**Chapter 2: Somewhere a clock is ticking...**
Alex I don't think we should talk anymore. What happened at the airport was wrong and you're not in love with me. I'm straight Alex, and if you're not I can't have you in my life. I'm sorry if this hurts you but it's the truth. If you attempt to contact me I'll have to tell my mom, and who knows what she'll do. It was fun while it lasted, but it ends now. I can't be friends with you anymore if you're a freak. That's just the way it has to be.
Marissa.
The letter was worn out, the edges of the paper it was written on fraying, mocking the artist from the corkboard it was pinned to, as arctic eyes read it again, over and over, each word twisting the knife in her heart. It didn't promise hidden stars, or unknown universes. There was no hope in those words, but for six years she refused to believe them. She still hoped for the galaxy to collide with the ocean, to explode into cosmic splendor, still hoped deep within her barely there heart that it would harmonize with its mate again, that lips would flutter and silent music would guide them back into the simple dance they lost themselves in all those years ago.
Alex still believed in the world she and Marissa could create with their love, the world where they were all that existed; where a single moment lasts forever. There was nothing to prove that it was what Marissa wanted as well, there was no way of her knowing, other than her heart speeding to that wonderful rhythm she only felt for a fleeting seconds at the thought of seeing those viridian galaxies.
If it was so wrong, why was it so perfect? Why would the world show us something so beautiful, if it's wrong?
It was bigger than them, whatever it was it was something that was bound to happen. It was written in the stars. No not the stars, it was written in her eyes. Their story, unfinished, was waiting for her, waiting for her in Newport.
Maelstroms moved from the letter, fraying and tattered, fingers touched the name, tracing the letters, before moving towards the left, following a line she had traced millions of times, the line from where she was on the map, straight across the ocean, to where her universe was. To where fingertips grazed sun kissed skin during sleepovers, to where they left notes, unspoken words she didn't understand back then, but could decipher now.
Her fingertips warmed slightly at the thought, tracing the place where her heart rested. Six years, does she still think about me? Does she know everything I've painted was for her? Does she think about me still? Does she know everything I've done all went back to her? It was all because of her.
The success she had with her art, had stemmed from the longing and lost and at one point hatred she had built up over the years. Leaving Newport had killed her, but in the coming years, without her galaxy, her universe put Alex to the ultimate test.
She turned from the corkboard, her eyes flashing over a picture of her and Marissa when they were young and free, before all of this happened. They were smiling at each other, ice cream cones in hand, and even then, it seemed they were already there in their own world, where no one could touch them. In their suspended reality where seconds were hours and hours were days.
Grabbing a brush and dipping it into green paint she turned and began to splash her canvas, letting her emotion control her movements.
It hadn't taken as long as she had originally thought settling in, she had lived here before, she was born in England. They had moved to the states when she was three because her mother began getting movie offers and her father decided it would be easier to move to the states to continue recording and touring. She liked her school well enough, and had made a couple of friends as well.
She had sent a letter to Marissa the day she landed, and got the return one a week later. She sent more letters trying to save the friendship, but all of her letters where unanswered, and after a couple of months, she stopped sending them. She had begun to hate Marissa, she was there to, and it wasn't like she was pushing her away kicking a screaming for a priest to absolve her sins.
It was then Alex discovered that there were certain things she could do, to make woman fall at her feet. In May of that year, she lost her virginity, but sent the girl home in tears the next day because it didn't work.
Touching her and kissing her didn't remove the thoughts of that hidden world from her memory. It didn't remove the memory of bliss. Soon she stopped kissing; there was no need for it if it didn't give her the simple dance she craved. Soon it was rough and fast, uncaring, empty, because that's what it felt like. There were no cosmic explosions behind eyelids, no maelstroms tempting unaware ships into its midst. Soon it was just to see if someday, that moment would recreate itself, when her heart beat in unison, when her lips danced slowly with a perfect partner, and her ocean gave life to hidden galaxies.
At seventeen she sold her first piece, and her career as an artist began. She thought it was shit, but collectors couldn't get enough, saying the raw emotion was incredible. Critics too couldn't get enough and soon, she was gaining a following. There were 6 pieces in the collection. The final one hanging in her gallery in downtown London, she named the piece cosmic maelstrom. It was the only way she knew how to describe the feeling she had when she had kissed Marissa, she had tried writing songs about it, but words didn't do it justice. It was the only one out of the collection not for sale, despite the large offered collector's where throwing at her, this piece remained scared to her.
It was about that same time, when Rob announced that he had another daughter, telling her this while he passed her a joint probably wasn't the best way to go about it, but what can you expect with a rock star for a dad. Alex practically lost her mind when he told her she would be moving in and living with them, on account her mother had passed away.
Well those Kelly genes sure are strong because Jaeme Woods was pretty much a carbon copy of Alex. Only she was paler, her eyes were cloudy, she was shorter and her hair was a deep rich mahogany. Rob had kept it out of the public eye, and Jaeme liked the fact that she wouldn't get harassed in the street it stayed like that, the media was told that Jaeme was a distant relative who would be staying with them for an indefinite amount of time.
