Chapter Twenty Three

"What are you doing back?" asked Kaitlyn, hands on her hips, looking at him, her eyes cut to slits. "I thought that you were gone for good."

"Gone for good?" Zach uttered a laugh. "What do you mean, 'Gone for good?' I never said that I wasn't coming back."

"You left, Zach. You left me here in Newport--"

"I had things to think about--"

"Think about what, Zach? What did you have to think about that was so damn important you had to leave?"

"Listen to me, Kaiti--"

"Don't you dare call me that. Don't you dare."

"Kaitlyn, I am so sorry--" He tried to speak to her as she began to rampage up the stairs. "Kaitlyn, wait!"

She quickly spun around, halfway up to the third floor. "What the fuck do you want now?"

"I love you, Kaitlyn." There was a long silence after he said these words.

Finally, Kaitlyn spoke, but it wasn't something Zach had been wanting to hear. "Well guess what, Zach. I love someone now, but it sure as hell isn't you!" And she stormed up the staircase, disappearing at the top as she turned to corner to make her way up to the third floor. Zach watched, stunned.

"What?" he said in awe. "You're in love with someone else?"

Julie approached him, trying to provide some comfort, but he jerked away. "I've…I've gotta' go." He hurried out the house towards his car, tears streaming down his cheeks. That was when his cellular phone rang.

Meanwhile

Anna kissed Luke softly on the lips as he climbed out of bed. "Are you going now?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said, pulling on his boxer briefs.

"Oh," she said, watching her hands which she was wringing in her lap. "You don't want to stay?" She smiled up at him seductively.

"I've got to take my brother to baseball in the morning--"

"I can go with you…" She crawled towards him, reaching the edge of the bed and leaning in towards him. She kissed his lips, then bit his lower lip as she began to kiss his chin, his neck, his shoulders, his arms, his chest. She ran her hands up and down his back, her fingernails leaving light claw marks on his skin. She began to pull down his boxers seductively. She could see that he was hard. "You still don't want to stay?" she asked.

"Don't do this to me," he groaned. "Please…"

Anna smiled. "Do what?"

He groaned and pushed her back onto the bed, climbing atop her. "What I'm about to do to you." He pulled the cover up over the head, turning off the lamp beside the bed.

The Hospital

Newport, California

"You're free to go," said the nurse, rolling Marissa out onto the sidewalk and waiting as Ryan drove the car up and, climbing out of the driver's side of the car, hurried around to open the passenger's side door. He next lifted Marissa up into his arms, being as gentle as possible, for she was still very week although she had had weeks of rest, and sat her down in the seat. He thanked the nurse for waiting with Marissa while he got the car, climbed back into the vehicle, and began to drive down the road. He turned to Marissa, smiling.

"I'm so glad to have you back, Marissa."

Marissa looked up at him, confused. "But you've had me all along, Ryan."

New York City, New York

Summer smiled at Seth and kissed him passionately on the lips. "I'm so happy…I'm free and not going to jail!" She hugged him tighter. "I love you so much…Thank you for being there for me, even through times like these."

"That's what boyfriends are for," said Seth, kissing her back, grabbing her ass and boosting her up into the air where she could wrap her legs around his waist. "I love you too, Summer."

"Should we celebrate?"

Seth smiled. "Yeah." He handed her the room key.

"What's this for?"

"Go to our room," he said, fishing the car keys out of his pocket. "I'm going to the store across the street, and to get us some dinner. You can freshen up or whatever."

"Okay," said Summer. "I'm dying to take a bath."

Seth nodded. "I'll be just a few minutes." He walked her to the door and watched as she entered the room. After he made sure that she was safe there, he pulled the door closed behind him and ran down the hallway, wanting to be quick. He couldn't want to get back to Summer and hold her in his arms once again.

Newport, California

They had their first date that night. It had been wonderful. They had gone to a very nice French restaurant, where they had dined over a bottle of red wine. After finishing dinner, which had been very delicious, he had taken her out on a stroll on the beach, where they had their first kiss--well, not their first, but their first as a couple that was. Kirstin now stood against the large front door of her home, sighing deeply. It had been wonderful, absolutely wonderful. That was when, walking towards a mirror which stood in the hallway, she saw that she still had his coat on. Filling inside the pockets to see what it had inside, she found his car keys. Crap, he had forgotten them---that was when the doorbell rang. Yep, it was Carter, coming back for his car keys. She smiled, walking towards the door, and pulled it open. There he was, as handsome as before. Five o'clock shadow curving along the bottom of his face, hair that was so wild he couldn't take care of it, deep blue eyes like---then she remembered. His eyes were like Sandy's.

