AN- from here on in, the reason for the M rating will become apparent. Be advised, the following chapters will involve scenes some of you may find disturbing such as rape. The crime, however, is not detailed, only implied. I do, however, go deep into the aftermath of the attack and the psychological issues such an event brings up.
Chapter 10- (September 2003) The Dangers of Love
Ryan leaned against the low brick wall surveying the vastness and grandness of his new scholarly institution. Dumbfounded, he looked over to his new brother, Seth. "This is school?"
Seth nodded, sighing. "Yeah.. Harbor.. Ironically, it's not so safe." He spotted a couple of the water polo players over by the other wall. "You could see Luke…"
"The way my life goes… It's a certainty." Ryan nodded, hefting the brand new messenger bag Kirsten had bought him onto his shoulder.
"So.. Where's Ryan?" Summer inquired of her slightly out-of-it friend, waving her hand in the girl's face for effect. "Coop?"
"Huh.." Marissa blinked awkwardly and shrugged. "I uh.. Don't know. Somewhere with Seth..I guess.."
"Uh huh.." Summer sat back onto the couch, looking down at the cup of coffee in her hands. "Ok.. You've been like catatonic for days now. What's going on?"
Marissa quietly turned from her friend. "Nothing….I just.. Luke.." Her eyes widened and her voice lowered. "Summer…what now?"
Luke stood at the coffee counter waiting for his espresso, his eyes trained on Marissa. He had to talk to her today. Now. He paid for the drink and headed in her direction.
Summer stared at the boy as he approached the couch. "Go away." Her brown eyes held his strongly as she started to stand up.
"So.. She was all.." Seth stopped speaking, his feet halting their walking simultaneously. Luke stood beside Summer, getting in her face, and trying to get her to move so he could address Marissa.
Ryan followed Seth's gaze and felt his blood boil. He strided toward the girls, grabbing Luke's shoulder and forcing him away from them. "What are you doing here?" His intense blue eyes darkened as he stared at this boy. All he wanted to do was punch him..hard..and a lot.
Luke moved to step forward again, but the boy kept him back. "I just wanna talk to Marissa.."
Ryan held up his hand, clenching it. "Not gonna happen."
"Marissa.." Luke made the mistake of trying to avoid the other guy by side stepping him and running directly into the small coffee table in front of the couch. "Mar..ow.." He clutched his shin and cursed.
No longer seeing a threat, Ryan went over to Marissa holding out his hand. His eyes said everything for him.
Marissa looked from her ex to her boyfriend and smiled softly, nodding, and giving Ryan her hand. She let him pull her to her feet and walked a few steps with him before he abruptly halted and looked at her.
Ryan's hand went to her cheek as he addressed his girlfriend. "You ok?" When she nodded, he leaned closer and kissed her softly on the mouth, deeply drawing her into the kiss as well. His arms went around her small frame, holding her close to him.
Fully forgetting where she was, Marissa fell into the sensual liplock wrapping her arms around his neck and stepping even closer to him. There was nothing better than kissing Ryan……well…ok..maybe one thing better.. But that would come later…probably.
Summer sighed happily as she leaned against Seth's right side and watched her best friend. "He's really good for her…huh Cohen?" She looked up to her own boyfriend, self-proclaimed even.
"He's great for her, Summer." Seth responded, wrapping his right arm around her waist.
After school was quickly becoming Marissa's favorite time of day. "Mmm…" She bit her lip as the low moan escaped her. She closed her eyes a second and then opened them to Ryan's own intensely blue irises. She forgot everything else as she watched him smile, kissing her neck and throat. She was acutely aware of how firey his touch was on her stomach as his palm slid under the fabric of her cotton polo shirt.
Ryan curled his fingers in and ran them up her side in a slow manner, continuing to kiss her throat. This was the only thing he'd been thinking about all day. Marissa's hair in his fingers. Marissa's smile. Marissa's warmth. He was surprised he was even able to control himself right now, what with the tumult of hormones he was experiencing because of a certain blue eyed beauty.
The digital read out on the clock caught her attention as Marissa lifted her head. 6:56pm. They'd been making out for an hour now and a stopping point seemed far in the distance, unless she said something. So why wasn't she? Easy.. Because she loved this feeling, this…powerlessness… That's how it felt anyway, like she was unable to assert any sort of power over him. And it wasn't like it was an unfamiliar feeling. She'd always felt that way with Luke, but there was one strong difference. With Ryan…she wasn't afraid of feeling powerless. Unlike Luke, Ryan would never hurt her.
