18 Years Old - June

As she sat on the front balcony of the cottage she was both nervous and exited and a million other emotions she couldn't explain. It had been two years, without seeing or talking to Marissa Cooper. When the Kelly family got to the cottage and the Coopers came over Alex's heart felt like it had momentarily stopped. There was no sign of the eldest Cooper daughter, and Julie told her she'd be coming up as soon as she finished some stuff for school.

Deciding she couldn't take the anxiousness any longer Alex grabbed the keys to her Jeep and headed into town to get some ice cream. To her dismay when Alex got back there was still no sign of the Marissa. So Alex went back up to the porch and sat on the swinging bench with her ipod. A little while there the blonde heard a car pull up, not wanting to get her hopes up but wanting to look she got up and made her way over to see who it was.

She seen the red mustang pull up and she almost went back to laying down but for some reason she felt like she shouldn't. The seen the door open and a tall brunette get out with a huge smile on her face. Alex's mouth dropped in awe she couldn't really see the girl and she wasn't sure if it was Marissa, the Coopers were expecting company but whoever it was, Alex thought they were gorgeous. Looking up at the sky she seen the clouds roll in and the slight temperature change, she knew things were going to get rough that night, what she didn't know was that it just wasn't going to be because of the weather.

Cooper Cottage

"Mom, Dad, Kaitlyn?" Marissa called out through the cottage as she walked in and placed her bag down by the door.

"Out here." Her father called out from the back deck.

When she walked out onto the deck she was instantly greeted from smiles by the Kelly's. "My gosh Marissa Cooper, look at you all grown up." Patricia Kelly gave her a hug and it seemed like she wouldn't let her go. "Alex just went for some ice cream, I'm sure if she's back yet, but feel free to check."

"Thanks, I think I'm going to get settled in first. See you all for dinner?" The parents nodded and Marissa walked back inside and up to her room, over looking the lake.

She took a deep breath and looked up to the sky where she was greeted with grey and gloominess. Feeling somewhat tired after the long drive up she decided that before she face the skeleton in her closet, formally known as Alex, she needed a nap.

An hour later she awoke to the sound of the phone ringing. Groaning she rolled over and tried to ignore it, that is until her mother poked her head in the door.
"Rissa, phone for you." In response Marissa moved the pillow over her head. "Here." Her mother shoved the phone in her face, giving her no other choice but to answer it.

She waited for her mother to leave the room before clearing her throat and answering. "Hello?" Came her groggy tone, but it got no answer so she tried again. "Helloo? Anybody home?"

"Hi." It was a soft reply only barely audible but it was enough for her to hear. A moment passed with no one saying a word. "Marissa." It wasn't a question, was more of a statement or more like someone just wanted to say her name. That was all that was needed to make her heart flutter and she knew exactly who she was talking to.

"Hey." She didn't know what else to say.

There was a pause and it sounded like the other person wanted to say something but couldn't get it out. "Did you maybe want to come over? I know it's raining outside, I mean I could come over there, if you want of course."

Marissa looked outside and seen the rain pouring down. "I still need to finish unpacking and wash up so how about I maybe come by a little later." She just wasn't ready to face Alex Kelly yet after two years and just hearing her on the phone was hard.

"Oh, uh okay."

"Okay, so I'll see you later then?"

"At some point I'm sure. Sorry if I woke you up, bye." Alex hung up the phone and decided to go for a walk, disregarding the rain. She was just totally shot down and it hurt like hell, even after two years.

Marissa hung up the phone and thought about what had just happened. Smacking herself on the forehead she got up and got changed before heading over to the Kelly Cottage. By the time she got there Alex was already gone. Heading back out into the rain Marissa decided to try and see if she was at the dock.

When she neared the dock she smiled at the sound of the music playing from the boat, and there laying on the dock was Alex Kelly. Or she hoped it was Alex, otherwise she'd be completely embarrassed. She stood still watching the blonde lay on the dock in the rain, listening to the music as the water fell down on her.

"I thought it says, can't you see it's just raining no need to go outside, not lets go sit on in the rain and get sick.."

For a second Alex thought for sure she was dreaming. Deciding to open an eye she seen a tall brunette with killer legs, and those eyes. Now she thought for sure she was hallucinating, and then the girl walked over and was standing right in front of her. Propping herself up on her arms she smiled. "Marissa Cooper."

The brunette raised an eyebrow. "Alex Kelly." There was a long pause and it was as if all their fight never happened and they hadn't spent a second apart. "So where are my banana pancakes then?"

Alex smiled bigger than she thought she ever had. "Inside most likely, might be cold by but if your on your best behaviour and don't tell me to charge it I might be able to make you some more."

She went to get up but stopped when Marissa laid down next to her on the dock. Laying back down the two stayed in silence, for now their troubles and issues were behind them and the only thing that was important was being with each other.

Kelly Cottage - Hour Later

Alex wrapped the towel around Marissa, her hand slightly touching the other girls as she pulled away.

"Thanks." Both girls smiled at each other and stood starring not being able to take their eyes off each other. "You look good."

"You look amazing, someone finally grew up." Alex joked.

"I guess it happens, and thank you." Marissa tried not to blush but it was hard not to, especially since she was trying to forget about the butterflies in her stomach.

"No problem, my offer for those banana pancakes still stands if you want them. My parents and your parents are probably passed out at your place by now. I could make the pancakes, we could go sit on the deck and catch up if it's cool by you?"

Marissa nodded. "It's cake." Alex raised an eyebrow. "Sorry that's what happens when you're around Summer for far too long." Alex nodded.

"If you want to change feel free to borrow anything that's in my room." Marissa nodded and headed off to change as Alex got what she was going to need to make the pancakes with.

Just as she finished making the batter her cell phone began to ring. Her original instinct was to ignore and continue what she was doing, but she felt bad, especially if it was an emergency.

"Hello." She answered tasting the batter with her finger.
"Alex, can we talk."

"Now isn't really a good time."

"Please." The voice pleaded.

Alex huffed. "One minute."

Ten minutes later Marissa walked back into the kitchen to hear Alex arguing on the phone with someone, her back towards Marissa.

"Jodie how many times do we have to go over this?…Okay, fine have fun, I don't care incase you didn't get the memo…Well I am busy right now…Yes with Marissa, the girl I haven't seen in two years so later." With that Alex hung up the phone and turned around. "Maris…"

The towel was hung on the railing, the deck door open just enough for Alex to know that Marissa had heard her conversation or at least a part of it. This was not the way she wanted them to start things back off. Her first instinct was to run after the girl, but she decided to finish making the pan cakes then go and find her and bring her back.