6/5/2005

Chapter 6

Disclamer- I don't own The O.C.

A/N- Wow you guys, thanks so much for those reviews, they were really really inspiring! You are all so fantastic. Thank you to AgathaN for the suggestion…that's a really great idea, the only problem is I've kind of taken the story in a certain direction already. I hope you guys enjoy it!

At ten the next morning, Marissa awoke to a familiar echo pounding through her head. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, dismissing the physical pain, and carried her aching legs over to the bathroom. After only one minute of being awake, the previous night's events fell over her like a black veil. She went through the film of fresh memories; driving to the beach, crying in Ryan's arms, settling into bed…

The rest of the night played on repeat with every second that passed. She could still see his hand resting gently on her waist, his lips coming closer to hers. But no matter how much energy she put into changing the strained memory, wishing they had kissed it was solidified in time only one way.

Marissa slid out of the bathroom and wandered back to her bed, resting her head on the dark wooden backboard. She felt the mattress adjust to her caved body, and was about to let herself fall back asleep for lack of anything better to do, when a knock sounded from her door.

"Marissa…"

She didn't respond.

"Marissa, are you awake?"

Her mother's voice seeped through the cracks of the door, but Marissa couldn't bring herself to answer. She tossed over in bed, anticipating whatever would come next.

"Sandy called. He said the three of us have to be over there as soon as possible, so I want you to meet me and your father downstairs in twenty minutes.

Her stomach dropped. She had been living in such agony since it happened that she didn't have much time to think of the results of the case. It had all seemed so surreal, and now she was certain she was being convicted. The pain became too much for her to dwell on. She stood up and walked over to her closet, thumbing through the outfits with little conviction. It didn't matter what she wore. Ryan probably hated her, and soon she'd be spending her time locked up in a cell. Her face grew white with the thoughts, and she felt her body turning cold and stone-like.

"You couldn't have worn something a little nicer?"

Julie looked at her daughter's outfit with a scrutinizing eye. She was wearing a pair of tight fitting jeans and a grey USC sweater. Her hair was pulled back in a high pony tail, a few wispy bangs brushed to the side. Marissa had no desire to respond to her mother's cold remarks, after what happened the night before.

"Oh, right. Those are your hangover clothes."

Jimmy stared at Julie with warning eyes, silencing the unappreciated remarks. They walked out of the mansion hand in hand, with their daughter following behind. Together, as a family. And yet Marissa felt more alone and depressed than she had since the summer before. She stifled her sadness and walked off to her mom's car, not so ready to face her fate.

Xxxxx

The Cohens and Coopers sat around the table, anxiously awaiting the verdict. Their nerves pinched inside of them as they watched Sandy pull out the last remaining chair, a solemn look on his face. They didn't want him to postpone what they were inevitably going to find out. He sat down and glanced around at the apprehensive faces, pausing before he began to speak.

"It's over."

The words hung thickly in the air, leaving an unsettling feeling inside of them. It was over, but what did that mean? Either the case had been dismissed, or she would be leaving for prison in a couple of days.

"Marissa…"

Her heart began to thud violently inside her chest as she anticipated the worst response. She could feel her hands shaking uncontrollably and she kept swallowing as if she were trying to keep the emotional discharge inside of her.

Please just say it. God, just say it.

"If I were you, I'd plan on hanging around here for another year. Until you graduate, that is."

The suspended tension dropped immediately as the words echoed inside their brains.

"Wait…you mean…" Marissa stuttered.

"You're a 17 year old girl who'd never picked up a gun before in your life, with no criminal record, and you were witnessing a murder. The decision was unanimous.

"Oh, thank God."

Julie stood up abruptly and walked over to her daughter, who seemed speechless. Before she realized it, Marissa found herself in her mothers arms. After a few seconds, Jimmy got up from the table and walked over to them, joining his newly reunited family. The other three watched the moment unfold before their eyes. It was one of those times when everything just seemed perfect, even for only one minute of time.

The phone started to ring, beckoning a quick response from Sandy. He was always the first one to answer the calls lately, hoping it would be his wife.

"Hello?"

"Hi Summer. Hold on, I'll get him."

A disappointed Sandy handed the phone over to his son, who took it gratefully and walked out of the room. The six others stood comfortably in the kitchen, ease still filling the air. The worst was over, and a huge weight had been lifted off of their shoulders.

"I gotta run to the office. My old clients from when I worked with the firm keeping referring me. I swear…It's like I never left."

