Friendship Is Like Glass
Chapter Two: The Disowning

"Oh, my God, oh, my God!" Marissa screamed, rushing outside and over to where Seth was lying, sprawled out on the now reddening grass. His eyes were closed, but a low groan was escaping his half-opened lips. She squatted down next to him. "Seth? Seth, are you okay?" He responded with the same groan, though a little louder, and Marissa stood up. "I'm calling 911."

"No!" Seth managed, pulling himself up. "I'm fine." He put his hand to the back of his head. When he brought his hand back to his face, his fingers were grazed with blood.

"Seth, you're bleeding! There's so much...." Marissa gasped. "I can't just not call the cops."

"Head injuries always bleed a lot," Ryan said, his silhouette appearing in the frame where the glass door had once been. "He'll be fine." Marissa watched as he slyly brought a cigarette to his lips, lighting it with a quick strike of a match.

She ignored the fact that Ryan had supposedly quit, and snapped at him. "You just knocked him through a glass door and you're just going to sit there and watch? He could be seriously injured and you don't even care."

"He started it," Ryan shrugged, blowing a long stream of smoke from the corner of his mouth. He took another drag and stepped forward onto the grass.

"You started it, and you know it," Marissa growled, pushing past him and back into the pool house. She found a first-aid kit in the bathroom and rushed to rejoin Seth. When she arrived, Ryan was gone. Frustrated at Ryan but scared for Seth, she hurried towards the latter and opened the lemon yellow box.

She found a roll of gauze and some disinfectant spray and set them on the grass next to her. Removing a miniature flashlight from the kit, she inspected the back of Seth's head to make sure no glass was embedded into the injured flesh. Satisfied, she carefully wrapped the gauze around and fastened it firmly in place with some medical tape.

- - -

The next day, Ryan finally came back. Marissa, who had spent the night to make sure that Seth didn't fall asleep (for fear of a concussion) until a few hours later, was the first person out to talk to him. "Where did you go?"

"Out. Does it matter?" Ryan answered shortly. He was lying on his bed with his eyes closed, from tiredness, disinterest, or both. "Why are you talking to me, anyways? I thought you were pissed off at me."

"I'm not pissed off at you," she said softly, sitting at the foot of his bed.

"That's not what you seemed like last night."

"I wasn't pissed, I was just... I don't know; I was scared. You were both at fault. It was the alcohol talking," Marissa confirmed. She looked at him, and his eyes were now open, intently focused on her.

"No, it was Seth talking. He wouldn't have said anything if he hadn't already felt that way."

"You said some stuff, too."

"See, I knew you were taking his side," Ryan mumbled, turning away from her. He tried to close his eyes again, but she suddenly started to yell at him.

"I'm not taking any sides! Like I said, you were both to blame. You shouldn't have said anything, and neither should he. You guys shouldn't have started to fight, and none of this would have happened! God, Ryan, just think!" With that, she stormed out of the pool house and back up to the main residence.

Ryan just lay there, thinking.

- - -

Inside, Marissa headed for the kitchen. She had promised Seth that she'd bring him up a bowl of cereal after she talked to Ryan. She found the bowls in a cabinet and pulled one down, setting it on the counter. She gathered the spoon and Cap'n Crunch as well, and moved to the fridge to get the milk. There, fastened on by a magnet, was a note from Sandy and Kirsten.

Boys,
We stopped in for a second, but neither of you were around downstairs. Figured you were sleeping and didn't want to disturb you. We both had work early and we won't be back until late. See you then,
Mom and Dad

Marissa stopped cold. She had forgotten about Seth's parents. Obviously they hadn't been outside to see the glass-covered lawn or gone into Seth's bedroom to see Marissa asleep on the floor. Worried, she made the cereal and brought it upstairs.

- - -

"Thanks again," Marissa waved as the Newport Glass Repair truck pulled away. She breathed a sigh of relief at the new pane. It had taken her forever to convince the repair people that it was urgent and she was willing to throw in a large tip if they did their work right away.

"Where'd you get the money for this?" Ryan asked, sauntering up from behind her. When Marissa had come back to discuss the door situation after bringing Seth his breakfast, Ryan had once again disappeared. Now, nearly five hours later, he was back.

Marissa turned around. "My mom gave me a new credit card. Another of her schemes to get me to talk to her. Didn't work for that, but at least it came in handy for something."

"Ah," Ryan said simply. "I'll repay you as soon as I can get the money."

"Don't worry about it."

"So, where's what's-his-name?" Ryan asked, inspecting the new glass. She didn't answer right away, so he looked up at her.

"Stop being like this," Marissa said finally. "Just go talk to him. You can't do this to each other. You need to work it out. You guys are best friends."

"Were best friends," Ryan corrected, and went inside.

to be continued...