Chapter Twenty
"Marissa, can we talk? For a few minutes… please. We need to settle a few things." Ryan begged, as he had watched Marissa cry into Seth's and Summer's shoulders for a few minutes now. Although he didn't particularly wish he was the one getting a free shower, with her salty numerous tears, he couldn't stand the fact that he had hurt her so bad. He extended his arm, so that Marissa would feel wanted by him- so her tears would cease, so that the whole in Ryan could be filled. Ryan didn't know what to say, in the few minutes that he had begged for. He wondered if the minutes he needed to say would be filled with this eerie inexplicable silence.
"Ryan, this really isn't a good time. You've hurt her enough." Seth said in a mellow voice, protecting Marissa from more harm.
"Come on, hun. I'll take you to the car, and we'll take you home. It's been a long day for you." Summer whispered into Marissa's ear soothingly.
"You guys. I need a minute with her. You think I want her to cry? You think I want her to break down, shatter inside? In case you would say yes, the answer is no. I can't say I don't love Marissa, because I do very, very much. But I have to be responsible about this. I can't leave Teresa." Ryan sighed, as if tongue-tied. He wasn't sure what else to say, to help Marissa understand that this was something he had to do.
"You don't have to say anymore, Ryan. It's all pretty clear to me." Marissa said through her tears, and followed Summer out through the door. Seth stayed in the living room, to talk to Ryan at least for a few moments. He looked at Ryan's desperate eyes, and back at Teresa who was laying peacefully on the couch, from when she passed out.
"Don't hurt her anymore, Ryan." Seth said, before he turned around to leave.
"Seth. Don't you know I don't want to hurt her? Don't you know that I love her so much?" Ryan begged Seth, hoping at least his best friend would understand. Seth looked at Ryan, shook his head and walked a painful walk toward the door. He knew leaving his friend would hurt Ryan, but he couldn't stand to hear what else he had to say. Seth walked into the car, only to see Marissa in the back seat, sleeping from exhaustion as she lay motionlessly on the seat. Summer was sitting in the front seat, nibbling her freshly manicured nails.
"Don't worry, Summer. She'll be okay." Seth said, hoping that Summer would cool down also after this nightly soap-opera.
"Shhh." Summer whispered, and glanced at Marissa. With that, Seth fired up the engine, and started to drive home cautiously, so that he could avoid every bump that could potentially wake the sleeping Marissa. Both Seth and Summer knew this had been a long day, for them, but especially Marissa. Marissa blamed herself for all of this, and they knew it. After a long ride home, darkness sweeping the road, Seth pulled up at Marissa's house. He parked the car, and opened the back door. He took Marissa into his arms so he could carry her home. She lifelessly hung from his arms, while Summer got out of the car so they could both explain to Julie, the occurrences of the night. Summer courteously rang the doorbell, and waited for Julie to come crashing down the stairs to open the door. And soon she did just that. Julie swung the door open, and looked at Marissa in disgust.
"Is she drunk?" Julie asked, eyeing Marissa with a feeble look.
"No. Can we come in?" Summer asked in a silent whisper, not wanting to wake Marissa up. Julie nodded, and cleared the way so that Seth and Summer could go to her room, and place her on the bed. This way, Marissa could continue her peaceful sleep, after the treacherous day. After Marissa was tucked in, Summer and Seth made their way down to the kitchen, where Julie had pulled out a whiskey to soothe her confusion.
"Sit down." Julie said, dazed out. It looked like Julie herself had problems of her own.
"In a huge summary of the entire day, Ryan ran away. We went to find him. He was at Teresa's. He chose the pregnant Teresa over the love of his life. Marissa cried, and fell asleep after this emotional day." Seth said quietly, even though it was no longer quite necessary.
"Then we brought her home, where she could sleep soundly and ignore the world around her." Summer added, looking at Julie who was close to tears. Maybe this story touched her in some way, but Summer assumed that it was likely her own problems torturing her.
"Thank you." Julie said, sniffling as she grabbed a tissue. She wiped her eyes, and continued, "I'm so glad she's home. Thank you for bringing her here. Thank you for protecting my daughter." Julie said, finally looking at Seth and Summer who were about to die from awe. "Why are you looking at me that way?" Julie asked, knowing that Seth and Summer were probably very shocked, "I may be a bitch, but I love my daughter all the same. I'm just so relieved that she's home, safe at home. Don't worry- I'll take care of her from now." Julie gulped, "You two should go home. You've got school tomorrow, do you not?"
"Yes. Sorry that we're taking up your time, Mrs. Cooper. We'll drop by tomorrow to pick Marissa up for school, if she's well enough." Summer replied politely, still gawking with her jaw dropped. "Well Good night, Mrs. Cooper."
"Take care, you two." Julie called out from the kitchen, as Summer and Seth left. Once she heard the gentle closing of the door, she poured herself half a glass of whiskey and added a little bit of coke to her remedy. Thoughtlessly, she poured a little more whiskey to soothe her soul. She sipped it carefully, as the excessive amount of whiskey oozed down her throat. Julie closed her eyes in satisfaction, as the sensation pleased her.
Meanwhile, Seth and Summer entered the car silently. Seth remembered that Summer had left her car in his driveway, "Sum, your cars at my house, right?" Seth asked keeping his voice gentle and hushed.
"Yeah. You're right." Summer replied, in a slightly louder voice. Seth pulled out of Marissa's driveway, and drove to his own neighbouring house. Seth turned off the engine, and went to open the door for Summer, like a gentleman. "Thanks, Seth." Summer said, giving Seth a gentle kiss on the cheek, "Is everything, umm, okay between us?" Summer asked doubtfully.
"It's not alright. It's perfect." Seth said, grabbing a hold of Summer's soft hand, as he intertwined his fingers with hers. Seth led Summer to her car, opening the front seat for her so she could sit comfortably, painlessly.
"Thanks again Seth. Good night." Summer said, urging Seth in her mind to kiss her. Seth carefully inched towards Summer, and gave her a sweet good night kiss on the lips.
"Good night, Summer." Seth stood on the driveways, his hands in his pockets, as he watched Summer pull out of his driveway. Once she was out of sight, Seth calmly walked toward his own house, opening the door gently as not to awake anybody who was sleeping inside. Seth climbed the stairs, almost flying from the feeling that resided in his stomach. He finally drifted into his room, and he sat on his bed dreamily. Seth changed into any sleeping wear, and he turned off the lights. He excitedly screamed, "Yes!" under his pillow before he too, feel asleep.
The next morning, Seth rose from his bed. He swung on some clothes, and was ready to go to the bathroom and continue on with his dailies: brushing his teeth, shaving wouldn't hurt him either. Once Seth was done, he descended down the stairs with a huge grin on his face- forgetting the Ryan issue completely.
"'Morning Seth." Sandy called from the kitchen. He was reading the morning newspaper, and chewing on some freshly burnt toast.
"Hey Pops. Hey mom." Seth said; seeing that Kirsten was busy fixing Seth a breakfast. He sat down patiently at the table, and soon his food came flying onto the table. Seth looked at the delectable food, and back at his mother, "Thanks mom." He said before gulping it all down hastily. He got up from the kitchen table, and went to give Kirsten a thank you-peck on the cheek.
"Seth," Kirsten said in a detective-like voice, "Where's Ryan?" Kirsten asked curiously.
"RyanisinChino- BYEEEEEE!" Seth said before running off, out the door grabbing his backpack filled with undone homework. Kirsten and Sandy eyed each other curiously.
" Chino?" They both asked in unison, long after Seth was gone.