Part VIII
8:00PM
The drive was fairly silent and Marissa was starting to freak out. Helplessly, she was already fidgeting on her seat. She didn't know what to say or how to start a conversation. It was something she was good at, public relations. Apparently her talent is wasted on one known as Alex Kelly.
The blonde didn't notice this. She herself felt a little awkward too. They haven't been spending this much time together. They never really did for that matter. But Alex was a little different than Marissa. When she noticed Marissa was having a hard time composing herself on her seat, Alex did what she did best: talk.
"So, you look really nice," Regretting the first words, Alex continued on.
"Not that you don't look nice all the time…" Letting out an exasperated smile she mentally kicked herself.
Kelly you better have a line friendlier than that. You call that an icebreaker? Really Kelly?
"Thanks you look nice too, Alex."
And then there was silence.
Marissa's eyes hovered on anything but Alex Kelly.
Meanwhile, the other girl went back to concentrating on her driving still scolding herself silently.
In a way, both girls thought the other might be dreading the decision they have made.
Marissa bit her lip, and Alex just breathed out.
This is insane. Alex thought.
She shouldn't be feeling this way. She IS Alexandra Kelly. She always knew what to do.
But what do I want to do?
Finding her resolve, Alex carefully searched for a parking spot on the side of the road and then drove to it.
"Alex…" Marissa began but noticed the blonde was putting the jeep to a stop.
Her eyebrows furrowed as she turned to Alex with a questioning look. She waited and as she did, the blonde just let out another deep breath before speaking.
8:05PM
Kaitlin, however, found herself sitting in silence, by her lonesome, waiting for her best friend and her sister to arrive.
"Soda?" Ryan offered and she accepted with a nod.
She took a few sips by she knew this wasn't by chance. She knew he had a motivation for handing her the drink. Ryan always had motivations with every conversation he has ever been in. But, right now Kaitlin was in too much emotional disarray to actually care.
"Where's Marissa?"
"Oh, she's with Alex. They'll be here. I think they're on their way."
"Alex? Alex Kelly?" He asked with a surprised look on his face.
"Yep the one and only."
"If I had known, I should have picked her up…"
Tired of his I'm-good-for-her-let-me attitude, Kaitlin just snapped.
"She's on a DATE, Ryan."
"What?" The smug look on his face completely erased.
"You heard me. She's on a DATE."
"Your sister's not a… Not a…" He rambled but Kaitlin had enough.
"Did you even hear her say otherwise?" With that she left him with his jaw threatening to reach the floor.
8:20PM
"How about we take walk?" Alex offered as she ran her hands through her hair.
Before replying, Marissa surveyed their surroundings. They were near the beach.
She could hear the waves crashing but not the angry kind. There were lights, and there were still people taking their stroll along the shore.
They would be safe.
It was something that ran through Marissa's mind. Not to mention, Alex Kelly seemed to be a natural romantic because wasn't even trying too hard to impress.
Was it to impress me? Or just a good friend trying to make me feel better?
With a Marissa's nod, the two girls got out of the jeep in silence.
Alex watched as daintily Marissa took off her shoes. A smile crept out of her lips. She found it endearing for most parts, but the thing that caught her eye was when Marissa smiled.
Her eyes narrowed when she saw Marissa looking at her watch.
8:30PM
"Don't worry Marissa. Aside from Ryan, I don't think no one's going to notice we're late."
Marissa turned to her, making her quirk her lips.
The other girl replied with an unsure smile.
"Well, I just thought we could get to know each other more," Alex trailed off catching up to Marissa.
Marissa was so surprised with the declaration she stopped to turn bumping into the blonde in the process.
Alex found herself out of balance falling on to the sand.
She watched as the blonde turned from embarrassed to utterly laughing her heart out.
Marissa found it, cute.
"I'm sorry," Trying to help the blonde up.
"No…, No… It's ok," Alex waved her hands not wanting to take Marissa's.
"We've both been edgy tonight. Nothing to apologize for."
Marissa watched her. Alex wasn't even trying to stand up. The blonde actually made herself comfortable sitting on the sand.
"Mind if I join you?" Marissa asked with a smile.
"Not at all Ms. Cooper. Not at all."
