Chapter 8: The Dark Side That No One Cares To Notice
- - - - -
Marissa just stared at the smashed glass in her room while Julie was
organising another therapy get-together. She tried to figure out how it
could've happened. Some drunken teens burst into the house and used her
room? But that would mean practically the whole house would've been smashed
up. Maybe it was Holly and her friends looking for a neat place to crash?
Marissa doubted that idea as well. And then it hit her.
"OK Marissa, I've called the doctor, everything is going to be OK."
"But Mom, you don't understand, I didn't do this. Why would I do this for
you to find in the first place?"
"I'm sorry, but I just don't believe you. After everything that happened
last year, I find it hard to believe that you're telling the truth," she
replied as she walked away from her daughter.
Marissa walked into her room, treading on the shards of one of the bottles.
She started picking up the pieces and putting them in her bin, but gave up
soon after. It was too much. Everything in her life was falling out of
place again. She tip-toed to her bed and cleared it of a few bits of glass,
then lay on it, and then just broke down in tears. She rolled over to face
the window, and a small piece jammed in her back. She screamed in agony,
then rolled back to the other side. After picking up the small piece of
glass, she threw it at the window, and made a hole.
"Marissa Cooper!"
"Go away, Mom. I don't care anymore. It's like, no one has any hope in me
at all, and I can feel my life slowly slipping away and..."
"Look, hey! Come here," Julie quietly said to clam Marissa down. "I know
this last year has been difficult, but I still love you Marissa. I want to
help you, but I can't do that without your trust and cooperation?"
"No. You don't love me. You're just like the rest of them." Marissa backed
away from Julie, and ran out of the door in tears.
"Marissa! Dammit!"
- - - - -
"What's wrong, dude? You've been lying in that exact position all night?"
Ryan walked into the kitchen to see Seth still half-awake with his head on
the worktop. He lifted it up, with a comic stuck to his head. Ryan grabbed
it and pulled it off, while Seth wiped his eyes.
"I still can't believe it. I mean, I never thought she'd be that kind of
girl."
"What? This isn't anything to do with the... ahem... bedroom, is it?
Because I want no part of what happens between you and her there!" Ryan
laughed, and expected Seth to as well. But he just stared at him angrily.
"This isn't funny, man! While I was there last night... I found this
catalogue."
"Oh yeah, I hate when that happens."
"Shut up! Anyway, it was a jewellery one," he started.
"So? I mean, it can't be that much of a problem. It's only jewellery."
"OK, clearly you're in a very happy mood, so I'll cut to the chase. Summer
wants to get married."
And that shut Ryan up. He was gobsmacked by the news, and sat there with
his mouth open for a while.
"Wow, man. I mean, what are you gonna do?"
"That's the thing. If I say no, then she'll want to break up with me, I'm
sure of it! But if I say yes, well, that means..."
"Getting hitched."
"Exactly! Why do I have to be so devilishly handsome?"
"I dunno, you're not related to me." Ryan laughed again, this time followed
by a quick chuckle from Seth. While the two were having a joke, Sandy and
Kirsten walked in the room.
"What did I miss then, boys?"
"You wanna tell him or shall I?" Ryan whispered to Seth, who just shook his
head. "That thing with Oliver's been sorted! He was taken away a few nights
ago."
"Well that's great news! We should celebrate. Why don't we all go out for
dinner tonight? Jimmy can come along with Hailey, Ryan can bring Marissa,
Seth can bring Summer..."
"No, I don't like that plan," Seth interupted. "I mean, it isn't that big a
deal, right?" Ryan looked up, and he quite fancied the free meal. But
putting his best friend through that kind of torture was something he
couldn't do.
"I'd quite like it, we never eat out do we?" Summer would do it for him.
"It will be alright, Seth. Nothing big is going to happen. Just a night out
at the restaurant." He winked at Seth, who smirked at his expression.
"Great, so it's settled. I have to tell Julie. Oh well, seeya tonight boys.
Don't be late!"
"Wouldn't dream of it, dad," Seth faked with a forced smile. After Sandy
had left, he turned to face Ryan.
"You want to ring Summer, or shall I?"
- - - - -
It was midday, and Marissa had been trying to reach Summer to tell her
about that night. Ryan had decided that teasing Seth was a bit mean, so he
told Marissa about the dinner, and asked if she could ask Summer to come
along. But Marissa couldn't get through to her on her phone. Eventually,
she just hung up and left for Summer's house.
"Summer? You in?" Marissa rang the doorbell again, then lifted the
letterbox once more. "I know you're in there! What's wrong?"
