I didnt lie to you, Alex protested.

Well you didnt ***** tell me the whole truth, which is just as bad.

Marissa, I thought youd understand.

Understand? Alex, you screwed up my whole life. My world was turned upside down when I met you. I thought it was for the better, until now. Marissa stood up and began pacing the kitchen. I cant stay, she said as she grabbed her coat off the counter. She headed for the door.

Marissa, wait! Alex got up and tried to follow Marissa out the door. Shane blocked her path.

Ill go after her. Ill take her to Bettes. Maybe she can talk to her. Shane turned and ran after Marissa, leaving Alex alone in the house. She caught up to Marissa on the sidewalk in front of the house. Marissa, wait up!

Marissa stopped in her tracks. She sighed before turning to Shane. What?

You ok?

Marissa was loosing her temper, No Im not ***** ok!

Hey hey, dont take your anger out on me.

Why the ***** not? I dont know what Im going to ***** do Shane!

Calm down, first. Look, Ill, uh, take you to Bettes. She lives right next door. You can talk to her. If theres one person in the world who will give you an objective, reasoning talk, its Bette.

Marissa thought about it for a second. What choice did she have? She didnt know where to go in this big city. These girls were all she knew, and Bette seemed like the nicest of the bunch. Ok, she finally said to Shane.

Shane led Marissa to the neighboring house and knocked on Bettes door. The lights came on and a half-dressed, half-asleep Bette answered the door. God, Shane. Its ***** two oclock in the morning. What the ***** was so important you had to wake me up for? Bette finally saw the sad looking teenager standing with Shane. Sorry, hangover impulse. Whats up?

Marissa found out about Alexs miscarriage. Shane told Bette in the kindest, most sympathetic voice she could muster at this hour in the morning.

Oh I see, um, come on in. Bette let Marissa walk in. Shane stayed out on the porch.

Im gunna go back and talk with Alex.

Ok. Bette noticed the sad look on Shanes face. She really wanted these two to be together. Hey, well help fix this.

Shane smiled. Bette always knew what to do in a crisis. And since she and Tina broke up, Shane figured she needed something to do to keep her busy.

Bette headed in to the house where Marissa was sitting on Bettes couch, head hung, looking very sad. How can I help? she asked as she sat next to Marissa.

I dont think theres anything you can do Bette. I just need to think things out.

Ok. So do you want to go get a beer? Something? Talk?

No, I just want to sleep.

Ok, Ill show you the guest bedroom.

Bette led Marissa to the guest bedroom, said goodnight, and left her alone with her thoughts. Marissa looked out the window to the house next door. She watched the lights come on in a room in the house. It was Alex going back to bed. She didnt see Marissa watching her as she undressed. She was crying, tears streamed down her face. She turned off the lights and went to bed. Marissa watched the dark room a little longer and then backed away from the window. She collapsed on the bed, thoughts flooding through her head. What am I going to do? Who the ***** does she think she is? Why cant I get passed this? Why cant I get passed anything? Whats wrong with me? Whats wrong with her? Why do I do this? How can I do this when I love her? These questions ran through Marissas head as she fell asleep.