Everything seemed eerie. This wasn't her bed. It was white. Everything was.

Marissa tried to move her hands, but they were hooked on to something.

She opened her eyes. A pale white man in a uniform was hovering over her.

'whhhhho' she coughed. She tried to talk but she couldn't. Her throat was dry.

"Hello Ms. Cooper. How're you feeling? You gave all the doctors a fright. You almost died on us."

"Whhhe--ere' She still couldn't get a word out.

"Shhhh. Don't talk. I'll get you a glass of water." He walked over to the sink and filled the paper cup.

"here you go."

She took it and swallowed most of it. It stung as it went down her throat.

"Is that better?"

She nodded.

"Now, I'm going to call Mr. and Mrs. Cohen in. Okay?"

Marissa shook her head.

"Why not?"

"I.....I...Neeeeed..." Her throat was stinging her. "toooo leave."

"I'm afraid you can't do that. You're still in critical condition. You lost a lot of blood and you were over 6 times the legal alcohol limit. Oh and before I get The Cohen's, I suggest that you don't move your hands."

Marissa looked finally at her arms. They had tens of tubes and bandages etc. on them.

"I'll be back with them."

She was scared. Two nights ago when they found her in the street she promised not to drink and cut herself anymore. And by that promise- if she kept it- they weren't going to tell her parents- not that Julie even really cared.

There was a light knock on the hospital wood door.

"Can we come in?"

"Yeee-esss" IT was raspy but it didn't sound like a no.

The door creaked open and Sandy and Kirsten walked in with a big fat teddy bear.

"Hey kiddo." Sandy said, putting up two chair for his wife and himself.

She nodded.

"The doctor said you can't really say anything so I'll try to make this easy."

Marissa nodded again. She was in trouble, big trouble.

"Marissa, do you know what happened last night?"

All Marissa knew was that she went to this new club and partied. A lot.

She shook her head.

Kirsten looked at Sandy and she began.

"Ryan came home driving past your house last night and he heard glass break. He went to see what happened and found you in a puddle of blood, passed out, on the sidewalk." She continued, but Marissa didn't hear it anymore. She only heard the words 'Ryan came home'. She didn't know that Ryan came home. Why didn't he visit her when he came. Is he there now?

"He picked you up and brought you to our house where I called 911," Kirsten paused again, wiping her eye.

"You scared us to death. You're like my daughter. And you promised us you wouldn't do this again."

Sandy put his arm around Kirsten who was sobbing.

"I'mm soorry." Marissa said softly. She hated seeing Kirsten cry. She was more of a mother to her then her mother ever was.

"We know."

"Iss myy paarents heere?"

"We called Jimmy but he's in England for some business. We told him and he'll come right after his trip's done."

"How lonng is thhat?"

"Two weeks."

Marissa looked down. She wanted her father here with her.

"Annd my m'other?" Her voice was clearing up a little but still hurt.

"ummm. She's with Caleb."

"Annd?"

"And she won't be coming."

In Marissa's heart, she knew her mother wasn't going to come anyways.

"So, the doctor's says you have to stay here at least a week before coming home. We asked Jimmy if you could come and stay with us until he came home and he thought that was the best idea."

"umm."

"And we'll go and let you have some rest. But just to let you know. That we aren't going to let you out of our sight ,Kiddo. Just a warning." Sandy patted her leg then started walking out the door.

"Oh, and by the way. You have another visitor." He shut the door.

A couple minutes later, another knock had fallen upon the door.

"come in"

Ryan walked in and smiled.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"How're you doing?"

"Look at me."

Ryan laughed.

"Now when I come home for a visit again, I don't want to find you on the sidewalk."

"Funny, not."

"What happened to you."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I leave and next time I come back, You're drinking, using drugs, cutting yourself. I mean, shit, Marissa. You have to stop it. I don't want you dead."

"I'm sorry, okay. It was something to deal with my problems."

"I'm staying at the Cohen's for a week until Jimmy comes home. I'm going to watch you like a nobody's watched you before." He laughed again.

To be continued.