Chapter Seventeen
"Guys, as much as I would love for you guys to be together," Marissa nodded with annoyance as she was saying, "We have to find Ryan. Once I'm out of the car, feel free to go on."
"Oh, Coop, you're joking right? It's not like anything would go on, in Cohen's car. Ew." Summer said dismissively, glancing at the front mirror, only to see Seth's concentrated eyes, looking at the road patiently.
"Just pay attention," Marissa snapped anxiously, "Seth! Do you even know where you're going?" Marissa asked, eyeing him meticulously.
"Nope, do you?" Seth replied carelessly. Seth wanted to find Ryan desperately, however, he had no clue where to start.
"Hey, there's Alex's club. Maybe we should stop by? Ryan DOES like to listen to bands play there." Marissa insisted, acknowledging Alex in the situation. Marissa smiled carefully at the name, but then her mind tackled Ryan's disappearance once more.
"Are you sure Ryan would be in the midst of some hardcore chillage with your ex?" Seth asked rhetorically, "Yeah, I didn't think so either."
"Cohen! It wouldn't hurt to ask. Maybe he stopped by. Ryan's unpredictable- we all know that much." Summer said, defending Marissa. Although Summer didn't understand why, she had felt that Marissa needed to see Alex- apologize, whatever- but there was definitely some unfinished business.
"Yeah, okay, Princess Summer. We're going." Seth said, listening to Summer's slightly whiny voice. Seth pulled up into the club. Marissa and Summer told Seth to wait in the car, in case he got a message from Ryan- which was unlikely. But hey, if it was that easy to get rid of Cohen, then so be it. Marissa and Summer hastily entered the club that was roaring with music.
"Are you sure you want to be here? You do know Ryan wouldn't come here, without you, right?" Summer tried with all her might to keep her voice lowered, but she ended screaming into Marissa's ears. Marissa looked at Summer thoughtfully, and instead she grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the bar where Alex usually stood.
"C'mon." Marissa said. Summer shrugged, and even though she didn't appreciate being pulled, like a dog on a leash, she followed her friend, trusting her entirely. When the girls saw Alex, Marissa wasn't sure if this had been a mistake or the right thing to do. Alex quirked an eyebrow, tastefully pouring a drink into a cup.
"What a nice surprise." Alex said smugly. After Marissa and Alex had broken up, Alex wasn't quite ready to look Marissa straight in the eyes. Therefore, Alex turned her head as if ignoring the two that were standing, completely awed. Alex started to serve another customer, a drink. Marissa and Summer then decided to sit down on a chair, circling the bar. "How may I serve you, ladies?" Alex asked, plastering a fake smile, treating the girls like strangers.
"We need to talk." Marissa said, pity dashing in her eyes.
"So, talk." Marissa sighed in relief, seeing that Alex was giving her a minute of her time. "Talk- but please, not to me. I'm busy." Alex turned around once again. Summer shot Marissa a sympathetic glance, before Marissa stood up, and marched out of the club as quickly as her long legs could take her. Little Miss Petite, Summer, was trailing behind her.
"Coop! Are you sure you're okay?" Summer asked, hoping Marissa would stop and talk to her. She went into the club blindly, not knowing why Marissa felt such urgency to see Alex.
"Yes, I'm fine, Sum. Can't you see?" Marissa mimicked the fake smile that Alex so proudly wore, except Marissa tried to cover up tears, while Alex tried to mend her broken heart with the fake smile. Summer ran up to Marissa, and grabbed her arm.
"Relax, Coop. It'll be okay. You've got Ryan!"
"Oh my God. You're kidding me? Why do you think he ran away? Kirsten didn't wash his socks? It's because of me, Summer! I drive him crazy- and definitely not the good way." Marissa turned, and plopped back into the car. Summer hurried back after her.
"Everything alright, ladies?" Seth asked curiously dazing into the darkness. Both Marissa and Summer sat perfectly still, trying hard not to even breathe, so the silence would be effective. "Guess so. Where are we going next?"
"The beach?" Marissa suggested.
Seth followed her command. After a nice four hours of searching for Ryan, the three friends were exhausted, and endlessly worried. Then a thought pranced through Marissa's mind, and she jerked her head towards the others- apparently they had had the same, ideal initiative.
