Chapter 2 – The One To Pull Me Through

After a week, the entire nation was engulfed in the trial of Marissa Cooper. Her family and friends had been stalked by the media, as everyone tried to get any information they could off her. She had been asked to do several interviews, but declined all of them, as she lived in confinement in the Orange County Woman's Detention Facility.

For Marissa Cooper, it all seemed like a bad dream. The biggest thing that was against her was the fact that she never reported Trey's attempted rape to the authorities. Furthermore, the fact that Ryan had a history of violence, and instigated the fight, did little to help her case.

Her mother, her father, and her sister visited her twice daily. Ryan, Summer and Seth all visited her every other day. She had random appointments with her attorney, Sandy Cohen. He told her not to worry, that everything would be okay.

The day of her first court hearing was a dreadful one. As soon as she left the van, she was bombarded by reporters and cameras. "Marissa! Marissa!" They all shouted, hoping to get any comment from her. Sandy did his best as he tried to protect her from the borage of reporters.

"Marissa? Any comment?" One reporter asked her.

"Help me." She stated, "I'm innocent."

She was soon escorted into the courtroom, her mother right behind her. Her father and sister were already sitting in the packed courtroom, which was filled with reporters and television cameras. Ryan, Seth and Summer all sat in the front row. She and Sandy sat at the defendant's table, while the prosecution sat to the right of them.

"All rise," the bailiff announced, "judge Percy Miller presiding." Everyone in the courtroom rose, as camera flashes went off. The judge was a tired, old man. His face was wrinkled; he had a few spots of white hair left. He however, had been in the legal system since he was in his early twenties. Sandy had dealt with him many times before.

The entire court sat down once he had. He began to speak, but Marissa drowned out the words. She was too confused on what was going on. She still had no idea what was going on. "…the case of the State of California versus Marissa Cooper, Mr. Myers, what do you charge the defendant with?"

Mr. Bradley Myers was the chief prosecutor in the case, representing the state. "We are charging the defendant with first degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon in the murder of Trey Atwood." He paused, "The state is seeking six years for the first charge, and two years for the second."

"Mr. Cohen," the judge motioned, "does your client understand the charges?"

"Yes your honor," he answered, "she does."

Marissa promised herself she wouldn't cry. She fought to keep back tears, to show she was strong. "Okay then," the judge quickly looked down at some papers, "I'm setting a court date for two weeks - where we'll begin jury selection." He spoke, "I'm setting the bail for one million." He then banged his gavel, "Court is adjourned."

Marissa arose, flabbergasted. As she walked through the isle of the court, she was blinded by flashes of cameras. She was soon greeted by awaiting reports outside. It would be a walk she would get to be very familiar with. They crowded around her, making it hard to breath and difficult to walk. Her mother cried openly as her daughter was whisked back to the jail. Sandy followed the van.

"Ms. Cooper, any comment on the charges? Mr. Cooper?"

"My daughter's innocent," Julie Cooper stated, as she faced numerous television cameras. "She's innocent."

--

Summer Roberts sobbed in her boyfriend's arms, as he did the best to comfort her. "She'll be okay," he reassured her, "nothing's going to happen to her."

"She's only in high school," Summer cried, her face still buried in Seth's arms. "How can they want to lock her up for eight years?"

"It's just what the prosecution wants," Seth reminded her, "it doesn't mean it's going to happen." The phone rang, and he quickly answered it with his free hand.

"Hello?"

"Hi…Seth?"

"Yeah?" The voice sounded familiar.

"It's…um…Theresa. Is Ryan there?"

"Sure…" Seth carefully arose from the couch, as Summer placed her head into a pillow. Walking into the backyard, he tapped of the pool house door. Ryan opened it, obviously annoyed.

"What do you want Seth?"

Seth covered the receiver as he spoke, "It's…Theresa."

Ryan was taken aback when he picked up the phone, "Hello…"

"Hey Ryan," Theresa's voice was warm, welcoming. "Look, I heard about Marissa on the news…are you okay?"

"I'm fine." He stated, as he plopped down on the bed, "It's just…it's all happened so fast."

"I know, I know," she paced around her mother's kitchen, nervous. It used to be easy to talk to him, now it was so difficult. She just wanted to shout it, she wanted to scream it. She wanted so badly to tell him, the baby was his.

But she couldn't.

"How long are you still going to be in Chino for?"

"Just a few more days," Theresa lied, "then I have to go back to Atlanta."

"Right." He sighed, "Well…we should have lunch, or dinner, or something. I wanna see you before you go."

"Is tonight good?" She asked, walking into her living room. "If it's not it's no big-"

"No, tonight's good. Tonight is good." He repeated. "Should I pick you up at your mom's house?"