Summer slowly opened the door, knee-high in tears and carrying a tissue.
She wiped her eyes, then swayed her arm, indicating Marissa to come in.
Marissa, however, instantly hugged Summer.
"Oh my God! What happened to you?"
"I've messed everything up, Coop. Seriously, Seth found out about it."
"Oh, come here," Marissa said, as Summer dropped her head on her shoulder
and let out the waterworks.
"It was horrible. And the worst part is he didn't even find out from me. It
was like he just found this magazine full of rings, and this one I'd
circled and..." Marissa started feeling rough. She knew that there was
practically no way Summer would go to dinner that night if Seth was going
to be there.
"Look, why don't we go upstairs and we'll, erm..." This was the first time
Marissa had seen Summer in such a mess. Her hair wasn't even brushed, her
clothes were nowhere near matching and she hadn't even applied any makeup.
"Fixed up, right? I mean, once you look better, you'll feel better?"
"To be honest, Coop. I just wanna go back and make sure none of this
happened. I feel like my heard has been ripped out and it's like, it wasn't
even supposed to happen, you know? I was just curious and everything. I
feel so stupid to think that Seth would want to..."
"C'mon, Sum. You have to snap out of this! He'll get over this, Seth's
crazy about you. You honestly think that Seth will be able to go on without
you?"
"He did a pretty good job since 5th grade, didn't he?"
"Yeah, but now he's had you. He won't let you go over a stupid fight like
this. Seth's just scared. You need to let him know that you weren't
serious, that you were just picturing you're perfect day." Summer stopped
crying for a while, and backed away from Marissa. She threw her tissue in a
bin, and sat in front of her big mirror. "You weren't serious, right?"
- - - - -
"Hey Seth, Ryan, hurry up!"
Seth and Ryan walked downstairs with dull looks on their faces as Jimmy
kept shouting them.
"You might wanna shout for someone else while you're at it," joked Seth.
"That means you too, Sandy!" Sandy came hopping down the stairs while
putting his tie on.
"I can't believe it, Sandy. For once, you're the one not ready."
"I'm ready, I'm just not on time!" Sandy finally adjusted his tie, and
straightened his jacket, then gave a thumbs-up to everyone. "Marissa and
Summer are..."
"Summer's here?" Seth said nervously. Just then, everyone turned at Seth in
shock.
"Yes, dear. Surprised?"
"Um... can I just go to the, erm... you know?" Seth pointedto the upstairs,
and Kirsten nodded. After Seth ran up the stairs, she walked outside with
everyone to meet Marissa and Summer. "Seth's just had to take a little
longer. He'll be down soon."
Summer nodded with a fake smile, before dragging Marissa over to the other
side of the drive.
"I knew this would happen, I knew it!"
"Hey, just relax. You have nothing to feel bad for! Just remember what we
talked about, and just tell him? OK?"
"How!? My boyfriend won't even talk to me!"
- - - - -
"C'mon, I wanna eat," moaned Ryan as he held Marissa's hand tightly.
"Yeah, what's taking him so long? He's been like 15 minutes!"
"I don't know, I'll check," confirmed Sandy, as he ran back into the house.
After clearing the stairs, he came up to the bathroom door and knocked on
it.
"Seth. Seth!" There was no reply. "I know you're in there, now would you
please tell me what's wrong?"
After getting no reply, he walked downstairs again and told Kirsten.
"So? What's wrong?"
"We think something is up. He said he just needed to go to the bathroom but
he hasn't replied. I'm gonna go up with Sandy, you kids wait here."
"We'll wait here too, you know? Keep an eye on everything," said Jimmy.
"No, I need to see him." Summer barged through Sandy and Kirsten and ran up
the stairs. Once she got to the bathroom door she banged on it hard.
"Look Seth, I didn't mean what I said. I don't want to yet! I was just
picturing the perfect day." Sandy and Kirsten got to the top of the stairs,
and saw Summer desperately hitting the door to get him out, so they decided
to stay on the stairs. "I was just dreaming of what it would be like, you
know? The biggest church in Newport, velvet carpet and dressings, roses
scattered on the floor. A stunning white dress with lace and everything,
you in the smartest suit money can be. I don't know, maybe I was in over my
head? Look Seth, the point is is that I don't want that now. I've had time
to think about it clearly, and I just realized that it isn't the right
time. What I'm trying to say is that i'm sorry. Seth?"
She banged the door again, in hope of a reply, then in desperation, fumbled
with the handle. She turned it and the door flew open to an empty room.
