Something I'm Working on

-----Chapter 1-----

Alissa was having one of those days where everything seemed to go horribly wrong. Her computer

at work crashed and she lost the files she'd been working on for a week. She worked on it for 4

hours and decided to give up and head home. But first she decided to call her boyfriend, Marcus

and see what he was up to.
"Hello?" he answered breathlessly.
"Hey Marcus, did I catch you at a bad time?"
"Hey sweetie, kind of, I was running on the treadmill."
"Oh I was just wondering what you were up to, I'm off work. I just wanted to see if you want to

grab some dinner tonight."
"Sounds good, actually why don't you come over here and I'll cook something for you."
"Great. What time should I be there?" Marcus didn't cook for her very often, but it was always

delicious when he did.
"Around 6 or so?"
"Okay I'll be there. I'll talk to you later."
"Bye sweetie."
She hung up her phone and turned onto the street her apartment complex was on. She'd been saving

money for a few years so she could by her dream house once she got married. She hoped that she'd

found the right guy in Marcus. She'd had her fair share of deadbeat boyfriends and was tired of

all the drama.

She went into her apartment and locked the door behind her. Her roommate wasn't due home from

work for a few hours yet and she loved getting the free time to run through the house in her

underwear if she wanted to.
Her phone started ringing and she dug through her purse to find it.
She looked at the screen and saw that it was her friend Josh.
"Hey Josh, whats up?"
"Not much Alissa, what are you up to?"
"Ah, just got home from work a little early, going to take a bath and getting dinner at Marcus'

house tonight."
"Cool. Hey I'm right down the street. Mind if I pop by for a minute?"
"You know you are always welcome Josh."
"I'll be there in a few!"

She hung up the phone and scratched the plans to run around in her underwear. She grabbed a diet

coke out of the fridge and flopped down on the couch. She pulled the clip out of her hair and

let the long blonde curls land on the middle of her back. She'd been thinking about cutting it

off lately, but Marcus got upset with her when she'd mentioned it. It had caused an argument in

which she'd argued that it was her hair, she could do what she pleased with it.

A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. Alissa opened it and Josh grabbed her and

hugged her.
"I haven't seen you in a couple weeks stranger."
"Sorry, I've been so busy with work and everything."
"Uh huh sure. No time for your best friend that you've known since you were 5?"
"You know better than that Josh!"
They sat talking for a little while and Alissa realized she was supposed to be at Marcus' in a

half hour.
"Crap...I have to get ready. Sorry I'm going to have to cut our visit short. Why don't you come

over tomorrow night and we'll hang out. Megan has plans so we can spend some time together."
"Sounds like a plan. I'll be here."

She let Josh out the door and ran around getting ready to go to Marcus' house. She was excited

to get some good home cooking from him. Unlike Marcus, she couldn't cook to save her life.

A half hour later she was at Marcus' door. When he opened the door she was shocked to see that

he had spaghetti sauce all over his face.
"What happened to you?"
"I got into a small fight with a pot of sauce. Sorry I didn't have time to clean up."
"Aw its cute though. You're working so hard for me!"
She got up on her tiptoes and kissed him. He was over 6 feet tall and she was only 5 foot 2.
"It'll be ready in a second." He said as he disappeared into the kitchen.
"I'll be here holding down your couch!" She plopped down onto his black leather sofa. She loved

sitting on it. If she wasn't trying to save money, she would have bought one of her own, but she

didn't want to break the bank or spend the next 70 years of her life paying for a house.

Fifteen minutes later they sat down at the table to eat dinner. It was delicious as usual. The

mood turned serious shortly after that.
"Alissa? Can I ask you a serious question?"
"Um, yeah...sure go ahead." She was nervous, they generally stayed away from the really serious

conversations. Marcus was 28 and was a pretty fun loving guy. Really laid back and relaxed most

of the time.
"How do you feel about me?"
"Um, what kind of question is that? I care about you a lot. I like spending time with you."

