Neil Roberts began to walk up to Summer's room. She could hear him. He had
the key to unlock the door. Summer held her breath. The door was being
unlocked. Click. It was open. Neil slammed the door open.
"Summer?" He asked, confused. He didn't know where she was. He thought she had run away, until he began to think logically. "Summer, I know you're in here. Come out." she inhaled and let more tears fall. Her father could hear them. The next thing Summer knew, her father pulled the closet door open. He stared at her with vicious eyes. "Get out of there." When she refused, he grabbed her arm and pulled. She was so tired. He yanked her right out and she hit her bed. She had never been more scared in her life. "Are you scared?" Her father asked, making Summer fell as though he could read her mind.
"N-no ." She answered through her tears.
"Well, you should be. Now get up." Summer followed orders and got up. Her father punched her by the eye and she slammed her head hard against the wall, then hitting the night stand, before finally falling to the floor. She didn't get up at first, but when she did, she bolted for the door. Summer pulled the door open, but her father was right there. Her wrist was in the doorway and her father closed the door on her wrist, crushing it. He reopened the door, and she fell back in agony. She screamed in pain and began to walk away. He grabbed her ankles ans twisted them so if she didn't want to be in pain, she would have to flip onto her stomach.
Neil Roberts dragged her and she begged him to stop. He didn't, and pulled her to the stairs. With her non-injured arm, she grabbed onto the banister with all her might. It stopped her father for a second, but she had barely any might left. With all his strength, he pulled her and she slammed her head on the stairs. She was out cold. When her father noticed she had stopped screaming, he finally stopped. He gently picked her up and laid her in her room.
Ryan stepped into Theresa's mom's house. He hadn't even been gone a week, but he already had an okay job. He was working at a construction site, and it seemed to be fine.
As much as he would deny it, he missed Newport. It had grown on him. He missed Sandy and Kirsten, Seth, Marissa, Summer, all of them. Sometimes he wished he hadn't left. But he knew he should be with Theresa. She needed him. Newport could wait.
Ryan wondered what everyone was doing. Were they okay? He hadn't head a single thing from any of them. It had only been six days; they would call at some point. But he did kinda feel bad. None of them wanted him to leave and neither did he. But it didn't matter what he wanted, he had to do this. He had to help Theresa. Ryan caused this, or at least might have. He still didn't know and wouldn't know until the baby was born. That was about another seven months.
He laid on the couch. He needed to take a nap. Ryan was exhausted. He went in early today and left late so he could get paid overtime. No matter what, he needed to help Theresa.
Just as he closed his eyes, Theresa walked in. She was about to say something, but saw Ryan was falling asleep so she shut her mouth and tiptoed through the living room. She set her stuff on the kitchen table and went to a cabinet to get a glass. She poured some water form the faucet and drank it. She was tired, but she had to make dinner. Her mother also worked, and Ryan was already fast asleep so that left Theresa to make the food. She thought about something easy and figured spaghetti was easy enough and they had the ingredients. She pulled out two pots, a colander, spaghetti sauce, meat and noodles. Theresa browned the meat, added sauce and boiled some water. She sat down for a bit as she waited for the water to boil. It was nice to be off her feet. So relaxing.
The water began to boil over the pot and Theresa added the noodles. She could hear her mother come in and go upstairs. Theresa sighed and sat back down. Soon, the pasta was ready and Theresa dumped it into the colander.
"Dinner's ready!" She yelled as Theresa got plates out and cups. She got herself more water and made a plate for Ryan as he walked into the kitchen. He still looked exhausted. Theresa would always feel bad when he would work so hard just to help her. The baby was due in seven months. He shouldn't be working and never sleeping; he should be enjoying his summer with the rest of his friends. But nevertheless, he took the plate and Theresa made her own plate and sat down. He mother came down soon, and they fell into the usual silent dinner.
Kirsten couldn't take it. She missed her sons too much. She was sick to her stomach in worry. Neither had called, and she couldn't call Seth. She didn't feel right calling Ryan, and Sandy was no help. He kept himself secluded and talked to himself. Something about Summer bugged Sandy, but he didn't tell Kirsten what. This severely irked Kirsten, but she wouldn't admit to it. Everything was falling apart and Kirsten couldn't keep it together. But she had to try, but even her best attempts weren't enough. At any point, she would burst into tears. Everything was too overwhelming. Kirsten sat in the kitchen, staring blackly at her laptop screen. She fell into one of her random sobs. Sandy walked in to find her bawling.
