Title: I've Loved You Forever
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own the O.C. If I did... it would be heaven
Summary: When an accident turns everyone's lives around, can they ever go back to the way it used to be?
Chapter One: The Before
Marissa Cooper's dark house stood looming in front of her, beckoning for her to come inside. Not a single light was turned on, except for the cracked porch light that couldn't be turned off. In the moonlight, it looked even larger than it was. The white wraparoundporch was now encompassed in black light. The columns that were white and spectacular during the day's sunlight now looked black and gothic and seemed to rise up out of the ground. The high Victorian towers glinted in the moonlight and she could make out every window that, now, more than ever, seemed dark and uninviting.
She walked up the driveway, her black Converse soles clicking on the pavement. She could tell by the look of the house that no one was home, but that didn't surprise her. No one was ever home. Her mother was always at work, hitting it up with the big shots and going to her after-work party specials at her favorite bar with her favorite slew of friends. And Caleb. Marissa hated Caleb. It was because of him that she had to live with her mother and not her father. Actually she hadn't come into any contact with her dad in over a month. That was all it took for her life to spiral completely out of control. The one person she loved more than anything in the world had left her. Alone. And alone was a harsh word to Marissa Cooper, who had always been anything but. A lone tear fell down her cheek and she swiped fiercely at it.
Ryan...A year ago, Marissa had the biggest shock of her entire life. And his name was Ryan Atwood. He was from Chino, the wrong side of the tracks. But that didn't keep her from falling in love with him. He lived with the Cohen's, their son Seth, Ryan's best friend, having an eye for her best friend, Summer. For awhile, it was the four of them. Perfect. Then Oliver came and screwed everything up. He made her and Ryan break up, causing Ryan to visit his old friend Theresa and, as Seth liked to say, "work on the mechanics". Then, Oliver was forgotten and Ryan and Marissa were back together. For about five seconds. Then Theresa came back and announced to everyone that she was pregnant and her fiance, Eddie, might not be the father. After Ryan left at the beginning of summer, and Seth left to Tahiti because he couldn't live there without him, Marissa and Summer's world came crashing down around them. Now it was almost Christmas and...
A sudden harsh ring jarred her out of her thoughts. She flipped open her phone.
"Hey Sum," she said tiredly.
"Hey Coop," Summer said, just as tiredly.
"Where are you?" Marissa asked, music and screams coming through the other side of the phone.
"Oh, well, that's kinda why I called you."
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah I just can't be here now. It's too depressing. Can you come get me? I'm at Zach's."
"Zach? I thought you didn't like him anymore."
"I don't. I just... I don't know. I just want to go home." Summer was sounding panicked now.
"Okay, Sum. I'll be there in a second."
The phone clicked and Marissa flipped her's closed. She almost turned to get back in her car, but thought better of it and ran into the house, the smell of the Christmas tree overpowering. She ran up to her room and slammed the door shut as she bent down to reach under her bed. She pulled out a safe and twisted the lock until she heard it click. She opened it up and pulled out a bottle. Quickly spinning the top off, she put it to her lightly glossed lips and drank, feeling the searing liquid pouring down her throat. She grimaced and began to put the top back on. It was then that she noticed a picture lying facedown on the floor. She picked it up curiously and gasped as she turned it over. Tears welled up in her eyes as she opened the half-full bottle up again and drank until none was left. Marissa stuffed the picture in her pocket and threw the bottle against the wall. As it crashed, the front door slammed.
She turned on the radio, tapping her fingers to the beat of the rock song booming loudly over the speakers. The song came to a stop at the same time she stopped at a red light. An enthusiastic man came over the speakers, speaking gleefully, "Only 20 more days until Christmas, everybody! Do you know what Santa's got in store for you?" Groaning, she switched off the dial and sat in silence.
Marissa parked in the crowded driveway and walked up to the huge house. She walked in the door and spotted Summer. Summer, trying to appear casual, walked over to her.
"Ready?"
"Yeah."
They were about to walk out the door unnoticed when Zach walked up. Marissa could tell by his swagger that he was already wasted.
"Where are you going?" he asked, his words slurring together.
"I was taking Summer home. She was kinda tired." Summer nodded in agreement. Marissa quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her out to the car before Zach could say anything else. She had a feeling Summer's phone call wasn't just because she wanted to go home. They sat in silence, Marissa too afraid to ask if Zach had done anything. She had almost told her once that he had, but backed out. Marissa turned a curve and watched as lights that were supposed to be on the other side of the road came over to her side. She tried to swerve, but could only scream along with Summer as the car crashed into them.
"Man, I can't wait to see the look on their faces when they see us. They are going to be so happy!" A dark curly-haired boy with a striped collared shirt, black pants and Converses made his deep brown eyes sparkle as he jumped around in his seat.
"Seth, calm down." Another boy sat on the other side. He had sandy blonde hair that almost fell to his deep sapphire eyes. He pulled his black button down shirt up, and adjusted the belt on his dark jeans while trying to watch the road. "They're probably not going to be that happy."
"Yeah, I guess you're right, Ryan."
"Well, actually Marissa is probably going to be happy. Summer... not so much."
"Thanks man, that really boosts my confidence."
Ryan smiled at him. He then sighed. "I'm just happy to be going home." Seth smiled at this.
"Me too." Seth's smile then fell. He glanced over at Ryan.
"Look Ryan, I'm really sorry about Theresa..."
"It's okay Seth. Really." Ryan didn't really feel like talking about that. Earlier that day, he had gone to visit Seth. Theresa had called him at Luke's, where Seth was staying, telling him that she had lost the baby. That was the reason why they were driving back to Newport at this ungodly hour of night.
They sat in silence until red lights covered them like a blanket.
"What the hell is going on there?" Seth said, angry the sirens had woken his from his light nap.
Ryan squinted. When he located the car, his eyes grew huge.
Seth followed his gaze, his eyes widening.
"Dude, is that Marissa's car?" Seth looked at Ryan, who had gone a deathly shade of white. He threw open the door and ran toward the scene, with Seth at his heels. They stopped then, a familiar face standing in front of them.
"Summer!" they both screamed. The brunette turned and saw them. Forgetting all of her hate for Seth Cohen, she ran at them and threw herself in his arms.
"Cohen! What are you doing here?"
"Well, uh, right now that isn't the point. Where's Marissa?" He looked at Ryan who was looking straight in front of him, the ghost look still there. Seth looked and saw her lying on a gurney, scratches and blood covering her beautiful face. They wheeled her up into the ambulance and closed the doors, speeding off in the direction of the hospital. Seth looked at Ryan.
"Come on, let's follow them." he said, quietly, shaking Ryan's shoulder. Ryan turned slowly and walked toward the driver's side door. Seth ran after him.
"Nah, I really don't think I want you driving." Ryan didn't say anything, but instead handed Seth the keys and got in the backseat. It was then that Seth got a good look at Summer, who had a huge gash on her forehead.
"God, Summer, you're bleeding." he said softly, walking over to her. He wiped a smudge from her face. It was then that she started to cry and she cried on Seth's shoulder for the rest of the ride to the hospital.