Chapter 9. Emotions
Hours later Marissa entered the Roberts Mansion, quietly opening the door and hearing the creak it made as she opened it. Halfway open is where she left it, peering inside to check if anyone was still around. It was silent; the only noise that she heard was Ava's slow breathing and the sucking of her Pacifier against her neck. Cautiously she stepped inside and closed the door behind her with her free arm which once returned to where it was positioned, on Ava's back once the door was closed.
Marissa caught sight of the glass doors that lead out to the pool, and laughter could be heard coming from the other side.The coast was clear; she made her way up the winding stairs for her bedroom and once reaching the top she went to her room.
Her room displayed a lot of beauty. The blinds were up revealing the sun which seethed through the glass, lighting everything up and making the room look peaceful and relaxing. The furniture in her room rested where it was meant to be and nothing was out of place. It gave her a sense of happiness as she could see through the window a view of the other houses, the hills and the beach. It was picture perfect.Being in the room made her sleepy and she had Ava for maybe even more than a week and it was only her first day with her alone without Taylor – who by the way knew a lot more about babies than she did or so she thought.
Turning her head slightly to her right her tired face met Ava's sleeping one which was nestled into her neck and Marissa was unsure whether or not to move her in case she woke feeling the movement, but she also couldn't just stand there. She slid Ava's Disney Princess baby bag that Taylor got her down her arm and placed on the floor. Nearing her bed she pulled two upright pillows down so Ava's head would rest comfortably on them. She moved an arm behind Ava's head and the other arm supported her back and she lowered Ava onto the purple covers. Once her head met the pillow Marissa slid her arms away…. and there was Ava still sound asleep. Marissa pulled another two upright pillows and placed them on Ava's right so she couldn't roll off the bed.
Marissa stared at her for a while and that touch of sleepiness hit her again and she felt like collapsing next to Ava and going to sleep but she couldn't because there was still the Kaitlin and Hadley factor that she had to take care of. The last thing Marissa wanted to do was ruin Kaitlin's first night back but being the circumstances that they were it didn't look like she had much of a choice. She and Taylor headed to the diner to eat something as well as talk about what they were going to use as a cover. They had a plan but Marissa really didn't want to reveal Ava to the others, Mostly because she knew with a baby in the house Kaitlin would find any excuse to leave and then Marissa would have to worry about what her little sister was getting up to and where she was going.
Pulling herself together Marissa walked over to her door and closed it shut before locking it. Returning to her bed she crawled on top of it to Ava's left. Kaitlin and Hadley were outside and Marissa couldn't leave Ava alone incase she woke because with Kaitlin not knowing she very well couldn't have a baby monitor left around. Lying on her side she inched closer to Ava, one arm lay stretched out across the pillows and her head leaned on it. With the other arm she pulled Ava gently towards her so the child's back was against her chest and her hand stroked Ava's blonde hair before resting it on Ava's stomach.
Just lying there on the comfortable bed nestled into a child Marissa felt a unique sort of feeling, almost as if she was protecting this blonde beauty from harms way by just lying close to her. In all of Marissa's life she always had someone looking after her and protecting her and that's why she could never be single for too long without wanting that security again. There was no one looking after Marissa now but she was looking after someone else and giving them the protection she once had, she felt right and in control rather than scared and helpless.
Other thoughts bombarded her head, especially those of her friends. Were Seth and Summer alright in their relationship? Or did Seth still resent the secrecy. Were they flying safely at that point? That 'friendly' hug between her and Ryan, what was that? Would Sandy and Kirsten wake on the arrival of their kids? Would her mom be angry that she didn't go with them to Paris?
That was the last thought she was left with as sleep came over her like the dust of a magic spell hypnotizing a Princess. There the two of them lay; Marissa on the left of the bed with Ava curled up into her body, both together but separate from the rest of the world.
On the plane Summer was seated next to Seth who was in the window seat and at the back of the plane, there were two seats behind them that resided empty. Ryan and Dr. Roberts were in front of them. They were flying high in the air and there was nothing but thick clouds covering their view of land. Leaning her head back against her chair Summer slid her hand up against the cold glass window her fingertips slid softly down the glass; exhaling deep and loud and wanting nothing more than to burst into tears at everything that had happened but she couldn't. Not in front of Seth.
Seth sat next to her listening to his Ipod. She knew Seth well enough to know that when things got bad he became very cold and very quiet. Usually in self solitude and blowing his ears full of either angry or depressing music. This seemed like his only escape at the time.
Undoing her belt Summer lifted from her chair. Seth looked up at her surprised and turned off his ipod off.
"You ok?" he asked seeing Summer stand from her seat. His voice was genuine and she knew that he wasn't completely ignoring her.
Brushing off what she really felt "Yeah, just these seats are so uncomfortable I need to use the bathroom", was what escaped her lips. She headed down the isle.