She had been a pest at first, but slowly Alex started to come to come around. It took a bit and a lot of fights, but soon they were getting along famously, Alex even allowing the younger to use her studio, it seemed the artistic gene was another Kelly quality, that was on display in the younger girl.
"Do you ever stop?" Speaking of the devil, Alex took her eyes from the canvas meeting cloudy counterparts. "It looks good, maybe you should try some red, might bring out some of the raw emotion." She pointed out, tilting her head to the side.
"This is just a stress reliever. I was waiting for you to be ready." Checking the watch on her wrist she noted the time. "We better run, dad said the jet would be ready by 4 and its one." She rested her brush on a stool, before going to her messy desk.
"So are you going to see her? When you get there I mean?" See a bit of a pest, Jaeme had been told about Marissa already; the story had gotten her to go all sister defensive, which Alex appreciated but didn't need.
"Maybe, but it's a big city; we may never run into each other. You might though, seeing as you need to still go to school." She brushed the question off, shoving her phone into her pocket, ignoring the text from Veronica while doing so.
"Of all places to build the label you are going to go back there? Why not L.A? It's probably a lot more exciting there anyways." Jaeme continued, thunderstorm eyes trying to read to frozen glaciers before her.
"Jaeme." Thunderstorm eyes dropped to the floor. "I appreciate what you're doing really, I do, and as annoying as it is, I love you for it. But this is something that I need to do." Holding her keys she moved to the corkboard, her fingers pulling the thumbtack out, she folded the letter once and then twice, before placing it in the inside pocket of her light pea coat.
"I just don't want you to get hurt. I mean, after one kiss and you're like a miserable old cat lady, I can only imagine what's going to happen when you see her again." Glaciers glared. "Sorry, about the cat lady part." She tossed in after.
Sighing and throwing her arm around her sister's shoulder, she walked them out of the studio, flicking the lights off as she did. "I'll be fine. The worst of it's over anyways, it's in the past. I just want to go, build my record label and surf." She smiled widely at the thought of the waves crashing down on her as she rode a wave.
"I never understood that sport, so silly, thinking you can conquer a wave." They were outside, climbing into Alex's Audi r8.
"Maybe you should try it." Alex suggested, and laughed at the immediately cries of disapproval. Starting the car, a smooth beat began to hum from the speakers. "Alright let's get outta here, surf, sand and sun on the way." The engine roared to life as she peeled out of the driveway, waving to the paparazzi that were camped out front of their large estate.
Ready or not... Here I come... You can't hide, I'm gonna find you…
She was going back, going back to find that moment, when the ocean and galaxy collided. Where she and Marissa were everything, she was going to find that place called forever even if it destroyed her un- rhythmic heart.
The first couple days of school were boring. Half the student body was still on vacation, including Summer and Seth, who had gone to the Dominican and were returning today. This worked for Marissa since she had already gotten everything for the kick off carnival finalized, which made her week even lighter.
There was a buzz humming around the campus today as she walked from her first period to second block. Ignoring it, Marissa cut through the crowds desperate for a coffee.
As she turned a corner, she bumped straight into someone, causing her books and coffee to fall on the floor. Luckily none of the hot liquid fell on either of them, but Marissa could see that some of their books had not been so lucky.
"I'm terribly sorry, are you okay?" The voice was raspy and there was an English accent to accompany it. Looking up, Marissa froze for a second, the thunderstorm eyes she had locked onto causing her heart to speed up to a certain beat, only to return to normal upon realizing its call was un- needed. Blinking Marissa continued to stare at the other girl. It was a dark haired version of Alex, not completely identical, but she would have to be blind not to see it. "Um are you okay?" Mini Alex spoke again.
"Yes I'm fine, sorry without that coffee it takes a couple extra seconds for everything to process." Marissa explained, kneeling down to collect her things, she picked up a black hard cover book completely covered with coffee. "Sorry about your book, I'll buy you another one." she handed back the destroyed book gingerly, hoping not to cause any more damage.
"Its fine I've got tons of these anyways. Now thank god you didn't do that to my face or else we might have had some problems." She grinned, the thunderstorms in her eyes parting showing clear grey clouds their wake. "Jaeme Woods, transfer student, please to make your acquaintance." She bowed slightly removing the saggy beanie she wore on her head as she did so.
"Thank god for quick reactions." Marissa grinned, laughing slightly as Jaeme bowed. "Such manners are all travellers from your country so polite."
"Only me and six others, seven tops." The dark haired girl smiled, replacing her beanie. Those thunderstorms returned as her eyes scanned Marissa, some sort of realization dawning upon her. "You're Marissa, right? Marissa Cooper?"
"How'd you know that?" A shocked Marissa responded, answering the other girls question without meaning to.
"M16 sent me. You're in grave danger; we must get you out of the country immediately." Lips pressed into a thin line, thunderstorms regarded her, before a grin spread across her face. "You should have seen your face, no I was just in with Dr. Kim she won't shut up about you, and I swear she might have a bit of a thing for you if I didn't know any better."
"Why would she be talking about me with you?" Marissa asked again, feeling she already answered her own question. "I'm your guide?"
