People you must review, huge lack of review last chapter. Your reviews will determine if or not I will finish this story! PLEASE POST / REVIEW!

We are half done this book and I think it's time for a title. Here is a list of possible titles. In your reviews or posts, tell me which one is better, or email me at

Facing the Darkness

Searching For Comfort

There But Never Found

Fighting Through It

Complexity Of Their Lives

Hiding Form Shadows

Running From Life

If you have anymore titles email me.

Chapter 17 - As Well As It Always Does

Julie's heart began to beat faster and faster, as she drew closer. Glancing around for only a second, she picked up her pace, almost a run. Deep breath, after deep breath, her heartbeat grew even more intense.

"I got it," Julie said with a smile, as she pulled a dress off a hanger.

"Hey I had the first," a woman said angrily at Julie.

Julie only gave a half smile and reached into her pocket, pulling out Caleb's business.

"Here sew me."

The women only glared back at her, no match for Julie Copper Nickel, she turned around in defeat.

"That's a nice dress," Caleb sighed, six hour shopping with Julie was an experience he would never forget.

Julie held the dress up to her body.

"No, it makes me look fat." She set the dress back on the hanger.

--

Jimmy and Hailey both sipped drinks in the food court, making small talk.

"So where to next," Jimmy asked.

"Home," Hailey grunted, "I hate shopping."

"I sort of like it," Jimmy laughed.

"Hello Hailey," Caleb said, as he came up behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders.

"Hi dad, what are you," Hailey saw Julie come up behind Caleb, "And her, doing here," her voice bitter.

"Shopping," Caleb said steeling Hailey's bitter tone.

"So what's new?" Caleb asked.

Jimmy looked up at Caleb, "We were broken into last night, the apartment."

"Is Marissa alright?" Julie said worried.

"She's fine, Ryan phoned, she stayed with him last night. It seams that Marissa went for a walk and left the door unlock, and when she came back, someone had broken in. It didn't look to bad when I went by."

"Did you call the police?" Caleb asked.

"No, they didn't steel anything except a few bottles of liquor," Hailey said.

"We need to go," Julie said, "I only have three more hours to pick out a dress."

"Hailey," Caleb spoke, ignoring Julie "We still have dinner plans right."

"Yes, tomorrow."

"Caleb," Julie huffed.

He rolled his eyes at Jimmy and turned unhappily.

--

Ryan pulled up in the car, seeing a stumbling Marissa trying to get into Hailey's car. Getting out quickly he ran over, opening the passenger's door and getting in. Marissa started the car. Ryan saw her foot headed for the gas pedal, a car about to pass by on the street. Ryan instinctively pulled out the keys, saving both their lives. Ryan saw Marissa turn, surprised to see him sitting next to her.

"I've messed up Ryan," Marissa whispered as she passed out onto Ryan's shoulder.

"Me too, me too," Ryan whispered back into the sleeping Marissa's ear.

--

The small jail cell was starting to get to Seth. He hated closed, small spaces. Time had never passed so slow in his life.

"Hello," an officer said, "Well your statement matches what witnesses in the hotel have said, so were not pressing any charges."

The jail door swung open and Seth sighed in relief as he walked out of the cramped cell.

--

"I'm going to fix this," Ryan said as he carried Marissa up the stairs and back into the apartment.

Ryan carefully laid her on the sofa, looking around at the damage. Seeing everything a mess. The liquor cabinet destroyed, broken bottles, he had a lot of work to do.

--

"Seth," Sarah said happily. "I'm so sorry. I should have...."

"That's alright," Seth interrupted, "It's all over."

"So where do you want to go?"

"To sleep," Seth said instantly.

"The officer said he could give us a ride back to the hotel."

"Sounds better then walking," Seth said with a simile.

A cop walked over, "You kids want a ride."

"We sure do," Seth said.

Sarah, Seth and officer McFarland all walked out of the small police station and into a police car.

--

"What the hell happened here?" Hailey said shocked as she walked into the apartment, seeing the broken cabinet, broken glass and Marissa passed out on the couch.

Ryan swept the last piece of wood and glass into a dustbin and dumped into the garbage.

"You left her alone," Ryan said angrily. "How could you leave her?"

"How could you have done what you did?" Hailey argued back.

"Regardless," Ryan said intently, "Jimmy and Julie can never know about this."

"Agreed." Hailey said back. "What should we tell him?"

Ryan stumbled around, "Tell him Marissa went for a walk and left the door unlocked."

"Hey Hailey," Jimmy said as he walked through the door, surprising both Hailey and Ryan. "How's it goin."

"Thank God," Haley sighed, "He's drunk."

Ryan gave a puzzled look back at her.