"So…Captain Oats.." Summer addressed the plastic horse as she looked around the empty room. "Where's Cohen?" Of course, there was no actual response from the toy. She sat down on the bed and leaned back onto the mattress. Seriously. Where was he?
"I left Summer all by herself, Mom.." Seth stated anxiously as he stood next to the island watching his mother cook. "What are you doing?"
Kirsten looked up from the raw chicken she was washing. "Cooking dinner." Her blond hair was pulled back in an elastic band and she had an auburn colored apron on over her business suit. "Will she be staying?"
"Yeah.. Probably.." Seth shook his head, grabbed the waters he'd come for, and went back upstairs.
"Geez, Cohen. How long does it take to get a water?" Summer asked as he opened the door and then handed her an ice cold bottle. She unscrewed the cap and took a large gulp, savoring the sensation of the cold liquid running down her hot throat.
"Sorry.." Seth drank some of his and sat down beside her. "Did you tell Captain Oats about Princess Sparkle?"
"He's very interested." She smiled at him. "And so am I."
"I can't believe she's dating him…" Holly responded, shaking her head and reaching for a fry.
"I can." Sarah stated, also reaching for a fry.
A table away, a group of Newpsies was gossiping about the latest scandals. One in particular. "I can't imagine what Kirsten was thinking?" Darlanna Howard said with a sigh.
Taryn nodded, whispering back. "And I heard the two have actually started dating."
Darlanna gasped. "No..they're brother and sister…"
Holly nearly choked on her fries. Were the Newpsies talking about who she thought they were? It seemed to fit. Kirsten had been mentioned and there was something vague about an adoption…. But the real bombshell was the last bit of information. Marissa was dating her adopted brother!
Sarah looked at her friend in alarm. "Holly.. Holly, breathe.." She snapped her fingers in front of the girl's face and waited for a response.
"What?" Luke sat up as he listened to Holly on the other end of the phone line. "You're serious?" He nodded, said bye and hung up his cell. Marissa was dating a guy who was legally considered her brother..? That meant that the guy she was always with, the one who had hit him at the party.. And almost at school.. The guy was her boyfriend..and her brother? Maybe the crash really had driven her crazy.. He'd just find some way to get her back..or pass her around..whichever.
Kirsten quietly turned the knob on the door and stepped inside the large room. It was totally dark without the lamplight shinning inside, or the Moonlight outside. She let her eyes adjust to the darkness a second before walking over to the bed. Laying together on top of the comforter were her new daughter and new son. Ryan's arm was around Marissa's back as her body was curled close to him, her own arm drapping over his stomach. They looked so sweet together, she really did not want to wake them up and separate them, but they could not sleep together….not yet. When the scandal had died down, and when their lives weren't under scrutiny every second of the day, she'd let them. But not right now. She shook Ryan's shoulder and waited for him to wake up.
"Kirsten…" Ryan blinked. "Is everything…" He suddenly became aware of why his new mother was in his room…and it had everything to do with the girl in his arms.
"Marissa needs to sleep in her own bed." Kirsten answered softly.
Ryan nodded in understanding and lifted his arm off from the girl's back, shaking her shoulder lightly. "Marissa.."
"Hmm.." Marissa looked up, sleep clouding her vision. "Ryan.."
Ryan smiled. "You have to go to bed."
Marissa pouted. "I'm ok here.." She laid her head back down on his chest.
Kirsten laughed and stepped forward. "Marissa, you two can't sleep together. It's going to be hell when this gets out and if social services finds out you are not only dating.. But sleeping in the room at night.. They'll take Ryan away from us."
Instantly, Marissa sat up and rolled away from Ryan. "Ok..sorry.." She was on her feet and grabbing her shoes on the way out the door. "See you in the morning.."
Ryan nodded, sitting up as he watched her leave. "Yeah.." He then turned to Kirsten. "Is that true?"
Kirsten shrugged. "I'm not positive, but it seems like a reasonable threat." She smiled back at him. "And it got the desired result."
Ryan offered a small smile. "Marissa and me in our own rooms.."
Kirsten nodded, stepping back over to the door. "Night, Ryan." She exited, softly closing the door behind her.
