Chapter 5

Nightmares and Panic

Seth and Ryan dropped us off at Marissa's house and headed home to face the music. We snuck in through the back to avoid a confrontation by Marissa's dad. All in all Mr. Cooper was a sweet guy. A guy I definitely wished I had as a dad. He was even happier now that he was engaged to Hailey Nichol, Kirsten's sister. They were madly in love and I was happy for them. I held on tightly to Marissa's arm for additional support as we walked up the staircase. Marissa closed the door of her room and I collapsed on to her bed. I was exhausted and I still had a fever and was achy.

"How are you doing Summer?" she asked. Marissa asked every few minutes. I knew that she was terrified.

"Yes…just hot," I said finding it hard to catch my breath again. Dr. Ubdella said that this was entirely normal for an injury like the one I had. He told me just not to panic and try to take deep breaths. It was hard. Every time I took a breath, pain from my chest would shoot through my body.

Marissa helped me change into an oversized t-shirt. It helped a lot. She turned on the fan and propped my head up on some pillows.

"Better?" she asked.

"Yes. Thank you so much Coop," I said. Marissa climbed up on the bed next to me.

"No problem," she said wiping away a bead of sweat that had started to trickle down my face.

"I miss Seth," I moaned.

"I know what you mean. I know you want him here with you," Marissa sympathized.

"Do you ever miss Ryan? I mean really miss him to where you want to be sick when he's not with you?" I asked.

"All the time," Marissa said.

"You were meant to be together," I said.

"Not as much as you and Seth were meant to be together," Marissa countered.

"Don't argue Cooper. You know you love him. It's only blatantly obvious!" I said. Marissa and I both broke out laughing. I missed the times when Marissa and I would sit around and just talk about girl stuff. It seemed now every time I saw her the main topic of discussion were my new bruises and how long I was going to have to hide from my dad. I only wished things were still that easy.

I shot up in bed in a full sob. It was just a dream. A nightmare to make it more specific. My dad was running towards Seth and me with the gun, this time it was loaded. Marissa shot up next to me and threw her arms around my neck.

"It's okay Summer. I've got you. It's okay," Marissa soothed softly rocking back and forth. Once I had calmed down enough to realize why I was bawling I grabbed on tightly to Marissa. We had had such a great time tonight. We were up for hours talking like we used to. A shade of purple light was already beginning to flood Marissa's room and I knew it must have been pretty early.

"Do you hurt?" Marissa asked trying to find the source of my sudden outburst. I stopped crying to try and take a deep breath. I was surprisingly feeling a lot better. I knew the reason for my tears was Seth.

"I really need him to be with me," I whispered, feeling awkward. I had been fine with Marissa. I was just fine with her up until now. Why was now any different from earlier? Marissa tucked my hair behind my ear and looked into my eyes with a strong sense of understanding. That's why, I realized, Marissa was my best friend.

"Let's go," she murmured.

"Where's your dad?" I asked Marissa once we were in the car and on the way to the Cohen residence. He hadn't come running to see what the matter was and I didn't see his car in the driveway.

"I forgot that he took Hailey with him to Oregon for the weekend. Some big family reunion," Marissa explained.

"Why didn't you go with him?" I asked pulling my sweater closer to my body. It had grown cold overnight and I could hear the wind howl outside of the car window.

"I couldn't leave you here Summer. What if I had gone with my dad this weekend and you were left by yourself at your house with your dad?" Marissa asked. I couldn't bring myself to answer. I didn't want to think of the possible outcome. I probably would have never run on my own. I would have just hid until he came back. I was definitely in the wrong mindset to protect myself. We parked across the street from Seth's house. We were sure that Seth was busted for sneaking out and Ryan was probably busted for being with him. Sandy and Kirsten were harder on the boys these days. Especially Kirsten. She brought home a lot of stress from work.

"Ready?" Marissa asked. I nodded and we got out of the car. The wind nearly knocked me over but I was quick to grab Marissa's hand.

"We'll go in through the back," she said. Right next door to Seth and Ryan lived Marissa's mom, Julie Cooper, and her husband, Caleb Nichol, Kirsten and Hailey's dad. When Marissa lived with them she used to sneak out the back every night to be with Ryan who had a room in the pool house. The back gate creaked open. Marissa guided me around some rocks in an effort to rid any additional noise. And additional pain to my ribs. The pool house came into view. I had walked this path almost every night to meet Seth and Ryan after my father would beat the hell out of me. Chills ran down my spine as I tried to shake the images out of my head.

Marissa approached the door and gave a few loud knocks. After a few seconds the shades parted and we could see Ryan's head of sandy hair poke out from behind them. He opened the door and pulled Marissa and I inside before closing it again.

"Summer! Marissa!" he exclaimed in surprise. He pulled us down on to his bed and stood in front of us.

"Are you guys out of your minds?" Ryan asked pacing back and forth in front of us.

"Summer needs to be with Seth right now," Marissa explained. Ryan switched his eyes over to me. It was like Ryan was our dad and we were his two disobedient daughters who had come home late from a first date.

"I'm scared," I pleaded with Ryan. "I've never felt this way before. I'm really scared." Inevitable tears streaked my face.

"Wait here," he said and left Marissa and I alone.

"Please tell me he went to go get him. Please tell me he went to go get Seth," I sobbed. Marissa held on to me again.

"He's getting him for you Summer. Seth's coming," she murmured into my hair. I hated the way I felt. I wanted to feel the way I used to before my dad hit me. I wanted to feel safe all the time.

"Why am I so scared?" I cried at Marissa. "What's happening to me?"

"Your so brave sweetheart," Marissa pulled me closer. "It'll be okay."

"Summer!" Seth bounded into the pool house and pulled me from Marissa's arms and into his.

"Seth," I cried into his chest. "I'm so scared."

"I know," he whispered. "Everything's okay." Seth sat down with me on Ryan's bed, next to Marissa, and the two tried to console me the best they could.

"Where's Ryan?" I asked after calming down enough to catch the little bit of breath that my lungs would allow me.

"We have to stop this Summer." Marissa, Seth, and my eyes switched over to the door of the pool house. There Ryan stood.

I panicked as I realized that Sandy was standing there too.

Hey guys! Wow I never thought that anybody would actually like this story! I hope this chapter didn't dissapoint anybody...:)

Dru