The following fan fiction is a collaboration of the O.C. RPG website (www) avidgamers (com/schoolofrock)

Story By:

Ryan – Colin (Coolcolin5)

Marissa – Erin

Summer - Name Currently Unknown

Edited By:

Ryan – Coolcolin5

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The O.C. Season 3 - Episode 2 – "The Pay Off" Scene 1 - Courtroom

The courtroom fell silent, no one even moved, no one spoke. The recently widowed Julie Cooper Nickel sat front row, hand in hand with her ex-husband Jimmy Cooper. Beside them Seth, Summer and Ryan sat, there inner thoughts a thousand times louder than the now hum of anticipation within the small room.

The first row all shuttered as the judge's door opened and then slammed and a woman dressed in a black robe made her way to the large seat at the front of the room.

When her mouth began to open the hum the room had emitted, turned to nothingness.

"Marissa Cooper, you stand accused of attempted manslaughter in the second degree and if the victim dies while in the coma, the charge may be changed to murder. I now ask you Marissa Cooper, how do you plead?"

Marissa's eyes shifted to her family and friends, then to the lawyer beside her. Sandy gave a reassuring smile and glanced back at the bench, Marissa's eyes focused on the judge as she spoke.

"Not guilty."

"Your honor, the people request no bail for Ms. Cooper."

"You're honor that is ridicules," Sandy snapped back, "This young lady has never committed a crime in her life. Besides the vary nature of this incident is far from clear cut."

The judge stared at Sandy for a moment and then spoke.

"I tend to agree with you Mr. Cohen. I don't quite understand how this young lady would be a flight risk or pose a problem to society. Bail is set at 50,000 dollars."

Marissa's face remained frozen, even when she thought of going home. She felt cold inside, like life had been drained out of her, all she wanted to do was fall to her knees in tears, but instead she remained frozen and emotionless.

"This way," Sandy said, as he put his hand on Marissa shoulder and guided her out into the hallway to the comforting faces of family and friends.

Marissa practically ran to Ryan, giving him a hug.

"Ryan I'm scared." she said softly, still in his arms.

"I dont want them to take me away from you." she said closing her eyes and resting her head on his shoulder.

Looking at Ryan's face she would have been able to see the look of nervousness and worry in his eyes.

Reluctantly, Marissa let go, Summer slowly walked up to her.

"... So are you okay?" Summer asked quietly.

Marissa looked at Ryan and then back at Summer.

"I think so." she nodded her head.

Her voice was faint, she wasn't so sure she was okay.

"I'll be fine," Marissa said, breaking her stone face, "Sandy hasn't failed anyone yet. How are things with you and Seth?"

Summer shifted uncomfortably, "He's distant. I'm sure he's just dealing with this in his own way."

"I'm sure that' it," Marissa said, as she gave Summer a hug.

It felt good to comfort someone else right now. For the last few weeks she was the only one who everyone comforted and now that she looked around, she could see the pain n everyone's eyes.

"Seth where are you going?" Summer asked from within Marissa's soft grip.

"Outside," he mumbled.

"He does seem distant," Marissa said as she let go of Summer.

"I better go after him."

Summer turned and walked towards the doors and towards Seth.

"Seth," Summer called after him. "Wait... please!" Summer said as she quickened her speed.

Seth finally slowed and Summer caught up. She looked up and him feeling her emotions getting to her. The past week had been emotional and Summer felt like she couldn't live through it, but she knew she had to stay strong especially around Seth. Seth stood there his head drooped down fiddling with his hands.

"Seth?" Summer said as she motioned to put her hand on top of his. "Please tell me. You know I'm always here."

Seth looked up from the ground and looked into Summer's eyes. She could see that he was thinking about something that was bothering him as he tried to gather his words.

"Do you think..." he paused, Summer looking confused, "Do you think that maybe Ryan shouldn't have forgiven Marissa?"

Hearing what Seth had said- the way he had said it- Summer knew he had been thinking about it for a while.

