Sorry that I have taken so long to update. Also sorry it's so long but I just hope you enjoy it. Reviews are much appreciated. Oh and merry Christmas to everyone!
Chapter 10: Broken Heart
They had all been sitting in the corridor in silence. Ryan and Seth had left to take a trip to the vending machine. Neither of them could cope with the deadly silence and the mounting tension. Summer could silence anymore.
"I'm going in to check on Marissa."
Silence…
Summer looked at everyone's blank expressions.
"Ok then."
Seen as no-one seemed to be paying attention she decided to just go in. She looked over at the bed but it was empty.
"Coop? Marissa?" Her heart was beating faster. It had never crossed her mind that Marissa might try to do something to herself – she didn't exactly have the best history in that area. Her eyes rested upon the room's private bathroom. She walked over to the door which was slightly ajar and pushed it open. Marissa was sitting in the corner of the room curled up against the wall. She looked like death. Summer ran over to her.
"Oh my God! Coop!" She knelt down beside Marissa.
"It hurts." Marissa whispered almost inaudibly.
"What hurts?" Summer was so glad to just hear her say something. When she had walked in to the room she thought she was dead. She had already experienced that once before – she never thought she would have to go through it again.
"Everything."
"I'm going to get a doctor."
"No, no. Please don't." She held on to Summer's hand.
"Ok, ok. I won't. Why are you in here anyway?"
"I...I… don't remember. I remember feeling dizzy and sitting down, but I don't remember coming in here."
She looked in to Summer's eyes.
"I'm scared." A tear rolled down her face.
"Awww Coop." She pulled her in to a hug. " I know you are, but everything will be alright. Come on, let's get you back into bed."
She helped Marissa up from the floor and back to the bed. She could see that Marissa was in pain – both physically and emotionally.
"Are you sure you don't want me to get a doctor?"
"No, I'm fine."
"You don't look it."
"I just wish for once that they would get along. Is it really that difficult!"
Summer knew only too well what it was like to see your parents constantly at each others throats.
"They don't mean to hurt you."
"Ye, well they do hurt me, whether they mean to or not."
Marissa could feel a lump in her throat. She didn't want to cry anymore. She was too tired of crying.
"They don't realise that every time they argue, every time they try to ignore each other, every time they glare at each other, a small part of me crumbles. A small piece of my heart disappears."
Summer felt like her whole heart was being ripped from her. She couldn't believe that she had never realised how much Marissa was hurting. She felt as though she had let down her best friend. Summer took Marissa's hand. Marissa looked up at her. Suddenly Summer noticed it. Marissa's eyes which had once sparkled, looked completely dead. The light that once shone through them had been switched off. Not knowing what else to do Summer wrapped her arms around Marissa. What she didn't realise was that it was exactly what Marissa needed. She just needed someone to hold her close, to make her feel safe, feel loved. Someone to try and pick up the pieces of her broken heart.
They were still sitting in complete silence, all still in shock over what had just happened. Suddenly the silence was broken.
"That's a nice picture."
Everyone turned towards Caleb who was studying a painting of the alps on the wall across from him. He noticed everyone just staring at him none of them showing even the slightest interest in the painting.
"What! I'm sorry but after being a business man for thirty years, it's hard to sit quietly, especially in awkward silences."
Jimmy muttered something under his breath. Julie's eyes darted towards him.
"What did you just say?" Julie asked very defensively.
"Nothing."
"Don't play games with me Jimmy."
"Oh, sorry, I forgot that your whole life is just one big game and all you care about passing go and collecting your $200, no matter what you have to do."
"Well at least I do something to keep my life together."
"Sorry, but marrying an old rich guy for his money is pretty low."
"Oh you have crossed the line!"
Sandy suddenly stood up surprising everyone, including himself.
"Sandy…" Kirsten knew that it was never a good idea to get in the middle of one of Julie and Jimmy's fights.
"No. I'm sorry, but I can't take this any longer. Do you not realise how pathetic and selfish you are both being! Marissa is sitting in there in floods of tears because of you, yet here you are again. You're driving your family away because all you both do is think of yourselves. You have one daughter in there in tears, and the other hundreds of miles away. Maybe you should just stop for a second and think about them. About how they feel, 'cause if you don't then sooner or later you're going to be too late. Do you really want to lose your kids just because you are incapable of having a normal conversation, and acting like adults! I thought that maybe what just happened would make you see sense, but clearly it's going to take more than your 17 year old daughter lying on a hospital bed in tears! If I were Marissa I would want to be as far away from both of you as possible!"
