I know it took me forever to type up, but don't worry: here it is. And now, for the BIG hint. I've been thinking of a really good one that will still make you think but take some people out. So, I will give you a little hint: The person who dies has an A in it. It takes out a few people, and maybe you'll get it...
Marissa left the Cohens soon after she was beaten ten times in a row by Seth. She had thought maybe once she could beat him, but it didn't happen.
Unfortunately, Marissa was parking her car in Julie's driveway. It was almost eight o'clock, and it was dark and cool outside.
She stepped inside, and just as she suspected, Julie came running. Her mother pulled Marissa into a large hug.
"Oh thank God you're home. I was so worried about you," Julie didn't let go of Marissa until a minute later.
"I thought I left a message," Marissa told her mom.
"No, you didn't," Marissa hadn't even called.
"Oh. Oh well," She began to walk away from her mother.
"Wait, Marissa," Julie grabbed her daughter's arm, and Marissa winced. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm fine," Marissa didn't want to talk to her mother.
"I think something happened. Did something?" Julie was 'concerned.'
"Just a small fight," Marissa thought she could torture her mom. Julie let go and Marissa began up the stairs.
"Marissa Elizabeth Cooper! Get down here!" Julie yelled at her daughter.
"Why?" Marissa turned around and snapped.
"We have to talk," Julie didn't like yelling at Marissa, but it was the only way to get her to listen.
"Fine," Marissa rolled her eyes and came back down the stairs.
"Good. Let's sit down," Julie smiled and headed to the living room. Marissa followed reluctantly. "Now, what happened with this fight?"
"Some guys were annoying me and Seth tried to help," Marissa explained.
"Tried to?" Julie was interested.
"They beat him up," Marissa answered. "So I punched one of the guys."
"You punched someone?" Julie was aghast. Never would she have expected her daughter would punch someone.
"Yeah," Marissa replied snidely and Julie wondered when her and Marissa started to distance. Marissa hated her mother with such a vengeance. Julie had only ever done what she thought was best for her first born. Marissa obviously disagreed.
"Be careful with what you talk about with Seth," Julie warned.
"Why?" Marissa was confused.
"When I talked to him, he seemed...fragile. He always was. When I heard about the shooting, I thought Seth was a shooter," Julie confided in her daughter and Marissa laughed. "I'm serious. The shooting made it open for anyone to come in with a gun. What's to say Seth won't? Just be careful around him."
"Mom. He's not gonna be shooting anyone, don't worry," Marissa assured her mom.
"You know, we never talked about the shooting," Julie wished for once her daughter would tell her something. Marissa just ignored Julie. This was the longest conversation they'd had in a while.
"Yeah, we did. A while back," Both of them remembered that conversation.
"Right after Seth fell in the coma. But you never said anything after that. It's been almost four months, I think you need to vent," Marissa thought her mother was right. There were so many layers to the shooting, and she hadn't even begun to shed one.
"I don't think I want to," But Marissa did.
"Please honey. Anything," Julie didn't ask for much, just a simple talk with her daughter.
"A girl died on me," And the vision of the math room, and the blood came back to her.
Julie stayed silent. She never knew that. How could she deal with it?
"Aren't you going to say anything?" Marissa looked up at Julie, who tried to grasp it.
"I'm sorry Marissa, it's just a little hard to comprehend..."
"I know. I mean, we've only been dealing with it for four months," Why did Marissa think her mother really wanted to talk? "It wasn't what you expected. Nothing with me ever is," Marissa stood up. She was gonna say something, but didn't feel the use of it. She walked off.
"Marissa, stop. Please?" Julie didn't want to yell at her daughter again, this time it was her fault, whether she liked it or not.
Marissa went in her room and laid on the bed. The shooting was coming back to her full force. She closed her eyes and saw the panic, the fear in everyone's faces. The blood, the poor girl who never had a chance.
She knew that she shouldn't, she promised herself she'd never do it again. But she had to. There had to be some in this room. Under her bed. She hadn't gotten rid of it yet. Only a little bit. She couldn't go cold turkey.
Julie never got up, she felt even more distant from her own daughter. They used to be best friends. Where had that time gone? It disappeared such a long time ago.
And Julie knew that if she didn't reconnect with Marissa soon, she would lose her forever. Because Julie also knew of Marissa's escape, just not the extent it had been.
Back when she younger, Julie had been through a similar stage, only it didn't last this long. No one listened to her, she felt useless. Julie hadn't thought about this time for a long, long time. Julie and Marissa were so similar.
