Okay this one's a tad bit more serious than the previous fluffy parts, so bear with the drama, ;). Here's the next chapter, enjoy! And thanks for all the reviews, guys!


Broken Seatbelts

Chapter 14: The Semi Problem and The Semi Resolution

"Look, Sandy, yes the kid was most definitely in the wrong, but the fact remains that Senator Stevens is very powerful he has more connections in the Court than any of us would like to admit. And with the upcoming elections, I'd bet a lot of money that he'd do anything to prevent his loss."

"I know, I know. But there has got to be something I can use against them."

"Why don't you just drop the charges?"

"You have got to be kidding me!" Sandy let out a hearty laugh at a previous coworkers little not-so funny joke.

"Sandy, I don't know what to tell you, man. You're screwed."

"I'm not giving up, John. This kid almost killed us that night, dropping the charges is not possible in the foreseeable future." Sandy stood up from his seat and gathered his things. "Thanks for your help, John." He turned to exit the office.

"Hey, Sandy! For what it's worth, I hope you nail him." Sandy smiled and nodded and left the room, slightly angrier than when he entered.

"It's not looking good, Kirsten, John basically told me that with the Stevens' popularity, we have no case."

"No case, Sandy? How about the extensive collection of evidence…?"

"…That proves that there was an accident, not an accident with the intent of murder. Hell, we don't even have enough for DUI."

"What? Why? He was clearly not sober!"

"Yes, well unless we can prove our beloved Senator has tampered with his son's blood tests, he was under the legal limit."

"This is… this is not fair." Kirsten said frustrated, dropping to the couch in the Common Room, close to tears, her husband putting his arm around her offering comfort.

"I know, sweetie. I know, and I will do my best to get him in jail."

"I know you will, Sandy… but we do have one more connection who could provide substantial publicity."

"Your father." Sandy said deadpanned.

"Yes, Sandy, my father, your father-in-law-"

"Oh, please do not refer to him as so."

"…Seth's grandfather, Marissa's stepfather… he could help the case."

"Or ruin it."

"Let me talk to him, it can't hurt to talk to him."

"Ok, fine, but I'm not considering this a favor."

"Of course not." Kirsten kissed her husband on the cheek and went to the kitchen to call her father.

"You think they know we're listening in?" Marissa whispered from her position on the main stairs; Ryan behind her and Seth beside her with Summer leaning on Seth.

"Probably not." Seth answered. "They don't want us to know, so they'll believe that we don't knowwhich in turn will convince them that we aren't eavesdropping."

"Cohen, that doesn't make sense, but I see where you're coming from." Summer 'fed' her boyfriend's ego.

"Really? Cause I don't."

"Well, Ry, that's because you're brain isn't as evolved as us Newport-ers are."

"Well, Seth, by saying what you just did proves your brain is still in the pre-evolutionary stage." Ryan replied. "And your parents probably know, just are choosing not to call it on us because we will find out eventually."

"See? Now, that makes sense!" Marissa exclaimed.

"Shhh!" Listening intently the gang stayed silent after they heard the news of Caleb possibly helping.

"Well, Marissa, I guess your step-daddy might come in handy, for once." Summer smiled at her best friend.

"What if Zach gets off?" Marissa asks the question all had thought.

"Nothing." Seth said adamantly.

"Seth-" Ryan started.

"No, Ryan. What does it matter if he does get off? It won't turn back time if he does go to jail. Now, don't get me wrong, I want him in jail, but if he were to get off, what's to say we can't make him pay ourselves?"

"Seth, what are you saying?" Marissa asked wearily.

"I'm not saying we off him or anything, God, I'm not mentally unstable," at everyone's look of doubt he quickly covered himself, "I'm not! But anyway, I'm just saying there are things we can do to make his life a living hell, legally, AND watch him suffer."

"Like what? Stick rotten meat in his locker? Torture him with glares, Cohen?" Summer asked her boyfriend.

"Yeah, stuff like that. So what if it's juvenile, if in the end it's all we have, we do it. If he gets off, I'll be pissed off as all hell, but I'm not going to go into some creepy depressed funk, I'll get back at him. Anyway I can."

"But it's… childish."

"Dude, we're still 'kids' for another year, take advantage, man."

"He's going to go to jail, Seth." The strong conviction came from Summer, the once-upon-a-time bitch of the group. "There's more than just DUI charges against him."

"What?"

"Let's just say, Zach's not too friendly when drunk."

"Again, I say 'what'?" Seth repeated, brows furrowed in concerned.

Summer shared a look with Marissa, after all she had been there. It wasn't like Zach had gone completely postal on her; beating every inch of her. He just caused some bruising, which according to the cops was enough to charge him with, so she had. She had gone to Sandy and Kirsten with it, not wanting to worry Seth or Marissa.

"Summer, what are you talking about?"

"That night he was a little rough, he gave me a nasty ass bruise on my arm-"

"I thought you said that was from the accident?"

"I did, I just didn't want to worry you."

"Summer, you should have told me."

"It's done with now, Seth. I'm okay, Marissa's okay. And this is just something else we can charge him with."

Marissa and Ryan had been quiet during Summer's revelation. Marissa had known, but Ryan hadn't. And it pissed him off to no end. Sure, him and Summer weren't too close, but they were close enough for him to be angry. He hated men who abused women or children, he himself being subjected to the latter. And the fact Marissa had also been there didn't subdue his anger any.

"Well, was that the only time? Did he…" Seth trailed off, interrupting Ryan's thoughts abruptly, he was also eager to hear the answer as the result could possibly end in some major stress relief.

"I don't want to talk about this; you just need to know that if he gets off on the DUI, he won't get off on this." Summer sighed frustrated and got up, flying up the stairs, heading to Seth's room.

Seth got up to follow her but was restrained by Marissa's hand on his arm. She also got up.

"Let me."

"No, let me?" Ryan was the last person they thought would offer his assistance. "I've… seen more of this-"

"She's my girlfriend!"

"Yeah, and you're just going to badger her with questions! And 'Riss, just… let me, ok?"

"Okay, I'll calm Seth down."

"I don't need calming down! I just wanna see my girlfriend."

"I know, Seth. But just let Ryan go right now, he's right. We'll just bombard her with questions, she needs someone a little more objective."

Seth, reluctantly, nodded and let Ryan go comfort his girlfriend.