A/N:- OMG you guys, I'm SO SO sorry I haven't updated in…its been months now. I hope you haven't all given up on me : ( Life's just been really busy at the moment, with school and the like. Anyway, expect frequent updates all throughout this week, I have all the chapters planned out...
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Jimmy walked through the unlocked door tentatively, well aware that it was the small hours of the morning. He wouldn't have dared come in if it wasn't for the distinct sounds of Bob Seger's "Night Moves" all the way up the driveway. Walking through the lounge, he caught sight of a figure sitting out on the pool lounger. Julie. He stood in the doorway a minute, deciding not to move forward as he had promised the cabbie not to be too long. Watching as she placed her glass of water down on the glass table, and sat a hand on her slightly bulging stomach, he sighed inwardly. Could he really do this? To Julie, to Marissa?
He gripped onto his blue holdall a little tighter, thankful that she hadn't noticed him yet. They had got themselves into this mess, and he could foresee absolutely no way of getting themselves out of it. He was better off just leaving. He clenched his jaw to prevent his tears from rolling down his face, and turned and walked away. This goodbye was one that he found just too hard to do.
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"Marissa?" Ryan knocked softly on the wooden door that was Summer's bathroom. He waited before trying again. "Marissa? You okay?" After getting no reply. he sighed and started walking downstairs.
"Ryan.." He turned as he saw a teary-eyed Marissa opening the bathroom door, closing it softly behind her. Ryan turned fully as he walked toward her.
"Are you okay?" He asked gently, getting out a tissue he had brought up from the other bathroom, and handing it to her. She smiled slightly, and partially dried her eyes.
"Ryan….. I don't know what to do…" She looked up and fresh tears sprung to her eyes. "He's leaving me….." Marissa looked away, as Ryan placed his hands on her waist.
"It's gonna be okay…" Ryan replied, softly. "I promise it will." Marissa pulled away, and looked up at him.
"That's the thing, Ryan…" She whispered. "I don't think it is…." Ryan looked down at the floor, then back up.
"Do you need to see him?" Ryan asked quietly, as he gripped one of her hands gently. She nodded slightly, the tissue now abandoned on the floor as the tears carried on flowing. Ryan looked at his watch slowly.
"I think we'll make it just in time if we go now…" Marissa smiled slightly, and nodded her head, going down the stairs, Ryan right behind her.
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Kirsten and Sandy were both sitting inside their lounge enjoying an evening without the usual blaring noises of the PlayStation.
"So, you have no idea where Seth is, it's pretty late?" Kirsten asked, taking a look at the clock and seeing the time, whilst laying back and putting her feet up on their comfortable sofa. "Wow, it is late." Kirsten stated, after seeing the time.
"Knowing him, either pining after Summer, or with her." Sandy said, taking a seat next to her and putting his arm around her, Kirsten nodded with a slight smile on her face. "Anyway, how are you feeling about this whole Jimmy thing, I mean…you're pretty good friends with him?"
Kirsten shrugged. "I just can't believe he's actually leaving Marissa with Julie, it just seems like such an out of character thing for him to do, I mean…" Kirsten broke off, shaking her head.
"Something major must have happened, he wouldn't just pack up his bags, and leave would he?" Sandy replied, grabbing the remote from the table and switching the television.
"I think it's been building for a long time, this pregnancy business with Julie and my father can't be doing him any good either." Sandy nodded in agreement, and focused on the television, before suddenly switching it off.
"Hey!" Kirsten said, trying to grab the remote. "I was enjoying watch that!"
"Kirsten, it was an episode of "The Valley"." Sandy said, raising one eyebrow, and silently laughing.
"You know I have a soft spot for Grady Bridges!" Kirsten smiled, turning to face Sandy. "Actually, you look a little like him…"
"Really?" Sandy said, turning to face her as well, a smile playing on his face.
"Yeah…." Kirsten said, studying his face a little, before leaning in for a kiss, Sandy gladly accepting. The two lay back down on the sofa, before the familiar ascending tone came to their ears, as Kirsten groaned.
"Sandy!" Kirsten said, getting up and straightening her shirt out. "I thought I told you to unplug the phone in the evenings…" Kirsten looked at her watch, "Mornings!"
"I forgot, I'm sorry." He got up, and walked out to the kitchen, sighing before grabbing the phone of the hook. "Hello, Cohen residence…" The line buzzed for a second, before seemingly becoming clear again. "Hello?"
"Hello?" The voice said on the other end of the line. "Um, is Ryan there?"
