Bittersweet Homecoming
Run
A/N: This song has the lyrics of Snow Patrol's Run. They're a great band; I suggest you check it out of you like alternative rock. Wow, am I plugging them in my own fanfic?
Some of you are wondering if this is a SethMarissa. I purposefully implied that shipping for two reasons: they are there because they were hurt by Ryan and I felt like I should explore the pair. Many stories are just R/M and S/S, eventually people will get sick of them.
I'm going to go into the future very soon.
But for now, this chapter will clarify everything.
"Can I go over there? I need to talk to you." The phone went dead.
A nervous knock came upon the tall door.
Seth opened it and looked around the area to make sure no one was watching.
Marissa scowled. "Have you joined the freakin' CIA?"
Seth looked at her curiously. "What?"
Marissa rolled her eyes and pushed her way inside. This was the house she knew so familiarly, where she spent most of her senior year.
Walking over to the kitchen, Seth followed her every move. Some times he wondered why he ever did it, why he ever had the notion, but then he remembered.
Marissa had already pulled out a bag of chips from the pantry. She settled down on the big comfortable leather chair he kept in front of the sleek TV.
Seth sat besides her, totally absorbed in thought.
Marissa grabs the TV remote and switched it on to a rerun of Friends. A commercial break came on and Marissa had a sudden thought. "Do you remember when we used to do this? We would just chill out in the house, watching Savannah. And we would do other stuff to . . ." Marissa squirmed uncomfortably. "But I didn't think it would . . ."
"Blow up in our faces?" Seth finished for her.
Marissa nodded. "Did we ever have actual love?"
Seth shrugged. "Remember, I came back from my sailing excursion and Summer wouldn't talk to me, that we would have like little bonding sessions over Ryan leaving?"
Marissa laughed slightly. "We would talk a lot and say how much Ryan changed her lives. But when he came back . . . Everything was in such a chaos. I started drinking more and more, and Ryan couldn't take it. He wouldn't even look at me. And he started sleeping . . . he just started to sleep around with all these random girls."
Seth laid a reassuring hand on Marissa's shoulder. "You know it was just to spite you. In his eyes, you were turning into his mother. You were a wreck, he just needed to fill a void."
Marissa's eyes started to water. "I never meant to break you and Summer up. Really I didn't."
FLASHBACK
"Sethie!" Marissa shouted as she entered the Cohen's main house though the kitchen door. She tripped on the doorledge and Seth caught her.
Marissa was clearly drunk, the smell of alcohol lingered from her body. She was disoriented and she was stumbling on her feet.
Seth tried to help her up, set her on her feet, but she couldn't stay up on her own. "Marissa," Seth stated unsurely. "What are you doing here?"
Marissa laughed a bit too long. "I don't know, I decided to check up on Ryan."
Seth knew that it was just covering up the fact that Ryan had pushed her to the curb again. "Marissa you need to go home."
Marissa didn't seem to hear Seth's pleads. "I can't believe Summer is pregnant. I mean you guys must be freaked."
Seth was actually ecstatic that Summer was pregnant. She was in her 6th month and he couldn't be happier. In fifth grade he dreamed that Summer would be his wife and they would have a family. So what if the plan was six years early. A dream was a dream, and it was amazing when you conquered it.
"I always thought you were cute." Marissa whispered in Seth's ear.
"What?!?" Seth exclaimed. Was she over the top drunk?
"Some times I think that you're really hot and I just want to like jump you. But then I remember you're with Summer." Marissa continued whispering.
Seth didn't know why it had suddenly turned into confession time, but he decided to add something anyways. "I stole gum from the supermarket when I was nine."
Marissa giggled. "That's why I think you're so hot." Marissa pressed her lips against Seth's.
Seth was stunned. "Um, Marissa?" Seth asked, but Marissa just slid her tongue in his mouth.
"Cohen! What the fuck are you doing?" Summer screamed as she walked through the door Marissa had just previously entered from.
Seth pushed Marissa off of him. "Summer. Please. This isn't what it looks like at all. I know that is so cliché, but it's true." Seth rambled with urgency.
Summer's face had no emotion. "I can't believe you would do this to me."
END OF FLASHBACK
Marissa started to cry. "I hate myself for doing it Seth. I ruined the lives of everyone around me. You, Summer, and Ryan. You guys couldn't even look at me."
"It's in the past, Maris. There's nothing we can do, no damage to fix." Seth changed the subject. "What did you come here for?"
"We need to end whatever we have going on." Marissa said.
I'll sing it one last time for you
Then we really have to go
You've been the only thing that's right
In all I've done
Seth stared at her, head slowly nodding.
"I'll never forget you. Ever." Marissa whispered. She kissed Seth on the lips.
And I can barely look at you
But every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere
Away from here
After they were done, they stood awkwardly on their feet.
Light up, Light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear
Louder, louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say
"So this is it, right? This is the end."
"Yea."
They both took a deep breath letting all the words sink in.
To think I might not see those eyes
It makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbyes
I nearly do.
Seth laughed a little to lessen the thickening tension in the room. The TV was blaring some music and commentary, but neither paid attention. The volume seemed to be turned down. Like everything else. "You'll always a have a piece of my heart, Seth. Always. I'll never ever forget you." "Me either. . ." Marissa and Seth stood there awkwardly for a few moments still. Seth gingerly reached over to take Marissa's hand. He clasped her small one in his larger palm. They shook their hands.
Have heart my dear
We're bound to be afraid
Even if it's just for a few days
Making up for all this mess.
They walked to the door. Over the green running carpet with the silly floral designs on it that reached the door. Marissa took the gold handle and wrenched it, swinging the door open. All of a sudden Marissa felt so lonely. She looked one last time at the house she had come to know and love. And the person she had come to know and love. "Bye." She whispered before briskly walking to her car. The engine started and the glow of the white fluorescent light bathed the surrounding area. The sun was starting to set and the sky was a pink color with purple, and it melded into the perfect blue of the oceans.
Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear.
"Bye." Seth whispered to the disappearing car.