Marissa Birthday
Marissa is having a big party down stairs. The noise is deafening. Marissa shuts the door to her room. She's on the phone with Seth.
Marissa - It's a shame you couldn't come. Summers here.
Seths on the other side.
He is in a blue bath robe and has a thermometer in his mouth and appears to be sick.
Seth - I know. Did you have to remind me.
Marissa - Sorry, so are you okay?
Seth checks the thermometer in his mouth.
Seth - Well considering that my temperature is still 102 I would say ...
Marissa + Seth - Not good.
They laugh.
Seth - But I don't want you to worry about me okay? Have fun and Happy Birthday.
He hangs up.
Kirsten suddenly walks over to him and kisses him on his forehead.
Kirsten - How are you feeling?
Seth - Horrible.
Kirsten - Well can I get you anything?
Seth - No mom I pretty much have everything I need right here.
He shows her his pile of comic books and movies in his arm.
Kirsten puts her arm around him.
Kirsten - But the fever isn't whats bothering you is it? Your disappointed you couldn't go to her party aren't you? You would of liked to have been there for her.
Seth makes a sad face and shakes his head up and down.
Kirsten - Well I'm sure she'd understand. Did you call her up and explain it to her? Did you say Happy Birthday?
He shakes his head again.
Kirsten - What she say?
Seth - She was actually okay with it.
Kirsten - Good, then you have nothing to worry about. Now I want you to take it easy and get plenty of rest.
She grabs his chin and makes sure he pays attention.
Seth - Okay.
Kirsten - I'll see you when I get home.
She kisses the top of his head and leaves.
Seth walks over to the living room, puts the movies and comics on a table and puts the tv on. He then walks over to the window and slides the blinds up. He places a movie in the DVD player and lays on the couch. As he tries to watch the movie his eyes wander to the window wishing he was over at Marissa party instead of being home sick.
Marissa Party
Marissa goes back downstairs to check on her party. Everyone is having a great time. Summer is dancing with two guys at a time. Marissa starts to look around for Luke but can't find him any place. She decides to ask Summer.
Marissa - Summer, have you seen Luke?
Summer starts to point around and when she can't find him she just shrugs her shoulders and continues dancing. Marissa decides to check up stairs. Maybe Luke is waiting for her up there. She hears a commotion coming up the steps. She heads for her moms bed room door where the noise is coming from.
Marissa - Luke?
She opens the door and is surprised to find Luke in bed with another girl.
Surprise , Surprise
Luke - Wait! ... Marissa, it's not what you think.
Struggling to put his pants back on.
Marissa upset leaves running down the steps and out the door.
Luke follows her out.
Luke - Look , Marissa I can explain.
Marissa - How could you!
She slaps him across the face.
Marissa- Leave. Just go.
Not knowing what to say Luke does what Marissa ask.
Marissa starts to cry.
Later that night ...
Marissa sneaks into the Cohens house. She goes to the refrigerator and places some left over birth day cake inside it for Seth. She shuts the door and sees that the tv is on. Is someone sleeping on the couch? She quietly walks over and sees that Seth has fallen a sleep on the couch.
An Arnold Schwarzenegger movie is left running, his medicine is left open on the table. She closes it for him and notices that the blinds to the window is up. There is a view of her house. It seems that Seth has been staring out the window and has fallen a sleep.
Marissa begins to stare down at him. She turns the tv off and lays down beside him. She puts her head on his chest and forces Seths arm around her waist. She looks up at him, closes her eyes and instantly falls a sleep in his arms.
As soon as Marissa falls a sleep she suddenly wakes up. She looks at the clock and realizes it's almost morning. No one has gotten up yet. Seth is still knocked out from the medicine the previous night. If she leaves now he'll never know that she was there.
She slowly and quietly makes her way to the door and exits.
She turns around and stares into the living room once more and walks away.
3 Days Later ...
For those three days Seth and Marissa haven't seen each other. Seth is all alone outside eating lunch. He is munching on some fries when he hears a huge commotion and a familar voice. Two girls walk by his table and he can hear their conversation.
Girl One - They've been arguing since Monday.
Girl Two - I heard she found him in bed with another girl. She doesn't even go to our school.
Girl One - What a jerk.
The commotion gets louder and Seth instantly recognizes Lukes voice.
Seth looks over and sees Luke yelling at Marissa.
Luke - Marissa, I said I'm sorry. Can't we just forget about it!? Come on babe.
He tries to put his arm around her but Marissa pulls away.
Marissa - Forget about how you cheated on me with someone else. You had sex in my moms bed, at my party, with me still there. I can't forgive you. Were through!
Luke grabs her.
Luke - Come on Marissa. Forgive me. Let's just make up like we always do.
He tries to force a kiss on her.
She slaps him hard across the face.
Luke - Fine!
He throws her down.
On the way down Marissa's head hits a rock and she is knocked unconscious.
Luke - I don't need you. Were done.
Seth watches on but notices that after a few minutes Marissa hasn't gotten up.
He runs over to her , bends down and starts to shake her.
But she is completely out.
Seth - Marissa ... Marissa ...
She doesn't respond.
He becomes really worried.
Luke doesn't seem to care.
Luke - Cohen? What are you her white knight now.
Luke grabs his shoulder.
Luke - Do me a favor and let me handle my own girl. Why don't you get the hell out of here.
Seth puts down Marissa slowly. He's in pain. He becomes angry. His fist are balled up. His hands are shaking.
Luke grabs his shoulder again.
Luke - Hey Cohen. Didn't you here me? I said my your own buisness .
Luke tugs at Seths shoulder.
