Hello dear readers. Do I really have to say that I do not own the characters, nor the show? I mean we all know that, right?

So well whatever this story takes places a few years after the second season, but in my version, Alex and Marissa never broke up and their relationship has only grown stronger since then. So yea, read and judge.

- Haha it's confusing, isn't it? It's actually the point. D You will find out the truth really soon.

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Chapter 15 – Empty apartment

Alex parked her car in front of the apartment and got out. Marissa's car was still in the driveway, she noticed, however, Marissa did not drive since the car accident, therefore, it meant nothing. The blonde unlocked the door and slowly opened it. The apartment was in complete darkness. Slowly, she reached the interrupter and turned on the lights. Empty.

Taking a few steps forward, she realised it even more : Marissa had left. She felt something die inside of her. Wasn't this what she wanted? Didn't she tell her to leave? But she was suppose to know that it was the last thing I wanted. Alex slowly carried herself to the bedroom, fearing what she will find or, not find, there. Half of the room was empty. So Marissa had taken Alex very seriously... she had taken all her belongings, not only enough clothes for a week or two... I need a drink. Alex left the bedroom and reached the kitchen, from where she pulled out a bottle of Vodka. She could feel her body drag her from a room to another, but her mind wasn't there anymore. Until she saw the bottle of alcohol. Damn it, she thought. Now that I won't be watching her, will she start drinking again? Great, a few hours ago, she had broke up with her girlfriend because she cheated on her, and now here she was, worrying about her health! She opened the bottle and took a big sip before walking through the living room and crashing on a sofa. Her brain was too slow to realise that what she was looking for the whole time was standing in front of her. Then, slowly, she did. Here, on the video tape, there was a cassette on which we could read "Play".

Alex got up and reached the cassette. She caressed it slowly, knowing Marissa hand's were over this a few hours ago. Then, suddenly remembering the reason why Marissa wasn't there anymore, the took her hands off the cassette. She wasn't the one who was suppose to be sad! The hell, she did not even care about what the cassette was saying! Leaving it there, she took back the vodka and headed to her room. Her room. She turned off the lights. Seeing it empty was causing her too much pain, so she was better off not seeing the room at all. Alex laid on the bed with her clothes still on and fixed the ceiling. Then, suddenly, she broke apart and cried every single tear she had. She had put so much hope in this relationship...

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Marissa and Ryan were riding since hours now, and still had no clue of where to drop her off.

- You know we could always...

- Don't say it again, Marissa stopped her. I can't live with you, this will only make things worse.

- I'll move in a guest room, Ryan proposed. You'll have the whole pool house for yourself. Come on, we both know Alex. She would feel much better knowing there's someone to watch over you...

- Oh, apparently, we don't know the same Alex, Marissa replied, because the one I know would rather see me in a jungle full of starved lions then in the same house as you. Ryan rolled his eyes.

- So what's you're plan? He asked.

- Stop here, she suddenly said as they passed by a hotel. Ryan did what he was told to. As he carried her stuff to her room, he kept reminding her on how crappy the place was, and how dependent she was at that moment.

- I'll be fine, Marissa repeated for the 10th time as Ryan dropped the last of her bags on the floor. I'll call Summer, she'll watch over me.

- She's either with Jody, either at work, Ryan replied. I would know, Seth told me...

- Then I'll call Seth, Marissa said. Ryan smirked.

- They're all good, as long as they're not me, he said. Marissa sighted.

- Ryan... you know why I'm doing this...

- I know I know, he said right away. Be careful, please?

- I will, Marissa said. Now go, I don't want to see you anymore. Ryan nodded and, before leaving, he looked at the brunette for one last time.

- Marissa? He called. She looked at him.

- I'm sorry about everything... I still don't understand how...

- I know, she replied. Me too. Ryan nodded.

- I'll call Seth... He left. Marissa watched him go. What now? She can't work, can't cook, can't even walk! She sat there, in the creepy motel, and realised she was cold. Rubbing her forearms, the evidence hit her : She was all alone.