At this he stormed down the corridor. Julie, Jimmy, Caleb and Kirsten just sat there staring in the direction that Sandy had gone in, all wearing expressions of complete shock. Julie's expression, however, was mixed with offence.
"Oh, he has no right…"
Kirsten plucked up all her courage.
"Julie, I think you should leave."
"Kiki…"
"No, I'm sorry but I think you've gone too far this time."
"Julie I think you should listen to her." Jimmy said.
"Oh, you're just as much in the wrong as she is," Kirsten said to Jimmy.
Jimmy was shocked that Kirsten would say something like that to him, but really he knew that he deserved it. He really had crossed the line this time.
"You're right. I'll just go and get a cab home."
He turned and started to walk away. He took a couple of steps then looked back at Kirsten.
"I'm sorry."
"It's not me that you should be telling.
Jimmy glanced at the door to Marissa's room.
"Tell her I'm sorry. I…I… can't face her right now. Not after what I've done to her."
Kirsten nodded gently. She knew that he had never meant to hurt Marissa, but the fact was that he had, whether he meant to or not. Jimmy turned again and walked down the corridor out of sight.
"Cal can I get the car keys."
Caleb raked around his pocket and handed Julie the keys.
"Are you coming?"
"I'll be out in a minute."
Julie left without uttering another word, or even glancing in Kirsten's direction. When she had also disappeared out of sight, Kirsten let out a sigh. Caleb walked over to her and kissed her head.
"And that's what you get for marrying and attorney."
Kirsten let out a small laugh.
"I have to say I've never heard him talk like that."
"Well I better not keep Julie waiting or she might just drive away without me."
"Do you think I did the right thing?"
"Marrying Sandy?" he said sarcastically.
Kirsten playfully hitting him.
"I just hope I didn't just lose two of my best friends."
"Don't worry, you'll have to do more than that to get rid of Julie."
"Now Ryan the most important question is what mood are you in? Are you in a brooding chunky mars bar kind of mood or a, how should I put it, a mellow flake kind of mood." Ryan gave Seth the look. "Well that's the flake off the menu."
Seth fed a whole lot of change in to the vending machine.
"What! You've got be kidding me!" He turned to face Ryan. "Dude the machine just ate my money!"
Ryan stuck his hand in his pocket.
"No, no. I refuse to be beaten by a plastic box."
Seth carefully placed his hands on either side of the machine then started shaking it violently.
"Seth…Seth…" Ryan looked around uncomfortably as everyone stared ate Seth. A couple moved off the seats beside the machine.
"I won't let you win, you money eating, chocolate filled box!"
Ryan continued to look embarrassed, when someone stormed past him.
"Sandy?" He followed him.
"Ah hah! Victory!" Seth scooped out his change and turned to Ryan with a grin plastered across his face. "I knew I wou….Ryan?"
"He went that way." A woman pointed along the corridor.
"Thanks. Oh and by the way I wouldn't use that machine. I think I might have broken it."
He ran along the corridor in the direction the woman had pointed him in.
Ryan caught up with Sandy.
"Hey, Sandy."
Sandy stopped and turned to face Ryan.
"What's going on? Is Marissa ok?"
"Ye, Marissa's fine – well as fine as she can be."
He sat down on a chair. Seth came running up completely out of breath.
"Wo, I should really take up water polo." Ryan looked at him. "Ok, fine, maybe I'll just start off with the jogging club." Seth looked at Sandy. "What's up?"
Sandy remained silent.
"Oh, yeah, I so know what you mean." Still no response. "Ok, I'm not liking this new Sandford Cohen as much. What's up with him?"
"I don't kn…." Ryan started to reply.
"I took on Julie Cooper."
"Well that explains the look of extreme shock on your face. I'm surprised you're still alive actually."
Ryan ignored Seth.
"Why? What happened?"
"It's all kind of blurry, but there was definitely a fight between Jimmy and Julie and then I think I might have mentioned something about their kids hating them."
"Wow, nice one Dad. Hey, why did you want to go to the vending machine?" He said to Ryan. "Look what we missed!"
"Seth this really isn't the time, I think I've really put my foot in it."
"More like your whole body."
"Make that two whole bodies."
They all turned and saw Kirsten. She sat beside Sandy and took his hand.
"I just ordered Julie to leave."