"I'll take him to a hotel," Hailey whispered, "Tell him the story in the morning. You finish cleaning up and take Marissa back with you to my sisters. Don't let her see Marissa like this."

"Alright," Ryan agreed.

"Come on Jimmy we need to go."

"Go where," The drunken Jimmy asked.

"Just come on."

--

"Thanks for the ride," Seth said, as he and Sarah exited the car.

They stood just outside the door at the Mermaid Hotel, which had returned to business as usual.

"Wait here Seth. I'm just going to get a room for myself."

"Alright," Seth said, not trusting himself to share his own room with the beautiful young girl.

Sarah went into the hotel as Seth waited outside.

"Hi, can I get a room."

The manager turned around and looked at her sharply.

"No way in hell. You think you can just come in heat, make half my guest leave and think I'll take you in. Get the hell out of my hotel!"

Sarah turned around angrily.

"And if you see that Seth Cohen kid tell him I want to talk with him!" The manager yelled as she left through the door."

"He wants to talk to me?" Seth asked.

"No, he wants to kick you out. You have your room key right."

"Ya."

"Were going to half to sleep together."

Seth smiled, amused.

Sarah blushed nervously, "Bad choice of words, were going to half to bunk in the same room."

Seth just kept smiling.

"Shut up," Sarah said as she stole Seth's room key. "Let's go or you're sleeping outside."

--

Summers almost fell asleep for a second. She hadn't seen another car for like 25 miles and her eyes were beginning to betray her. Seeing a small café, along the road, she pulled into the empty parking lot. Getting out of the car she tripped, almost falling to the rock ground.

"I need coffee," Summer said, "Lots of it."

After putting a large coffee, one dollar, again on her credit card, she climbed back into the car, pulling out her phone, she pressed her messages.

"You have 21 new messages." The phone rang out.

And all from my dad, Summer thought to herself. Then checking the map for the seventh hundrth time, she pulled out of the dimly lit parking lot, less the six hours away from Seth.

--

The hotel room wasn't a place Seth wanted to live presently.

"Ewwwwwww," Seth heard Sarah say from the bathroom, "You don't want to see the shower."

"Well if you want to go complain to the manager, be my guest," Seth said with a chuckle.

"Are you tired?" Sarah asked, coming out of the bathroom, after showering, only wrapped in a towel.

"Beat," Seth drooled.

Sarah slowly walked over to Seth, letting the towel slide lower and lower down her body.

"You're the nicest guy I've ever met."

Seth froze, more scared now then he was with Zak and the knife.

"And the cutest," Sarah finished.

She stood a foot away from Seth, staring into his eyes. She slowly leaned forward, towards his lips.

Seth turned his head away just as their lips were about to touch.

"I'm sorry," Seth said.

Sarah grabbed the towel from slipping down any further.

"Right, your girlfriend."

Seth took a deep breath and was about to talk when...

"Listen, I understand. I'm just going to get dressed and sleep on the couch."

"I'll sleep on the couch, you have the bed," Seth said strongly.

"Thank you Seth." Sarah politely gave him a kiss on the cheek and went back into the bathroom.

With Sarah tucked safely in the hotel's small bed, Seth flicked the light off and carefully made his to the couch. Laying down he closed his eyes, thinking of Summer, waiting for sleep to end him misery for a short time, until morning.

"Night Seth."

"Goodnight Sarah."

--

The place spotless, except for the broken cabinet, Ryan went over to Marissa and picked her back up, noticing some blood on her shoulder.

Ryan carried her into the bathroom, carefully remover her shirt, seeing the splinters of wood, deep in her shoulder. Carefully Ryan removed each splinter of wood. Pored a disinfectant on the openings and covered them in bandages.

After setting her safely in the passenger's seat, he drove to the Cohen's house, seeing the living room light on, probably Sandy and Kirsten waiting up for him.

He lifted Marissa from the passenger's seat and carried her around back to the pool house. He was surprised not to find Theresa. He lay Marissa on his old bed and covered her with the sheets.

"I'm sorry Marissa."

Ryan stood and closed the pool house door behind him. He went around to the front door and went into the house.

"Ryan," Kirsten said as soon as he entered. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," Ryan said softly.

Ryan looked around for Theresa, seeing only Kirsten and Sandy in the living room. As if reading Ryan's mind Sandy spoke.

"Theresa went home, wasn't feeling good. She took a cab and left you the car so you can get home."

"Alright," Ryan said exhausted.

"Did everything work out?" Kirsten asked.

"As well as it always does." Ryan answered, "As well as it always does."

People you must review, huge lack of review last chapter. Your reviews will determine if or not I will finish this story! PLEASE POST / REVIEW!