Hey everyone. Ooh my gosh, this week I got soo excited about this fan fic. I was cleaning my room, thinking of ways I could perfect my story of some of the holes I still needed to fill, and I had the BIGGEST brainwave. So I dropped everything, (and by everything I mean my entire –OPEN- pencil case for school went SPLAT! Hehe!) and rushed over to my special notebook and jotted it all down. I'm soo pumped up for the coming chapters! I only hope that you guys will enjoy it too, coz that's the main thing!

Now, to answer the question that's on everyone's mind, YES the truth is coming… soon. I think it's really important, given the serious situation that Marissa especially is in, that I establish a steady progression of deterioration. And it can't really be done in one chapter, and you're probably pushing it at two. It's a long, painful and slow fall to rock bottom, and let's just say that Marissa (and those who are falling with her) are nearing the three quarter point. So if you would just bear with me and Marissa for a little longer, I will take you to rock bottom … and hopefully back up! Hehe!

So thanks so much guys, I say it every time, but it's the truth every time. Your feedback is three quarters (see? We're doing the quarters thing again!) the reason why I love writing this story! The fourth quarter of course is simply the joy of writing! So enough from me! I just wanted to tell you that so that I may hopefully put your mindset into context! Love and Light, Hannah.

Disclaimer: No, no… don't own the OC. Sad but true.

CHAPTER 6: MISTAKEN IDENTITY

"Holy shit!" Marissa whimpered when she looked down at the scales. Nine whole pounds. She hadn't realised that no food and vomiting would cause that much weight-loss. Her dry-gnawed hands began to tremble as she tried to gain control of the spiking sensation that welled in her stomach. The ever-present tears that had stained her eyes for the past days welled once more and her lungs began to pump acidic bursts of stifling oxygen. She closed her eyes at a desperate effort to compose herself… which of course was utterly impossible.

She stepped shakily off the scales and shuffled over to the sink. Craning over the basin, that was now splattered with the odd stain of her own blood, her shoulder blades quivered slightly at her weight as she leant on her gripping hands. It took her a moment to build up what strength she had left to raise her head to the mirror. She was terrified of who, or what she would see before her. Finally she lifted her weak face and her reflection met her. Who was this girl staring before her? She was eye-to-eye with this ugly stranger. She wasn't someone she'd met before. Not this defeated delinquent who slashed herself every waking and sleeping hour of the day. Not this filthy liar who was turning away anyone and everyone who might just lend their hand. Who the hell was she?

She smashed her head against the mirror. The pain dwelled for just a moment, but soon melted into the rest of the agony that she felt both outside and inside her body. How the hell was she going to make it through the day like this?

It was the first day back at school; the day she had been dreading ever since her weary mind had registered that she wasn't going to be able to hibernate forever. Not only would she have to face Ryan, Summer and even Seth; but five hundred other of Newport's finest crap-heads. It was like the wilderness at that school. No one cared; they just loved the feeling of knowing they were always better than the next person.

Not only that; but the prospect of having to lie to Ryan's face for an entire day more was enough to bring her buckling to her knees. He must have called her about two dozen times, but not once had she had the bravery to answer. She knew that with every ring their relationship was falling farther and farther apart. It broke her already dilapidated heart to think how she was hurting him. But it was better this way. This way, he wouldn't have to know the truth that would surely rip him to smaller shreds. It destroyed her, but anything was worth protecting him.

She checked her watch. She had an hour before class, but before that she had some serious work to do. Swallowing away the choking clump that lingered in her throat, Marissa pulled out her make-up kit and began her desperate attempt to cling to whatever identity she had remaining.

X

"Coffee?"

Ryan shook his head listlessly.

"Bagel?"

Ryan grunted dejectedly that he was not hungry at all.

"Pop Tarrr-never mind." Seth absorbed the truly threatening look on his brother's face and decided third strike would mean out… and by "out" he meant taken out. He closed his trap just as Ryan's eye-whites flashed him a look of last warning.

