Why is there another chapter? I have no idea? Is it the reviews... maybe? Keep it coming. I love you all!

xoxo Jules

Chapter 11: "little low"

Ryan's POV: This day wasn't like the rest

I woke up this morning with a funny feeling in my gut. Something was different… I looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings which was nothing new considering our lives lately. Then I realized that I could not feel my arm. I looked down to see Marissa's head resting on it as her eyelids fluttered in her sleep.

"Ummm." She groaned turning over so that I was in an even more impossible position. Seth, Summer, Luke, and Alex were nowhere to be seen. I relaxed with her in my arms for a second. She seemed to be doing well considering that she is most likely out of coke by now.

Carefully I slipped out from under her and made my way outside where I saw Seth, Summer, Alex, and Luke relaxing by the pool.

"Hey, it's almost noon." Seth said checking his imaginary watch to spite me. I rolled my eyes

"Is Marissa still asleep?" Alex asked from where she and Luke were tackling one another in the pool.

"Yeah, I guess so." I said not really quite sure why everyone always came to me with their Marissa questions… their Marissa anything!

"Well go check because we were going to go head down to the pier and I think she'd want to come." Alex pointed out.

I slowly turned and re-entered the house to find Marissa was no longer sleeping where she had been before, but was walking towards me from the bathroom with a hazy look in her eyes… So what I said before about her being out…

"Hey!" I said as I attempted to steady her unstable body.

"Hey!" She responded.

"Are you alright?" I asked tilting her head up so that she was looking me in the eyes

"I'm great!" She told me her lips forming to a drugged smile.

"What'd you take Marissa?" I asked speaking to her as though she was a child the same way that I had done my mother.

"Nothing!" She said her face turning to a frown.

"Do you think that you can make it down to the pier?" I asked her again tilting her chin upwards. She winced as the sun hit her dilated pupils.

"Of course I can!" Marissa said hooking her arm in mine.

Why has it become typical for me to be surrounded by crazy people? Maybe not crazy… just people with problems, struggles and stuff. I guess if you think about it though everyone has their own problems and everything, ours just tend to be more… evident.

Everyone stared at Marissa and I as I led her out of the house and to the pool.

"Is she alright?" Luke asked standing up.

"Yeah she's fine… she's just… Marissa." I said giving him a half smile followed by a long awkward silence. "SO who is ready to go!" I said still supporting Marissa with one of my arms.

"Um yeah, maybe we'd better get out of here before my parents see her." Alex said

A short time later we were all piled into Alex's car and heading towards the beach.

"So have you guys always lived here?" Summer asked from the backseat where she was squished between Ryan and the door.

"I am a Newporter born and raised." Luke said flashing Summer a smile that I am sure made Seth want to strangle him although I am sure that it was just him being kind. Luke seemed like the guy who just subconsciously flirted, well with everyone except Alex. They are in denial.

"I'm from Newport too. My dad grew up in New York though. I guess that's where the tough side of me comes from." Alex said

"There's another side?" Luke joked nudging Alex in the side.

It wasn't long before we pulled up at the beach, which made me wonder why we didn't walk. I guess it worked out for the best with Marissa though, in the state that she is in it might take her awhile. She sat for a majority of the car ride fascinated with the car handle.

We spent that day just hanging out which is cool I guess. I've never really had friends that I could just chill out with before. I don't think that I've really actually ever had friends at all. We ate lunch, went to the arcade where Marissa was overly fascinated with the bright lights.

"Hey, you wanna play me?" Seth asked tossing me a ski ball.

"Nah Man, I'm not sure." I said gesturing towards Marissa who was wandering around like a lost child. She needed supervision.

"Come on man, you need to loosen up! She's going to be alright for one game!" Seth said tossing me a ball. I took one last look at Marissa before I accepted the ball.

I guess that I let the time get away from me because the next thing I realized Summer, Alex, and Luke we all standing around Seth and I looking bored.

"Sorry." I said stuffing my hands in my pockets when I suddenly realized that Marissa was not there. "Hey, have any of you seen Marissa?"

Everyone exchanged glances.

"Shit!" I said as we all started rushing around the arcade. No luck. "Hey have you seen a girl, around my height, blondish hair, blue shirt!" I asked a young boy who was trying to focus on his game

"I think I saw her leave with some guys while I was coming in." The boy said

"When was that?" I asked frantically

"I donno, about five minutes ago maybe?" The boy said rolling his eyes at me and turning back to the game. "Outside!" I called to everyone who followed me out. "Marissa!" I called. "Marissa!" I tried again.

Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I see Luke charging towards an alley. I caught up with him in time to see some guy, about our age forcing a helpless, clueless Marissa up against a wall, her arms were pinned at her sides and her pants unbuttoned. He was raping her neck as tears fell down her cheeks.

"Get the fuck off of her!" I said charging at the boy and slamming him against the wall.

"Fuck! She was like practically all over me calling me Teddy or some shit like that!" The guy said wiping blood from his lip as Marissa flew into Summers arms.

"Get out of here man!" I said pushing him out of the alley. I turned to see the scene behind me.

Alex was standing beside Luke looking over at Marissa, eyes filled with hurt, Seth rubbed Summers back as Marissa cried into her lap. Tears were surprisingly flowing from Summers eyes. And in that moment I believe that something brought us together.

"Let's go home." Alex said helping Marissa to her feet.

Home?

The next chapter will explain all sorted pasts and such! Any ideas? Hit the purple button!

xoxo Jules