"No, I'm afraid he's not in at the moment, should I tell him who called?" Sandy replied, grabbing a pen and paper.
"Um….yeah, can you tell him…" The voice stopped for a second, then carried on. "Actually, don't worry…I'll...I'll just call back some other time." Sandy nodded before realising he was on the phone.
"Ok, maybe not as early this time, huh?" Sandy replied, jokingly into the phone, but got no reply apart from the resounding sound of the dialling tone.
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Ryan shut the car door behind Marissa, then ran around to the driver's side, and got in. Inserting the car key into the ignition, he thought for a minute, then turned to Marissa.
"Any idea what airport he's heading to?" Ryan asked uncertainly. Glancing at the digital clock on the black dashboard, he waited for Marissa to give an answer.
"Um…" She replied, thinking of all the airports in close range. "Orange County, I guess….." She looked at Ryan hesitantly.
Ryan shrugged, if it wasn't the right one, they were screwed. "All we can do is try." He backed out of the driveway, and sped onto the highway, pushing the speed limit all the way until they finally reached the airport, half an hour later. As he drove around in the short-term car park, Marissa grew more impatient.
"Ryan…." Marissa said, craning her neck and looking for a parking space. "We're gonna miss him if you don't hurry up!"
"Okay, Marissa I'm trying the best I can!" Ryan said loudly, taking Marissa back a bit. He shook his head, snapping out of it. "Sorry, I didn't mean that to sound that harsh…"
"It's okay." Marissa replied. "I just don't want to miss him." Ryan took her hand.
"You won't, I promise." Ryan said, smiling, as he slid into a much coveted car space, narrowly dodging a red Ferrari who was heading for the same spot.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing!" The car's window rolled down, and a frustrated balding mans shiny head poked out. Ryan couldn't help but stifle back a laugh in spite of the situation.
"Sorry!" Ryan replied hurriedly, as he and Marissa jumped out of the car, and ran hand in hand towards the terminal.
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"Ryan, it's not here!" Marissa said, worriedly as the two stared up at the screens which showed the flight departures. Ryan shook his head, searching the plasma screen which was gracing the wall of the airport.
"No, it says head over to Zone B…" Ryan said, pointing to the screen at the far end, as Marissa followed his finger.
"Oh yeah!" Marissa replied, walking off in the other direction, oblivious of the hustle and bustle of the airport. Ryan caught up with her, as she stood bewilderedly in the centre of the terminal, looking up as the sign for the 4:55 to Maui turned to flashing yellow, boarding time. Marissa stood stoic in the middle of the airport, a tear sliding down her pale face, as Ryan came up from behind her, placing a careful arm around her waist. She immediately turned her head towards him, placing it in his shoulder as she cried.
"He's gone…." Marissa sobbed. "I just can't believe it…" Her words became harder to make out as she cried harder, and Ryan just carried on holding her tightly.
Little did they know, one face turned away from Security, looking at the young man with the sobbing girl in his arms. The one face that could stop her crying turned back, and showed his passport, leaving them behind, on his way to Maui.
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"So, the Jimster's gone huh?" Seth said through the darkness as Ryan stepped in the poolhouse. Ryan shot him the look.
"How did I know you would be here?" Ryan sat down on his bed, exhausted. After they had been to the airport, he and Marissa had taken a long walk down the beach. Ryan wanted to make sure she was okay before dropping her home. "And yes, he is gone."
"That blows."
"Seth, its 6.00 am. I need to sleep. I suggest you should go get some rest too."
"No, no, I'm pumped and energised. I need to talk Summer. I mean, now that I've got her, I want to keep her, obviously…so I just need some tips…pointers, maybe…"
"Seth--…"
"Proms in a couple of months, I can work with that, corsages the whole King and Queen thing, then we hit college. See this is where its got me worrying, I mean, what if she wants to go to one college, but I want to go to one the opposite side of the country…? What would I do then?" Seth looked over to the bed, Ryan seemingly asleep.
"Ryan?...Ryan, you awake?" He sighed, and walked out the poolhouse after receiving no answer. "Maybe I should see a counsellor…"
"No-one would have you…" A quiet voice replied from under the covers, as Seth turned back.
"I thought you were asleep!"
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"Hey." Ryan sidled up to Marissa who was at her locker. She smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Hi." She replied smiling, hitching her back up onto her shoulder, and shutting her locker.
"So, are we still on for tonight? You, me, a pizza….movie maybe?" Ryan asked, taking a hold of her hand, trying to steer the subject from her father, he knew she was still hurting. Marissa's face dropped.