The Next Day-
Ryan sat at the end of island eating his cereal when Marissa walked in. "Hey.." He smiled at her, then went back to eating. He couldn't help but notice her morning ensemble, a white t-shirt and a pair of gray short shorts. No bra. "Morning.."
Marissa opened the refrigerator and extracted the cream cheese tub and the milk, setting them on the island's counter. "Morning.." She answered back, opening a drawer and pulling out a knife. "Did Kirsten say anything to you?"
Ryan shook his head in response and continued eating.
"You're quiet.." Marissa stated as she sat down next to him.
Ryan wasn't surprised when his body began to give off those tell-tale signs of just how aware of the girl's presence it was and tried to ignore it. "Don't talk much.."
Marissa smiled, bitting into her now cream cheese covered bagel. "More so than usual..I mean."
Ryan nodded. "I know.." He caught her gaze and decided to let his control go just a little. His arms encircled her waist as he pulled her out of her chair and onto his lap, kissing her intensely at once.
Instantly, the light was flicked on and a very surprised Sandy stood there in his robe. "Sorry.." He smiled, flipped the light back off, and retreated back to his bedroom giving the kids privacy.
Kirsten yawned and sat up as Sandy walked back into the room. "You're up early." She smiled at him as he crossed the room and got back into the bed.
Sandy nodded, kissing her. "I just wanted to make sure the kids had all slept in their own beds."
Marissa pulled away from Ryan's incessant kisses long enough to finish the last bite of her bagel and then joined him once again. "Don't you think.." She closed her eyes. "This would be better off in a bedroom?"
Ryan looked up to her. "Yours or mine.."
"Yours is closer." She answered, getting off his lap.
Later, as she walked into the classroom, Marissa couldn't help but notice how you've-got-something-on-your-face out of place that she felt. She sat down quietly, moving her messenger bag onto the table top, and pretended to study her Biology textbook while loud snatches of various conversations attracted her attention.
She could hear things like "Can you believe it? How desperate is she?" and "Is it even legal?" clearly from all around the classroom. It seemed as if every single conversation going on was centered around her..and not in a good way. These people were talking about her like she had the plague and it was really starting to get to her.
"Hey.." The soft baritone voice sounded as if it was just behind her.
Marissa looked up and turned her head to her left. "Yeah?" Staring back at her was a boy she had never seen before but the bleached blond hair and the ridiculous muscle shirt were a dead giveaway of what sort he associated with.
The boy kneeled down, resting an uninvited hand on her left shoulder, and tilted his head a bit. "So I was wondering…..would you like to go on a date.."
Marissa started to respond but the boy interrupted her.
"Cause ya know.. I'm all over the incest thing.." The hand on her shoulder moved lower to just above her chest as he finished speaking. "it means a girl's got no barriers.."
Furious, she pushed his hand off her. "Get away from me." She considered running from the room but decided against it. She could just wait this out for a few more minutes. Summer would walk in any second now.
Laughing, the boy retreated to his own table.
"He did WHAT?" Summer shrieked out, her plastic fork dropping from her hand.
Holly nodded animatedly. "He did. I know.. Random.."
"Ewww.." Summer responded, looking up and waving to someone in the distance. "Atwood!"
Holly turned her head, her blond hair falling away from her shoulder. "He is hot.." She studied the boy as he walked over to their table. He was a little taller than herself, with these knee-weakening blue eyes, and some seriously muscled arms. She could totally see why Marissa was so into him.
"Hey.." Ryan said softly as he sat down on the other side of the table, across from both girls. Catching Summer's eye, he tried to avoid the take-me-now eyes of the blond. "Where's Marissa?"
Summer noted how uncomfortable her new friend was as she spoke. "Don't know..she said she'd be here in a couple minutes when we separated inside the cafeteria." She pushed her Styrofoam tray away from her and moved to stand up, grabbing her purse and bag in the process. "We should really go look for her.." She reached for Ryan's arm and tugged on his sleeve. "Come on."
Happily, he stood up and walked with her leaving a confused Holly still at the table. When they were ten feet away, he leaned closer to Summer so he could speak to her and not be overheard. "Thanks for that."
Summer nodded. "I could tell you were about to be Holly's newest prey. That girl's like a hawk or something. Every guy is a mouse or some kind of hairy rodent."
Ryan just nodded, not sure how to respond. As they continued walking into the Lounge area, he finally spoke up. " Marissa.." There she was, standing by the pinball machine, with her arms crossed over her body and her eyes darting around the room as if she were surveying for potential dangers. Immediately, he headed her way.
