GENRE: COMEDY/DRAMA
DISCLAIMER: None of the The OC characters belong to me. I promise.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is my first try to write a fanfic so I would really appreciate your reviews. Tell me if I should continue or not. Thanks.
TITLE: THE ILLUMINATION (this could be extended to more chapters but it depends if you want me to)
Marissa Cooper felt shivers all over her slender body as she press the doorbell of the Cohen's mansion in Newport. She hasn't been back in the USA for the past seven years after sailing with her father, Jimmy, all over the world and eventually settling down in Bordeaux, France. Marissa made a life of her own from the seven years she was away and a lot has changed. Those accomplishments brought a smile across her face.
Who would have thought.
It was Sandy who opened the door for her, surprised, he loudly greeted her, "Bonjour Mademoiselle!!!"
"Bonjour Sandy!" Marissa greeted back.
"Çava?" Sandy asked.
"Çava." Marissa answered back smiling.
There was an odd few seconds before Sandy snaps and says, "Pardonnez-moi mademoiselle but my French is pretty much non-existent so if we can go back to speaking in English, it will be much appreciated."
Laughing, Marissa says, "Oui…I mean yes." There was some staring. "Sandy, you'd let me in right?"
Sandy motions for Marissa to go inside, "Why of course Marissa! Welcome back to the town of the rich and insufferable!"
"That's a very warm welcome Sandy." Marissa told Sandy as they make their way to the kitchen.
"Of course. Twenty-six years of living here and I still hate this town."
He never changed, Marissa thought to herself.
There were various voices coming from the kitchen and as they reach the kitchen, Summer's loud cheerful voice greeted Marissa: "Coop! Oh my god Coop! I missed you!". Marissa was so happy to see her bestfriend that she hugged Summer so tight until Summer told her, "Coop, you're crushing my boobs."
Everybody laughed and they released each other from their hugs. Julie hugged Marissa.
"Oh sweetheart I missed you! I thought you won't arrive until Friday!"
"You could have at least told us you're arriving. We could've picked you up at the airport." Neil added as he hugged Marissa.
Neil and Julie married seven months after Marissa left Newport. Marissa wasn't supposed to come but Julie and Neil insisted on her coming as Julie claimed it would be her last and final wedding. She'd stop on being Julie Cooper-Nichol-Roberts. It was the last time she saw everybody happy and together. It was the last time she saw him happy.
After the wedding, Marissa immediately joined Jimmy back again on sailing and she never looked back. Every now and then, she'd receive emails and phone calls from Summer who's now her sister –a name calling they like a lot but never got used to call each other. But what surprised Marissa the most is the immense closeness she developed with Julie even though they were seas and continents apart. Julie would visit Marissa in Bordeaux or they'd rendezvous in Paris with Neil, Kaitlin and Gareth for a weekend of shopping and bonding.
"I can't wait to get back so I decided to get an earlier flight. Besides, Dad and Francine will sail to Greece tomorrow…"
"Who's Francine?" Seth called out over the counter.
"Seth! I missed you! Well, Francine's dad's girlfriend of two years now." Marissa went to hug Seth.
"Wow! Somebody can still like Jimmy Cooper these days?" Seth said sarcastically.
"Marissa!!!" two kiddie voices shouted as they enter the kitchen. It was Gareth and Sarah. Gareth was born a year after Neil and Julie got married. He's the only boy among the Cooper-Roberts siblings and he's very much spoiled by Doc Roberts. Sarah on the other hand was also born almost at the same time as Gareth. Sandy and Kirsten would often point out that she's the best accident that ever happened inside the House of Cohens –a description that often leaves Seth feeling uncomfortable and squirming on the spot.
Marissa went over to hug the other people in the room: Kirsten, Anna, Gareth and Sarah. After a few minutes of the SOP of hello, hugs and how are yous, Kirsten asked everyone to sit down to eat lunch.
The lunch was a pleasant diversion for Marissa after the long flight back home which composed of getting able to finish Alessandro Baricco's Silk and getting to watch You've Got Mail and The Devil Wears Prada. She was so excited to get back that she didn't sleep at all. She thanked Kirsten for preparing a delicious lunch.
Surprised, Sandy told Marissa: "She was watching too much Martha Stewarts and Rachel Rays while you were away."
Marissa smiled at Kirsten in appreciation as Seth told her, "Apparently Martha Stewart is still alive. Only that she does the cooking and the crafting on a wheelchair. She actually ----"
Summer cut Seth off, "Cohen! Too much."
Marissa knows somebody's missing. Somebody important to her. Very important to her. Intending to know why he's not there but trying to be careful not to be too obvious, Marissa inquired about the changes since she was gone. "So…how're things going with Oats & Sparkle?"
Summer and Anna can't contain their excitement when it comes to talking about Oats & Sparkle. It was their little business venture together. Oats & Sparkle bonded Anna and Summer while Marissa was away. Oats & Sparkle healed the wounds and mended the misunderstandings in the past. Anna became Summer's second bestfriend.
It was Summer who answered first and talked liked a complete businesswoman which generated smirks and smiles across the table. "As I've told you over the emails and phone calls, O&S is doing fine. Since we've opened the first store in New York, there's been a great demand to open more stores and Anna and I can't wait!"
"But we were taking baby steps so we waited before we opened the second store." Anna adds.
"That's why we're here. We just opened the second store in LA. Thanks to Cohen's success on OC Comics, we got sponsorships and endorsements……Oh my god Coop, you have no idea how it was like to see the clothes being worn everywhere! And I mean everywhere!"
"Gwen Stefani, Keira Knightley and Gwyneth Paltrow are big fans" Anna added cheerfully.
Wary about the conversation they were having, Seth blurted out: "I get all the credits for being in touch with my inner gayness to design those comics inspired shirts. Inner gayness, Marissa. Beat that."
Sandy never ceasing to lose the humor, added: "Ah! That's the spirit!"
Seth, confused at what Sandy means, snaps back: "What? Being Gay and Jew at the same time?"
It was the usual Newport humor that Marissa missed the most. Sure there had been a fair share of dramas here and there -well maybe more dramas- but it was the people, these people around her…..and him, that made it possible and easier to live -especially in this town. It was their own personalities, guidance and love that she misses the most and can never find anywhere else. This is her family. He is her life.
Kirsten, feeling contemplative, said, "Well, I just wish Ryan's here with us."
This is it, Marissa thought.
"He told me he'll be in the Hampton's with Bridgette and won't be back until Friday evening." Anna answered, completely forgetting Marissa's presence.
Who the hell is Bridgette?!
"Who's Bridgette? I thought he's dating Natalie" Sandy asked.
"A month ago." Kirsten answered.
"Jeez. I am so late with dating updates." Sandy jokingly said.
"No. I thought it was that Victoria's Secret model Kyra. She's hot." Julie suggested with a wink.
"She was three weeks ago." Anna clarified.
"I can't keep up!" Neil remarked.
Seeing the hidden pain behind her bestfriend's eyes and knowing that they've lost her with their conversation, "Now that's a sore subject." Summer commented.
Everybody fell quiet and Julie exhaled before explaining to Marissa, "I'm sorry honey. After Ryan had the procedure….."
Looking at Summer, Marissa asked quizzically: "Procedure? What procedure?"
Summer fidgeted on her seat and tried her best to avoid the unavoidable. "Now that's something I forgot to mention on the emails and phone calls……"
Sensing the incoming conversation is strictly for adults only, Kirsten told Sarah that since she had too much apple pie, it's a good idea that she and Gareth go upstairs to Seth's room and play video games there. The kids protested the idea but eventually left after Neil told Gareth and Sarah that he'll take them toy shopping tomorrow.
As soon as the kids are out of sight and hearing, Julie reached out to hold Marissa's hand before she explains and drop the bomb. "Sweetheart, Ryan had this procedure. He got all his memories of you erased from his memory".
Neil added, "He won't be able to remember you even if he sees you now."
Shocked at what she's hearing and confused of the details she's being fed, Marissa tried to reach for something to hold on. Anna, sitting next to Marissa, immediately offered her hand and Marissa took it. "H-how?...W-why?"
