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.

Out of topic

Mischa Barton will be the main character of a lesbian-romance movie called ' Finding t.A.T.u ' . I just found that today, and I thought I could share. ( yes, t.A.T.u as in the "lesbian" Russian band. they will be in the movie as well ) Could be interesting. Her lover will be played by Shantel VanSanten( picture http://german. ) . Oh, another interesting fact : Mischa will act a russian girl! Can't wait to see what's she'll do with her British accent ! ( Which I very much love )

OK back to the story

Thanks a lot for the reviews btw. Soon you'll all get to know Jody's motives. And Marissa's reaction...

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Chapter 19 - We're all to blame

Mike parked his car in front of Marissa's apartment. He had no idea why she had asked him to come, but he will soon find out. He got out of his car and crossed the street, his mind still on his conversation with Jody. Will she spill the bean? No, there was no way... She had more to loose.

- You came! Marissa said with enthusiasm as she held the door open for him. Mike walked in, trying to hide his confusion. Since when was Marissa that nice with him? Since when was Marissa nice at all with him?

- Marissa... what do...

- Let me speak, she said, cutting him. I think we can save Alex, she said. He forced a smile.

- I know you care for her and everything, he said, but trust me, she will be in less trouble by pleading guilty.

- What? No, you have to tell her not to!

- Marissa, you're blinded by love. You can't see the evidence : There is not way she can be proved innocent. Marissa felt like her heart was being crushed. Not him too... She needed someone to help her defend Alex. Someone Alex still trusts. That's when someone knocked on the door.

- If she fights and loose, Mike explained, the verdict will be twice worse that if she pleads guilty, you understand? Marissa swallowed her tears. The knockings persisted.

- What if she didn't do it? She asked. What if this is all wrong? Mike's smile was more and more forced. He had never been good in crisis situations.

- It's not, he said. And you have to accept this, for Alex. She was confused now.

- But I... will go open the door, she said as she finally heard it. Marissa opened the door to the very last person she expected to see right now. Jody looked up, nervous as hell. She had no idea of how she would tell this to Marissa. They both stood there, staring at each other. Marissa didn't ask how she found her apartment. It wasn't important right now. She stepped aside, letting Jody walk in.

- Marissa, I... That's when she saw him, behind her. Mike sent her a threatening glare. Now that was embarrassing.

- Jody... she said, then realised she was exactly the person she needed. Jody was by far the person Alex trusted the most right now. And if there was one person who cared about Alex as much as she did, it was the lady standing in front of her.

- I'm sorry, Jody said as she motioned toward the door, willing to leave. I should have called or...

- No, stay, Marissa said. Mike was just leaving.

- I was?

- Well, there's nothing more to say, Marissa said coldly. He sighted and walked to the door. Then he turned around and looked at them both.

- Don't be selfish, he said. Think of what's good for Alex. Marissa nodded, confused, and closed the door behind him. Jody, behind her, was trembling. Now was the time. If she didn't do it now, she would never have the guts to.

- Did he leave? She asked.

- Yes, Marissa replied as she finally looked at Jody. Oh jeez, are you okay? She asked, worried. She walked closer, but Jody backed off.

-... Okay... Marissa said, offended. That's when she noticed Jody was crying. All her life, she had never seen Jody cry. Or shake that way...

- Jody, what's wrong? Marissa asked, worried.

- I thought I could, she said, be I can't.

- Can't what?

- Can't face you, she said. She was now laying on the floor, her face covered in her arms. Marissa sat close to her and waited. That was the weirdest thing ever. Not only Jody was crying, but she crying for help. And from all the persons, she had come to her. Not Alex, not Summer...

- I came here, Jody said, still not looking at Marissa, because you're the only one strong enough to help Alex. Please. Don't abandon her...

- I won't, Marissa said. Jody couldn't look at Marissa, she felt unworthy. After all that had happened between them, Marissa was still ready to fight on Alex's side, with all this evidence against her. Even after Alex had betrayed her, put her trust in doubt... How could she, Jody, try to take such a girl away from Alex's life? What did she have better to offer to Alex? How dared she ever think that Alex would have been happier with her?

Finally, Jody looked up. Not because she felt better, but because it would have been impolite not to.

- You don't think she did it? Jody asked.

- I don't care if she did it or not, Marissa replied. I don't want her to go to jail for it. I can't let her... She didn't mean it, I'm sure she didn't, Marissa insisted. She had been holding her feelings in for too long.