Walking down a few more steps she reached the bathroom quickly, that was one advantage of sitting at the back of the plane, the bathroom was right there. Feeling the white knob of the door within her hand she opened it to reveal at tiny bathroom. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her.
Tears escaped her eyes like criminals escaping from the police; she felt her body collapse to the white floor. Burying her head in her hands every emotion that she could possibly feel she felt; Anger and regret for hiding the truth, Hurt for hurting Seth, Longing for forgiveness and for their relationship, scared for the Cohen's survival, missing Marissa and wonder for how long they would be in Paris. Her heart felt like it was gripped by strong claws before getting ripped apart. She huddled her knees to her chest and rested her head on them. Feeling lost and afraid like when she was younger and her parents divorced. All she wanted was someone to run to. The scared little girl she remembers was coming out again and she was all alone……..
Back out Seth sat with his ipod no longer playing. His parents entered his head, not that he hadn't been thinking about them all along it was just that music blocked everything out. He was growing impatient, he wished that the plane would speed up; all he wanted was to be in Paris with his mom and dad.
He knew that if they were to survive, his dad would make it, he didn't doubt that. He was more scared about his mom. His mom battled a lot in the past three years and she seemed so fragile to Seth but he knew that she possessed a strong spirit. He wished upon wished and hoped upon hoped that she was strong enough.
Letting his eyes wonder Seth heard laughter a few seats up from him on the right side of the plane. He could see the side of a woman's body sitting in her seat. The lady had blonde hair and on her lap Seth could see a little boy about two with ringlet curly brown hair. There was a man in the other seat by the window watching them both with a proud face as the little boy leaned into his mother who stroked his hair. Seth exhaled deep; feeling miserable and aggravated at the same time and he looked away. He couldn't face them, even though they were complete strangers.
Ryan was in his own thoughts; Sandy and Kirsten gave him a home, to them he would be eternally grateful. His fear was that he would never be able to express to them just how much he appreciated and loved them. He was angry with himself for not showing them just how much he cared and for taking them for granted. He realized however that it wasn't just Sandy and Kirsten he took for granted because there was also someone else who occasionally interrupted his thoughts. Her face flashed into his head, her dirty blonde hair hung loosely past her shoulders, those massive deep blue eyes that hypnotized him every time he glanced at her and her amazing smile that made him fall for her. Their connection, their care, their love, their passion, their spark, he realized all this he had taken for granted they both had but most importantly they had taken each other for granted.
Letting the cold water run from the faucet Summer leaned into the water and let it run over her face clearing the tear streams that marked it. Once her face showed no evidence that she was crying Summer dried it with a soft white towel that hung on a towel rack and headed for the door, she knew what she had to do……..
Heading back into the isle Summer spotted Seth sitting in his seat. She walked over nervously.
"Hey" she said sitting down.
Seth turned to her "Hey", he replied "You were gone a while",
In response she looked down shyly "How's the Window seat?" she said changing the subject.
"It's making me nauseous". Seth shifted uncomfortably.
"Cohen what doesn't make you nauseous?" she smiled warmly at him for the first time.
"Food, Comic books, I don't know Ryan" Seth responded sarcastically for the first time.
Summer gave a tiny cute laugh. Seth warmed up to her in return with a small smile. Their eyes connected instantly, Summer broke the connection just as quickly and she realized right then and there that Seth had already forgiven her for lying otherwise he wouldn't have asked her to come to Paris. At that moment Summer knew what to do.
"Seth?" he turned to her, "I'm really sorry", she whispered these words softly as glass tears filled her eyes again. "For …everything".
Seth looked down again and he could only say what he felt inside, "Even if you had told me", he whispered back, before looking at her "I would've never believed you", Summer couldn't help but smile "I know why you didn't", he said.
These last few words had such and impact on her. She tilted her head to the side smiling and slightly crying at the same time, she couldn't believe that the one person who had the right to be mad at her understood her. If Seth had any anger inside of him he wasn't showing it.
Summer couldn't stop herself from falling into Seth's body and placing a soft kiss on his lips. Seth kissed her back gently before resting his forehead with hers. She moved closer into his body and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. She gripped him really tight scared not to let him go as small tears streamed down her face. Seth's hands rested on her back and stroked her dark brown hair. He wasn't used to seeing her cry but he knew that she really was sorry for not telling him when she knew but he realized that she was only trying to protect him.
They were not alone anymore, they had each other and for Seth and Summer that's the way it was supposed to be.
The faint sound of knocking in the distance caused Marissa's eyes to twitch. Squinting slightly to become familiar with her surroundings the knocking became louder. Checking the clock which read ten past four she realized that she had been sleeping for two hours and Ava still lay sound asleep next to her. The sound of someone playing with the lock filled the room.
