Thanks for the reviews so far; in reference to the review I got about them breaking Marissa out of an institution, I haven't seen that episode. Sorry about that. Anyway, thanks for the reviews, keep 'em coming!
Chapter Seven
Funeral for a Friend
The elevator doors screeched open and revealed the bottom level of Lakeview Hospital, which was bustling with patients waiting for checkups and nurses and doctors trying to make sure they got them. No one paid any attention to Ryan as he wheeled Marissa out of the elevator with Seth tagging behind. Patients in wheelchairs were a common sight in a hospital, after all.
"I'm glad that we completed the rescue mission and all but, how are we going to get to the service?" Seth questioned as they headed for the front door.
This was question none of them had put too much thought into. It was true that Sandy's car was in the parking lot, but they didn't have the keys to get it started; it would also be rather difficult to get Marissa on a city bus and plus, they didn't have enough change for the fare.
"Where is the service?" Ryan questioned, hoping that Seth would remember since he hadn't been there to see the newspaper announcing the service.
Seth blanked for a moment; Marissa rolled her eyes and Ryan already started with a somewhat nasty remark when he said, "Oh, it's at the Hillcrest Memorial Home." He smiled, proud of himself. "See, I'm not completely useless."
Marissa smiled slightly at the dark-haired boy but they didn't have the time for her to assure him that he was anything but useless and all the stuff you said to someone in that situation. "Ryan, I know you can hotwire a car." She said instead. "I'm sure my mom won't mind if we borrow her car."
Ryan frowned. "I'd rather not go to jail, Marissa." He remarked. "There's got to be another way to get there."
Marissa looked over at Seth. "We could call Ana, she has a car." She pointed out. Seth shifted uncomfortably but Ryan stopped him before he could say anything.
"Why don't you give her a call." He suggested and when Seth looked stunned, he motioned for the boy to come over to him so he could speak without Marissa over hearing. "C'mon man, for some reason this is really important to Marissa." He whispered.
Marissa tried to listen to what they were saying but they were standing too far away; there was something going on and she wanted to know what but now didn't seem like the best time to press either of them about it. Judging by the look on Seth's face, it wasn't something good.
Seth finally agreed; Marissa was like his sister, he would do anything for her. "All right. Give me a minute." He relented, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket. "But you're paying for any therapy I might need after this conversation."
Ryan didn't say anything in response to his words and walked back over to where Marissa was sitting, trying not to act like she was doing her hardest to eavesdrop. He noticed she looked a little paler then she had earlier and he knelt down in front of her. "Are you all right?" He questioned, taking her hand in his.
"I'm fine." Marissa offered him a wane smile. "Just a little tired. Must be all the painkillers." Ryan didn't look convinced and she cupped his cheek with her fingers. "Ryan, I'm fine. I promise." But she wasn't quite sure that she was absolutely fine; she was tired, that much was true, but she was feeling sort of shaky and her hips were beginning to ache and she knew she had no doubt pulled some stitches when she had nearly fallen from her bed. But Ryan didn't need to know any of that.
Seth had his back turned to the couple and was oblivious to their discussion; his heart sped up every time the phone rang and part of him prayed that Ana wasn't home. Just as he was about to hang up, she answered the phone, her voice just as chipper, light and lovely as he had always remembered it. "Hello?" She answered.
"Uh, hey Ana, it's me. Seth." The boy stuttered and he could sense that Ana's mood had changed.
"What do you want Seth?" She questioned and Seth winced. This was not how he pictured this conversation to go at all; it wasn't like he pictured her to be overjoyed to hear from him but he didn't expect her to sound like she was ready to send the firing squad after him either.
"Uh," Seth muttered, "I actually have a favor to ask you." Ana was silent, waiting for him to lay the deal out for her. "I'm here with Ryan and Marissa, we're at the hospital, and Marissa wants to go to Oliver's service but we don't have a car so-"
Ana cut him off. "So you wanted to know if I could drive you." She snapped. "Why don't you get your parents to drive you?" She didn't ask how Marissa was doing and that didn't escape Seth's attention; he knew she was really mad him now.
