Part X: To New Beginnings

VALENTINES DAY

Alex watched as the tide turned. It had just stroke midnight, signaling the re-entry of a day she vowed once not to celebrate. Right now, she found herself celebrating. She turned and saw Jessie and Katie in a corner of her eyes. She also saw Seth and Summer admiring the warmth of the plains. Love. No matter what the form was heart warming. She asked herself at times if she could find love only to find it again to the same person who made her feel it. Marissa Cooper. She turned to the person beside her. Yes, it was Marissa. The brunette has been holding her hand for quite sometime now. Just holding, no caressing, no special touch. Alex smiled and then stared at the ocean. It was peaceful, serene.

"Nothing like another day at the beach." Alex blurted out earning a smile from the girl beside her.

"Uhum… Nothing like the cool breeze and the sound of waves in sync with each other…"

There was silence between them. Alex's gaze turned to Eli and Jodie, with the rest of the club employees. They were all smiles and seemingly content on celebrating Valentines with their co-workers: their friends. It was another kind of love that Alex has forgotten. Friendship. She turned to Summer who was now sitting beside Marissa. The smaller brunette was rambling about their drive back to Newport. How the highway wind as Summer would call it, would ruin her skin and her hair. Alex shook her head, standing up to take a walk along shore.

Marissa followed her with her gaze. She wanted to follow. She stood up and straightened herself then walked towards where Alex was.

"Everything is going to be different…" Jessie whispered to Katie's ear.

"Uhum… But I know I'll always love you…"

"Cheesy response Miss Singer…" Jessie leaned resting her forehead.

"Ohh… But you love it Miss Sammler…" Katie replied kissing her softly.

"I love you… I'm sorry… Our first Valentines is less than special…" Jessie apologized, tugging Katie's hand to her chest.

"It is. I'm with you." Katie replied.

"We can explore other things as time goes by… And I'm sure it's something I would look forward to." Katie added rubbing her nose against Jessie's.

"Yeah… Something we could both look forward to…" Jessie replied bringing her lips to Katie's once more.

Alex sat by her lonesome on one part of the beach. She didn't realize Marissa was already approaching towards her.

"I'll be leaving at lunch…" Marissa began to say.

She sat beside Alex who just stared out the ocean.

"Then I'll come back on the weekend. Visit you…"

"Do you really want this Marissa?" Alex asked looking at her sadly.

"Yes…" Marissa replied looking back straight in her eyes.

"It's going to be a hard road Marissa. You know how it was." Alex added trying to find ease to the pain that was building up inside her.

Marissa leaned to her surprising her with a kiss. Marissa let the kiss linger, feeling the blonde ease, starting to kiss her back. She pulled away, but only a few centimeters, just enough for her to look at the blonde's ruby lips.

"It's a road I'm willing to take with you." Marissa replied looking up to the blonde.

"We're going to make this work this time. Because that's not only my life Alex…" Marissa pointed to the people in the bonfire, somewhat repeating what had happened in Newport.

Only this time Marissa was different.

"Newport is not the only thing in my life. Not just Summer… Not just Harbour… Not just fashion… You Alex… It includes you…" Marissa searched for Alex's eyes wanting to look straight at them as she spoke.

"Is this for real?" Alex breathed out closing her eyes.

"Stand up…" Marissa smiled at her standing up with her.

"OW!" Alex rubbed her arm, feeling the sting Marissa has just implicated through pinching her skin.

"Still asking if this is real…" Marissa smirked giving the pained region a kiss.

"I don't know if I should be sorry if I did." Alex smirked back pulling her into a hug.

"Happy Valentines Day Alex…" Marissa whispered leaning in to graze her lips with Alex's.

"Happy Valentines Day Marissa…" Alex replied giving Marissa another kiss on the lips.

"HEY YOU LOVEBIRDS THERE! COME HERE!" Seth yelled breaking their kiss, although still in smiles.

"Pass this." Eli instructed giving out small plastic cups as Jodie took out two bottles of ice called champagne.

Jessie stared at Katie who took two cups.

