AN: Okay this is the first story I've ever written for The OC, but I'm not new to writing. I've written numerous short stories for my school literary magazine, but I've never done something like this. You may be confused after this post, but all will be explain later on so please be patient. If you have any questions just type them in a review and I'll answer. This is a RM story with a large amount of SS thrown in.
Chapter 1
Notice how you only will take a photo when you're having fun. Notice how if someone isn't smiling in the photo you won't frame it. The reasoning is simple. You take a picture to freeze a moment. Sometimes when you lift a photo taken years ago, you're mind is flooded with memories. Things you haven't thought about, things you may have forgotten, but when you look at the picture it brings a smile to your face and you say 'I wish I could do that again'. That's why we don't take pictures at funerals, because who want's to remember that?
Growing up in Chino, California is no fairytale. Even at the young ages of six and seven the memories a person can make will haunt them forever. The worst part is because you're so young you can't really make sense of what happens. You think that it's okay for your dad to hit you; you think that it's natural for someone to pass out because of too much alcohol. Living in a place like that you have no true role models. Where you were when you're fifteen is the same place you'll be in ten years.
Maybe it wasn't true for everyone. Some people had potential to be better, but they just couldn't see it. They couldn't see it because they didn't have anyone to tell them.
The truth is the sooner you get out, the younger you are the better off you are. If you move to a better place the memories can fade. They'll still haunt you, but not as bad. Once you start seeing a better life, a life with role models and a life with meaning, those memories will fade because you start seeing things differently, and then you forget… or at least you try to.
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Marissa was fourteen when she moved, right before high school. Her mother, Julie, could see the affect living in Chino had on Marissa more and more each day. This wasn't the life she wanted her child to have; she wanted her to have a better life, so she left. They moved to Napa Valley, California. Julie reconnected with an old high school friend, Veronica Townsend who was fortunate enough to marry into a wealthy family. Veronica agreed to allow Julie to live with her until she got back on her feet.
Marissa and Taylor, Veronica's daughter, easily became best friends and were inseparable, despite the fact that they were total opposites. When school started one month later Marissa became good friends with Summer Roberts, a petite brunette who shared the same interest a Marissa. The only difference was the Summer was a little more outspoken. By graduation, the three girls promised to be 'best friend forever'. Four years later after college, that's what they were. Summer and Marissa were both getting an apartment together in San Francisco, while Taylor was living in Paris.
One of Julie's fears was that Chino would have permanent imprint on her life, but that didn't happen. Marissa in fact took her childhood experiences to help her choose a major in college. Marissa graduated from Colombia University two weeks ago with a degree in Child Psychology. She said she wants to be able to help kids deal with memories that haunted them, and help them understand that despite the pain they feel as children, that there is something worth living for.
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Marissa smiled as she watched her mother hang up her framed diploma.
"I can't believe you're actually hanging that up in the living room," Marissa said sitting down on the sofa.
"Oh, shut up. You have not idea how happy I am for you." Julie sighed and sat down next to her. "You know I didn't have the opportunity to go to college."
"I know, but now with me moving in a couple of weeks, you can maybe go back for your undergraduate degree. I saw the pamphlets in you room," Marissa pointed out.
"It was just an idea I was thinking about," Julie said. "I've still got my photography."
"You don't seriously want to take pictures of food, and family portraits forever do you? Mom you could take more classes and even open up a gallery, like you've always wanted to."
"Why are you so concerned about me any way?"
"Because you've never once done something for yourself. You deserve this."
"How did you know that I wanted to open a gallery?"
"Because I read it in your yearbook. Just promise me you'll think about."
"Okay, I promise." Julie sighed, "So what do you want to do for dinner? Because I was thinking of Chinese take out and we could start looking through your stuff in the attic, see what you want to take with you."
"Mom that's stuff is in the attic for a reason. I have no reason or desire to keep it."
"Hey, you never know what's up there, old stuffed animal, dance trophies. Come on it'll be fun. Besides if you have no desire to keep it, we could just through everything away."
"Okay, order the usual," Marissa relented.
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Forty-five minutes later, Julie and Marissa were in the attic. They placed blankets and pillows on the floor to make things more comfortable. There were two boxes, labeled 'Marissa--- Blast from the Past'.
Marissa looked at the boxes skeptically, "Blast from the Past?"
"Yeah, you don't like it?" Julie asked.
"You could of just wrote like 'elementary school'," Marissa pointed out.
"I like it, so you'll do one and I'll do the other. Deal?" Marissa nodded.
An hour and half later, they were just finishing up. Every time Marissa would take something out of the box, Julie would reminisce and tell this long story of Marissa as a kid. Marissa had a lot of fun looking through the boxes. Although Marissa thought she's end up throwing everything a way, she kept a lot. Like old middle school yearbooks, two porcelain dolls, that seriously need to be dusted and her old stuffed dog, that she got when she was five. She didn't remember who gave it to her, but she knew it wasn't her mom.
"Oh my God," Marissa gasped as she picked up her all time favorite bedtime story "I Love You Forever". "Do you remember this book," Marissa said holding it up. "I remember dad used to read it to me."
Julie half smiled as she took the book from Marissa. "You remember that?"
"Briefly," Marissa shrugged. "I mean I don't really remember him, just the book. I mean who could forget this book. I used to cry," Marissa sighed taking it back.
"You were always really sensitive, still are." Julie mused.
Marissa smiled and put the book down and reached back into the box, picking up a wooden pick and purple box that had her name written on it. "You got that in second grade." Julie said "Secret Santa. I think his name was…"
"Ryan?" Marissa answered as she opened the box.
"He was such a sweet boy. You had the biggest crush on him," Julie remembered.