"Yeah, I would." Seth muttered. "But we kinda took Marissa out of the hospital and they didn't really like it." He lowered his voice. "Ana, Marissa might not ever be able to walk again and this is really important to her. I know I hurt you and you know I wouldn't be calling unless it was really important."
Ana was silent for a long time and Seth wondered if she had hung up on him. But finally she said, "What? Marissa might not be able to walk anymore? That's impossible." He had gone through the same state of denial and didn't want to talk Ana out of her words. Seth still clung to the belief that somehow Marissa would be able to walk again.
Seth sighed instead of saying anything. Ana's mind was already made up. "I'll be there in ten minutes." She agreed before hanging up. Seth hung up his phone as well and dropped it back into his pocket. He turned and headed back to where Ryan and Marissa were.
"She's going to be here in ten minutes." He answered, looking at Ryan as he spoke, hoping his friend understood what seeing Ana was going to do to his already confused heart. He was worried about Summer, more then worried actually, but he didn't know how he would feel when he saw Ana again, what he would say; what could he say? He didn't even want to think about it.
Ryan saw the emotions churning in Seth's eyes and nodded sincerely. "Thanks man." Marissa also smiled but the smile was clearly forced, pale and wane and almost emotionless. Maybe going out was a bad idea, maybe she should go back to the hospital with her painkillers and bed rest. But this was something she had to do, a part of her still needed to understand.
Seth headed to the entrance of the parking lot to watch for Ana's car and Ryan sat down on the ground beside Marissa. He had always been taller then she when they were standing but now the chair gave her a few extra inches and she wasn't sure she liked having to look down at him; she had always enjoyed staring up into those deep eyes.
They sat in silence for a handful of minutes, watching the sun sink beneath the horizon and streak the sky with deep pinks and purples. Ryan turned to look at Marissa, taken by how beautiful her face was with the hues reflecting off her skin and bringing out her sorrowful eyes. She turned toward him. "What?" She questioned, suddenly self-conscious and Ryan waved his hand dismissively.
"Nothing." He remarked and then thought better of it. "You're so beautiful." Marissa's cheeks reddened at his words and she looked away, romantically embarrassed. Ryan took her hand. "I'm so glad that you're all right; I don't know what I would have done if Oliver had... I'm just glad you're okay."
Marissa frowned slightly. "But I'm not okay Ryan." She said. "I'm in a wheelchair because I can't feel or move my legs. How is that okay?"
"It could be worse." Ryan answered quickly, certain that she knew just how much worse it could be. "I could be going to your service tonight."
Marissa wanted to agree with him, to say that, in the scheme of things, not being able to walk wasn't so bad but she didn't feel that way. She still hadn't come to grips with the fact that her "condition" (as the doctors called it) was better then death. But she didn't want to confess that aloud because Ryan had seen death, he had seen first hand how bad things could get and any alternative was a good one. Marissa knew he couldn't understand the conflicting emotions that were surging through her heart at the moment.
Seth trotted back over to them. "She's here." He announced when he arrived, flanked by Ana's SUV pulling up to the curb. Ana hopped out of the driver's side but left the engine running; she headed directly over to Marissa and embraced the girl when she reached her. Even though she and Marissa had never been the best of friends -or really even good friends at all- it still brook her heart to see the girl broken and almost beaten. Marissa returned the gesture, not at all surprised and greatly touched; she could get to like this Ana girl.
"I'm so sorry Marissa." Ana said when they parted. "But you're going to be okay. I know you are." She assured the brunette who managed a weak smile. "Let me know if there's anything else I can do." Marissa nodded in agreement.
Ryan watched the whole exchange wordlessly, glad that Marissa had so many people in her life that cared about her. That was something he'd never had growing up and knew how harsh the world could be when you faced it all alone. Finally, he cleared his throat and said, "Now we have to figure out how to get you and the wheelchair into the car."