"He decided to forget about you after what happened in Bordeaux……remember? When he came to see you and found out you're with that Jean somebody." Summer explained.
"No. I think his name is Guy." Seth clarified, then sensing his clarification was unwanted, "…..Sorry."
"He participated on a memory erasing experiment in Berkeley which succeeded." Sandy added.
Seth knew he needs to regain Marissa, "If it's any consolation, Ryan did tried his best to forget you but you're just as sticky as a bumper sticker." Seth paused. "Okay, bad metaphor."
Kirsten reached out to Marissa and said, "He informed us about his plans and we all tried our best to talk him out into doing it but he already made his decision."
Marissa still can't fathom the gravity of what she had just been told, she started crying while trying so hard to look strong. "But…..why would Ryan do that?!"
"I'm sorry Marissa, but you broke his heart. You broke his heart too many times. Maybe he can't take it anymore and he felt the need to find himself and start over so he resorted to Eternal Sunshine-ing you out of his head." Seth tried to explain as simple as possible.
His Life, Marissa thought painfully, He erased me from his life.
Julie and Marissa developed a closer bond during the time Marissa was away and Julie is aware of how much Marissa still loves Ryan despite the time, space and lack of communication between the two of them. Seeing her daughter now, taking all the news about Ryan that they all kept from her to honour Ryan's request and Marissa's improvement, it troubles her to acknowledge the fact that Marissa actually went back home to get back with him now that she has found herself and straighten her life. Now that Marissa is a whole new Marissa……and Ryan was the reason why she is what she is right now.
On the east side of the country, up in the Hampton's, Ryan Atwood woke up naked beside a blonde girl. He whispered something on her ear which made the girl laugh, stand up, put her robe on and dance in front of him. Ryan watched in amazement and then the girl walked across the room, slipped off of her robe which dropped on the floor and wink at Ryan before entering the bathroom.
Ryan smiled and said, "Somebody wants to play so early in the morning."
Meanwhile on the west side of the country, Julie hugged a crying Marissa as Sandy, Seth and Neil stood up and went outside.
"Honey, I'm sorry to have kept it from you. We thought it was best for you. For both of you. I saw how Ryan was after seeing you. He was a mess and you, you were doing great sailing, getting a college degree and finding yourself. Believe it or not, Ryan and I are getting along now, but that's another story…."
Kirsten smiled at Julie's last remark. Julie in turn smiled back at Kirsten sheepishly.
Summer approached Marissa and hugged her. "Well I guess it really is a whole new beginning for you, Coop."
"Summer, you don't understand." Marissa said while crying on her bestfriend's shoulder.
"Awww. Of course I understand, Coop. But you gotta admit it. Ryan started his life on his own again in New York and you should too now that you're back."
"Maybe it was just not meant to be." Anna commented.
Marissa cried for another couple of minutes while she comes into terms with what she had just learned and then a glimmer of hope, a thought, struck her.
"Summ, do you have a spare room?"
Confused at what Marissa means, Julie inquired: "Sweetheart what do you mean?"
Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, "In New York, you do have a spare room in your apartment right?"
Summer, confused herself, and trying to catch up on what Marissa was thinking, turned to Anna and said: "Y-yeah….we do have one right?"
Anna nodded and turned to Marissa and said, "I live alone next door. You can stay with me."
Julie butted in. "I'm confused. Are you trying to tell us that you're moving to New York to see Ryan?"
Knowing that she doesn't have a concrete reason on why she's going to move to New York, "I don't know. Maybe. I don't know." Marissa answered.
Summer torn between knowing full well Marissa's intentions and the excitement of having her bestfriend close to her again, could only blurt out: "Oh boy! This sounds like one of the episodes on The Pier! Oh my god Coop! You're moving to New York! You're moving next door!"
Everybody laughed at Summer's remark and Anna and Marissa hugged and said to each other, "Housemates!"
Like on cue, Seth enters the kitchen and overhears Marissa's plan and could only say, "Seems like the Fantastic Four will be Fantastic again."'
Julie looked at Kirsten. "I'm not sure if I like the idea."