Down & Out

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Part Eleven: Still Searching

Alex sat numbly in the chair, one hand supporting her head, and the other gently holding Marissa's. Ryan had left hours ago, after the silence had become too much. He muttered an excuse of having to go home, and pack. But Alex had known better, he needed to get out of the room. He needed to get away from Marissa's presence.

"Oh…Marissa." Alex said, gently stroking her hand with her thumb.
"I wish you'd wake up already, you've got a lot of people worrying. Especially me. You know your mom's here like everyday…and Summer too. She should be getting ready for Brown, but she decided not to go for now. She still has a month before school starts, but she wants to be here with you. You're lucky to have so many people that love you."

A few beats of silence passed, "You know Ryan still loves you….and I do too." She added even more softly.

Rising out of her seat, Alex dug her hand into her pocket and fished something small out. Leaning over Marissa, Alex moved her hair out of the way and tied the layered black necklace around the sleeping girls' neck. Ducking her head lower to Marissa's ear, "I don't know what you did to the heart that we stole from Jodie, but here's mine."

Sitting back down, her mind began to wander about thoughts regarding what Billy had said, and what Ryan had told her. There was only one thing missing, no one really knew what Marissa felt. Sure Alex knew she loved her, it said so in the letter. But how old was that letter? Alex thought to herself.

Alex's eyes began to droop, and her hand slowly descended. After a few minutes she was sound asleep with her head resting on the bed, her hand still holding Marissa's. After an hour, Alex was in a peaceful slumber.

Slowly Marissa opened her eyes. With great effort she got them open, and looked around the dark room. She felt as if she'd been sleeping for ages. Nothing looked familiar. Feeling a warmth in her hand she looked down surprised to see someone was holding it. Glancing to the top of the blonde's head, Marissa had no idea who it was.

Straining her memory she remembered fragments of words. Someone had been talking. She remembered hearing a voice, a soft, beautiful voice. A puzzled looked crossed Marissa's face, she had no idea who had been talking to her, nor who was holding her hand. The curiosity in her was begging for her to find out who this stranger was, except the only problem was the stranger's face was turned away, and Marissa found it difficult to move her body. It seemed like she'd been sleeping for so long that her body had forgotten how to move around.

After much effort, she wore herself out. Feeling sleep creep up on her, she gave the blonde haired person one last glance before closing her eyes again.

How was that?