"Um…" she bit down on her nails, "yeah. That'll be great. Pick me up at eight."

--

"Where are we going from here?" Julie asked Sandy in her kitchen, as she gazed out her window. Her life seemed so empty without her. Caitlin had locked herself in her room, while Jimmy took a shower. They all wanted to escape.

"You can pay the bail; you can release her for the time being."

"For a million bucks, right?" Julie questioned.

"Oh c'mon Julie," Sandy placed his hands on the kitchen counter, "Caleb must have left you…what? Fifty million?"

"Actually that was Kirsten," Julie turned around, "he left me fifteen."

"Then pay the bail," Sandy convinced her, "free your daughter."

"It's not the money," Julie looked in the opposite direction, "it's the principal. My daughter's innocent. She shouldn't be there in the first place."

"I know that," Sandy touched his chest, "you know that," he pointed, "but how does the judge know that? The court? The prosecutors?" He shrugged, "As far as they're concerned, she shot him in a fight that her boyfriend started." He paused, "And the fact that she never reported Trey attacking to her to the authorities-"

"She's just a little girl!" Julie shouted, holding back tears, "What was she supposed to do? Now she's the one getting in trouble for what that piece of shit did to her."

"I know, I know," Sandy walked over to her, and embraced her, "but it's going to be okay. Everything's going to be fine."

--

"Mommy!" Marissa Cooper embraced her mother, as she picked her up from jail. Now, she would be under house arrest. A monitor was tied around her ankle. Her mother embraced her; their words were muffled by the tears of joy.

As soon as word got out that Marissa Cooper was free on bail, the media headed straight to her house. The cameras were rolling as soon as she stepped out of the car. "Marissa? Julie? Any comment?"

"Today's a good day," Julie smiled, as she walked into her house. Marissa was informed that she was only allowed to stay inside, she wasn't allowed to leave unless of a doctor or dental appointment, or for a court hearing.

Summer and Seth were already waiting, and Summer was the first to pounce on her. She moved her back and forth, overcome with joy. "I'm so glad your here, I'm so glad your back."

"Me too," Marissa smiled, crying. "Where's Ryan?"

"He's um…he's out to dinner with Teresa." Seth explained, "She's leaving soon, so…"

"Oh," Marissa nodded, "okay." She glanced up the staircase, and beamed when she was her father. "Daddy!"

"Hey kiddo," Jimmy lifted his daughter up, and twirled her around. "I'm so happy you're home."

For once, Marissa Cooper actually felt liked she had a family.

--

"A desperate Marissa Cooper asked one thing today," John Beard spoke, as tape played of Marissa walking into jail. "for the public to help her." Marissa saying help me, then played on television sets across the L.A. area. Many other reporters had already reported the story in their own cities, respectively.

"It was a dramatic day in the trial of Marissa Cooper," John Beard continued, "as the prosecutors told the court they were seeking six years for first degree murder, two years for assault with a deadly weapon. Outside of the court, Julie Cooper, remained confident in her daughter's innocence.

"Later in the day, her mother paid the one million dollar bail set by the judge. Outside of her house, Julie Cooper told reporter's that, 'today's a good day'".

--

"I came as soon as I heard," Ryan spoke, rushing into Marissa's room. Marissa grinned, as she ran over and hugged him. She then leaned in, and kissed him. "Everything's going to be okay."

"I know," she smiled, still in his arms, "how's Teresa?"

"I don't care. Seth called me and I told her we'd have dinner some other time." He smiled, "I care about you. I'm not going to let her come between us again."

She told Ryan to sit on the bed, as she put a C.D. in her C.D. player. She was gonna play a song that she had always thought described her relationship with Ryan. It was Deliver Me by Sarah Brightman.

Deliver me…out of my sadness

"This song has always made me think about you."

Deliver me…from all of the madness.

"Really?" He asked, as she sat next to him.

Deliver me…courage to guide me.

"Of course," she sat on his lap, as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He ran his fingers through her hair.

Deliver me…strength from inside me.

She passionately kissed him, forcing him to lie down on the bed.

All of my life, I was in hiding…

She unbuttoned his shirt, as she continued to make out with him. He quickly tore off her shirt, revealing only a bra.

Wishing there was someone like you.

He unbuckled his belt, and quickly slipped it off. He then took off his pants, lying down in only a pair of boxers. She quickly took off her jeans, and soon unhooked her bra.

Now that you're here…now that I've found you.

She took of his boxers, and then her thong. "We haven't done this in awhile," she grinned, "I'm excited."

I know that you're the one to pull me through.

"Marissa, wait."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he smiled, "I just want you to know, I am going to pull you through this."