"I don't think we're allowed to." Jessie whispered unsure if it was a good idea.

"We'll share one cup. Just to join you know…" Katie smiled, reassuring her girlfriend.

"Ok…" Jessie smiled easing up.

"Now I know we're all different people here..." Seth began to speak looking at all the people around him.

"Some of us are lovers, like me and Summer… Like Jessie and Katie… Like Marissa and Alex." He smiled turning his gaze to Summer.

"We wouldn't know if this is forever. Even married couples have problems… But we all hope that what this Valentines Day brings to us is hope. That we can work things out together… No matter what life brings us: Truthfulness, honesty, love." Seth raised his cup nodding to everyone around him.

"Some of us are good friends: Who care so much for each other. Let's all remember this. We maybe in love with one person… But we have a lot of people who love us. Let's not forget that." Seth raised his cup and nodded to Eli, Jodie and Ryan.

"We all make mistakes… But even if it's not Valentines Day… Or any day special… Let's not forget to forgive." Seth turned to Alex and Marissa.

"Let's not forget to change for the better…" Seth brought his smile to Ryan who just sighed.

"This toast if for all of us and all the love in the world…" Seth breathed out as the rest raised theirs to toast.

"Happy Valentines everybody." Alex greeted giving everybody a hug.

Even Ryan.

They all exchanged hugs and kisses. And as the sun rose, everybody went on their way. Some went home. Some stayed on the beach to take a walk.

Marissa and Alex decided to stay for a while. Marissa was leaving along with Summer by lunch time. They wanted to stay together as long as they could.

"Never felt good about bonfires since the one I attended in Newport…" Alex began to say, but there was a smile on her face.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't really good at entertaining you back then…" Marissa replied letting out a small smile.

"Call me when you get there." Alex turned to Marissa smiling.

Marissa nodded and gave her a kiss on the lips.

"I will love you forever Alex Kelly… With every beat of my heart." Marissa said pulling back a little from Alex.

"That definitely works for me…" Alex grinned kissing her again.

From a distance, Jessie and Katie watched them. Katie held Jessie's hand, entwining their fingers as she did.

"I'm glad they're back together." Jessie sighed smiling at the sight.

"I hope they stay together… I hope we do too…" Katie added smiling.

"Be sure you don't do anything inappropriate when we get back in school Katie Singer…"

"Why not? Making out in public is fun…" Katie put her index finger on her chin, pretending to think.

"Katie…" Jessie grumbled blushing at the thought of making out in front of Sarah, Grace, and Tad.

"I'm just kidding… I love you…" Katie grinned at her leaning in to kiss her cheek.

Jessie pouted.

"What?" Katie shrugged but smiled.

"Ah… I know what you want…" Katie smiled leaning to kiss her lips.
She felt Jessie smile under the kiss.

"See I know what you want." Katie smiled her lips still pressing on Jessie's.

"Totally…"

The day went by like a breeze. Everyone's heart felt light, although Ryan was still a little bit disturbed. He remained quiet for the rest of the day. Marissa had already told him what she wanted. And it was obviously wasn't him.

Marissa and Alex said each other goodbye. But this goodbye was far less than tormenting. They were starting a new life. Together. Not physically. But they were together by heart.

Jessie and Katie went back to Chicago then next day. Eli was going to stay in LA already. Alex gave him the job. And by next Valentines day, Jessie and Katie would probably come down to visit. Along with the rest of their friends.

Seth and Summer felt better on the way back to Newport. Knowing that not only did their relationship bloom, Marissa was happy. They knew Alex would have changed their friend. She could change her for the better. And they were right.

Ryan found himself not wanting to go back to Newport as of the moment. He took a ride back to Chino. He needed to clear his head. And he also does with his heart.

In the end, as any story I might have written they will all live ever after. I'm a sucker for happy endings.

Now all you readers out there would wonder, but that's were this particular story ends. I purposely wrote this just for Valentines. I know you would wonder what would happen next, but then again that would be a different story. Happy Valentines to everyone.

-FIN-