We had managed to get her to the hospital and she was currently in a coma. In the morning, I was expecting judgment from Sandy and Kirsten. We were all in the kitchen and there was silence.

"I have three Sesame and one Plain." She stated, referring to the bagels. "Look we're not gonna hear from the hospital for a while. Why don't you guys get showered and dressed and you can't be late for your meeting with the dean."

They were trying to get me into this private school that Seth went to. I don't think the dean would be very thrilled about me.

"I'll take them to school." Sandy volunteered.

"You can't be late for your first day." She pointed out. There was more silence. "Well, if we're not gonna eat, let's, let's just go."

At that point, the phone began to ring. Marissa had woken up. We went to the hospital where Jimmy and Kaitlin were.

"Oh, hey, she just fell back asleep." He explained as I looked her over. I couldn't help but wonder if this was my fault. "She was awake and aware. Thanks for calling the hospital and finding her. If they hadn't airlifted her out, she probably wouldn't have made it."

"When can she go home?" Sandy asked.

"She said in a day or so." He replied. Where was her mother in this? "They're gonna keep her under observation."

"That's hospital policy." Kirsten added. I wondered how she knew that.

"There's no need to worry, right?" Her mom quipped as she walked in. "I mean a teenager popping a dozen pain pills and washing it down with tequila is perfectly normal, right? What are you doing here?"

"I called them." Jimmy stated.

"What Marissa needs right now is to be with her family, no visitors." She responded.

"Let's go. We should go." Sandy replied. I gave Kaitlin a hug before we walked out. Her mom stared at me with daggers. "Don't take it personally. Julie's just been through every parent's nightmare."

Well it probably wasn't my parents' nightmare, but probably every other one.

"I'm sure she'll apologize." Kirsten told us.

"You are?" Sandy asked in disbelief.

"Excuse me, Samantha, can I talk to you a sec?" Julie requested. I walked over to her. "I don't know what happened in Mexico, but here's what I do know. Marissa was a lot better off before you came here. Every problem she's had is rooted in you. Now, you've almost killed my daughter."

"Mom, this is not Sammie's fault." Kaitlin interrupted. "Marissa took the pills because Holly was cheating on her and because you and dad are breaking up."

"I want you to stay away from both of my daughters." Julie declared. "If you even try, I'll make sure you're thrown in Juvie where you belong."

"Why is she blaming you, not Holly?" Seth asked after we arrived at the school. I was wearing a simple black tee shirt with a red jacket and jeans.

"She doesn't seem to care." I pointed out. "Holly is the golden girl and I'm from the wrong side of the tracks. I'm just glad that Marissa is okay."

"Well she can't keep you from Kaitlin and Marissa." Seth stated.

"Guys, I'm gonna check in with the events committee, so I'm meet up with you at the dean's office." Kirsten told us. "Don't be nervous, Samantha. You'll do great."

"This is school?" I asked once I finally got a good look at the grounds. I then noticed a pair of signs. "You guys have tennis courts and a swimming pool?"

"I'm guessing you didn't at your old school?" He quipped. We didn't have a football field. Though I wasn't sure if this one did either. Football seems like a sport poorer people play.

"There was one basketball hoop." I deadpanned. We walked around and saw that Kirsten was chatting up with the teachers.

"My mom's more popular than me. That's a little pathetic." Seth declared. "Oh by the way, after the meeting we have to get your photo taken for the school ID."

"Your school has IDs?" I questioned.

A little bit later, I was sitting outside of the office with Kirsten.

"Everything's going to be fine." She tried to assure me. It wasn't working.

"It's just that my old school, they just wanted you to be there. There was none of this stuff." I replied.

"Samantha, Harbor is one of the best private prep schools in the country." Kirsten explained. Yet, they didn't seem to have uniforms, not that I was complaining. "If you graduate from here, you can get into any college in the UC system, maybe even Ivy League."

I was pretty sure my freshman year would disqualify me from Ivy League. I definitely wasn't an Ivy League girl. I wasn't even sure if they let gay people in. They probably do, but I haven't heard anything about them.

"You might be after a year or two here." She opined.

"I've never really thought about college." I admitted.

At that point, Seth returned with his schedule, which consisted of a bunch of classes that I didn't know sophomores could take. I was frightened.

"It's a good thing I don't have a life." He quipped. Why is he always sarcastic? "What's wrong? Are you nervous?"

"Seth, will you please tell her that Dr. Kim is very nice." Kirsten requested.

"She is sweet." Seth replied as the Asian woman walked out.

