Marissa lay half awake on her bed, her long, dirty blonde hair spread around her face, her enormous blue eyes half closed. She rolled over sleepily and groaned as the shrill phone ring reached her ears.

"Ugh," Marissa sighed. She flipped herself over to face the answering machine and put a pillow over her head. "Stop ringing!" Stupid hangover. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Stop ringing, phone! You're giving me a migraine!

Finally the ringing stopped and Marissa heard her mother's voice on the answering machine. "Marissa, it's me, Mom. I don't know why you're not picking up. I'll be home in half an hour, and I expect the things I asked you to do to be done. I'm bringing some ice cream so we can celebrate Mother's Day together! I love you! Bye."

Marissa's eyes snapped open and she lifted her head up, the pillow sliding off her silky hair. "Mother's Day?" she whispered. "Shit! What the hell was I supposed to do for her?" A sheet of yellow paper pinned to her wall caught her eye. It was labeled To-DI List, and below it her mother had scribbled out a long list of chores. Marissa closed her eyes and swore loudly.

She finally pulled herself out of bed and slipped on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. Not wanting to be home when her mother walked in and found the house a complete disaster, Marissa decided to go for a drive. Maybe stop at the 7-11 and get herself a coffee to sober herself up, and grab some chocolates and a card for Julie.

She should've realized that maybe she wasn't awake enough to go out when she put her shoes on the wrong feet three tries in a row. Marissa walked out to her car and slid in. Inserting the key, she pulled herself out of parking mode and pressed down on the brakes. The car lurched forward, and Marissa pressed down on the brakes an inch from the garage door. She backed out of the driveway slowly and carefully, then took off down the wet, dark road.

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The Cohen family sat peacefully around their designer table, quietly munching down turkey and mashed potatoes. Kirsten Cohen wasn't very happy this Mother's Day. Seth had completely forgotten, then run out and bought her a bouquet of flowers when her husband had reminded him. Sandy had given her a box of chocolates, forgetting she was on a strict no-chocolate diet. Oops. Couldn't return that gift. Meaning he scarffed down the entire box himself, in front of her. And the number on husband award goes to...?

Seth twiddled his thumbs as he eyed his work of art. A mash potatoes Superman. He could make a new art form: Food Sculpting. It was brilliant, no matter how many people told him he was childish in playing with his food. Ryan probably would've made fun of him. Oh well. If it weren't for Ryan leaving he wouldn't be molding potatoes, would he?

The sound of the doorbell made the three Cohens jump. Sandy, Seth, and Kirsten all pushed out their chairs at the same time, eager to escape the awkward dinner table. It was a race to the door- Sandy started off in first, his legs barely touching the floor as he sprinted down the hallway. Kirsten was close in second, holding down her shirt so it didn't go flying up in front of her son. As the neared the door, Seth pushed ahead, knocking his father's arm out of the way and grasping the brass doorknob tightly. He yanked the door open anxiously, his jaw dropping when he saw who was there.

Ryan.

Surprise.

"Hey guys," Ryan said slowly. "Happy Mother's Day, Kir-Mrs. Cohen.

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Marissa stood inside the 7-11, browsing through possible card for her mom. She gulped her Iced Latte down, hoping to get herself a bit more alert by the time she got home. At least then she could think up a good excuse for why she didn't do her chores.

Finally grabbing a small card with a big red heart on it, Marissa stumbled to the cash register. She placed down her things and waited for the price, when she noticed the guy in the corner eyeing her. He was kind of cute. A red visor with blue jeans and a white tee. She smiled at him, then handed her money to the cashier and walked out.

Marissa walked to the parking section behind the store and stopped. She couldn't tell which car was hers. There were two black ones parked right in beside each other. Whoa, she thought. Just guess.

Slowly, she walked up to the car on the left and tried to stick her key in the lock. The first time it didn't' fit, but just to be sure, she jammed it in again. OK, that was the wrong one.

"Trying to break into my car?"

Marissa whirled around to see the guy she was inside standing a few feet away from her.

She blushed and muttered, "Sorry, I got a bit confused."

The guy laughed and walked closer to her. "It's alright. My name's Mike, by the way. And you are...?" He grinned at her an adorable grin and winked.

Marissa's heart began to beat loudly. Geeze, he was stunning. Absolutely adorable. "I'm Marissa," she said sweetly. "Well, I've got to get going. Mother's Day, ya know. Maybe I'll see you around."

She began to turn away, when suddenly she felt a hand on her arm. Mike was smiling at her in a sick kind of way. Marissa tried to yak her arm away, put his grip tightened.

"What the-"

She was suddenly up against the brick wall. Mike pinned her down, and as hard as she tried to fight him off, he wouldn't let go.

"Stop it! Stop!" Marissa yelled, squirming and twisting her body, trying her hardest to free herself.

And then she felt it. A cold, metal blade against her neck. Marissa stopped moving and shut her mouth, breathing in heavily.

Mike smiled at her again. "You gunna scream?" he whispered. Marisa shook her head quickly, tears beginning to stream down her face.

For the rest of it she stayed still, taking in deep huffs as more tears welled in her eyes. When it was finally over 10 minutes later, Mike pushed her to the ground. Kicked her hard in the stomach. Then zipped up his jeans and spit on her. He reached into her bag and grabbed the chocolate rose she had bought for her mother.

"Thanks. I'm pretty hungry."

And then he got into his car and drove away. When the girl was finally sure he had gone, she shakily got to her feet and pulled back on her shirt. Then she brought her skirt down and slipped into her shoes. Marissa stumbled into her Iced Latte and shivered as it spilled all over her foot, making his toes wet and sticky, smelling broadly of French Vanilla.

Marissa drove home in silence. She pulled up into the driveway, climbed out of the car, and walked into the house. Julie rushed over to her, her cat eyes blazing.

"Where the hell were you, Marissa? I was so scared! And you didn't do the chores!" Julie crossed her arms angrily and glared at her daughter. Marissa reached into her bag and handed the card to her mother, averting her beautiful ocean eyes.

"Here," she said softly. "I-I dropped the chocolates. I'll buy you some more tomorrow. 'Night." And she slumped up the steps into her room.

Once Marissa was safe inside, the door locked tightly, she sat down across from her mirror and stared at her reflection. Her hair was tangled, her giant eyes red and swollen.

There was a cut on her lip and a small bruise on her arm. She loathed everything she'd become. An alcoholic, drug-addicted, friendless, ugly bitch.

And you just were-

"No I wasn't!" Marissa said to herself. "I wasn't. I wasn't."

She repeated the words to herself, trying to make them true. But it didn't help. Throwing her head into her arms, Marissa sobbed uncontrollably until, an hour later, she fell into a deep, nightmare filled sleep.