Ok, here is the next chapter my loves, I am very disappointed in the lack of comments(Thank you, KC-Chick for the one and only comment from chapter 4). Please, if you like this part, let me know! Give me suggestions or yell at me or praise me,whatever,I thrive on feedback!

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." -Helen Keller

Cooper-Nichol Mansion

Summer impatiently rapped on the huge front door of Marissa's house. She came as soon as she heard that Alex had died. She still couldn't believe it. Summer had just seen Alex last week and she was fine. It amazed her how a young life could be taken away so suddenly, and frankly, it scared her to death. After a minute or two, and still no answer, she knocked again.

What made it even more unbelievable was that it was not Marissa that Summer heard it from, but she heard it from Seth; Seth, who was not Marissa's best friend, and most certainly not the one who Marissa has been sharing secrets with since sixth grade. If Summer didn't realize how devastated Marissa must have been, she would almost be mad.

Impatiently, Summer raised her hand to knock again, but the door was just then opened by Julie Cooper.

"Hi, Mrs. Cooper. Is Marissa home?"

"Oh Summer, dear, I'm so glad to see you. Marissa hasn't come out of her room all day. She is just torn up and maybe you can get through to her, because I don't know how. I'm really worried about her."

Summer nodded. "I'll see what I can do." Julie smiled appreciatively.

As Summer headed up the stairs, she couldn't help but think that Julie Cooper wasn't being the uber bitch that she was known to be. Of course, one of Marissa's best friends(Summer could NOT come to terms with the fact that Alex was her girlfriend) had died. Still, her sincere concern for Marissa left Summer taken aback.

Summer softly knocked on Marissa's door, but there was no answer, so she let herself in. She looked around, but wasn't anywhere to be found. The room was spotless. Her bed was perfectly smooth, and the carpets appeared to be freshly vacuumed. Summer wandered over to Marissa's bureau, and noticed four sealed envelopes. One was labeled for Ryan, Summer, Seth, and Mom. She tore open the envelope that had her name on it.

I don't know how to say good-bye to you, because I've never had to do it before...

Upon reading the first line, Summer became frantic. She ran to Marissa's closet. A packed suitcase lie on the floor, which meant she hadn't gone anywhere yet. Suddenly, a slight sound from the bathroom made Summer jump. She quickly made her way across the room and tried to open the bathroom door. It was locked.

"GO AWAY!" Marissa screamed from the other side of the door.

"Coop?" Summer replied softly, "It's just me." There was a long silence, and then Summer realized Marissa was crying.

"Come on, sweetie, let me in. I'm here to help."

Finally, Marissa replied, "Sum, life is so screwed up right now."

"I know it is, sweetie."

"I just can't see why I have to put myself through it anymore." Summer could see where this was going.

"Marissa, it will be ok. Just please, let me in, now." A hint of hysteria could be detected in Summer's tone.

"I just don't know if it's worth it anymore, you know? I don't think I can take it. Sometimes, it is just easier to make it all go away."

"Marissa, you're scaring me."

There was no answer from Marissa, except for the sound of her cries.

"Marissa, open the door. We can talk about this."

Summer started pounding on the door.

"Come on, Marissa, open the door!" Summer screamed, tears now streaming down her face.

"I can't. I can't come out there or I won't go through with this."

"Marissa, you are NOT going through with ANYTHING! I won't let you. I will bust this door down myself if I have to!" Marissa didn't say anything.

Summer backed up, and ran into the door with all her might. She did it again, and again, repeatedly, until she couldn't anymore. She sunk to the floor out of breath.

"Marissa, I just rammed into the door for you! Come out NOW!" Summer said, now not only crying, but shaking with anger, too.

There was a fumbling at the doorknob, and Marissa opened the door. Summer raced past her into the bathroom. She grabbed a bottle of pills that stood on the counter, opened it, and flushed the contents down the toilet. She eyed the empty vodka bottle laying on its side before she made her way back to Marissa.

Summer took a good look at her troubled friend. Her face was free from any makeup, making her look young and vulnerable. Her hair was pulled up. Her eyes were red from crying, and her cheeks were tear-stained. Marissa bit her lip, but couldn't stop the uncontrollable sobs that suddenly seized her.

"Oh Coop, come here." Summer said, pulling her into a hug. Marissa's shoulders shook violently, and her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, and Summer tried not to stare at the blood that was running down Marissa's arm, coming from her wrist.