Here's the next installment:

Chapter 34: The Whole Truth?

Sandy knocked on the door. "Seth? Can I come in?"

"I'm busy."

Sandy ignored this and opened the door.

"I said I'm busy."

"Oh you look really busy," Sandy said looking at Seth sitting on his bed, his head stuck in a comic. Sandy sat on the end of the bed and sighed.

"I get why you're angry."

"No you don't. Just like you don't know why Marissa's drowning herself in alcohol, because you haven't talked to her," he said, his head still behind the comic.

"We're not her parents, it's not really our place."

"Oh you really think that Julie or Jimmy have any idea?"

"Look we only knew since last night and you saw her this morning, we could hardly say anything." Seth lowered his comic book and looked at his dad.

"You swear you've only known since last night?"

"Yes! I swear. But it's clearly been going on for much longer."

"Has Ryan not been saying for ages he's worried about how much Marissa's been drinking?"

"Yeah, and your mom feels so guilty now because Ryan came to see her about it but she just told him he was being silly."

"Ryan would never blame her."

"No but she still feels guilty, and that's why she is going to talk to Marissa tonight."

"She is?"

Sandy nodded.

"Well is there anything I can do to help?" Seth asked suddenly feeling guilty for leaving the burden on his parents.

"Just keep quiet for now. Act normal."

Seth nodded his head when Sandy's phone rang in his pocket. He took it out and flipped it open

"Hello? Yes this is Sandy Cohen…Uhh this afternoon….no, no 2:30 should be fine….ok, thanks."

"Who was that?"

"It was the police station. They want to question the four of you about last night."

"Good timing," Seth said sarcastically.

"Are you ok to go in this afternoon?"

"Don't you think that question should be directed elsewhere?"

"I'm going to have a word with Kirsten," he opened the door. "Hey are we ok?" he asked his son.

"Yeah, we're ok," Seth replied. "Not so sure about Marissa and Ryan though," he said quietly once Sandy had left, turning his attention back to his comic book.

"Hey," Kirsten said when Sandy walked into the kitchen.

"Hey."

"How'd it go with Seth?"

"I told him that you are going to talk to Marissa and to keep quiet. Oh also I got a call from the police station."

"About last night?"

"Yeah, they just want to talk to the kids."

"Good timing," Kirsten said sarcastically.

"That's exactly what Seth said," Sandy said with a smile. "Like mother, like son."

"Oh things are definitely not going well if I'm making the same sarcastic comments as Seth."

"I'm going to call Neil. Summer can come over here and I'll take all the kids to the station. Then I'll go and let Ryan and Marissa know."

"I can't wait until today is over," Kirsten said sadly.

"I know, I know. Just take it slowly it's not going to be easy." Sandy kissed her head and left the room to call Neil.

Marissa and Ryan walked into the kitchen with their plates. Ryan took Marissa's glass and put it by the sink. He put his arm lovingly around her shoulder and kissed her temple.

"So what's next on the agenda for our day of fun?" He squeezed her shoulder noticing she was still a bit distant.

"I don't know, what do you want to do? Today is supposed to be for you remember."

"Well if today is to make me happy then I want to make you happy because seeing you happy makes me…well happy, for lack of a better word."

Marissa smiled and laid her head on his chest. He wrapped both his arms around her, holding her close. "Though I do remember you mentioning something about video games…" he trailed off. Marissa smiled and looked up at him. "What? You're the one that said it….but you know only if you want to."

Marissa pecked his lips.

"If you want to I want to."

"Ok," Ryan kissed her back when a voice broke them apart.

"Ah Ryan, Marissa. I was just coming to find you guys."

"Hey Sandy," Ryan said, letting go of Marissa and putting his arm around his shoulder.

Sandy hated seeing them so happy knowing that he and Kirsten were just going to spoil it.

"Sandy?" Ryan said as Sandy stood in silence looking at them.

"Oh sorry. I just wanted to tell you that I got a call from the police station asking for the four of you to go in this afternoon. Just to answer a few simple questions, nothing major," he said trying to reassure them. Marissa nodded taking deep breath. Unfortunately she was used to going to the police station now.

