Hey guys! This is a new story I kinda just thought of doing and wrote it up. It's not going to be too long, but I'm not positive on the number of posts. This story takes place when they are all twenty four years old. As for Julia marrying Mr. Roberts, that didn't happen, Marissa dieing also didn't happen. Ryan and Marissa went to Berkeley together, Seth and Summer went to Brown together. Kirsten did not get pregnant and the earthquake did not happen either. Caitlin did not come back during season three at all. Ryan and Marissa did break up during season three but they got together back in college. If there are any other confusions for the story, please let me know.
She hadn't been home in a long time…
Two years to be exact. She had been living in Boston, working for a fashion magazine by the name of Fervor Magazine. She had left immediately after graduating from Berkeley with her English Degree, realizing that she no longer had any relationship ties in California to keep her there.
For three years, she had been Ryan's girlfriend; they experienced their ups and downs, fights and makeup's, just about everything. But during senior year, their love for each other seemed to fade and all they could do was wonder who else was out for them. They mutually decided to end their relationship and started seeing other people. This event ultimately led her to moving to Boston after their graduation from college.
It wasn't easy for her, she realized, being apart from the person she loved more than life itself but it was something they felt they needed. But even with all the apparent reasons for why it was beneficial for them to break up, she could only focus on the reasons for it wasn't beneficial for them. She would never tell anyone, even Summer, how she would cry mostly every night during her first few months after the breakup. It felt as if someone had taken a part of herself and it could not be given back.
It was especially hard when she moved to Boston, the poignant awareness of not having Ryan or any of her family anywhere near her finally breaking through. But she stuck through it and survived, seeing that she was stronger than she gave herself credit for.
She hadn't talked to Ryan much since she had moved. It was maybe four or five times all together, for birthdays or just to see each other was. Other than that they hadn't seen each other in two years. She hadn't gone home on holidays because she went to St. Bart's with her coworkers every vacation and for reason, she felt it was too hard to go back to the place they once were all so happy together.
But here she was now, going home for her dad's funeral. It wasn't something she was expecting and it had felt like a stab to the stomach when her mom told her a day before. He had retained serious brain injuries after falling down a fight of stairs. He had been bleeding in the brain and nothing could have been done in surgery, so in one short night, Jimmy Cooper, father and husband passed away.
Unfortunately for her, she had not seen her father much after senior year of high school. After he had left the second time, he didn't return to Newport until she had gone to Boston and there he had rekindled his relationship with Julie, eloping with her after a year of being back. So as she sat in the plane on her way home, all she could wonder was what she missed out on while she was in Boston. Who had her father come home as? Was he the same kind and caring man he had been before he left? Unfortunately for those questions, she would not have any answers.
She had just started descending into Orange County Airport and all she could think about how it would be to see everyone after two long years. She knew Summer and her mother would be the same because she kept in touch with them anyways, but how would the Cohen's be? Most importantly, how would Ryan be?
As soon as the plane landed, she grabbed her luggage and exited as quickly as possible. For some reason, planes still managed to terrify her. She worked her way to the main exit, hoping to see someone for her. And in a sea of blonde hair, she could see red. She saw her mom's beautiful face coming towards her, except that beautiful face was stained with pain, as hard as she tried to hide it and her eyes were laced with red from crying so much.
Marissa smiled and dropped her bags to hug her mother tightly, "I've missed you" Marissa mumbled as she hugged her mom. Julie pulled away and kissed Marissa's forehead, "I've missed you too…I am so glad that you're here with me" Julie said quietly. Marissa just smiled as she continued to hold onto the woman that for many years made her life a living hell, but for the past few years, made it only so much better, "me too mom." Marissa grabbed her bags as they turned to Julie's Mercedes Mini SUV and started their journey back home.
"So when is Caitey coming home?" Marissa asked quietly, Julie turned her sunglass covered eyes to her for a second as they reached the highway, "she'll be in tomorrow morning… it's the only flight they have to Orange County Airport from Tokyo" Julie said. Marissa nodded her head, "how's her music company doing by the way?" Marissa asked. "Very well… she has contracts with some very famous artists and is quite successful." Marissa smiled, happy to hear her younger sister was doing well, "I'm glad to hear that" Marissa said. Julie nodded with a small smile, "yeah it is great news… after she dropped out of USC, I was afraid she wouldn't do anything but she found something she loved and has worked very hard…it was a relief."
Marissa glanced out the car window at the beautiful Orange County scenery that was once customary to see every day, realizing how gorgeous California really was after being away for so long. "Happy to be home?" Julie asked, taking her out of her thoughts, Marissa turned to her with a small smile, "Boston is great… and I love it… but it's not California, so yeah… it's nice to be home… even for these horrible circumstances" she stated with a quiver of her lip as she turned back to the window, fighting back her oncoming tears.