Seth turns around and hits Luke with a punch that smashes him right in the mouth.
With that one single punch something has awoken inside of Seth. Maybe due to all the pent up rage for being bullied all those years especially by Luke. But maybe it's simply because for the first time in his life Seth has something that he cares about. Something that he wants to protect and because of that he finds a strength he never thought he had.
The punch surprises Luke and he staggers back.
His lip starts to bleed and he notices it.
Luke - Son of a ...
He charges Seth and swings but Seth sees it coming, slides underneath it and hits Luke with a left that catches him on the side of the head. Luke keeps charging but it almost appears as though Seth wants him to. He wants Luke to feel pain just like the pain he is experiencing watching his best friend just laying there. Everytime Luke takes even one step towards Marissa Seth hits him with a right or left harder and stronger than the last one.
Dazed there pretty much nothing Luke can do. Seth is able to take out all his anger and frustrations on Luke. Hitting him on the side of the head, mouth and jaw. Until he finally gets so fed up with his shit that he hits him with a right so hard that it sends Luke crashing to the ground.
Luke doesn't know what happened. His head is spinning, blood pours from his nose and out the side of his mouth. Luke looks over and notices there is blood on his shirt but also Seth across from him. Seths eyes are burning a hole right through him. His fist are clenched and he's ready to continue the fight.
Luke slowly gets back to his feet. He notices the people around him. Most are just in shock, some are laughing. Seth stands in front of Marissa. He he hasn't moved. He's waiting for Luke. Luke looks at Seth but at the last minute turns away.
Luke - Fuck it.
He leaves.
Everyone starts to stare at Seth. Some are clapping. Most are still in shock. The girls are holding on to their boy friends. Even the school monitor doesn't do anything being a woman herself and seeing the entire incident.
Seth doesn't pay any attention to them. He instead turns around, leans down and slowly picks up Marissa carrying her in his arms. He looks down at her. He gets an idea and carries her all the way to the nurses office. The nurse takes her in her office and Seth takes a seat near the door.
There he sits for the next 20 minutes with his head down hoping she'll be okay.
He starts to think about what she means to him.
Tears start sliding down his face.
When he hears ...
The nurse in the other room.
Nurse - So your finally up. How do you feel?
Marissa - Okay I guess. What happened?
Nurse - Oh you were unconscious. But you'll be just fine now.
Seth is relieved and finally looks up wiping his tears away.
Nurse - A boy carried you here.
Marissa - Really?
Nurse - He's outside waiting right now with his head down. He's really worried about you, you know. He really cares about you.
She goes to check outside for Seth but he's gone.
Nurse - Funny, he was here a few minutes ago.
Marissa - What he look like?
Nurse - (smiling) Oh you know ... tall, cute , dark hair, brown eyes know anyone like that?
Marissa - You know ... I do.
Marissa realizes who it was starts to smile and lays back down.
Seths Room
After school Marissa decides to visit Seth. She goes up to his room and knocks on his door. Seth turns around to look at her. She waves to him.
Marissa - Hey.
Seth seeing her turns away.
He talks to her with his back turned.
Seth - How are you?
Marissa looks at Seth and realizes that he's been really worried about her.
Marissa - Fine.
She says touching his arm and trying to get him to look at her.
Marissa decides to break the ice and changes the subject.
Marissa - I haven't been in this room for a long time.
Seth - I know.
She starts to look around his room and notices something she never knew.
Marissa - This is my favorite band.
She hold up a CD.
Marissa - And my favorite book. I didn't know we liked the same things.
Seth sees his chance.
He goes over and pulls out a plastic bag from inside his desk.
He holds it out.
Marissa - What are you doing?
Seth - Toss them in. I can't be into the same things you are. I need new interest. New inspiration.
Marissa takes the plastic bag and puts it over his head.
Marissa - You know I have a CD you might like.
Seth takes the bag off his head.
Seth - Really?
Marissa - Yeah.
Seth - Send it over.
Marissa - I will.
Marissa also sees something else she's never seen before.
She decides to ask Seth.
Marissa - What's that?
Pointing to the toy horse on his desk.
Seth - That Marissa is Captain Oats.
Seth picks it up.
Seth - Marissa meet Captain Oats. Captain Oats Marissa.
Marissa - Hi!
Marissa kisses Captain Oats on his horse lips.
Seth grabs Captain Oats from her.
Seth - What are you doing?
Marissa - What?
Seth - You two barely know each other. Besides Captain Oats never kisses on a first date.
Marissa suddenly burst out laughing.
Seth laughs too.
Seth - Marissa, step away from the horse.
Marissa does and laughs into Seths chest.
Seth - It wasn't that funny.
Marissa continues to laugh and Seth looks down at her and is reminded of how he almost lost her.
He breaks away from her and walks away.
Seth - Why are you here?
Marissa realizes Seth mood has changed and stops laughing.
Marissa - I came to talk to you about what happened today.
Seth becomes serious and sits down on his bed.
Marissa goes around the bed so she is facing his back giving him a little privacy.
Marissa - That was you the nurse was talking about wasn't it?
Seth doesn't say anything.
Marissa - And you were worried about me?
Seth again doesn't respond but his eyes do get really red.
Marissa - Everyone told me what happened. I was surprised I didn't know you could fight.
Seth - I never hit anyone.
Marissa - Then why did you ...
Seth - Because he hurt you.
Marissa for a few minutes is speechless.
She smiles.
Marissa - I think Lukes scared of you now.
Seth smiles.
Marissa goes behind him and hugs him.
Marissa - Do you have a date for the dance? I hear Summers available.