as the wind blew. She sighed, knowing she could not escape her feelings. She was utterly depressed and there was nothing anybody can do about it. She stood up and walked out of the room.

She dragged her fingers onto the furniture: Feeling nothing on her skin. She breathed out heavily as thoughts of Alex began to flood her mind once more. The first time they met, the first time they kissed, and the time Alex said goodbye. By now Marissa knows it was a goodbye. And the thought was hurting her. Everything was aching inside her.

"I made a mistake on letting you go…" She whispered to no one.

Her right hand made it's way to the necklace she was wearing. The heart necklace, Alex gave to her. Before she realized Alex meant a lot to her, she hid the necklace. At that time she was unsure but she still hid the necklace safely. It was just too late for her to realize why.

As she made her way to the kitchen, there it was again: that shiny, sharp object that has seem to attract her attention since the morning she woke up. She shrugged the thought and opened up the fridge, but her heart began to race. It was as if the knife was telling her to pick it up. Marissa's gaze turned to the knife, her heart began to ache. Thoughts of Alex were flooding her head again.

"Make it stop…" She bent down and sat on the kitchen floor.

She wasn't talking about the memory that was flooding her brain. She was screaming at the urge building up inside of her. The urge to cut her skin to ease her longing for the blonde she loves ever so dearly.

"Make it stop… Make it stop…" She mumbled again, curving up to hold her knees,

She rested her forehead on her knees, hiding her sight from the shiny object that was her tempting. She thought of Alex's smile to ease her, but her longing intensified. Tears began to fall from her eyes, but she didn't stand up. She stayed on the floor, crying, hoping someone would help her.

"Marissa?" A voice spoke.

A voice that Marissa would never forget. She took her gaze up; wiping her tears to meet the blonde's concerned blue eyes.

"Hey…" Alex whispered softly, taking Marissa's hand and sitting beside her.

Marissa didn't say anything. She just pulled the blonde into a hug and began to sob in her arms.

"Everything is going to be alright… I'm here…" Alex said softly holding Marissa tightly.

----

"So… Is there anything else you two would like to share with me?" Eli asked looking at Jessie and Katie.

He was on a break from playing on stage. And he was going to know every detail of the relationship. Jessie knows it was literally going to be EVERY detail.

"I told you everything." Jessie replied.

Katie could only nod. She was still nervous about Eli and his reaction. Only God knows what was running through the guy's brain.

"Have you ever… You know…?" Eli asked again, making the girls face each other and start blushing.

"Yes?" He asked again, with a grin on his face.

"NO!" They replied in unison, looking back at each other again.

"Fine… Ok…" He shot back, still grinning.

He stood up and walked towards the stage to play again. Jessie and Katie were left on the booth still feeling uneasy.

"Is he always going to be like this?" Katie asked looking at her girlfriend.

"Maybe…"

"I won't be able to last a year if he goes on like this. Questions 101…" Katie mumbled obviously still nervous.

"I think if you were a boy he's still going to be like that…" Jessie replied taking Katie's hand.

"I love you." Jessie smiled resting her head on Katie's shoulder.

The brunette eased up and held her closer.

"I love you too…"

----

Marissa opened her eyes to see Alex carrying her towards the bedroom. She held on to the blonde's neck as Alex placed her in bed.

"Have you eaten?" Alex asked fixing the pillows for Marissa.

"No…" Marissa whispered just staring at the blonde with tears in her eyes.

"I'll fix you something…" Alex began to walk out but Marissa took hold of her hand.

"No... Please don't go… I can't let you go…" Marissa rambled.

Alex sat beside her on the bed and tucked stray hair on Marissa's ear. She found fear in Marissa's eyes.

"I promise I'll come back. I can't let you starve…" Alex replied giving Marissa a kiss on the cheek.

When she pulled back, she saw Marissa's eyes were closed. The brunette was starting to cry again. Then there it was, Alex's heart skipped a beat. She leaned closer, this time kissing Marissa's lips gently.

"I love you…" Marissa pulled back looking straight into Alex's eyes.

She knew the blonde might not believe her. But she had to let it out her chest. She just had to.

Alex just smiled at her and gave her a kiss on the forehead.