Marissa sprung off the bed as quietly and gently as she could so Ava wouldn't wake and she ran for the door. Quickly opening it she saw Kaitlin and Hadley waiting with curious faces on the other side, both of them wearing little matching black bikini's and their hair dripping wet.
"Hey", Kaitlin said with a suspicious look in her eyes.
"Hey", Marissa answered quickly closing the door and feeling jumpy.
"Were you sleeping?' her sister asked her.
Oh she was good Marissa thought to herself. "No why?'
"You look like you were", Kaitlin responded.
"No I'm just not feeling well, but sleep's a good idea, maybe I should do that",
Kaitlin knew when Marissa was up to something by the way she was acting, trying to change the subject quickly and being extremely jumpy. To her amusement Kaitlin thought it was quite funny. She laughed at her sister "God give it up Marissa",
Marissa tried her best to play it cool "Give what up?"
"The act", Kaitlin replied. Marissa furrowed her eye brows pretending not to know what Kaitlin was talking about.
Kaitlin raised her eye brows in return "You ran out on us before to meet Taylor, I didn't hear you come home, and you're in your room with a locked door. Just cause I graded C for History doesn't mean I can't figure things out",
Hadley looked at her "You graded D for History",
Kaitlin turned to her "Really?" she actually sounded surprised as Hadley nodded.
Marissa folded her arms glaring at Kaitlin "Did you ace anything at all?'
"It's called detention", Kaitlin responded.
"You're actually pretty good at Math", Hadley said to Kaitlin.
Kaitlin thought about it. "Yeah like figuring things out", Kaitlin said
"Nothing is going on", Marissa replied serious this time. The problem was she didn't know what words to use in order to tell Kaitlin about Ava, even though she and Taylor had already planned what to say, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
Marissa gave Kaitlin 'The look' and in return Kaitlin just grinned at her sister tilting her head with her mischievous smile. "So you gonna tell me"
"I don't know what you're talking about", Marissa replied.
Kaitlin wasn't buying any of Marissa's excuses "yeah right, if lying was subject, you'd fail", Kaitlin said to Marissa "It's a perfected skill",
Marissa smiled "You would know", she said. They both looked at each other. Kaitlin's electric blue eyes met Marissa's deep blue ones and silence came upon them. Marissa knew that Kaitlin was Julie's daughter and there wasn't anything that she couldn't pick up on and her fear was not being able to pull off the plan but she knew if she kept lying she wouldn't get the chance to try.
Exhaling deeply Marissa looked and felt defeated because there was no way that she could lie to Kaitlin about Ava. There was also the chance of Ava waking up at any moment so she would have to tell her at some point. Kaitlin waited for a response.
"Ok", she stated softly "there is something going on and I didn't wanna ruin your first night back",
Kaitlin and Hadley exchanged quick glances before looking back to Marissa.
"What do you mean?' Kaitlin asked.
Marissa looked from Kaitlin's waiting face to Hadley's wondering one. "We're not the only ones here", she began in a slight whisper "in this house",
"Why is it haunted?' Kaitlin asked casually "Our boarding school was you'll get used to it",
Marissa decided to just come out with it. "Summer's cousin is staying with us",
It went silent for a few seconds….
"They're alive right?' Hadley asked recalling what Kaitlin said before about the house being haunted.
"Of course", Marissa replied shocked that Hadley would even ask that – oh who was she kidding Hadley was Summer all over.
"Summer's cousin?" Kaitlin joined in "She had relatives. Where?"
"From L.A", Marissa replied hoping that she could pull of this story, after all Taylor came up with it so it was fool proof, unless of course little Kaitlin was more cluey than Marissa thought.
"No I mean in the house?' Kaitlin said.
"My room", Marissa responded and she knew with in seconds of looking at Kaitlin and Hadley's face she shouldn't have said it.
"Your room?' Kaitlin said with raised eye brows "Right I get it, that's why the doors were locked and you came out all scared and breathless",
Marissa folded her arms "I was not Breathless", Kaitlin laughed at her sister and Marissa could tell she was enjoying it. "Kaitlin….cut it out ok", Marissa stated knowing what Kaitlin was talking about. Kaitlin sensed the seriousness in Marissa voice and stopped smiling.
"What I'm serious", Kaitlin answered back.
"So am I ", Marissa said "I told you I didn't wanna ruin your first night back, you honestly think Summer's cousin's some hot guy from L.A",
Kaitlin took her sisters words into account "I guess not",
"Kinda a bummer though", Hadley said.
"Mmm hmm", Kaitlin responded as the two of them exchanged looks and smirks, Marissa waited for their attention but she knew it would be hard for Kaitlin and Hadley to let go of their fantasy of Summer's cousin being some hot dude.
Finally returning to Marissa, Kaitlin said "So who is he or she?"
