Hey guys...thanks for the reviews. I hope you like this chapter...I don't, but bare with me, cause I've been going through a writer's block. You guys rock! Later, Jamie.
Marissa sat her last bag on the floor of her new room.
"Hey Kiddo." Jimmy said stepping into her room.
"Hey."
"Getting everything unpacked?"
"Yeah. I talked to mom…she said that she was sorry. I don't know if she meant it though." Marissa said putting a picture on her desk.
"I think that she realizes that she made a mistake. You should go see her, talk to her." Jimmy said smiling.
"I will. I'm just so mad at her. But I'm sure she was trying to do what was best for me…I guess. She has a funny way of showing that she loves me."
"Yeah. But she does. Well, Kiddo. I've got to get to work. You'll be okay here right?"
"Of course. I can unpack, and I'm sure Ryan would love to help." Marissa said laughing a little.
"Okay. It'll be late when I get home. Don't wait up or anything."
"Okay." Marissa said hugging her dad and letting him leave.
It was no time before she called Summer.
"A party? Summer, I don't think Ryan will…"
"Look, Coop. It's one little party. And I was invited. I can't go alone, and I won't go with just Seth. PLEASE?" Summer asked, putting Marissa's clothes in her closet for her.
"I'll talk to Ryan."
"Why don't me and you just go? Then you won't have to tell Ryan."
"I can't lie to him."
"It's not lying if you avoid the subject. And we will be hanging out…so tell him that me and you are hanging out tonight."
"Okay." Marissa replied, giving in to Summer. She didn't want to go to a party…but maybe a night away would be good for her. It has been a while since she last drank, and she did kind of miss it. "Okay. But if Ryan finds out…you take the blame."
"Okay Coop. Get ready." Summer said happily.
"I just hope he doesn't stop by to like, surprise me…y'know, he only lives a few blocks away now."
"I doubt he will. I'll make sure Cohen keeps him busy okay."
"Alright."
"Okay Ryan. I got chips, dip, cookies, Mountain Dew, and Pop Tarts." Seth said, walking into the Pool House.
"I told you I wasn't hungry Seth." Ryan said pausing the game he was playing.
"What's wrong buddy? Are you upset cause Marissa and Summer went out?" Seth asked in a babyish mocking tone.
"No. I'm just bored, and you keep bothering me."
"Ryan, it was one party, they'll be back…"
"Party!" Ryan asked, jumping up instantly.
"Oops."
"See Coop. This is fun. I'm gonna go check out the rest of this place. See ya later." Summer yelled over the blaring music.
"Okay Summer. You don't have to worry." Marissa called back.
With that Summer walked off smiling. She trusted Marissa.
"Hey babe. You want some?" A strange guy asked Marissa holding out some orange liquid.
"What is it?" Marissa asked.
"Vodka…orange juice…the usual." He held it out for her to take and she accepted it.
She took a drink and the once familiar taste wasn't so familiar to her anymore. She gulped the rest down and it burned, but she liked it. The guy smiled and walked away. Marissa saw the clear liquid in a bottle and grabbed it off the counter. 'It was just one little party' Summer had said…well, it was just 'one little drink' Marissa thought.
She took off the cap and drank the vodka straight. She remembered why she loved drinking. She didn't have to worry about her mom, or college, or her dad, or anything. The numbness was starting to take over, and she felt good. So she kept drinking.
Ryan and Seth were in the car and looking for the house that the party was at.
"I can't believe you Seth. You kept this from me? You knew where they were going."
"Ryan, calm down. It's one party. What's the worst that could happen."
"Marissa could get drunk."
"It won't be the first time."
"No…but she's supposed to…"
"To what?"
"She promised. She lied to me again." Ryan said, pulling into the driveway of where the party was.
He ran inside to find a massive crowd of people. He remembered this all too well, and he hated it. "Marissa!" He screamed out for her over the music.
"Chino? What are you doing here?" Summer asked, sounding a little tipsy.
"Where's Marissa?" Ryan asked avoiding her question.
"Dunno. Haven't seen her in a while." Summer said taking another drink from her cup.
Ryan looked over the crowd of teens. He finally saw her. She was drunk, he could tell.