The two of them sat in the Cohen kitchen dressed and packed, ready for their first day back at school since Spring Break. Seth had to admit to himself that he was slightly excited about today; what with him and Summer good again, his grades actually didn't suck this semester and he'd been beaten up considerably less this year. He felt confident at school for the first time in… well ever, and Seth figured he would dwell in the feeling while it still tasted fresh.

Ryan on the other couldn't have been further from the opposite. He hadn't even smelt that place again yet and already he had the sinking feeling that today, tomorrow, and probably even the next day, were going to utterly suck. It had been five whole days since he'd last seen or merely heard from Marissa. He'd even gone over to her house the other day to confront her, but he hadn't even heard the sound of her footsteps climbing down the staircase. Whatever the reason, Marissa was trying her utmost hardest to shut him out completely, and it had worked up until this morning. Now she would have to see him, no matter what. But the truth was the Ryan was now so hurt and angry with her that he wasn't sure he would have the patience to tolerate her… at least he was convinced to tell himself that… too bad a large part of him was so dying to see her again it nearly killed him.

He exhaled so loudly that made Seth raise his eyebrows.

"Lighten up, dude. It's not going to be that bad!" he attempted.

Ryan laughed sarcastically in comment.

Seth relented, "Okay… I'll admit it doesn't look too good from my point-of-view. Yes she ran out on your dinner in tears, yes she's avoided every single phone-call you've thrown at her. And yes she's probably going to try and avoid you some more today-"

"Seth, how exactly is this supposed to make me feel better?" Ryan questioned him, agitated.

Ignoring him Seth continued, "-but I still have this gut feeling… no forget that, I know Ryan, I know that everything will be fine."

Ryan drummed his fingers upon the empty coffee cup in front of him in thought. He rubbed his exhausted eyes with his other hand, "And how are you so sure about that?"

"Because, Ryan, you two are like the magnet-couple!" Ryan stared at Seth, a look of thorough confusion across his profile. "Dude!" Seth continued in explanation, "You and Marissa have been in more freaken fights than I could list in a single afternoon."

Ryan registered Seth's comments through his mind.

"Hmmm, let's see," he began counting on his fingers, "a) a bare-chested water-polo player…"

Luke had been the least of their worries.

" …b) a suicidal psychopath…"

All the trust that they had built over the months had come crippling to the ground.

"…c) a pregnancy by your ex in Chino…"

It had been the worst, most lonely summer of his entire life.

"…d) – I'm running out of fingers, help me out, - a rose-pruning yard guy…"

Now that had been awkward.

"…a long-lost half-aunt of mine,"

We agreed not to go there again, Seth.

"…and, my friend, let's not forget that little fling Marissa had with Alex!" Seth struggled to contain his admiration of her same-sex experimentations.

And for the first time that morning Ryan held up his hands in agreement, "Yeah, okay, so Marissa and I have had more than our fair share of…" he tried to think of the right word, "…issues."

Seth nodded as if it were the most obvious confession in the world. "And then there was that whole thing with Trey and the egg… and the party…"

As Seth began to go off again about the "Weird and Oh-So-Wonderful" life of Ryan and Marissa, Ryan was suddenly plagued with more worrying thoughts at the mention of Trey's name. Seth saw Ryan's immediate slump of the shoulders.

"What is it?" Seth asked.

Ryan shook his head unsurely, "Trey's the other issue."

Seth looked confused, "But I thought you said everything with him was going great."

"It is! Well… at least I assume it is. It appears Marissa's not the only one losing all means of communication with me."

Seth looked at him for more information.

"Trey's not answering his phone either," Ryan explained further, "and I also haven't seen him for a while."

Seth looked genuinely concerned this time, sarcasm aside, "Well, do you think he's… you know," he was cautious to suggest it, "maybe going Chino?"

