I do not own any of the original characters from the OC.

Chapter 10

Ryan and Marissa stood next to the car trying to decide what to do next.

Ryan: Gotta use the facilities... be right back

Alone for a moment, Marrisa dialed Summer again and this time she answered.

Summer: Coop! How are you? Where are you? I have been frantic.

It was good to hear her friend's voice.

Marissa: I'm ok, Summer. Can you get away and come over to my Dads?

Summer: It will be a bit before I can get away from Mom-Zilla but I'll get there as soon as I can.

As Ryan was approaching she was closing her phone. He looked at her questioningly?

Marissa: That was Summer. She's all hurt because I haven't seen her or spent any time with her. Would you mind if she and I hung out alone this afternoon?

Ryan: No, that would be fine. I have some things I need to take care of too, so that will work out great.

He drove her back to Jimmy's.

Ryan: Call me when you want me to come back over.

Marissa: What are you going to be doing?

Ryan: Nothing much... there are a couple of things I have neglected this last week. I need to straighten that out, otherwise I'm just going to hang out.

She studied his face for a moment then lightly kissed his lips.

Marissa: I'll call you.

Then she disappeared inside the door.

Emily's phone rang. It was Ryan. She continued with her shopping ignoring the phone. She didn't want to talk to him.

It had been a long time since she had gone shopping. She picked several items and disappeared into a fitting room. Her phone rang again and again it was Ryan. She turned it off.

She was walking down the street when she spied a curly mass of hair almost as distinctive as her own.

As if by telepathy Seth turned toward her, he looked surprised and very pleased.

Seth: Emily, wasup?

Emily: Just doing a little shopping.. what about you?

Seth: hiding...

Emily: hiding? From who or what?

Seth: from whatever or whoever is looking for me.

Emily: Oops, sorry I'll leave you alone

Seth: No.. no wait.. you would not be in the group you are referring to. In fact being found by you is the best thing that has happened to me all day.

She laughed and looked around.

Emily: Where's Summer?

Whispering conspiratorially Seth leaned toward her.

Seth: Now she would be in the group I was referring to. You haven't seen her have you?

Emily: Nope, I ran into Ryan and Marissa but no one else.

Seth: Could I possibly interest you in a tantalizing libation from the finest juice bar around?

Emily looked at Seth. Something about him made her want to protect him, like she would a child. There was such innocence about him.

Emily: Juice sounds great.... My treat

They found a table and sat down to enjoy their refreshments.

Emily: If you are mad at Summer because of what she said to me, don't be. It 's over with and it really wasn't a big deal.

Seth looked off into space for a time before he answered.

Seth: I don't know how I feel about Summer, it changes moment to moment, it's like one of those lights... clap on, clap off... today I'm off.

They talked about school and Seth filled her in on past scandals, who the good teachers were, juicy gossip.

Emily told him about her new job and invited him to come see her.

When it was time to leave Emily felt much better. She truly enjoyed Seth's company.

Seth: Hey, let's not be strangers, ok?

Emily: Definitely not.

They were saying good-bye when Ryan walked up.

Ryan: Hey guys

He looked at Emily.

Ryan: I have been trying to call you.

Emily pulled out her phone to check it.

Emily: oops, I have it turned off.

Ryan: I was calling to apologize...

Seth: Emily. Gotta blaze. Ryan.. see you at home

Emily: By Seth.. Later

Ryan: I'm sorry I haven't called or anything all week

Emily: Ryan, it doesn't matter. You have been worried about Marissa. How is she?

Ryan: Doing better. I really am sorry..

She raised her hand to silence him.

Emily: Forget it. It's probably for the best anyway. I have to go too. Maybe I'll see you around sometime.

She left Ryan standing there, wondering after her.

He called to her but she didn't turn.

Marissa opened the door and Summer lunged in hugging her close.

Summer: Coop, I have missed you. How have you been.. why didn't you call me?

Marissa smiled. Same old Summer, she realized how much she had missed her.

They made light conversation catching up on gossip and girl stuff. Finally Marissa got up and headed for her bedroom.

Marissa: I'll be right back.

Summer: "k"

In a moment Marissa as back and she dropped an envelope on the table in front of Summer.

Summer: What's this?

Marissa: Look at them

Summer removed the pictures from the envelope. One by one she checked them out... Ryan with Emily eating... Ryan with Emily on her motorcycle... Ryan with Emily at the beach wrapped in a blanket. They were all Ryan and Emily.

Summer: what the hell are these?

The phone rang. Summer waited for Marissa to answer it. It rang again and Marissa just looked at it.

