AN: Hello, yes this is the first time I post on fan so I am sorry if somethings not done right. Well I just want to say please read and review. Give it a shot. It may be a bit different but I promise you it will be great and well worth your time. Thank you.

Never Let Go RM AU

As Marissa Cooper looked around her room one last time she knew she couldn't let her salty tears fall onto her porcelain face but yet she couldn't help it. Crying, it felt like that was all she had done this past week. Since it happened.

Her mother, Julie Cooper, was easily one of her best friends. They knew each other practically inside and out. They shared a bond, a strong bond all of her life. But now she was gone, and she wasn't coming back. Car accident, yup that's how it happened. Julie Cooper, divorcee, and mother of one was hit by a drunk driver. Dead on impact was what she was told. And her funeral had been held today, in the Chino Memorial Cemetery.

"You ready?" asked the quiet yet sincere voice of the man who was now standing in the doorway of her room but was also her father.

Dan Cooper. He was her father. At least in biological meaning. He was a tall man, strong is posture and stance, yet still in a slim form, he had dark hair, and soft hazel eyes. He had left when she was about 5 years of age. Him and her mother got divorced as soon as he was offered a high position in a developing real-estate company. He was offered the big time and a transfer to Newport Beach California. The fighting, the arguing, the disagreeing, and the tension was worse than ever in the Cooper household. And she noticed, they never seemed to get along anymore but then came the day, the day she saw her father pack up boxes of belongings and self treasures and drive off. She knew he wasn't coming back.

And when she grew older she put the pieces to the puzzle together. She knew her mother didn't want to leave her family and current life behind for a marriage she could already feel falling apart. Her mother already knew of the occurring affair he had going on during his visits to Newport Beach. So she gave up and stopped fighting, signing her divorce papers years ago.

Putting all that aside. Her father, Dan Cooper, was a good man, a decent man, and he cared and she knew he did. As soon as her mother past away he was at her side, tending to see if she had all he needed. And paying for all the services and charges that came to bill.

And now she was packing up her home and life of 17 years to move in with her father. A man she wished she could despise and hate for having little contact with her most of her life yet she couldn't help but want to be held in his arms like most little girls should be. She was packing to leave this life behind and begin a new one, to get a clean slate, and start over. She knew it would be good for her, to start over, especially in a new place where no one knew her, to leave this place behind, along with all the memories. She saw this as an opportunity to not only have a better life but to form some sort of a resemblance of a relationship with her father.

"Yeah" she answers almost dejectedly, as she turns around to face him and begin the walk out of her shabby, out of date, rundown Chino home. "Im ready." She states as she continues to attempt to make the tears stop falling as she wipes at her face once again.

"It's going to be fine." he quickly lets her know as she gives her shoulder a light squeeze as she walks by. His tone unsure but full of hope. "I promise."

She looks back at him skeptically, with her swollen eyes and tear stained face, wanting to believe all that he's telling her but knowing her past and the way her life has been she shouldn't get too attached to anything or believe anyone.

She places her final box into the trunk of her father's expensive SUV and quickly climbs into the passenger side of it. She watches as Dan closes up the house one last time and begins the descend down the narrow path from the house back to the car.

"You hungry?" he asks her as he quickly sets the car to drive and begins the trip back to Newport. " Cause we could pick up some burgers or something if you are" he tells her. He sighs as he sees her shake her head no.

"I think you'll like it in Newport" he states matter of factly. "Its nice, different from Chino. A lot different." he says as he tries to keep the conversation going. He glances over to the passenger side to see Marissa gazing out at the last bit of Chino outskirts that pass before her eyes as they enter the highway.

"Seth is excited to meet you" he tells her to keep the ball of conversation rolling.

At the mention of her step brother she looks over at him beckoning him to tell her just a bit more.

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"You suck" Seth tells Ryan in defeat as they both put down the controllers to the video game they were playing. "Wanna grab some food, I'm getting sorta hungry from all this winning." He asks his best friend Ryan Atwood who has just demolished him in the ninja video game they were playing.

Seth Cooper was the son of Sarah Knight. Sarah was a single parent to Seth his whole life. At least until she met Dan Cooper. She knew he had a wife, but couldn't help be attracted to him anyhow. She stopped the affair. She knew it was wrong. Soon after Dan came looking for her to tell her that he had fallen for her and that he was now a single, divorced man. Two years later, when Seth was seven they married. Five years later, when Seth was twelve she died from her previously discovered ovarian cancer, leaving a devastated son and husband in her wake. Soon though Seth couldn't have become closer to his dad, and together they helped each other somewhat heal and continue their lives.

"Sure, but I gotta get going soon Aunt Kirsten still wants my help organizing Sandy's birthday party this year" Ryan remembers his plans from earlier as they move into Seth's kitchen to grab a drink.

Ryan Atwood. Neighbor and best friend of Seth Cooper. Ryan was adopted by his aunt and uncle Sandy and Kirsten Cohen when his mother, and sister of Kirsten, Dawn Atwood picked up and left him at the young age of eight. Ryan however is a well adjusted, smart kid with lots of potential. His grades never seem to falter from being better than average and is very socially intact. He was previously on the Harbor High basketball team but this year he has decided to forego the sport and live his senior year to the fullest.

"Yah, that's cool. My dad should be here any minute now anyway." Seth remember as he looks at the clock realizing his dad should be back with his step sister Marissa soon.

"Isn't he bringing your sister with him?" Ryan remember his conversation with Seth from previous days when they discussed Dan and his where about as he was in Chino.

"Yeah, Marissa. You know its gonna be weird. With a girl in the house. You know, what's gonna happen to the bachelor pad Ryan?" Seth asked but doesn't give Ryan enough time to respond as he continues his ramble, "Its gonna get cramped with make-up, and flowers, and hair stuff, and tampons and..."

"Seth shut up." Ryan tells him as he can't help but let out a laugh, "You know its not gonna be like that. She's just gonna be around. That's the only difference." he tells a chin stroking Seth and then continues his thought, "Anyways didn't her mom just die so its not like she's gonna wanna be hanging around her overly cool new brother." Ryan sarcastically tells him, "She's gonna want her space and you just have to be nice." Ryan tells Seth as they begin to walk out towards the front of the house.

"Yeah, whatever." Seth mumbles because he hates it when Ryan is right.

"So you wanna meet up later and do something or am I on my own again tonight?" Ryan questions Seth referring to how Seth spends most of his nights with his girl friend, Summer Roberts. But he himself is no outsider when it comes to the ladies.

"Haha Ryan, very funny, nah I think I have to hang around here you know. With Marissa coming and all but if I don't we can..." Seth says fading off as they see Dan's car begin to pull into the driveway but can't make out the looks of the people inside as the windows are too tinted.

"They're here" Seth says more of a statement as he expected it but still cant help but wonder what's going to happen. As both boys stand near the end of the driveway Ryan was going to begin his walk up his driveway going back home, but now cant seem to move his feet as he allows his curiosity to win the best of him and stays planted to the floor waiting to see what awaits inside the car.

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