"Seth!?"
- - - - -
Marissa just stared at the smashed glass in her room while Julie was
organising another therapy get-together. She tried to figure out how it
could've happened. Some drunken teens burst into the house and used her
room? But that would mean practically the whole house would've been smashed
up. Maybe it was Holly and her friends looking for a neat place to crash?
Marissa doubted that idea as well. And then it hit her.
"OK Marissa, I've called the doctor, everything is going to be OK."
"But Mom, you don't understand, I didn't do this. Why would I do this for
you to find in the first place?"
"I'm sorry, but I just don't believe you. After everything that happened
last year, I find it hard to believe that you're telling the truth," she
replied as she walked away from her daughter.
Marissa walked into her room, treading on the shards of one of the bottles.
She started picking up the pieces and putting them in her bin, but gave up
soon after. It was too much. Everything in her life was falling out of
place again. She tip-toed to her bed and cleared it of a few bits of glass,
then lay on it, and then just broke down in tears. She rolled over to face
the window, and a small piece jammed in her back. She screamed in agony,
then rolled back to the other side. After picking up the small piece of
glass, she threw it at the window, and made a hole.
"Marissa Cooper!"
"Go away, Mom. I don't care anymore. It's like, no one has any hope in me
at all, and I can feel my life slowly slipping away and..."
"Look, hey! Come here," Julie quietly said to clam Marissa down. "I know
this last year has been difficult, but I still love you Marissa. I want to
help you, but I can't do that without your trust and cooperation?"
"No. You don't love me. You're just like the rest of them." Marissa backed
away from Julie, and ran out of the door in tears.
"Marissa! Dammit!"
- - - - -
"What's wrong, dude? You've been lying in that exact position all night?"
Ryan walked into the kitchen to see Seth still half-awake with his head on
the worktop. He lifted it up, with a comic stuck to his head. Ryan grabbed
it and pulled it off, while Seth wiped his eyes.
"I still can't believe it. I mean, I never thought she'd be that kind of
girl."
"What? This isn't anything to do with the... ahem... bedroom, is it?
Because I want no part of what happens between you and her there!" Ryan
laughed, and expected Seth to as well. But he just stared at him angrily.
"This isn't funny, man! While I was there last night... I found this
catalogue."
"Oh yeah, I hate when that happens."
"Shut up! Anyway, it was a jewellery one," he started.
"So? I mean, it can't be that much of a problem. It's only jewellery."
"OK, clearly you're in a very happy mood, so I'll cut to the chase. Summer
wants to get married."
And that shut Ryan up. He was gobsmacked by the news, and sat there with
his mouth open for a while.
"Wow, man. I mean, what are you gonna do?"
"That's the thing. If I say no, then she'll want to break up with me, I'm
sure of it! But if I say yes, well, that means..."
"Getting hitched."
"Exactly! Why do I have to be so devilishly handsome?"
"I dunno, you're not related to me." Ryan laughed again, this time followed
by a quick chuckle from Seth. While the two were having a joke, Sandy and
Kirsten walked in the room.
"What did I miss then, boys?"
"You wanna tell him or shall I?" Ryan whispered to Seth, who just shook his
head. "That thing with Oliver's been sorted! He was taken away a few nights
ago."
"Well that's great news! We should celebrate. Why don't we all go out for
dinner tonight? Jimmy can come along with Hailey, Ryan can bring Marissa,
Seth can bring Summer..."
"No, I don't like that plan," Seth interupted. "I mean, it isn't that big a
deal, right?" Ryan looked up, and he quite fancied the free meal. But
putting his best friend through that kind of torture was something he
couldn't do.
"I'd quite like it, we never eat out do we?" Summer would do it for him.
"It will be alright, Seth. Nothing big is going to happen. Just a night out
at the restaurant." He winked at Seth, who smirked at his expression.
"Great, so it's settled. I have to tell Julie. Oh well, seeya tonight boys.
Don't be late!"
"Wouldn't dream of it, dad," Seth faked with a forced smile. After Sandy
had left, he turned to face Ryan.
"You want to ring Summer, or shall I?"
- - - - -
It was midday, and Marissa had been trying to reach Summer to tell her
about that night. Ryan had decided that teasing Seth was a bit mean, so he
told Marissa about the dinner, and asked if she could ask Summer to come
along. But Marissa couldn't get through to her on her phone. Eventually,
she just hung up and left for Summer's house.
"Summer? You in?" Marissa rang the doorbell again, then lifted the
letterbox once more. "I know you're in there! What's wrong?"
