I do not own any of the original characters from the OC.
Marissa was angry. Stiffly she stalked around the waiting area, her mind fuming.
"While I'm trapped in this damned place, that bitch is going after Ryan and it appears Ryan is falling for it....roses and poems... he never sent me roses and I never really knew he was interested in poetry. I need to get out of here. I need to be with Ryan."
She knew this voice and deep inside she knew it didn't always tell her the right thing but these days her emotions seemed to be way ahead of her head.... High.. low... high...low. Dr. Meuler told her to be patient. She didn't have time to be patient... she needed to get home.
She heard her name called and looked to see Dr. Meuler waving for her to come in. Sighing she got up.. time for another session. She wondered if she should mention the phone calls and pictures.. then solidly rejected the notion. She wanted to go home and if Meuler thought something might upset her she would never get out of here. She put on her best happy face and pulled out all her negotiating skills and prepared to go to work.
Meuler: Marissa, how are you? Please sit.
Marissa: I'm much better... in fact I would like to talk about the possibility of me going home.
Meuler: I'm willing to talk about anything you like.
Marissa: Dr Meuler I am much better... I have a ways to go but I feel in order to continue making progress I need to be out in the world not hiding in here afraid something might upset me.
She continued talking animatedly, logically listing reasons why she felt she should be allowed to go home.
When she was finished, she looked questioningly at Meuler.
Meuler: Well, I see you have really been thinking about this.
Marissa eagerly nodded.
Meuler: Marissa, I heard you out .. now will you do me the same courtesy?
Again Marissa nodded.
Meuler: Marissa, we have been dealing with a condition you have had all your life. Since it was untreated, it forced you to invent coping mechanisms that enabled you to live in your world. Although these skills helped you, they are extremely destructive to normal healthy mental attitudes. I know you want a normal life and I want that for you. What we are doing with medication and the various therapies we have you in is building the necessary foundation for you to begin that normal life. Without a firm foundation you could easily be overwhelmed while trying to handle situations and could conceivably return to those destructive coping mechanisms. This is not going to be what you want to hear but I don't feel you have a sufficient foundation to release you. We will continue the weekend passes and if you maintain your rate of progress we can revisit this topic next week.
Deep inside Marissa knew everything he said was right but that didn't stop her anger.
She rose to leave.
Meuler: We still have 30 more minutes.
Marissa: I'm tired of talking and listening!
She turned and left the room.
Seth: Ok Ryan, you can tell me... what exactly is going on between you and Emily? You are making me dizzy watching you run back and forth between your "two women".
Ryan: We're friends.. just like you and her are.
Seth: Yea right.. anyone believing that, I have a bridge in New York City I'll sell real cheap! Come on Ryan.. give..
Ryan was silent for a moment. Then speaking slowly and choosing his words carefully he began talking. He wanted Seth to understand and talking about things like this was very difficult for him.
Ryan: After all that has happened I'm not sure what my feelings for Marissa are. I care for her and want to be there for her but hell, sometimes I feel like her father! Nothing has happened between Emily and I but I think maybe I would like it to.
Ryan paused, looking out the window. Seth sat very quiet. He knew how hard this was for his friend. Ryan didn't talk well at all.
Ryan: I'm human.. sometimes I get scared, weak, overwhelmed..... lost I can't be that way with Marissa. I need to be strong for her but I think that somehow it is important to me to be needed that much.
With Emily, I can tell her it hurts, that I'm afraid and since she damn near kicked my a$$ I sure don't have to protect her. I don't understand it. From day one there has been this chemistry between us. I'm beginning to understand how you felt jumping between Summer and Anna.
Seth knew it wasn't just Marissa that put Ryan in this position. It was Summer and him as well.. Since day one Ryan had been the strong one.. the leader.. who else would have gone toe to toe with Julie Nichol?.. only Ryan. He seemed to feel he had to justify his existence by taking care of others. Seth made a silent vow to do better by his friend from now on.
Seth: Well , I'm glad you are at least admitting she kicked you're a$$.
Both boys laughed and headed to the kitchen. It was time to leave for school.
Emily hung up the phone. Mark hadn't been too happy about her needing a few days off but he had given them to her. She felt bad but she needed time to put her plan into action.