"I did not," Marissa said defensive.
"Oh yes you did. You two were so cute. I remember I caught the two of you in the closet almost kissing when you were like six. And then I overheard you talking about him to Theresa."
"Mom okay I had a crush on him, let's change the topic now."
Julie laughed as reached into the cardboard box and pulled out Marissa's old retainer. "Don't see a point in keeping this," Julie said tossing it into the garbage.
Marissa was still looking at the box. Glued to the inside of the top was a picture of her and a little boy who had blond hair and blue eyes that matched her own. Marissa frowned as she noticed that the little boy had a bruise on his eye. In the box was a small keychain and a piece of loose leaf. Curious Marissa unfolded the paper and read what it said.
Do you like me?
Yes
No
Maybe
The yes was checked off. Marissa smiled, remembering that day. They were in school and Theresa was convinced Ryan liked Marissa, and insisted that they write him a note and put in his desk during recess. After school that day Ryan gave the note back to Marissa and kissed her on the cheek. Marissa frowned as she remembered her childhood friend. They promised that they'd keep in touch, but it never happened. Seeing this now made her wonder, what had happened to him? Living Chino wasn't the easiest life. She and Ryan were always there for each other. When his dad got arrested, the first time her dad hit her. He took care of her the first time she got drunk at a party when they were thirteen and she was there for him when he got jumped in the park. He was the first boy she kissed, the first person she really cared about. Even though she was only fourteen when she left, she could tell he was different then the other guys in Chino. She hoped the he was able to get out as well, and he was living the life he deserved.
"Sweetie, what's wrong?" Julie asked as she looked up to see Marissa frowning.
"Hmm, oh uh nothing," Marissa said hastily as she was broken out of her trance. "I'm just tired, can we finish this tomorrow."
"Yeah, of course," Julie smiled, patting Marissa's back. "Do you need help carrying this stuff downstairs?"
"No, I got." Marissa smiled.
Marissa looked back at the photo one more time and sighed. She never talked about some of the things she saw while living in Chino. She knew her mom was always concerned that she would be someone mentally unstable because of them, so she never voiced them. But looking at the photo and the note, it brought back old feelings.
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"Coop, can you believe it. We are actually moving into our first real apartment. Our first home without parents. Out of this crappy, boring town and into like a real city. With real people. We finally have our first real jobs, where we actually get paid like a salary." Summer Roberts rambled to her best friend. It was Monday evening and they were moving into there apartment in four days. "The only downside it that we don't have parents to by us our clothes," She said kind of disappointed. "But…" She said quickly, "then again they can't tell us we can't buy something. God I'm soooo excited. Coop?" Summer said turning to face her friend who was staring off into space. "Hello, are you even listening to a word I'm saying?"
Broken out of her trance, "What I'm sorry, Sum. I just zoned off I guess."
"Yeah, I can tell. What's going on?" Summer asked concerned. "You've been kind off this past week."
"It's nothing, really. I'm fine," Marissa emphasized when Summer gave her an 'I don't believe you look'.
Summer rolled her eyes, "Whatever you say Coop. But sooner or later you're going to have to talk about it."
"So what were you saying before?" Marissa said wanting to quickly change to the subject.
"I was just saying how excited I am that we're getting our own apartment. I already have a floor plan figure out."
"The joy's of having a roommate who's an interior designer... I'm excited too," Marissa added as an afterthought.
"Now that's the spirit," Summer clapped. The two sat in silence for a little while, both just watching the television. "Hey, Coop. Do you believe in destiny?"
"What?" Marissa asked confused at Summer's question.
"You know, like providence, serendipity, fate…"
"I know what destiny means Summer. That's just a weird question coming from you."
"Why is that weird coming to me?" Summer asked a little offended.
"Well when we saw the movie 'Serendipity' weren't you the one who said it was a whole bunch of bull, and stuff like that didn't happen in real life." Marissa pointed out.
"Okay, so you have a point it's just…" Summer started, but stopped not sure how to voice what she wanted to say.
"Continue," Marissa said motioning with her hands.
"Well you remember that guy I told you about? The one I met in providence?"
"Seth?" Marissa asked. Summer nodded. "What about him."
"We still talk, you know. And I told him about how we were getting an apartment in San Francisco. Well he's works in San Francisco, so…"
"You're beginning to rethink you ideas on destiny," Marissa surmised.
Summer shrugged, "Basically, yeah. He's like the total opposite of the guys I used to hang out with in high school. I was surprised that I actually agreed to go out with him. But I don't know Coop," Summer shrugged again, "there's something about him."
"Are you falling in loooove with him?" Marissa asked jokingly.
Summer shoved her playfully, "Shut up."
"I think its sweet, Sum."
"But should I go out with him again, call him when we get there?"
"Definitely," Marissa said nodding her head.
"Really?" Summer said shocked.
"Why pass up the opportunity. Then you'll always wonder what if? You know, what if I just called him, what if I kept in touch, what if…"
"Coop, are we still talking about me here?" Summer asked as she noticed that her friend seemed to be talking to herself.
"What are you talking about?" Marissa asked confused, "Who else would I be talking about?"
"I don't, you just were all… never mind," Summer said when she saw Marissa was looking at her like she was crazy.
So maybe Marissa was in a way talking about herself. She was giving Summer advice based on her past experience. Summer was the only person Marissa really talks to about her past life in Chino. She told her pretty much everything; of course there were some things Marissa didn't talk about because she herself just wanted to forget.
AN#2- Like I said I'm kind of nervous about this chapter, so please review. Constructive criticism is welcomed. Also I didn't really proof read this chapter, so if there are any grammatical errors, I'm sorry.