Okay guys I no it's been a really long time since I last updated this story and I'm really sorry about that! But I'm updating now so I hope there's still people who read this! I'm really sorry for the long wait! So I thought this chapter was really needed so I could get things really rolling the way I want them to go! Don't be fooled by the title of the chapter thought because yes things are changing but not in a huge sense! So hope you enjoy and please review!
A/N: Okay so you need to know that I decided to skip doing a chapter about the Debutant ball thing…but there was one and Ryan and Marissa went together just like in the show so they know each other and there's the obvious feelings there…Summer went with a guy that will remain nameless b/c he's not important. Same with Seth he went with a random girl but not summer! Sorry!
Disclaimer: I do not own the O.C in any way…if I did do you really think I would be here writing stories?
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Things Begin to Change
"So are you excited about becoming a pirate?" Summer asked taking her bowl of cereal and sitting down next to Ryan at the kitchen table.
"A pirate? You guys are the Pirates?" Ryan asked looking up from his cheerios with disgust. The two had been discussing Harbor High and Ryan's meeting with the Dean all morning.
"You bet, Harbor High home of the Pirates! Argggghhhh," Summer said doing her best pirate impression, laughing at the look of Ryan's face.
The two sat laughing and talking while they ate their breakfast until Kirsten came rushing into the room searching around the kitchen for her car keys.
"Summer, Ryan can you two go get dressed we have to go to the hospital." Kirsten said stopping to look at the confused teens.
"What? Why do we have to go to the hospital?" Summer asked getting up and bringing her bowl to the sink noticing her mother's seriousness.
"Jimmy Cooper just called, Marissa's in the hospital." Kirsten said continuing her search for her missing car keys.
"Why? What happened?" Ryan asked suddenly interested in the conversation.
"Well apparently Marissa took a trip down to Tijuana with some friends this weekend and while she was there she overdosed on some painkillers or something. By the way do either of you know where the car keys are?" Kirsten explained.
"But is she going to be okay?" Ryan asked handing Kirsten the car keys that were hidden under some papers.
"Thank you, and yes Jimmy said that she should be fine, but they're really worried about her, so I think we should go down there and see her." Kirsten said walking away, "now go get dressed I want you guys ready in ten minutes!" Kirsten called on her way up the stairs indicating the end of their conversation.
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"Okay so remind me why I'm here?" Summer asked Ryan as they walked into the hospital entrance.
"To visit Marissa, make sure she's alright and what not…be a good neighbour." Ryan answered.
"Ya see but it's not like she wants to see me or anything. I really don't think she would have cared if I stayed home, it's not like we're best friends."
"Yes but we're neighbours and the Coopers are one of my oldest friends, we're here for support." Kirsten interrupted as they reached the door Jimmy had said was Marissa's room.
"Your mother's right sweetie, so let's just go in there and show them we're here for them." Sandy said opening the door and leading his family into the room.
They walked into the room to find Jimmy sitting on a chair looking exhausted next to a sleeping Marissa.
"Oh hey guys, thanks for coming," Jimmy said getting up to greet the Cohen's.
"Of course," Kirsten said hugging Jimmy, "so how's she doing?"
"Um, good, a lot better. They said she should be fine to go home in no time." Jimmy said moving back towards the bed taking Marissa's hand in his, as everyone else shifted to different places around the room, Ryan and Summer taking places on the other side of the bed.
"So what happened?" Ryan asked looking at Marissa intently asking the question he had already asked Kirsten earlier.
"I don't really know, she wouldn't exactly explain it all to us and her friend Seth isn't exactly helping much either, he doesn't exactly know why she did it either. Or at least that's what he says." Jimmy told the group, his exhaustion apparent at that time.
"Where's Julie?" Sandy asked.
"She just went to bring Caitlyn to her grandmothers; she didn't want her to have to see Marissa like this. Listen I could really use some coffee, how about we go find some." Jimmy asked getting up and motioning to Sandy and Kirsten to follow.
"Oh okay, you guys just stay here with Marissa we'll be back in a little bit," Kirsten said taking Sandy's hand and following Jimmy out of the room.
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Sandy, Kirsten and Jimmy walked down to the hospital cafeteria, taking seats at a table after each getting a coffee.
"Jimmy are you sure you're okay?" Kirsten asked noticing the worry on her friends face.
"I don't know guys. I mean Julie's blaming this whole thing on me; she said I let her go and what not. Now she's talking about sending Marissa to an institution and getting full custody of her and Caitlyn. I can't lose my kids; they're all I have left." Jimmy said putting his head in his hands.
"Don't worry Jimbo, we'll help you get through this, and I won't let Julie get away with taking your kids." Sandy said patting Jimmy on the back.
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Meanwhile Summer and Ryan sat watching Marissa in silence, Summer tapping her foot as the quiet started to get to her.
"Um listen I'm going to go get some air, do you want to come?" Summer asked finally getting up.
"Um, no I think I'll just stay here," Ryan said letting his gaze fall back on Marissa.
"Okay Lover-boy, I'll be back in a few," Summer said as she left the room.