Summer: Aren't you going to answer it?

Slowly Marissa picked up the receiver.

Voice: Well.. did you like the picture?

Marissa: Who are you? What do you want?

Summer looked at Marissa and saw the look on her face. Instantly she was at Marissa's side. Marissa pulled the phone away from her ear far enough for Summer to hear the conversation.

Voice: Don't you think your boy friend takes a good picture? By the way... look on your door... there are more.

A cold laugh came through the phone.

Marissa: Stop bothering me!

Marissa listened.. he had hung up.

Summer and Marissa looked at each other, the phone, the pictures and neither one spoke. Finally Summer broke the silence.

Summer: Coop, what is this all about?

Marissa went to the door. She hesitated for a moment, then pulled it open. Another envelope hung on the door. With trembling hands she pulled the envelope free and closed the door.

Tearing the envelope open, she found more pictures of Ryan with Emily. She recognized the shirt. He was wearing it this morning. He left her and went straight to find Emily! She couldn't believe it.

Slowly Marissa began to tell her friend what had been happening.

Summer was silent waiting for Marissa to finish. When Marissa fell silent, Summer spoke up.

Summer: So.. what are we going to do?

Marissa: I don't know..

Summer: Come on Coop.. think, we need a plan

Marissa continued to act odd for the rest of the weekend but Ryan figured it was her medicine. They had told them she might behave strangely until her dosage was regulated.

He and Jimmy took her back and he was surprised to see the relief in her face as they entered the clinic. Jimmy scooped her into his arms and held her tight.

Jimmy: Night sweetie. I love you.

She turned to Ryan. He held her then thoroughly kissed her waiting lips.

Ryan: Love you

Marissa: me you too.

Then she was inside the doors and the two men were alone.

Kirsten dropped the boys off at school on her way to work.

Seth: Isn't it wonderful to be back. I think they should cancel weekends so we could come here everyday. My god Ryan, look at the guy. His knuckles are only about 3 inches off the floor and you could braid the hair on them. Not to mention the slope of that forehead! I bet he is a star football player... what do you think?

As if on cue, the Neanderthal shouldered his way by Seth nearly knocking him to the ground.

Seth: Where do these animals come from?

Ryan chuckled and continued scanning the parking lot for Emily.

Finally he spotted her bike. She must already be inside.

Emily stood in front of her locker. Secured to the door was a blood red rose with a note attached.

A voice came from behind her.

Summer: Wow, somebody likes you!

Emily turned.

Emily: it is beautiful. One perfect red rose.

She took the rose and the note off the door. She wanted to open the note and see whom it was from but Summer stood beside her. She was afraid Ryan had done this as a peace offering and that was the last thing she wanted Marissa's best friend to know. Opening her locker she got her books out and put the rose and note in. She closed the locker and made sure it was locked.

Summer: You're not going to see who it's from?.. or do you already know?

Emily turner to Summer, her frustration evident.

Emily: Summer, what do you want?

Summer: I'm just trying to be friendly. I apologized for the way I acted to you and I would like for us to start over. A lot of things happened last year and I don't really have that many friends here and with Marissa gone I'm kinda at loose ends.

Summer met Emily's eyes and Emily thought she saw sincerity in them.

Emily: Now it's my turn to apologize. I had a bad weekend and I'm feeling grumpy.

Summer: I can understand.. maybe you'd feel better if you found out who sent you the flower.

Emily smiled

Emily: I'll look later.. I'm out of time.

She made her way to her class. She didn't look behind her and see Summer perusing her locker.

Summer: Damn! I wonder if that is from Ryan?

Giving up for the moment, she headed to her own class.

At lunch Emily got the note from her locker. Looking around to see if Summer was near she opened it.

There was no signature, only part of a poem:

The Rainbow comes and goes,
And lovely is the Rose,
The Moon doth with delight
Look round her when the heavens are bare,
Waters on a starry night
Are beautiful and fair;
The sunshine is a glorious birth;
But yet I know, where'er I go,
That there hath past away a glory from the earth.

Emily was completely confused... Who had sent this and why?

After the last bell she hurried to her locker. She didn't want to be late for her first day on the job. She was not surprised to see Summer waiting for her.

Summer: Hey

Emily: Hey

Summer: So did you open it yet?

Emily laughed...

Emily: I think you were more curious that I was. I opened it at lunch. It isn't signed. Only a poem.

Summer: You don't know who sent it?

Emily: No idea

Summer: Could I read it?

Reaching into her locker Emily brought out the note. She handed it to Summer.

Summer: Awesome... you have a secret admirer.

