A few hours later, Seth, Ryan and Marissa are sitting on a blanket on a deserted beach. An unfinished fifth of vodka sits in the center of the blanket.

"Well, this was a great idea," Seth says, looking pale and sick.

"Well I didn't know you were a lightweight. You've been throwing up since your third shot and Ryan and I are…"

"Beyond counting," Ryan finishes with a lazy smile. Seth gives them both the finger and rolls over onto his stomach. They hear him snoring softly.

"That kid could fall asleep in the middle of an earthquake," Ryan mutters with a faint smile.

"He's worried about you. So am I," Marissa says, turning the bottle up again and passing it to him. Ryan takes a generous swallow.

"I feel better now. I mean…I put on this strong front but every once and a while…I think about the fact that I'm only sixteen years old. I'm only sixteen, Marissa, and I've been shot twice and threatened god knows how many times. I…sometimes I feel so old…" Ryan glances up, meeting her eyes for a second. "You seem to know what I'm talking about."

"Yeah, a little. I mean, we can both drink this vodka like water. My parents can't do that."

Ryan smirks. "So you can tell your mental age by your alcohol tolerance?"

"Sure, what do you think that says about Seth?" Marissa grins, giggling.

"Maybe he just knows better than to drown his problems in alcohol…" Ryan replies, quietly. He takes another swallow of the vodka.

"How long have you been drinking, Ryan?" Marissa asks, suddenly.

"Since I could taste, probably. My mom used to make Trey and I screwdrivers to help us sleep," Ryan answers honestly. "You?"

"Since I was, like, twelve. Summer and I broke into my dad's mini-bar at a sleepover one night and we've been drinking since," Marissa replies.

"So you and Summer have been drinking buds for a while?"

"Yeah. We've known each other forever…I don't know if we're buds anymore but we still drink together. She's…shallow. I guess, I'm shallow, too, but I'm actually trying to change. I mean, there are more important things in life than money, looks and popularity…" Marissa catches Ryan looking at her. "What?"

"Nothing. How's Luke, Marissa?" Ryan asks, his face emotionless.

"He's…rich, handsome and popular, that's what you're getting at, right?" Marissa remarks.

"You can't change overnight, Marissa. I'm glad you're my friend. That's enough for me right now. I haven't…I haven't let myself have friends in a long time," Ryan admits, surprising Marissa. His blue eyes are dull with alcohol as are her own.

"Why not?"

"Friends…I've got a lot of baggage. It's not like I could ever invite anyone over to my house, my mom was too fucked up for that…I usually stuck close to Trey. The more friends you make, the more people know about your issues…" Ryan says, slowly.

"My friends…they don't know anything about me…" Marissa admits. "Not really. I mean…some of them I've known forever, like Summer, but they…"

"They don't know you. I don't know you, Marissa, but I know…you're a good person. You have a lot of pain inside, I think that's why I'm drawn to you. It's like we're kindred spirits…" Ryan starts.

"That has to be the worst line I think I've ever heard…and I'm going to be sick…" Seth sits up suddenly and scrambles away.

"It wasn't that bad, was it?" Ryan jokes. Marissa impulsively kisses him while Seth retches nearby.

"Me, too. It's nice to have a friend. A real one."

"Yeah. It's even nicer to have two," Ryan replies, glancing at Seth.

*****

Ryan tries to blink the alcohol from his eyes as he crouches in the sand beside Marissa. She had started vomiting a few minutes before and he had automatically went to her aid, holding her hair back. He is rubbing her back, comforting her as she empties her stomach of her breakfast.

"Damn, we're busted," Seth announces, waking up nearby.

"What?" Ryan slurs.

"It's unbelievably late, Ryan. We missed dinner…shit…" Seth puts a hand to his head.

"You think your parents will…" Ryan starts.

"Be pissed? Yeah. Definitely. We really need to get back…" Seth says, standing up. "What are you doing?"

"Thanks, Ryan," Marissa smiles, still slightly green. "Seth, do you think you can drive? I'm a little wasted…"

"You guys finished the bottle? Damn!" Seth realizes, holding up the empty bottle.

"Well, we've been here all day," Marissa replies.

Seth watches, amused as Ryan puts an arm around Marissa and they stagger to his side. He holds out his hand and Marissa rummages through her pockets and purse for the keys to her vehicle.

"I can't find them," She admits, finally. She starts for the truck, but falters and Ryan catches her before they both fall to the sand, too unstable to stand. They laugh.

Seth goes to the SUV and sees the keys in the ignition and all the doors locked. "Hey guys!"

Ryan and Marissa have recovered enough to stand up and after a few staggering steps, are beside Seth.

"There's your keys," Seth points.

"Aren't you guys glad that I have experience breaking into cars?" Ryan asks, depositing the unsteady Marissa on the bumper of the SUV.

"Well, work your magic…" Marissa grins.

"Hmm…actually, we'd usually break the window…" Ryan ponders, peering through the window. "Do you have a clothes hanger?"

"There's one in the backseat," Marissa replies. "Oh. Never mind."

Ryan collapses in laughter. Seth is running his hand underneath the SUV. He pulls out a small rectangular box.

"Spare key. Let's go, kids," Seth announces, happily.

"Yay for Seth! Good job!" Marissa cheers, standing up. Her knees buckle and before Ryan can reach her, she has toppled onto the ground again. "Ow…"

"You okay?" Ryan slurs, helping her into the truck.

"Yeah…I'm fine…" She replies before promptly passing out. Ryan slides into the backseat with her, cradling her head on his lap as Seth starts the SUV.

"Should we call your folks?" Ryan asks.

"Not with that slur, Ryan. You're going to sneak in the back and I'm going to tell them that you're sick…" Seth replies. "You're drunk."

"Yep," Ryan smiles. "I haven't been drunk in a long time."

"Really?"

"Really…I hate drinking…but I have to sometimes…relieve stress…" Ryan mutters, falling asleep.

"And you said I fall asleep fast," Seth mutters, speeding up to try and get home.

Ryan wakes up later in Marissa's driveway with Seth shaking him. "We're home."

"That was fast," Ryan remarks, stepping out and falling to the ground.

"You're still drunk, though," Seth grins.

"But I'm less drunk than…an hour ago when I passed out," Ryan replies. He shakes Marissa who doesn't respond.

"You can't leave her out here," Seth says.

"I'll put her in the pool house…" Ryan gently lifts her thin frame into his arms and takes her, unsteadily to the pool house.

"I'll cover for you and be down in a few minutes to tell you the verdict," Seth says, leaving Ryan in the pool house.

Ryan lays Marissa on his bed and covers her with a blanket. He sits down on the couch. He has friends. He knows that drinking is not the way to solve his problems but he needed something to loosen him up today. He felt like he was going to explode and now, after half a fifth of vodka and a day in the sun, he feels like things might be coming together. Bad luck seems to follow him, but now, at least, it seems more tolerable. He can get through this.