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Summer and Jody were both laying on the bed, watching the valley and eating chips. Living with Summer had forced Jody to like this show and now, they were having much fun watching it together... Until her cell phone rang.

- It's Alex, Jody noticed as she checked the caller id. They stared at each other, both wondering why would Alex call her at this time.

- You should take it, Summer said. Jody nodded and answered the call. A few minutes later, she had left the bedroom and locked herself in the bathroom. Summer knew it was some kind of an important call, and she died to know what these two were talking about. However, she stayed still and waited for Jody to return... which she didn't. After ten minutes, Summer got tired of waiting and pressed play again.

- Hey you kept watching without me! Jody said as she sat back on the bed.

- Yep, Summer said. Tree episodes! What did she want? Jody looked away.

- Oh sorry, Summer added right away. None of my business.

- It's okay, Jody said. She called because she and Marissa broke up.

- They what?! Summer gasped, turning off the tv. What happened?

- If I tell you the truth, do you promise not to get mad?

- No, Summer replied. Jody smiled.

- Okay, she said, but I will anyway. I had some hidden cameras in Alex's bedroom.

- YOU WHAT? Summer screamed.

- Okay this is going to be really long if you're planning on screaming after each sentence I say... Jody pointed out.

- It's your fault, Summer replied, you keep giving me some shocking news.

- Granted, Jody said, but still, listen now, be shocked later, okay?

- Ok. Now go on.

- So I had hidden cameras in her room, and I won't tell you why because you will find it really gross, however, one night, I saw Marissa kissing a guy she shouldn't be kissing. Summer looked away. Did she see their kiss as well?

- ... That guy was Ryan, Jody said. And they were not only kissing... So I showed the tape to Alex and then she broke up with Marissa after the girl denied the unfair.

- Did you see anything else on those tapes? Summer asked. Jody lifted an eyebrow. She just told her that her best friend had cheated on Alex, and that's how she reacts?

- You mean Marissa and Alex making out? Jody asked with a smirk. Ohhh yea...

- No, I mean, anything else that was wrong. Their eyes met.

- I saw another couple kissing in that room, Jody replied, but I don't think it was wrong. And, without thinking about it, Summer caught Jody's lips. Agreeably surprised, Jody closed her eyes and deepened the kiss.

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When Seth knocked on the door, Marissa told him to get in.

- Hi, she said, smiling.

- How are you doing? Seth asked in a caring voice as he closed the door behind him. Marissa pointed the screen on which we could see her and Ryan.

- I never did this, she declared. I swear. He sat close to her on the bed.

- I believe you. She laid her head on his shoulder. Seth pulled her closer and she started crying. He rubbed her back.

- Everything is going to be okay, he whispered as she kept crying. Over her shoulder, Seth could still see the screen. The scene was taped from the girl's bedroom. Given to the view of the scene, he could tell the camera was hidden somewhere in the closet.

- Did Alex tell you how she got that?

- No, Marissa replied as she forced herself to stop crying.

- But you know it, Seth declared. Marissa nodded.

- You know it too, she said. Seth sighted.

- I don't like that girl at all...

- Me neither. Who knew they had so much in common? They liked the same songs, were neighbours, and now the same girl was trying to steal both of their girlfriends.

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When Alex woke up that morning, her head was hurting like hell. As she got out of bed, she noticed the empty bottle of vodka and understood the origin of her headache. All she could remember from yesterday was a tape, an empty apartment and Jody's voice. However, Alex couldn't remember what exactly she had told Jody that night. Then, suddenly, she remembered Marissa's tape. The one she refused to play yesterday. Alex quickly reached the living room and pushed the cassette in. Sitting on the sofa, the cup of coffee in her hand, she pressed play. Marissa had taped herself.