"Nope, she wants me to talk to you about live bands for the kick off whatever." She responded flippantly, like it was no big deal.
"But the carnival is this weekend; we can't find a live band by then." Marissa started to panic, this carnival was her legacy, the mark she was going to leave on the school, and she even got a Ferris wheel god damnit, wasn't that enough? No obviously not because not Dr. Kim wants her to go get permits for sound and staging in three fucking days. "I have to get permits and approvals, not only find a band, God damn it why couldn't she tell me this when we had our meeting yesterday?!"
"Wow, don't hulk out or anything, that's where I come in, I can get a permit and everything by tonight, I just have to go see my aunt and I got connections with some small bands in L.A through my sister, it will be fine." Jaeme chuckled, "So you're welcome in advance for securing your legacy. See you around I got to go find wherever science lab 4 is." With a grin and a two finger salute, the girl steps around Marissa and down the hall.
As she steps by the smell of coconuts and vanilla invades her lungs. Her treacherous body inhaling deeply, tasting the air as Jaeme walks by, her heart beat speeds again staying in the rhythm for longer this time waiting for its partner to join.
The memory comes in, a clock ticks to a stop, the unknown plane lays before her, the universe they created greeting her, she steps onto the plane, viridian galaxies meeting a maelstrom, the tide turns and the two worlds collide and from the cosmic display the world of forever emerges. Everything is there, except for her mate, except for the other half of her soul. As realization sinks in, the world slowly disappears, a clock ticks forward, and the world of reality returns.
As Jaeme walks away, the beating returns back to its normal lull, and her lungs exhale the enriched air, before inhaling again, normal air won't do, not after the taste they just had, her lungs fill with air free of the vanilla taste and she nearly retches choking slightly. Her lungs reject the air and her heart hurts, her galaxies holding back the rivers of tears she wants to release. Inhale, exhale.
She breaths slowly, allowing her lungs to get re acquainted with the air they no longer crave. Breathing was a necessity, not a want. Viridian eyes turned to catch a glimpse of the dark haired girl turn the corner, disappearing from her line of sight, before her breathing returned to normal.
This is getting very strange, first on the beach and now here with this girl? What's happening to me? Composed, she began to walk down the hallway in the opposite direction. Is this my brain telling me I've finally gone mad? Should I just forget about it, about her?
With many questions running through her head, Marissa made her way to her next class, Wondering if six years is too long to hold onto something that might have never been real in the first place. Maybe she was holding on to something, that was never there, they were kids, they didn't know what love was, and Alex made it clear in her letter that she wanted nothing to do with her.
Entering the class she sat in the back, and immediately went into her bag, pulling out a tattered paper she unfolded it and read the letter once more.
Marissa, I don't think we should speak anymore. What happened at the airport was wrong and I'm sorry I did it, but I can't help my feelings even if you don't return them. I'm sorry but this is the only way. Please do not contact me again; I need to get you out of my life, so I can continue mine. If you continue to write I will return your letters. This is the way it has to be Marissa. Forget about me, it's better this way. Goodbye Marissa.
Alex.
Replacing the paper in her bag, Marissa looked forward, determination in her galaxies, stars shinning in her eyes; she would do it this time. She would forget her.
The memories of unknown planes and hidden worlds wasn't real, this was real, this dull reality that was to bright too harsh to real was real. It had never happened, the silent music, and simple dancing their lips created, the harmonious beat their hearts created wasn't real, the essence she breathed wasn't anything special, her lungs needed oxygen, whether it is saturated in vanilla and coconuts and the ocean needn't matter. It still filled her lungs, kept her alive. The unknown plane they created didn't exist, the colliding of ocean and galaxy the creation of a new universe made from their love was a farce.
The lost world of forever, were moments lasted hours and hours lasted days didn't exist. She was no longer a twelve year old, a green horn to the ways of love. She would forget how it felt to have eyelashes tickling her cheeks, to have her entire being wrapped in warmth, forget the simple music their bodies created with a touching of lips; she would forget the universe of forever.
Somewhere a clock is ticking. And all Marissa wants is it to stop. For something to happen to show her she isn't crazy, that they weren't just two kids caught up in the moment that they were more, more than this too bright too harsh reality. She wanted something to show her, universes can be created from love.
Maelstrom eyes look out into the ocean. The lifeguard house is abandoned, but memories come rushing back to her once she walks up the wooden path. Her hand rests on the railing, feeling the carved wood under her hand. Looking down, a smile stretches across her lips; her and Marissa's initials stare back at her, and as the waves crash upon the shore, somewhere a clock ticks once, twice and then stops.
Maelstrom eyes are tempting again, calling viridian galaxies, daring them to come closer, to brave the storm and search its dangerous waters for their hidden treasure, to dive in and be consumed, embraced by its waves.
Deep inside those maelstrom eyes, the universe of forever remains, waiting to be discovered again. It hides, waiting for the perfect moment, to release its beauty again, to bring two souls together in a moment of everlasting bliss, and show them even in the harsh realities of the world, silent music and dancing lips can last forever.
Somewhere a clock ticks forward, once, twice, thrice, before halting, the sound echoing across the vastness of space. Forever begins now.