"Wow, twice in one day! Julie must be pretty pissed o…" Ryan hit Seth. "Sorry. Sentimental moment. Carry on."
"Look I'm proud of you. Slightly shocked, but proud. I'm sure Julie will realise that what you said was true." Kirsten told Sandy reassuringly.
"One can only hope." Sandy replied. He kissed Kirsten lightly on the lips.
"What do you boys think of heading home?" Kirsten said to Ryan and Seth. "I think I've had enough drama for one day, probably one lifetime."
"We should probably just let Summer know that we're heading off, and check up on Marissa." Ryan replied.
"Ok, we'll see you guys at the car."
There was a gentle knock at the door.
"Come in." Summer said.
Seth poked his head round the door.
"Hey," he whispered on seeing Marissa asleep. He walked in to the room and Ryan followed him.
"She seems to sleep a lot," Seth remarked.
"They just gave her a whole bunch of drugs, and she was pretty exhausted."
Ryan nodded. Summer looked pretty exhausted too. He had never thought of Summer and how much she must be going through. Her and Marissa had been friends forever. Seth noticed Ryan just staring at Summer.
"So, um, we came by to say that we're heading home."
"Ok. I'm going to stay with her for a bit longer."
"You sure?"
"Ye, I'll just call my Dad later to get home."
Seth walked over to Summer and held her in a hug. He could tell that she was just putting on a front. He knew how much she was hurting over seeing Marissa like this. He kissed her head, and she attempted to smile at him.
"Come on man." Seth took Ryan by his shoulder and led him to the door.
"Hey Chino." Ryan turned to Summer. "She loves you, you know."
Seth smiled to himself. Even though Summer was struggling to cope, she was still thinking of Ryan's feelings.
Ryan stumbled in to the kitchen where Sandy was reading the paper and Kirsten was making herself a cup of coffee.
"Morning," Ryan said to them, still half asleep.
"Morning. How you feeling?" Kirsten asked him.
Ryan started pouring himself a bowl of cereal.
"I'm alright."
"Look, you know we're here to talk to if you need anyone." Sandy told him. He knew that Ryan would want to talk to someone about everything sometime, but he also knew that he wasn't the best with words.
"Thanks," Ryan said as enthusiastically as he could.
"I'll drop you off at school. I need to go and visit a guy about yesterdays meeting."
"Did everything go alright?" Kirsten asked him.
"Yeah, everything's fine, we just need to talk over a few things. You know legal things. All very exciting."
"What story have you been telling this time Dad?"
"Good morning to you too, son."
Seth grabbed a bowl and sat down beside Ryan. Ryan slid the cereal over to Seth who poured some in to his bowl.
"I was just telling Ryan that I'll give you guys a lift in to school."
"Cool. Oh, I got a message from Summer saying that she'll see us out front."
"Was she still there when you went up last night?" Kirsten asked them.
"Ye, she said she was going to stay for a bit longer." Seth replied. "I think this whole thing has hit her pretty hard, but she just doesn't want anyone to realise."
Ryan put his empty bowl in the sink and headed back out to the pool house.
"We'll be leaving in 10 minutes," Sandy shouted to him.
"Ok," he shouted back.
"He's been acting really weird. Last night he hardly said a word." Seth said.
"Well it's going to be difficult for him, for all of us. I think he's just realising how close he came to losing Marissa." Kirsten replied.
"I'm guessing Julie or Jimmy will be going in to see her." Sandy said.
"Oh, I'm sure that'll be fun," Seth said sarcastically.
"Ye, I guess so. I might go along later to check how she is."
"How long does she have to stay in for?" Seth asked.
"The doctor said for a few days. They want to keep her under observation." Kirsten said.
"Then she'll have to face the cops again."
They all looked at each other. None of them were looking forward to that. It hadn't exactly gone well the last time.
When they pulled up to the school Seth saw Summer. "I'll pick you guys up later.
"Thanks, and I'm sorry that I've been acting kind of strange but it's just kind of hitting me how real it all is. And thanks for being there for me." Ryan said.
"Don't worry about it, you have nothing to be sorry about. Just take as long as you need. We could go by the hospital later if you want."
"Yeah, that'd be good." Seth and Ryan climbed out the car.
"I'll see you guys later."
"Bye." Seth waved to his Dad as he pulled out of the parking lot.
She heard voices then a light shone in her eyes.
"Morning."
She mumbled something as the room came in to focus. For a second she couldn't think where she was then it all came flooding back. The voice. The gun. Blacking out. Ryan. Her parents.
