Hey. I just wrote this chapter but was really excited about it, so I decided to give you an early update!
Xoxo HaLeY
Chapter 10: "I'm wholly understand"
Marissa stood in her apartment in shock as she watched her best friend retreat. Had that really just happened? Had Summer run out again?
She slowly made her way to the car trying to process what had happened… What was she going to do with Ella now?
When she pulled up to the Cohen drive she noticed Sandy and Kirstens cars in the driveway… they were home… This set up a whole new array of obstacles. What would they do if they found out about Ella? Especially the fact that she is Seths daughter.
Marissa grabbed her purse for comfort as she entered the house without knocking.
"Hi Marissa!" Sandy said as she come in, kissing her cheek
"Hi Mr.Cohen. How was your trip?" Marissa said trying to be cheery.
"Good. I am glad to see that none of you got into any trouble while we were gone."
Marissa smiled looking at her feet.
"Seth and Ryan are out in the pool house." Kirsten said with a smile, trying to save ythe poor girl from the company of Sandy.
"Thank you." Marissa said politely heading out to the pool house. She guessed the had not found out about Ella.
Ryan and Seth jumped when Marissa entered the pool house.
"Thank god it's you." Seth said
"Where's Ella?" Marissa asked glancing around the pool house.
Ryan guided Marissa by the hand to the bathroom. There was a bunch of bedding in the bottom of the tub where Ella lay asleep.
"That is so adorable!" Marissa squealed for a second almost forgetting that Summer had just abandoned that same baby.
"Yeah, Sandy and Kirsten came home, we would have laid her on the bed since she was sleeping, but we can't have her in plain view." Ryan explained
"Will you stay here and watch her for a minute? I have to go talk to Seth." Marissa said
Ryan nodded understanding.
"Hey." Marissa said sitting down on Ryans bed next to Seth.
"What's up? Have you heard from your friend?" Seth asked
"Actually I have. Seth I really need to tell you something , and you have to promise not to hate my, because I was just doing what I thought was best." Marissa said in one breath
"What are you talking about?" Seth asked
"… When Summer left she was pregnant. Ella is yours…"
"WHAT!" Seth yelled jumping off of the bed "How could you not tell me!"
"Summer was coming back, I wanted her to tell you herself. I wasn't responsible for any of this, and I didn't want to give you any false impressions." Marissa said tearing up
"So when is she coming back?" Seth asked sinking back on the bed with his head in his hands
"She was at my apartment when I got back… She left… she doesn't think that she could be a good mother to Ella." Marissa said trying to make sense of it herself
"Well where did she go?" Seth asked frantically
"I don't know." Marissa said honestly. "… she just left."
"You knew about this all of this time and you didn't tell me anything!" Seth said becoming frustrated and angry
"I promised Summer! And Seth I do not regret it. She is my best friend and I love her. Ryan has kept every promise to you, and I don't know how you couldn't expect me to do the same!" Marissa yelled
"Wait what! Ryan does he know about this!"
"He found out yesterday." She yelled looking Seth square in the eye
"God, he's my best friend! How could he not tell me!"
"Don't be mad at Ryan, he tried to make me tell you! Really! He was going to himself! I wouldn't let him!"
"WHY NOT!" Seth yelled
"Because Seth, it wasn't our place. Now Summer is gone though I have no other choice."
Ryan came out of the bathroom holding Ella.
"She woke up when you guys were yelling…" Ryan said holding out the baby for Marissa to take.
Seth looked at Ella and began to cry…
"I can't take this right now." He said running out of the pool house.
"I think you should-" Ryan began
"Yeah. I'm going to head out. I will take Ella with me." Marissa nodded.
Ryan kissed his girlfriend on the forehead.
"See you in the morning." Ryan said. "I'll stop by."
Ryan jogged down the boardwalk looking for Seth. He was not surprised to see him sitting on Summer breeze sailing out to nowhere. Seth was less than a mile away from shore. Ryan dove in fully dressed and swam out to Seth.
Seth almost had a heart attack when he say Ryan climb aboard.
"Ryan!" He helped pull him up.
"Look man. You're wrong. You're the only parent that Ella's got left. You can't abandon her. I know how she would feel. Trust me." Ryan said trying to catch his breath from the swim…
"I am not going to abandon Ella…" Seth said. "I just needed some time to think it all. When I get off of this boat I am going to go pick her up." Tears glistened in Seth eyes as Ryan pulled him into a hug.
"You're a good man Charlie Brown." Ryan said
~ Marissa lay on her bed, Ella to her left, a picture of Summer to her right. She played with the little girls fingers. So fragile. Nothing would hurt her. Seth would be a great father… if only he would recognize it…
Summer watched the city lights pass her by. Deep down she knew that she did the right thing. It wouldn't be forever. She loved Seth and her little girl too much to stay.
~ Marissa heard a knock at her door. She opened it to find Seth and Ryan there, for some reason Ryan was wet from head to toe…
"Can I see my daughter?" Seth asked.