Julie once tried to end it. Why would you if you were living a dead end life? After the first attempt, Julie's life continued to spiral. That's why she so desperately wanted Marissa to get help after her overdose. Julie didn't want her daughter to go down the same track she did.
She never drank like Marissa did, but she had tried pills. She had gone to a party with Cindy and they got drunk, and Julie was near the end of her life. Soon, she thought she would be gone.
And by chance, when Julie had run far enough from that party, she bumped into someone. James Cooper.
Julie supposed she could give credit to Jimmy for saving her life, but more so, it was Marissa. Julie had a reason to live. Still to this day, she couldn't understand why Jimmy ever went after her. The first time she saw him, she shoved him out of the way and told him to "fuck off."
Never had she told that story to Marissa, and maybe if she did, Marissa might be nicer to her mother. If Marissa was anything like Julie, that would never occur. Julie was always mean. If she was too soft, she might lose everything.
Julie could maybe attempt to talk to her daughter. It was worth a shot. She wanted to be a part of her daughter's life, not be in the background.
She decided. Julie would attempt to talk to Marissa. By now, she was over the initial shock of what she was told. So Julie got up, and got two water bottles. Julie had a feeling Marissa was drinking.
And she was. Just enough to feel the buzz. So Marissa was a little tipsy. She should've emptied the bottle before.
Julie slowly climbed the stairs and heard a door close. Thinking it was Marissa, Julie sped up a bit, only to find her second child, Kaitlin. The less noticed, lonely, sister's shadow was going to her friend's.
"Hi Kaitlin," Looking at her daughter, Julie knew she hadn't been in touch with either daughter.
"Hi Mom," Kaitlin was slowly deteriorating, just like her sister. It had turned into a family tradition.
"Where are you going?" Kaitlin was rarely ever seen around the house. Her movements were so silent that no one knew where she was.
"Out to a friend's," Kaitlin answered, unfazed. Marissa usually was whining by then.
"Which friend?" Julie barely knew either of her daughters.
"Laura," Kaitlin told her mother.
"Well, have fun," Julie walked past her daughter and headed to the other's room.
Marissa was disgusted with herself. She was supposed to be getting better, and instead, she was descending back into old ways. Why the hell couldn't she get better? She had everything, life was good. But she was throwing it all away.
Julie knocked on her daughter's door. No answered. That's the way it usually went. But Julie usually gave up. Not this time.
"Can I come in?" Julie knocked again on the door. She missed talking to her daughter.
"No," Marissa took another sip of alcohol. Her mind told her no, yet she had to. It was her crutch.
"Why not?" Every time by now, Julie gave up by now, Marissa was surprised.
"Because," She slurred, growing sicker with herself as the seconds and the alcohol slowly disappeared.
"Not a good enough answer," Julie opened the door, taking Marissa off guard. Her alcohol wasn't concealed. It had been a near full bottle, now it was gone. She was deer in headlights.
"What are you doing?" Marissa frantically tried to hide the liquor and not seem drunk.
"Talking to my daughter," Julie sat down on Marissa 's bed.
"Well, your daughter doesn't want to," Marissa replied cooly.
"Too bad," Marissa didn't know what to do. She was stuck her mom. "Here," Julie handed Marissa a water bottle. "That's better than vodka."
Marissa remained silent as she took the bottle. Who was this woman? Marissa's real mom would've flipped, now just blow it over.
"What do you want?" Marissa asked Julie suspiciously. She didn't trust this.
"That's what you think? I can't talk to my daughter and not have an ulterior motive?" Julie asked simply.
"Exactly."
"Well, sorry, I don't have one. I just wanted to talk," Julie drank her water she Marissa tried to see if she was lying.
"About what?" Marissa questioned.
"I know you had tried being open with me and I'm sorry. I really hadn't expected what you told me. I didn't think it went that deep. You need to talk to me. I'm here to listen," Julie told Marissa.
"I don't trust you," Julie had hurt Marissa on more than one occasion. She had lost all trust in her a long time ago.
"I guess I deserve that. I suppose to you I haven't been the greatest mother. But I try, I really do. I just want you to be happy," Julie had lost Marissa so long ago. How could they ever go on speaking terms again?
"Sure," Marissa rolled her eyes. She hadn't taken Julie seriously since a good five months ago. She supposed the shooting should've changed that, but it didn't.
"I mean it," Julie enforced.
"No offense, Mom, but I can't even remember the last time we talked and you had something productive to say. I don't know what you really want from me. Maybe to stop seeing Dad? Or maybe Seth? Since you know, he could be a shooter. Or maybe you figured out me and Ryan are back together," Marissa explained.
