A/N: The first few chapters are set up, and I think the next one will be from the people in Newports perspective... so if this is boring to you right now lol, I promise it will get better...
Marissa ran her hands through her hair shakily as she stared down at the photo album that lay before her. She was sprawled out in the midst of cardboard boxes and various nick-knacks and shirts that were strewn across her small living area. She let out a heavy breath as she turned another page of the album and came across a picture of her and Ryan together at their junior prom. They looked so happy. Her in her Chanel dress and him in his jacket and blue jeans. Turning the page again she came to another page covered with her and Ryan's smiling faces. She shook her head and laughed slightly at how pathetic she was.
She remembered when she made the album. She was 7 months pregnant on bed rest, locked up in the guest room of Summer's giant apartment where she had lived until Aiden was 6 months old. Maybe if she had accepted Summer's offer and lived their permanently, she would never have to go home. But she couldnt do that. Over the years Marissa had gained something she wasnt quite sure she sure even had: pride and responsibility. She needed to live on her own and take care of her son by herself. She couldnt take handouts for this, she knew she would always regret it if she did.
Moving back to Newport wasnt exactly her first choice of things to do, but it was the one thing that didnt make her feel ashamed. Summer had been offering her money for months, but she wouldnt take it. She couldnt. But her mother's help was something she wouldnt turn away. Her mother had been through this, struggling as a single mother to raise her kids. Her mother had lied to protect her kids from it, and even though Marissa was fine with the living arrangements in the trailer, she always understood why she did it. Now she understood more than ever. You do anything to protect your kids, your family. And now Marissa was doing the same thing, and would only allow herself to be helped by the one person she knew that understood. Her mom was going to pay off her rent here and help her to get an apartment and a job. She was more grateful than she could ever express and promised to pay her mom back once she got afloat, even though Julie vehemently refused.
She turned the page of the photo album again and saw pictures of her and Summer pasted on the pale blue paper with the words 'Sum and Coop: Best Friends Forever!' written in pink gel pen across the top. Smiling to herself she pulled herself up off the ground and headed over to grab the phone. It wasnt late, only around nine at night, but Aiden was already tucked in sound asleep between his baseball themed sheets. She quickly dialed the number of her best friend and waited for her voice to come across the line.
"Hello?" Summer's tired voice called out over the line groggily.
"Hey Sum."
"Oh my god, Coop!" Summer's voice immediately perked up completely when she realised who was on the other line. Marissa let out a giggle at her friends change of mood as she started in on the conversation.
"Everything okay over there? You seemed a little bored when you answered.."
"Oh yes. Bored is exactly what I am. I am bored as hell cooped up in this big ass apartment all by myself," she calls out annoyed over the line, and you can almost here her eyes roll. Marissa tries not to let her hear her giggle anymore so she doesnt get even more upset. She know exactly why Summer's bored. Her fiance is in Japan on business. He's 29, which is kind of a big difference compared to Summer's young age of 23. He's mature, very mature. Exactly the opposite of Seth, and Marissa was pretty sure thats why Summer picked him in the first place. He was tall with bright green eyes and straight but shaggy brown hair. They looked amazing together, and the rock on Summer's finger was unbelievably massive.
"Jake still outta town?"
"Yes.." she breaths out frustrated. "He doesnt come back until April 13th.."
"April 13th?" Marissa calls out shocked as she looked over at the calender that hung on the wall, "Thats like 2 weeks away." She can here Summer let out a sigh and she frowns, feeling sorry for her best friend. Jake was an executive at his company, which on the one hand was a great thing. Summer went on shopping sprees all the time, and she never had to lift a finger or work, and she was basically set for life. But on the other hand- Jake was always gone on business trips to China, or England, or France, and Summer just got to sit at home and watch daytime television.
"I know.. It sucks.. I miss him so much.." a moment of silence passes over the line. Summer wonders where Jake is and what he's doing, while Marissa just wishes she had someone to miss like that. As if on cue, she hear a soft coo come out of Aiden's room and smiles. Maybe she doesnt need anyone else. She tiptoes over to his door and sees the little boy shuffling under his sheets and smiles widely as Summer's voice on the other end of the line brings her back to the conversation.