- I miss her, she said, her voice trembling. I miss her so much, everyday. I can't blame her for it, but I wish she would have talked to me about this, instead of letting go her frustration on Ryan. We could have fixed it, prevented this. She refuses to see me, she cried. Can't she see how much I need her? Jody watched Marissa silently. She knew the brunette had been holding these feelings inside for a while, and she was glad to aloud her to evacuate them. But that didn't cover her feeling of guilt for being the reason of this pain in the first place. How will Marissa react once she'll know? Will they still be sitting her, crying on each other's shoulder, or will she be flying out the window?

- Look at me, she finally said. How lame. She's the one who got the police up her ass, and I'm the one who cries. Jody got up. Enough was enough. No more pain, no more guilt.

- There's something I need to tell you, she said.

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Mike stood outside the apartment, thinking very fast. Jody was probably telling everything to Marissa. He was screwed. If there was one person Marissa hated more than Jody, it was him. And now, after knowing what he did... what he let Alex do... He couldn't stay here anymore. Making his decision, Mike walked to his car and got in. He needed to find another place to work. As far away from Marissa as possible. His hands trembling, he reached his car key and started his car. She was probably already heading downstairs, in a hurry to find and hurt him. He got on the road and drove twice the speed limit, his heart beating really fast. Marissa won't leave him alone, he will have to change his identity...
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Marissa couldn't speak anymore. Somehow, she always knew it was Jody. But hearing her say it was still a shock... especially in such a crucial moment, when they both needed each other so much. Marissa surprised herself having sympathy for Jody, who had to live with the guilt of being the reason why Alex was suffering that much. Then again, it WAS her fault, and therefore, the guilt had its reason to be, right? Slowly, she stood up, getting close to Jody who didn't move. Whatever Marissa was about to do, she deserved it.

- Why are telling me this? She asked.

- I... Jody said, confused. She was expecting Marissa to scream, to break things or even to beat her up. She sure as hell wasn't expecting such a calm reaction. Maybe it was too much, maybe there was not enough energy in Marissa's body to even be hurt anymore.

- I couldn't take it anymore, she finally managed to say. I know that now, Summer won't ever speak to me again, and that I'll loose my best friend, but I had to say it. I swear, this isn't the way it was suppose to be, she added.

- Are you crazy? Marissa screamed. Listen to me, don't you EVER tell Alex, you hear me?

- I ? You mean, you're not going to tell her?

- Hell no! It would break her heart. Don't you think she's suffering enough as it is? She doesn't need to know that this is all because of the one who is suppose to be her best friend.

- But, Jody insisted, if I tell he, she will forgive you.

- No she won't, Marissa replied. She'll think you're lying to make her happy, and then, she won't trust you anymore neither, and we can't risk that. I need someone Alex trusts.

- She trusts you, Jody said. Marissa rolled her eyes.

- Yea right.

- No, believe me, she does. She trusts you so much it drives me crazy. I... this was all a game. I wanted to test her a bit, see how much she would trust you and then, when she would finally start to doubt you, I will come clean and have a laugh, you know? But, she never stopped. Even when she kicked you out, I could see it in her eyes that she still couldn't believe you did this. That's when I lost it, and pushed further. I really wanted to see her hate you, just for a moment. A tiny second.

Jody's confession had broken Marissa. She should have insisted more. She shouldn't have left the apartment. She had promised not to, but she did. That's when Marissa realised that she had abandoned Alex when the girl needed her the most. All this time, she thought Alex didn't trust her when the truth was, she was pushed into it.

- Then it happened, Jody said. Marissa looked up. She wasn't really following Jody's speech anymore.

- What happened? She asked.

- The glimpse in her eyes, I saw it. And it broke my heart.

- But it's your fault! Marissa finally screamed. Slowly, she was realising what was happening. All this time, all this pain... because of Jody's jealousy?

- I know, Jody said. I didn't mean to. I swear, I didn't. Marissa sighted and sat on her bed. Of course Jody didn't mean it. She probably loved Alex just as much as she did. She would never hurt her by purpose.

- Stop crying, she said. It wasn't sweet like the way she would wash out Alex's pain. It was said in an annoyed way. Jody held up her tears. This was awkward.

- I know you hate me right now, she said, but we need to work together. We can't let them put her in jail.

- I know, Marissa replied. That's what I was thinking too.

After building up a strategy, Jody left Marissa's apartment and headed to Alex's club. According to Marissa, she was the person Alex trusted the most right now, and they had to take advantage of it. Of course. That's why Marissa didn't make a fuss about what she did, she was a smart girl. She needed Jody's help, so she forgave her for the time it takes to help Alex out. Then, when everything gets back to normal, if it ever does, Marissa will probably realise what really happened, and murder Jody then. But Jody was willing to take that risk. She heard her cell phone ring and picked it up.

- Hello?

- Tell her to give up, a hurried voice said. Jody recognised him and rolled her eyes.