"Oh, Ryan . . .I forgot…." She bit her lip, turning to face him as they stopped on the steps. "I have to go to my mom's party. . . . she's forcing me…" Ryan's face fell. "But, I mean, you can come too, right?"
"Sure." Ryan replied, thinking that at least if he went, he could spend some time with Marissa. "What's it for this time?" Marissa gave a slight smile, and they continued walking down.
"I don't know really, some new House they've built…I think Caleb's brother and his family are moving in. . ." Marissa shrugged, and was interrupted by Seth.
"Wassup dawgs." Seth butted in, holding out his fist to Ryan. In turn, Ryan gave him a blank stare, and turned back to Marissa, who rolled her eyes.
"Hey guys." Summer walked up to the trio, who were standing next to the school parking lot. "Sorry about him…he's a little, hyped up."
"And, why wouldn't I be!" Seth slung an arm around her shoulder, and continued. "After all, there is a Pokémon marathon on Boomerang…oh how I love the Pikachu…"
"Erm, Cohen!" Summer responded. "We're not staying in and watching a Pokémon marathon…we're going to Coop's mum's party."
"And since when have you wanted to go to one of them…" Seth asked, hand on his chin, pretending to look thoughtful, while she slapped him on the arm.
"Cohen, we're going whether you like it or not."
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"What exactly is this party for?" Ryan asked, as he sat back on Marissa's four-poster bed, resting his arms above his head.
"I'm not really sure." Marissa called out from her closet, picking out various items of clothing and either discarding them, or folding them up into a pile. "Hey, Ry, can you come here for a sec?"
"Sure." Ryan got up off the bed, and peered into the closet. "What's up?" Marissa looked up from the mountain of her clothes.
"I'm cold." She smiled weakly, as her hands wrapped around her body. "And I could use a hug…." Ryan returned her smile as he sat down beside her, and encircled her body with his strong arms.
"I could use one too." He said, smiling again.
(A/N:- That was so random…. )
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"Coop, Coop…Coopity Coop." Seth called out, as he and Summer entered Marissa's bedroom. Summer hit him once on the chest.
"Cohen, shut up!" She smiled, walking around her room, and sitting on her bed, as Marissa and Ryan walked out of the closet. "Ok, what the hell where you two doing in your closet!"
"You have your very own love-nest in there huh?" Seth chipped in, smiling with his arms crossed. Ryan shot him a look, as he picked up his cell phone.
"Why are you here?" Ryan asked, rather bluntly.
"Mother has requested your presence at dinner, and Summer wanted to be all girly with Marissa." Seth replied, nodding his head. Marissa laughed.
"Okay, well, I'll guess I'll see you tonight….?" Ryan trailed off, as Seth walked out of the door. Marissa smiled and nodded, placing her arms around his neck and kissing him softly.
"Coop!" Summer shrieked from inside the closet. "Oh My God! You so did not tell me you had this dress!"
"I better go…I'll see you tonight?" Marissa nodded as Ryan and Seth walked out of her bedroom door, shutting it behind them.
"So, Coop?" Summer said as she reappeared from inside the closet. "Are you excited?"
"Sure I am, Summer." Marissa answered sarcastically. "I mean, a party with my mum and Caleb, what more could I wish for?" She sat down on the bed, and got out her purse.
"I don't know…" Summer smiled sarcastically. "Hey, maybe Caleb's brother is hot…."
"Ew! Summer!" Marissa replied as she searched through her bag. "I totally do not want to even think about that!" In frustration, she tipped her bag onto the bed, still looking for something.
"Erm…Coop?" Summer asked, as she looked in the mirror at her best friend. "What are you doing?"
"Oh…" Marissa looked up, pausing her search to reply to Summer. "I'm just…looking for something." Summer narrowed her eyes curiously.
"Must be pretty important." Summer replied, sitting beside her on the bed, while Marissa looked up, trying to look not bothered.
"It's nothing…" Marissa replied, casting her eyes downwards yet again to the pile of "junk" that had come from her bag. "It's just…." She sighed, frustrated, standing up and stomping her foot on the floor.
"Coop, seriously, why are you freaking out?" Summer said, as Marissa looked up again.
"Look, if I tell you this, you can't tell anyone…" Marissa thought for a minute. "Not even Seth….especially not Seth."
"Marissa, you know I wouldn't…" Summer replied, and Marissa smiled slightly at her best friend.
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A/N:- I need to stop doing some many of these…..sorry! But please, please review if you want me to continue or not..thanks!