8:35PM
Seth took note of the time for the nth time. The lovebirds were still out and Ryan is already making a fool of himself searching of Anna within the premises. For what it's worth, the boy thought he could still salvage Marissa from an impending fling with the famous Alex Kelly. Seth shook his head.
"Like those movies said… You can't stop an unstoppable force…"
"Ditto…" Kaitlin chimed obviously drunk.
Who knew sodas could be spiked.
"Whoa! Whoa! Kaitlin… What… Hey… Where's Johnny?" Seth rambled, his eyes quickly searching for Summer Roberts.
This isn't going to turn out good.
8:45PM
Marissa looked at her watch again, earning a sad smile from her companion.
It wasn't that she didn't like hanging out with Alex Kelly. It's just, she did have a sister to look out for too.
"I'm not that bad, am I?" The blonde asked making her shake her head furiously.
"No… No… It's just… Kaitlin… We've been out a while… I didn't get a text from her so…"
"You're worried…"
A nod was all there was to it.
"Ok…" Alex smiled now.
The blonde was first to stand up. She offered her hand.
Marissa took it with a smile.
They were standing close to each other. Eyes slowly meeting.
"Thank you…" Marissa whispered, her not leaving Alex's.
"For what?"
"For the wonderful date…"
"Oh… This is a date?" Alex asked with a grin.
Marissa felt blood rising through her cheeks as she kept smiling back.
"Oh… Um.. Yeah…" Marissa shrugged her shoulders nervously.
"It's a date. Well if it's ok. I'm mean if it's not… It's ok, too… I mean…" Marissa didn't really know what to say.
It was like she had just dug her own grave not knowing if Alex Kelly was coming in to rescue her.
Alex took a step closer.
They both heard waves crashing again. They turned.
"The tide just turned…" The blonde whispered barely audible.
They both found themselves locking eyes again. Leaning carefully, tentatively for their first kiss.
After a few precious moments with seemed like hour, their lips met.
Finally…
Apparently for Marissa, Alex Kelly was going to be there to save the day.
9:00PM
"You knowzzz Summerzzz…" Kaitlin slurred her arms flailing around.
Seth tried to hold her up but was powerless. It was a good thing Jodie and Summer were done hiding from the crowd or else.
Who knows what Kaitlin would have done? More booze?
"Kaitlin… We need to take you home. Taylor, try calling Marissa again."
With a nod their friend dialled the number.
"Marissa? Sheesh… Can you please just let them be? I mean… Look at me… I'm letting them be… Just please… Please… Let's go back to hitting on those sodas and just have fun!" Kaitlin was reaching for another glass when Seth stopped her.
"Ok. Here now mini-cooper. You can't drink this much and live to tell about it. Stop it. Johnny is standing behind you all worried."
"Worried? Humhhhp!"
"Kaitlin…" Summer begged.
But apparently the younger Cooper wasn't in the right mind anymore.
"I'll tell you what I'm worried about. I'm worried about being lonely. Being in pain for the rest of my life. Because you know what? I found out the one I'm in love with is in love with someone else. Well at least she doesn't realize that yet."
Seth knew where the conversation was going but he was to helpless to stop her. He was trying to cover her mouth but Summer motioned him not to.
"Just let it all out Kaitlin… Johnny loves you sweetie. He's not going anymore. I'll kill him if he does," Summer tried to soothe her, but not before glaring at Johnny.
The boy merely shrugged clueless to the events transpiring.
"Marissa and Alex will be here any moment…"
"See that's what I'm afraid of," Kaitlin stood up pushing Seth away.
"You see… I love Alex. I've been in love with her for a very long time. I tried to make her notice me, to make her like me. But she doesn't see me."
Seth put a hand on his face, Taylor on her mouth. Summer slacked jawed. Jodie just stared at the girl in her arms.
The rest of the room fell silent.
"I try SO HARD but she doesn't see me. But look at my big sister… One day with her and she's all goofy in love. And she doesn't even know it… They're happy together! They're perfect for each other!" Kaitlin was shouting now.
"Do you even know what the feels Roberts? It feels like dying! Every fucking day!"
Tears streamed to the young Cooper's eyes as she fell on her knees, Jodie unable to catch her.
By the doorway, another blonde had tears in her eyes too.