Chapter one: Broken
Ryan had boarded the earliest plane he could, which was still a day after Marissa's plane left. All he could do was tap his feet on the floor of the plane, which caused the elderly man next to him to give him strange looks. He felt so helpless there, he just had to wait for his chance to fight for her, which was still 5 hours away...the longest hours of his life.
Seth had been driving around what seemed to him to be the entire state of California, without a sight of his wife, or little girl. His radio had become a distant noise as he wiped some stray tears from his face. He pulled over, and slammed his head against the wheel, got out of the car, and kicked the bumper relentlessly. He finally fell to the ground, and wept silently, not paying attention to the stares from other people driving by. He finnally got up, and started walking. He left his car, and everything behind.
Summer had checked into the mermaid hotel, she was hoping Seth would find her, but she wasn't about to run back to him. She was torn between standing her ground, and going back to him. Sarah was lost in her care bears video, and couldn't tell her mother's heart was breaking. Summer was sitting outside, crying, and smoking a cigarette, her head buried in her arms.
Marissa had been drowning herself in vodka ever since she got back to her father's hawaii estate. She stood out on the balcony, and drank, just like the time Ryan left Newport, except she was the one that left. Jimmy had sometimes come in to check on her, but was greeted by just a nod, or maybe a small, grunted "I'm fine Dad." He still held out hope that Marissa would be in a good mood when Angelina came over for dinner, but he knew nothing good could come from it. Marissa had shed a few tears, but the alcohol had made her lose a lot of emotion. She wondered if she made the right choice, but that thought told her she didn't. She had made a mistake by leaving Ryan, and she wasn't sure if she could fix it.
Kirsten was deep into a bottle of merlot for two reasons, 1) Her two sons were in terrible pain, 2) a letter had arrived that day, a letter from Carter. She couldn't open it, because of what she had done to Sandy all those years ago. It was the smallest of kisses, but it killed her everyday that went by she didn't tell Sandy. She finnally let go of her doubts, and tore the envelope open, and threw it across the room. The letter read.
Kirsten,
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I would have come down to see you, but I figured that wouldn't help things. I'm still here for you Kirsten, and I really hope you know that. (Carter tells his phone number, and address of his sacramento house.) You can always call me, or visit me if you need someone to talk to. I hope you are well, and give my regards to your son, and tell him I have all the issues of his book. Hope to hear from you.
Your friend,
Carter Buckley
Now Kirsten was plagued again, call him, or don't call him. Those thoughts ran through her mind for minutes until she finally threw the note in the trash. She then finished her glass of merlot, then sat on the couch, and watched an old romantic movie...she always loved them.
Summer, in the middle of her cigarette/cry session saw Seth walking across the street from her. He didn't see her, and she was ready to run to him when what she had said to him came back. "I'm leaving and I'm not sure if I'm coming back." She let him pass, because she felt like she didn't deserve him.
Marissa, Jimmy, and Angelina sat at the dinner table, sipping wine, and eating something Jimmy had prepared. Jimmy, and Angelina talked as Marissa played around with her food, to drunk to care. "Marissa, try to eat, I spent a long time making this." Jimmy reasoned, but nothing seemed to phase her.
"Maybe I should come back later, let you two talk." Angelina said to jimmy
"No, Marissa, stop moping around, your twenty-eight years old."
"Yeah, and living with my father...excuse me." Marissa said as she left the room. A few seconds later, a knock at the door interrupted dinner again.
Marissa, in her room, sat on her bed, and drank again, her eyes turning red with tears. Jimmy walked in.
"Dad, not now, just go away." Marissa grunted.
"Fine, but someone's here for you."
Marissa stood up and saw her father walk away, then saw him walk to the doorway. Her tears were soon wiped away, and a slight smile appeared on her face. "It's about time you got here."