"You ok?" Ryan asked her gently. She looked at his worried face.

"Yeah, I mean it's not like I haven't done it before," she said with a pathetic laugh. "Sorry," she said knowing it really wasn't something to joke about.

"As long as you're ok," Ryan said.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said very unconvincingly. She truthfully didn't wan to do it all again, sit in front of strangers and tell them all about something she wanted to put behind her.

"Well I phoned Neil told him that Summer can come over here and I can drive you all there." They all stood there in an awkward silence.

"Ok," Sandy said clapping his hands together. "I have to go and do…a thing," he said pathetically leaving Ryan and Marissa.

"Suddenly don't really feel like playing video games," Ryan said.

"No, no. I want to."

"You do?" Ryan said surprised.

"Yeah. I mean the last thing I want to do is spend the next few hours going over everything in my head."

"Ok, but just to warn you I am going to thrash you," Ryan said with a laugh letting go of Marissa and making his way to the tv.

"Oh really," Marissa said with a smile that rapidly disappeared. Marissa swallowed deeply. She held out her hand which was shaking. She stretched it trying to stop the shaking and out it back down beside her. She leaned her hands on the counter top for a second closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

"Hey you coming?" Ryan shouted from the other room.

"Uh yeah I'm right behind you!" she called back. She straightened up and tried to walk confidently through to Ryan. Little did she know that Kirsten had been watching from the patio door. Kirsten realised that Seth was right: she needed help and she needed it now.

Ryan handed her a control and she sat on the couch which Ryan was leaning against, sitting on the floor. She smiled as Ryan eagerly settled in for the game. She realised at that moment just how much she loved him. But did he love her back as much? Of course he did, she hoped he did. But what if he didn't? She ignored these thoughts and leaned over Ryan. She caught his lips in a deep and passionate kiss sliding her tongue gently into his mouth. She smiled as she sat back up on the couch pretending like nothing had happened. Ryan sat there his mouth still open, in complete shock over what just happened. He turned and looked at Marissa who was sitting looking at the screen as though nothing had happened.

"Not that I'm complaining like at all, but what was that for?"

"What was what for? She asked innocently.

"You know what," he said with a smile.

"Nope. Now would you turn around, you're distracting me. I want to start the game."

"Come on!! Come on!! What the hell was that?! I could kick better than that!" Marissa shouted at the screen to one of her warriors. Ryan looked up at her as she leaned forward, a very concentrated and angry look on her face, attacking the control. Marissa noticed Ryan smirking at her.

"What's so funny?" she asked defensively.

"Nothing, nothing," he said with a smile. "It's just you're really sexy when you get angry."

"Ryan! I'm trying to play the game! Having you sitting there all aroused isn't going to help!"

"Fine then," he said standing up.

"Wait where are you going?"

Ryan clambered onto the couch and sat in behind Marissa, putting a leg either side of her.

"What are you doing?" she asked with a laugh as he struggled in behind her.

"Well you said you didn't want me sitting there aroused so I thought I would sit here instead."

Marissa smiled and tilted her head back to look at him.

"Having you sit behind me is even more distracting," she said shifting back, grinding into him.

"You can say that again," he said with a blissful smile.

"Ryan it's the middle of the day!"

"I don't care," he replied.

"Yeah I can tell that. Actually no, I can feel it."

"What can I say? I've got you." He buried his head into her neck and kissed her gently on her neck.

"Yeah but we've also got Kirsten, Sandy and Seth," she said, though not complaining about his gentle kisses.

"Once again, I don't care because I've got you," he said moving from her neck. His mouth hovered over her lips. "Plus I don't exactly hear you complaining."

His heart melted when he saw an innocent smile cover her lips. Not being able to hold back any longer his lips met hers in a gentle kiss which didn't take long to loose control, neither of them having the slightest intention of slowing it down. She dropped her game control as the sounds blaring from the television faded into the background.

"Guys!! Is everyone ready to go?!" Sandy called through the house. "Anyone there?" silence. "Seth!!" he shouted loudly.

"Yes father?" Set said standing right behind Sandy. Sandy jumped in fright as he turned to look at Seth. He glared at his son who just grinned back.

