The Way We Deal, Season 4 Fanfiction

[ocguysrhott.]

Hey this might be a little late, but I have a fic I have been writing for a while, since October, and keeping on another forum. Since I just joined this forum I figured I'd share it with all of you!! It is a Season 4 fanfiction, based after Marissa died. I write it in episodes, with episode titles, there is about 2-4 (usually 3) parts to each episode, and i write it part by part with the chapters being titled as well. It is about twelve chapters in, with the fifth episode in progress, but I will just post it little by little. Anyway hope you all enjoy and please leave me some reviews!! I know it is sad, and a little weird to talk about Marissa's death, but that's only because I wrote it in October, lol.

The Way We Deal
Season 4 Fanfiction

Episode 1:
The Dealings

--

Chapter 1- Before the funeral.
The tv blared with every possible thing that could be on: sitcoms, news, soap operas, reality shows, cartoons, and just about anything else. Julie flipped through the channels half-heartedly, not wanting to watch anything that popped up on the screen, not even knowing why she was flipping through the channels anyway. Today was the day of Marissa's funeral. Julie never thought she would ever have to attend this day, and was devastated that she did. It was only two days ago since Marissa's death, and three days since the accident, and ever since the doctors announced Marissa was dead, it had been the worst days of Julie's life. She hadn't left the house, and had only left her room once. She wanted to talk to Kirsten, who came over many times to talk to Julie, bringing food with her, and sending her condolencence to her. She wouldn't talk to Neil, who was always trying to cheer up Julie, although nothing could demolish the pain, and deep down everybody knew that. Julie hadn't even spent time with Kaitlin, her one remaining daughter. She didn't care about her appearence or fashion as she usually did, which didn't portray the typical Julie-Cooper Nichol. Of course though, these were the results, of tragedy.
"Mom!!" Kaitlin's voice called, and loud knocking was heard on the bedroom door.
Julie arose quickly from her bed, let her loose from the messy bun she had it in, and smoothed out her black dress. Then she sat at her night stand, and glanced at the mirror, grabbing her makeup, and began to put on black eyeliner. She couldn't let her daughter see her like this. If there was anybody Julie had to be brave for, it was Kaitlin.
"Yeah, uh, come in!!" Julie called back.
Kaitlin opened up the door and walked over to Julie. She was wearing a pickle green tanktop, and a flowing white skirt.
"Do you have anything I could borrow for the funeral?? My closett's looking kind of dull," Kaitlin informed her mother. "I didn't want to ask Summer, because she'd probably have a rage balckout on me or something," she added.
Julie stopped doing her makeup. She remembered this very familiar. On the day of Caleb's funeral she had asked Marissa that very thing. Marissa's reply had been, snappily: "It's a funeral Mom, not a fashion show."
"It's a funeral, Kaitlin, not a fashion show," Julie said, surprised by her own words. She went back to putting on her eyeliner.
Kaitlin folded her arms. "You sound just like Marissa," she observed.
"Don't even say it, just please don't even say it," Julie said quickly, feeling tears prick her eyes. She dabbed a tissue at her eyes and pretended to be fixing her makeup. She moved onto lipstick.
"What that you sound like Marissa?? What's so bad about that??" Kaitlin asked.
"Not that. Just that...just please don't mention Marissa right now," Julie said desperately, closing the tube of her lipstick as she finished it and moving onto mascara.
"Could I just borrow something please, Mom?? The funeral's in like, two hours," Kaitilin pleaded.
"Yeah sure, whatever," Julie replied, adding blush and pretending to be more into her makeup when really she was just thinking about Marissa.
"Your makeup looks terrible by the way. No offense," Kaitlin said, holding a skimpy strapless black dress to her body.
"I know," Julie moaned, looking at her face. It really was a wreck.
"Mom, it looks like you haven't touched your closet in days," Kaitlin observed.
"That's because I haven't. I've been too upset to think about dresses and skirts and nice outfits ever since your sister...ever since your sister..." Julie stammered.
