Disclaimer still stands. Oh and the song is by Linkin Park, "Breaking the Habit." Its not by me.

A/N: I just keep writing and writing. I guess I'm just on a roll. Here we go with chapter 16.

After being dropped off by Summer, Marissa walked into her cold, lonely house. From the outside it looked beautiful and happy but on the inside it was icy and dark, just waiting for someone to take care of it. Marissa felt this way too. On the outside, you couldn't tell that anything was wrong. She seemed like a normal 17 year old girl living in Orange County California. But on the inside it was much more complicated than that. As she ran up the stairs in the darkness she heard her steps echo in the cold front foyer. She quickly found her way to her room and fell on her oversized bed that she didn't really need to be that huge. She felt like an outsider in her own house. Not that it was really hers anyway. She wanted to make it all go away. She wanted to be normal. She took out a Vodka bottle from under her pillow and began gulping. No, she wouldn't do it tonight. She had some happy feelings left over from Ryan and she didn't need this to make her happy, she just wanted her body to go numb so she wouldn't have to feel anything she didn't want to.

Memories consume like opening the wound

I'm picking me apart again

You all assume, I'm safe here in my room

Unless I try to start again

I don't want to be the one the battles always choose

'Cause inside I realize that I'm the one confused

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream

I don't know why I instigate

And say what I don't mean

I don't know how I got this way

I know it's not alright

So I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

Tonight…

Clutching my cure, I tightly lock the door

I try to catch my breath again

I hurt much more, than anytime before

I have no options left again

I don't want to be the one the battles always choose

'Cause inside I realize that I'm the one confused

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream

I don't know why I instigate

And say what I don't mean

I don't know how I got this way

I know it's not alright

So I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

Tonight…

I'll paint it on the walls

'Cause I'm the one at fault

I'll never fight again

And this is how it ends

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream

But now I have some clarity

To show you what I mean

I don't know how I got this way

I'll never be alright

So I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

Tonight…

(I thought the song was appropriate to kinda put all the emotions in place)

Marissa felt her body go numb. She was satisfied. She wanted Ryan to know that he at least made her stop for one night. That would probably make him happy. But it was too late and she was too wasted. 'Shit' she thought. 'School tomorrow.' At least she remembered that, but that was the only thing she did remember before she drifted off to sleep.

She was awoken the next morning by her cell phone going off.

"Coop?"

"Huh?"

"God, I knew you were gonna get wasted last night. Or at least I had a feeling but I was hoping that you would think it through and actually not take a drink."

"Sum…?"

"What?"

"That you? Ahh God, my head hurts."

"Well duh. Coop… what's going on?"

"Nothing Sum, I'm fine."

"No, you're not. Remember the little fiasco last night? And now you got wasted? I knew I should've never left you alone."

"Summer, I'm fine ok? Just needed a little drink."

"Fine whatever. I'm picking you up in fifteen ok?"

"Fine." Marissa hung up. She picked herself up off her bed that hadn't changed the way it looked since she just fell asleep atop of it. She didn't really remember the drinking part, just sobbing in Ryan's arms. She picked up the empty Vodka bottle and threw it in her bathroom trash, making a mental note to take it out when she went to meet Summer. Marissa stared at herself in the mirror. She couldn't believe how out of control her life had gotten. She was lying to her friends, not to mention the person she loved. But they were bound to find out sooner or later. She splashed cold water on her face and applied some make up. Walking to her closet she picked out a mini skirt and a flirty top. Then she dragged herself back into the bathroom and tried to do something with her hair. It was no use; she just left it loose and longed for Ryan's fingers to weave themselves through it. Walking back to her bed she managed to find her keys and purse although she didn't remember how they managed to get under her bed. She grabbed a jacket since it was January and headed out the door.

Summer still hadn't arrived so she sat in her scarce kitchen and started at the fruit bowl. Then she heard foot steps in the foyer. "Marissa honey? That you?" Marissa hadn't talked to her mother in days, let alone seen her.

"What?" she answered coldly. She didn't feel like putting up with her mother at the moment, not that she ever did.

"Just checking if that was you," Julie answered dully.

"Who else would it be?"

"I was hoping Cal, he hasn't been around and I've missed him."

"Sure you're missing his credit card?"

"Marissa! Don't you dare talk to me like that! I'm your mother and damn it you're not allowed to talk to me like that!"

"Are you? Because last time I checked mothers are actually around to care. But you never have, so until you really start acting like my mother, I think I should be able to say whatever I want." Marissa stormed out of the kitchen leaving Julie staring dumbfounded at the wall. She slammed the door on her way out and made her way into the chilly air. It was becoming oddly cold outside comparing to usual OC weather. 'she just doesn't get it; no one does' Marissa thought. Just then Summer pulled up in her sports car.

"Get in Coop."

"Hey Sum."

"You alright?"

"God, will everyone stop asking me that? I'm fine, let's just get to school and get this day over with."

"Coop…"

"I'm fine really. Sorry for snapping, I'm just sick of everyone asking. And I just yelled at my mother whose being inconsiderate as usual. God, she's so oblivious to everything that goes on around her."

"What is going on?"

"Nothing, just lately she's being more of an airhead bitch than usual."

"Know how that feels. But I've gotten pretty used to it with my step bitch around."

"Well at least it isn't your own mother that's treating you like shit. Not that my mom was really ever a mother, just a gold digger." Summer didn't know how to respond. "its ok Sum. Don't worry about it."

"It's hard not to but I'll try." Marissa gave a small smile.

"Didn't you promise me shopping today after school?" Summer smiled.

"Definitely, we need to buy new winter/spring wardrobes anyway." The rest of the way to school they talked and joked about shopping. They were both glad that they weren't on an unstable subject anymore.

Ok, Chapter 16. Quick little chapter. Just wanted to report on Marissa's status after breaking down. Did you guys like it? Please review and be kind. Happy holidays to all as well.