"What do you mean? Like isn't that up to Ryan to decide?" she said, not wanting to start a fight.

"Yeah. And I know that. Its just Ryan is my best friend Summer, he's my brother." Seth said getting a bit defensive.

"And Marissa is my best friend. She wouldn't have done anything without a good reason." Summer argued.

Seth paused.

"And you don't call what happened on the beach a good reason?" Seth said.

Summer sighed.

"What happened on the beach... it was all a big mistake. Marissa didn't know that it would happen, and she definitely didn't want it to happen. She just was trying to be friends with Trey and it turned out to be a little more complicated than that... Marissa would definitely never do anything that would ever hurt Ryan and he should know that," Summer tried to explain.

"Take it off your mind Cohen. It's nothing for you to worry yourself over. I'm sure everything will turn out to be okay. Marissa and Ryan will work it all out and whatever happens, it'll happen for a reason."

Seth sat quietly for a minute.

"Well..." he collected his thoughts, "That wasn't really what I was saying."

She was missing the point but he definitely didn't want to start another fight.

"What I mean is that how do we know Trey was going to hurt Ryan?"

Summer looked up at him, not quite believing what she was hearing.

"You don't think it's at all possible that Marissa shot Trey for revenge?" he stared blankly at his girlfriend- hoping not to upset her.

"And you really think Marissa would do something like that? She is not a murderer Seth. She is my best friend." Summer answered.

"Ryan is my brother! And Trey is his brother. I just can't see Ryan wanting his brother to die like that." Seth said, frustrated.

Summer looked down, she was clearly upset. Seth put his hand on hers to comfort her.

"Look I'm sorry. This has nothing to do with you. I guess it just shows you how easy it is to lose someone. And it could've been Ryan... Or even Marissa for that matter."

He stopped to think.

"Its no ones fault."

Summer smiled back, only slightly.

"Lets just hope it all works out." She leaned her head on his shoulder.

The two of them sat, thinking doubtfully about the situation that they were in that their friends and family were in. It seemed like nothing would ever go back to normal.

After a silent moment Summer tried to ease the tension between them. "Do you maybe want to go back over and join Marissa and Ryan again? I think they could do with some company, they look too sad for their own good," Summer said as she turned around to look at them.

It appear that Seth was simply ignoring her, or at least deep in thought, because he didn't say a word for at least a minute.

"Summer."

"Yes."

"I've been thinking of maybe planning a trip."

Summer's eye glared red with anger and she stood letting her voice scream out at Seth.

"You're not going back to Portland! Get it out of you're mind Cohen!"

Seth smiled and then laughed.

"Alright miss rage blackouts."

Summer just glared at him, while Seth stood and pinched one of her bright red cheeks.

"So cute when you're angry, but when I said trip, I didn't mean trip."

"Then what did you mean?" Summer said, confused.

"Well I meant trip as in… vacation."

Summer paused.

"Except Marissa has court dates."

"Right," Seth sighed, "The shooting thing."

Seth sat down in defeat. Summer, seeing Seth's eyes darken, sat beside him and wrapped one arm around Seth.

"But once everything blows over for Marissa, then we can go."

Seth took a deep breath and looked into Summer's eyes.

"I heard my dad talking with a old friend of his last night. He was asking for advice on Marissa's case."

"And."

"And it doesn't sound like things are going to blow over for her."

"What? It has to she's innocent."

"I know," Seth said, "I've just never heard my dad sound so scared about a case. Usually he is so confident and optimistic. He said he thinks he can't do it."

"What does that mean?" Summer said frightened.

"Summer, Seth were going now," Sandy called as he and Ryan, Marissa, Jimmy and Julie all moved towards the parking lot.

"Seth, what does that mean?" Summer repeated.

"It means Marissa might go to jail."

We will keep going and your meaningful reviews really help. Tell us what you like, favorite parts and stuff like that. It's what makes us want to write more. I know this scene was rather short and the next one will be even shorted, but after that we have a long one ahead. Keep checking for updates and thanks for reading!