"Kirsten, how are you?" She greeted. "Seth, always interesting to see you, and you must be Samantha. Why don't we step into my office?"

I was already intimated.

"So we have weak grades, truancy, and criminal activity." Dr. Kim declared as she read my file. It wasn't good.

"It was a misdemeanor. She was coerced." Kirsten defended. "She's on probation."

"Nonetheless, I don't know if she's Harbor material." Dr. Kim stated.

"Dr. Kim, Samantha's had a lot to overcome, but Sandy and I feel that in the right environment, she can excel." Kirsten responded.

"There's no doubt that Ms. Atwood has extraordinary promise, but I'm concerned that she's not prepared for our rigorous curriculum." The dean replied.

"Are you concerned about the pressure from parents that don't want her here?" Kirsten challenged. I bet Julie was on that list.

"That is a consideration." Dr. Kim admitted. Well at least she was honest. "But it's not a decisive one. Kirsten you know how bright and motivated our students are. Those who aren't bred for USC go off to Harvard and Yale. I just think that Newport Union might be a better fit for Samantha."

"Someone like me as in what?" I asked, taking offense. "Look, I can't change where I'm from or who I'm related to, but I can change where I'm going."

"Samantha, you understand that if you did fail, you would lose a year, but also self-confidence." She argued.

"With all due respect, Dr. Kim, I don't have a lot in the way of self-confidence. You're not even giving me a chance to try. That's great for self-confidence." I stated. "I just want a chance. I haven't been given a lot of those in my life. One chance."

"Well your test scores are superb." She complimented. "I definitely responded to your essay. Your grades are borderline but acceptable. If you could pass a placement exam, not an aptitude test…"

"Just tell me where and when." I interrupted.

At that moment, I got a text from Kaitlin.

"Is there any room in the pool house for me?" It read. I didn't know how to reply back. I don't know if she would really try to run away from home. She then sent another. "My mom wants sole custody."

Once we got home, Seth let me look over one of his old practice tests.

"It's a good thing that I never throw anything away." He declared. "The questions will be different, but this should help."

"Do you really think I can pass this?" I inquired.

"Yes, you will pass this because I will not spend another year at that school alone." He told me. "Please study hard. Especially, if all that takes is a few cheerleaders walking by and suddenly Summer and I just didn't even happen. But we connected. We really connected. Remember how I told you that she kissed me. It was awesome. It was very awesome and…"

"Seth, please leave." I interrupted. At that moment, the phone rang.

"I'll get that. You study." He told me. "Hello? Hey Marissa…yes here she is."

"Hi." I greeted her. "Okay, I'm coming. I need to be there. I can't focus now. I'm probably going to fail the test."

"You can't fail." He argued.

"Well if I don't pass then she's right and I'm not Harbor material." I replied. I snuck my way into the room with some flowers where I saw both her and Kaitlin.

"Hi." Marissa greeted me. I put the flowers on the table. "I'm sorry. I was so dumb…"

"I'll give you some space." Kaitlin replied. She could also watch the door for Julie.

"I didn't want to kill myself." Marissa declared. That was good to know at least. "I just wanted to feel better."

"I know." I responded. "I'm pretty sure your mom wants to kill me."

"Kaitlin, will you tell the nurse she needs lunch?" Julie asked from the hallway. Fuck. I needed to hide. I got in the closet.

The conversation that I heard was not a good one. I also came to realize that Julie was a toxic presence in Marissa's life and probably Kaitlin's too.

"I'm sorry about that." She apologized after her mom left. "I'm sorry about her."

"I need to leave." I replied. "I have this test I need to take. I'll come back."

"Maybe you shouldn't." Marissa declared with a frown.

"I'm not afraid of your mom." I replied as I received a 'coast is clear' text from Kaitlin.

"Well I am." She admitted before I made my way out. Just as I got to school, I received a text from Kaitlin. All it said was SOS. I didn't know what it meant other than possible trouble, but I didn't know what to do.

I was half done when Seth and Summer entered the room. I didn't know that they were hanging out again.

"What are you two doing here? Dr. Kim said she'd be right back." I told them.

"I know this is a bad time between Marissa needs, you us…" Seth tried to explain.

"Her mom's gone psycho." Summer added. "She wants to have her committed.

Now Kaitlin's text made a lot more sense.

"What is going on in here?" Dr. Kim asked them.

"Hi, Dr. Kim." Seth greeted her. "We're not helping her cheat, but this is an emergency."

"We need Sammie for a little while." Summer added.

At that point, an argument broke out with everyone trying to talk at once.

"Get out now." Dr. Kim ordered. Seth told me that they would be outside.