Emily snorted and turned to face her.

Emily: What I think is, someone got the wrong locker. I hardly know 10 people here and none would send me a flower.

Summer: Someone thinks you're hot. This is so romantic!

Emily: Look Summer, I gotta go to work. See ya later.

Summer: Work? Where you working?

Emily didn't hear Summer's question. She was already moving down the hall.

Ryan hung up the phone. He had left a message telling Marissa he wouldn't be there tonight. Since they spent the weekend together he thought maybe she wouldn't miss his visit too much, and he had to see Emily and make things right. He needed to make her understand how important she was to him. He knew she was hurt.. His feelings were a jumbled mess but he couldn't let her slip away, of that he was certain. He tried Emily's number several times but there was no answer. He decided to borrow the Rover and go to see her.

Emily was exuberant. Tonight she had taught a group of children and she loved it. After the class, Mark worked with her for a while then they spared for almost an hour. She was happy as she headed toward home.

She parked her bike in the front and went in the front door. She didn't bother with the lights.. the security light outside was so bright it lit the room.

Tossing her backpack in a chair she padded down the hall to her room. She pulled her shirt off and was heading to the bathroom when she heard a scraping sound from the dark area she had just left. She stopped and stood still, straining to hear any further sounds. What had actually been 1 minute had seemed like an hour. She was about to scold herself for being a ninny, when she heard a faint rubbing sound like something moving against the wall ... That was all she needed. She moved like lightening entering the bathroom and exiting into the bedroom on the other side. She moved as quiet as she could and headed out the bedroom and toward the closest exit, which was the front door. By the time she hit the door, she was running. She heard sounds behind her and she fumbled frantically with the lock.. finally it opened and she fell through the door and into a pair of outstretched arms. The scream that had been stuck in her throat suddenly broke free and she reacted purely on instinct, blocking the hands and striking out, knocking her assailant to the ground.

Ryan found himself on the ground with the wind knocked out of him. As he lay there gasping he looked up at Emily. He struggled trying to speak but he couldn't even breathe yet.

When her eyes adjusted she realized it was Ryan on the ground in front of her.

Emily: You a$$hole! What the hell were you trying to do? You scared the bejesus out of me! What were you doing in there?

Finally Ryan was able to draw air into his lungs and he sat up.

Ryan: What the hell is going on? What are you talking about?

Emily: Are you all right? Why were you in my house trying to scare me?

Ryan: In your house? I just got here and was about to ring the doorbell when you come screaming out the door and creamed me. Was there someone in there with you?

Emily looked at Ryan, then back at the house.

Emily: It wasn't you in there?

Ryan: That is what I just said. How could I be in there and out here at the same time? What happened?

She leaned against him and standing on the porch, in the circle of his arms, she told him what had happened. They went back into the house turning on all the lights and opening all the doors. They found nothing gone or out of place.

Ryan: I think we should call the police.

Emily: me too

Ryan: you know what else I think?

Emily: What?

Ryan: I think you better put a shirt on before they get here.

Looking down Emily realized she was just wearing her bra and jeans.

Emily: Did you just notice this?

Ryan chuckled

Ryan: No

The police came and went, asked endless questions and found nothing. They suggested she stay with friends or have someone stay with her.. told her they would put an extra car out a few times tonight, then they were gone.

Suddenly she began to shake and she collapsed to the floor, her knees too weak to hold here. Ryan was by her side holding her and rocking her gently until the shaking stopped.

Emily: How embarrassing...

Ryan chuckled

Ryan: hell I was just thinking what a tough guy you are.. can I feel your muscle?

They laughed and Ryan helped her to her feet.

Emily: What are you doing here anyway?

Ryan smoothed the hair from her face and looked into her eyes.

Ryan: I had to see you.. to make you understand

Emily: Understand what?

Ryan: You are important to me. I know I hurt your feelings. I just didn't think.. I was so wrapped

Emily: Sh-h-h Enough I do understand. You have been frantic about Marissa. Let's talk about this later. Go home and get some sleep. We both have school tomorrow

Ryan: Do you think I'm going to leave you here alone?

Emily: I can set the security system.. I'll be fine..

Ryan: NOT!

In the end they went to the Cohen's house to pick up Ryan some clothes and drop off the rover.

Summer saw Emily and Ryan arrive for school together. They stood at the entrance talking with their heads together, then separated and went their own ways.

On Emily's locker a white rose with a note waited and a white envelope address to: "Marissa Cooper" at her father address was dropped in a mail box and began making its way to her.

excerpt from the poem Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood by William Wordsworth