AN: I got a special request to be done with this update before the New Year, so here I am, cutting it way close. Happy New Year! Here it is. Read, Review! I'll try to get out the next update quickly. I hope you enjoy this one.

As a "productive young member of Newport society" I am often goaded into attending formal functions. This fact does not in any way shape or form mean at all, that I enjoy going to these things. So I sit in the corner watching people dance, all the while cursing my mother for being the devious woman she is.

*Flashback*

Walking into the house of horrors, I try to be as silent as possible. My mother had just gotten back from a weekend getaway with the old guy. However my efforts prove futile when I hear my mother call me from the pool. "MARISSA! IS THAT YOU?"I freeze, hoping the savage beast will have to rely on its weak sense of smell to detect me if I remain motionless.

The monster, with its terrible artificial dark complexion and blood stained lips emerges from its cave with a look of anger unmatched by another in all the land. I bolt as fast as I can to the safety of my room knowing I can outrun the savage.

But somehow, in a way unknown to me, it uses mind tricks to keep me planted in my spot, and the spell was triggered with the words, "One step and you lose your phone for a month."

I dare to look my attacker dead in the eye, knowing if I did not it would win. In the most defiant tone possible I say "Yes Mother?"

"You weren't even planning to say hello?" The very thought of me doing something like that for her makes me laugh.

"Hello my dearest mommy, how was your trip?" She rolls her eyes at me, and I can tell her patience with talking to me is already wearing thin. Ah, the benefits of being a sarcastic teenager.

"I'm so glad you asked Marissa, I met a man. A single, very powerful, and rich man."

"Oh here we go."

"He's one of the head founders of the wounded warrior foundation, and he wants me to throw a benefit, here, in two days." You can always tell when someone like Julie Cooper-Nichol gets excited about something. They first get that smile. You know the one, the one that looks so happy it's scary. And then they get the look in their eye. The one that says 'go ahead and try to stop me, I dare you'.

"And what on Earth does that have to do with me?" I felt it coming. Those words that were uttered so many times to me in the course of my sixteen years. The words that seemed like a simple invite but really meant 'I need you to be here to see the major drama that's about to unfold'. I had heard those words so many times, I knew the signs that let up to it. I knew they were coming. But I was still going to try my hardest to get out of it.

"You need to help me set up, and as my daughter you need to be in attendance."

"Like hell I do!"

She simply smiled and approached me slowly. The power of her evil force was pressing on me like an essay you wait until the last minute to write. "You and I both know Caleb isn't going to be around forever. And as much as it truly… pains me to say, we're going to need somebody to take care of us after he's dead. Marissa I'm talking about you're future here, my future. If we can please Mr. Daily, we may never have to fend for ourselves again." I wasn't sure when we've ever had to fend for ourselves, but I wasn't going to point that out just then.

In a calm, even tone, I say "I'm not interested in your schemes mom."

"We'll are you interested in ever getting these back?" She holds up my car keys in her hands and dangles them in front of me. My hands immediately go into my bag and find that my keys weren't where I left them. She's a very, very sneaky one.

"That's not fair." Damn her Riverside background.

"Life's not fair. If you ever want to see your car again you'll agree to attend. AND- I've already gotten your spares. All six of them."

"Damn." One to the monster, me zero.

*End Flashback*

I helped my mother set up, complaining incessantly the entire time. Because of my genius plan to annoy her out of making me go, she decided to hire my 'shady bartender friend' to help bartend at the party. After that my complaining stopped, as I was convinced that this party couldn't be any worse. Two to the monster, me still zero.

Ryan and Alex in the same room was never a good thing. It was even worse when there was alcohol and other people that Alex didn't like in the mix. So not only did I watch people dance but I got to watch them mean mug each other the whole time.

After my third "diet coke" I was ready for the drama. So surprise, surprise when Ryan asked me to come dance with him I said I would. He was all decked out in his Newport attire, his hair was actually combed, and he looked ready for anything. He didn't look bad at all, but maybe it was my bear goggles talking.

We danced for a while in silence, and it was really nice. It reminded me of the old days. Back when everything was so complicated, but it was still so much easier than now. We were different back then. We were happy, and I know that some way we could be happy again. I just don't know if I was willing to find that way.

My thoughts were broken by his voice. "You did a great job with this place." He said looking around at my yard.

"Thanks, I personally think we've had better though."

"Yeah Julie does have a knack for planning these things."

"It's not the only thing she's good at." I mutter. He looks at me questionably. "She's also good at decorating, and making my life hell, and hiring people." I hadn't meant to mention the last one, and I already felt the repercussions of saying it coming on.

"Yeah usually." I shake my head at his words. Their fighting was ridiculous. I didn't even know why they started, all I knew was that I was getting tired of it. "And that's really what I'm worried about right now Marissa?"

"What do you have to be worried about?"

"You."

"Well, what else is new?"

"I'm serious Marissa. You have this random obsession with disappearing for days even weeks at a time. When I do see you I can smell alcohol all over you. You're getting Mono? I just don't understand what's going on with you anymore. I think… I think Alex is a bad influence on you."