Ryan didn't look offended and took the question as if he was expecting it, "I don't know," he shook his head, "I sure as hell am hoping not. For the moment, I'm just hoping that maybe he's working extra shifts at the Bait Shop to earn some cash."

Seth nodded at Ryan's thoughts. He knew all too well how precarious the Ryan/Trey situation was. He knew he could never be able to contemplate fully what their pre-life in Chino must have been like, and he told himself not to think that far anyway. Trey had obviously had his lion-share of stuff-ups in his life. Ryan, the reformed Atwood of the clan, felt that Trey had been given a second chance at life, an opportunity to leave the past behind. Unfortunately for Trey however, it seemed there was just too much past to let go of.

The truth was however that Ryan wasn't so sure that Trey was avoiding him to work shifts. Over the past days during the Marissa drought, something inside was telling him that something might have happened between her and his brother. After all, it all added up; everything had been brilliant until he'd gone away. When he'd returned she was a changed person. Now Trey wasn't talking either…

But he didn't want to believe what his heart was telling him. He could never believe that Marissa would ever betray him like that. He figured that if he didn't say it out loud then there was no point worrying about it. So he remained quiet and kept his mouth and feelings shut.

"…Ryan? Ryan?" he suddenly became aware of the call of his name. He turned his gaze back on Seth who stood with his backpack slung over one shoulder. "We should get going."

Now back in reality, Ryan's heart sank and he groaned. Disgruntled, he picked up his own satchel and followed Seth out the door where Sandy was waiting in the Land Rover.

Let the games begin.

X

"Sethie!" Summer trotted up to the two of them, and snapped her fingers over Seth's eyes. She stood up on tip-toe and placed a kiss on his cheek before releasing her hands and falling back in her shoes.

"What? We've progressed to even more degrading nicknames at this point in our relationship?" Seth turned his body into Summer's and obliged with a return peck on her lips.

"Guess so," she answered briefly as they stood in the bustling courtyard of The Harbor School.

"Then I shall call you Bitch-Slap."

Summer broke away immediately with a look of divine disgust on her face and stamped a heeled stiletto on Seth's big toe. At Seth's winding yelp of pain she replaced her expression with an adorably innocent smile of satisfaction.

"Or not," Seth wheezed.

Ryan sighed and shook his head and laughed in spite of himself. The two of them really did provide wonderful entertainment at a time when all he wanted was to shut himself in the poolhouse. He was mildly impressed at Seth and Summer's ability to humour him.

The three of them stood now at the top of the cemented steps and turned to overlook the ground before them. Each one sighed in unison.

"Here we are again," Summer commented.

"Yup!" Seth concurred, "Vacations always seem so long until they're over."

"So true."

Ryan's sigh had partly been referred to the fact he was here again, but the extra punch in his heart was irritating him almost beyond comprehension. He scanned the grounds furiously.

"Hey, any sign of-"

"-Oh my God!" Summer suddenly shrieked. She pointed as an almost unrecognisable figure that was supposed resemble Marissa Cooper emerged from the evergreen glade. Innately Summer made her way down the flight of stairs to her friend.

Ryan gasped too. Even from this distance the change since the other day was blatant. He watched, unsure and bemused at the girl he loved. At one time, Ryan would see a golden glow radiate from her presence. At one time, when he laid eyes upon her, she would be the only one he saw. But now the glow had diminished and although she was still the only one he saw, it was for all the wrong reasons. Marissa looked frail and weak up against the blazing Spring light. She looked sick and exhausted. She was thinner and her face had sunk into a shade of melancholy.

Marissa dared to lift her head and gaze up the stairs. She was terrified of who she would find staring at her. And at once she and he were locked in gazes with each other in a bitter stalemate of emotions. She was terrified and crippled. He was confused and angry. The two of them kept on at each other for what might have been hours if Marissa hadn't become aware of Summer's voice through her ear.

"Coop! What happened to you?" Summer tried to laugh in her typical fashion, but she had little success concealing her worry, "Did you take a dive into the trash can before you came?"

