A:N:- Thanks so much for the reviews guys, I really like your feedback. Also, the more you review, the more likely I am to start writing, so don't forget to review : )
Chapter Four
Alcohol and Punch-ups
"Marissa!" Summer said, waving a hand in front of Marissa's face. "Hellooo?"
Marissa sighed, why the hell had she agreed to come here? If it wasn't for Summer's incessant whining that they hadn't been out in years, literally, then she could be curled up in bed, oblivious to any trouble that could be brewing. But what the hell, Marissa thought, staring across the room as she saw Ryan and Seth making their way over. She had every right as he did to be here. Nicola was right. She was young, rich and soon to be single, why shouldn't she be entitled to have a good time without every single problem piling up on her shoulders?
"Huh!" Marissa turned to Summer, finally registering her words and picking up her drink from the bar. "Oh, sorry Sum."
"So do you?"
"Do I what?"
"Want to get out of here?" Summer rose her eyebrows expectantly as she waited for Marissa's reaction, nodding her head over to the other side of the club.
"What, no way!" Marissa replied confidently, picking up her glass and taking a sip. "We only just got here! Anyway, I gotta pee." Summer watched Marissa's retreating back fade into the crowd as she felt two arms snake around her back.
"Summer..." Summer turned as she heard Seth's voice, grabbing his hands from around her waist, and pushing them away.
What the hell, Cohen?" She started, as Seth took a step back. "Why is Chino here?" Seth turned around, glancing behind him as Ryan stood there, arms crossed, as if he himself was asking the same question.
"How was I supposed to know you were bringing Marissa?" Seth answered, arms held out as if trying to prove a point.
"I ask you to meet me in a club, after hanging out all day with her, who else do you think I would be with!"
"Don't blame this all on me, Summer!"
"I'm not blaming it all on you, Seth!" Summer replied, sighing. "I just, I don't know." Seth smiled slightly, wrapping his arms around her once again. Ryan stared at the couple before looking away, hands on hips as he sighed.
>>
As Marissa exited the bathroom, Summer immediately pounced on her, dragging her over to the opposite side of the club, eager to distract her from Ryan. "Hey Coop, think we'll get into the VIP area?" Summer asked curiously, peering around at the various people bumping and grinding on the flashing dance floor.
"Sum, we are in the VIP area." Marissa replied, rather disillusioned by the whole club scene. She followed as Summer pushed through the mounting crowds to get to the bar.
"See, not so bad huh?" Summer said, gesturing around her, accepting the brightly coloured cocktail from the bartender and turning to face Marissa who was staring somewhat glumly facing her. Summer took a couple of straws and placed them in the cocktail,one facing Marissa.
"Want some?" Marissa shook her head, holding up her Bacardi and Coke.
"C'mon, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing." Marissa replied, faking a smile and shaking her head. Summer looked down, smiling sadly as she looked at her friends dejected face.
"You know, I was thinking, this whole thing does have its good points, I mean at least you can wear heels now, without worrying about Chino looking shorter than you!" Marissa couldn't help but laugh at her best friend, who was trying to make light of the situation she knew nothing about. She narrowed her eyes as Summer turned to the smiling person that had tapped her on the back, engaging them in friendly conversation. Taking the opportunity, Marissa quickly opened her wallet, ordering 2 miniature bottles of Smirnoff from the smirking barman, who obviously knew who she was. Smiling quickly before paying him and placing them hurriedly into her purse, Summer turned back.
"Ugh, sorry Coop, ugly man trying to hit on me." Summer said, rolling her eyes. "Now if I could only find Cohen...wanna come with?" Marissa shook her head, no. She did not want to 'come with' to find her soon to be ex-husband and Summer's loved up husband. In fact, if she thought about it, Summer was really starting to annoy her, or maybe that was just the drink talking. Marissa watched carefully as Summer retreated back into the buzzing crowd, before turning her back to her and quickly reaching into her purse, grabbing a bottle twisting the cap off, and downing the miniature in one.
>>
"Dude, its lucky enough we even got into this joint...there's no way you can score a chick like her.." Jason Hansford brushed the imaginary dirt from his shoulders as he stood tall, sniggering at his friends comments. Fresh from USC, the trip the guys and him had taken this Spring Break was finally starting to pay off. First, they wing their way through security into the VIP area of one of L.A.'s hottest nightclubs, and then he sees the most hottest film star around? Sure, he had a girlfriend back home, but he wasn't gonna pass up a chance like this.
"Come on, its just a dance. Besides, its not as if she's completely sober." He gestured toward Marissa Cooper who was currently laughing hysterically with the barman, clearly a result of how much she had drunk. Jason's lips curved into a smile, whilst his friends egged him on. Laughing one last time, he sauntered over to the bar area, coming up behind her.
"Hi there." He flashed her his best smile as she turned, with a glass in her hand. She looked at him expectantly. "Wanna dance?" He took her drunken smile as a yes, taking her by the waist before sliding it down to her butt, leading her to the dance floor.
