The rehab center that she was staying in resembled one of the upscale resorts the Cohens used to vacation at during the summers. Ryan let out a low whistle as Summer put the car in park and slid her sunglasses on top of her head.

"If I'd know rehab was this nice, I would have checked myself in when we lost the house," Ryan cracked as he and Summer simultaneously slammed their doors.

She shook her dark hair and led the way up the path to the front entrance. "Trust me, Ry, you do not wanna spend your days in here. They share bathrooms, and they have group craft projects," she shook her head. "Macaroni and crayons with a bunch of burn outs? Ew."

Just the sight of her "nose scrunching" made him laugh as he held the front door open for her. The large waiting room was filled with anxious looking family members and friends, all twitching and fidgeting and looking more like they were on something than here to see someone who was. Ryan had seen places like this before, with his mom, only not on this level. Those places used to have cracked plaster walls and smell like urine.

This place smelled like antiseptic and fresh flowers, and he was pretty sure he recognized some of its patients as celebrities on some level. "So, what do we do?"

Summer headed for the front desk and smiled at the receptionist. "Hi. We're here for Marissa Cooper?"

The lady smiled and checked the registry. "ID's?" Each handed their license over. The woman looked at them and then at an appointment book. "Perfect. You guys can have a seat in there," she pointed through a set of double doors, "and she will be with you soon."

The pair sat on a couple of plastic chairs and looked around in awkward silence. Before they could speak, a loud shriek was heard and a tall, thin woman in sweatpants, a tee shirt, and pigtails ran through the common room. She was followed closely by a guy with blue hair and tattoos covering both arms and his neck. The girl slid to a stop at the end of the room and turned, watching her pursuer nearly hit the window.

"And I win again. Not that you have anything left to take," she taunted.

Ryan watched Marissa's playful exchange with this stranger and thought about how easy it would be to bolt before anyone saw him. But it was hypnotic, watching her again, after five years, and wondering what she had to say, what she had learned, what had brought her to this place.

"You didn't so much win as steal my cigarettes and run away, Rissa," the guy complained, reaching for her waist. "And if you don't give 'em back," he threatened.

"You'll what?" she asked, taking a step back.

"Don't tempt me. I been in this place for a long time, Sweetie." He put his hand on his hip to challenge her. "I may be naturally attracted to the penis, but I will cop a feel of just about anything right now."

She pushed his shoulder and withdrew the cigarettes from the band of her sweats. "Ew," she responded, turning around and looking up for the first time. "Hey!"

Summer stood and accepted a hug first. "Lookin' good, Coop," Summer commented.

Ryan watched as the two women shared giggles and hugs. She was thinner than he remembered, her eyes sunken and her bones protruding from her wrists and back. But she was still Marissa, with the shiny, shampoo-commercial hair and the glimmering eyes that danced when she smiled at him. "Hey," was all he said, raising his hand in a slight wave.

She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close her body, breathing in his scent. "I'm so glad you came," she whispered into his ear.

Pulling back, he gave her an uncomfortable grin and then put his hands in his pockets. She might have been glad, but he still wasn't sure it was the right decision. He still wasn't convinced he shouldn't be spending his day off with Jada, at the beach or the pier. "Yeah, well, I figured it was important, right?"

Marissa turned to see that her friend was gone. "Well, I would have introduced you, but," she trailed off and then looked back at her friends and then her watch. "Um, we have about twenty minutes before we meet with Alecia, so, I don't know," she looked at Summer and then glanced at Ryan. "You wanna see my room? Or take a walk in the courtyard?"

"Whatever," Ryan muttered.

"Let's take a walk," Summer suggested. No way was she going to let Ryan see how many of his pictures were littering Marissa's room. Not just of him, but of the four of them together, when life was good and things weren't so messed up. A time she was hoping they could get back to after this weekend.