Chapter 12: Flicker of Light

She zipped up the bag and placed it on the bed. She looked around the room which she had been stuck in for a week. Just as Ryan said he came everyday after school. She also had visits from Seth and Summer, Sandy and Kirsten, her dad, her mum and even Caleb.

Ryan slipped his head round the door and noticed Marissa just standing there with her back to the door. He sneaked up behind her and kissed her neck. She almost let out a scream and her whole body jumped. She turned around and hit Ryan playfully.

"You are so not funny! I almost had a heart attack!"

"Well it's lucky we're in a hospital then."

She smiled at him and placed her hands around the back of his neck as he placed his around her waist, their foreheads almost touching.

"Can you forgive me?"

"Hmmm, let me think about it."

A few seconds later she moved her head and kissed him deeply.

"Is that a yes then?" he asked her, a smile creeping on to his face. She smiled back and kissed him again.


Seth and Summer walked along the corridor to Marissa's room. They walked in but suddenly stopped. Marissa and Ryan were holding each other close. She had her head resting on his shoulder, her eyes closed. Neither of them had noticed Seth and Summer come in. Seth looked at Summer and pretended to be wiping a tear off his face. Summer indicated to Seth that they should leave and he nodded in agreement. They started to tiptoe out. Suddenly there was a huge crash. Marissa and Ryan let go of each other and stared at Seth and Summer who had frozen in their positions of escape. On the floor beside Seth was a tall uplighter lamp. Summer unfroze and hit Seth on the arm.

"God Cohen! I thought you were all stealth!"

"I swear that lamp wasn't there before." Summer hit him again in the same place.

"Ah, ow." Seth rubbed his arm.

Ryan cleared his throat. Seth and Summer both suddenly remembered that Ryan and Marissa were there. They turned to see the very amused expressions on their faces. Seth waved at them sheepishly.

"Hey."

"How long had you been standing there?" Marissa asked them.

"What before dufus head here caused an earthquake!"

"Dufus head? Who says that!" Seth directed at Summer.

"Ok fine. How about ass!"

"Dufus ass. Hmmm, that just doesn't have a ring to it."

Ryan quickly walked over and placed himself between them when he saw Summer clench her fists.

"Ok, well that was fun," he took Seth by the shoulder and lead him to the bed. "How about you take Marissa's bag to the car." He handed Seth the bag.

"Hey, how come I have to take the bag? Why can't Summer take it?" He looked over at Summer who glared at him. "On second thought I'll take it." He quickly walked out the door, followed by Summer. Ryan linked his arm in Marissa's and looked at her.

"You ready."

"Trust me, I've never been more ready."

He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek then lead her out the door. Marissa let the door shut behind her, never looking back.


The four of them were in the car, Ryan driving. Marissa was sitting in the front with her window all the way down. She let the fresh breeze blow through her hair. Ryan glanced sideways at Marissa. He forgot how great it was to see her happy.

"Your dad's at the Cohen's talking to Sandy about some legal things to do with his house."

"Cool. You know what? I haven't visited the pool house in a while."

"Well I'm sure I could let you have a peek. And then maybe…"

Seth cut in not wanting to hear the details of what they get up to in the pool house.

"You know the sky is looking very blue today."

Marissa turned her head and looked at him weirdly.

"It's blue everyday."

"Yes, but it is particularly blue today. I'd say aqua with a hint of royal."

"You know what else will be blue?" Summer said to him.

"The sea?" Seth answered innocently.

"Your eye when I punch it if you don't shut up!"

Seth moved right up against the door. Summer noticed her fist.

"Oh, sorry." She blushed slightly. "You know the whole rage…"

"blackout," Seth finished her sentence. "Yeah. Oh look we're home," he said happy to get away from Summer's fist.


Kirsten, Sandy and Jimmy were all sitting in the living room chatting when the front door opened. They all stood up as Ryan, Summer, Marissa and Seth all came in.

"Hey guys," Sandy said to them all.

"Hey," Ryan replied.

"Hey kiddo," Jimmy said to Marissa as he walked over. "How you feeling?"

"Well you know, shoulders a bit sore from carrying the bag," Seth replied as he bent down to put the bag on the floor. " And the back has seen better…." He stood up and noticed everyone staring at him. He realised that Jimmy wasn't talking to him. "Oh, uh, sorry, ye, I didn't realise, you know, I'm just gonna… I'm just gonna, umm, head over here…" he walked away from everyone.

"Excuse me," Summer said to everyone as she followed Seth.

Jimmy hugged Marissa.

"It's great to have you back kiddo. I still have a few things to clear up so…

"Ye, we should go find Summer and Seth," Ryan said to Marissa.

"I just hope Summer hasn't punched him," she replied.

"Well you know where we are if you need us," Kirsten said.

"Thanks. You know, for everything."

"You don't have to thank us sweetie. We are more than happy to help."

Marissa smiled at Kirsten and headed upstairs with Ryan to find Summer and Seth. Kirsten noticed Jimmy watching Marissa. His eyes were full of happiness but there was a shadow of sadness.

"You okay?