Marissa drew her eyes away from Ryan, who still stood stationary at the top of the stairs, half relieved, half heartbroken. She turned her sights to Summer who was also stared at her profile. The attention made Marissa feel completely derailed.

She attempted a smile, trying to sound as normal as possible, "I know! I look horrible!" she tried to laugh it off, "I'm still kind of flu-y I think." This was going to be one of the worst days of her life. Her wrists began to flare with pain and irritation with every agonising second.

"Aren't you a little hot in that?" Summer observed the navy sweater Marissa wore over her hot pink T-shirt.

The comment made Marissa feel worse. Every wound on her body seemed to amplify with pain and seemed to make sizzling noises in her ears.

"Oh! Umm, well, I thought while I'm still getting better I should wear one just in case," Marissa answered, trying hard to hide the tremble in her voice.

Suddenly the bell chimed in, giving Marissa the perfect chance to break away from Summer's comments. "Oh!" she said almost too cheerfully, "Better head off! Biol." She hurried away from Summer and made the wrenching climb up the stairs. She kept her head down and tried to veer away from Ryan who stood there waiting for her.

The closer look he got at Marissa, the more perplexed he grew. His insides gave a definite rattle when he saw how ill she looked. Then he realised she was actually attempting to swerve past him without talking to him.

He ran in front her, stopping her step. The two of them looked at each other for just a moment, but Ryan wasted no time getting down to business. She looked petrified.

"What the hell is going on Marissa?" he shot at her. He tried to be calm, but the emotions had long eroded his moral sensibility and he was now left with anger.

His words stung through her intestines and her stomach gave a sickening jolt, "I don't have time to talk about this Ryan," she snapped back.

Ryan persisted, "What? You just expect me to stand back and watch?"

Marissa was about to retort but was stopped as he continued. As he spoke she felt the venom climaxing in her throat.

"Why aren't you answering any of my calls?"

"Please just get out of my way!" Marissa began to walk towards the door but again he stumped her.

Ryan tried again, this time not so much furious, but now utter confusion was kicking in, "You left me at dinner, you ran off crying for Christ's sake! You avoid me for five days and you don't even open the door to me!" he was desperate. He lowered his tone and spoke very, very slowly and clearly, "Now tell me now Marissa, what is going on?"

They hammered stares at each other in silence. Marissa was trembling uncontrollably. Ryan looked unlike she'd ever seen him. He was furious and pleading in one. His eyes were glazed over with a film of emotion. He had drained her dry of all means of strength. She longed to tell him what was really going on, but she couldn't. Not now, not ever. He could never know… she understood, why couldn't he?

She looked at him with tears swelling in her eyes. He became hazy in her vision. She opened her mouth and spoke barely audibly, "I have to get to class, Ryan." And before Ryan had another chance to stop her, she brushed past him, and disappeared into the building.

Ryan heaved deeply, watching her go. He'd never seen her like that. She looked totally defeated and shrivelled. She was hiding something that she didn't want to tell him and it was eating away at her both inside and out.

He finally became aware of Seth and Summer standing silently behind him. He turned to their faces. They each looked scared and just as confused.

"Woah! Seth breathed and spoke quietly, his eyes wide, "That was intense."

"Ryan, what's going on?" Summer's voice rippled with concern for her best friend.

The three of them now stood alone on the stairs as the tail-end of Harbor students fed into the complex. An eerie silence grew in the atmosphere and it deafened their ears. Ryan exchanged a look with both of them then looked towards the ocean that surfaced in the near distance. He was still breathing heavily while his mind races in with a flurry of thoughts and feelings.

"I don't know," he answered at length, "But I'm going to find out if it's the last thing I do."

Wow! Sorry it was quite long, but it was really fun to write! My initial plan for this chapter included a few more things, but I think I'll save them for next time. Hehe! I hope you enjoyed it all the same! Please review, it makes me so happy! Hehe! Love Hannah xox.