Part IX: Be My Valentine
1 DAY BEFORE VALENTINES
Ryan worked his way towards Marissa and Summer's room early the next morning. Marissa has not acknowledged his existence since he came back from Alex's club. The brunette had locked herself inside the room since the morning she came back. She would at times go out to eat but that was that.
"Summer…" Ryan spoke waking the smaller brunette from her slumber.
"Could you give us a few minutes please?" Ryan pleaded.
Although Summer was really pissed off with the boy, she just rolled out of bed and out of the room. She was still too sleepy to argue with Ryan.
Marissa turned and sat up on the bed. She just looked at him with eyes in total sadness. She was starting to miss Alex. And knowing she was about to leave LA pierced her heart. She hated Ryan for it. She even hated Julie.
"Why did you go after Alex? You know the thing in Newport was just another phase." Ryan started to speak but Marissa's mind wasn't with the words he was saying.
Marissa's mind was fixed on how Alex held her: How the blonde made her feel safe. She thought about Alex's smile: her eyes. She thought about the things Alex told her. She knew Alex didn't want her to regret anything. She closed her eyes, trying to feel Alex's warmth around her. But all she could hear were Ryan's ramblings.
"She doesn't care about you. She can barely take care of you. She chose work over you." Ryan continued.
His tone was rising. Just the thought of Marissa and Alex together made him want to rip the blonde into shreds.
"She didn't choose work over me. She chose to work harder for me. And I threw all her hard work away." Marissa replied opening her eyes.
"What?" Ryan asked in disbelief.
"She was supporting herself and I. She loved me that much to sacrifice the time we spend together to be able to at least give me the life I was used to. She tried. She tried to make time and all I did was lie to her. I lied to her." Marissa closed her eyes feeling herself about to cry.
"All she did was love me the best she knew how. And I threw it all away. Because I was stupid. I only cared about myself. I only cared about the things I was accustomed to. But not anymore..." Marissa slid towards the edge of the bed and began to stand.
"I will go back with you to Newport. But only to be able to settle the things I left behind. I will come back here to be with her. And there's nothing my mother, or you, can say to make me change my mind. I love her."
"You are trying your hardest to convince yourself that. You love me! Not her. I'm your boyfriend!" Ryan yelled punching a whole on the wooden door.
"I'm not trying to convince myself. Because I do love her." Marissa replied just looking straight into his eyes.
"Where does that leave me?" Ryan asked gritting his teeth.
"Just a friend. It's over Ryan. Whether or not Alex and I go back together… We're over. I don't want to lie to myself. She's the one I want." Marissa said with a serious look.
"You'll come back to me! You always do!" Ryan growled slamming the door shut behind him.
Marissa breathed out and looked outside the window.
"If it was the old me… I might. But I've changed. No more lies."
----
Alex stared at her computer clock which read 11AM. She was working on some paper work since 7AM. She was trying to keep herself from thinking about Marissa and her departure from LA. She failed miserably though.
"Hi Alex. Can we come in?" Jessie asked with Katie in tow.
"Sure. What can I do for you?" Alex asked as she watched the two girls take their seats.
"Jodie and the guys wanted to invite you over to the party at the beach tonight, since you'll be closing early." Katie smiled holding Jessie's hand.
"Party… At the beach… Well… Don't you have a date or something?"
"Well… We planned something… But… I think the best way to celebrate valentines is to have fun with ALL the people you love and care about…" Katie replied grinning.
"Your brother is teasing you over the first time thing right?" Alex turned to Jessie making the younger blonde blush.
"Yeah thought so." Alex smiled then turned to Katie.
"Are you sure you two don't want to do it yet. Because Valentines is such a wonderful day to be all lovey-dovey." She smirked.
"Someone told me firsts are not good during Valentines Day." Katie smirked back earning a laugh from Alex.
"Alright. I'll just go with Jodie." Alex replied standing up.
