Once again I'm incredibly sorry for the lack of updates. Exams didn't go as well as hoped therefore I had alot of work to do. The cancellation of the OC didn't help my writer's block, but since this is an AU fanfiction, it made it slightly easier. I hope this chapter lives up to expectations and hopefully I'll have another chapter up soon.

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Chapter 10 - The Location

Marissa hesitated before pulling away from Ryan, "I can't do this right now, it's too soon. I'm not ready, you know, after everything with Luke.. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. If anyone should be sorry, it should be me. I didn't mean to push this onto you like that." Ryan's chest was suddenly filled with guilt. He knew she had just come out of a serious long term relationship and he should be giving her time, but he was feeling so many emotions he had never experienced before. This girl knew him better than anyone else, even though he'd known her a little more than a week.

"I know. I'm not saying I won't ever be ready, I'm just not right now.." Marissa's voice trailed off. She didn't want Ryan to think that she was rejecting him because he was of a lower class to her, that definitely wasn't it. He was probably more caring towards her than the majority of the population of Newport, she just wasn't ready to move on after Luke. Sure he had broken her heart numerous times, but he was her first and only boyfriend.

"Oh. Okay then.. well we should be getting going anyways. We have a big day ahead of us," Ryan said as he abruptly changed the subject. He could see that that subject was making them both uncomfortable, and that was definitely not what they both needed right now.

"We do? Where are we going?" Marissa asked, her voice full of surprise. She didn't know they had decided on where to go.
"That's for me to know and you to find out," he replied cheekily. And with those final words, Ryan lifted himself off the couch before turning to Marissa, who had also gotten up, took her hand in his, and led them out the door.

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Back in the Cooper McMansion, Julie was running every possibility through her head of how she could get Marissa back home, whether she wanted to or not. But so far, nothing was striking her that would work. Then she remembered a crucial detail.
The cops had decided a few days ago, after Marissa had been missing for more than 48 hours, to track all phone calls made to and from the landline, and her cell phone.
Realising her daughter could now be closer than ever to being found, Julie hastily dialed the numbers into her cell phone of the detective at the precinct.

"Detective Baker speaking," spoke the voice of the detective assigned to Marissa's case.

"Detective, it's Julie Cooper, Marissa just called my cell phone and I wanted to know if you had managed to track the location of the call. She refused to come home even though--" Julie was rapidly speeding through her words before being cut off by the detective.

"Slow down Mrs. Cooper, one thing at a time. Let me just put you on hold whilst I talk to another officer about Marissa's call. One moment please," Baker placed Julie on hold before disappearing for a few minutes.

Whilst he was gone, a million thoughts were racing their way through the suddenly concerned mother's mind.
What if the call wasn't long enough to trace her location?
What if Marissa's gone by the time they find her location, if they have it at all?
Her thoughts were interrupted however, by Detective Baker's voice.

"Mrs. Cooper?"

"Yes Detective, I'm here. Did you find out about Marissa?"

"I spoke to my partner who has been in charge of tracing all your phone calls Mrs. Cooper, and he has in fact traced the last call made to your cell phone to a location in a town called Chino, approximately an hour's drive from here."

"Chino? I've never heard of it. Nevermind that though, when can you send out a team to get her?"

"Detective Griffin just needs a few minutes to get the exact location of where the call was made, but we should be able to have a party out to retrive her within the hour. I would like you and perhaps your husband to come with us when we do find her, it may help her return home more easily."

"I highly doubt that, but whatever you think may work. I'll be down at the precinct in 20 minutes. Goodbye Detective Baker and thankyou for your help."

Julie ended the call and slid her cell phone into her Gucci purse. Grabbing her keys off the counter, she made her way next door to the Cohen residence. Pressing the doorbell, Julie waited patiently outside before the front door swung open to reveal Sandy.

"Julie. What a surprise. I didn't know you were coming over. Kirsten's not here at the moment, but is there anything I can help you with?" He asked concerned. He knew that she was still going through hell trying to find Marissa.

"I actually came to see you," Julie looked at Sandy, who was apparently shocked by that before continuing, "The cops traced a call made by Marissa this morning. She's in a town somewhere about an hour from here. They asked me to bring Jimmy with me when they go to find her, but since he's out of town as usual, I was wondering if you could accompany me"

Usually Sandy wouldn't have considered going with her, but after the week she had been through, he couldn't help but be obliged to be kind and help her.

"Sure. Let me just get my things. I'll meet you in my car"

Julie walked down the driveway to the Cohen's black Range Rover. As Sandy started the car and left the gated community in which they lived, Julie thought to herself, finally I'm going to get my daughter back. After this misadventure, I'll see she isn't allowed out again.