Summer walked out in the hall, going to sit on a bench she had seen on their way in. As she made her way to the bench though, she noticed the familiar curly haired boy sitting at the other end of it. Summer hesitated but decided to sit down anyways.
Seth took his gaze off the floor and gave Summer a nod hello. Summer took this as an invitation to start a conversation.
"You here to see Marissa?" Summer asked noticing the flowers sitting beside Seth.
"Um, ya, I was just waiting a few minutes before I went in, I wasn't really sure if there were people in there or not." Seth answered recognizing Summer from the fashion show and the debutant ball they had not too long ago, "you're Marissa's neighbour right? Um Cohen?"
"Ya, it's Summer. My family came to visit." Summer said shocked that Seth remembered who she was, "you can go in there you know it's only Ryan in there now."
"Ya, I don't know, this is all my fault." Seth said looking back down at the ground.
"What do you mean it's your fault?" Summer asked noticing the guilt on Seth's face.
Seth looked Summer in the eyes debating whether to just open up to this girl he barely knew, but she seemed nice and sincere so he decided it was okay to tell her, "those painkillers that Marissa took were mine, well not mine, they were for my step-mom. I got them for her because she gets really nuts when she doesn't have them. But then Riss took them and ran off and I couldn't find her, I just feel like it's all my fault."
"I'm sure it's not your fault," Summer said reassuringly, "I mean she must have had a reason for taking them, something must have happened to make her want to take painkillers." Summer said as Seth nodded.
"When we got there, her dad called and told her that he and her mom were getting a divorce. And then we went to meet up with everyone and we caught Luke cheating on Marissa with Holly." Seth said shaking his head with anger, "I mean Holly was one of her best friends, and Luke was mine, but I'll never talk to either of them again."
"Oh man, poor Marissa," Summer said suddenly feeling guilty for not wanting to come visit her, "hey you know she could probably use a friend right now, why don't we go in?" Summer asked looking toward the door to Marissa's room.
"Just give me a few more minutes okay?" Seth asked and the two sat in silence.
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Meanwhile Ryan sat silently watching the sleeping Marissa wondering what could have gone on to make her do this to herself. Probably that stupid boyfriend of hers! Ryan thought remembering how he treated Marissa the night of the Debutant Ball. Just then Marissa began to open her eyes.
"Hey," Ryan said standing up and getting a glass of water and handing it to Marissa.
"Ryan? What are you doing here?" Marissa asked doing her best to sit up.
"Um, I came to visit you, all the Cohen's are here too, they should be back in a few minutes. How are you feeling?"
"A little sore, and tired but I'm feeling a lot better. Thanks for coming," Marissa said meeting Ryan's eyes as he sat back down in his chair.
"So what happened? I mean that's if you want to tell me," Ryan asked.
"Everything's just so messed up," Marissa said tears coming to her eyes, as she began to tell Ryan everything.
Ryan sat listening intently as Marissa told Ryan about everything that happened in Tijuana, and how she overheard her mom talking about taking her away from her dad and Newport.
Just then Summer walked back in the room Seth following close behind, both looked surprised to find Marissa sitting up awake, Ryan sitting closely at her side.
"Um, hey Marissa," Summer said handing her a teddy bear she rushed down to get from the gift shop to help her feel a little less guilty about not wanting to come.
"Oh thanks Summer," Marissa said taking the teddy bear with a small smile, "hey Seth," Marissa said seeing the suddenly shy Seth standing at the end of the room.
"Hey Riss," Seth said greeting Marissa with a hug and handing her the flowers he bought her, and taking a seat beside the bed as Summer took a seat on the other side next to Ryan.
The four sat talking awkwardly about whatever they could think of trying not to bring up school or anything that might bother Marissa. Just then Jimmy, Kirsten and Sandy walked back in, Jimmy looking a little more refreshed than when he left.
"Hey Kiddo, your awake," Jimmy said hugging his daughter. Kirsten and Sandy both greeted Marissa with hugs and flowers.
"Well we better get going, I've got to take Ryan to a meeting with the dean, and Sandy's got to work," Kirsten said giving Jimmy a hug and motioning for her family to follow.
"Um, hope your feeling better soon," Summer said giving Marissa and awkward hug and following her mother.
"I'll see you later," Ryan said giving Marissa a nod goodbye and following his family.
Just as the four reached the door Seth jumped up and grabbed Summer's arm, "um sorry I just forgot to say thanks, for before," Seth said with a smile.
"Ya, no problem," Summer said with a smile as she followed her family out the door and was greeted by a laughing Ryan, "shut up I saw you in there with Marissa so don't even start with me." Summer said punching Ryan in the arm.
The four walked down the hallway discussing Ryan's upcoming meeting, but Summer couldn't help but let her mind wander because she knew that things were starting to change for her.
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Okay so that's that! I really hope you liked it and I hope it was worth such a long wait! So obviously things are starting to happen for Ryan and Marissa and Seth and Summer also. So I'm really gonna try to update as fast as I can it just depends when I'm home. So I would love it if you reviewed and I'm open to any ideas about how the next chapter should go so send me your ideas! Thanks a million for sticking with my story! XOXO