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Chapter four
"Sure." Ava hurried through the foyer to the living room as Summer went to the door.
"Just be sure to save some cake for me. Don't let your father eat…" She opened the door and the smile she'd had on her face faded. "…it all." she whispered. "Marissa?" Summer was shocked to see her 'best' friend stand in front of her; it had been four years.
"It's me." Marissa shyly said as she still stood on the same step.
"Oh my God, Coop." Summer motioned for Marissa to step inside and gave her the most awkward of hugs. Marissa looked a little different but it had been years. She was still the tall and skinny girl and looked pretty much like she used to, though maybe a little older.
"What are you doing here? Come on in." Summer opened the door wider and let Marissa in. She looked shy and confused as she walked into the big foyer, looking around.
"I…I came back here an hour ago. I just left my stuff at the hotel and went here. I'm sorry to just show up but…"
"Don't be sorry. Oh God. I can't believe you're here. Are you alright?" Summer closed the door and went to hug Marissa again, this time not as awkward. Marissa smiled for what seemed to be the first time in years.
"Honey, who's at the door?" Seth called and entered the room. "Marissa?"
Summer let go of the arrival and Seth went over to hug Marissa as well.
"Hi Seth, it's good to see you."
"You too. Where have you been?" Summer gave him a look and he quickly said: "Come and meet everybody. You're lucky; they're all here in the dining room. We're having dessert but I bet there's left over's from dinner. Sum?" Seth turned to his wife who stood watching Marissa, still shocked and surprised.
"Yeah, sure. You want some?"
"Yeah, the airplane food isn't exactly the best." She smiled gratefully.
"Then I'll get you some." Summer said as she went to the kitchen.
"So, you want to meet everyone?" Seth asked as they were left in the foyer.
"I guess. So everyone; who exactly are everyone?" Marissa sounded like the old one now as she started to fallow Seth towards the dining room.
"You know, mom, dad, the kids, Ryan, Paige; the usual."
"Ryan's here?" Marissa swallowed and suddenly looked very nervous.
"It's okay Marissa. We're all happy to see you." Seth smiled and led her into the dining room. A lot of loud voices and laughter met them; the Cohen's weren't exactly known for being quiet.
"Hey, look who I found." Seth said and pushed Marissa in front of him as they all got quiet, moving their eyes onto the guest.
"Hey everyone!" she awkwardly said and gave them afrightened smile.
"Marissa?" Kirsten said as the other ones kept being silent, not touching the cake.
"Yes. Marissa, you remember mom and dad, Ryan." Seth pointed at them. "Ryan's daughter Paige and mine and Summer's kids; Ava, Casey and Isabelle. Everyone; Marissa Cooper. That's still your name, right?"
"Yeah. So, uh, I'm sorry to interrupt your dinner but it's good to see you all again."
"No worries sweetie." Kirsten rose and being the nice woman she was she gave Marissa a hug and motioned for her to sit between her and Isabelle. They all sat around the table in silence, everybody watching Marissa but trying not to.
"Hey again!" Summer came into the room, unaware of the tense atmosphere. "Here Marissa." She placed a brick with the food in front of her friend and went straight to sit next to Seth and Casey. Seth grabbed for her hand under the table and when Summer felt his hand on her leg she took it into her own and squeezed it. She gave him a smile which he replied and they both turned their attention to the conversation; a very tense conversation.
"So, are you having a special celebration or is it just a family dinner?" Marissa asked curiously and realised that a family dinner didn't include her; this was totally awkward.
"Actually we've been at Casey's football game." Summer proudly said and took a peace of cake into her mouth.
"Oh, football? Do you enjoy it Casey?" Marissa wondered if this was Seth's son; football? But the curly hair assured her; he couldn't be anyone else's.
"Yes, I do. I love it and our team won." Casey said with a wide grin on his face.
"That's great. I would love to see you play some time."
"So, which hotel are you staying at?" Seth said and joined the conversation.
"The Mermaid." Marissa was clearly embarrassed; the Mermaid wasn't exactly on top of the list of the places to spend the night at, it wasn't even on the list. Summer and the rest of them just nodded, obviously surprised. What had happened to Marissa; she would never usually stay at the Mermaid. Though again; it had been a while.
"Why don't you stay with us, there's plenty of room." Summer suggested as she suspected that Marissa didn't want to stay at The Mermaid; she wouldn't.
"Here?"
"Yeah, we can get your stuff later." Summer smiled and after a moment of thought Marissa smiled back.
"Well, if that's okay with everyone. I mean, I don't want to intrude."