Summer slowly opened the door, knee-high in tears and carrying a tissue.
She wiped her eyes, then swayed her arm, indicating Marissa to come in.
Marissa, however, instantly hugged Summer.
"Oh my God! What happened to you?"
"I've messed everything up, Coop. Seriously, Seth found out about it."
"Oh, come here," Marissa said, as Summer dropped her head on her shoulder
and let out the waterworks.
"It was horrible. And the worst part is he didn't even find out from me. It
was like he just found this magazine full of rings, and this one I'd
circled and..." Marissa started feeling rough. She knew that there was
practically no way Summer would go to dinner that night if Seth was going
to be there.
"Look, why don't we go upstairs and we'll, erm..." This was the first time
Marissa had seen Summer in such a mess. Her hair wasn't even brushed, her
clothes were nowhere near matching and she hadn't even applied any makeup.
"Fixed up, right? I mean, once you look better, you'll feel better?"
"To be honest, Coop. I just wanna go back and make sure none of this
happened. I feel like my heard has been ripped out and it's like, it wasn't
even supposed to happen, you know? I was just curious and everything. I
feel so stupid to think that Seth would want to..."
"C'mon, Sum. You have to snap out of this! He'll get over this, Seth's
crazy about you. You honestly think that Seth will be able to go on without
you?"
"He did a pretty good job since 5th grade, didn't he?"
"Yeah, but now he's had you. He won't let you go over a stupid fight like
this. Seth's just scared. You need to let him know that you weren't
serious, that you were just picturing you're perfect day." Summer stopped
crying for a while, and backed away from Marissa. She threw her tissue in a
bin, and sat in front of her big mirror. "You weren't serious, right?"
- - - - -
"Hey Seth, Ryan, hurry up!"
Seth and Ryan walked downstairs with dull looks on their faces as Jimmy
kept shouting them.
"You might wanna shout for someone else while you're at it," joked Seth.
"That means you too, Sandy!" Sandy came hopping down the stairs while
putting his tie on.
"I can't believe it, Sandy. For once, you're the one not ready."
"I'm ready, I'm just not on time!" Sandy finally adjusted his tie, and
straightened his jacket, then gave a thumbs-up to everyone. "Marissa and
Summer are..."
"Summer's here?" Seth said nervously. Just then, everyone turned at Seth in
shock.
"Yes, dear. Surprised?"
"Um... can I just go to the, erm... you know?" Seth pointedto the upstairs,
and Kirsten nodded. After Seth ran up the stairs, she walked outside with
everyone to meet Marissa and Summer. "Seth's just had to take a little
longer. He'll be down soon."
Summer nodded with a fake smile, before dragging Marissa over to the other
side of the drive.
"I knew this would happen, I knew it!"
"Hey, just relax. You have nothing to feel bad for! Just remember what we
talked about, and just tell him? OK?"
"How!? My boyfriend won't even talk to me!"
- - - - -
"C'mon, I wanna eat," moaned Ryan as he held Marissa's hand tightly.
"Yeah, what's taking him so long? He's been like 15 minutes!"
"I don't know, I'll check," confirmed Sandy, as he ran back into the house.
After clearing the stairs, he came up to the bathroom door and knocked on
it.
"Seth. Seth!" There was no reply. "I know you're in there, now would you
please tell me what's wrong?"
After getting no reply, he walked downstairs again and told Kirsten.
"So? What's wrong?"
"We think something is up. He said he just needed to go to the bathroom but
he hasn't replied. I'm gonna go up with Sandy, you kids wait here."
"We'll wait here too, you know? Keep an eye on everything," said Jimmy.
"No, I need to see him." Summer barged through Sandy and Kirsten and ran up
the stairs. Once she got to the bathroom door she banged on it hard.
"Look Seth, I didn't mean what I said. I don't want to yet! I was just
picturing the perfect day." Sandy and Kirsten got to the top of the stairs,
and saw Summer desperately hitting the door to get him out, so they decided
to stay on the stairs. "I was just dreaming of what it would be like, you
know? The biggest church in Newport, velvet carpet and dressings, roses
scattered on the floor. A stunning white dress with lace and everything,
you in the smartest suit money can be. I don't know, maybe I was in over my
head? Look Seth, the point is is that I don't want that now. I've had time
to think about it clearly, and I just realized that it isn't the right
time. What I'm trying to say is that i'm sorry. Seth?"
She banged the door again, in hope of a reply, then in desperation, fumbled
with the handle. She turned it and the door flew open to an empty room.
"Seth!?"