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Chapter 4: Stay
"Help me" Marissa uttered weakly as she collapsed in to Kirsten's arms. Kirsten's eyes widened in shock as Marissa fell in to her arms. Kirsten sunk to her knees trying to hold up Marissa who was slipping in to unconsciousness.
"Oh my god. SANDY!" Kirsten yelled desperately.
Sandy had thought nothing of Seth forgetting his keys. He forgot them more often than he remembered them. He was just about to take a sip from his wine glass when he heard Kirsten yelling his name. He got up from the couch to see what was so urgent.
"SANDY! Get over here now! Come on Marissa honey. Stay with me sweetie." Tears were starting to sting her eyes. She had known Marissa her whole life. She had watched her grow up and thought of her as one of the family. Now she actually was family. Since Julie had married her Dad Marissa had become her step sister. Her little sister was lying in her arms covered in blood. When Sandy saw the sight his body froze. It took him a second to realise who was lying in Kirsten's arms. He couldn't believe it.
"Sandy! Phone an ambulance!"
"Kirsten…." Marissa said weakly.
"It's ok sweetie, I'm here." Kirsten looked up at Sandy. Her eyes were full of fear for the girl in her arms. Sandy's senses caught up with reality. He ran to the phone and called 911. When he returned Kirsten was crouched over Marissa. Sandy went and knelt beside her.
"She…she won't say anything." A tear slid down her cheek. Sandy held her close to him.
"Don't worry. An ambulance is on its way." However, Sandy knew there was something to worry about. Teenage girls don't just turn up on doorsteps beaten up. Not in Newport. How had this happened? What had happened?
Ryan was in the pool house doing his chemistry homework. Or at least he was supposed to be but he couldn't seem to stop thinking about Marissa. He had tried to forget about her but he couldn't control his feelings. But after the whole Oliver thing he just couldn't cope with it all. He wasn't ready to be in a difficult relationship. Ryan lost his train of thought when he heard the sirens of an ambulance. He put his work to the side and got up and looked out over the ocean. A vast expanse of emptiness. Ryan could see why Seth had sailed away to escape.
Sandy went running out to the pool house. They had suddenly remembered that Ryan was there. They had to tell him. Ryan turned around to see Sandy running towards him. At first he thought Sandy was just coming over to see if he wanted something to eat or something like that but as Sandy got closer he noticed the look of panic on Sandy's face.
"Sandy? What's wrong?"
"Its Marissa…"
"Wha…what's happened? Sandy, what's happened to Marissa!" Ryan was getting angry, one of the emotions he was used to showing. His heart was beating faster. If anything ever happened to her he could never forgive himself.
"I don't know. She turned up on the doorstep all beaten up, but she lost consciousness before we cou…" Ryan had started to run to the house before Sandy had finished. Sandy couldn't even imagine what Ryan was going through. Him and Marissa had been through so much recently and he knew that they hadn't spoken since they split after the whole Oliver fiasco.
When Ryan arrived at the scene he stopped in horror just as Sandy had done. Paramedics were lifting Marissa on to a stretcher. Her head was covered in blood. He ran towards her
"Marissa!" He was stopped by a pale looking Kirsten.
"Let them do their job." Ryan turned to Kirsten. She couldn't believe how vulnerable he looked.
He wanted so much to run up to Marissa and make her better but he managed to control himself, though inside he was breaking down. He followed the paramedics out to the ambulance, never letting Marissa out of his sight. Kirsten gave Sandy a lost look. He walked over to her and put his arm around her shoulder. They walked outside. Ryan was standing staring helplessly at Marissa being lifted in to the ambulance.
"Go ahead, kiddo. We'll be right behind you." Ryan clambered on and the doors shut behind him. Sandy and Kirsten watched as the ambulance blared its sirens and headed off. It was common to see ambulances on the roads but it was always for someone else, it could never be anything to do with you. Except that this time it was. Sandy drew Kirsten in to a tight hug. Even Sandy, who had remained strong, looked lost and worried.