Jessie and Katie smiled at her and stood up to go out of her office. The two girls were still audible making Alex accidentally catch their conversation.
"Are bonfires fun?" Jessie asked looking up to Katie.
"Jodie says they are." Katie replied looking down at the blonde.
They smiled at each other then walked out of Alex's office.
Alex sighed as she turned around. She rubbed the back of her neck, clearly unhappy with the things she heard.
"I hate bonfires."
----
Marissa stared out the window, not wanting to move out of LA. She hasn't heard from Alex since the day before. Marissa thought she was just busy with work, since it was Valentines Day the next day.
"Coop get ready. We're going out to night." Summer said casually, picking out a dress.
"But I thought we're going back?" Marissa asked confused.
"Cohen and I wanted to spend Valentines in LA. And you're coming with us." Summer smirked throwing a blouse at her.
"What about Ryan?" Marissa asked knowing the boy would probably fume if they were going to stay in LA longer.
"To hell with him! I've had enough of his rants!" Summer sneered flipping her hair as she looked for an outfit.
"Where are we going then?" Marissa asked again, feeling a little bit more confident.
"Well just see a few friends on the beach. Bonfire!" Summer giggled skipping towards the bathroom.
"I hate bonfires…" Marissa mumbled but still scrambled for an outfit from her bag.
----
On the beach later that night, the employees and some of their friends together with Jodie, Jessie and Katie, held a small party for the eve of Valentines Day. And by request of their boss, Alex, no alcoholic drinks aloud on the beach.
Alex was still at home so the three girls were being entertained by Eli and the other members of Alex's payroll.
Suddenly Ryan appeared out of nowhere, his eyes burning Katie's back.
"MARISSA! I told you we're leaving! Why are you still hanging out with these LOSERS?" He saw Eli and remembered him from the day at Alex's club.
Therefore Ryan included him on his losers list.
"I think you mistake me for another person. I'm Katie." Katie replied trying to be courteous to the guy.
"LET'S GO!" Ryan hissed taking Katie's hand.
He yanked it so hard Katie grimaced in pain.
"LET GO OF MY GIRLFRIEND!" Jessie screamed slapping Ryan's hand a few times to let go of Katie who was starting to cry.
"LET GO ATWOOD! YOU PICKED THE WRONG GIRL! THAT'S NOT MARISSA!" Jodie angrily tore the boy's arm away from Katie's"
"AHHH!" Katie yelled feeling Ryan's nails scratch her arms.
Jessie pulled Katie to her and hurriedly examined her girlfriends arm. There were specks of blood on the girl's arm. Jessie gritted her teeth and was about to attack Ryan. But Eli held her back.
"Stay away from Katie!" Jessie held Katie's hand as she angrily yelled at the guy.
"Katie? THAT'S MARISSA! YOU STAY AWAY!" Ryan was about to lunge Eli so he could get to Katie but he felt a fist connecting with his cheek.
"BACK OFF ATWOOD!" Alex yelled out and pushed her aside.
"What's going on here?" Summer inquired her tone obviously annoyed.
"Seems Ryan has mistaken our friend Katie for Marissa." Seth shook his head looking at his friend in disdain.
"What?" Ryan turned, rubbing his cheek.
"That's not me Ryan." Marissa appeared behind Seth.
"What? How?" Ryan turned his gaze from Katie to Marissa then Marissa back to Katie.
"Things happen Ryan." Alex replied looking down at him.
Alex held out her hand for the boy to take. Ryan looked at her confused.
"What are you doing?" Ryan asked staring at the blonde's hand.
"Giving you a hand." Alex replied holding Ryan's hand and then pulling her up.
"You don't have to go berserk in front of my friends, specially those girls." Alex explained pointing at Jessie and Katie.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know…" Ryan's eyes turned apologetic.
"Now let's just have a good time ok? I brought Marshmallows." Alex smiled putting up a bag of marshmallows for everyone.