So I really couldn't help but to post this chapter because I am getting so much of this written and it's working out pretty well. Haha. So I dont know. I like this chapter, theres more or less a surprise ending... you'll see. Read on!
xoxo Jules
Chapter 26: "Carry on-"
Seths POV: "With every chance to excel"
"So I like her. She knows that I like her. I know she knows that I know that she knows I like her, so then WHY won't I do anything about it?"
I rambled off at Alex who sat before me looking utterly confused. She sighed before speaking.
"I think you guys should just sit down and talk. That wouldn't hurt anything would it?" She suggested popping a handful of chips into her mouth.
"No, maybe, … I don't know!"
I continued to trace the figure that I was drawing on her cast. She sighed again.
"What's up with you and Luke?" I asked focusing on my work as I spoke.
"We're just taking it slow yanno?" She responded to me.
"Yeah, maybe that's what I'll do with Summer."
"Dude," Alex exclaimed tossing a stray chip at me. "You're going slower than slow, you're not even in drive!"
"I know, I know!" Seth said tossing his hands in the air.
"Just go talk to her." She urged me.
Summer was intimidating. I'll say it. She scares me. A lot. Or well she used to. Recently things had been going well with us. She has seemed to adjust to Newport well enough.
"I will. She and I are supposed to go out to the pier later to meet up with Ryan and Marissa. I will if I get the chance then."
"Where are Ryan and Marissa now?"
"Ryan is helping Marissa and Jimmy put together furniture for Marissa's bedroom." I informed her looking down at my watch. It had been awhile.
Ryan's POV: "Hang with the boys"
I watched Marissa try to stick two boards together with a plastic cork and staring at the instruction manual like it was in another language. Strands of hair from her messy ponytail hung in her face as she flipped through the pages. Jimmy was making about just as much progress from where he sat in the other corner attempting lamely to open a box.
"You need some help?" I asked Marissa after I had single handedly assembled the dresser.
She nodded as she dully handed me the booklet and the two pieces of wood over. Easily I flipped the wood over to the other side and effortlessly slipped in the corks. She looked at me and blushed.
"So Ryan." Jimmy began.
My stomach tensed. I don't know why. I felt like for some reason I had to make a good impression on him. I just for whatever reason wanted Marissa's new family to like me.
"what are you planning on studying in school?"
Not at all a probing question. Was I supposed to know this?
"Sandy and Kirsten think I should do something with architecture."
Jimmy nodded approvingly.
"I could see that." He said turning back to the box.
"Me too." Marissa said grinning at me. "You in a yellow hard hat."
Jimmy sighed and backed away from the box.
"We can take a break. Most of the furniture is done and I can have Rhett finish it. I know you guys are supposed to meet up with Summer and Seth in a little bit anyway."
"Are you sure, I don't mind finishing." I offered
"No it's fine go ahead." Jimmy urged us
I stood and then extended my hands to help Marissa up. She took them rising onto shaky feet. She was fighting the urge to use. I could tell. She kept chewing on her lip and fidgeting with her fingers.
"Oh yeah Marissa, tomorrow you, Rhett, and Caitlin are going to go shopping for school clothes." Jimmy informed her
"I'm fine with what I have really." Marissa insisted
"No, I insist really." Jimmy said "Now you kids head out." He smiled at us "See you here tonight Marissa?" He asked
She nodded obediently. I could tell that she was trying so hard.
"Bye." She said giving Jimmy a little wave goodbye.
We stepped out onto her front walk and headed towards the beach. The sun was bright and hot.
"How are you feeling?" I couldn't help but ask
Her skin was clammy and her eyes were darting in every directions. I was beginning to worry.
"There are about two weeks before school starts Jimmy told me, he's putting me into some detox program." She confessed wrapping her arms protectively around herself.
"That's good though right?" I asked.
"Yeah, I guess so. I was thinking that maybe it's about time to get myself together." She sighed "I mean you guys are right?" She asked looking over at me with big blue green eyes.
"Yeah, I think so. Tomorrow Sandy and Kirsten made appointments for Seth, Summer and I to get our schedules set up."
I was kind of excited about school. I had never been to a school before where there were actual computers and books and teachers. Kids would bring knives and guns to the schools I'd went to. Seth, Summer and I would have to take placement tests to determine which classes we could take since we have no real records.
It was then that Summer and Seth approached us. They looked cute as they flirted their way down the boardwalk.
"No Cohen, that's not even true!"
"Um, yeah it is, don't you ever watch the discovery channel?" He asked in a no duh tone before Marissa cut them off.
"Hey guys." She said
I looked around our group. Seth had momentarily ditched his zip up vest and traded it in for some shirt of a Beatles tribute band and baggy jeans with converses. Summer's hair was clean and washed and she wore simple make-up and a bohemian looking sun dress. Marissa was wearing a skirt with the same look of Summers and a tank top with a light jacket over it. We looked like actual people. Not street children.
We didn't carry backpacks with us anymore, nor did we have a communal stick of deodorant. Seth had been the only person who had thought to take one at the time we left. We were just different.