" - Hi Alex, she said, I decided to tape my message because that way, you can't interrupt me. And also because it's easier to tell you these stuff If I don't have to look in your eyes while doing it. Alex's hand was still on the remote. A part of her wanted to stop it now. She didn't feel strong enough to go through the tape. But then again, she never will.

- ... I'm sorry, Marissa said. Sincerely, I am, and no matter what you're thinking right now, I know that deep down you know I would never be able to cheat on you. However, this tape is really convincing, I doubted the truth myself for a moment, and therefore, I can't blame you for doing this. I love you Alex, and I probably always will, but I can't force you to believe me. The T.V was blank. Alex had stopped the tape. Drying the tears she didn't remember crying, the blonde got ready for work, trying to erase from her mind everything she just saw.

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When Summer woke up, she was laying in Jody's arms. Why was she feeling guilty about this relationship? Oh right, her boyfriend...

- Don't go yet, Jody said, pulling her closer. That's when the phone rang.

- Jody... I have to...

- Okay fine, Jody said, letting her go. Summer got up against her will and picked up the phone.

- Hello? She said. Oh honey, where are you? She asked right away and Jody guessed who was on the other line.

-... yes... okay... stay where you are, I'm coming.

- Marissa? Jody asked as Summer hung off the phone and started to get dressed.

- Yes, she said. I have to go check on her, see how she is doing.

- Probably like someone who just cheated on her five years long girlfriend, Jody spat out, getting dressed as well.

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When Alex arrived to work that afternoon, her eyes were red and her hair were a mess. She didn't want to be there. She wanted to know where Marissa was. She wanted to apologies, to take her back. She didn't care anymore. She would forgive Marissa. All she wanted was to know her safe...

- How are you holding on? Jody asked. When she saw Alex's face, she knew the answer right away : really badly.

- You live with Summer, don't you? Alex asked. Jody nodded.

- Does she know anything about Marissa? I mean, they're best friends, if there's someone she would have spoken to about this, it's Summer. Jody noticed the way she said Marissa's name. She would take her back, even after this, she noticed.

- She called this morning, Jody told her and, seeing that Alex won't let her go until she knows everything, she kept going.

- Summer spoke to her. Apparently, she's living in some random hotel by herself. I didn't ask for the address. Summer went to check on her this morning but she dropped me here first.

- Random hotel? Alex repeated. Why? If I sent Ryan to check on her, it was for a reason!

- You would rather know her with Ryan? Jody asked.

- Hell yea! Alex replied. At least, I would have known that someone is watching over her.

- So you still love her, Jody said, more like a statement than a question. Their eyes met.

- I still care for her, Alex said, avoiding the word "Love".

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- Marissa, you're there? Summer asked as she opened the door. She found her friend laying on the bed, her eyes wide open. She looked empty. Totally gone. Summer sat close to her.

- Honey, how are you feeling? Marissa blinked twice and looked at Summer.

- You're still living with Jody? She asked.

- ... Yes, I am.

- Tell her to go.

- What? Marissa, we both know where she will go If I tell her to leave.

- Indeed. The one place she always wanted to be. Summer got angry. Jody was happy where she was, wasn't she?

- It's not Jody's fault if you cheated on Alex. Marissa got up.

- What? She said, looking in Summer's eyes. What did you say?

- Marissa, Summer said, Jody told me everything.

- Oh, and you believe her? Marissa asked with anger. The shorter girl fixed the TV which was paused on the scene.

- What is this that I see? Summer asked.

- Leave, Marissa said.

- I beg you pardon?

- I don't want to do this now, Marissa repeated, pissed off. If you're not going to kick Jody out, then just go, leave me alone. Summer looked at her for a moment, completely lost.

- Fine, Summer finally said as she stood up. Someday, you will thank me for having kept Jody home... She grabbed her coat and left the apartment. Marissa glanced back at the TV and turned it off with a gesture of frustration.

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I'm not really convinced about this storyline. Is it too much drama? What do you think?

- Ethereal123