"The cargo space in the SUV is probably big enough for the chair." Ana remarked. She walked back over to the SUV and opened the back door, peering inside. "It should fit." She agreed with a nod.
Seth opened one of the back doors to the SUV and Ryan wheeled Marissa's chair to the side of the car. He lifted her into his arms again and Marissa pressed her face against his chest, closing her eyes and imaging everything that was real away; for a moment, she was back to the way things used to be, before Oliver, before everything. Things were right and good again and she was safe.
Ryan gently set Marissa into one of the seats and made sure she was comfortable before helping Seth (well, Seth really didn't do anything but stand and watch) load the wheelchair into the back of the SUV. He wondered for a fleeting moment if this was going to be his life from now on, taking care of Marissa if the operation didn't work; he realized quickly that he didn't mind caring for the woman he loved.
Ana and Seth climbed into the seats in the front of the car and Ryan sat beside Marissa. "So, where am I going?" Ana questioned as she pulled away from the curb and headed out of the parking lot.
"Hillcrest Memorial Home." Seth answered, keeping his eyes fixed at something on the other side of the windshield. He didn't want to look at Ana, didn't want to risk what he might see or say. Ana seemed just fine with that decision anyway because she didn't look over at him either.
Marissa watched the city lights blur past the car's windows and wondered again if she was doing the right thing. What was she hoping to accomplish by going to the service? She looked over at Ryan, who had been watching her since he had gotten in the car. "Ryan, do you think I'm crazy?" She questioned.
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Is there a right way to answer this question?" He tried to joke but the serious look in Marissa's eyes changed his mood. "No, I don't think you're crazy. Why would I think you're crazy?"
"For wanting to go to Oliver's service." Marissa answered. "I'm scared Ryan." She confessed, her voice barely above a whisper as she spoke, looking away from his eyes and down at her hands.
Ryan took her hands in his and held them tightly, causing her to look up at him again. "Whatever you're afraid of, you don't need to be." He assured her, nothing but love for her shining in his eyes. Marissa took his hands and rested them against her cheeks, sighing deeply and almost contentedly; Ryan had the affect on her.
Ana watched them from the rearview mirror and also sighed, quieter then Marissa; that was storybook love, handsome prince love, love she had never had with Seth. Maybe Summer would have a better chance turning Seth into her handsome prince; maybe she had never been his princess.
They were silent throughout the rest of the ride and Marissa's worry began to tie knots in her stomach again. The parking lot of the Hillcrest Memorial Home was packed with cars, which surprised Ryan; he had always been under the assumption that Oliver didn't have any friends or family. Yet, it seemed he was about to be proved wrong.
Ana pulled the SUV into one of the only empty spots left and slipped the keys out of the ignition. "All right, let's get this crazy show on the road." She remarked and got out of the car. Seth and Ryan followed after her and headed toward the back of the car to unload the wheelchair.
"Are you sure this is really a good idea?" Ana questioned, her voice low, looking only at Ryan. "I mean, the guy did shoot her."
Ryan didn't say anything as he pulled the chair out of the cargo hold. "Believe me, we're having the same doubts." He muttered as he went back to where Marissa was sitting, waiting, with her eyes fixed straight ahead. She didn't turn in his direction when he opened the door.
"What am I doing Ryan?" Marissa questioned without looking away. "Why are we here?" Suddenly, she didn't want to be here, didn't want to go into that building and see the family that had abandoned Oliver and turned him into what he was.
"I don't know Marissa." Ryan answered, continuing to stare at her profile. He couldn't read the emotion in her shadowed eyes.
Marissa turned to look at him. Wordlessly, she undid her seat belt and let him lift her into the wheelchair but she was no longer so sure of anything anymore. She was already ready for this evening to be over and it hadn't even begun.
