Chapter Twenty Eight
Marissa continued to miss school for the next week, or so. Ryan continued to worry about her crazily, but nevertheless he tried to avoid Marissa and her mood swings. When she would call, he stayed silent on the other line, occasionally mmhm-ing and aha-ing before hanging up. Marissa didn't know why he was acting so oddly, but she guessed it pertained to why she was acting so oddly. Marissa couldn't stand the distance one evening, so she decided to slip away from home, and visit Ryan, to clear a few things up.
Marissa stood restlessly on the door step, waiting for Ryan to open the door, and look her deeply into her eyes. Marissa wanted to tell Ryan that Tray had attacked her, but for the sake of Tray, she didn't. Marissa knew very well Ryan would never forgive him.
"It's you." Ryan whispered as a ray of the interior light penetrated the darkness, where Marissa stood. Marissa's eyes were wet with tears, and she wore a pout filled with sadness. Ryan stepped out, and closed the door, thinking it was easier not allowing Marissa inside the house.
"Yup." Marissa said with a tear-filled voice. She tried to smile, pretend everything was okay, but it was too hard to look Ryan in the eyes, and lie. "It's me." Marissa shrugged, and looked away, seeing that Ryan noticed her tears that flooded her irresistible eyes.
"We need to talk, don't we." Ryan didn't even bother asking, because he knew it was true. Somehow, he couldn't reach Marissa anymore, in the metamorphical and literal way. Marissa nodded, invariably trying to accept the truth, although in no way could she deny it either. She gulped, and forwarded Ryan wordlessly for a walk. Marissa figured that in the darkness, Ryan couldn't read her mind as clearly as he practically always could.
"Ryan, why is it so hard between us?" Marissa stopped walking, and in the darkness could see Ryan's confusion. He had too, noticed it but in no way had he tried to admit it to himself that it was so different. Ryan shrugged and gulped.
"You know I wish I knew. It's so hard to look you in the eyes and know something's not right." Ryan replied as honestly as he possibly could. Every muscle in Ryan's body silently pleaded Marissa to tell him what was wrong.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Marissa asked, referring to the night taking her mind off her problems for a sheer second to absorb the beauty. The concept of the night was like a rush of a shadow, burying the sky in darkness. After a while of purity and solitude, distant sparkles glowed and scintillated in the dark quilt. It was like a jaw ready to swallow you up in the black serendipity. It was one colour, of a million shades. The night entangled them mercilessly, choking every problem out of them.
"Ryan. Tray attacked me, okay? That's what happened." Marissa said bewildered. When she realised she had told Ryan, she started to cry. She willed herself not to look at Ryan's face, but she did anyways. She saw anger, and confusion… Marissa knew that Ryan would show no mercy toward his foul brother.
"What?" Ryan shook his head. Marissa knew Ryan believed her, just that he was utterly confused- he didn't want to believe his brother had almost raped Marissa Cooper, the one girl he cared about, and that it was partly his fault.
"Oh God." Ryan turned around. Apparently his churning stomach could take it no more. When he turned around Ryan emptied his stomach- as he vomited. What Marissa didn't know, was that Ryan would take the news so hard. Evidently- he did. He was not only speechless, but stomach tied as well.
"Ryan, please don't do anything stupid." Marissa pleaded, still crying.
"Is killing my own f ucked up, f ucking brother f ucking stupid? Is it f ucking more stupid then f ucking raping the only f ucking girl that I f ucking love? Fuck Tray, Okay? I don't f ucking care if he f ucking dies right now. He's going to get his f ucking life whipped in front of him. And if he's not f ucking bloody sorry, then he'll be f ucking dead."
"Is that so?" A cold voice made Marissa shrivel inside. Ryan turned around, only to see Tray standing innocently behind the two. He smiled, and decided to walk right up to Ryan. "So kill me." Ryan threw the first punch, and Tray freely accepting the punch, decided to play a few frolicking games. He ran up to Marissa and embraced her in a forced kiss.
"Get the FUCK OFF MARISSA, TRAY." Ryan called out, and Tray did. But Tray also pulled out a specially sharpened knife from his pocket. He swiftly pressed it against Marissa's neck. Tray carefully placed his hand under Marissa's blouse, and he started teasing her stomach.
"Whoa, Baby. You're sweating like a pig," Tray commented, "You know what Marissa. Last time, there had to be a f ucking stick lying around. This time, let's do it right. Now that Ryan knows about 'us' we shouldn't be afraid." Tray now turned towards Ryan. "Ryan, you say a word- you move, then I'll kill Marissa Cooper. If you love her at all, you'll shut up and watch."