When she arrived at her locker this morning, there had been no rose, note or Summer. "There must be a god", she thought. Since there was no rose this morning, maybe someone would be dropping by to leave one for tomorrow. If her plan worked, she would be here to receive it. A few feet from her locker was a janitor's supply room. It was unlocked during the day and she had already discovered a cabinet with plenty of room for her to hide until the cleaning crew left, then she could hide unseen in the recessed doorway in the hall and keep watch on her locker. No one would be able to approach her locker unseen.
It wasn't brilliant but it was all she had.
The last bell rang and Emily hurried toward her locker and the janitor closet. Damn, there was Ryan and Seth.
Emily: Hey, guys
Ryan: Hey.. Where's your bike? I didn't see it in the parking lot.
Emily: Oh, I parked over on the other lot this morning.. why?
Seth: Ryan is just playing "mother hen" today.
Ryan glared at Seth and then turned to reply to Emily.
Ryan: I was kinda worried when I didn't see it and hadn't run into you today. I assume your evening was uneventful, since I didn't hear from you last night
Emily looked at Ryan and grinned .She didn't want to lie to him but neither did she want to get into that discussion here and now.
Emily: All peace and quiet. You seeing Marissa tonight?
Ryan: Yep, you working tonight?
Inwardly she cringed as she told another little white lie.
Emily: Yep, going straight there from here.
Seth: Hey, you want me to go with? I could hold your jacket if you had to kick some butt.
Emily hadn't counted on Seth offering to accompany her and her brain scrambled for an excuse.
Emily: Gee Seth, if I had thought of it I would have brought my extra helmet. I am already running too short of time to go get it. Guess I need to keep one here, huh? But I really appreciate the offer.
Ryan: I could come by later......
He left the phrase hang waiting to see where Emily would take it.
Emily: Ryan, could I get a rain check? All of this excitement has me hardly sleeping and I am pooped. I think I'll crash as soon as I get home.
Ryan: Ok, see you tomorrow then., but call if you need me ,all right?
Emily: Sure thing.
Seth: Emily, Ryan isn't the only hen here so why don't you give me a call when you get home. That way we'll know you got there all right.
Emily: Seth....
Seth: I know, you're Billy Bad but humor me... please?
Emily suddenly felt tears forming. It had been a long time since she felt anyone gave a damn about her. Not for the first time she marveled at the friends she had made.
Emily: Thank you, Seth. I'm not bad, just don't want to be a bother. I'll call.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Ryan tried everything to get Marissa involved in his visit. No matter what he said she didn't answer at all or her reply was almost hostile. Finally he couldn't stand it any longer. He took both her hands and forced her to look at him.
Ryan: Talk to me! Tell me what the hell is going on with you.... please!
Marissa: Do you really want to know?
Ryan: What kind of question is that? Yes, for god's sake talk to me... I can't do this any more!
Marissa met his eyes with burning rage.
Marissa: How about we talk about roses, poems and pictures on the beach...
Ryan opened his mouth and started to speak then stopped. What had she said?
Ryan: What are you talking about? You're not making sense.
Marissa: I know all about you and Emily. Even though I am locked away in here I get reports about the roses and poetry you leave on her locker. And I have tons of pictures of you together. Are you going to deny it?
Marissa was yelling by then and nurses came running out of the office.
Nurse: Sir, you're going to have to leave.
Ryan: But..
Nurse: I said you have to leave now!
Marissa didn't resist them. They came from all sides, grabbed her and then she was beyond the door.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Emily waited till Ryan and Seth was out of sight then grabbing her pack she made for the janitor room.
She pulled a roll of duct tape from her pack and taped over the door latch so it wouldn't lock. Closing the door behind her, she opened the cabinet and crawled inside to wait. It was cramped but it was the best she could do.
It was quiet in the room after the cleaning crew got their supplies and went to work. So quiet her heavy eyes soon closed and she went to sleep.
The noise of the returning workers awakened her and she barely stopped herself from trying to sit up in the small cabinet. She lay still listening to the friendly banter as the workers readied themselves to go home. Laughing and talking they left the room closing the door behind them.
Emily checked her watch and made herself wait a full 30 minutes. She pulled a small flashlight from her pocket and opened the cabinet door. The room was pitch dark. She crawled out of the cabinet and tried to stand. Her feet and legs were numb and threatened to drop her back to the floor. Covering her light she limped to the door and opened it a crack. The hallway was dark. The only light came from the ghostly glow of the exit signs. She stepped out of the room. The doorway was recessed back from the hall far enough to provide her with a pretty good hiding spot. She closed the door and sat down in the floor to wait.