"Died," Kaitlin finished, showing no sign of emotion. "I'm borrowing this," she informed, holding up the skimpy dress.
"Sure, fine, whatever," Julie replied, as she began washing off her makeup.
"By the way, I know you're upset about Marissa, but why don't you try to remember that you have another daughter," Kaitlin said stiffly, as she exited the room.
...........
Summer held Princess Sparkle, in one hand, and the photo in the other. She was petting Princess Sparkle's sparkly blue mane, as she glanced at the photo sadly in the other. The photo was takne around the time that things were at ease, when there wasn't so much of the usual Newport drama going on. Marissa and Summer were standing together, Marissa laughing, and Summer with her mouth slightly opened and her tounge out on one side, as she made the 'Peace Out' kind of sign. It just went to show the great kind of friendship they had. And now, they could never have those times together again.
Summer looked at Marissa's laughing and happy face, and carressed it with her finger, touching her cheek. Tears rolled down her face.
"I miss you so much Coop," Summer said sadly, as tears rolled quickly down her face, "I don't know why you had to leave so soon."
Then she looked at Princess Sparkle.
"You're the only one I could talk to now, Princess Sparkle. Now that Coop's gone."
Summer put down the photo.
"It would be nice if she could actually answer me," Summer murmered, placing the toy horse back onto the nightstand.
A small knock was heard on the door.
"Come in," Summer said softly.
The door opened and Seth came in. His mouth gaped at her state, her hair ratty in a very messy bun, her face makeup-less, and her eyes swollen and covered in dry tear stains.
"Hi," Seth said softly.
"Hey, Cohen. How did you get in here??" Summer asked.
"Your dad let me in. He seems to be the only one that's relatively calm about the whole thing," Seth replied.
"Don't even talk about it, Cohen," Summer said tearliy. She grabbed a copy of Vogue magazine off her nightstand, and pretended to be engrossed in it.
"I'm sorry Summer. I really came here to cheer you up," Seth informed.
"You can try, but I doubt anything will work. What I'm going through right now is almost unbearable," Summer told him.
"Okay, well, I'll just give you company. You could probably use it," Seth considered, as he sat on the bed.
"Everything was finally going perfect, and now this ruined it. Why does she have to be gone?? She's my best friend, I've known her since kindergarten. We were going to be step sisters about all these years. Every memory with her is sentimental to me. And now, it just seems so unreal. I mean, Coop?? Dead?? I can't believe it. She's gone, she's really gone!!" And with that, Summer fell into Seth's arms and cried hard into him. Seth embraced Summer's shaking body, and stroked her hair.
"it's going to be okay Summer, it's really going to be okay," he said soothingly. And deep down, he hoped it really would be okay.
..................
"Mom, the doorbell's ringing!!" Kaitlin's voice rang through the house.
"Could you get it, Kait!!" Julie yelled, still a little cautious of her daughter's feelings after what she'd said before.
"I can't I'm getting dressed!!" Kaitlin called back.
Julie sighed. She really didn't want to answer the door in her state, she was very embrassed by her appearance, but Neil wasn't home because he went to arrange some things for the funeral and she couldn't bother Summer right now. She arose from her bed and staggered to the door wondering who would have the nerve to come over at a time like this.
Julie swung open the door and was very happy to see who was there.
"Jimmy!!" she said, forcing a smile on her face. A weak one, but still a smile.
"I arrived right before the last funeral didn't I??" Jimmy said, with a wink.
"Oh Jimmy," Julie said sadly, thrusting her weak body into his arms. Immediately, she burst into tears. Jimmy hugged her close to him, feeling tears prick his own eyes. He just couldn't believe it....his daughter was dead. He was devastated and just felt like breaking down, but he knew he had to stay brave for everybody else. At least for right now. There was always Neil, and anyway, Jimmy was the grieving father. He knew Marissa more well than Neil did, and ever would, now that she was....dead. It was so hard to admit it to himself.