- Mike? Where are you? Tell who to give up what?

- You're with her now? Mike asked. I should have known. You traitor! What did you tell Marissa? That I forced you into this? You made yourself sound like the victim, didn't you?

- Mike, this is ridiculous! Jody replied, annoyed. I didn't even mention your name. Can you tell me where you are?

- NEVER! You can search all you want, you will never find me. Tell the police to give up!

- What? The police is not aft... whatever, Jody said. Have fun hiding. She hung up. Why the hell did Alex hire this moron in the first place? Marissa was right all along. He's a retard. She reached Exotica and parked her car. Taking a deep breath, she got it, ready to do what Marissa asked her to. Slowly, she knocked on the door.

- All, it's me, she said. She could hear footsteps, and the sound of a door getting unlocked. Jody waited, but she could hear footsteps leaving the door. Rolling her eyes, she opened the door that Alex had only unlocked.

- How are you doing? She asked as she closed the door behind her. Alex was laying on her couch, face down. She didn't even bother look up.

- Just enjoying my couch a little more... They say prison's beds don't even have mattresses.

- Shut up Alex, Jody said, annoyed. You're NOT going to jail, okay?

- I'll plead guilty.

- No you won't. She sat next to her, forcing Alex to sit as well.

- How can I possibly defend myself? The only person who saw what happened told me that it was the best thing to do.

- And that person would be? Jody asked, intrigued.

- Mike. Jody let go a laugh.

- You're trusting Mike to defend you? You know where is his right now? Alex shrugged.

- Neither do I, Jody replied. Because he ran away! And you're trusting him? Alex did not react. She shrugged again.

- I couldn't care less, she said. They all pretend to care, but nobody really does.

- Hey... Jody said in a soft voice, holding Alex. I care. I'm here for you and I promise you I won't let you down.

- Funny, Alex said. That's what Marissa told me. Once upon a time. Jody looked down. She wanted to tell her. This was unfair for Marissa. But she promised not to. It could screw everything up if Alex still refused to forgive Marissa.

- I'm sure she's feeling guilty right now, Jody lied, trying to comfort Alex the best she could. But it only made the blonde cry.

- Al? What...

- I'm sorry I ever doubted you Jody, she said between two sobs. You were right all along about Marissa. Jody pulled Alex in her arms against her will and rubbed her back. She felt so hypocrite right now. But it was what Marissa had asked her to do, she was doing it for Marissa...

- It's okay, she said in a comforting voice. Don't worry about it. I'm here to help. I'll get you out of this.

- How? Alex said. I don't know, Jody thought. Marissa has a plan.

- You will tell me everything the police knows and then, you will stay here, keep this door shut, and open it to nobody. We'll take care of your defence.

- We? Alex asked.

- Seth and I, Jody lied, knowing she wouldn't accept Marissa's help.

- She's not even trying to help? Alex asked, disappointed.

- Do you want me to...? Jody said, knowing the answer.

- I don't need her, Alex cut right away. Jody raised an eyebrow.

- If you say so, she said. So, let's start. She got a pen and a paper.

- What happened yesterday, Alex?

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While Alex was spending all her days alone, feeling abandoned, everybody was getting gathered at Marissa's place, working on Alex's defence. Seth would come in the morning, then, Jody would join and, in the afternoon, Stephen would come as well. Together, they had wrote down all the evidences against Alex and, one by one, they were demolishing the proofs. However, they couldn't fool theirselves : Alex needed an alibi between 9 and 10 o'clock, which was really hard to get, since Alex was on the scene of the crime.

As Jody was dressing up to meet Marissa, Summer stopped her.

- Where are you going again? She asked. Jody stopped. She didn't know why these two were fighting, but if she and Marissa were able to work together to help Alex out, then Marissa and Summer would sure as hell be able to.

- Come with me, she said as she pulled her. Intrigued, Summer followed Jody. As the latina was driving, Summer recognised the streets and ended up guessing where they were going.

- Jody... she said, she doesn't want to see me...

- No, trust me, she does, Jody replied as she parked the car and gave her a reassuring smile. Come on. Taking her hand, Summer followed Jody. She was the last person that Summer expected to help her reconcile with Marissa, however, she had a feeling that Jody knew what she was doing. As they reached the front door, Jody knocked and waited. Summer could hear laughers. How many people where in there? Marissa finally opened the door.

- Hey, come in, she said, then noticed Summer. She raised an eyebrow.

- Thought I could give you some help in defending Alex... she said shyly.

- Took you some time, Marissa said, faking anger. They both smiled. Seth showed up behind her, along with Stephen.

- Girls, they said, exited. I think we finally got what could save Alex!

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