I do not own any of the original characters from the OC.
Ryan found Seth and told him what had happened.
Ryan: I have to go see Marissa tonight. Could you stay with Emily till I get here?
Seth: Bro, you make it sound like a major sacrifice to hang out with a total hottie for the evening.. oh the pain!
Ryan: Thanks man .. be careful
Seth: Not to be a wet blanket but what exactly do you plan on doing?
Ryan: I'm not sure.. when I figure it out I'll let you know. Emily has just about convinced herself it was all just her imagination.
Seth: What do you think?
Ryan handed Seth the helmet, shrugged his shoulders and was gone.
&&&&&&&&
"White this time", she mused. Emily smelled the heady rose perfume. She held the note in her hand, turning the envelope over, inspecting each side. She tore it open and pulled out the note.
What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass,
of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind;
"More poetry and still no signature, who the hell was doing this," Emily fumed.
She heard a voice behind her.
Summer: "Did he sign it this time?"
Emily turned to see Summer approaching.
Emily: Nope, he is still incognito.
Summer: This is so romantic.
Emily: I don't think it is romantic.. it is giving me the creeps
&&&&&&&&&&
Emily: Seth, I'll be fine.. really I have to work, there is no need for you to baby-sit me.
Seth: On the contrary, if Ryan comes to your house and finds you alone, I could come up permanently missing, so do me a favor and allow me to tag along.
Emily: Ok, if you insist but prepare to be bored out of your mind. Ever rode a bike before?
Seth: Nope and I can't wait... just be gentle...
Laughing they piled onto the bike.
&&&&&&
When Ryan entered the building Marissa was already in the common room using the phone. As he approach she ended the conversation and hung up the phone.
Smiling he reached for her. She was stiff in his arms and less than responsive to his kiss.
Ryan: How ya doing?
Marissa: Good... I missed you last night
Ryan: I'm sorry I had some stuff I had to do and since we spent the weekend together I didn't think you would really miss me. Did you mom come out?
He could tell Marissa was upset. Her fingers were madly drumming on the tabletop. Damn, that was annoying.
Ryan: How was your day?
Marissa: Long
Ryan made several attempts to engage Marissa in conversation. She grew more agitated by the minute. He reached for her hand but her finger lay unresponsive in his hands. Mercifully the visiting hours came to an end. Ryan kissed her and headed back to the Cohens. That had really sucked. He hoped there wouldn't be too many more like that one.
He hadn't been home very long when Seth and Emily arrived.
Seth: Dude, no wonder she kicked you're a$$. Have you ever seen her do her thing? Makes Bruce Lee look like a sissy.
Ryan glared at Seth and Emily couldn't help but laugh.
Ryan: She didn't kick my a$$.
Seth: Ryan, I'm sorry but you were lying on the ground and she put you there so therefore she kicked you're a$$. I think if we did a poll, we would get a consensus on that. Let's ask mom and dad.
Seth headed off to get Kirsten and Sandy. Alarmed Ryan called him back.
Grinning Seth came back his mouth working but no sound, "she kicked you're a$$", all the while pointing to Emily.
Ryan: We need to leave.
Emily was laughing as she watched the two boys. Glaring at Seth, Ryan headed outside.
Still giggling, Emily hugged Seth
Emily: God that was great. What I wouldn't give for a recording of it.
As she joined Ryan at the bike she started laughing again. Now it was her turn to get glared at.
Ryan: You ready?
Emily: Ryan. I'll be fine. You need to stay home. What are the chances of some freak trying to break into my house two nights in a row?... if someone did. The police found nothing, maybe I just heard some odd sounds and imagined the whole thing.
Ryan: Not a chance... he didn't try to get in, he got in.
Emily: Did you see anyone? What are you gonna do, camp on my doorstep until my aunt and uncle find their way home? There is a security system and I have pepper spray. Ryan, I'll be ok.
Ryan: And someone was till in your house waiting for you.
Emily: Were they? No one has found anything that points to someone being in the house. Maybe I imagined the whole thing. I'll call you when I get all locked in, ok?
Ryan: I don't like it.
Emily: I appreciate your concern, I really do. Thank you for being my friend. I'll call you when I'm all tucked in. Now please stay home.
Ryan: You have 30 minutes. If I haven't talked to you within 30 minutes after you leave here, I'm coming over.
Emily smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
Emily: Thank you... 30 minutes.
Emily checked the doors and windows as she talked to Ryan on the phone.
Emily: Security panel is all set... I have my pepper spray in my hand.. the grenade launcher is on the floor by my bed...will you relax! I'm gonna start calling you "Mom". Now go to bed and get some sleep cause that is exactly what I am gonna do. See you both tomorrow, good night.
Emily hung up the phone. Looking around she wished she truly felt the bravado she had just put on for Ryan.
Stop being such a nit wit.. take a hot shower then to bed you go, her inner voice chimed in.
She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.
Emily woke to the sound of the security alarm going off. Silently she rolled off the bed and crawled under it. Her pepper spray and cell phone were already there waiting for her. As she was dialing 911, she heard someone running past her window. This was not her imagination.....
The police arrived and once again found nothing. Emily got the idea they didn't think there was anything to find. They left again, saying they would send a few extra cars around.
Emily fixed a pot of coffee. No way was she going back to bed. Sitting at the table drinking coffee her eyes fell on a vase holding two roses.. a light went on in her head.... could the person trying to get into the house be the same one that was leaving the roses?
&&&&&&&&&&&&
Julie filled her glass again.
Julie: I won't let him get away with this... he has poisoned my daughter against me....she won't even see me, she just clings to that juvenile delinquent.
Caleb: Juju, it will be all right, you'll see.... These things have a way of working themselves out. She's just a kid.
Julie: I love my daughter.. I only want what is best for her.
Caleb: it will be ok, you'll see.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&