At that, Kaitlin came from her room and passed the stairwell, quite surprised to see her dad there. She watched as her parents hugged and cried.
"It's always been about her," Kaitlin murmered. "Maybe she's dead now, but even when she was alive it was always about her."
Jimmy looked up and saw his daughter staring.
"Kaitlin," he said happily.
"Hi Dad," Kaitlin said enthustically. 'Um, I'm going to go do my makeup," she said, and went into the bathroom.
Julie looked up at Jimmy with her eyes still soaked with tears. "We already lost Marissa," she said softly, "And I have a feeling we're about to lose Kaitlin too."
.............
"Ryan??" Sandy called, as he knocked on the door of the poolhouse.
"Yeah??" Ryan called back distractedly. He stood in front of the mirror, tying his tie. But he wasn't that concentrated on that. He was more focused on the picture of Marissa and himself that he had posted on the top of the mirror.
"Can I come in??" Sandy asked.
"Sure," Ryan replied.
Sandy walked into the room and patted Ryan's shoulder.
"You know, Ryan, if you want to talk I'll always be there for you," Sandy told him.
"Yeah, I know," Ryan said sadly, finishing up with his tie.
Sandy's eyes glanced toward the picture on the mirror. Ryan spotted Sandy's eyes looking at it, and snatched it up. He blushed, embrassed.
"It's okay, Ryan. I know you miss her. That's what people do when they miss other people. It helps to lookat pictures and such, and gather up memories of Marissa."
"Yeah," Ryan admitted, placing the picture back on the mirror. "I think it's time to go soon."
"We have another hour. Want to come in the house?? Kirsten and I will talk to you," Sandy offered.
"Where's Seth??" Ryan asked.
"He went to see Summer. I can't even imagine what the poor girl must be going through," Sandy affirmed.
"Yup. I think that's nice that Seth went to the Roberts'. Anyway, I'll come inside. In a few minutes." Ryan replied.
"Alright," Sandy agreed.
Ryan picked up a folded piece of paper from his desk. Sandy turned around. Ryan quickly picked up the paper.
"Ryan?? Is that a eulogy??" Sandy asked.
Easier to the truth then not to. "Yes," said Ryan, "It is."
..........
"Jimmy, I'm so glad you came." Julie said gratefully.
"It;s really no big deal." Jimmy told her.
"Look, um, I have to go to the funeral home and bring some things. The outift Marissa will be buried in, the information on how to get her casket to the funeral. I have so much I need to do." Julie said in a hurried tone.
"Look, Julie, I know it must be hard for you. Bring me all the information and I'll go down to the funeral home. You rest, alright," Jimmy advised, storking Julie's hair.
"Are- are you sure??" Julie asked.
"Of course. You shouldn't have to do this," Jimmy said.
"Oh thank you," Julie said, running up the stairs to get everything.
Jimmy sighed sympathetically as he watched his wreck of an ex wife stagger up the stairs. This was probably harder on her the most. Jimmy reahced into his wallet and took out a picture. It was one of Marissa and himself, a while back when Marissa was around six. She was on Jimmy's lap, and smiling widely. Jimmy used to look at this picture sadly, thinking that Marissa was compeltly different from that little six year old, and he missed it. But now, everything was even worse. He could never hold her, and hug her, and wash away her problems. He could never spend time with her, or make up for the lost time they had together, that he planned on having with her in Hawaii. He could never hear her voice, or her laugh, or see her smile and look beautiful as she would prance around in her gorgeous Newport attire. Everything was different now. He had Kaitlin....and he wanted to spend time with Kaitlin. But he wasn't sure if Kaitlin wanted to spend anytime with him. She never respected him like Marissa had. When Marissa felt lonely and like nobody loved her, even if she didn't believe him, she always had Jimmy. He never once was dissapointed in her or angry wwith her for her actions. She knew she was a troubled teenager and he excepted these actions form her. If only he hadn't asked her to come to Hawaii. Then this never would have happened.
Jimmy looked back at the picture, at the six-year old Marissa and looked deeply at her. "I'm sorry kiddo, it's all my fault. It's all my fault.
........