" Chino…" They all whispered in doubtful squeak. Marissa sighed, turning her head toward the window, tears rippling in her eyes. Seth drove impatiently towards this unfamiliar place- a home to Ryan. Summer sat in utter silence, trying to ignore Marissa's soft cries, and attempting not to disrupt this uneasy peace.
" CHINO- 8 KILOMETRES." Seth read the sign that, in a matter of minutes, appeared. Marissa sighed painfully, hearing this fact. Marissa understood that Ryan, had his first love in Chino- Teresa- he had his friends, family, foes, everything. He wouldn't leave after coming back so brusquely.
Minutes later, Seth's voice shattered the silence once more, "CHINO- 1 KILOMETRE." Seth read out loud. Marissa shot Seth a glare, hinting him to shut up, as she wasn't in the mood to hear Chino once more. Luckily, Seth didn't see Marissa's glare and continued to build his unanimous, emotionless facade. However, inside, Seth was also cringing at the five letters he feared most, C-H-I-N-O. He too imagined that Chino was Ryan's sanctuary, and that he wouldn't return there unless it was absolutely crucial. He probably didn't realise that his friends would go looking for him.
"We're here." Seth said glumly, as he started to cruise down the dark streets of Chino. He decided to look in bars, and lastly Teresa's house- he didn't want Marissa to fall apart, when she remembered she and Ryan, were once together. But it was too late. Marissa's thoughts travelled incessantly, as she remembered how devastated she was when Teresa announced her pregnancy, how upset she was when Ryan had to move to Chino because of Teresa. She couldn't possibly think these unbearable thoughts without releasing more tears.
"Coop," Summer said gently, feeling the desperate environment entangle her. "Don't cry, hun. You'll find Ryan, and everything will be okay." Summer reassured, trying to hide her own desperation for her best friend from being revealed in her shaky voice.
Ryan's car was safely parked in Teresa's driveway, for a while now. He had been driving around Chino, grabbing a few beers here and there. He rang the doorbell anxiously, tapping his foot on the ground as he waited momentarily. He wasn't sure why he was in front of Teresa's house exactly- perhaps his gut instinct wanted to check on her. Finally, the doorknob started to jerk, and the door swung open. Teresa almost had a heart attack when she saw who stood at the other side of the wooden slab.
"You can't be here." She said instinctively. Her eyes were the size of golf balls. Ryan simply gaped at her- more so at her stomach. "Ryan, it's not what it seems." Teresa said on her defence.
"Can I come in?" Ryan said ignorantly. Teresa inhaled deeply, and moved to the side so that Ryan could walk by. Ryan closed his eyes hoping this weren't true.
"Why are you here?" Teresa asked, as she looked at Ryan's confused eyes.
"I still haven't answered your other question." Ryan paused, so Teresa would realise that he was about to answer 'It's not what it seems.' "How is it not what it seems, Teresa? Unless you like ate an entire civilisation, maybe it'd be possible. Why didn't you tell me you were," Ryan paused wincing in pain, "You were pregnant?"
"You loved Marissa." Teresa said, turning her eyes away from Ryan who was examining her thoroughly. "I couldn't torture you- wreck your life- how could you spend the rest of your life, with me? If you don't love me?" Teresa asked, "Please go. You shouldn't be here. You shouldn't have seen me. Why are you here?"
"I wanted to see how you were doing, but I guess you're doing just fine considering you're a pregnant single-mother." Ryan said, sighing carefully under his nose, to try and relieve the heat that was flustering his body. Beads of sweat would emerge on his face. Ryan didn't know how to react. "Maybe I should," Ryan paused, not knowing what to say, "Maybe I should," Ryan repeated confused. Without repeating once more, he nodded and said, "Leave." He turned toward the door, to leave.
"Ryan…" Teresa said painfully, almost crying as tears appeared in her eyes.
"If you hadn't lied to me," Ryan paused sternly, "I'd be here with you. I'd be the father, you know." Ryan turned the doorknob and left, completely confused. He knew he was going to have to return- he couldn't leave Teresa all alone.