bbvcool - Why do I know your name so well? Are you on the forums? Now, to clear some things up for you. Marissa and Ryan never dated. Ryan and Alex just have numerous reasons for hating each other. As far as Kevin goes, Alex doesn't know him and Marissa got involved with him after she left. Marissa did no cheating with any of them on any of them.

WPFAE - Alex is not a spy and the thought never crossed my mind until you asked. There have been hints though, and whether you know it or not you are picking them up.

Now I'm going to start to reveal little by little what has happened not only to Alex, but the Newport crew as well during the last five years.

CHAPTER 7

"Do you think Alex would like to go to a showing with me?"

"What?"

"I have a swimsuit showing this weekend and I figured I'd invite her."

Marissa glares at her. "Why are you inviting her to stare at other girls? Half naked girls at that."

"Because I want to show her what she's missed in my life and there's no such thing as a full bodied bikini?"

"I can't believe you're already planning your Saturdays with her to go look at other, half naked, girls."

Summer frowns in confusion.

"What the hell are you going on about, Coop?"

"You're going to forgive her just like that? Without any explanation or reason you're just going to let it go and act like she never disappeared."

"Overlooking your obvious jealously here..." Summer shrugs. "Her parents were like an extended family to us and it hurt so bad when all of that happened. I mean, in about twelve hours we lost not only two people who were second parents to us, but also our best friend. It hurt and I was so pissed, but the thing is," She stops, closes her eyes and takes a deep, slow breath. "The thing is five years ago I lost my best friend and during that time all I wanted was to have her back. Now I do and there is no way in hell I will ever let her go again."

"I get that."

Summer gives an unamused chuckle. "No, you don't get it. Look, I'm not saying you should get back together with her and pretend nothing ever happened cause that's completely up to you. But you need to let some of that anger and distrust go and focus on the fact that you have her back. Be happy and make up for that lost time."

Marissa stares off thinking over her friend's words. It only takes her a moment before she's up and grabbing her keys.

"I'll see you later, Summer." After giving her a quick hug she runs out the room.

After the fifth rang of the doorbell went answered Marissa decided to go around and see if anyone was in the backyard. Sure enough she found just who she was looking for striking a punching bag without abandon. She inhales a sharp breath as she fully takes the other girl in. The blonde had always been fit thanks to the copious amount of surfing she did when they were younger, but now she was more than just fit. She was ripped and the thin, white wifebeater did little to hide the well-defined muscles. She snaps to when a hand waves back and forth in front of her face.

"You okay there?" Alex looks amused. "You've been staring off into space for a couple of minutes now."

"Um, yeah. I actually came to ask you the same thing. You disappeared from lunch a few days ago and no one's heard anything from you since. I was worried."

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that." She rubs the back of her neck. "I've had business issues and it's ran me ragged. Was going at the bag to relax some." She nods in the direction of the punching bag.

Wordlessly Marissa grabs her hands and starts taking off her handwraps. "I didn't know you were into boxing."

"I'm not. Not really anyway. Luke suggested working out to calm me down or whatever and I gravitated towards the bag."

"Luke?"

Instantly Alex smiles.

"Yeah, he's been my best friend since I left. The only one besides Camryn to be in my life in those five years."

"Oh." She's not sure what to say. "So, you two are close?"

Alex nods. "I mean, I would never tell him this, but I love the guy."

"Well, even if it wasn't me I'm glad you had someone." Marissa bits her bottom lip and pauses. "And I was thinking... maybe you'd... tell me about it? Your life in those five years."

Alex's eyes snaps to hers and she sees her opening. "Absolutely." She ushers the other girl to the other side of the deck and onto one of the benches around the hot tub.

"What do you want to know?"

Marissa shrugs a shoulder, not wanting to push. "Whatever you want to tell me."

"Okay, since we're talking about Luke I'll tell you about how I meet him. That was pretty much the start of everything."

Alex walked the halls of her new school completely unaware of any of the people around her. She barely acknowledged their existence when she had to. Right now she was more interested in staring at her hair. She couldn't believe it, after 2 and a half years, her hair was suddenly and wholly blonde. No more purple streak to speak of. After getting over the shock her girlfriend had loved it and would play with it for hours as they made out. Now they were both no more.

"Life sucks."

Someone slams into her left side and she was pushed into the rows of lockers, dropping her bag. Not bothering to look up she grabs her bag and tries to continue on her way.

"Excuse you." A smaller blonde blocks her way. "You bumped into me."

Alex takes a calming breath, but doesn't say anything.

"You owe my girlfriend an apology." Looking sideways she sees a brunette boy and a light redheaded girl standing next to her. "You know, ever since you've gotten here you haven't said 'boo' to anyone else. What, you think you're better than us, Kelly?"

"No, I just think you're not worth my time. Now move."

"I'm not sure you realize just who we are." The red head turns her nose up.