They pulled into a familiar driveway, and Marissa, almost afraid to look at the house itself, knew where she was, her old house. Marissa felt her jaw drop, "mom… what are we…?" she trailed off in surprise. "Well sweetheart, I told you that your father and I bought a house together" she said, "yeah I remember… but you did not tell me that it was our old house" Marissa said, still in shock. Julie just smiled and opened her door, going around to the back to grab one of Marissa's bags. Marissa slowly got out of the car, grabbing her other bag and stopping to just stare at the house she spent so much time in as a child. It had been repainted the same colors but still looked beautiful.
Marissa stepped inside to see many new changes, such as a new kitchen, new living room, and all brand new bedrooms, two of the three that remained guest rooms. She stepped into her old bedroom and placed her bags down, feeling sudden exhaustion sweep over her body. Julie stepped into the room as she sat down on the bed, "hey sweetie, I'm just gonna head down to the Church with Kirsten and then to the caterers to make sure everything is all set up for tomorrow" she said softly. Marissa just nodded her head; Julie smiled sadly and left the room, leaving Marissa alone.
Marissa stood up and made her way to her old balcony, opening the doors slowly, and feeling a flashback of all the times she had opened these doors to peer out at the beach and see the weather. She looked at the beautiful beach, seeing the same constant crash of the waves on the shore and feeling all the comfort of watching them. She turned and looked over at the Cohen's backyard, seeing Sandy sitting on the patio, reading the paper. She smiled softly, feeling good to be home.
Marissa crept back into her bed, wrapping herself with the comforter, hoping to get some much needed sleep. As she dazed off into dreamland, her cell phone abruptly took her from dreamland. She slowly grabbed her ringing cell phone from off the night stand, opening it quickly and putting it up to her ear. "Hello?" she asked tiredly, hoping to get off this call soon, "Coop?" she heard and sat up in her bed. "Hey Sum…what's up?" she asked as she ran a hand through her long blond hair. "Nothing much…are you home?" Summer asked excitedly.
Marissa smiled, "yeah…I'm in my old bedroom as we speak" Marissa answered. "Oh that's great Coop… I was wondering if you'd like to go get some lunch with me later?" Summer asked. "Yeah that sounds good… it's eleven now… can we go around two? I just really want to take a nap first" Marissa said quietly, "of course… I'll come pick you up at two, bye Coop" Summer said and hung up. Marissa down her phone and fell back into the comfortable bedding, falling asleep almost instantly.
A few hours later, Marissa and Summer sat at the outdoor café eating their lunches and catching up. "How's Seth?" Marissa asked, Summer smiled and took a sip of her Manhattan. "He's good... he just moved into my apartment… we're trying to take it slowly… I mean when we broke up sophomore year, I didn't think we would get back together, but now we are and we just really want to take care of the relationship." Marissa just nodded with a smile, a sad smile Summer noticed and placed her hand on top of Marissa's.
"He still asks about you sometimes" Summer said quietly. Marissa just looked away to the ocean that was in the distance. Things stay quiet for a couple minutes, Marissa trying to gather her thoughts, "Is he happy?" Marissa asked. Summer contemplated the question, "yeah I think he is… he has a girlfriend now…" Summer trailed off, hoping to drop the bomb quietly. Marissa slowly turned back to her, "he does? Who is she?" she asked curiously. "Her name is Kiley, Kiley Emerson… she lives in Laguna Beach, she's a year younger than us… and graduated from Stanford. She's in Med school now to become a doctor" Summer said quietly. Marissa just nodded and picked up her cosmopolitan, "that's good…I'm glad that he's happy" and took a long sip, the waitress came over. "Can I get you two anything else?" the waitress asked politely, "yeah…can you just keep the drinks coming…and make sure they make my cosmopolitans very strong" Marissa said and Summer just laughed.
The waitress retreated back inside and Marissa turned back to Summer for her to continue, "she's really nice… and it's annoying, I won't lie." Marissa laughed, "Why is that annoying?" Marissa asked as she ate the cherry out of her cosmopolitan, "because Coop…you're the only I want to see him with and I can't hate her because she's so nice all the time" Summer said. "That was a long time ago... we've both moved on and it's just… not what it used to be" Marissa said almost inaudibly. Summer just nodded and finished off her Manhattan as a new one arrived, "I know I've already asked…but are you sure that you're okay?" Summer asked, almost gently. Marissa took a sip from her cosmopolitan, "I'm doing okay…considering…" Marissa said absently.