"Ye, ye. I just don't think I'm going to be able to stop worrying about her, about where she is, who she's with, you know?"

"Don't worry, Jimbo, things will get back to normal soon," Sandy said cheerfully.

"What's normal?"

Sandy hadn't thought about that. Normal and Newport just didn't fit together.


Seth, Summer, Ryan and Marissa were hanging out in Seth's room. They were skirting around the topic of what had happened in the past week. Seth did however let Marissa sit with Captain Oates which in his eyes was a "huge privilege".

"I'm just going to the bathroom," Marissa said, standing up slowly. She noticed the worried look on Ryan's face. "Don't worry I'm fine. It's just along the hallway."

"Oh, ye, ye, I know. I wasn't worried. I mean of course you'll be fine…" he said awkwardly. Marissa smiled and left for the bathroom.

"Hey, Ryan, that was smooth. I think I'm rubbing off on you."


Marissa came out of the bathroom. She had avoided looking in the mirror. She didn't want to see the stitches and the bruises. As far as she was concerned, if she couldn't see them they didn't exist.

"See I told you I'd be…" the room was empty. "fine." She frowned and left the room again.

"Guys?"

Silence.

She walked to the stairs.

"Seth?" She started going down the stairs. "Summer? Ryan?" She reached the bottom but the place was still deserted.

"Dad? Heellooo? Anybody?"

She wandered outside and stopped suddenly in her tracks. She felt tears stinging her eyes. The outdoor table was covered in food and everyone was gathered around it, the candles glowing in the faded light.

"Is she alright?" Seth whispered to Summer.

Ryan was the first to react. He walked over to her, followed by Jimmy. They both held their arms out and she linked hers through them. They guided her to the table where Kirsten pulled out a chair for her.

"You did all this for me?" she said, her voice choking up. Jimmy took her hand and crouched down beside her chair.

"Ever since the day you were born you have been the most important thing in my life. There have been times when I thought I was going to lose you. Last week was one of those. I guess I just want to make sure that you realise how important you are to me." Marissa looked in to his eyes and nodded her head as a tear rolled down her cheek. Jimmy gently wiped it away with his thumb. He kissed her hand and gently squeezed it. He smiled at her then stood up.

"Who's ready to eat?"

Everybody had just been standing watching and listening to Jimmy, realising just how much she means to him.

"Oh, ye, sure."

"Oh, I'm starving."

"Uh huh, you know, famished."

"Great, fantastic, yes."

"Mmm, ye, good plan."

They all said at the same time. They all took a seat and tucked in to the assortment of pasta and salad dishes.

"Ok, seriously Summer. Stop rubbing my leg with your foot." Seth said to Summer who was sitting across the table from him.

"I'm not."

"Sure."

"I'm being serious. My legs can't reach that far."

"Good point." Seth felt a shooting pain in his shin. "I thought they couldn't reach that far!"

"Well it appears that they can!"

"So, Summer, how's your father been recently?" Kirsten broke in. "I haven't spoken to him in a while."

"Oh, you know, pretty busy."

Kirsten smiled and nodded. She knew that Neil regretted not being able to spend more time with Summer.

After this everyone split in to their own smaller conversations and the rest of the meal was uneventful.


"Right, Ryan, Seth. You're helping me clear the table." Kirsten told them

"What!" Seth replied. "How come Summer and Marissa don't have to help!"

"Because they're our guests."

Seth was about to protest again but Kirsten pointed her finger at him.

"Not another word."

Seth shut his mouth and reluctantly picked up his plate.

"Umm, Marissa could I talk to you?" Sandy asked her.

"Oh, uh, sure." She stood up and followed him over to the pool house. Sandy shut the door behind her. As he turned to face her she noticed the serious expression on his face.

"This morning I got a call from Inspector Trueman."

She sat down on the bed.

"He wants you to go in as soon as possible and give a complete statement."

Marissa remained silent. Since the last time she had been going through everything in her head, over and over. She felt Sandy sit beside her on the bed.

"I'd obviously be there as your lawyer." Marissa still didn't say anything. She just stared at the ground. "Don't worry. Take your time to think about it."

"I want to do it. I just…I just don't know if I can." She looked at Sandy. He noticed that her eyes were glistening with tears. "I mean after what happened the last time…" a tear escaped her eye. "I don't know if I can live through it again…"

"I'd love to say 'don't worry, I know what you're going through' but the fact is that no-one knows what you're going through. But just because they don't know what you're going through doesn't mean that they can't help. You don't have to go through this alone, Marissa. We're all here for you."

She nodded, and swallowed to hold the tears back.

"I mean take Snow White, for example. Where would she be without the seven dwarves?"

She smiled and let out a small laugh. He handed her a tissue.

"Here."

"Thanks." She wiped the tears off her face and sniffed. Sandy put his hand on her shoulder.

"You alright?"

"Ye," she smiled at him.

"Well I better go and help clear up. Seth's probably being as useless as possible just to make a point."

Marissa watched Sandy leave. He was right that no-one knew what she was going through but he was also right that she wasn't alone. For the first time she could see a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel.


I know not much happened in that chapter but there's more drama in the chapters ahead.