Chapter Nine-

Marissa was nervous, she knew she had to do it but…

She didn't want to hurt him, no matter how much she loved Alex and wanted to be with her, Ryan would always have a place in her heart, even if it only was a friendship sort of love, Ryan was still a huge part of her life, he meant something to her, he meant a lot to her.

She didn't want him to hate her, she didn't think she could handle his anger, and she knew he'd be angry, even though she dreaded it, she knew he'd explode.

What she wasn't prepared for was him storming out of the Crab Shack and into the car park. She didn't expect to be running after him, begging him to just listen to her.

She told him straight out, 'I'm not in love with you Ryan,' she didn't try to sugar coat it, knowing that it would only infuriate him even more.

The blank hurt look on his face had hurt her, knowing she'd caused his pain made her stomach ache. When she told him what had happened his hurt expression changed instantly to one of anger and fury.

He was seething.

Seconds later he was off, storming out of the small café and jogging towards the car park, Marissa close on his heel.

When he saw Alex's jeep, Marissa thought she actually saw steam come out of his ears. He stormed over, Marissa behind him and he pulled open the jeep door, nearly pulling it off its hinges.

"Ryan, don't!" she screamed, scared for the person that meant most to her. She ran over as Alex stepped out of the car, raising her hands in surrender and backing away. "Ryan!"

"Look, Ryan, I'm not fighting you," Alex backed away even more, forced to stop when she ran into the open jeep door.

"Yes you are. 8 months ago you couldn't wait to fight me, here's your chance. Let's go." He was angrier that Marissa had ever seen him, his teeth were clenched and his eyes looked like fire, staring at Alex with more hatred than Marissa had ever seen in him or anyone before. He raised his hand and brought it down quickly, hitting Alex on the cheek with his open palm.

"Ryan!" Marissa ran over, pushing past Ryan and going straight to Alex who was holding a hand to her cheek, working her jaw as if to rid it of the pain.

"She's a slut Marissa can't you see that, look how she left you last time!" he yelled, his eyes still full of hatred, "You belong with me Marissa."

Marissa turned, one of her hands on Alex's lower back, the other resting at her side, her eyes were now filled with fury as she looked towards her EX-boyfriend, "Touch her again, and I'll never speak to you again!" she yelled, pointing at him threateningly, "It's over Ryan. You and me, we never should have got together in the first place. And to think that I convinced myself that I loved you," she shook her head, "Leave, Ryan!"

He turned instantly and stormed off, shaking his head as he climbed into his car, and drove off.

Marissa looked back to Alex, "Are you alright?" she asked, her hand reaching up to Alex's reddened cheek, "He got you good."

Alex just nodded, removing her hand and letting Marissa touch her. "I'll go get some ice, wait here," she said, smiling at Alex warmly.

She walked away, running towards the Crab Shack. She ran across the car park with out even looking, then she heard it, a running car engine, screeching tires, screaming, Alex's high pitched, "No!" and next thing she knew she felt something heavy hitting her side, something forcing her into the air, sending her flying.

She felt herself slam into something glass and she heard it shatter, she felt sharp pains in her back and the back of her neck.

She could feel something hot and wet running down the side of her neck. Her eyelids were suddenly heavy, she was drowsy, and her head was pounding. She closed her eyes tight, trying to rid the throbbing pain that was consuming her entire body.

"Marissa!"

She heard Alex's voice coming from somewhere that seemed to be miles away and yet the sound still made her head throb even more than it already was.

"Alex?" her voice was weak, she could barely hear it herself, it seemed to be throaty, croaky, like the time she had laryngitis.

She kept her eyes closed, trying not to fall asleep but the urge was getting stronger. She felt somebody touch her; she knew straight away that it was Alex from the tingling feeling that shot up her arm, "Alex?" she said again, once again in that weak voice.

"Yeah, it's me," came, Alex's quiet response, her voice was filled with panic, "Baby, are you ok?"

She could no longer talk; she couldn't concentrate on anything but the pain that was tearing through her body. Her throbbing head and her neck were the worst, and the need to just fall into sleep was overwhelming.

The pain that was traveling down her back was beginning to dull, leaving no feeling at all in its place; even the feeling of Alex's hand on her arm was fading.

She couldn't deny her body any longer so she opened her eyes just for a second wincing at the pain the light caused, looking up into Alex's tear stained face, "I love you, Alex," she said softly, seeing more tears come into Alex's eyes and seeing Alex's mouth move but she couldn't hear anything come out. Next second she closed her eyes, giving into her need to rest, letting sleep over take her, take her into the dark, into the nothing.

THE END

This si the last chapter of this story, bu there will be a sequel, don't fret, give me a couple of days and I'll have the first chapter up.

Thanks for all the reviews and everything, i really appreciate it.