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Chapter 24 – One last thing before I forgive you

When Alex woke up the next working, she felt Marissa's head lying on her shoulder, sleeping soundly. For someone who had spent a month sleeping on this very couch and refusing to see anyone, Alex was finding it very comfortable at this moment.

- Good morning, Marissa whispered in her hear before kissing her neck. Alex's hand found Marissa's waist and she pulled the girl on top of her, which wasn't a very hard task, considering how the brunette was almost already on top of her because of the lack of space on the couch.

- No hungover? She asked as she finally looked in the blonde's eyes. Alex smiled at her as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

- You might be a Cooper, she said, but no-one supports alcohol better than the Kellys. Marissa rolled her eyes.

- Says the girl who almost went to prison for drinking too much.

- Okay you're going down for that one, Alex said before starting to tickle her.

- Alex stop, Marissa screamed helplessly as the blonde rolled on top of her and kept tickling.

- I want to hear you apologise, Alex said as she kept going. Marissa had a hard time catching her breath between the laughing.

- I… am… sorry, she finally said. Alex stopped… that you're such a drunkie. The blonde raised an eyebrow.

- Okay you're totally asking for it, she said before tickling her again as Marissa pleaded her to stop.

- … Alex.. she said, getting tired from the laughing as she tried very hard to catch Alex's hands.

- All you have to do is apologise, the blonde told her, still attacking her with no mercy. Marissa slid her hands under the blonde's shirt and unstrapped her bra. Alex immediately let go of Marissa to strap it back. The brunette only needed these two seconds to get her revenge and tickle Alex back. Unprepared for it, Alex lost the strength in her arms and fell on top of Marissa, their lips only millimetres away. Marissa stopped the tickling and looked deeply in the blonde's green eyes.

- You cheated, Alex said. Marissa smiled.

- You could either hold it against me… or kiss me.

- Oh so that's how it goes? Alex smiled back, approaching her lips. She searched for Marissa's hands and took them in hers, entwining their fingers.

- That's how it goes, Marissa whispered. She could almost feel Alex's lips on hers now, the gap was almost nonexistent. Her heat skipped a few beats, just like it used to back in hightschool. That's what Marissa loved so much about her relationship with Alex: every single kiss felt like the first one. Closing her eyes, she felt the pleasant pressure on her lips and welcomed the girls tongue, hungrily kissing her back.

- God I'm sorry, someone said and closed back the door. Alex looked up but the person was gone. Marissa started licking her neck.

- Honey it was Jodie, she said.

- So? Marissa asked, working on a hickey. She knew that Alex wanted to talk to Jodie, she just didn't feel like letting her go.

- Baby come on, Alex smiled. Marissa stopped.

- Fine, she said. Their fingers were still entwined and their lips were centimetres away.

- Go ahead, leave, Marissa whispered. Rolling her eyes, Alex kissed her one more time and got up.

- Wow I thought I would wait for an hour, Jodie said sarcastically as Alex finally opened the door. And I think you bra will fall off your shirt, she added. Before Alex could say anything, a Marissa wearing nothing but a tank top appeared behind her and buckled back her girlfriend's bra.

- Hey Jodie, she winked.

- Hey, Jodie smiled. Actually I wanted to talk to both of you.

- Oh come in, Alex said. As Jodie stepped in the office, Alex took a random shirt and threw it on Marissa.

- Cover yourself, she ordered.

- Jee possessive much? Marissa teased her but wore the shirt.

- So what's up Jodie? Alex asked as she sat on her desk.

- I came to say goodbye. I'm heading back to L.A tonight. Marissa dropped something.

- You're what? She gasped. Both Alex and Jodie looked at her.

- Rissa what's wrong with you? Alex asked.

- Does Summer know? Marissa asked Jodie, ignoring Alex's comment.

- Does she have to? Jodie replied, avoidant.

- Oh my god, you're running away!

- Hold on what's with Summer? Alex cut them. Both girls stood quiet.

- You're having secrets with Jodie? Alex asked Marissa. Since when you have secrets with Jodie?!