She smiled at him. "You forgot your keys."

"That wasn't all I forgot." He kissed her passionately on the lips, wrapping his arms around her waist and bringing her up to him. Their bodies were rubbing up against each other as he kissed her forcefully. Not that she didn't like it, he was so wonderful. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him harder, and then pulled herself upwards so that she could lace her legs around his waist. He kicked the door shut behind himself, shoving her against the wall as he desperately tried to unzip her dress. She moaned as he kissed her neck, slowly moving downwards towards her breasts. After completely shedding the dress from her body, which took little effort, considering how willing Kirstin was, he began to undo her bra. He kissed her breasts, suckled them gently, causing her to moan in pain and pleasure and ecstasy.

"God, Carter," she moaned as she tried desperately to unbutton his shirt. It was well toned for a man of his age, the hairs rippling down his chest in soft waves. She kissed them softly, moving her way down past his lightly colored nipples, pressing her lips towards his stomach, his belly button. She licked there soothingly, making him moan.

"Keep going, Kirstin," he managed to gasp as she fell to her knees, unzipping his pants. That was when she stood.

"Come on," she said, leading him up the stairs, kissing him the whole way. She desperately tried to shed him of his boxers, but to no success. Finally, he did it for her. He opened the bedroom door and watched as he hurried in, then he made his way inside after her. Moaning as she kissed him passionately, he slammed the door behind himself.

New York City, New York

Summer stood, staring at herself in the mirror. She ran a hand through her hair, pulling a loose strand back behind her ear and sighing softly. She turned and opened the bathroom door, walking out into the dark room. Making her way slowly over to the large window that stretched from the floor to the ceiling, which was larger than she was, she saw the millions of tiny lighted specks around her. New York City was so beautiful. That was when she heard something behind her. Turning around, she was shocked at what she saw.

"Well, well, well," smiled Candy. "I see you thought you were going to get away."

Summer stood there, shocked. "What?"

Candy began to approach her, and Summer saw what she had in her hand, gleaming by the light of the city. Candy held a knife in her hand.

"No," screamed Summer, backing up against the large window. "Please, Candy--"

"Did you let Yugi live--"

"I didn't mean to--"

Candy raised her arm into the air, ready to bring the knife down on Summer. "Final words, Summer?"

Summer swallowed hard. "Please…"

"I'll take that answer," smiled Candy, bringing the knife down fast.

"Stop!" screamed Summer.

But she didn't.

Meanwhile

Luke's cellular phone was ringing. He bent over Anna to answer it, holding it up to his ear. "Y'ello?" he said sleepily.

"Hi, is this Luke?"

"Yeah. Who's this?"

"Hey, Luke--I've missed you, baby!"

"Molly?" said Luke, shocked.

"Yes, it's me, baby! Where are you at?"

"My hotel in Newport."

"What hotel?"

"The Mermaid Inn--why?"

Luke could tell she was smiling on the other end. "Because I'm on my way there now."

Meanwhile

"What are you talking about?" asked Zach on one end of the line. The police operator was on the other end.

"Mrs. Sanchez died two days ago. Around the time you left. She was found hanging in her penthouse--"

"That's terrible," said Zach, running a hand through his hair.

"The thing is, Zachary," said Officer Hart, "she was hanging from a tie?"

"What? They think her husband did it?" Zach was confused.

"Actually, Zach…It was your tie. They think you did it. They think that you killed Gabrielle Sanchez."

Zach dropped the phone to the ground, nearly vomiting everywhere.

He was a suspect of the murder of his former lover?

Everything was falling apart--everything.

The next chapter of the story will be its last. Prepare for a dramatic climax, featuring death, accusations, catfights, lost loves and those who are new, and an explosive conclusion--(or possibly a cliffy)--to OF DAYS PAST BY (SEASON 7 OF THE O.C.) Plus possible sequel in the making (which would be season 8.

Disclaimer-I do not own the O.C.

No matter how much I may wish to own the O.C.