"Come on lets go."

"Guys!" Seth called. Ryan, Summer and Marissa immediately walked through. Sandy threw his arms up in despair and shook his head.

"Come on everyone in the car." The kids all walked out to the car. "Honey, we're off!" he called to Kirsten who hurried in.

"Good luck," she said giving him a quick kiss. "I'll see you when you get back."

"Ok love you."

"You too," she said closing the front door behind him.

Sandy escorted Summer out of the room. Three down one to go. Summer walked over to Seth and hugged him tightly.

"Kiddo, you ready?" Sandy asked Marissa who looked like she wanted to throw up. Marissa stood still. Ryan hugged her.

"You'll be fine. Just tell them what you told me," he whispered in her ear. "I love you."

Marissa nodded as Sandy guided her over to the door. She glanced back at Ryan who tried to smile at her. He walked back and sat down on a chair beside Summer and Seth.

"Was it just me or did the dude look scarily like Fred Flintstone?" Seth asked. Ryan and Summer just looked at him. "Just me then," he said. "Just me," he sighed leaning his head back, staring up at the ceiling. He found himself counting the number of small tiles. Was this really what life had come to? None of them fitted in here. The past weeks didn't make sense. Things like this weren't supposed to happen to people like them. Then again nothing in life is certain. Anything can happen - in Marissa's case everything had happened.

"So Miss Cooper, there were three other hostages with you?"

"Yes," she said shakily.

"Could you talk me through what happened while you were held hostage? Take as much time as you need."

She hated it when they always asked a question but really you had no choice, they were telling you not asking you.

Marissa described everything that happened up to the point when he started….The memory of his hands on her sent shivers up her spine and made her feel physically sick. Her mouth went dry as she abruptly stopped talking.

"Miss Cooper? What happened next? What happened once they took the boy away?"

She couldn't bring herself to describe it, to go through it all again. It had been bad enough telling Ryan, but these strangers? She knew she couldn't do it.

"That was when he led me to the door and held the gun to my head. You know the rest."

"So he took you straight to the door?"

"Yes." Was he stupid or something? That was what she had just told him.

"Nothing else happened?"

"No," she said getting frustrated. She turned to Sandy to ask if they could leave when he asked her a question that made her freeze.

"Did he do anything to you, rape you?"

Marissa's head shot back to face the officer.

"Why do you ask that?" she asked very defensively.

"He had a history of assault, it's just a question we have to ask."

Marissa turned back to Sandy.

"Can we go now?" she asked desperately.

"Miss Cooper you didn't answer my question," the officer said firmly.

"Sandy…" she said quietly ready to move her chair back.

"Did he rape you?" he asked again.

"No!" Marissa suddenly shouted. "He didn't rape me! They took the boy away then he took me to the door. Nothing else happened!" she shouted, believing that the more she said it the quicker she would be able to forget that something did happen. "Nothing…nothing else…" she trailed off weakly.

"Ok," the officer said. "Thank you for your time Miss Cooper."

Marissa stood up and waited by the door.

"Thanks Mr Cohen," he shook Sandy's hand. "I'll give you a call if we need anything else."

"Thanks officer," he replied making his way to Marissa who was cowering at the door. "Come on kiddo. Let's go home." He opened the door and put his arm around her shoulder, guiding her out.

"Right who wants to go home?" Sandy stated as he and Marissa reached the others. Summer rushed over and hugged Marissa.

"You ok Coop?"

"Yeah I'm fine Sum," she said hugging her best friend back. Summer walked over to Seth and held onto his hand, following Sandy out to the car. Ryan walked over to Marissa.

"Hey," he gave her a quick kiss.

"Hey."

"Did it go ok? Did you tell them everything?"

"Yeah," she lied convincingly. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and walked with her out to the car.

"I'm proud of you, I know it must have been hard. But it's over now."

"Right," Marissa said attempting to smile as they got into the car. Ryan smiled back and held onto her hand, oblivious to the lie that she was telling him.

Sandy started the engine and slid in a CD.

"Ugh Dad, what is this?" Seth asked as music blared out.

"It's grease lightening. Have I ever told you that I used to get compared to Travolta back in the day?"