She knew this was a lie, she knew she was in love with him. They'd been together for a couple

months and he'd been there for her through some rough spots.
"Okay..."
"Well you answer that question too Marcus."
"I...I'm not all that sure. I'm kind of confused. I really like you, but I don't know if I want

a really serious thing right now. I'm going to be starting a huge case at the law firm and I

don't know that I have time for all this."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I'm just not sure I have time for you right now." She would have believed him, but he wouldn't

look her in the eyes. Something wasn't right.
She started to get upset. For once she had a positive outlook on a relationship and here it was

blowing up in her face.
"I don't know what to say. Are you sure thats the only reason?"
"What are you implying Alissa? That I'm up to something?"
"Maybe. I don't know. Its just in the past...."
"...yeah in the PAST, Alissa. I'm not every other guy you've dated." He snapped at her and it

made her angry.
"Maybe you aren't, but right now you certainly are acting like all those other assholes!" Alissa

grabbed her purse from the table and walked out the front door.
Marcus yelled after her and she got in her car and drove off. She was upset. She felt she had

every right to be. It just wasn't right.
"What do I keep doing wrong?" She asked herself. "What is so wrong with me?"
Her cell phone started ringing. She looked at the screen and saw that it was Marcus. She didn't

answer. A few minutes later, it beeped that she had a message. She didn't care.

-----Chapter 2-----

She walked into her apartment and Megan was sitting on the couch with her boyfriend, Jeff

watching a movie.
"Hey sorry to interrupt," Alissa sniffled. She was trying really hard to keep her composure and

not start crying.
Megan was concerned. "Hun, whats wrong? What happened?"
Alissa eyes welled up with tears. "Don't worry about it. I'll be just fine."

Alissa locked herself in her room. She turned on her television. Her phone started ringing

again. She pushed the ignore button and started getting ready for bed. When it rang again, she

picked it up angrily and yelled into the speaker, "haven't you gotten the point yet? I don't

want to talk to you right now!" She was about to hang up when she noticed the voice wasn't

Marcus' but it was Josh's.
"Oh God, I'm sorry Josh." Alissa started crying. It was all too much to hold in any longer.
"Alissa, what is going on? Megan just called me and said you looked upset."
"I'll be just fine. Just give me some time to sort things out."
"Wait. You were meeting up with Marcus for dinner tonight, what happened?"
"Its always the same old thing Josh. You've known me for 20 years. What always happens?"
"Oh hun, I'm sorry. You just need to find the right guy. One that deserves you."
"But I thought he was different than the rest. I guess I was wrong."
"Alissa, do you want me to come over? I can always make you laugh, you know it."
"Nah, I'll be fine. I'm just going to go to sleep. I'll deal with it all in the morning."
"Well if you need me, you know I'm just a phone call away."
"I know."
"Alright hun, call me in the morning, okay?"
"I will. Good night Josh."

Alissa curled up in her big bed. Her tiny frame took up just a small part of the queen size bed.

She laid there watching the television and crying. She couldn't get her mind to stop racing.

After laying there for two hours, she finally decided she needed some help. She picked up her

phone and called Josh.
"Hello?" his voice was scratchy, he'd been sleeping.
"Josh?" she said weakly.
"I'm on my way..." he knew what the phone call was for. Twenty minutes later she let him in the

door. They hugged at the door and went into her room to talk.

She explained what had happened at Marcus' earlier that night. She just couldn't understand what

had happened. She curled up in her spot on the bed. And Josh laid down next to her like they

had done so many times. He laid there playing with her hair until she was sleeping like a baby.

He fell asleep soon after.

They slept late, and had a rude awakening. Marcus came storming through the door angry that Josh

was in bed with HIS girlfriend.
"What the hell is going on here?"
"Marcus...Josh came over to keep me company."
"Oh really? What kind of company?"
"Stop that. He's my best friend. He can be here if I want him to. Don't start saying shit you

know isn't true."
"And I'm the one thats up to something, hmm? Seems to me like you have something else going on

here."
"Marcus! STOP IT!"
Marcus grabbed her arm and squeezed it really tight.
"Ow you're hurting me...." she whimpered.
"See I came over here to see MY girlfriend this morning and apologize for our little argument

last night, and to my surprise she's already moved on to someone else."
"Dammit Marcus! LET GO OF ME!" She ripped her arm out of his grasp.
Josh got upset because Marcus had just hurt Alissa.
"Hey man! No need to hurt her..."
"You stay out of this. You took the first opportunity to take her away didn't you? All because

you don't like me?"
Josh's face started turning red. "No...I don't like you, but I'm not trying to take her away from

you. I'm trying to spend time with my best friend and be here for her when she has problems with

jackasses like you!"
Alissa knew there was going to be a fight and she didn't want it to happen.
Marcus had a look in his eyes that she didn't like. It scared her and she wasn't sure that she

wanted to be alone with him, but she knew that if Josh didn't leave soon, there would be

bloodshed.
"Josh, you better go. I'll call you later or something."
"No Alissa, I'm not leaving you with this jerk."
"Josh-GO!" she knew she shouldn't yell at him, but she couldn't help it.
Josh looked at her, "Fine Alissa," and he walked out the door.
Marcus turned to her, "So when were you going to tell me about your new boyfriend?"
"Stop it Marcus, you know better than that. You know he's my best friend, why are you doing