- How about Ryan? Marissa finally let out. She was trying very hard to push these thoughts away, not to be some possessive jealous girlfriend, but seeing Alex speak with Ryan so openly, when all they did lately was make out…

- Ryan? Alex repeated. Baby hold on what's wrong? She worried as tears were gathering in Marissa's eyes.

- I'm gonna go, Jodie said and tried to sneak out of the door but Marissa caught her arm as she passed by.

- If you don't talk to Summer, then you've got nothing more than Mike, she said, looking coldly at her. Jodie pulled her arm away and left the room. Marissa watched her go and felt footsteps coming toward her.

- Rissa? Alex called softly, well aware that the brunette was avoiding her eyes. Honey look at me, she said, caressing the girl's cheek and slightly pushing it toward her. Taking a deep breath, Marissa let Alex see her wet face.

- What's going on? The blonde asked with confusion.

- If you don't know what's wrong, then we have a bigger problem, Marissa replied as coldly as she could. Alex looked away. Of course she knew what was wrong. She felt Marissa's body slip from her hands and looked back at her.

- The only reason why I spoke to him is because he's the only witness, Alex said, and because I am convinced that someone else committed the crime. Marissa felt the tears she was holding in her eyes fall down her face.

- And what, you think I'm considering you guilty? She cried out. You think I'm seeing you stick up that knife down Ryan's body and hurt him coldly? You thought I wouldn't understand, wouldn't offer my help?

- It's not about that, Alex replied calmly, trying to appease the brunette. Marissa, of course I know you would offer your help, see, that's exactly the thing. I finally got you back and wanted to enjoy a moment of peace and joy before ruining it with my problems. I didn't want to drag you with me again, just like the time you ended up in a hospital because of me, or in a crappy hotel because I kicked you out for no reason, or… Marissa put her finger on her lips.

- Baby that's part of it all, she said. Being together, it means sharing our problems. I felt like some kind of sex toy these past days, she finally said.

- Come on Marissa you know that's the farthest thing from the truth, Alex replied.

- It still is how you made me feel, Marissa insisted. Alex sighted.

- I'm sorry. I really am. I just wanted to keep you away from the drama. Marissa smiled.

- It's okay, I get it now, she said. But for your information, nothing can keep the drama away from me.

XxX

Summer was sitting on her bed, looking at Seth's drawings of her back in hightschool. She still remembered the day she found those, while she was with Zack, and how they kept it secret in order to maintain the "business". Both she and Seth knew what was really going on. She closed back the book. What was wrong with her? Why is it that when she had someone else, or when Seth was with another girl, they wanted each other so badly, and when they finally had all the dreamed of, they sailed away and cheated? She heard knockings on the door.

- Nobody's home, she said. Jodie got in and looked at her. Summer immediately hid the book, but Jodie knew what it was. She smiled sadly.

- Oh, hey, Summer said. Jodie took a deep breath. Marissa was right. She had to at least say goodbye.

- Hey. I just wanted to tell you that I was going back to L.A, know that Alex does not need me anymore.

- Oh, Summer replied, unsure what to think. Because you were here for her… she said.

- Of course. A friend needed me and I helped her stand up again. But now she's back on her feet and with her lover, so I should just head back to my life as well. Summer nodded.

- You're a wonderful friend Jodie, I'm sure Alex is very grateful to have you in her life, she whispered.

- She better, Jodie smiled. After a moment of hesitation, she slid her fingers in Summer's brown hairs.

- I'll visit, she said with a trembling voice, and cursed herself for being such a baby.

- Jodie I'm sorry, Summer apologised. It's just…

- I know, It's alright, Jodie assured her. She forced a smile.

- Take care okay?

- Okay. You do the same. She squeezed the brunette's hands and walked away. Summer watched her go and slowly walked her way back to the bed, took Seth's drawings and ht them in her closet before turning off the lights in the room.

XxX

Alex was still in shock. Mike. Mike did it. He was the reason why she almost lost everything.

- He ran away Alex, there's no point in chasing him. You have to let go. Alex looked in Marissa's deep green eyes and smiled.

- Chasing him? Alex said. Why would I bother? He failed, didn't he? Marissa wrapped her arms around Alex's neck.

- Of course he did. Just everyone else.

The End.

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Thank you all for reading my story. Hope you enjoyed.

Ethereal-123.