"But you and Aiden are coming down tomorrow," Summer explains, the excitement suddenly returning to her voice again. "That'll be great, I cant wait!"
"I know, I cant wait either," Marissa coos as she quickly gets away from Aiden's room so she doesnt wake him up. "I feel like I havent seen you in forever.."
"Coop," she interrupts abruptly, "I was just up there like a week ago. Remember? Aiden's birthday.."
"Yeah I know.." Marissa says losing her happy tone from her voice. "Its just.. I dont have alotta friends up here.."
"I completely understand. I'm in the same boat down here."
Marissa smiled sadly to herself at Summer's words. She wished Summer was coming with. That she didnt have to face all of this stuff by herself. Summer was her best friend in the entire world and always would be. They ran out of Newport together, they should be going back together. She looked across the disheveled mess that was her apartment and then at the clock.
"Well I better go.." she said quietly over the line. "I got a lot of packing to do if I wanna get to your place before dinner."
"Yeah.." Summer responded back, equally as quiet over the line. They sat there in silence for a long minute, both thinking the same thing. In a few days, they were gonna be apart for the first time they ever really had been in thier entire lives. The silence last a little too long before Marissa finally broke it.
"Summer?" she spoke the name quickly and somewhat desperately.
"Yeah?"
"I'm doing the right thing.." Marissa said hesitantly as she sat back down picked the photo album up off the floor and stared at the picture of her and Summer. "Right?"
"Yes," Summer confirmed forcefully, knowing it was what Marissa needed to hear. "You're doing the right thing by you and by Aiden. You cant handle this stress anymore, and Aiden needs you to be there for him one hundred percent. He needs to know his family. Coop, you're an amazing mom and you're definitely doing the right thing." Marissa let out a relieved breath as she smiled genuinely, comforted by her friends words.
"Thanks Sum. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Love you sweetie," Summer cooed over the line.
"Love you too Sum," Marissa repeated back before pulling down her phone from her ear and hanging it up. She set it back on the hook before turning back and letting out a heavy sigh at her messy apartment. Aiden's stuff was almost packed, and she decided she should just finish it up first. She walked into her son's room and took out his Spongebob backpack and began packing his bag for Summer's. They had to be out of their tomorrow, otherwise they'd have to pay a whole nother month's rent. She had called Summer right after her mom to let her know what was going on and immediately she suggested them staying with her for a few days. Kind of like a goodbye thing.
She put Aiden's most valued possessions in the tiny backpack, since all the rest of the boxes would be going straight to Newport via air mail. First she put in his tiny little baseball glove along with his baseball. She was really surprised when he became so obsessed with the sport since it was a complete coincidence. When ever Marissa was home with Aiden when he was younger, she'd take naptime with him, and since baseball was the most boring thing she could think of, she put it on to help her fall asleep as they would lay together on the couch. Little did she know that once he hit around 2 and a half or 3, he had stopped sleeping and starting watching the games. She had done her best to teach him how it worked and how to throw the ball and everything. Miraculously he was great at it, but she blamed that on natural talent. She wasnt really what she was cut out for the sports stuff. That was a father's job.
She shook her head to clear away that thought as far from her mind as she could get it. She couldnt get upset over that anymore, some part of her had finally come to terms that it wasnt her fault he didnt have a father. She wished he had one, but she couldnt dwell on it anymore. At all. She scrunched her face as she started pining over the room in search of Aiden's favorite bear. It was shaggy and beat up, but she knew he would flip out if he didnt have it with him. Her eyes swooped across his bed and she smiled to herself when she saw the bear grasped between his tiny hands. He was adorable. Absolutely adorable. Turning back to the box full of his clothes she hurriedly picked out a few items for the trip to Summer's before zipping up the bag and setting it near the foot of his bed.
Marissa tiptoed her way over to his bedside and knelt down next to him, her arms folded on the mattress and her head resting on them. Staring at her son, she felt her own worries and fears melt away. Summer was right, this was the right thing. For both of them. She brushed a few stray strands of blond hair of his forehead before pulling herself to her feet. She slowly bent over and brushed a kiss against the little boys hot cheek before turning back towards the door. Tomorrow. Tomorrow they were out of here.