"I can't do this." I replied as I stood up.

"Have you finished the test?" She asked.

"No…" I replied.

"Samantha, if this is too difficult…" She responded. "If the Cohens are pressuring you to go here…"

"It's not too difficult and they're not. I want to be here, but I have to help a friend in a lot of trouble." I answered. "If that means that I have to sacrifice this, then I will. I'm sorry for wasting your time."

I walked outside and there they were.

"Let's go." I stated. I had no idea how we were going to do this. I was most likely sacrificing my future for this, so I hoped that it would work. It's quite possible that what we were about to do would be a felony. I don't know the law, but it was worth the risk to get her away from her evil bitch of a mother. Hopefully, Kaitlin can get away too.

Seth and I went to the hospital. Summer was getting us some clothes to blend in better.

"This isn't good. She should have been here by now." Seth declared.

"She better get here soon." I told him.

"What if something happened?" Seth questioned. "Marissa's dad can't even get her out of here. How are we supposed to? This is probably illegal."

"Hi, I'm here for Marissa Cooper." I told the clerk.

"It's okay, Denise, they're with me." Summer said. She was in a candy striper dress.

"Good Lord." Seth commented. She looked very attractive wearing that. She had a cart of books.

"I told you I was a candy striper." Summer replied as she began to push the cart.

"I thought you were kidding." He said nervously.

"It's for charity. All of the girls do it." Summer explained.

"I should be hospitalized more then." He stated.

"Guys, less flirting and more rescuing." I interrupted. "Can you get us in the psych ward?"

"Try to keep up with me." Summer instructed. We walked down the hall. "Hi Gloria, I know it's my day off, but I just cannot get enough of helping sick people. These two are gonna help me with the sponge baths."

"Dibs on that guy." Seth declared. I hoped Kaitlin would be by the door. She knew that we were coming. She texted me saying that her mom was in the room and we needed to hold off for a minute. I had to change into a candy striper dress of my own, so I had a little bit of time. I don't know how her mom could do this. I don't think Jimmy would agree with this. They can't just take her away.

I made it into the room with her sister, giving her a dress of her own to change into. I hoped this would work.

"I'll do my best to distract her." Kaitlin responded before she ran out of the room. "You don't have a lot of time."

"The dress was Summer's idea." I remarked.

"Right." Marissa stated as she began to undress. "Hey, no peeking."

It didn't take very long for her to get dressed. It was too bad that we couldn't go out the window, but then we would probably die.

"Are you ready?" I asked her. We opened the door and there was Holly with some flowers. This was really bad timing.

"Go away." Marissa told her.

"Holly, unless you want to help us get Marissa out of here, you need to leave." I explained.

"Are you running away?" Holly asked.

"We don't have a choice right now." I responded. "Her mom's tried to put her in the loony bin, so either help us or leave."

"Take the stairs." She instructed. I guess she was good for something. We began to move quickly to try to get out of here. We ran decided to hide her in the only place that we could think of: Jimmy's apartment. Needless to say, he was surprised when he saw us on the couch.

"Hey dad." She greeted him awkwardly.

"What are you doing here?" Jimmy asked.

"I checked out." Marissa lied.

"Does your mother know about this?" He asked.

"We'll wait in the car." I announced before we all hastily stepped out. Jimmy was the only option for her. I wish Kaitlin had managed to make it out with us, but we didn't have time to wait for her.

"Do you really think that this will work?" I asked Seth. "Do you know anything about the law by any chance? Ever pay attention to your dad?"

"Being a lawyer isn't high on my to-do list." He answered and I sighed. He was useless.

"Well, she has to be able to stay here." Summer replied. "I need Coop here. I mean even if Holly did help us, I still can't be friends with her and I don't want to have no friends."

"We're standing right here." Seth commented.

"I still don't want her to go." She replied. Did that mean that she thought of us as friends?

"So have you talked to Kaitlin lately?" Seth asked me. "Are you two like still together or anything?"

"We haven't had time to be together." I answered. At that point, Marissa came out of the apartment. "How'd it go?"

"He can't keep me." She replied. "We have to go somewhere else."

"Let's get something to eat and we can figure it out." Summer suggested. We then went to the boardwalk and got some pizza. I guess it was better than nothing. "What do you wanna do now, Coop?"

"I don't know what to do. I mean what can I do?" She asked. "I don't have any money."

"We could hide you in one of my mom's developments?" Seth suggested.

"No." I stated.

"I'm kidding." He replied.

"How is any of this even possible?" She questioned. "My mom wants to look me up in the nuthouse and my dad can't even do anything about it? It's not right."

