Chapter Sixteen

Marissa descended down the steps towards the large parking lot. She had rented a car—a blue Mercedes, but she wasn't sure where the pick up was. Then she saw the large sign, and began to hurry towards it, brushing a loose strand of hair back behind her ear. She motioned for the man with the large cart (which held all of her luggage) to follow her. She was moving back home, permanently. She could only hope that Ryan would be as happy as she was.

She popped open the trunk of the Mercedes and motioned for the man to put the suitcases inside while she slipped the key into the lock. After he had finished and closed the trunk behind him, she tipped the man and then revved the engine, ready to go. She was going back to Newport, back to where she belonged.

Harbor School

Newport, California

Kaitlyn ran up the stairs, careful to make sure that Elise's crew could not see her. That was when she spotted Elise, her multicolored hair blowing in the California breeze. Damn. She had to make sure that she wasn't spotted or she would be swimming in the trash can by day's end. She looked at her schedule. The only class that she had with any of Elise's crew was Calculus and English. Gerry was in English and Monique was in Calculus. Monique was a really big black girl who loved to pound people. In fact, Monique had just pounded Kaitlyn last week, after she had accidentally slipped and called her a bitch when they were questioning her about Elise's cellular phone, which had been stolen the previous day. After beating her to a near pulp, they slammed her into Elise's locker for a few hours (which was actually pretty nice, having air conditioning and such) and finally removed her at the end of the day, only to carry her out to the large dumpster and lock her in there.

Kaitlyn stayed near the bushes, careful not to breathe. If she made the slightest sound they would hear her and it would be another day of missed classes and eating garbage (not that she did that voluntarily, of course only that, when they shoved her into the garbage can, her mouth was usually open and she usually tasted leftover tuna surprise or hamburger helper— oh yea).

Kaitlyn slid into the coffee shop/lounge area and fell into one of the seats, breathing hard, thanking God that she had made it.

That was when someone grabbed her hair, jerking her to her feet. Kaitlyn screamed, horrified, then turned and saw Gerry and Monique standing before her.

"Well, well, well," said Gerry, who was considered the talker of the group, doing all of the talking for everyone.

"Uh, please don't hurt me, Gerry…Monique…"

"Who said we were going to hurt you?" asked Gerry as Monique began to crack her knuckles.

"Well, from past experiences—" began Kaitlyn as Monique slammed her fist into the palm of her other hand, trying to intimidate Kaitlyn.

Kaitlyn whimpered, fearing for her health and well being.

"Don't hurt me, I beg you."

"What have you done today?"

"Nothing, I swear."

"Let's see if we can read her mind. Monique, be a dear and slam her head open for me—"

"NO!" screamed Kaitlyn, bringing her hands up to her face in defense. "Please don't hurt me, I beg you!"

"We'll take you before Elise and see what she has to say."

"No!" screamed Kaitlyn. She turned and ran; darting past people carrying cups filled to the brim with coffee and blueberry muffins. "Help!" she screamed. "It's Elise! She's going to get me!" She ran out of the coffee shop, darting down the stairs towards the parking lot, and ran full speed ahead to her car.

She had to get away, had to go as far away as possible.

New York City, New York

Summer sat on the back of the ambulance, a large blue blanket draped over her shivering body, although she was not cold at all. She looked up at the detective and said, softly, "He was trying to rape me."

"Why was he trying to rape you?"

Summer shivered, remembering the scene. "He…I left a few weeks ago and went back to Newport, where I used to live. My old boyfriend was there and we got back together. When I came back, I told Yugi and he just went crazy on me. I swear. I tried to get away and he wouldn't let me. He held me down; trying to rape me…it was so horrible. I grabbed the backdrop, which was what I stood before when he was taking my pictures and…and it fell and…and I guess that it brought down the lamps with it."

"Were you and Yugi dating before you left?"

"Yes," said Summer, glancing down at her feet.

"Okay, that's all the questions I have for you at the moment. You can go."

Summer nodded, leaping down to the ground, and then spotted Seth talking to a police officer.

"But she's my girlfriend," said Seth.

"I'm sorry, sir, I can't let you past the tape—"

"Summer!" he called when he saw her. Summer ran towards him and they embraced, Summer sobbing. "What happened?"

"He tried to rape me!" cried Summer. "He tried to rape me!"

"Who?" asked Seth.

"I told him about you and he just went ballistic."

Seth hugged her head close to his chest and assured her that everything would be okay.

Newport, California

The Mermaid Inn

Room 137

Kaitlyn banged her fist on the door, but no one answered. She went downstairs and asked the owner if she could get the key to Room 137, that someone she knew was staying there. He told her that the man, Zach, he said, had already left. When she told him her name, he said that Zach had left a note for her.

Kaitlyn, tears running down her cheeks, unfolded the note and began to read.

Dear Kaitlyn,

I am sorry that I had to leave like this. This was so soon and sudden, I know. This doesn't mean that I am gone forever, Kaitlyn. I am returning to Las Vegas for a short while to determine what I want to do with my life. This is very complicated for both of us, Kaitlyn. I would advise you to think about this whole situation also. I love you, and I want you to think about it, and when I come back, I want to know whether or not you love me.

Sincerely,

Zach

Kaitlyn held her hand up to her mouth, sobbing. Zach had left, but not forever. She fell to her knees, crying, wondering if he really would ever return.

Ryan was eating lunch at the Cohen house when the doorbell rang. He stood, ready to answer it. Walking to the door, he pulled it open, and was shocked at who he saw there. The rain was pouring down all around them, the ground was soaked, and there before him was Marissa Cooper, who he thought he would never see again.