[outboundchad]

reaally good, i love it, and now it's my turn to review yours...

love the emotion we have, but i think that katlin is being under portrayed as a chracter who relly doesn't care, i mean i like that, but im not positively sure thats her, uh, liking the whole feel right now, but i'll be sure to review more as the plot and depth of the story begins to reveal itself.

all the best
chad

[SaveTheOC]

WOW.. Good writting so far, cant wait to go more in depth

[ocguysrhott.]

Hey thanks for the reviews!! Here's the next part!! Enjoy.
--

Chapter 2
Of Sorrow, Funerals, and Reminisce.
Kaitlin ran across the beach, her knees weakening as her legs quickened their speed, and her hair blowing freely in the wind. Finally, she reached the lifeguard stand and stood by it, pulling a cigarette out from her dress pocket. She had to get out of her house, and fast. Deep down, she was upset about Marissa too, but she had been in denial of showing it. She knew that Julie and Summer were miserable, and decided to leave it to Neil to attempt to comfort them. She lit her cigarette, and took a puff. She remembered in the past, before she went to boarding school, when she was that innocent little eleven-year old, she would watch Marissa doing this very thing from her bedroom window, smoking, and contemplate whether or not she should Julie and Jimmy about it. One time, Marissa caught Kaitlin watching her, and begged her not to tell their parents. She never did. She always wondered if Marissa appreciated that.
Kaitlin took another puff. She looked at her watch. Precisely thrity five mintues until the funeral. Kaitlin dreaded it. She never thought she'd have to attend her sister's funeral, at least not this early in her life. Marissa was only eighteen....how could this happen?? Kaitlin exhaled deeply, and took another puff of the cigarette, sending puffs of smoke out through her lips. She watched the waves crash into each other, and flay gracefully under the sunrise. The sun illuminated over the the beach, which was pretty desolate, just Kaitlin, just the way she wanted it. She thought of how Marissa would always come here. She thought of how Julie once told her: "You're more and more like your sister every day."
"Yeah right," Kaitlin said aloud, taking an agressive puff out of her cigarette, and then threw it to the ground, and kicked some sand vigorously over it.
..........
Seth walked into the kitchen where he found Ryan sitting on the island, grasping a steaming mug of coffee and reading a piece of paper in front of him.
"Hey Ry," Seth said, trying to sound as cheerful as possible.
Ryan looked up, and as he did Seth could sense the pain he was going through by looking into his eyes. "Hi," he said softly. "How did your talk with Summer go??"
"It wasn't much of a talk. I knew I couldn't help her much, and nothing I could say would make her feel better. I mean, Marissa was her best friend, and a close friend of mine, but nothing I ever had with Marissa could equal up to what Summer had. Anyway, I basically told her I was just there to give her some company. And she told me all her feelings and then cried in my arms for a little while," Seth informed. For some reason, at that, he could feel tears prick his eyes.
He hadn't cried once since Marissa died, although he had felt the need to ever since. And now, he was. It still hadn't quite hit him. But thinking of poor Summer, crumpled up miserably in her bed, and sobbing into his arms really got him thinking about it, and that made him feel especially emotional.
"Sounds familiar," Ryan muttered, thinking of all the times Marissa had broke down in his arms, and he would sooth her and embrace her. He just wished he could hold Marissa in his arms again. Hear her voice, her laugh, stare at her beautiful face, and hug her, kiss her, feel her hair, her lips on him, and just share times together. Ryan could feel the tears coming again, and he squeezed his fists over the table, and tried desperately to cease the tears. He couldn't cry in front of Seth, he just couldn't.
"Are you ready for the funeral??" Seth asked.
"Just about," Ryan replied dryly. He took a forced sip of his coffee. Very forced.
"Do you want a bagel with that??' Seth asked cautiously.
"No, all I could manage is coffee right now," Ryan replied.
Seth sat by the island and looked sympathetically at Ryan.
"Look, Ryan, I know you're sad right now..." Seth began.
"Well what do you expect??" Ryan snapped. "The love of my life died in my arms, of course I'm sad!!" Ryan folded his arms and rested his head on them. Everything was all shattering now, Marissa was gone, the love of his life was gone. And he couldn't even call her his girlfriend, because, unfortunately, they couldn't maintain another relationship before she died. But he knew deep down this was how it was meant to be. She was the love of his life, and maybe he was the love of hers. He would never know now, he could only presume. Because if he was, Marissa would have spent her last moment ever with the love of her life, Ryan.