We hung out at the boardwalk for most of the rest of the day until the sun had set and Marissa was due back to Jimmy's and the rest of us had to go over to the Cohens for dinner.
Seths POV: "and hear the stories they tell"
Once we got back to Sandy and Kirstens house Ryan continued on to walk Marissa home and that gave Summer and I a minute. It felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest.
"So, you've been good and stuff?" I asked her
"Yeah actually." She answered turning to face the ocean.
"Awesome."
My heart began beating faster and then faster. I could feel the blood rushing through my veins. I just wanted to tell her.
"So I was thinking-" I began
"SETH, SUMMER!" Kirsten called from the doorway "DINNER!"
I could feel my head sink to my feet.
"Can we talk later?" Summer asked
Clearly she had no idea that I was about to spill my heart out to her.
"It'll be quick." I said trying to get her to stay
Thunder began to rumble from above.
"It's never quick with you." Summer said smiling. "Besides, I hate to keep Kirsten waiting. We can talk later. Please?" She begged
"Yeah, no problem!" I said clapping my hands together "It wasn't that big of a deal anyway." I added
"Okay!" She said standing up on her toes and planting a kiss on my cheek as she headed inside.
What was up with this girl? She was the definition of mixed signals.
Ryan's POV: "She might act kind of proud"
Glancing over at my clock I realized that it was nearly 3 am. I held my pillow over my head to try to drown out the sound of the storm that was raging outside my window. We had all eaten, and then Seth and I had challenged Alex and Summer in dead or alive then I came back here. When I got here I was tired, but it went away as soon as I got into bed, something was forcing me awake. I was thinking about Marissa.
Since we left the Hartford House none of us had slept a night without the others. It was weird to be alone. I didn't really like it. Is that stupid though? I'm 18 years old and I am afraid to sleep alone? Well it's not exactly that I'm afraid, I just don't like it.
Lighting crashed as the door flung open casting shadows around the room. Becoming tangled in my sheets and startled by the door flying open I fell from my bed. I looked up at the door terrified, to reveal a soaking wet Marissa in a tank top and pajama pants staring back at me. She looked like she was freezing to the bone from where she shivered in the doorway.
"What the hell Marissa?" I asked standing to my feet. "Are you okay?" I asked as I headed to the bathroom, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her.
"Yeah." She spoke from between her chattering teeth. "I just." She turned her eyes towards the ground as I rubbed her shoulders attempting to warm her.
"You just what?" I asked as I stopped rubbing her arms and looked into her eyes.
"I just got kind of scared." She said looking down at the floor again. "I didn't mean to wake you." She looked up at me with hopeful eyes.
"Nah, it's okay. I was up anyway." I said grinning back at her. "Wait here a sec, I'll grab you some dry clothes."
I rummaged through the sack that I had basically been living out of and found a long t-shirt. I brought it back out to her.
"Thanks." Marissa said graciously taking the top from my hands and changing right there in front of me.
"No prob." I said.
Marissa was the first to move again as she climbed onto the bed and yawned.
"Tired?" I asked
"I wasn't until I got here. Funny how that happens huh?" She sniffed and wiped her nose that was turning red from the cold. She laid back on the pillows.
I hesitated before hopping in bed beside her. Would she be comfortable in bed with me? I wont try anything funny.
"Covers?" I asked holding up the corner of the sheets.
She nodded smiling biting her lip like a small child. Her eyes danced. The pool house began to sparkle as the rain coated windows glistened in the moon illuminating to room, illuminating her…
She snuggled down in bed beside me. I was getting nervous in the silence. Was I supposed to say…, do something? My mind was reeling, but as I looked over I realized that her eyes were beginning to shut.
"Goodnight Ryan." She said as she turned to face me, looking at me almost expectantly.
"Goodnight Marissa." I said. I leaned in, I was going for it, I had my target and there was nothing that could stop me, so then I did it, … I kissed her forehead… God Atwood you are so dumb!
Marissa giggled.
"What?" I asked grinning back at her
"Nothing." She said quickly between giggles
"What!" I asked now raising myself in the bed grinning so much my cheeks hurt.
"Nothing!" She said again but this time with a toothy smile as I began to tickle her sides. She laughed hysterically as she flipped from one side of the bed to the other trying to rid herself of my grasp.
Suddenly the laughter stopped. I held Marissa, her hands pinned gently above her head. I stared at her eyes, and the anticipation I saw in her eyes is just what I had felt in my own. That was my go ahead… I leaned down capturing her lips in my own.
I lost track of time. We made out feverishly, needing to feel one another closer, closer, always closer. The howling of the wind and the cracking of the thunder were lost. Marissa moaned and it sent me over the edge as I discarded first my shirt, and then hers.
"Are you sure?" I asked as she looked up at me, waiting for me to make the next move.
Silently, biting her lip she nodded. I smiled as I leaned into a gentle kiss.
And right then I took her.
I had to do it. I don't know why. I just did. haha
Lemme kno what you think.
xoxo Jules
ps: Next chapter is mostly Summer and Seth chillage