"You're not. Please stay!" Seth took a sip of the wine as Marissa looked over to the kids questionably.
"We're okay with it, really. Right?" Ava looked at her brother and sister.
"Sure." Casey nodded.
"Of course; maybe we can play. I can show you my room if you want to." Isabelle said with a grin. Marissa could see that she was very much like her parents. Last time she'd met her Isabelle had been very young but now she was almost seven. When Marissa left Isabelle had just got her teeth and now she was loosing them. She figured that she'd missed a lot.
"So it's settled then." Summer said and squeezed Seth's hand, which she hadn't let go of.
ooooooooooooooooooo
Later that evening when Ryan went outside to get some air he spotted Marissa sitting on a bench by the tree swing. It was dark outside but the backyard was illuminated by lamps and the pool shone in a blue colour. You could hear the waves from the ocean and the wind but otherwise it was completely quiet.
Ryan slowly made his way over to Marissa but she didn't seem to notice his presence.
"Hey." He softly said and she quickly wiped away what seemed to be tears and turned around, smiling. It was a fake smile, he could tell. Even though they hadn't seen each other for years he still knew her, or at least he could read her facial expressions.
"Hey." Ryan gave her one of his looks; one that asked if he could sit. She nodded and scoffed over a little as he sat down. It felt weird to have him sitting next to her, but good. It was easier to face him; easier than facing Summer. She had thought that it would be the other way round, but she felt so guilty in front of Summer; so ashamed.
"So, Page is really cute. She looks like you…a bit." she added. Page wasn't much like Ryan at all; she was very blond with green eyes and she was tall. Nothing about her seemed to be from Ryan, not the eyes, the nose, the body. Though she was as quiet as Ryan could be; sometimes she hardly said anything.
"Well, she's more alike Felicity actually, but I'm fine by it."
"You should be. So, you and Felicity?"
"We're divorced, two years almost exactly."
"Oh, I'm sorry. She seemed…nice."
"She is but it didn't work out you know."
"Yeah, so any new woman?"
"No, I'm happy with things as they are. I and Paige are great and I'm still friends with Felicity. And you know; I spend a lot of time around here."
"Good." Marissa said and then became quiet.
"So, what about you then? Where have you been?" Ryan asked and broke the awkwardly silence.
"Oh, you know, nowhere, everywhere." Marissa shrugged.
"But you decided to come home?"
"Yeah, it's weird though. I mean you've all changed and I don't know if I fit in any more. You're all so grown up and I still feel like twenty. I'm so confused."
"We're all confused sometimes and maybe you should stay here with your family and friends. We've all missed you."
"But I feel so guilty. I didn't call or keep in touch; last time I saw you everything was so different. I mean look at Ava; she's already a teenager. I should have visited."
"You're here now."
"But I was gone for, like, four years."
"That doesn't mean that you're not welcomed any more. We love you. You can be gone for twenty years and we'll still love you."
ooooooooooooooooooooo
"Knock, knock." Seth carefully opened the bathroom door and popped his head in.
"Hey!" Summer sat in the bathtub and turned her head towards the door as Seth slipped inside, gently closing the door after himself. Summer had lit a few candles and the whole room smelled vanilla.
The master bathroom was cream coloured and this week the towels were wine red along with the candles and other decorations. Summer enjoyed changing the colours regularly and since it was Christmas soon the red colour was just perfect.
"You want to join?"
"Sure." Seth undressed and put his clothes on a basket box. He made his way to the tub and jumped inside, placing himself behind Summer. His legs went to each side of her. He then took a sponge and filled it with water.
"What are you thinking about?" Seth gently asked as he squeezed the sponge so that the water ran down her back as he began to wash it. Summer looked very puzzled and seemed tense. Seth continued to massage her back and shoulders, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She had her long, dark hair in a careless knot and a few loops had fallen down over her shoulders.
"Marissa." Summer sighed and placed a hand on one of his knees, caressing it with her thumb. Seth didn't say anything, instead he kissed her shoulder, showing her that he was there, listening. She leaned backwards and rested her back against Seth's chest and at the same time his arms went round her.
"I just wonder what happened. She seems so different and The Mermaid? Marissa would never stay there, at least not the Marissa I used to know."
"I bet she'll tell you everything; I know she will Sum."
"Yeah. I'm happy that she's back you know. She will always be my best friend, no matter what." Summer hugged Seth's arms close to her chest and felt Seth lay his head down on her left shoulder.
"It will be alright baby."
To be continued...
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