A/N:- Yikes. It's been forever since I updated, I'm sorry. Hope this chapter makes up for it.
Chapter Two - That Sinking Feeling
"Dad?" Marissa called out as she opened the front door with her new key, and the help of a slight kick. "Dad, are you home?" She walked into the kitchen, and threw her keys down on the counter. After determining he wasn't, Marissa sighed, and looked around. The house wasn't exactly what one would call "nice", but she decided with a little bit of tidying up and maybe some painting, they could turn it into a home.
She winced as she thought her statements through. Is this what this place would actually be? Her home. Not in Newport, but here. Denver. It felt like a hundred, million miles away from Newport. Throughout the intensity of the plane ride she hadn't stopped to think about her final decisions, her mind fixing on other things so as not to remember the heartbreak she had left behind. Marissa didn't blame her father, but she more than often questioned his actions. In fact, she more than often questioned her own actions.
Running a hand through her hair and hugging her arms around her tightly, she realised the window was open in her bedroom. Walking through she took the key that was placed on the window ledge, and shut it firmly and locked it. She flopped back on her bed as she ran through her day. It hadn't been so bad. Well, she guessed it could have been better. When she had finally managed to locate her locker, she found the lock broken. After finally managing to find her first class, she received cold stares from the students instead of the warm welcomes she had been expecting, or rather hoping for. Sitting alone in the cafeteria with her lunch, no-one had even said two words to her, except whether they could borrow an empty chair that was next to her. After lunch, she had seriously considered skipping the rest of the day and going home. But she knew she had to stick it out, after all, if she couldn't do that, what could she do?
Turning over on her bed, she felt under her pillow for the one piece of re-assurance that could possibly cheer her up. Marissa smiled as she heard the slight rustle of paper, and brought the note out from under her pillow. Lying on her back, and unfolding it, she began reading it, even though she already knew the words by heart.
Marissa,
Nothing I can say will stop you from going, I know that. It seems that every chance we get is ruined. Fate is out to get us, huh? The fact that I can't bear to be without you is making this even harder for me. Don't forget about me.
All my love,
Ryan
How could he possibly think she would forget about him? She shook her head and the note brought a slight smile to her lips. Although it was only short, it didn't matter to her. It told her everything she needed to know. She clutched it to her heart, hoping the fragile thing inside of her wouldn't break yet again. Maybe she shouldn't have gone, maybe she shouldn't have done a number things. But Marissa's heart broke again for Ryan as she remembered what she had written, and given to him.
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Ryan looked up as his Math teacher chalked up the homework on the board. He sighed as he began packing up his bag, looking at the empty chair that was opposite him. An empty chair that would normally have been filled if Marissa were here.
"Now class, before you go, I have your tests to give back…" Mr. Clarke said to the class, piling up a mound of papers and proceeding to hand them out to the class. Nearing Ryan, he flipped a test onto his desk, pointing out the score to Ryan.
"Well done, Ryan." Mr. Clarke said, smiling slightly at him. "You seem to be concentrating more now that one person isn't there to distract you." He looked meaningfully at Marissa's empty chair, and Ryan quickly looked down to avoid eye contact, and looked at his score. Wow, 81. Mr. Clarke was right.
"What did you get?" Ryan looked up again to place a face to the voice. A blonde - haired girl he couldn't quite remember the name of was staring at him pointedly to reply.
"Um…81." Ryan replied, standing up out of his chair, collecting his pencils and shoving them in his bag.
"Cool." The girl stared at him, before Ryan nodded, smiled a little and turned away. "So wait, where's Marissa? I haven't seen her in a few days…" Ryan turned back as he heard her name, looking back at her.
"She's… she left." Ryan nodded, reinforcing his statement, then made a hasty exit towards the door. Sighing as he leant against the doorframe, grateful of escaping one confrontation. Turning around the corner, he bashed straight into…
"Seth." Ryan rolled his eyes as he held a hand out for Seth to get up again. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Uh, walking down the hall!" Seth replied, dusting the dirt of his shoulder, trying to look hard. "What the hell are you doing?" Ryan rolled his eyes yet again as they set off in the opposite direction. "Uh oh, skank at 12 o'clock." Seth mumbled into his shoulder as he turned his head. "Courtney Mills. Hide, or prepare for complete devastation." Ryan looked up to see Seth was right, and he turned as well, bashing straight into a locker.
"Ryan!" He felt a hand tap onto his shoulder, and he turned around again. "Are you okay?"
"Courtney, uh, hi…" Seth gave her a mock salute, as Courtney faced him and Ryan, her aqua blue eyes sparkling unnaturally as she hitched her Prada handbag up higher on her shoulder.