>>
"Okay, Seth can we leave now?" Ryan glanced at his watch, wincing as he remembers the time he has to be in for work in the morning. Seth looks up from Summer, who's currently sitting in his lap, sharing the booth.
"What?"
"Can we go...home!"
"Oh, dude, feel free..." Seth replied, smiling, before focusing his attention on Summer yet again, holding up a hand as a goodbye.
"Seth, you drove me here. Now drive me back." Seth ignored the comment, but Summer sat up.
"Ryan's got a point, Seth, its getting kinda late..." Summer said, looking at her phone. "Or..early?" Seth sighed, letting Summer stand up, and tapped his fingers on the table.
"Fine...I'll know who not to invite next time I'm looking for an all night rave." Seth reluctantly stood up, stretching his legs. "Now, where's Cosmo Girl, Sum?" Summer frowned, biting her lip.
"Uh...I left her back by the bar.." Ryan's eyes flickered up as he heard her words, wincing slightly. Summer glanced back worriedly.
"I'll go find her." Summer said, Seth and Ryan following after her, even though they were not necessarily wanted. Summer went up the stairs to the higher level first, and sure enough, Marissa was still dancing with Jason, this time up against a wall with their mouths connected, his hands sliding all over her body. Summer stopped short, turning around quickly to block Seth and Ryan from going any further.
"You know...I think she went home earlier..." Summer's words struggled out of her mouth, giving Seth a glare as he tried to push past her.
"Sum, she doesn't have a car on her, you drove her here!" Seth said, confused. "How much have you had to drink?" Summer shook her head.
"Obviously not as much as some people..." She said, under her breath, cursing as a rowdy crowd came up the stairs, eager to get past and pushing the other out of their way, and onto the higher level. Summer sighed as Seth and Ryan pushed past, bracing herself for Ryan to blow his top.
"Hey...there she...is.." Seth stopped as he saw Marissa with Jason, Ryan following his finger. "Oh wait, no no..." He squinted his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing. Pushing away Seth's arm that was holding him back, Ryan started to stride over. "Ryan, come on, think with your brain not your fists dude!" Too late. Bam!
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Ryan shouted, pulling Jason away from the wall, and Marissa, pushing him to the side. Jason held his hands up.
"What the fuck!" Jason replied, looking from Marissa to Ryan. "What the hell do you think you're doing!" Jason pushed him back, before Ryan took a hold of his collar and pushed him up against the wall.
"In case you didn't know, that's my wife you had your hands all over." Ryan shouted stoically through gritted teeth, applying more pressure on Jason's neck, as Marissa stood back with a hand to her head.
"You're fucking married!" Jason looked at Marissa even more confused, as Marissa shook her head, before he managed to get Ryan off of him, as Ryan stood back
"Come on, we're getting out of here." He said to Marissa, grabbing her arm. She pushed him away fiercely, stepping back.
"No, I am not getting out of here!" She shouted. "I can do whatever the hell I want to, Ryan!"
"Well its not as if you're gonna remember it in the morning, so what's the point?"
"The point is, leave me alone." Marissa replied loudly, grasping the glass she is holding, emphasising the words through gritted teeth.
"Look at you, you're a mess!" Ryan shouted, grabbing her arm even tighter, pulling her with him towards the stairs. Seth stepped in, holding Ryan's arm back.
"Ryan, come on man..."
"No, Seth!" Ryan shouted, as Seth stepped back, shocked. "Can't you see what she's doing to herself!" Marissa pulled free from his arm, Summer wrapping an arm around her shaking shoulders. Ryan stood still, catching his breath, as Summer lead her downstairs, before collapsing into a nearby chair, head in his hands.
>>
Ryan leant his head against the window as he and Seth drove home in silence. It was freezing cold and pouring down with rain but even with the heater going full blast did nothing to warm Ryan up. Seth tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, opting to stay quiet for once in his talkative life. Ryan looked out the window as best as he could through the rain droplets that were sliding down it.
"Seth, why are we following Summer?" Ryan asked tiredly, turning his head to face him slowly.
"I'm just making sure Marissa gets home safely." Seth replied quietly. "You saw the state she was in at the club." Ryan nodded slightly, placing his head against the window, as the car followed Summer's up the all too familiar driveway to his house. Wait no, ...it was Marissa's house now. Pulling in next to Summer's, Seth turned off the engine as he waited for Summer to safely escort Marissa home. Seth turned his head as a tap was heard on his window, reaching over to push the button to pull it down, Summer's drenched face appeared.
"Cohen, we have a problem." Summer said. "She's lost her keys." Seth sighed, closing his eyes. It wouldn't have been a problem...if Seth and Summer weren't staying at Ryan's whilst they visited from New York.
"Well, we have no choice..." Seth replied, glancing to Ryan who looked on pondering the situation. "It looks like you're gonna have one more guest to stay tonight, Ryan."
A/N:- I'm so evil, leaving it like that, sorry guys! I didn't really like this chapter, so I would love to hear what you guys think of it.Next post should be up relatively soon...I promise. Coming up:- Ryan and Marissa finally talk rationally, and Summer finds out a shocking secret...