Marissa looked up just as Ryan appeared in front of her. "Hey.." She smiled brightly.
"Hey.." Ryan answered back reaching for her hand. He took note of how cautious she seemed and wondered if something had happened.
"Hey, it's the incestuous couple!" Some random guy hollered out thinking he was being cute.
Marissa watched as Ryan's eyes turned cold and his jaw became set. "Ryan.." She didn't want him to lose his cool so she had to grab and hold his attention. That meant saying or doing something so unexpected he'd have to respond. She moved closer, curling her fingers around the front belt loops of his jeans and pulling him to her. "Let me take you somewhere else.." Her voice was as soft as the kiss that followed.
The anger within him simply disappeared as soon as her lips connected with his. That was her power. He smiled, moving his arms around her waist and to her lower back. Kissing her back, he eased his tongue into her mouth, moving it around her own tongue in a counter-clockwise circle and then rubbing the bottom of his tongue across the top of hers. Ryan absently pushed her against the wall, leaning forward to deepen their kiss. The fact that they were giving a very unwelcome show to a number of closed-minded people was completely forgotten as the kiss began to steal his senses.
Summer lightly tapped Marissa's shoulder hoping for some kind of response. "Coop.." Everyone was staring, open-mouthed, as the two made out in the corner of the lounge area of their high school. Getting no response, she tried tapping Ryan's shoulder. "Atwood…" But he was to far gone, the same as Marissa.
Luke felt his veins heat like they were on fire. He's walked into the lounge expected to get a coffee, not a floor show. Marissa was clearly no longer interested in him and that posed a problem. He hated to lose..at anything. And he wanted to beat the crap out of this new guy, really show him who he was dealing with. Who's girl he was messing with. First it had been a simply maybe…..now his plan was a certainty. The new guy was really gonna pay. Soon.
"Have you even played before?" Seth asked Ryan as he watched the little Ninja on the tv screen run around in idiotic circles.
"Not really.." Ryan stated just as his character bit the dust.
"I rock with the court-staff.." Marissa stated with a soft nod as she sat down next to her boyfriend. "So I guess it's my turn.."
Ryan silently handed her the controller and shook his head.
Marissa looked over to Seth as their characters appeared on the tv screen. "So where's Kirsten and Sandy?" She attacked the enemy with some pretty surprising accuracy until her cell phone went off and took away her concentration. She passed the controller back to Ryan. "Do me proud.."
Ryan and Seth both watched as she pulled her cell out of her pocket and headed upstairs to her room.
"Summer." Seth stated with assurance as he went back to kicking enemy butt on the game.
Ryan nodded, his attention fully on the tv screen. Marissa had told him to make her proud, so he at least had to try. He stared at Seth as the boy's character stabbed his character. "I thought we were on the same team?"
Seth shrugged, not looking back to Ryan. "Battle hazard…sorry."
"Right.." Ryan sighed and went back to trying to kill the annoying and seemingly innumerable Ninjas.
Marissa set her cell phone down on her nightstand and laid down on the bed. She really liked Ryan but it seemed like everyone was against their relationship. Well, everyone except Summer and the Cohens. But she didn't have problems with the ones who accepted her; her issues lied with those of them who didn't.
Sighing, she rolled over onto her stomach, her gaze rested on the window of her room. She'd forgotten to close it this morning before leaving for school and the curtains were swinging in the light breeze of the early night. She lifted off the bed, crossed the room, and slowly shut the window as her eyes focused on the scenery. The pool-house stood out as the several glass doors reflected the light from the outdoor light sensors and she could easily imagine Ryan standing there, letting down the blind or reading on the bed. Actually, it looked like she could see everything inside the room from here. His disgaurded sweatshirt on the chair, his messenger bag on the bed, a lone textbook on the floor. What would it be like to look out the window and be faced with the reality of him not being there anymore? Just thinking about the possibility, tears streamed down her cheeks.
There was rapping of knuckles on the door, then Ryan stepped into the room. "Seth wanted to know if you invited Summer…" He stopped speaking as she turned to face him. She was crying. Or had been. "Marissa…" He crossed the room quickly and hugged her to him.
Marissa leaned her head against his chest and just held him for several seconds. She never wanted to let him go. So what if their relationship was immoral to the rest of Newport! For once, she just did not give a dn. Her quality of life was a thousand times better because of Ryan. And if they couldn't see that, it was their issue.. Not hers. Right? She looked up and smiled warmly. "I love you.."
