Chapter 10: "Can you Teach me to Believe in Something?"

Hey what's up? New chapter. LALALA I hope you like it. I was thinking, what would happen if the some of the characters of the OC were stranded on a island. That sounds fun! I may write a story about that. Long chapter. Read and Review!

~ Haley

~ ~ ~ ~ Four and a half months later

"Mr.Atwood, Mr.Atwood I asked you a question."

Ryans head snapped to attention as he realized that his history teacher was calling his name.

"Um, . Texas?" He answered uneasily.

"I think that you should step out of class for a moment." The teacher suggested

"I am fine really." Ryan stated rather unconvincingly

"There is someone that I want you to talk to."

Within the next five minutes Ryan found himself sitting in the guidance counselors office.

"I have heard from a lot of your teachers that you have been distracted in your classes lately."

Ryan shrugged

"Is there any reason for that?"

"Not really."

"So tell me a little about yourself." The counselor asked, looking a little too interested for Ryans comfort.

"There is not much to say."

*~

Marissa looked in the mirror, it was her day off. Liam and Jay still went into the diner. Being the managers they were always there. Marissa cherished the times when she could be alone. Long ago when she was in Newport being alone scared her. She wasn't sure what she would do when she was up to her own devices back then. Now these times were so rare she could not take them for granted if she tried.

Marissa looked down at her abdomen. She was now five months pregnant. Still only she knew. Because of her size you couldn't tell, it just looked like she gained more weight and got healthier. She felt like her pregnancy was a dirty little secret. She made it a point to never think of Luke. Ever. She was afraid such thoughts would provoke her to do something irrational, and she couldn't do that. She had to get better for her baby. Her hands drifted to her belly.

Marissas thoughts often drifted to Ryan, Seth, Dylan, and the rest of the Cohens. Where were they? What were they doing? Had Seth and Dylan hooked up yet? She couldn't stand not knowing. But truly, deep, deep, down in her heart she believed that they were better off without her.

Her stomach fluttered at the thought of Ryan. Or maybe it was the baby kicking. Marissa often wondered if it was a boy or a girl., what it would look like. how she wished Ryan would be there for the birth.

Marissas eyes drifted out to the window. Christmas had come and gone. The melting snow was glistening on the mountaintop. Marissa loved Pylema and all, being in Northern California, but not in the same was as Newport. In the winter she and her dad would always sit out on the beach and watch the waves. It was something that she shared only with him. Those times alone with her father she longed to have again.

The sudden twinge of pain in her wrist brought her back to reality. She lifted her shit sleeve and checked the bandages there. A spot of blood soaked through. She knew if that she scraped a vein it would be no big idea. She had in the past.

And so it went she stood looking out of the window, as she did on these alone days thinking about her life.

*~

Seth joined Ryan at lunch.

"Dude, I heard that they made you go see the Guidance Counselor."

"Yeah."

"What was up man?"

"It was no big deal." Ryan said shrugging it off and finishing off his milk.

"Well something is obviously up." Seth said

"Why do you say that?"

"Well for one all that you have done since Marissa left is mope around, and the final sign of a problem. you just drank the schools milk dude."

"It's jus-"

Right then Summer came up to them. (FYI: I have developed a soft spot for her since I saw how she reacted when Marissa OD in TJ, so she might become a larger part of this story)

"You guys seen Coop?" Summer asked her

"What's it to you?" Ryan asked

"Look, she hasn't been around for like months."

"And I repeat for Ryan what is it to you?" Seth said

"Look, I know I have been a really big bitch to her this year. But really she is my best friend and I am worried about her."

"Why now?"

"You know what, I don't have to explain myself to you. If you see her just tell her I am sorry. Honestly."

She walked away.

"What do you think that was about?" Ryan said

"Do you think that Satan has had a change of heart?" Seth said in disbelief of what had just happened.

Something was different about Summer, and both of them noticed.

Seth walked back to his Chem. class. It was just his luck that they had a substitute teacher. The students took the opportunity to sit next to whoever they wished. As always Seth was left alone. Until Summer came over that is.

"So what are you going for sainthood now?"

"You know what Cohen, can you just leave me alone, I really don't feel like dealing with this." Summer said somewhat sulking in her seat.

"Alright Summer, I bite, what's going on."

"Why should I tell you? All that you are going to do is criticize me."

"You came over here-"

"Fine." She lowered her voice. "We were at a party this weekend, and I heard Luke talking to some guys. They were trading tips for hooking up with girls, and, . Luke mentioned Marissa, and what. what he did to her."

"What exactly did he say?" Seth asked

"Just something about how he got her when she least expected it twice, and something about how it was a good thing that nobody heard her cry out because he would have gotten into trouble."

"We always told you he was a jerk."

"I just didn't think it would go this far. I mean, I knew that when they were going out it was more of Lukes idea to have sex and all. but. I mean I remember when we were 13 and Marissa came to my house in tears, and told me that she had slept with Luke. I we were thirteen, Luke was 14, so it surprised me a little yanno? But I never put it below Luke to pressure her to do something like that. Later I tried to talk to her about it and she acted like it didn't bother her anymore, and she liked it and was going to do it again so drop it." Summer shuddered at the memory. "I just never thought of it as rape yanno? Then they broke up, and afterwards he forced her into it, and god Seth, I just wish I had been there for her like I wasn't when we were little. And I wish I could have told her how much of a jerk Luke is, and how I want to rip out his balls and-"

"Summer." Seth cut her off warningly

"Rage problems."

"I know." He said with a smile

"When we were little, we were always a little off. but Marissa always seemed to be the most together of the three of us."

"Three?"

"Coop, Dylan, and me."

Just then Seth remembered. They had been friends when they were little. Dylan let him know that loud and clear with the cigarette story.

"Dylan Marlow."

"You remember her? I always wonder what happened to her." Summer said

"I guess you have been really out of the loop."

"What do you mean? Dylan is okay right?"

"Yeah. I see her everyday. She and Marissa started hanging out again like at the beginning of this year."

"I really need to talk to her."

"I'm not sure-"

"Cohen, this is important."

"Alright. Be at my house at six."

To be continued...............

Hehe, more soon!