"Pathetically bored individuals with no life's ambition?"

"Someone should really teach you some respect."

"And who's going to do that, Brad?" A newcomer asks. "I'm not even sure your feeble minded brain understands the concept of respect."

"Luke! So nice to see you, but this is none of your business so why don't you run along?" Brad gets in his face to intimidate him. "Then again, maybe you should walk. We don't want you hurting yourself again."

They hear a loud thump and turn around to find the red head with a shocked look, the blonde on the floor holding her face and Alex standing like nothing had happened. She shrugs at the group.

"Oops?"

"You stupid little bitch."

Brad moves towards her with his arm raised, but doesn't make it two steps before he's turned around and Luke's fist collides solidly against his nose. While everyone was focus on the two boys wrestling on the floor the red head snaps back to reality slaps at Alex's face. Her second attempt is blocked and Alex grabs her by her hair and slams her head first into the nearest locker. The other blonde girl quickly gets up and starts wildly swing at her and is shortly joined by the red head. Luke sees this and knees Brad in the stomach before grabbing one of the girls by her waist and pulling her up. Brad gets up to hit him but stops short as he turns and the red head is placed in his way. Luke capitalizes on the moment of hesitation and headbutts him. A loud crunching sound is heard followed shortly by another behind him. Brad curls up and tries to hide his groans while the blonde that Alex had hit was screaming bloody murder and flailing one of her hands while the other try to stop the blood flow. In true late timing a group of teachers rush over and escort all five of them off.

Alex and Luke sat next to each other in the main office waiting on their names to be called. Brad and his two friends had already been sent home.

Luke stares at the silent blonde. Brad was right about one thing, in the three weeks she'd been here Alex didn't talk to anyone unless absolutely necessary and even then her words were curt and straight to the point. She... intrigued him.

"That's a pretty hard right hook you have."

Alex couldn't help the twitch her lip gave as she tried to hold in a smile. This was the first time she'd had any kind of release since her parents' death. It felt good.

"And you were handling yourself pretty well till the numbers game caught up with you."

She still doesn't say anything, but gives an almost imperceptible nod. Luke doesn't let that stop him from single-handedly holding the conversation.

"I've been waiting to have it out with that guy for the last four months and I've been waiting for someone to put those girls in their places since middle school. Where'd you learn how fight?"

"My... a friend of the family has been teaching me." She mumbles.

"Well, shit. You must be a natural. Maybe I should be taking lessons from you."

This time Alex doesn't hold back her smile. For the first time since she'd left Newport she'd found someone besides Cam that she wanted to talk to. He didn't act like everyone else she'd ran into at this school.

"What's your beef with Brad?"

"I was one of the top guys on the football team this year. Our school hasn't won a championship since forever ago and with me and some of the other seniors it looks like we were going to finally do it before we all left after graduation. Well, we actually made it to the championship game undefeated. The other team was up by three with seven seconds left in the game. There was no way our team was going to accept a tie or overtime so, I got the ball on the last play to run it in. Two yards away, I could taste victory, see that new ring on my hand and this guy plows into me. I flip in the air and land the wrongest of ways, my patella broken in four places, and we lose the game. That backstabber Brad blames me and the fickle masses follow his lead. On top of being ostracized and my parents constantly reminding me of how I failed them, every one of the colleges pulled their offers. Guess no one wants a gimp lined up for their team."

"Life sucks." She repeats.

Luke nods. "No shit."

"And from there on we were inseparable."

Marissa looks amused. "You formed a bond with this guy over kicking someone's ass?"

Alex shrugs. "I know it isn't anything grand, but that's what happened."

"I want to kiss you right now."

Alex's head snaps to her left. That was by far, with how things were going, the last thing she expected to hear.

Marissa holds out her hand to cut off whatever she's going to say.

"I want to, I really do, but I'm not. And I'm telling you this now because I want you to be honest with me and I think it's only fair that I show you that same courtesy." She turns to fully face the blonde. "I see the way your face lights up when this guy is mentioned and the smile you give talking about first meeting him. You look so happy and I've missed happy Alex for so long."

"She's missed you too."

"I hope to see more of her now."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"And please don't take it the wrong way. I want you here, I do."

"Just ask, Alex."

"Why'd you decide now to come?"

"Well... you made the first move coming back to Newport. I figured the next was up to me." Marissa chuckles to herself. "Not to mention Kaitlin's now your second biggest advocate after giving her her "like, most fabulous job ever" at the Bait Shop."

"Second biggest?"

Marissa rolls her eyes. "You know Summer will always be your biggest. I've heard nothing but how great you are from those two the last few days. That's your answer."

Alex smiles. "In that case remind me to repeatedly thank them later."

Nothing is said and the two stare at the view of the hills from the Kelly's backyard.

"Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"We're friends now." Marissa confirms.