Ryan hugged her still closer, his heart pounding. She'd finally given voice to something he'd been feeling for awhile now and he couldn't imagine anything topping this moment. Ever. He gave her a half smile in return. "I was wondering when you'd say it." He kissed her softly and pulled back. "I love you, Marissa."
"Do you really have to hurt him though?" Holly asked as she searched her Contacts for Marissa Cooper's phone number in her cell phone's directory.
Luke looked up to her as he laid with his back to her mattress. "Just show him a Newport welcome…make the call.."
"Fine." Holly pressed the Call button and waited for a response. "Hey, Marissa. Do you think you could meet me at the peir in like an hour? I kinda need some help." She heard the answer and hung up, turning back to Luke. "Happy?"
"You're gonna meet Holly this late?" Ryan asked as he watched Marissa pick up her purse and extract her car keys.
Marissa nodded. "Did you wanna come?"
"No.." Ryan couldn't help but remember his last encounter with the blond, and shuddered.
Chuckling, Marissa smiled. "A lot of guys have that reaction……..but then the others are all over her."
"I can understand why." Ryan responded off-handedly.
They exited her room together.
Seth looked up as Ryan re-entered the room. "Thought you weren't gonna come back,Man."
Ryan sat back down, picking up the controller. "Yeah.."
When she got there, Marissa spotted Holly right away and headed down the pier, her sneakers making smacking noises as she hustled over to her friend. "What's up, Hol?"
Holly seemed momentarily stunned and then lowered her head. "I just need to talk to someone…"
Both boys looked up as the phone rang. Seth dropped his controller and headed toward the receiver in the kitchen with Ryan right behind him.
"Cohens" Seth said into the cordless. "Uh…hang on.." He looked over to Ryan and tried not to drop the phone. "Marissa was assaulted…"
Ryan closed his eyes as the air in the room suddenly disappeared. He didn't bother to respond, just snatched the extra set of car keys off the counter and headed for the front door.
"Look, Holly.. I really have to go." Marissa said for the third time in the last five minutes. "The Cohens won't be happy if I'm not home when they get there.."
Holly nodded, but grabbed onto the girl's arm. "Walk me to my car?"
"Sure." Marissa nodded in understanding.
"Seth, you drive like a grandmother." Ryan muttered as he looked out the window. "Did the guy say anything else?"
Seth shook his head as he pulled into a parking spot in the middle of the near empty parking lot. "Just what happened and to meet him under the pier. That's it." As soon as he shut of the engine, he looked up to an empty passanger seat. Ryan was already running.
Was she ok? What exactly did assaulted mean? Was she…? He'd kill the guy! Ryan tried to reign in his thoughts as he sprinted down the beach to get under the pier as soon as he could.. To get to Marissa.
The waves crashed against the various wooden planks and pillars as Luke and two other water polo players waited in silence.
Ryan reached the proposed meeting place and searched in vain for Marissa for a minute before someone stepped out of the shadows. "You.."
Seth arrived beside Ryan just as the first punch was being thrown, by Luke. "Uh-oh.." He barely had time to back up before he watched his new brother let his anger go. Ryan was flurry of punches and pins for several minutes before one well placed kick sent him sprawling to the sand, the cold surf knocking him momentarily paralyzed.
Luke landed a punch the upper part of Ryan's face and called for his two friends to get Seth.
Marissa was certain she'd heard something that time. "There's someone under the pier." She didn't wait for Holly to join her as she made a mad sprint across the sand. She could just make out blurred shapes for awhile, but it seemed like someone was getting the crap beat out of them by what looked like three other guys. Was she about to bust into a loan shark's business deal gone bad? Or maybe a gang bashing? She was at least sure of one thing….this was not going to end well.
Seth laid on the sand, groaning and clutching his stomach where he'd been kicked at least twice. He looked over to his left at Ryan who was also on the sand, but seemed hurt a lot more. A freaking ambush! He's lead his new brother right into an all out water polo player target practice of sorts.
Ryan ignored the pain in shoulder and sat up, his blue eyes widening as his gaze, though blurred from pouring blood, rested on a certain long-legged, small framed, blue eyed beauty running toward him.
Luke looked over the damage with a pleased smile and high fived his buddies, then froze. Marissa was standing about ten feet away, the surf slapping against her legs.