Marissa bit her bottom lip breathing slowly, she took one look at the girls before turning around as her hands met the door handle. Slowly opening it till if was fully open. She turned back to the girls "See for yourself",
Kaitlin and Hadley moved towards Summer's door with Marissa standing on the side to let them pass, both not expecting to see what they saw.
There on the bed with her back turned Kaitlin and Hadley saw light blonde hair against the pillows and a baby body lying asleep on Marissa's bed.
Kaitlin looked at her "Oh my God",
Back on the plane Summer was sitting by herself as Seth was in the bathroom. She felt a lot more at ease than before. Looking around something caught her eye. A lady with light blonde hair pinned up and wearing a little stewardess outfit was walking a little girl by the hand. The lady moved the child to the seat behind Summer. Summer turned her head ever so slightly to hear and try and see what was happening.
"Now you need to take your seat", the lady began gently pushing the little girl into her seat and Summer could hear the Lady's strong French accent "Your Uncle can't have you wondering the Plane alone", bending down the lady buckled the child into her seat. "So stay there", she gently patted the girl's hair before leaving to attend peoples requests.
Summer looked through the gap in between hers and Seth's seat behind her to see the girl more clearly. When Summer's eyes fell on her she gasped softly. The little girl looked like a small version of herself. She possessed long dark brown almost black thick hair which was slightly wavy, smooth light olive baby soft skin and gorgeous big dark brown eyes. The child of no more than three was stunning; Summer guessed that she had a European background, Spanish or Italian maybe.
In her hand she had a little baby pink and purple play phone. She would bring it up to her ear and back down again as if she was giving the signal that she was lonely and wanted someone to talk to. Summer's face saddened when she saw her, sitting there all lonely. Little girls always wanted attention and giving them a lot of attention would only make them crave more but on the other hand to not pay attention to them at all was something Summer thought was horrible. Her eyes fell on the stunning beauty's clothes, she wore a dark aqua blue tank top and denim shorts. On the tank top was a picture of Disney Princess Ariel, but the writing underneath the mermaid is what surprised Summer. It had written instead of Princess Ariel,Principessa Ariel.
Summer turned back in her seat quickly, the writing was in another language. Her theory on the child being European was confirmed right. Just then the same lady that was with the little girl approached Summer.
"Mademoiselle Can I get you anything?' she asked gently.
Summer thought about what to reply with. "No thanks", she replied. The lady nodded and moved on to the seat in front and Summer couldn't stop herself. 'Wait",
The blonde stewardess turned back to Summer "Yes?'
"Hi, ah I was just ah- this is gonna sound crazy but..." she began as the lady looked at her waiting "Is that girl here by herself?"
The lady's eyes moved from over the top of Summer's head to the little girl that sat behind her, she then looked back at Summer with the same sad expression that Summer had before. "No, Mademoiselle her uncle is the Pilot",
"Oh" Summer replied
"Why do you ask?" the lady asked curious.
"Hmm," Summer said "oh it's just when I was that small I was scared of planes" Summer replied. The Stewardess smiled. "So how come she's on her own?" Summer asked trying to fish the waters of what she thought were secrets being hidden.
The Stewardess fidgeted "I'm sorry Mademoiselle I cannot discuss that", she said politely and almost apologetically.
"Right, totally", Summer said feeling like an idiot, clearly it was non of her business to know anything about that girl but Summer was surprised that she even questioned for answers, the child was a stranger. "Sorry" she said politely.
"Can I offer you anything?"
"No", Summer said replying a little too quickly, which then made her feel bad "no thanks", replying nicely, it was almost as if she were angry with the lady for not telling her anything about the Brunette doll sitting behind her all lonely and sad. Something inside of Summer was burning, she felt frustrated.
The Stewardess picked up on Summer's manners, facial expressions, and tone. Summer stared at her knees looking sad and disappointed. Smiling the Stewardess bent down and retrieved something out of the trolley she was pushing.
"Take this", she handed Summer a small but thick book. Summer reached for it and studied the front cover.
"An Italian Translator", Summer said staring at the Green pocket dictionary from Italian to English.
"We're supposed to have one", she stated "to communicate with those that don't know English",
Summer stared at the Stewardess who smiled at her before standing up and walking away knowing quite well why she gave Summer that book and Summer knew it too.
Hi guys! Well what can I say this chapter has taken me such a long time. I actually started this chapter at the beginning of year 11 and I ended up re-posting my whole story on Fan fiction later in the year because I didn't like the way I wrote the first few chapters and there were some changes I wanted to make. Now I've just finished Year 11 and it's
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS! SCHOOLS OUT BABY! So I should be posting more often but I'm a perfectionist when it comes to writing because I always want the dialog to be right and believable. I hope the way I write Kaitlin is very much like her character on the show. I haven't seen Season 4 of The OC because without Marissa I don't like it (it sucks!) So that's why I don't know Kaitlin's dialog that well.
Luv Tasha!
