chpt10

Chapter Ten

Marissa sat at the kitchen counter the next morning sipping her coffee. There were circles under her eyes from lack of sleep, but no matter how hard she had tried she just couldn�t go back to sleep once she had awaken. The night before had been so unbelievable she didn�t want it to end. She had loved the attention the was receiving from the Nsync boys, in particular from Justin and Joey, but Joey had seemed to have won her over, for she spent most of her night with him. He didn�t seem to mind her straightforward attitude, or the sarcasm she threw in every now and then. But most importantly he made her laugh.

Marissa lazily turned the page of the newspaper in front of her, blinking her eyes a few times to focus. Entertainment was the section she found herself in. She smiled at the thought of that word, entertainment, something she had gotten plenty of last night. Her eyes roamed over the page, then settled on an article. The title read: �Pop stars seen at hot new club: �Clearly Magic��. Marissa must have read the title twice before continuing, it read:

�*Nsync made quite an entrance last night at the trendy new club �Clearly Magic�. They entered the club alone but didn�t stay that way for long. It is said that two girls stepped out of their limo and entered through the back. One of these girls was seen with JC the whole night. And from the picture to the right it seems as though this girl is more to JC then some groupie, but you be the judge of that.�

Marissa�s eyes went over to the picture and she almost fell out of her chair at what she saw. It indeed was a picture of JC and Alexis. Alexis�s back showed, her head was facing up toward JC and JC was looking down at her, and his eyes, his eyes said it all. Luckily Alexis�s face could not be seen, nor was her name or anything else printed in the article and for that Marissa was thankful. Her heart started to race a little and her palms began to sweat. �Have to hide this, but where?� Marissa thought as she desperately looked around. Alexis doesn�t need to see this, and what she doesn�t know won�t hurt her.

�What are you doing?� Came a groggy voice from behind. Alexis rubbed her eyes and padded into the kitchen. She went straight for the coffee pot that was sitting in the machine still hot.

�Me, oh, I�m just, I�m just reading�reading the paper here.� Marissa stuttered as she looked for where to stash the article. �You�re stuttering, you never do that unless, a, you�re nervous, b, you�re trying to hide something or c, both. So which one is it?�

Marissa cursed Alexis for knowing her so well, there was no way she could hide it now, and when she thought about it, if Alexis wasn�t shown this article she would probably be hurt more in the long run. Marissa didn�t say a word as she placed the newspaper down on the counter, the page opened to the article.

Alexis turned around with her mug in hand and looked at her friend, then to the newspaper that was now placed directly in front of her. She placed the mug down and scanned over the page. Her eyes immediately landed on what was meant to be read.

Marissa couldn�t watch the expressions on her friends face so she just looked away, looked down, looked anywhere to avoid her face.

�I can�t believe this, how did they find out? No one saw us coming out of that limo, how did they know? Where did they get that picture, I�I don�t remember anyone taking a picture of us? I don�t get it?� Alexis�s voice sounded so small, so lost and helpless. Alexis read over the caption on the picture, �photographer, anonymous.� She said aloud.

Marissa didn�t know what to say; she didn�t know what to tell her friend to make her feel better. This was the first time in their friendship that Marissa had no idea what to tell Alexis to make it all better. And now she too was feeling helpless. She was about to open her mouth to say something when Alexis continued.

�Photographer anonymous? What�s that supposed to mean? Don�t these newspapers send reporters and photographers to scoop things out? Why does it say anonymous? This can�t be good, I knew people had seen us in there last night together, but I figured it wouldn�t be such a big deal, the place was dark, people were minding their own business, how could this have happened?�

�Sweetie, I�m sorry to tell you this but it was bound to happen, reporters were bound to see you two together, it just happened a little sooner then expected.�

Alexis sat down in the seat next to Marissa and placed her head in her hands. �I know it was, but I just wasn�t expecting it so soon, I thought we could go longer before anyone seeing us. And that picture, that is so weird that it says anonymous, all other pictures in here say the photographer, that means it was sent in by someone.�

�Probably just some fan who saw you two, took a picture and sent it in, probably gave them that information too.�

Alexis gave a loud sigh and raised her head. �I wonder if JC has seen this? Wonder what he�ll have to say?