"Only like a million times," Seth said with a groan. Sandy opened his mouth to sing along. "Don't do it," Seth warned. Sandy chuckled and shook his head.

"I think it's good," Ryan stated from the back. Seth laughed.

"Yeah that's because you listen to Journey."

"Seriously man what is you problem with Journey?"

"Seriously man you really shouldn't even have to ask that question."

"Well I like it and I don't listen to Journey," Marissa said.

"See son you're outnumbered," Sandy said happily.

"Just you wait until I play some Death Cab," Seth stated.

"Oh there'll be no killing in my cab," Sandy joked. Seth shook his head and sunk into his seat, as they headed to Summer's to drop her off.

"Ryan whatever you say you won't turn me to Journey," Seth said marching into the house, closely followed by Ryan.

"Honey, we're home!" Sandy shouted.

"See Fred Flintstone!" Seth exclaimed.

"Hey guys," Kirsten said.

"I was showcasing some of my musical talents to the kids on the way home," Sandy said to her.

"Were you now?" she said smiling.

"Ugh I'm going to lock myself in my room and try to heal my bruised ears."

"I think I got some bad reviews," he said before giving Kirsten a light kiss on the lips when she reached him.

"I'm going to change into something more comfortable," Marissa said pecking Ryan on the cheek and following Seth upstairs.

"So did everything go ok?" Kirsten asked as she, Ryan and Sandy made their way to the kitchen.

"Yeah it was fine," Sandy replied. Ryan reached into the fridge and took out a bottle of water. He unscrewed the lid and gulped a mouthful down.

"Marissa and I decided this morning that we are going to go without any more drama which admittedly didn't last long but maybe now we can go drama free."

"Yeah maybe," Kirsten said forcing a smile knowing that it would only last a few hours before she spoilt it.

"Well she deserves a chance. You both do," Sandy added noticing Kirsten's forced smile.

"Yeah she's been through too much. I mean TJ, Oliver, the mugging, attempted rape."

"What?" Sandy said shocked.

"What?" Ryan asked confused.

"What did you say at the end?"

"Attempted rape. But you know about that." Sandy looked at Ryan blankly. "She told you and the cops today."

"She never said anything about attempted rape," Sandy said, now understanding why she had been so touchy.

"I don't understand. She said she told the cops everything."

"So this happened last night?"

Ryan nodded.

"When she was held hostage. She told me that he was touching her all over and was planning on…..but he ran out of time."

"Oh god," Kirsten said shaking her head, unable to believe what she was hearing. Was Marissa ever going to get a break?

"Hey," Marissa said cheerfully, walking into the kitchen. They all looked at her. "What?"

"Why did you lie to me?" Ryan asked.

"Ryan…" Kirsten said, not wanting him to upset her.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, honestly confused.

"You know what I'm talking about," he said bluntly.

"No, Ryan, I don't," she said, getting scared.

"You said you told them everything."

Marissa suddenly realised what he was talking about and looked down at her feet.

"Ryan, I…" she stammered.

"But you didn't, did you?"

"Ryan I couldn't!" she said, tears forming in her eyes.

"You told me."

"Yeah and you saw how hard that was! I didn't want to go through it again with a complete stranger! I thought you'd understand," she said sadly.

"I do understand I just wish you didn't lie to me."

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, a tear escaping her eye.

Ryan wrapped his arms around her.

"Don't cry. I didn't mean to upset you," he said soothingly. "Just remember I'm always here. You can tell me anything."

Marissa wiped her eyes and turned to Sandy and Kirsten who were standing there awkwardly.

"Will I have to go back to the station?" she asked Sandy hesitantly.

As much as Sandy didn't want to he nodded his head.

"It would be for the best, they don't like you hiding anything. I know it's horrible and a lot to ask from you but…."

"This is something I have to do," Marissa nodded with a sigh. This was what she needed. She needed her life back, and she wasn't going to let anyone or anything take it away from her again. The question was would she be able to? She just didn't understand what she had ever done wrong to get punished like this.

next chapter Kirsten confronts Marissa about the alcohol...There is still tons to come for this story with all sorts of storylines!! Just keep reading and you'll find out...

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