"You're gonna short circuit that computer if you keep crying." Sandy joked as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Thanks." Kirsten said through sobs.
"You gotta calm down."
"How can I?"
"I don't know, but you do. You need to."
"How can you be so calm?"
"Haven't the slightest clue. Say, when's your father and his..." He tried to find a fitting adjective, but couldn't. "bride coming home?"
"Tomorrow."
"Good."
"Sandy, you hate my father. What do you know?"
"I know nothing." Sandy answered as he went into the living room."
"Sandy, I know when you know something." Kirsten commented as she followed.
"Well, then you've that I know something."
"Sandy, what do you know?"
"Something that pertains to you that I can't tell you because it doesn't pertain to me."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Please tell me."
"No."
"Why not?
"I said before, it doesn't pertain to me."
"Then why can't you tell me?"
"Because I don't want to." He paused. "Well, I kinda do, but.."
"Why can't you?"
"Because I shouldn't be the one telling you."
"Then who is?"
"You'll find out sooner or later."
"Fine. So, what have you been doing? You keep disappearing and being very vague."
"Lawyer hunch."
"Oh God."
"It's a good one. At least I think."
"What is it?"
"I can't tell you."
"Fine." Kirsten gave up on Sandy telling her any answers whatsoever. She headed upstairs to their bedroom. She fell upon the bed and cried herself to sleep.
Marissa sat in her partially empty room. It was depressing. It made her want to cry. All the hard work Summer and Seth had put into this room was lost. She wouldn't be here most of the time, and she hated That. This room had finally become room-worthy. Summer's use of power tools and Seth's lack of understanding them could be seen in this room. Seth's artistic abilities was glorified by the beautiful Paris mural. A thousand photos wouldn't make it feel the same in the new hell house. Tomorrow, her mother would be back from her honeymoon, and then the hell would commence. She did not want to live at that new house.
Jimmy and Hailey were on the couch sleeping, after watching a cheesy romantic movie. Marissa snuck down, went into the refrigerator and produced a beer bottle. She closed the door softly and snuck back upstairs. Jimmy and Hailey didn't even stir. Marissa shut her door and leaned on the Paris mural. She dreamed she was drinking champagne at a little Paris café with Ryan.....
A knock at the door shook her out of her dream.
"Marissa? Can I come in?" Her father's voice came form the other side of the door. Marissa panicked.
"Just a minute!" She screamed as she hid the beer bottle behind her night stand. She jumped on the bed and tried to look relaxed. "Come in!" Her father walked in and looked around confused.
"What were you doing?"
"Just.....thinking."
"And I couldn't come in right away?"
"I had to make myself presentable." She attempted. Her dad still looked confused, but nonetheless, he sat down on the bed. Marissa moved next to him. "What do you need?"
"Well, I wanted to talk to you."
"Oh."
"Marissa, I know you're moving in with your mom..."
"I don't want to."
"I know you don't, and I don't want you to wither, but we gotta deal. But I want you to know that you always have a home here. No matter what. And you've always got a listener in me."
"Oh Dad!" Marissa hugged her father.
"I love you kiddo."
"I love you too."
Marissa sat at her lunch table the next day alone. Summer was absent today. Marissa was worried. Summer hadn't been in third period yesterday nor any of her classes except pre-calculus. She heard some kids talking about it in the hall. Something was wrong, and Summer didn't want to tell Marissa. And Marissa didn't think it was just Seth's disappearing act. Something was troubling Summer, but Marissa couldn't put her finger on it.
Today Marissa was headed to Hell. She had been dreading it all week. The last couple of days with her father went by so fast. And she had been Julie-free for almost a week. Six glorious days. Well, they were only good for that reason. Ryan was gone, Seth was missing, and Summer wouldn't open up. And Marissa had hoped Summer would come with her to visit Marissa. Marissa had been thinking about it since Wednesday, and it seemed brilliant. Of course, all ideas seem brilliant when first conceived.
Marissa looked around. She had never really felt this alone. No one here to talk to, nothing. Yearbooks were being distributed soon, and if Summer kept up her absence, Marissa would have no real friends to sign her yearbook. Sure, she would get all the fakes to sign it, but she loved reading the page long letters form her closest friends. Summer, Ryan....and Seth. Marissa knew Ryan would've probably written a "have a good summer" or whatever, or maybe just his name. Marissa remembered when you would sign yearbooks with your name, back in elementary school. Marissa would always have the most names, narrowly beating out Holly and Summer. Every end of the school year, Holly, Summer and Marissa would sit in one of their bedrooms and count up their signatures. Holly always lied so they each counted all the yearbooks. After a while, Holly had gotten so tired of lying, knowing she wouldn't get away with it, that she just gave up. The three girls continued their tradition all the way through end of last year. Marissa and Summer were not friends with Holly anymore. Not since the lying, underhanded, snobby bitch slept with Marissa's also lying selfish, shithead of a boyfriend. Marissa and Luke broke up, she began to date Ryan, and he slept with Marissa's mom. The lovely continuation to the fucked up soap opera that was Marissa Cooper's life.
Summer woke up very confused. She had no recollection of where she was, how she got there, and why her body was screaming in pain. Everything ached and she racked her brain for what happened. The answer hit her just as she remembered the answer hitting her. Her father. He was responsible. She thought about what happened, but everything was fuzzy. She could only remember bits and pieces. She looked out at the sunset. She had only lost a couple of hours. Or had she? There was nothing that would accurately tell her the date, except for the television. Summer turned it on and put on the Weather Channel, the only channel she could think of that put the date on the screen most of the time. It read Friday. Summer stared at in disbelief. How hard did her father hit her so that she lost two days?
She shut her eyes, and breathed. Summer could do this. She had to calm down. But her fear was so much, it was nauseous. She got up and stepped out of her room. So far, so good. She walked down the hall and stairs. She could hear voices in the kitchen. Not just any voices. The voices belonged to Homer and Bart Simpson. Summer followed the voices and found her step-mother and her brother eating at the breakfast table. Her step-mother looked from the television to Summer.
"Oh good, Summer. You're finally out of you room. You've been out for about two days."
"Sorry." Summer managed to say.
"It's fine. Come. Sit. We thought since your father isn't here, we would eat in here."
"Where is he?" Summer asked as she sat down. Her step-mother produced a plate of ;lasagna and gave it to Summer.
"Well, he was called out for business. At least, that's what he says. But he'll be gone for about a week."
"A week?"
"Yeah." Summer's heart leapt. Her father would be gone for a week. One whole fear-free week. Maybe she would tell Marissa. It might be safe. Finally safe.
"Where is he?"
"He didn't say. Just that it was business." Summer took a bite of the lasagna. Her head pounded with every chew.
Summer sat in her bedroom five days later. Everything had went on as normal, though it was almost two weeks without any news of Seth. He grew more on Summer's mind now, and she tried to study. Her last final was tomorrow, the last official day Friday. She dreaded the summer, more than ever. Not just Ryan, but Seth was gone. Plus, Marissa decided to pop the lovely news that she would be going on a week and a half vacation with her father starting the Sunday after school ended. That would leave Summer alone. And she was afraid of being alone. The one day she had even noticed a bruise on her brother's arm. She immediately knew it had been from her father.
The phone startled Summer as it began to ring. She fell out of her thoughts and reached to grab it. She begged it wasn't her father.
"Hello?" She answered. There was no return to her voice. "Hello?" She asked again, thinking the person hadn't heard her. But still, there was no reply. "Hello? Is anyone there?" Her first guess was a prank caller. It was probably some perverted ten year old kid. "Hello/" But even though she should have hung up, she didn't. Something was keeping her on the line. "Is anyone there?" She asked, begging the silence on the other side would break. But it did not. "I'm hanging up now. Good-bye." But the phone was already disconnected. The person, or perverted kid, had hung up. Peeved, she put the phone back in its cradle. Summer hated prank callers. There was really nothing funny about calling someone and making them talk to nothing. All it did was waste time.
Unfortunately, it hadn't been a prank caller. It had been Seth Cohen.
"Summer?" He asked, confused. He didn't know where she was. He thought she had run away, until he began to think logically. "Summer, I know you're in here. Come out." she inhaled and let more tears fall. Her father could hear them. The next thing Summer knew, her father pulled the closet door open. He stared at her with vicious eyes. "Get out of there." When she refused, he grabbed her arm and pulled. She was so tired. He yanked her right out and she hit her bed. She had never been more scared in her life. "Are you scared?" Her father asked, making Summer fell as though he could read her mind.
"N-no ." She answered through her tears.
"Well, you should be. Now get up." Summer followed orders and got up. Her father punched her by the eye and she slammed her head hard against the wall, then hitting the night stand, before finally falling to the floor. She didn't get up at first, but when she did, she bolted for the door. Summer pulled the door open, but her father was right there. Her wrist was in the doorway and her father closed the door on her wrist, crushing it. He reopened the door, and she fell back in agony. She screamed in pain and began to walk away. He grabbed her ankles ans twisted them so if she didn't want to be in pain, she would have to flip onto her stomach.
Neil Roberts dragged her and she begged him to stop. He didn't, and pulled her to the stairs. With her non-injured arm, she grabbed onto the banister with all her might. It stopped her father for a second, but she had barely any might left. With all his strength, he pulled her and she slammed her head on the stairs. She was out cold. When her father noticed she had stopped screaming, he finally stopped. He gently picked her up and laid her in her room.
Ryan stepped into Theresa's mom's house. He hadn't even been gone a week, but he already had an okay job. He was working at a construction site, and it seemed to be fine.
As much as he would deny it, he missed Newport. It had grown on him. He missed Sandy and Kirsten, Seth, Marissa, Summer, all of them. Sometimes he wished he hadn't left. But he knew he should be with Theresa. She needed him. Newport could wait.
Ryan wondered what everyone was doing. Were they okay? He hadn't head a single thing from any of them. It had only been six days; they would call at some point. But he did kinda feel bad. None of them wanted him to leave and neither did he. But it didn't matter what he wanted, he had to do this. He had to help Theresa. Ryan caused this, or at least might have. He still didn't know and wouldn't know until the baby was born. That was about another seven months.
He laid on the couch. He needed to take a nap. Ryan was exhausted. He went in early today and left late so he could get paid overtime. No matter what, he needed to help Theresa.
Just as he closed his eyes, Theresa walked in. She was about to say something, but saw Ryan was falling asleep so she shut her mouth and tiptoed through the living room. She set her stuff on the kitchen table and went to a cabinet to get a glass. She poured some water form the faucet and drank it. She was tired, but she had to make dinner. Her mother also worked, and Ryan was already fast asleep so that left Theresa to make the food. She thought about something easy and figured spaghetti was easy enough and they had the ingredients. She pulled out two pots, a colander, spaghetti sauce, meat and noodles. Theresa browned the meat, added sauce and boiled some water. She sat down for a bit as she waited for the water to boil. It was nice to be off her feet. So relaxing.
The water began to boil over the pot and Theresa added the noodles. She could hear her mother come in and go upstairs. Theresa sighed and sat back down. Soon, the pasta was ready and Theresa dumped it into the colander.
"Dinner's ready!" She yelled as Theresa got plates out and cups. She got herself more water and made a plate for Ryan as he walked into the kitchen. He still looked exhausted. Theresa would always feel bad when he would work so hard just to help her. The baby was due in seven months. He shouldn't be working and never sleeping; he should be enjoying his summer with the rest of his friends. But nevertheless, he took the plate and Theresa made her own plate and sat down. He mother came down soon, and they fell into the usual silent dinner.
Kirsten couldn't take it. She missed her sons too much. She was sick to her stomach in worry. Neither had called, and she couldn't call Seth. She didn't feel right calling Ryan, and Sandy was no help. He kept himself secluded and talked to himself. Something about Summer bugged Sandy, but he didn't tell Kirsten what. This severely irked Kirsten, but she wouldn't admit to it. Everything was falling apart and Kirsten couldn't keep it together. But she had to try, but even her best attempts weren't enough. At any point, she would burst into tears. Everything was too overwhelming. Kirsten sat in the kitchen, staring blackly at her laptop screen. She fell into one of her random sobs. Sandy walked in to find her bawling.
"You're gonna short circuit that computer if you keep crying." Sandy joked as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Thanks." Kirsten said through sobs.
"You gotta calm down."
"How can I?"
"I don't know, but you do. You need to."
"How can you be so calm?"
"Haven't the slightest clue. Say, when's your father and his..." He tried to find a fitting adjective, but couldn't. "bride coming home?"
"Tomorrow."
"Good."
"Sandy, you hate my father. What do you know?"
"I know nothing." Sandy answered as he went into the living room."
"Sandy, I know when you know something." Kirsten commented as she followed.
"Well, then you've that I know something."
"Sandy, what do you know?"
"Something that pertains to you that I can't tell you because it doesn't pertain to me."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Please tell me."
"No."
"Why not?
"I said before, it doesn't pertain to me."
"Then why can't you tell me?"
"Because I don't want to." He paused. "Well, I kinda do, but.."
"Why can't you?"
"Because I shouldn't be the one telling you."
"Then who is?"
"You'll find out sooner or later."
"Fine. So, what have you been doing? You keep disappearing and being very vague."
"Lawyer hunch."
"Oh God."
"It's a good one. At least I think."
"What is it?"
"I can't tell you."
"Fine." Kirsten gave up on Sandy telling her any answers whatsoever. She headed upstairs to their bedroom. She fell upon the bed and cried herself to sleep.
Marissa sat in her partially empty room. It was depressing. It made her want to cry. All the hard work Summer and Seth had put into this room was lost. She wouldn't be here most of the time, and she hated That. This room had finally become room-worthy. Summer's use of power tools and Seth's lack of understanding them could be seen in this room. Seth's artistic abilities was glorified by the beautiful Paris mural. A thousand photos wouldn't make it feel the same in the new hell house. Tomorrow, her mother would be back from her honeymoon, and then the hell would commence. She did not want to live at that new house.
Jimmy and Hailey were on the couch sleeping, after watching a cheesy romantic movie. Marissa snuck down, went into the refrigerator and produced a beer bottle. She closed the door softly and snuck back upstairs. Jimmy and Hailey didn't even stir. Marissa shut her door and leaned on the Paris mural. She dreamed she was drinking champagne at a little Paris café with Ryan.....
A knock at the door shook her out of her dream.
"Marissa? Can I come in?" Her father's voice came form the other side of the door. Marissa panicked.
"Just a minute!" She screamed as she hid the beer bottle behind her night stand. She jumped on the bed and tried to look relaxed. "Come in!" Her father walked in and looked around confused.
"What were you doing?"
"Just.....thinking."
"And I couldn't come in right away?"
"I had to make myself presentable." She attempted. Her dad still looked confused, but nonetheless, he sat down on the bed. Marissa moved next to him. "What do you need?"
"Well, I wanted to talk to you."
"Oh."
"Marissa, I know you're moving in with your mom..."
"I don't want to."
"I know you don't, and I don't want you to wither, but we gotta deal. But I want you to know that you always have a home here. No matter what. And you've always got a listener in me."
"Oh Dad!" Marissa hugged her father.
"I love you kiddo."
"I love you too."
Marissa sat at her lunch table the next day alone. Summer was absent today. Marissa was worried. Summer hadn't been in third period yesterday nor any of her classes except pre-calculus. She heard some kids talking about it in the hall. Something was wrong, and Summer didn't want to tell Marissa. And Marissa didn't think it was just Seth's disappearing act. Something was troubling Summer, but Marissa couldn't put her finger on it.
Today Marissa was headed to Hell. She had been dreading it all week. The last couple of days with her father went by so fast. And she had been Julie-free for almost a week. Six glorious days. Well, they were only good for that reason. Ryan was gone, Seth was missing, and Summer wouldn't open up. And Marissa had hoped Summer would come with her to visit Marissa. Marissa had been thinking about it since Wednesday, and it seemed brilliant. Of course, all ideas seem brilliant when first conceived.
