A?N: Okay, I apologize for the long wait for this chapter. I had no inspiration and was stuck for quite a long while until this idea came. Also, I'm not quite sure about the timeline, whether it's possible for it to still be in summer but if it doesn't, just pretend that it does. That's about it, enjoy and review! :)
The next day.
Marissa glanced at the clock sitting by her bedside table. 8am. Would that be too early to get up? After all, she was not going to be too delighted should she bump into her mother after the previous night's incident. It was still clearly etched in her memory.
The second she opened the door, her mother immediately swooped down on her, yelling and screaming. Something about ruining her image as a bad mother who could not control her daughter. Marissa did not bother talking back, she knew that it would just have made everything much worse although she would have loved to point out to her mother that she was the one who slept with her daughter's ex-boyfriend in the first place.
She sat on her bed, thinking. Caitlin was to be home tomorrow before heading back just before the end of summer back to boarding school. That would leave them around a week and half for sister bonding time. She tried to remember when they last had that, it was pretty long time ago, back when Marissa was fourteen and Caitlin had not been sent to boarding school yet. Julie had not been so much the horrendous mother that she was being now. In fact, she had been quite bearable.
There were two weeks till the end of summer. After that, it was back to school for Marissa and Summer. No Ryan, no Seth. Well, there was a high possibility that Seth would be back before summer ended since Ryan had seen him. If that was the case, it would be the three of them, without Ryan. How was Ryan going to continue his education? Not that he was planning to, but it would be better if he did. With a jolt, Marissa realized that she might have missed Ryan's daily early morning call.
She grabbed her bag and started fishing around for it. When she finally found it, she was slightly disappointed to see that there was no '1 missed call' or '1 new voicemail' flashing. Ryan had not called. That was kind of weird since Ryan usually called every morning. Pushing it aside that he might have been running late for work and did not have the time to call. She got dressed, and after making sure her mom was not yet awake or already out of the house, she headed for the Cohens.
At the Cohens, Marissa found Summer in the room watching The Valley re-runs.
"Hey."
"Coop, I think I should move back home." Summer turned to face her best friend as Marissa sat down on the couch.
"Why?" Marissa asked, confused. She thought Summer was lonely at home.
"'Cause you're not here and living with Sandy and Kirsten without you is kind of awkward."
"But you're lonely at home." Marissa felt the guilt building up in her. If Summer had to be home alone, it would all be her fault.
Summer kept silent for a while, "I know," she said quietly.
"Look Sum, I'll come back and stay at the Cohens. Unless you want to stay at my house with the gruesome twosome and me?"
"Definitely the Cohens. But won't your mom be furious?"
"She's furious with me everyday, it won't make a difference."
"Okay, if you say so!" Summer grinned. "Oh and during breakfast this morning, Sandy mentioned that they plan to give Seth till Sunday."
"Till Sunday?" Marissa repeated, not quite getting what Summer meant.
"Yeah, then they'll call the police." Summer fingered the end of her top, "Then I'll know whether he's still alive." She finished, rather sadly.
"Oh Sum! Don't think like that…" As Marissa was trying to decide whether to tell her, Summer jumped in, startling Marissa. "I'm so gonna kick Cohen's ass when he comes back!"
"Uh…" Marissa started but was immediately cut off by Summer
"He's dead meat! I'll totally ignore him…" Marissa listened as Summer continued on her plans for Seth. At least a raging Summer was better than a dispirited one. She was not used to Summer being all quiet. Summer having a rage blackout? That was more normal.
As Summer went on about her revenge plans for Seth, Marissa tuned her out and her thoughts were on Seth. Seth had to be alright, after all, Ryan had seen him a few days ago. Nothing much could happen in a matter of a few days, right? Maybe Seth had visited Ryan again. Nevertheless, Marissa decided to call Ryan to ask about Seth. Not now though, she had to do it when Summer was not around.
Just then, Marissa's cell rang. She pulled out her phone and glanced at the caller id. She had to admit she was disappointed that it was not Ryan.
"Yes?" Marissa asked in a bored voice.
"How dare you talk in that tone to me! I'm your mother and you better show me some respect!" Julie yelled, enraged. Marissa held the phone away from her ear, what was her mother trying to do? Deafen everyone? First Sandy, now her.
Summer had stopped her rambling and scooted closer to Marissa so she could hear Julie too.
"You're my mother? Well, you certainly don't act like one."
"Marissa Cooper! You come home right now!"
Marissa turned to face Summer who was nodding, indicating that she should go. Marissa sighed, she knew that she had better listen to her mother just this once or she would not get the chance to stay at the Cohens.
"Okay, I'll be there soon." Ending the call, Marissa turned to Summer. "I'd better go, she's furious."
Summer nodded, understanding. "Just remember to come back!" She yelled to Marissa who was half-way out.
"I will!" Marissa yelled back and as Summer turned her attention back to the television, she realized it was the same one Seth and her watched after their return from L.A.