Chapter 1: Hallelujah

Ryan laid her body on the ground. Looking up he whispered to himself and Marissa's eyes open a little like before. "Oh god, wake up." Ryan said. "Everything is alright." The truth was nothing was alright. Ryan checked his pocket for his cell phone and found it. Dialing 911 he stared at Marissa while her eyes where open. When the operator answered he looked back at his car and prayed that Marissa would survive. Giving the operator directions he scrambled to say her life. He did CPR on her and other medical procedures he knew that could help. Nothing worked.

On the other hand Marissa was half concuss that she was dieing. After Ryan hung up she tried speaking to him. She moved her lips to say anything but couldn't get a sound out. Ryan noticed her lips move and looked back down. "Marissa talk to me!" Marissa attempted to say something again, "Ryan… if I die here know that I loved you." "So did I. Just hold on for a bit. You will make it through the night. I wasn't going to let you get arrested for shooting Trey. I won't let you die from a car crash. Volchok will pay for this." As the half concuss Marissa lay in his arms with her eyes open still she spoke up when a tear started to fall down his face "Don't you worry about me…"

When she stopped the ambulance arrived Marissa had ether become concuss or dead. Ryan hoped she was concuss. "How is she?" Ryan asked the nurse at the scene. "You girlfriend has a severe head wound. I can't tell what it is yet. Once we get to the hospital she will get a CAT scan and MRI. Was she drinking at all tonight?" "No." "Does she take any meds or on and mediation at the time?" "No. But she has ODed on painkillers and vodka. She got treated for it." "She might have brain damage."

Just when the nurse said she might have brain damage Ryan jumped at the thought of it. Ever since he met her his job was to protect her. In his mind that was what he didn't do tonight. He believed he failed her and she was dieing because of it. No, this can't be real. What have I done? Volchok! Volchok was the last person Ryan wanted to speak to now. If he was standing next to him Ryan would have killed him for what he did to her. No man alive can survive the wrath of Kid Chino's Fist of Furry. Unlike before all the pain he ever suffered in his life (physical or emotionally) would come to bring out his Fist of Furry that could kill Volchok for Marissa's accident.

"You know Cohen with Marissa going away for the year and Ryan alone at Berkley it will feel different without them." Summer said as they lay next to lit candles in a bed room. "What about us? After all we will be at different colleges but still living in the same state." "So?" "So? My point is we will be apart as well but Marissa and Ryan will be fine. All of us will be fine." "I hope your right." What do you mean?" I mean after college ends you and me will get married and so will Ryan and Marissa. No can tear them apart anymore and the same will happen to us." "Yeah but what if you met a cute, funny girl who is into comics like you while your in school?" "It might be cool but only on a friendly friend bases." "Ok. I trust you then." "So do I Summer. So do I..."

Seth didn't know what he would do without Summer. Yeah they going to two different colleges in the same state but what about the empty void between them? Seth started thinking about the fact that not seeing Summer doing school would feel a bit lonely. They could visit during lunch or before classes in the morning. "When or if we get enough money do you want to rent a condo or apartment and live together?" Seth asked. Summer unaware that Seth was in the same room looked up, "Yeah but don't you want to live in a dorm, met new people?" "Sure but I want to be with you." "Cohen don't worry about it. No matter what happens from here on out we will always be together."

One minute of silence passed and Summer's cell phone rang, "Hello?" On the other end was Ryan, "Hi, its me. I'm at the hospital with Marissa. We got in a crash. I'm fine but Marissa was sent to the ER. I haven't been able to get hold of Sandy, Kirsten or Julie." "Oh my god… we're coming." "Who was that?" Seth asked. "Ryan. They just got in a car crash. Marissa is in the ER." "I'll call my dad." As soon as Seth called Sandy he told him and they left for the hospital.

Meanwhile at the Cohen house Sandy was telling Kirsten what happened to Marissa and Ryan. "I'll get my purse. Call Julie and Dr. Roberts and tell them." Kirsten ordered. "Ok. Will you be fine." "Yeah, let's just pray for the best tonight."

At the hospital Summer and Seth arrived before Sand and Kirsten. "Hey. How's she doing?" Summer asked. "I don't know…" Just then the doctor came out, "Your friend is in critical condition but the diagnosis still unknown." "Will she make it?" Seth asked. "I can't say ether or right now." When the doctor left Summer put her face on Seth's shoulder with tears running down her face. A while latter Neil, Caitlyn, Julie, Sandy and Kirsten came walking in. They all greeted each other and got caught up on the situation. That same minute the doctor came back out. He looked at the group and noticed Neil. "Doctor, it's so nice to see you. What are you doing here?" "That's my to be daughter-in-law." "Oh… anyway I've got nothing but bad news." "What is it?" Julie replied. The doctor looked up and down his notes handing them to Neil. After Neil looked at the notes and looked up, "She's dead." Everyone there was socked. Julie and Caitlyn eyed each other while Summer continued to cry.

Everyone left the hospital and went home. Summer who could not bare the pain asked her dad if she could stay with Seth for the night. Neil was sorry for Julie and said yes. Caitlyn overheard Summer and asked Julie as well. So everyone stayed at the Cohen's for the night. That night was the roughest night in all of Newport history. No one could stop crying. Seth couldn't sleep because Summer was still crying so he took out his iPod and listened to Jeff Buckley's album Grace five times. Ryan lay awake all night long. He himself had the most difficult time sleeping topping off Julie not even wanting to sleep while Sandy was trying to consul her after the fact Kirsten was the only person asleep. No one seemed to take the news easily.

The next day Julie called Jimmy to tell him about the funeral that was going to be in two days. Jimmy luckily was stopping by a port that day so he got the rest of the cruise off and would fly home for the remaining time. Summer was busy calling and sending out emails to all of the closet members of the senior class. "I just finished spreading the news." Summer said walking into the kitchen where everyone was sitting at the dinner table. No one looked up. Ryan was already standing with a cup of coffee in his hand.

Hallelujah- Jeff Buckley

I've heard there was a secret chord
that David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Your faith was strong, but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the Name in vain
I don't even know the Name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Baby I've been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
But love is not some victory march
It's a cold and broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time when you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
But I remember when I moved in you
And the holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Now maybe there's a God above
But all I ever learned from love
Is how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
It's not a complaint that you hear tonight
It's not someone who's seen the light
It's a cold and lonely Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I learned to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come here to fool you
And even though it went all wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah