Author's Note: I feel so bad for doing that to Theresa. But things will work out, no worries. Love you dearly for the reviews, please keep em coming. Your feedback really helps. Sorry it took so long to update. Oh and in case you didn't know, I don't own the characters (except Damon & Jameson) or The O.C.
XXX
Summer threw her cell phone across the room in frustration. For the past half hour she had been frantically calling anyone in New York who Marissa would go see, anyone in Newport who she might have called and of course, any emo-geek named Seth Cohen. No one in New York knew where she was. Marissa had yet to call anyone in Newport. And Seth? Seth was missing. His cell phone was off, no one was home and his father didn't even know where he was.
It had been two hours since she returned to the hotel room, only to find Marissa gone. The last time Summer entered a hotel (actually, motel) room to find Marissa gone, the taller blonde ended up almost dead in a dirty alley. But at least now it was morning and Marissa didn't have access to any dangerous pain medications.
"Phew! This time Coop doesn't have killer drugs." Summer thought.
Then she remembered the white powder she had seen on the sink. Her stomach began to dance and suddenly, she had the urge to throw up.
XXX
Sometime as they flew over the Midwest, Seth had decided to announce that he was only on the plane until it reached New York. Yet again, he explained to both Ryan and his mother that his heart belonged to Summer, that the sun rose and fell in her eyes only, that without her coffee sent him to sleep and Jay Leno wasn't funny- that until the moment he saw her again and they rekindled their relationship, he would be in agony.
Kirsten wasn't quite sure what to make of Seth's announcement. She had always known of his fondness for Summer and ever since Passover, she had a new respect for the girl. Still, the notion of leaving her son alone in a city like New York was frightening for her. She slept what seemed like a total of three hours the whole time he was in Ecuador. When he returned, she promised herself she would never lose her son again. Not like that.
It was Ryan who, despite having 98% of his thoughts focused on Theresa and her condition, managed to convince Kirsten that Seth would be just fine in New York. The mother still had her doubts, but obviously the two on one fight couldn't be won.
They all sat silently on the plane for the rest of the flight.
Once the plane touched the earth of New York, Seth was bouncing and smiling from ear to ear. He was finally going to see Summer. She would be his girlfriend again. Ryan was home. Life would be perfect.
XXX
"Okay now sweetie, do you know where to reach them? I just called the Hyatt and you're going to be staying there for the next night or so until I come back. Do you have everything? Are you hungry? You have your ATM card, right? How about a sweater? Did you bring one? It might get cold at night. Don't forget to call every-"
"Mom. Chill." Seth cut off his mom's endless list of questions. She was obviously frightened and worried that her little boy was going to be in the Big City without her. He was obviously annoyed with her overprotective panic. Kirsten lifted a hand to pat Seth's hair, and grudgingly he allowed her to. At that particular instant he would have jumped through a flaming hoop so long as he would be able to stay in New York with Summer afterwards. She hugged him yet again, but this one would be the last. Kirsten and Ryan needed to get on the connecting flight to Atlanta. She breathed in her son's cologne and placed a delicate kiss on his cheek, but did not say anything else, so as not to embarrass him.
Seth hugged his mom and assured her that he would be okay. Then he turned to Ryan.
"Hey man, you can come with me if you want." Seth offered yet again. He secretly hoped that Ryan would agree and the two would have a guys trip. But it was easy to see in Ryan's eyes that he was still worried and frightened for Theresa, her safety and health. Ryan gave his brother his classic half-smile and shook his head.
"I, uh, have to get to Atlanta. Maybe afterwards." Ryan gave Seth some hope of the guys' trip after all. Then, after and awkward handshake, Seth turned to leave the airport and Ryan turned to get on another plane.
XXX
Theresa lay still on her hospital bed. The doctor's told her that her condition was improving at a fast rate and soon she would be able to leave. They didn't tell her how lucky she was to be able to breathe and talk and walk normally after the vicious attack she suffered. No, the luck was something she figured out on her own. She knew what could happen if someone was angry enough, especially if that someone had a powerful kick of punch.
When she turned 14, Theresa finally began to bloom. The last of her puppy fat melted off of her face, revealing her strong cheekbones and exposing her exotic eyes. She had been wearing a bra for a few years, but her breasts became noticeable once her waist tapered down and her legs lengthened. It was because of the changes at that time that guys began to notice her more and more.
Of course, Ryan was the first to express that physically. But soon, Trey and Arturo's whole gang spent more time with her. Especially this one kid, Jameson. He was a basketball player with beautiful green eyes and coffee colored hair. He seemed nice enough, Theresa's mom even warmed up to him. But that one night changed everyone's perspective of him. That one night banished him from Chino forever.
He came to Theresa's house on the pretense of hanging out with Arturo, although it was common knowledge that Arturo would be out that night. Theresa, reveling in the attention that he gave her, invited Jameson in to have a Coke and watch TV. In a matter of minutes, he was forcing his tongue into her mouth and sloppily attempting to remove her shirt. Screams attempted to flee her mouth, but he silenced her voice with his mouth. Fear started to mount in Theresa, his hands large, rough and strong, were roaming all over her body. The soft fabric of her shirt was torn as he attempted to see and feel her breasts. Once his mouth left hers, she screamed as loud as she could.
And to her embarrassment it was Ryan who climbed skillfully into her window and pulled the bastard off her. As Theresa frantically sobbed, Ryan pinned Jameson to the floor. Sitting on the taller boy's abdomen, Ryan slammed his solid fist into Jameson's face over and over again. Finally getting to his feet, Ryan stood above the body of the boy. Ryan's fist was stained with blood, but he didn't notice. Standing over Jameson, Ryan shoved his foot into the boy's stomach. With all his abilities as a striker, he kicked Jameson until Theresa shielded the boy's body with her own.
There was nothing but pure rage on Ryan's face. It was that emotion that took over the initial fear he felt upon hearing Theresa scream. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the tall friend of his brother's groping at his best friend. Shock was his initial reaction, but only for a split second before the animalistic rage took over. And it didn't stop. It wouldn't stop. He wanted that boy dead.
Theresa shook her head, and just like an Etch-A-Sketch, the image faded from her mind. It was a reminder of what pain looked like, and she became more aware of what the scene was like when she lay on the floor helpless and afraid. Sitting in the hospital room, she was afraid. Afraid that this what her life was all about. Pain.
Her thoughts were interrupted though by a soft knocking on her door.
"Theresa?" the nurse's voice called out. "You have visitors."
She opened her mouth to reply, but before she could another voice called to her.
"Theresa? It's me." The doorknob twisted, the door creaked open slowly.
It was Ryan.
XXX
Summer threw her cell phone across the room in frustration. For the past half hour she had been frantically calling anyone in New York who Marissa would go see, anyone in Newport who she might have called and of course, any emo-geek named Seth Cohen. No one in New York knew where she was. Marissa had yet to call anyone in Newport. And Seth? Seth was missing. His cell phone was off, no one was home and his father didn't even know where he was.
It had been two hours since she returned to the hotel room, only to find Marissa gone. The last time Summer entered a hotel (actually, motel) room to find Marissa gone, the taller blonde ended up almost dead in a dirty alley. But at least now it was morning and Marissa didn't have access to any dangerous pain medications.
"Phew! This time Coop doesn't have killer drugs." Summer thought.
Then she remembered the white powder she had seen on the sink. Her stomach began to dance and suddenly, she had the urge to throw up.
XXX
Sometime as they flew over the Midwest, Seth had decided to announce that he was only on the plane until it reached New York. Yet again, he explained to both Ryan and his mother that his heart belonged to Summer, that the sun rose and fell in her eyes only, that without her coffee sent him to sleep and Jay Leno wasn't funny- that until the moment he saw her again and they rekindled their relationship, he would be in agony.
Kirsten wasn't quite sure what to make of Seth's announcement. She had always known of his fondness for Summer and ever since Passover, she had a new respect for the girl. Still, the notion of leaving her son alone in a city like New York was frightening for her. She slept what seemed like a total of three hours the whole time he was in Ecuador. When he returned, she promised herself she would never lose her son again. Not like that.
It was Ryan who, despite having 98% of his thoughts focused on Theresa and her condition, managed to convince Kirsten that Seth would be just fine in New York. The mother still had her doubts, but obviously the two on one fight couldn't be won.
They all sat silently on the plane for the rest of the flight.
Once the plane touched the earth of New York, Seth was bouncing and smiling from ear to ear. He was finally going to see Summer. She would be his girlfriend again. Ryan was home. Life would be perfect.
XXX
"Okay now sweetie, do you know where to reach them? I just called the Hyatt and you're going to be staying there for the next night or so until I come back. Do you have everything? Are you hungry? You have your ATM card, right? How about a sweater? Did you bring one? It might get cold at night. Don't forget to call every-"
"Mom. Chill." Seth cut off his mom's endless list of questions. She was obviously frightened and worried that her little boy was going to be in the Big City without her. He was obviously annoyed with her overprotective panic. Kirsten lifted a hand to pat Seth's hair, and grudgingly he allowed her to. At that particular instant he would have jumped through a flaming hoop so long as he would be able to stay in New York with Summer afterwards. She hugged him yet again, but this one would be the last. Kirsten and Ryan needed to get on the connecting flight to Atlanta. She breathed in her son's cologne and placed a delicate kiss on his cheek, but did not say anything else, so as not to embarrass him.
Seth hugged his mom and assured her that he would be okay. Then he turned to Ryan.
"Hey man, you can come with me if you want." Seth offered yet again. He secretly hoped that Ryan would agree and the two would have a guys trip. But it was easy to see in Ryan's eyes that he was still worried and frightened for Theresa, her safety and health. Ryan gave his brother his classic half-smile and shook his head.
"I, uh, have to get to Atlanta. Maybe afterwards." Ryan gave Seth some hope of the guys' trip after all. Then, after and awkward handshake, Seth turned to leave the airport and Ryan turned to get on another plane.
XXX
Theresa lay still on her hospital bed. The doctor's told her that her condition was improving at a fast rate and soon she would be able to leave. They didn't tell her how lucky she was to be able to breathe and talk and walk normally after the vicious attack she suffered. No, the luck was something she figured out on her own. She knew what could happen if someone was angry enough, especially if that someone had a powerful kick of punch.
When she turned 14, Theresa finally began to bloom. The last of her puppy fat melted off of her face, revealing her strong cheekbones and exposing her exotic eyes. She had been wearing a bra for a few years, but her breasts became noticeable once her waist tapered down and her legs lengthened. It was because of the changes at that time that guys began to notice her more and more.
Of course, Ryan was the first to express that physically. But soon, Trey and Arturo's whole gang spent more time with her. Especially this one kid, Jameson. He was a basketball player with beautiful green eyes and coffee colored hair. He seemed nice enough, Theresa's mom even warmed up to him. But that one night changed everyone's perspective of him. That one night banished him from Chino forever.
He came to Theresa's house on the pretense of hanging out with Arturo, although it was common knowledge that Arturo would be out that night. Theresa, reveling in the attention that he gave her, invited Jameson in to have a Coke and watch TV. In a matter of minutes, he was forcing his tongue into her mouth and sloppily attempting to remove her shirt. Screams attempted to flee her mouth, but he silenced her voice with his mouth. Fear started to mount in Theresa, his hands large, rough and strong, were roaming all over her body. The soft fabric of her shirt was torn as he attempted to see and feel her breasts. Once his mouth left hers, she screamed as loud as she could.
And to her embarrassment it was Ryan who climbed skillfully into her window and pulled the bastard off her. As Theresa frantically sobbed, Ryan pinned Jameson to the floor. Sitting on the taller boy's abdomen, Ryan slammed his solid fist into Jameson's face over and over again. Finally getting to his feet, Ryan stood above the body of the boy. Ryan's fist was stained with blood, but he didn't notice. Standing over Jameson, Ryan shoved his foot into the boy's stomach. With all his abilities as a striker, he kicked Jameson until Theresa shielded the boy's body with her own.
There was nothing but pure rage on Ryan's face. It was that emotion that took over the initial fear he felt upon hearing Theresa scream. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the tall friend of his brother's groping at his best friend. Shock was his initial reaction, but only for a split second before the animalistic rage took over. And it didn't stop. It wouldn't stop. He wanted that boy dead.
Theresa shook her head, and just like an Etch-A-Sketch, the image faded from her mind. It was a reminder of what pain looked like, and she became more aware of what the scene was like when she lay on the floor helpless and afraid. Sitting in the hospital room, she was afraid. Afraid that this what her life was all about. Pain.
Her thoughts were interrupted though by a soft knocking on her door.
"Theresa?" the nurse's voice called out. "You have visitors."
She opened her mouth to reply, but before she could another voice called to her.
"Theresa? It's me." The doorknob twisted, the door creaked open slowly.
It was Ryan.