"It's not like that Marissa...you're back with Ryan?" Julie didn't understand why Marissa kept dating him. He was completely wrong for her.
"Yeah, so there. It can't be that," Marissa had tried opening up with her mom, she wasn't trying again.
"All I want to do is talk..." Julie argued.
"You've never wanted to talk. There is always something in it for you. Just tell me what it is, so I can say no, and we can get on with our lives," Marissa continued.
"You're drinking," Julie corrected her daughter.
"That's none of your business," Marissa wanted her mother out. And soon.
"You are my daughter. It is my business," Julie hated what she was hearing.
"Never was before," Their voices began to rise.
"What?" Julie was getting hurt. Badly.
"You never cared about me or Kaitlin, only money. From Caleb, from Dad. That's all that ever mattered. We thought you cared, and you never did. You just wanted that power and when you lost it, you left us there," Marissa was almost in tears, but Julie was closer.
"Marissa, I never..." Julie argued.
"Meant for that to happen? Well, it did. You were trying to live my life, and when I wasn't perfect, you tried to send my away," Finally, Marissa was getting out all her feelings.
Julie let her tears fall. All of it was true. When Marissa began to rebel, Julie left her. She left her whole family.
"I'm sorry," Julie muttered, feeling sick.
"Doesn't matter anymore," Marissa commented, waiting for her mother to leave.
"Well, I think it does. I want us to talk. Can we?" Marissa wasn't expecting that.
"Don't want to," Marissa began to think back to years and years ago when she understood her mom. When he mom cared, made her eat in tenth grade. It had never been full blown anorexia. Holly, Summer, and Luke had just told her she was looking a little chunky compared to what she usually was.
Marissa had been a size three.
So Marissa stopped eating the little bit she did. Julie noticed immediately, and tried to help her. Julie had been actually concerned. But had she been really? Or just trying to shut up the Newpsies?
"Well, we should. The shooting has to be so hard to deal with. Talk about it," Julie tried to coerce her daughter into talking.
"I told you before. I don't want to talk about it," Marissa's eyes flamed with a hatred towards her mother. And Julie saw it.
"Fine," Julie stood up and looked at Marissa with sincerity. "If you ever wanna talk..."
"I'll come to you. I know," Marissa said and Julie stepped out of her daughter's room dismayed. That plan did not work.
Marissa turned off her light, it was getting late. She was so tired, the day's events had taken everything out of her.
Julie was lingering on her mind. Why was her mother so adamant on talking to Marissa? She never was before. Something had changed in her.
Marissa's eyes slowly drooped and she let herself fall into sleep as Julie looked for her stash of alcohol. The Coopers were such an alcoholic family. Only a few years of soberness for Kaitlin.
"Hello Juju," Caleb entered the kitchen as Julie rummaged through the kitchen.
"Hi Cal," Julie still hated when Caleb called her 'Juju.'
"What are you doing?" Caleb questioned and stared as she searched for vodka.
"Looking for a drink. It seems that Marissa wiped us clean," Julie pulled out a bottle and found the tiniest bit of vodka in it.
"But she's underage," Caleb sounded so unhip, Julie thought.
"Cal, you know nothing about 'Generation Y.' Everyone drinks. I bet your grandson swigs back a few," Julie gave up. Marissa had the last liquor in the house.
"I bet that Ryan made him... Anyways, why do you need alcohol?" Caleb asked.
"Because Marissa hates me," Julie commented.
"Hasn't she always hated you?" Caleb wondered.
"Haha. Very funny Cal. I really mean it. I'm a horrible mother. I've abandoned my kids," Julie really was a bad mom.
"You're a fine mom," Caleb tried to help Julie feel better but she didn't.
000000000000
Seth gave up on his video game and headed to the pool house. Ryan had left Seth and Marissa to the games a while back so Seth went to check on him.
The pool house was dark as it was usually dark. Ryan wasn't tired, he got enough sleep all day.
"Hey Ryan, are you asleep? Ry? Are you awake? Ryan?" Seth asked.
"I'm awake Seth," Ryan slowly pulled himself up.
"Cool," Seth smiled, put on the lamp, and laid on the bed.
"So, what's up?" Ryan knew Seth had something to ramble about.
"I'm thinking about Summer and the infamous Willow Creek," Seth exclaimed.
"Yeah, there's some great memories there," Ryan commented.