"That's bullshit Ryan, and you know it. I don't disappear just because I'm not with you, and I haven't been drinking as much now that Alex is here. She is a great person, just because you don't know her gives you no right to judge her. And I would think you of all people should understand that." We've stopped dancing at this point and I can see that I'm the center of the drama this time.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I can remember a few people who have told me you were a bad influence, i.e. everyone. You used to be new around here too Ryan, without any friends and nobody that really understood you. And if you've forgotten about that enough to start judging like people have judged you, then you have changed a lot more than I realized." I walk away not wanting to talk to him anymore.

I probably would have gone over to see Alex, but she looked a little bit preoccupied with the horny middle-aged and teenage guys alike. It didn't really help that she was drawing a lot of attention to herself with that damn flair she was doing. I sat and watched her for a while, admiring the way she could manipulate her hands so easily. She knew exactly what she was doing. It made me think of the other things she probably used her magic hands for…

So with that thought I attempted to walk out to my balcony, but my mom had the great idea to stop me. She touched my shoulder and got closer to my face. "Marissa, you and Ryan looked cute while you were dancing. Are you two back together yet?"

"Is there a reason you approached me, or did you just want to make my life hell for a few more moments?"

She grinned. "I would like you to meet someone." She led me over to a man that couldn't be a day over twenty-four. He had jet black hair and his brilliant green eyes were the perfect contrast. He looked very hot in that white designer tux of his. "Marissa, meet Braiden Anderson Daily, tonight's guest of honor."

He rose from his seat to shake my hand and I finally understood my mother's insistence on throwing this thing. "Nice to meet you." I say with my million dollar fake smile.

"The pleasure is all mine, Marissa. I've been telling your mother how much I've been wanting to personally thank you for going through all this trouble on such a short notice." His golden tongue was probably the reason he was as powerful as he was. That and the fact that he came from a long line of powerful and rich men, it all made perfect sense.

"It's not like I had very much of a choice." My mother shoots me a 'don't you dare' look. "I mean, how could I refuse someone so important to the very organization I've believed in since its founding?" My quick save pleased my mother, and Braiden seemed just as pleased with my reply.

"Well, I won't take up anymore of your time. Pleasure meeting you Marissa. I hope your company will grace mine again sometime soon." God I hate sweet talkers.

"Likewise." I escape my mother's grasp and walk up to my balcony, muttering nonsense like "Dirty cougar." I make sure to grab another drink before going to hide from the rest of Newport.

I don't know how long I stay out there, looking out towards the water. It seems like forever though. Then I hear someone walk up next to me. I know it is Alex before looking. My jealous self was still bitter about something I knew she couldn't control.

She says nothing for a while, but she still gives me exactly what I need. I see out of the corner of my eye Alex pouring my favorite flavor into my coke. Then I feel her put a cigarette in my mouth gently and light it up. Her mind reading ability was amazing.

I took a long, very needed drag, and she finally speaks. "So I'm still trying to figure it out. You said it's something that can affect your entire future, and the lives of those around you. I know for a fact it probably has something to do with Ryan. Then that also leads me to believe there must be another guy involved. But, I haven't seen you taking any interest in anybody else."

I stay silent, knowing if I said anything she'd figure out my secret. I couldn't afford her finding out just yet, so silence was my defense against her power. Her eyes stayed on me though, burning a hole through my skull with the fire her gaze emits.

"What's going on with you Marissa?"

"Why does everyone think that there's something going on with me? Why can't people just accept that this is the new me?"

She looked slightly taken aback with my outburst, but recovered quickly. "Because I know you. And I know when something's wrong." She touched my arm, and I gripped her hand like it was my only anchor to my rapidly fading world spinning around me. I didn't know if it'd be enough to keep me grounded. "You can tell me if something's wrong. I'm here for you Rissa."

I feel a tear fall from my cheek and I feel myself float away. "Why?"

"Because I care about you."

"You shouldn't." I shake my head a break from her grasp.

"What?"

"Look, don't you have people to serve?" Her mouth fell open and her blue eyes went wide. I knew that was the worst possible thing I could have said to her.

She didn't say anything as she turned to leave. That would have made me feel better about it. It would have made my hurting her be a little bit more justified. My silence was my defense, and hers was my death.

"Alex wait, I'm sorry!" I yell to her retreating figure. But it's too late. The damage was done, and there was no looking back. I drop my head into my hands and start sobbing. It was too much. I was hurting people now, and I didn't want to.

I ran into my room and grabbed my secret stash. I drink, and drink until the bottle's empty. My head is incredibly cloudy and my vision fades. My shell stumbles down to the party against any judgment I had left.

I see blurs of faces everywhere, and to those blurs I slur unintelligible words. All the sudden I get incredibly dizzy and fall into somebody's lap face first. I puke into the white fabric of a tux and I look up into the face of my victim. I recognize the face and think to myself, "Vicious beast two, me one." Then I roll over onto the ground.

The last thing I remember before blacking out was the look of the brightest blue eyes I've ever seen looking worried down at me and arms carrying me somewhere.