"That's right," Jimmy started. "You were starting your own practice. How's that going?"

"Great, except for the fact that the Newpsies won't leave me alone. But the office is amazing. Large, spacious, beach front view. I can go surfing whenever my heart desires. Why don't you come check it out?"

"That would be fantastic."

"And what am I supposed to do?" Julie questioned.

"You can come with. We'll grab some lunch afterwards?"

Jimmy looked at her with his large brown eyes, and she reluctantly agreed.

"Come on," Sandy said. "We'll take my car."

The three adults exited the kitchen, leaving Ryan and Marissa alone. They hadn't spoken since last night, and although both were ecstatic that the case was over, a string of tension laced through the air. She knew she had to say something.

"About last night…"

Ryan looked away, the embarrassment surfacing in his face.

"I'm sorry, I just…I was afraid. I mean that afternoon we were-"

"It's okay. I get it."

And he did. At first, Ryan wasn't sure why she had turned away from him. But he was up late thinking about it, about everything. Their moments together were so passionate that he had almost forgotten what happened earlier that day. He wasn't sure where things were going now, but they were alone, and he wanted to spend time with her.

"So what are you doing today?"

"Umm…nothing of interest."

"Wanna head down to the pier? Maybe grab a balboa bar?"

He smiled at her, and she could feel her cheeks reddening. Even two years later, her heart melted when he looked at her; a slight, sexy grin piercing right through her body. She glanced down for a second, and he knew she would agree.

They walked side by side down the pier, the ground creaking slightly below their feet. The sleeve of his shirt brushed her arm, sending a wave of physical longing through her. Marissa looked around, memories surfacing in her mind. Every different place brought back another time, and it was almost like she could see their bodies recreating the scenes.

"Sometimes this place feels haunted."

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

Ryan had been thinking the same things, watching the same ghost-like recollections play out in front of them.

"It's like everywhere I turn there's some other memory," she said.

They walked over to the bench and sat down close to each other, their knees touching slightly. Ryan looked at her as she stared out towards the ocean, taking in the blond waves that fell over her shoulders. He searched her face, concentrating on the solemn look in her eyes.

"What's this bench?" he asked.

"Umm…" She considered it.

"This is where Seth told me that we were the two loneliest people in Newport."

"Wait, where was I?"

"You were…with Lindsay."

He looked down below him uncomfortably, and she quickly tried to take back her statement.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"No, it's okay. It's not that, It's just…I guess I never really thought of what you went through…You know, I mean, when I left."

Marissa turned her gaze from him, attempting to hold back the sadness that was growing from the memory.

"But hey," he started, trying to lighten the mood. "We had our good times here too, right?"

She laughed slightly.

"Like when we went on that model home mission for survival supplies?"

"Yeah, but I was thinking more like this one…"

He caught her lips in his, holding onto the kiss as he waited for her to respond to it. At first she was shocked, unable to move. But her senses started to warm to the touch of his lips, and she pressed down on them softly, sustaining the moment. His forehead glided down hers slowly as he moved his mouth on hers. She pulled her hand off of the edge of the seat and rested it on his cheek, while he slid his fingers down the side of her arm. The kiss began to deepen, and he grazed his lips gently against her face. Marissa trailed her hands down the side of his neck to his arms, feeling his muscles contract as he held her in his hands. They weren't rushing. The world always stopped for them.

XXXXXXX

"When did you learn to cook so well?"

Jimmy was sitting over a plate of eggs benedict, amazed by his ex-wife's newfound talent. She walked over and pulled out the stool next to him, pouring herself a tall glass of orange juice.

"Oh, it was a last attempt to salvage my marriage with Cal…"

"You served eggs benedict to a man with a heart condition in an attempt to keep him around?"

Julie narrowed her eyes into a cold stare, and he backed off with a small laugh.

"Well Juls, one thing that hasn't changed…nothing keeps you from getting what you want."

"Which is actually what I wanted to talk to you about."

He looked at her with confusion running across his face, slowing down his fervent chewing.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I was thinking. With you back, and Caitlin coming home from boarding school this year…"

"Yes?"

"I think we should move. As in, get out of Newport."

"What?" He couldn't believe the words that had just escaped her mouth "You love it here."

"Oh Jimmy, I know, I did. But after everything that just happened with Marissa, and with the-"

She cut herself short before she accidentally mentioned her newly infamous sex tape to him. But not soon enough to squander his interest.

"The what?"

"Nothing. Nothing. I just think it would be better for us, as a family. To start anew…"