"Yeah, about that. I was wondering, like what happened there? And you mentioned Nicole yesterday? What's with that?" Seth looked over at his brother and sat down.
Ryan had to think first. He didn't feel right talking about Willow Creek with Seth. This was what he tried to avoid with not telling him. It seemed like Seth was okay with it, but just yesterday, he punched Ryan in the face.
"Ry? Dude, are you in this universe?" Seth waved his hand in front of Ryan, who finally blinked.
"Huh?" Ryan came out of his thoughts.
"I was asking what Willow Creek was like. And about that Nicole chick. So, would you care to elaborate?" Seth reiterated.
"Not especially, but I know you won't shut up until I tell you," Seth nodded. "I guess it was okay. Had therapy, went through a lot of stuff, safety room..." Ryan explained.
"Safety room? What's a safety room?" Seth didn't like the sound of that.
"A safety room is a Willow Creek tradition myth. Supposedly, every person has to endure a safety room at one point. As far as I know, no one's beat that. In there, you lose everything, you're just a null and void. For every day in a safety room, you get three days added to your stay," Ryan was in for two days, which they rounded to a week more for the stay. It was hell in there. You didn't feel anything.
"That's not gonna happen to Summer. It can't," Seth was afraid she'd end up in there.
"No offense Seth, but it most likely will happen. I'm amazed she wasn't taken to one before. I told her about my stay," Ryan informed his brother.
"Why did you tell her?" Seth guessed he couldn't be mad at her for keeping it a secret, but he kind of was.
"Because I was afraid she'd do something like kill herself," Ryan remembered that day, it was about a month ago. He couldn't believe that long of a time passed by.
"Wait, when did you tell her?" Seth was always confused talking about the things that he learned yesterday.
"When Marissa told her about your little jump. She freaked out and according to Nicole, was trying to find something to kill herself with," Ryan said everything with such ease, but inside, it was so difficult to deal with.
"Oh," Seth had no clue what to say at first. "So how do you know Nicole?" He avoided more talk of him and Summer.
"Well, when I was in, they were doing reconstruction so we had to get taken to other facilities. I was sent to the psych ward at the local hospital. She was my roommate," Ryan had to admit it was nice being able to say all those things to Seth.
"Did anything happen?" Seth asked his brother jokingly.
"No. Though she does owe me fifteen hundred dollars," Ryan answered, the mood lighting up.
"What for?" Seth questioned.
"Poker. We played most of the time. I won," Ryan reminisced.
"Ah, the mutant card counting abilities come in handy again. You're gonna have to teach me some of the tips and techniques," Seth commented as Ryan slowly got himself up to get a glass of water.
"Well, do you have the time?" It took Ryan years to perfect his card skills.
"Sure, man. Let's work on it after you um, withdraw," Seth felt incredibly uncomfortable saying that.
"Deal," Ryan was glad Seth had gotten through his suicide stage if you wanted to call it that.
"How long does withdraw usually take?" Seth wondered. He had never really talked with a person who did drugs. Alcohol was a different thing.
"Three to five days," Ryan couldn't wait until it was over. He had thrown up like three times today. This had to be the worst day. It only could get better. Ryan was praying for that day.
"Ah, so at most only a week of hell," Seth commented.
"Only a week Seth? You obviously have no clue how bad withdraw is," Ryan corrected Seth.
"Guess not. How much does it suck?" Seth wondered.
"A lot," Ryan finished drinking his water and began to wash it off.
"Oh. But I guess you're not gonna do it again, right?" Seth was careful.
"Right," Ryan walked back to the bed.
"Why did you do it anyways?" Seth couldn't see where that weakness in Ryan was hiding.
"Well, when I first got hooked, my mom wasn't in that bad of shape. So I still felt like a kid and it was okay to screw up. My mom, her boyfriend, and Theresa found me and sent me to get help. My mom spent most of our money for the stay.
"When I got home, she was worse off, so I grew up, and tried to fix my family. I just lost touch with most people," Ryan explained.
Seth couldn't believe that all this had happened.
"So when I told Summer about everything and temptation came back, and I felt like an escape was what I needed. A huge mistake on my part," Ryan told his brother his tale.
"Oh, cool," Seth was amazed with Ryan. He spoke more than Seth in this conversation. "Well, I'll leave you to sleep."
"Doubt I'll get any," Ryan joked as Seth headed out of the pool house and to his own room.
What did we think? I took the chap title from Hole's "Miss World." Best lyrics ever. Well, please review, and think about my hint... Person has an A in it... Hmm...who could it be?