�You wanna know what I think he�ll say? I think he won�t care, I think he�s gonna let it roll off his back, because he�s used to it, he knew it was gonna happen, and he wants to be with you. Now the question is can you do the same? Can you realize this will be happening and except it, to be with him?�

�Yeah he probably will say that,� Alexis said with a smile, then stopped.

�The question is can you deal with this Alexis?�

�It will take a bit but yeah I think I can, I know I want to.� She said, and then with another sigh placed her head down on the counter with a thump. �Why can�t I find myself a simple man Marissa, that�s all I want, why?�

�Cuz you�re not a simple girl, and JC, he�s just what you want and need.�

�Don�t need the complications though.�

�No one really wants them, but you got yourself into it and I don�t think you want out.�

Alexis just shook her head and gave a slight laugh.

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�Come on Marissa hurry it up, I really don�t want to be here when I don�t have to.� Alexis said over her shoulder as she made her way down the hallway to her office in the hospital.

Alexis tried to forget all about the article she had read that morning, but she couldn�t. The more she tried to store it in the back of her mind the more she analyzed it. She had come to the decision that she would bring it up to JC. She wanted to know what he thought about it as well as his reaction. She knew he would probably brush it off and tell her not to worry, not to worry, a nearly impossible task. But she wanted to hear those words straight from him.

�And this,� Alexis halted in front of her door and gave a big smile. �Would be my office.�

�Oh so that�s why it says Dr. Alexis Gray, psychiatrist huh?� Marissa asked sarcastically.

Alexis gave her a light shove. �Yes that would be why.� Alexis placed the key in the hole and opened the door. �I just need to grab a few files I have to go over before tomorrow morning.� She headed toward her desk.

�Wow girl, you�ve done so great for yourself. All those years of schooling have paid off.� Marissa said as she looked around the office.

Alexis placed her hands on the desk and leaned forward. �You like it? I was totally surprised when I walked in here the first day and Dr. Kendrick told me this was my office.�

�I�m sure you were.� Marissa, being startled by something turned toward the door with one quick movement.

�Hello?� Came a voice from the body that was half way in the door.

Alexis gave a laugh at Marissa�s jumpy state. �Hi Greg how are you?�

He stepped inside now. �Not bad, surprised to see you here on a Sun though.�

�Yeah had to pick up some files,� she raised her hand showing the files. �This is my friend Marissa from back home.

�Hi, nice to meet you.� Greg extended his hand.

Marissa had been standing there observing the stranger the whole time and she was now broken from her spell. �Oh, yeah, hi.� She shook his hand for all of a millisecond before pulling away.

Alexis had seen this behavior from Marissa before and it meant only one thing, she didn�t like this new person, she didn�t like the �vibe� they were giving off. She wondered why Marissa would be feeling such a thing, Greg was such a nice guy. �Anything I can do for you Greg?� Alexis asked hoping she could get him out of her office quickly.

�Well I was gonna ask you out for a real lunch today, but I guess I�m gonna have to reschedule that thought.�

�Yes that would be best.� Alexis said simply with a smile.

Greg was now feeling awkward. �Ok I�ll be do that, see you later then, have a nice day, bye.� He walked out of the office just as quickly as he walked in.

�Spill it, what �vibe� did you get from him?� Alexis asked Marissa once Greg had walked out.

�I don�t know, there was something about him, something I didn�t like. Something didn�t seem right about Him Alexis I don�t like him, and you need to watch yourself around him ok?�

�Umm..ok Maris, but he�s really a nice guy, maybe if you got to know him.� Alexis continued rummaging through her things, not looking at Marissa�s face as she looked out into space trying to contemplate what she thought about Greg. Usually when she got a gut feeling about people, she was right, and Alexis would always learn the hard way.

�Does he know you two are no more than just friends, cuz I don�t know if he knows that?�

�Well directly told him, no, but I haven�t been leading him on or anything. We are no more then friends and I think he knows that.�

�Friends, just friends? Is that all you see me as Dr.?� Greg asked himself as he stood outside her door. He had every intention of leaving when he walked out the door, but something made him stay and listen to what they had to say. �We could be so much more if you wanted to.� He said softly in a depressing voice. �I know I want to.� He let his thoughts wander, �damn you looked good in that dress!� He said as he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, remembering.