"We'll figure something out." I promised. It was at that moment that we ran into Kaitlin.

"There you are. I told Mom I'd help look for you." She stated. She then looked at her sister. "So how did it go with Dad?"

"He can't do anything." I told her.

"Well we don't have a lot of time to fix this." Summer explained. "She just escaped from a psych ward wearing a candy striper outfit. If they didn't think she was crazy before, they probably will now…I'm gonna go get you a slice Mini-Coop."

"As will I…" Seth added

"If you're leaving town, I'm going with you." Kaitlin declared.

"So am I." I added.

"Mom would love that." Marissa commented.

"If your mom is doing all this just to keep me away from you, then I'll stay away." I promised.

"Like hell you will." Kaitlin responded as the three of us leaned over the fence.

"Then what are we going to do?" I asked the two sisters. "Are we gonna be fugitives together?"

"I want to see if I can get her to listen." Marissa said.

"I have an idea." I declared before I called home.

"Hello?" Sandy answered.

"So I'm with Marissa, and I need your advice." I told him before I explained the situation to him.

"Well if I've learned anything today, you don't wanna go to court with this." He replied. "You do not want to settle."

We then went back to the house. Sandy called Julie and asked her to talk to me. I had Kaitlin by my side because I was a little nervous about this.

"I told you to stay away." Julie remarked. "Where is she?"

"Who knows? A bus station? A tropical island?" I quipped.

"Sammie.." Sandy muttered.

"I cannot believe that you're chaperoning this delinquent." Julie replied. "She's trying to turn my daughters against me."

"I didn't need her help for that." Kaitlin replied icily.

"Julie, sit down." Sandy suggested as he pulled out a chair for her.

"No, I don't want to sit down. I want to take Kaitlin home and find Marissa." Julie answered. "So tell me where she is or I'm calling the cops."

"Julie, I know you've been through a lot." Sandy started. "But Samantha is not the problem."

"Of course, she's the problem." Julie countered. "This is all her fault. She just ran away from a hospital."

"No, she ran away from you." I argued. "Look, I heard that you're from not too far from where I grew up and I know this place has everything that we never had, but what you want and what Marissa wants are two different things."

"You don't know what she wants!" The woman yelled at me as Kaitlin held my hand tightly.

"I do and she doesn't want to stay with you or go to San Diego." Kaitlin spoke up. "I don't either."

"I don't know what I'm supposed to say to any of this." Julie remarked, voice cracking.

"We wanna stay with Dad." Marissa declared. "Just say yes."

"Oh honey, you don't mean that." Julie tried to convince her.

"Yes, I do. We do." Marissa stated as Kaitlin went over to her. "I know you're only trying to help, but you're making everything worse.

"You have no idea how scared I was." Julie declared as tears started to form in her eyes.

"I'm sorry." Marissa apologized. "But look I'm not gonna hurt myself again and I'll see a therapist if you want, but I wanna do it here."

"This isn't over." Julie declared as she wiped her tears. "I'll let myself out."

I gave both of the Cooper girls a hug. Summer then came in to take Marissa home.

"Do you wanna spend the night?" I asked Kaitlin.

"I don't know if that's a good idea." Sandy replied.

"I just want to sleep." I stated.

"So I heard about what happened with your test today, or what didn't happen." Sandy remarked as he gave each of us a Snapple. "I get why you did it, but I'm a bit worried about you."

"I'm okay going to public school. It'd be better than where I went before." I explained.

"Go to Dr. Kim and explained yourself." He ordered. It didn't seem like a suggestion.

"I don't think she wants to hear it." I stated as Kaitlin went into the living room.

"You can't be afraid of her." He responded. "You just stood up to Julie Cooper, the fiercest woman that I know. You can take Dr. Kim. Talk to her. If there's a problem, you'll have your attorney present. I got your back."

The next day, I went back to the school. I put on a nice dress and she gave me a chance to take it again. I did well on it.

"Welcome to Harbor." She told me. "Now if you ever do that again, you're going to need bring Johnny Cochrane back from the dead. I'll be watching you."

I stepped outside where Seth, Sandy, and Kaitlin were waiting.

"Are you ready to get your photo taken?" Seth asked.

"You mean get my mug shot taken?" I replied with a smile.

"Check out my new mug shot." Sandy responded as he showed us his ID.

"Well I think you'll look good no matter what." Kaitlin declared before gave me a kiss. "But you better not laugh if mine turns out bad."

So Sammie and Kaitlin are official and she's going to Harbor. Please don't forget to review.