"Ryan!" Marissa ran and slid down into the sand beside him. She looked up to Luke, standing. "What is your problem?!" Madder than she had been in very long time, she stepped forward and hit him surprising herself with her audacity.
Shocked and furious, Luke grabbed her wrist and wrenched her forward. "Bad choice.."
Ryan struggled to his feet, then walk-stumbled his way to Luke. His voice was as cold as his gaze. "Take your hands off her. Now."
Before another punch could be thrown, a security cop appeared. He was pretty young and had a good build. "What's going on here?" He looked from the kid on the ground, to the one who had to lean against the weirdly placed pillars to stay on his feet, to the girl, and then to the boy who seemed to be gripping her wrist aggressively. "Ok.. Release her and step away."
Safely back home, Marissa looked up as Ryan re-entered the room, an icepack in his hand. She watched him go back into the bathroom for a small hand towel and smiled when he sat down on the bed. "I never thought Luke was that messed up.." She shook her head in awe.
Ryan laid the icepack across her purple wrist and wrapped it with the hand towel. "But you're ok." He looked up to her, holding her gaze. "When I heard…I had no idea what to expect…"
Marissa smiled, leaning her forehead against his. "I'm ok…….Better than ok….." She placed her good hand on top of his. "I'm with you…I'm great.."
The Dangers of Love PART TWO
Ryan stepped out of the shower carefully. Ever since Friday night's fight..or rather ambush.. He'd been stepping easy. Luke had really messed up his left shoulder and the bruises all one his stomach weren't going to go away any time soon. And his face…wow..
He stepped up to the mirror and ran his palm across the film of condensation. His right eye stared back at the puffed up, bruised version of his usually chiseled face. Ryan would say one thing for the Water Polo team.. They could really do damage in a fight. He stared back at the mirror just surveying how much worse that particular damage had gotten since last night. The verdict.. It was a lot worse. A whole lot.
Marissa stood in front of the mirror looking through it, lost in thought. Ever since last night, she'd been thinking about Luke. Or more specifically, what Luke would continue to do to Ryan if she continued to date him. All the scenarios ended bad…really bad. She shook her head and reached for the brush on her nightstand, running it through her hair without much care. Her priority was Ryan. And that meant dealing with Luke.
She stopped brushing her hair, letting the brush fall from her hand as she stared at the mirror. The bruised area where Luke had grabbed her seemed to have grown overnight. She turned away from the mirror, stomping over to her closet and ripping open the door. Her first instinct was to wear long sleeves to hide her shame, but then something occurred to her. Something she could use. And now she had a plan.
Ryan sat at the table, quietly eating cereal and trying not to wince ever time his jaw moved.
Seth wandered into the room on very soft footing. His stomach was killing him thanks to the unwelcome reception from last night directed at his abs. He gingerly sat down at the table and acknowledged his adopted brother. "Hey, Man."
Ryan looked up and nodded. Seth looked like he was going to cry any second now, but at least he was the one who had gotten the most of the beatings. He passed him the cereal box. "Hey.."
"So..what do we tell them?" Seth asked, trying to lean back in the chair without a grunt of pain.
As if on cue, the they in question simply walked into the room.
Kirsten stopped briefly by the coffee machine to fill a mug, and then turned to smile at the boys. But when she saw Ryan's face, she went over and looked closely at him. "My god, what happened?"
Sandy did likewise, his eyes on his adopted son. "Ryan?"
Ryan looked up. "Nothing.. I'm fine. I took care of it."
Kirsten shot Seth a look. "Took care of what?"
Seth, in turn looked to Ryan. "Uh…something to do with…a..uh…a guy messing with ..uh..Marissa …last night. We uh.. Went to the diner.. And.."
Ryan took up the false explanation. "And this other customer grabbed Marissa outside the diner.. He ..musta been drunk or something.. Then he had..uh.. Buddies.."
Sandy and Kirsten shared a look as if deciding whether or not to believe this, and then nodded together showing that they did indeed believe the lie.
Kirsten looked back to Ryan. "Is Marissa ok?"
"She's fine. Thanks, Kirsten." Marissa responded as she stepped into the kitchen and pulled open the refrigerator. She reached in and got the milk, but felt a sudden pain shoot through her wrist as she lifted the jug. Her hand released the jog on its own and she watched as it slammed into the floor, bursting on impact. "Oh..sorry…" She started to move to her knees when a hand caught her upper arm. When she looked up, she smiled briefly then frowned. "You look awful.." She stared back at Ryan as he crouched there.