The nurse smiled at her.
"I've brought you some breakfast."
Marissa smiled at the nurse as she placed a tray on a table beside the bed. The nurse noted some things on the clipboard at the end of the bed. She noticed Marissa just staring at the food.
"I'd definitely go for the cereal over the toast."
Marissa came out of her trance and looked over at the nurse.
"The toast tastes more like cardboard. Or at least what I think cardboard would taste like, I'm not really an expert in that area."
Marissa smiled at her.
"I'm not really hungry."
"You'll have to eat something. It's not good to have all these drugs on an empty stomach."
Marissa looked back at the food. She really couldn't bring herself to eat it.
"Look, how about I fetch you something nice out of the café."
"Oh, no. I can't ask you to do that."
"You didn't." She opened the curtains. "I'll be back in a minute."
Marissa smiled at her. "Thanks."
She closed her eyes for a few minutes. She heard the door open and rolled over to thank the nurse.
"Hey honey."
Her mum was the last person she wanted to see. She rolled back over. Julie's heart sunk. She couldn't believe how stupid she had been. Sandy was right. She was just driving her family away. She sat on the chair beside the bed. She placed her hand on Marissa's shoulder who just flinched and moved away. Julie felt tears forming in her eyes. She couldn't believe that she had been so selfish.
"Look I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now"
"Yup," Marissa mumbled.
"Your father was in the wrong too you know."
"If this is your apology then you might as well just leave 'cause I don't want to hear it." Marissa said her back still to Julie.
"Look Marissa I'm sorry. I was just so scared that I lashed out at the people around me. I don't know if you'll ever be able to forgive me, but I just want you to know that I love you." Marissa rolled over to face her mum. She saw the tears forming in her eyes. She wasn't ready to forgive her but she realised that her mum was being honest with her for once. She let her mum take her hand. Julie couldn't help but let a tear slip from her eye.
"I don't know what to say. I just want a second chance. I'll do anything to make it right."
"I know you didn't mean to hurt me but you did." These words cut in to Julie. Hearing Marissa say them shone a new light on everything. She didn't want to lose her. Marissa looked in to her mum's eyes. "Just promise me that you will talk to dad."
Usually talking to Jimmy was something she avoided but she meant it when she said that she would do anything. She nodded and wiped a tear off her face. She pulled Marissa in to a hug. Marissa felt uncomfortable but after a few seconds she rested her head on her mum's shoulder and hugged her back. She knew things with her mum weren't perfect, but for now anything seemed perfect.
Summer spotted Seth and Ryan getting out of the car and walked over to them.
"Hey."
"Hey." They both replied.
"Did you get home ok last night?" Seth asked her.
"Ye, I didn't stay for long though." Seth put his arm round Summer's shoulder and they all headed in to the school.
"I hardly slept last night," Summer remarked.
"Same," Seth agreed.
"I just couldn't stop thinking about her."
Seth squeezed her shoulder and kissed her head.
"She's going to be ok though, I'm telling you before you know it the fantastic four will be fantastic again."
"Uh, I gotta get a book from my locker. I'll see you in French."
Ryan suddenly hurried off.
"Hey…."
"You might wanna rethink the fantastic four idea."
They both watched Ryan disappear inside.
"Do you think we should be worried about him?" Summer knew it was difficult for him but if they could just get him to talk.
"He'll come around sometime. He just needs his space."
Ryan and Seth were sitting in French. Ryan had hardly said a word in English never mind French.
"So, the conditional tense. Could someone tell me how it's formed?" Miss Fraser looked out over the sea of blank faces. "Ok then. Ryan how about you give it a shot."
Ryan was looking at his desk fiddling with his pen. Seth looked at Ryan and nudged him.
"Ryan…"
Ryan slowly looked up. He had clearly been paying no attention.
"Whatever is on your mind I'm sure it's not as important as my class right now."
Ryan sprung up from his seat.
"You have no idea what's on my mind!" He shouted at her angrily. Murmurs erupted around the classroom. Miss Fraser looked in complete shock. Seth tugged Ryan's shirt to get him to sit back down. Ryan ignored Seth and grabbed his stuff and stormed out of the classroom.
"Mr Atwood! Get back in here now!" She ran out of the classroom after him. Seth drummed his fingers on the table and smiled awkwardly at everyone, who were all staring at him weirdly.
"Guess he's not a fan of the conditional tense then."