Alex left thinking Marissa didn't love her. Few years later they meet again, they have to work in the same place in LA. Marissa is now engaged to Ryan. Alex goes for the get some, get gone routine. Appearances from old friends and new ones.
Don't own anything.
Thoughts are in italic.
Flashbacks are in bold.
AN: thanks to CT Ash and xelaassiram for reviewing.
Chapter 6
"Alex? Alex? Alex!" Marissa said the last time louder, and touched the blonde's shoulder. The contact sent shockwaves through their bodies, but both tried to pretend they hadn't felt it. "Are you alright? You kinda spaced out for a moment there."
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking."
"You sure? If you're not, I can take you home."
"Trying to get rid of me so soon?" Alex said smirking, but the blonde noticed that Marissa's hand was still in her shoulder.
"I meant I would go with you, make sure you are comfortable and stuff." With that Alex's smirk changed into a real smile, which Marissa happily returned. Alex remember she's gonna get married. Don't do it, you will just have your heart broken again.
Casting her eyes downwards, Alex begun to eat her food. Marissa finally retrieved her arm, and eyed her plate. Not exactly what I had in mind, but it will have to do.
"So, Marissa what else is new in your life?"
"That depends on your definition of new." That earned the brunette a chuckle, but she noticed that Alex wouldn't look directly at her.
"Are you just trying to be a smartass or are you deliberately hiding something from me."
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Fine, what happened to you since the last time I saw you?"
"Last night? Not much really. I went home, and slept; then I woke up, had some breakfast, waited around a couple of hours and met you here for lunch."
"Hahaha. You are so funny." Was the blonde's sarcastic remark.
"It's a gift, actually, that a normal person would take decades to master."
'I'm sure. But you are avoiding my question." Damn, so close! Marissa thought.
"Sorry, what was that?"
"What happened to you since that night of the bonfire?"
"You see, nothing much really. You know, graduation, college, now I got my first job."
"Why do I think you are hiding something? You know, it's ok. You don't wanna tell me, then don't. I was just under the impression we were trying to catch up."
"You are right, sorry. It is just a little weird, you know?"
"I get it, ok. No need to tell me anything."
"No, I want to. Let's see, where should I begin?"
"The beginning is usually a good place."
"Look who is trying to be the comedian now. Another one and I won't tell"
"Sorry, not gonna interrupt anymore."
"My mom got married to Summer's dad about five years ago. And-"
"What happened to Caleb?"
"I thought you weren't gonna interrupt." Alex passes her fingers over her lips, as if closing a zipper. "He died, had a heart attack. As I was saying, we moved to the Robert's Mansion, my mom still lives there, which I must say I'm very much surprised. I went to Berkley, graduated, and now I'm here."
"May I talk now?"
"I think you just did, but go on"
"Firstly, I must say we have to canonize this Robert guy, for putting up with your mom for so long. Secondly, congratulations on the college thing. Thirdly, congratulations on the engagement thing. Who is the lucky guy?" Alex knew who he was, but she wanted to hear Marissa say it.
"Wait, how do you know I'm engaged?"
"Your ring is a dead giveaway."
"Yeah, I guess it is." The taller girl said looking at said ring, trying to make it disappear.
"So who is the guy?" The blonde needed her fears confirmed.
"It's…. How do you know it's a guy?"
'I don't, I just guessed, but why do I have the impression that I was right?"
"'Cause you are."
"So, spill it. Who is he?"
"It's… It's…. well, you see, it's…." Marissa took a deep breath "It's Ryan"
"Oh." For a second the brunette thought she had see Alex's eyes water, but as soon as the blonde blinked it was gone. Marissa, you must have just imagined it. "Really, that's great. How is he?" The taller girl didn't know why but the fact that Alex obviously didn't care that she was going to get married with someone else, hurt like hell.
"He's fine. Ryan's an architect, works in a very prestigious firm here."
"That's great. Seems that you have got it all."
"Yeah, I guess. Your turn, what happened to you after you asked your friends to dump my things at my house?"
"Sorry, I would have given you myself, but I had a bus to catch and I would lost you if I dropped by your house." The blonde knew that was a lie, that the only reason that she hadn't delivered it herself was that if she had seen the brunette, she wouldn't have been able to leave.
"It was funny though, my mom freaked." Marissa thought it was better to leave out the part that she had been devastated.
Julie Cooper had been walking through the living room, happy that her daughter had finally come home, when she heard a knock at the door. Deciding to open, she made her away towards it. She wished she hadn't because outside stood two men who looked like they had just run away from prison. Quickly slamming the door, she leaned against it.
"Go away!"
"Ma'am, listen – "
"No! I told you to go away! Now leave before I call the cops."
"Ma'am, wait a second, we are here to deliver something to Marissa Cooper."
"Stay away from my daughter! You hear me?!?!? I won't let you harm her!"
"Ma'am you don't understand, we don't want to hurt your daughter, we are here just to deliver something for her."
"And why should I believe yo -"
"Mom, what's going on here?"
"Marissa, honey, weren't you asleep?"
"It's impossible with your screams."
"Look, ma'am, we don't have all day, alright. A friend of ours, Alex Kelly, asked us to bring some boxes to a girl named Marissa Cooper. So could you please just let us deliver it?"
"No, not-" But Julie was cut short by Marissa pushing her away from the door, and opening it.
"I'm Marissa Cooper." Standing in front of her, there were the two guys Alex had brought to the bonfire, a little worst for wear.
"Hi, here, Alex told us to give these to you." Pointing at 5 boxes on the floor. "Where do you want us to put them?"
"Just bring them inside, please" Marissa responded, allowing tem to enter the house, which they did, sending angry glares at Julie that was now standing behind Marissa.
"Thanks" the younger girl said, after they finished bringing the boxes inside.
With a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, Marissa checked what was in one of the boxes. Having her suspicious confirmed, she ran to the door, calling the men, as they were about to drive away.
"Wait, where is Alex?"
"She left, said something about her parents."
"Okay, thanks."
"No problem."
Marissa made all the way back into the house, sat next to the boxes, and collapsed, crying her heart out, and murmuring "she left" over and over again. All Julie could do was stand there, open mouthed, not knowing how to help her daughter.
"I wish I could have seen her face, must have been hilarious. I have to call Ben and Johnny to thank them for that" The blonde said, oblivious to what happened to the brunette after the guys left.
"I didn't know you would leave so soon."
"Neither did I. Jodie was taking a bus back to LA, I decided to go with her."
"Jodie was there?"
"Yeah, she was at my place when I got home that night." Marissa noticed that Alex had said MY instead of OUR. I shouldn't be surprised, it was hers before we dated, and we had broken up. But Marissa still preferred to think of it as their apartment.
"Really? Why was she there?"
"She just dropped by for a visit" But both girls knew Alex was lying.
"What about your jeep?"
"I sold it to a friend of mine that had been trying to buy it for a long time. Didn't know if I would need the cash. I completed regretted selling it though, I loved it."
"Then buy another one."
"I did, but it's not the same."
"Poor girl."
"It's just life. You are just doomed to lose what you love." The blonde hadn't meant to say it; the phrase had slipped her lips. Alex wasn't talking about the car, and Marissa knew it.
No, lunch is not over yet. They are really slow eaters...
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