Ryan wanted to smile but his jaw was being just lieniant enough to let him talk. "It's not as bad as it looks." He pulled her to her feet and turned back to Sandy and Kirsten. "Sorry about the milk. We'll get another one today"
Kirsten nodded as she handed Sandy a paper towel. "Don't worry about it." She scanned Marissa. "You sure you're ok, Sweetie?"
"You sure you want to do this, Coop?" Summer stared back at her best friend simply unable to give an expression. "I mean.. look what he did to Ryan.." She leaned back onto the beach towel and waited for a response.
"Exactly, Sum. And he won't back off either." Marissa sighed, her blue eyes trained on the surf. "And this way.. He can't hurt anyone else either.."
"Coop, this is like totally crazy. Offer yourself to the very guy who … what are you thinking?" Summer sat up when she saw the boys returning. "Shhh.."
Seth and Ryan walked back to the girls and sat down simultaneously. "Hey.."
Marissa stared at her Contacts list. Was she really going to do this? Yes. She most definitely was. She selected Luke's name and pressed Call. There were a few rings and then his greeting. She waited and then left a message. "It's Marissa. Meet me at the beach tonight. 6pm." She clicked off and dropped her cell back into her purse, pushing open the restroom door and walking back to the table she was sharing with Ryan, Seth, and Summer.
"Shopping with Summer, huh.." Ryan stated as he tried to smile back his beautiful, and clearly troubled, girlfriend/ sister.
"Yeah.. She has this thing where we go raid the mall when I feel bad.." Marissa said quietly, hoping she was convincing him.
Ryan nodded, dropping his hand onto her thigh with a soft plop. "Have fun, ok."
"Yeah.." Marissa nodded back. She held his blue eyes with her own as her fingers traced his swollen face. "I'm really sorry, Ryan.."
"Shhh..Hey…" Ryan shifted so he could drape his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer, using his other hand to lift up her chin. "I'm used to it. I'm more worried about you." His eyes fell onto her bruised wrist.
"I'm ok. I guess it'll just be sore for a while…" Marissa watched as he picked up her upturned hand and brought his lips to the inside of her wrist.
Ryan didn't bother to say anything before he moved from her wrist to her mouth with a soft, comforting kiss. "What time do you have to leave?"
"Uhmm..Summer said to meet her at 5:45 at her place." Marissa answered quietly as she let her mind drift away from Luke and settle on Ryan…or more accurately.. Ryan's affection.
Luke tapped his fingers against the steering wheel impatiently. Four more minutes. What exactly was this meeting about anyway? So pathetic plea for him to stop going after Ryan? Whatever. He turned off the ignition and exited the car, walking toward the beach.
He could just make out her tiny form standing by that rundown lifeguard station. Her back was to him as he approached.
Marissa watched the waves and sucked in her ragged breath. She looked back down to the metal flask in her hand and sighed. If she was going to do this, she sure as hell was not going to do it sober. She unscrewed the cap and took several sips of the liquid, gulping as it burned her throat. She slid her other hand back into the pocket of her sweatshirt and felt the cold plastic of the tape recorder. She was prepared. Now she just had to go through with her plan. And get out unharmed.
She stiffened as a hand rested on her shoulder. "Luke.."
"Yeah." Luke waited for her to turn around and then crossed his arms and leaned against the railing of the ramp to the upper part of the lifeguard station.
Marissa turned around, sliding her hand into her sweatshirt and pressing down the record button. "I want you to stop coming after Ryan."
Luke studied her a minute. "Yeah.. Well I don't want to…unless.." He lifted away from the railing and stepped up to her, moving his hand to her waist. "you have something worth it.." His hand pressed into her side, his eyes holding hers. "something I want.."
It was all she could do not to move away as he touched her. Marissa allowed a look of shock to cross her face for an instant and then made a show of feeling defeated. "No.." She stepped back, praying he would take the bait.
Luke's expression darkened and he grabbed her arm, forcing her closer. "Marissa.." He all but threw her against the railing, moving in front of her and holding her there. "I missed you…"
Marissa could hear her heart pounding inside her chest. God, the recorder had better be picking this up! She looked up to Luke. "Let go, Luke.." She tried to shift away from him, moving to his left and pulling away. But his grip on her arm and waist wasn't changing. She was just way to weak compared to him.