Marissa saw Ryan standing next to Summer. He was mad, she could tell.
He walked up to her angry, and pulled her outside. "Ryan! What are you doing?" Marissa yelled.
"What are you doing? Getting drunk! Marissa!"
"I'm sorry." Marissa tried to explain but Ryan was too mad to care.
"No. You lied to me."
"I'm sorry. It was Summer's idea. I was just having fun Ry."
"You think this is fun? Us, fighting?"
"No."
"Well, that's what happens when you drink…we fight. Why Marissa? You were doing so good." Ryan asked, calming his voice a little.
Marissa started to explain but instead launched forward to throw up. Ryan sighed and walked over to her, holding her hair back for her and rubbing her back.
Seth came out with Summer, who was obviously drunk as well. "I'm taking her car and taking her home…so you take the Rover home and I'll be there later." Seth said holding Summer up with his body.
"Okay." Ryan replied, taking Marissa's hand and walking her to the car.
Ryan pulled into Marissa's new driveway. He looked over at her and found that she had passed out. He got out of the car and went to the passenger's side. He picked Marissa up out of the seat, and carried her inside. He laid her down on her bed and sat beside her. He pushed the hair out of her eyes and kissed her forehead. She stirred, but didn't wake up.
Marissa woke up to the sun in her eyes. "Uggh." She moaned.
She had a headache. A hangover. Her first in a long time. She looked around the room and saw Ryan, asleep on the floor, against the wall. 'Great' she thought. She had forgotten last night's events. She wished that Ryan did too…but there was no chance in hell she was that lucky.
She got out of bed and went to the bathroom. She looked horrible. Her hair was a mess, and her make-up was smeared over her eyes.
She took a quick shower and brushed her teeth. When she came out of the bathroom, Ryan was awake.
"Hey." She said, walking over to him.
"Hey. I fell asleep…I guess." Ryan replied quietly.
"It's okay…Ryan…I don't know exactly what happened, but, I'm sorry. I really am." Marissa said, tears forming in her eyes.
Ryan stood silent for a while. "You lied to me."
"I know, I shouldn't have gone to that party. It was a mistake."
Ryan dropped his head. He didn't want to stay mad at her. "You can't do this anymore. You can't keep doing this." He replied.
"I know…how about we hang out today, just us? Talk about everything?"
Ryan was silent.
"Ryan?"
"Yeah?"
"I know that I've lied too many times, and I really don't deserve forgiveness but, last night…I just, I…don't know how to explain it."
"Okay…Marissa. Look, I want you to know that I love you. But you can't keep doing this stuff to me, or to yourself. Last night I was so mad and worried about you. I was mad because you lied to me, about everything. I want to be able to trust you."
"You can. I'm trying so hard Ryan. I am."
"I know."
"I love you." Marissa said, putting her arms around Ryan and hugging him.
He hugged her back and whispered "I know."
"Hey. Ryan. You got mail today." Kirsten said happily.
"I did?" Ryan asked. He never got mail.
"Yes. Here." Kirsten said handing him the envelope.
"It's from Stanford." Ryan said opening it. "I got in." He said quietly.
"You got in! Ryan that's wonderful!" Kirsten said hugging him. "I'm so proud of you. I have to call Sandy." She said walking out of the kitchen.
"I got in." Ryan said still a little shocked.
"Where?" Seth asked coming into the kitchen and scaring Ryan a little.
"Stanford."
"Awesome. Where's mine?"
"Yours?" Ryan asked confused.
"Yeah, dude. I applied at the same schools as you. Ahh…here it is." Seth said picking his envelope off of the counter. He opened it.
"Did you get in?" Ryan asked, curious.
"Yeah, I did!" Seth yelled.
"Awesome." Ryan said using the same tone Seth had used with him.
Seth extended his hand for a high-five and Ryan slapped his hand against Seth's.
"We're going to college together…we're going to college together!" Seth sung as he danced around the kitchen. Then stopped when he saw Ryan's face. "What?"
"We have to tell the girls."
"Oh…yeah."
Okay, I tried. Let's just pretend that college letters come during the summer. Use your imagination, I know you can. And don't forget to inspire me with the great reviews.