* * *
The Hillcrest Memorial Home was an upper-crust place, as was everything in New Port, that looked more like the ball room at a snazzy hotel then a funeral home. The room where Oliver's service was being held was the largest of the rooms available for that purpose and Ryan and the others had no trouble finding it. Just as the parking lot outside had been packed with cars, the room was packed with guests, dressed in black and standing together in groups, talking in whispered tones. Only one woman was actually crying and Marissa figured that she was Oliver's mother; a boy, a little older then Oliver had been, was standing next to her and bore a strong resemblance to the dead boy. Brother, Ryan decided as he took in all the mourners, who looked to him like dreary cocktail party guests.
"So, what now?" Seth questioned, staying close to Ryan and Ana. No one seemed sure of what to do; Ryan had been to a few funerals in his time, but this service was nothing like any of them.
The four didn't have to stand around for long because Oliver's mother turned in their direction and her eyes locked on Marissa. The tears in her eyes turned to tears of rage as she started stalking toward the group, followed by her surviving son, and a handful of friends that tried to dissuade her from approaching the teenagers. Her eyes roamed angrily across the faces of Ana, Seth and Ryan before falling Marissa, who was looking up at the woman with no expression on her face.
At first, Marissa didn't know what to think about the woman that was Oliver's mother; she wanted to blame her for what had happened, wanted to ask what she had been thinking when she had all but abandoned her son. Wanted to know if she was happy now.
But the older woman spoke first. "How dare you show up here? What gives you the right to be here?" She snapped and Ryan knew from her tone of voice that Oliver's mother blamed them, and mainly Marissa, for what had taken place.
"Ma'am, we're just here to pay are respects." Ana answered before the others could, with more respect in her voice then they would have been able to muster had they spoken. Seth nodded in agreement.
Oliver's mother scoffed. "Your respects?" She repeated incredulously. "Haven't you caused my family enough pain? You took away my son-"
"How can you think we had anything to do with that?" Ryan questioned and the woman looked over at him. He wished he hadn't spoken but he wasn't going to take the blame for Oliver's problems that had possibly left the only person he had ever loved paralyzed for the rest of her life. "Oliver shot himself, none of us pulled the trigger."
The woman looked stunned at his words and the Oliver's brother stepped forward protectively. "You'd better keep your mouth shut." He snapped and glared at Ryan. For a moment, the boy from Chino wondered if he was about to get into a fight in the middle of a funeral service and realized he'd fought in stranger places.
"Ma'am, I liked Oliver, but he had problems. Problems none of us could help him with." Marissa spoke up, causing the woman to look down at her again. She wondered if Oliver's mother knew that her son was responsible for putting her in the wheelchair but didn't see the need to bring it up. They were both experiencing enough pain and hurt.
"You're the little bitch that caused those problems." The woman snapped, taking Marissa by surprised. "Everyone always blames the mother, the family but let me tell you, I raised my son just fine. If my son had any problems, you caused them and it should have been you that took a bullet to the head." Marissa's eyes filled with tears and Ana squeezed the girl's shoulder in a comforting gesture.
Ryan took a step toward the mother. "You have no right to speak to her that way." He snapped. "You didn't know your son at all, lady."
Oliver's brother grabbed Ryan's arm and the other boy whirled to face him, body tensing up in preparation for an attack. "You'd better just get the hell out of here before I show you out myself." He spat and Ryan roughly pulled away from him.
Seth put his hand on Ryan's shoulder. "Let's go man." He muttered, low and Ryan took a step back, keeping an eye on Oliver's family as he left the room, pushing Marissa, followed by Seth and Ana.
Once they were in the parking lot, Marissa burst into tears, burying her face in her hands, shoulders shaking violently. Ryan knelt down in front of her and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "It's all right Marissa." Seth comforted as he watched her cry. "The whole family's just a bunch of crazies."
Marissa's words had no affect on the girl as she continued to cry, pressing her face against Ryan's shoulder, wrapping her arms around him. "I don't understand." She cried, body racked with sobs. "I just don't understand."
Ryan understood what she was going through. There were a lot of things in this life that he simply couldn't understand.