Marissa looked around. She had never really felt this alone. No one here to talk to, nothing. Yearbooks were being distributed soon, and if Summer kept up her absence, Marissa would have no real friends to sign her yearbook. Sure, she would get all the fakes to sign it, but she loved reading the page long letters form her closest friends. Summer, Ryan....and Seth. Marissa knew Ryan would've probably written a "have a good summer" or whatever, or maybe just his name. Marissa remembered when you would sign yearbooks with your name, back in elementary school. Marissa would always have the most names, narrowly beating out Holly and Summer. Every end of the school year, Holly, Summer and Marissa would sit in one of their bedrooms and count up their signatures. Holly always lied so they each counted all the yearbooks. After a while, Holly had gotten so tired of lying, knowing she wouldn't get away with it, that she just gave up. The three girls continued their tradition all the way through end of last year. Marissa and Summer were not friends with Holly anymore. Not since the lying, underhanded, snobby bitch slept with Marissa's also lying selfish, shithead of a boyfriend. Marissa and Luke broke up, she began to date Ryan, and he slept with Marissa's mom. The lovely continuation to the fucked up soap opera that was Marissa Cooper's life.
Summer woke up very confused. She had no recollection of where she was, how she got there, and why her body was screaming in pain. Everything ached and she racked her brain for what happened. The answer hit her just as she remembered the answer hitting her. Her father. He was responsible. She thought about what happened, but everything was fuzzy. She could only remember bits and pieces. She looked out at the sunset. She had only lost a couple of hours. Or had she? There was nothing that would accurately tell her the date, except for the television. Summer turned it on and put on the Weather Channel, the only channel she could think of that put the date on the screen most of the time. It read Friday. Summer stared at in disbelief. How hard did her father hit her so that she lost two days?
She shut her eyes, and breathed. Summer could do this. She had to calm down. But her fear was so much, it was nauseous. She got up and stepped out of her room. So far, so good. She walked down the hall and stairs. She could hear voices in the kitchen. Not just any voices. The voices belonged to Homer and Bart Simpson. Summer followed the voices and found her step-mother and her brother eating at the breakfast table. Her step-mother looked from the television to Summer.
"Oh good, Summer. You're finally out of you room. You've been out for about two days."
"Sorry." Summer managed to say.
"It's fine. Come. Sit. We thought since your father isn't here, we would eat in here."
"Where is he?" Summer asked as she sat down. Her step-mother produced a plate of ;lasagna and gave it to Summer.
"Well, he was called out for business. At least, that's what he says. But he'll be gone for about a week."
"A week?"
"Yeah." Summer's heart leapt. Her father would be gone for a week. One whole fear-free week. Maybe she would tell Marissa. It might be safe. Finally safe.
"Where is he?"
"He didn't say. Just that it was business." Summer took a bite of the lasagna. Her head pounded with every chew.
Summer sat in her bedroom five days later. Everything had went on as normal, though it was almost two weeks without any news of Seth. He grew more on Summer's mind now, and she tried to study. Her last final was tomorrow, the last official day Friday. She dreaded the summer, more than ever. Not just Ryan, but Seth was gone. Plus, Marissa decided to pop the lovely news that she would be going on a week and a half vacation with her father starting the Sunday after school ended. That would leave Summer alone. And she was afraid of being alone. The one day she had even noticed a bruise on her brother's arm. She immediately knew it had been from her father.
The phone startled Summer as it began to ring. She fell out of her thoughts and reached to grab it. She begged it wasn't her father.
"Hello?" She answered. There was no return to her voice. "Hello?" She asked again, thinking the person hadn't heard her. But still, there was no reply. "Hello? Is anyone there?" Her first guess was a prank caller. It was probably some perverted ten year old kid. "Hello/" But even though she should have hung up, she didn't. Something was keeping her on the line. "Is anyone there?" She asked, begging the silence on the other side would break. But it did not. "I'm hanging up now. Good-bye." But the phone was already disconnected. The person, or perverted kid, had hung up. Peeved, she put the phone back in its cradle. Summer hated prank callers. There was really nothing funny about calling someone and making them talk to nothing. All it did was waste time.
Unfortunately, it hadn't been a prank caller. It had been Seth Cohen.