this?"
"What do you think it looked like? I walk in here to see you and you're in bed with another

guy!" his face was turning purple, he was so angry.
"We were just sleeping Marcus." she decided to remain calm and hope that helped.
It didn't help. Marcus slammed her up against the door to the bedroom. He held her there with

one hand on her neck.
"I thought you were different. Different than all those other girls. But you're a whore just

like the rest." He spit out at her.
"No. No, I'm not." Alissa was terrified and couldn't stop crying.
"I hate being wrong Alissa."
"Fuck you Marcus. If you want to call me a whore and treat me like this then you can leave! And

don't come back."
Marcus released her from the door and stepped back. Alissa was relieved but still on edge.
Marcus turned around and Alissa saw that the wild look in his eyes wasn't gone. In fact it was

worse.
"Leave? You want me to leave?" He yelled.
With that, Marcus turned around and swung his arm. Alissa felt the sting on her cheek before she

even saw it coming. Her hand flew up to her face and she felt the welt on her cheek starting

already.
She started crying hysterically and screaming at him.
"Leave! Get out of here! I can't believe you just hit me."
Marcus suddenly calmed down and rushed to her side.
"I'm so sorry. Oh my God, what have I done. I'm so sorry Alissa."
"Get away from me!" she backed up against the wall. She was scared.
"No baby, I'm sorry. I got so angry, I don't know why I did that. I've never done that before.

Please forgive me." With that he started crying and Alissa's heart started to forgive him. She

went to him and hugged him.
"Marcus, I don't know what just snapped in you, but I don't like it. I'm not going to be treated

like this. I want you to leave right now and give me some time to think. I will call you later

on, okay?"
"Alright. I'll go."
Marcus got up and left. Alissa crawled back into her bed. She had some things to think about.

Things she didn't really like, but she had to deal with them.
There was a timid knock at the door. She knew it was Megan. She'd probably heard everything that

had happened and was concerned.
"Yeah Megan, come in."
Megan walked in, looking around to make sure that Marcus was gone.
"Are you okay Alissa?"
"Yeah I'm fine. I just need to think about all of this."
"He hit you, didn't he?"
"Its ok. He snapped. I get that. He also apologized and I kind of forgave it."
"No, don't forgive him for that. You don't deserve to be treated like that. Alissa, I have seen

you go in and out of so many dead end relationships with deadbeat guys. This is another one. I

don't like where its headed. Please listen to me. Listen to Josh."
"Please Megan, don't lay this on me right now. Don't remind me of all my past relationship

failures. That won't help. It just reminds me of all the things I've done wrong."
"Sorry Alissa, but you need to know that I am here for you and so is Josh. If you need me just

yell, I'll hear you."
Megan walked out of the bedroom and Alissa went back to crying and trying to sort through a lot

of drama.

-----Chapter 3-----

She thought of all the good times she'd had with Marcus in the last few months. The sweet things

he'd done for her. The one time that stuck out most to her was about 2 weeks after they'd

started seeing each other. Her mom was in an accident and was put into the hospital. Marcus had

been there for her and cared for her. And when her mom went home from the hospital, he ran her

errands for her until she was well enough to do it herself. Alissa's mom loved Marcus. Her

mother's opinion mattered very much to her, and Marcus had won her over. So could he really be

that bad?
Then she thought of the events of the morning. The sting of his hand hitting her face. She had

seen a completely different side of this man she was falling in love with and it scared her. But

he had seemed genuinely sorry and she understood what it was like to lose control of your anger

sometimes. She didn't want to think of not having Marcus in her life. She truly had feelings

for him and couldn't stand the thought of not being able to be comforted in his arms, fall asleep

in his arms, or wake up in the morning to his smiling face. She missed him terribly already, but

the little voice in the back of her head told her to be careful. That worried her.
Her phone rang and the caller id said that it was Marcus. She had told him that she would call

him when she was ready. She wasn't ready and didn't answer the phone.
Alissa thought herself to sleep. The next morning, she woke up with the sun. She was glad it

was a weekend and she didn't have to worry about going to work. There was way too much drama to

have to deal with stress from work too. She grabbed her phone off the bedside table and called

her voicemail. She had 2 new messages, one from Josh and one from Marcus.
"Hey Alissa, its Josh. I'm just worried about you. Haven't talked to you since this

morning. Please call me and let me know whats going on."
She deleted the message and made a mental note to call Josh back. They had been through so much

in the many years they'd known each other. She didn't want to shut him out of this.
The next message started playing.
"Hey...its me. I know you said you'd call me when you were ready. I'm sorry I just

couldn't sit here and wait, I had to try to talk to you. I don't know what happened to

me earlier. I'm just not that kind of person. I'm so sorry I hurt you Alissa. You have

to know that. This is killing me. The thought that I hurt someone that I care about so

much. Alissa...I'm...I think I'm in love with you. All I can do is cry thinking that