"Seth." Courtney smiled, flashing her bleached white teeth at him, before her expression turned stony. "Kiss my as. I need to talk to Ryan." Seth blinked in surprise, before looking at Ryan, who had an equally blank expression on his face.
"Looks like you're on your own, buddy." Seth patted Ryan on the back, before walking down the hall in the opposite direction before Ryan could reply.
"So, Ryan…" Courtney started, smiling once again, flicking her bleached straight blonde hair from one shoulder to another. "Are you going to be joining us on Social Committee this year?"
"When have I ever been on Social Committee?" Ryan replied, questioning Courtney's motives as she continued to blink stupidly back at him.
"Come on, let's walk." Courtney grabbed his arm, and proceeded to drag him out of the building. "I just figured, Ryan, every year's a new start, right? And maybe you could just give us a teensy, weensy bit of help…? I mean, now I'm taking over as Social Chair.."
"Wait, what?" Ryan cut in, interrupting Courtney as she babbled on. Social Chair, Marissa was Social Chair. That's just the way it was.
"I'm the new Social Chair." Courtney laughed in excitement. "I was so stoked when they all voted for me, I totally thought Taylor was going to snatch it…" She stopped as she noticed Ryan wasn't listening to a word she was saying.
"Oh….I just thought…"
"Marissa?" Courtney rose her eyebrows. "I talk to Dr. Kim about it, she said Marissa's moved." Courtney sighed again, and laughed slightly as she elicited no response from Ryan. "What did you just think the whole world would stop just because Marissa Cooper leaves? She wasn't the only one who wore Chanel and has brains at this school."
"No, Courtney, you don't understand…" Ryan blinked again, and looked away, trying to find a way out of this awkward conversation.
"Oh……right." Courtney nodded as it finally clicked in her mind. "Because you're in love with her?" She sighed, placing a hand delicately on his chest. "Ryan, don't you think its time to move on? After all, she left you didn't she?" Ryan looked up, moving her hand away from his chest, and stepped away.
"I really have to go." He replied, smiling fakely and walking back into school, his face looking to the floor.
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Marissa nervously stood outside of school, a scarf wrapped around her neck to prevent the cold. She was eyeing the phone box that stood on the corner of the block, occupied. She sighed once again, looking at her watch, hoping she wouldn't miss the bus. Jimmy had presented Marissa with a calling card when he got home last night, considering there was no phone in the flat, and her cell phone's contract had ran out. It was only for five dollars, so Marissa figured it would last at least one long - distance phone call. The question was, who to ring?
There was no doubt in her mind, of course, but as she thought about it even more, she wondered if it was really worth it. It was hard enough writing a note, let alone actually hearing his voice. Groaning inwardly as the man in the booth exited, she felt her heart split in two. Crap. So she was actually going to have to do this. The fact that his voice could quite possibly be reaching her ears in a matter of seconds sent a slight chill down her spine, making her even more aware of the harshness of the weather around her. Stepping inside, she swiped the card and typed in the activation code. Waiting as the woman at the other end connected the call, she leant back against the side of the booth, tapping her fingers against the glass now impatiently. The familiar dialling tone sounded, and she stood up properly again, until she heard the click of the phone as someone picked up.
"Hello?" Marissa immediately recognised Kirsten's voice answering the phone, and she paused for a moment.
"Um, hi, is Ryan home?" Marissa replied hopefully, all her words coming tumbling out as she had anticipated they would.
"Oh, he's not home right now…" Kirsten replied, as Marissa felt her heart drop. Typical. The one time she could pluck up enough courage, and he wasn't home. This was the last time she would try that approach. "Can I take a message?" Marissa blinked out of her thoughts.
"You know what…" Marissa answered, cringing slightly as what felt like a tear slid down her face. "I'll just ring back another time, but thanks." She hung up the phone, not leaving a chance for Kirsten to reply. Marissa walked out of the phone booth, careful not to slip on the icy pavement.
Walking to the bus stop, she looked back up at the leering school. She sighed, that's all she seemed to be doing lately. Maybe this wasn't the right decision after all, Jimmy was never home, and all she ever seemed to be doing was wishing she was back in Newport, where she had actual friends, and people who cared about her. Maybe……
Woah. What the hell was that? Marissa looked down at herself as she found herself on the ground, feeling a cold liquid drip down the back of her neck. She brushed herself down, and slowly got up, trying to ignore the pain in her hip.
"Sorry!" Two boys sniggered as they watched her get up, rubbing their glove-clad hands together. Marissa just looked away, embarrassed, as they ran off in search of more snow.
As if this day couldn't get any better.
A/N:- Look out for updates soon-ishly. Review, that button is there for a reason : )