"Let go…" Luke laughed. "I'm not ready to.." He pulled her back across the sand as she continued to pull away from him.
Crap! She was trying to get her arm loose and getting nowhere! Again, she pulled back, biting her lip as his grip got tighter. She was losing! No..she was falling! Her head hit the sand just before her back and legs followed.
Luke glared down at Marissa. He held her arm, his eyes catching hers. "You came here to make a deal. And I'm not letting you leave till the terms are met.." His free hand slid under the left side of her sweatshirt.
Summer checked the clock again to make sure she had read it right. 6:25pm. Marissa was supposed to call by 6:20pm or Summer was supposed to call 911. Either way, she was five minutes late. She sucked in her breath, steeling her nerves and dialed 911. "There's an assault in progress on the beach just about 300 yards from the Crab Shack.. It's.. this.. Guy.. He's trying to..and this girl.. Just hurry" She hung up before the operator could ask her name, setting the receiver back into the base. Please let them get there in time…
Ryan looked up from the book he was reading when his cell went off. Surely Seth wasn't actually calling him from the house? He leaned over and picked up the phone, flipping it open. "Yeah.." Summer was the one on the line. "Summer…did you mean to call Seth? Cause.." The next thing out of her mouth made him sit up in shock. "What…" He listened for a second more and then responded. "Ok..ok..I'm on my way.." He shut the phone, slid it into his pants pocket, and ran out the door.
Ryan pulled the Range Rover into the driveway and jumped out, running up to the front door. Summer stood there white as a sheet and half dazed. "What happened?"
"I…Coop..she wanted…" Summer babbled a minute before clearing her head. "I'm sorry.. I thought she'd be ok…."
"Summer." Ryan grabbed the girl's shoulder just enough to bring her back to earth.
Summer stared up him. "Marissa had this plan…she..she went to meet Luke.."
"Where???" The intensity of the word was about as high as the demanding tone that accompanied it. Ryan couldn't remember another time in his life that he had been so full of rage. But who was he angry with exactly? Marissa? Summer? Luke?
"The beach…" Summer responded nearly catatonic.
Ryan nodded, took her wrist in a loose grip, and ran with her back down the driveway.
Barely forty minutes after getting the call, he ambulance arrived at the beach and three EMTs jumped out, pulling the gurney out of the back along with the necessary supplies, and started running like their feet were on fire. It was hard to tell where exactly the victim was supposed to be.
A police cruiser pulled up just as the men disappeared over a sand dune. The older man in the driver's seat stepped out and looked around. There was no sign of peeling tire marks..no sign of a struggle..or an tell-tale blood stains. Whoever the perp was.. He wasn't hurt and he was long gone..
Ryan looked over at Summer as they waited for the light to change. "Call again."
Summer nodded, pressing redial on her cell and putting it to her ear.
A loud ringing interrupted the conversation the EMTs were having as they carefully moved the young girl onto the gurney. One of them turned toward the sound and spotted a small, shiny object laying on the sand about a half foot from where the girl was found. He snatched it up and flipped it open without thinking. "Hello…"
Summer blinked when she actually heard a voice on the receiving end of the line. "Who is this? Where's Marissa?"
Ryan nearly slammed on the brake, but kept his cool. His eyes stayed on the road, but his hands tightened around the steering wheel.
"Hey….guys.." The older cop had joined the scene and held up the tape recorder that had fallen out of the girl's discarded sweatshirt.
The two EMTs looked at the other man as he pressed the rewind button. "Maybe there's something on here we can use to find this guy.." The sound of the rewinding ended and he pressed play..
The third one walked over and set the cell phone in his hand onto the gurney next to the girl. He heard the recording start and listened.
( recorded conversation)
G- I want you to stop coming after Ryan
B- Yeah, well I don't want to..unless you have something worth it.. pause and sounds of movement .. Something I want..
G-No.
B- Marissa.. I missed you..
G-Let go, Luke. sounds of a starting struggle
B- Let go laughter I'm not ready to..
loud sounds of a struggle and then an amplified thud
B- You came here to make a deal. And I'm not letting you leave till the terms are met.
sounds of a violent struggle
G- screaming Stop! No…Luke..
sounds of a violent struggle and a muffled woosh followed by an amplified thud again
( end)
The cop shut off the recorder and looked around to the other men. "I'd say we got a name for the perp." He stood up, pocketing the recorder. "You all better get her to the hospital ..NOW.."