Mkay, party people! Not only is this way earlier than I planned, but like, twice as long as the norm. Not certain when I'm gonna be able to churn out the next update, so please do enjoy. :)

CHAPTER 6

Marissa pushes her plate away. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom and then we can get out of here. Okay?"

"Take your time." Kaitlin waves her off.

Just before she makes it to the restroom someone pulls her aside.

"Hey."

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, I haven't seen you in two days. I kept calling you yesterday, but you never answered. I figured with what happened maybe we were gonna-"

"No, Kevin. That was a definite mistake and we aren't, are not getting back together."

He forcibly pulls her back to him.

"Why the hell not?! I thought you'd come to your senses; you can't just turn your back on me. You honestly think I'd just let you?"

"I don't think she needs you to let her do anything. Now get your hands off of her."

Kevin turns to the newcomers. He recognizes Summer immediately, but not the blonde who'd spoken.

"I don't know who you are little girl, but you'd best get out of my face."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, that's so."

Alex steps between the two and knocks his hand for Marissa. She makes sure to get in his face and invade his personal space.

"And if I don't you're going to do what exactly?"

He clenches his fist a few times, honestly thinking just how hard he could hit her, before letting out a low growl and leaving.

"Who was that jackass?"

Marissa redirects her eyes to the floor. "That's Kevin. Just someone who doesn't know how to let go." Summer shoots her a look. Okay, so it wasn't the whole truth, but Marissa was done with him. There was no need to rehash past events.

"Well, he ever comes near you again I'll kick his ass."

Summer suddenly slaps Marissa's arm and the other girl looks at her in shock.

"...the hell, Summer?"

"Why didn't you tell me she was back?"

She avoids eye contact with both girls. "Uh, because..."

"Summer." Alex intervenes. "We've already been over this."

"I don't like being left in the dark. Sue me."

Alex subtly moves out of striking distance.

"Hey, Kaitlin's here. Come say hi." Marissa quickly changes the subject. She moves back toward the table and Alex grabs her arm.

"Go ahead, Summer. We just need to talk for a minute."

Summer gives her a look of concern. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, won't take long at all."

With a nod she's off to find the youngest Cooper.

"What happened? Where did you go this morning?"

"I-I needed some air. Space."

"Space?" She asks with a hurt tone. "From me? Because you regret being with me?

"No... not exactly."

"Not exactly." Alex echos. "What does that mean?"

"I don't regret being with you. I never have, but under the circumstances, these terrible circumstances, it wasn't the smartest thing to do. In fact, it was extremely stupid."

"But I thought we were working on things."

Marissa gives her a look of shock and disbelief. "Working on things doesn't mean being together, Alex."

"If we're together though it'll help us."

"No, no it won't. You have to have trust to be in a relationship and I still have to learn to trust you all over again."

Alex frowns. "You don't learn to trust someone. You either do or you don't."

"Then I'm sorry, but I don't trust you."

The blonde's shoulders slump. "Okay..." She takes a moment to collect herself and then cups the brunette's face with one of her hands. "We will start from the beginning. Whatever it takes."

Marissa takes a step back, breaking the contact between them, when she feels an uncontrolled shudder run through her body.

"The others are waiting."

She moves back to her table and Alex follows silently.

"Look who I found."

When the youngest girl sees Alex she excitedly gets up and hugs her.

"Wow, you're the first to find out I'm back and not hit me."

"Is that what happen to your eye?"

Alex nods.

It wasn't as bad as she'd thought it'd be; the skin was slightly bruised and swollen and had she tried, she probably could have hidden it with concealer.

"Your sister can hit hard when she wants to."

"What?" Kaitlin looks between Alex and Marissa. "But I thought you two-" Marissa cuts her off.

"It happened when I first saw her."

Summer rolls her eyes at Marissa's attempt at a cover-up. "Yeah, I've already figured out you guys probably had sex. No need to cover, Marissa."

Marissa blushes while Alex just gives a slightly embarrassed smile.

"Me and Summer are actually gonna grab something to eat. Do you guys want to stay and join us?"

"Well, we already ate, but I could go for dessert."

"Cool."

The three turn to Marissa for her answer.

"Yeah, I guess."

They all sit down. Alex and Summer order a light lunch, Kaitlin dessert, and Marissa coffee.

"So, where have you been the last few years?" Kaitlin asks, eating a piece of pie.

"Here and there. The East Coast a lot, but I tried out other countries too." Alex kept things as vague as possible.

"That sounds fun."

Marissa scoffs. "Yeah, nice to know you were living it up while the rest of us didn't even know if you were still alive."

Alex looks down at the table and an uncomfortable silence falls.

"Well, you took your parents death hard. Especially with how it happened. I can understand you needed to get away." Kaitlin tries smoothing things over.

"It was horrendous." Alex quietly says.

This time it was Marissa and Summer's turn to look at the table. All these years they had been so caught up in their anger at the blonde that they hadn't stopped and considered everything that she'd been through.

Her parents had suffered a violent death. Many had thought it was because they were such prominent figures in the Newport community and that someone just didn't agree with some of the things they'd done. Years later still no one had been caught by the police.

"I'm sorry." The two mumbled.

"It's okay. I still miss them, everyday, but I have found closure."

"That's good."

Alex silently stares at Kaitlin.

"What?"

"Nothing. I just can't believe how grown up you are. You were always this little scrawny thing hanging in the background. Not anymore. Amazing."

Kaitlin gives her a big smile and then a pointed look to Marissa.

"Thank you. Glad someone noticed."

"Oh, I've noticed." Marissa assures her. "I've also noticed you slumming at our parents' house without a job for the last month too."

Summer snickers at Kaitlin's offended look and it only makes Marissa smirk more.

"Why are you mooching off your parents?"

"Cause she's a deadbeat." Summer teases.

"No! I quit my job." She explains. "There's this trend company; determines what clubs are hot, fashion, what up-and-coming artist are worth looking at and other stuff like that. I was the face of the California branch."

"That sounds pretty cool."

"Yeah, it was. Just turns out that isn't something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. At least not the modeling part. The rest was great though."

"Well, if you want, I have an opening at my new club."

"Ew. As a waiter or something?" A look of disgust crosses Kaitlin's face. "Think I'm gonna have to pass, Alex."

"Uh, no. I was thinking more along the lines of event manager. You get the live bands, plan events, contest and other things like that that go on at the club."

She squeals. "Oh, my God! I'm going to manage a club."

"Event manager." Alex quickly corrects. "Someone else will be in charge of the monetary stuff."

Summer holds up her hands. "Wait, wait, wait. You own a club?"

"Several, Sum. You know the place you assaulted me earlier?" Summer glares at her wording choice. "That was the place."

Marissa gives a nostalgic smile. "You're following in your parents foot steps."

Alex's smile drops a fraction. "Don't have a choice; it's in my blood." The full meaning of the words lost on the other three girls.

As they begin to talk about lighter things the blonde's phone rings.

"Yeah?"

"Your presence is needed. Immediately." The caller hangs up without another word.

"I'm sorry, guys. I have to go. Summer, I'm sorry we didn't really get our lunch, but we'll do dinner soon, okay?"

"I'm holding you to it." Her tone carrying a slight warning to it.

"Kaitlin, I'll have someone get in touch with you about the club. Marissa," Alex stops and just looks at her for a moment. "I'll... call you?"

The brunette nods. "Okay."

With a final nod and glance Alex gets up from the table and leaves.