I've lost you. Please call me."
She started crying and then realized what she'd heard him say. She replayed the message just to

make sure she'd heard it right.
"He thinks he's in love with me?" she said to herself. She was shocked, but happy to hear that.
She dialed his number and patiently listened to it ring. Getting more and more anxious with

every ring. She didn't want to leave a message so she hung up and called him right back. She

knew he was asleep and wasn't waking up to the phone ringing. She had made her decision, she

knew what she was going to do. She got his voicemail again and decided just to go over there and

wake him up herself.
Alissa grabbed some clothes from her closet and jumped into the shower. She took a quick shower

and did her hair and makeup in a hurry. She knew where Marcus kept his spare key and she was

going to surprise him and wake him up.
She went out to her car and made a mental note that she needed to wash it. It looked horrible.

She had a great car, it was a gift from her parents from the last Christmas. They had led her

out in the snow and had a silver 2006 Honda Civic sitting in the driveway with a big red bow

around it. She loved her car, it was her baby. She was happy that even though her parents were

divorced, they came together and had Christmas dinner with her and her brother, Mark.
She made the 10 minute drive to Marcus' house. All the way there she kept hoping the key was

still in the right spot and that he would still be asleep when she got there.
She had a lot weighing on her mind that morning. She'd realized that morning in the shower that

she was running late for her period by a few days. That was unusual since she was always right

on time. But she wasn't letting that worry her too much. There was too much other crap going

on.
She pulled into the driveway and cut off her car. She walked up the stairs and lifted up the

potted plant that was on the top step. "Good its still there." She breathed a sigh of relief.

So far her plan was going right.
She stepped into the house and looked around. It looked like he'd been up all night cleaning.

The house was spotless. Since she'd known him, she'd never known his house to look this clean.

There were two guys that lived with him there. They each rented a room from Marcus. She'd only

met them twice, but generally they hung out at her place or went out somewhere. They didn't

really stay here all that often. Todd was a 23 year old med student. He seemed like a nice guy,

but he sure liked to party. Michael was a 21 year old law student and he was a really serious

guy. She'd never seen him drink or anything. He was always at the computer doing homework or

had his nose buried in a book. She had noticed that their cars weren't there that morning, so

she knew that she was alone with Marcus. She made her way back to his room and quietly opened

the door.
She peeked in and saw that he was fast asleep sprawled out on his back across the bed. Alissa

loved his bed. It was a king size bed that had the adjustable comfort levels on each side. The

few nights she'd slept over they'd only slept on the one side of the bed though. She liked

curling right up next to him. Alissa had a tendency to get cold at night so she welcomed the

warmth of another body next to her on the bed.
She kicked off her shoes and climbed up onto the bed next to him. She leaned over and kissed him

on the cheek.
Marcus mumbled something softly in his sleep. She didn't catch what he said, and she leaned over

and shook him a little bit.
"Marcus....hey Marcus. Wake up."
He wouldn't budge. He was a heavy sleeper. He had to set two alarm clocks to go off at the

exact same time to wake him up every morning for work.
She gave up on trying to wake him up and curled up against him. She laid her arm across his

naked chest and put her head into the crook of his neck.
Alissa laid there thinking about all the things that had gone on in the last couple of days. She

felt she was making the right decision. Her mom had always told her to follow her heart. And

thats exactly what she was doing. A few minutes later she decided to try and wake him up again.

She figured it was a better idea than letting him wake up to someone in bed with him that wasn't

there the night before.
"Marcus...Marcus! Wake up!" She started shaking him and saying his name repeatedly.
He started to stir in his sleep and rolled over on his side so he was facing her.
"Marcus...wake up sweetie."
All of a sudden his eyes popped open. He looked a bit confused at first. He blinked a few times

and then smiled at her. That smile that melted her heart.
"Good morning." She smiled up at him.
"Good morning. I didn't expect to wake up to you next to me."
"I know. But I'm here. Are you surprised?"
"Pleasantly. Listen...I'm sorry about..."
"Stop. I know. I forgive you. Just don't let it happen again. Lets just put it behind us."
"Sounds good." He put his arms around her and pulled her close.