Marissa turned to the inside of the Café and for a second, thought she saw someone familiar, she stared at the face, wondering if that was really him or if her eyes were just deceiving her. Summer turned to look at what Marissa was staring at, "that's Ryan…and Kiley" Summer said quietly and Marissa turned quickly to the waitress, "hi can we have the check as quickly as possible" Marissa requested. Marissa gulped down her cosmopolitan and took out her wallet. She turned once again look at the couple, the way he smiled at her, and the way he laughed. It was all too close for comfort, and staring at him, was too hard. He looked better than she remembered, more toned if she could say so herself, and he had a deep tan, he looked too good actually.
She found herself looking at the girl across from him with the chestnut brown hair, in perfect curls down her back. From this angle, she seemed perfect, and for a second, the thought of him being with someone like that depressed her. The check came and Marissa quickly paid for lunch and got up before Summer could object. They avoided Ryan's table at any cost and left the café, going into Summer's car.
"What the hell was that?" Summer asked Marissa. Marissa just sighed deeply and ran a hand over her face. "What happened to "that was a long time ago Summer, we've both moved on" Summer mocked as she drove. "Just because I said I've moved on does not mean that I wanted to see him yet… I just was surprised" Marissa said quietly. Summer laughed, "surprised… more like terrified beyond belief." Marissa just took a deep breath and leaned back against the seat, shocked at how much harder it was to see Ryan than she thought it'd be.
"So are you coming sweetie?" she heard her mother ask her that night as she leaned into her bedroom. "Coming where?" Marissa asked confusingly, looking up from lying down on her bed. "To the Cohen's for dinner….I thought I told you about that" Julie said. Marissa sat up, "oh right you did… I want to but just with…" Marissa said, not finding the right words to say, "Ryan being there?" Julie guessed. Marissa looked up at her mom's warm face, "its okay… I understand, I'll see you later sweetie" she said as she kissed Marissa on the forehead with a smile and left the room.
Marissa changed into her pajamas and went to the kitchen to grab some ice cream. She grabbed one of her mom's DVD's and went into her room, but was more compelled to look at the neighbors at that moment. She went onto her balcony and peered over to next door, seeing the backyard all set up for the dinner. She saw the whole family sitting there, and one empty seat, a seat meant for her, a seat that would not be filled. She watched as her mom talked to everyone, everyone giving hugs to her in comfort. And all she could feel was anticipation to see all those people tomorrow.
At The Party
"How is she doing?" Kirsten asked as she got some food ready for the dinner, Julie, sipping her water absently just shook her head. "I don't know Kirsten… she won't let me really know, all she's doing is asking how I am…I'm her mother, I'm supposed to take care of her" Julie said sadly. Kirsten placed her hand on Julies, "you are being her mother… and the fact that she loves you so much that she's only concerned about you is very inspiring to see in a daughter" Kirsten said with a warm smile. Julie nodded her head and smiled gratefully, she stood up and made her way outside to the guests with Kirsten where everyone said hello and gave their hugs of concern.
Julie smiled kindly when she reached Ryan, "hello Ryan, how are you?" she asked. "I'm good… better question, how you are?" Ryan said nicely. "As well as expected… I'm more concerned for Marissa at this point" Julie said. Julie could see his attention spark at this point, "she's not coming tonight is she?" Ryan asked and Julie shaking her head. "She wasn't feeling well and really wasn't in the mood to talk to people… she's at the house" Julie said quietly and Ryan nodded. "When you go home, just tell her I wish she would have came, I wanted to see her" Ryan said quietly and Julie smiled. "I will Ryan."
Ryan retreated over to the bar as Summer made her way up to her, "Hey Mrs. Cooper" Summer said and gave Julie a hug. "Hi sweetheart" Julie said with a small smile. "She didn't come huh?" Summer asked, the disappointment laced throughout her voice. "It's hard for her… you know to see him" Julie said quietly as they turned their attention to a smiling Ryan as he talked to Seth at the bar. "Yeah… it is… I remember when they broke up during senior year, for the next two months after that, I would call her every night and I knew she was crying but she never told me… she just didn't want to seem sad about it." Julie just nodded her head sadly, "and now with him being so happy with Kiley, it's just hard" Summer said.
Julie looked over to the house next door, seeing the light from the balcony door windows. "She'll be okay… Marissa always knows how to make things better, especially now, she's responsible and mature… she'll be just fine" Julie said adamantly. Summer smiled as she looked at Julie, "yeah she will be" Summer said, "just like you, you'll be just fine" Summer as she hugged Mrs. Cooper one last time and stepped over to the bar with the guys. But as soon as Summer was standing over with Ryan and Seth, she knew that the three of them could never be the foursome they once were, even with Kiley there, it would never be the same.