..........
Limos and cars crowded the parking lot. Out of the limo came Kaitlin, Julie, Neil, Summer, and Jimmy. The Cohens stopped right behind it. Kirsten hugged Julie and put her arm around her.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered.
Julie nodded through her tears, and pulled her dark sunglasses over her eyes. Kirsten hugged Kaitlin, Neil, and Summer as well. Seth immediately embraced Summer, who was also in dark sunglasses, and she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Jimmy," Kirsten said, as she noticed him. "I'm really sorry."
Jimmy smiled weakly, happy to see his old friend. "It's ok, Kirsten. Thank you." Then they hugged warmly.
Seth immediately embraced Summer, who was also in dark sunglasses, and she rested her head on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Cooper," Seth said awkwardly. "Mr. Cooper. "Kaitlin. Dr. Roberts."
Neil nodded. "Thank you, Seth," he said softly, as he stroked Summer's hair and put one arm around Julie, and the other around Kaitlin, who immediately pulled away. Neil nodded in understanding and embraced Julie, leading her toward the church, and Kaitlin and Kirsten.
Jimmy smiled tightly at Seth. "How are you doing??"
Seth shrugged. "How is everybody else doing??"
Jimmy nodded in understanding, and walked past up to the church, followed by Summer with Seth, hugging Seth tightly like she could never let him go.
Sandy and Ryan came out of the car next. Ryan's hands shook as he held the eulogy.
"I think what you're doing is great, Ryan," Sandy said truthfully, patting Ryan's shoulder.
Ryan looked up at Sandy. "And it's what I have to do, too."
Sandy smiled lightly, and walked in with Ryan.
.........
"Marissa Cooper was a great girl. She was always helpful in running events, always social and friendly, and an all around great person."
"Marissa Cooper was a dearly loved daughter, sister, and friend. She will be missed."
"Marissa Cooper really appreciated life. Although she only got to live eighteen years of it, she took advantage of them, they were spent well, and she embraced everything with an open heart."
Many words were spoken about Marissa Cooper that day. Some were from relatives, others from schoolmates, some Newpsies, and others from neighbors. Most of these people barely knew Marissa, but felt the need, or were asked to speak, and grasped everything they knew about Marissa, and phrased all of it in a brief speech. The room was silent, other than the speakers, except for some light cries.
'None of these people even care to speak,' Kaitlin thought bitterly. 'They just feel the need to. They barely even knew Marissa. They're just taking little things about her.'
Finally, though, it was Jimmy's turn. He held his eulogy, and faced the chapel bravely, many of them shocked and proud that the father would have the courage to do this. At least without breaking down.
"Marissa Anne Cooper, my daughter, was beautiful in every way. Her smile, her face, her laugh, her warm attitude, her kind heart, and her gentle, carefree, and sweet nature. I could go on and on, all day, just to describe everything good there was about my little girl."
The words went on, tears fell Julie's face as she watched her ex-husband speak so dearly of their daughter. Kirsten cried, Summer cried, and even Kaitlin cried.
"When Marissa and Kaitlin were little, I used to put them to bed at night, and sing a special song that was between us, and part of our relationship. And I'd like to share it with you." Jimmy took a dep breath, and although he didn't have the best voice, he started to sing. It was for Marissa.

"Daughters"
by John Mayor

I know a girl
She puts the color inside of my world
But she's just like a maze
Where all of the walls all continually change
And I've done all I can
To stand on her steps with my heart in my hands
Now I'm starting to see
Maybe it's got nothing to do with me

Fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too

Oh, you see that skin?
It's the same she's been standing in
Since the day she saw him walking away
Now she's left
Cleaning up the mess he made

So fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too

Boys, you can break
You'll find out how much they can take
Boys will be strong
And boys soldier on
But boys would be gone without the warmth from
A womans good, good heart

On behalf of every man
Looking out for every girl
You are the god and the weight of her world

So fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too [x3]

As Jimmy sang, the whole room was utterly silent. It was a beautiful song, and it was so sweet to hear how Jimmy each word clearly, and see this song for his daughter. Tears rolled down Kaitlin's cheeks, as she remembered she and Marissa, each sitting on one of Jimmy's legs, and listening to him sing. It was the probably the best memories she had with Marissa.
When Jimmy was finsihed, he stepped off the podium and silently went back next to Julie. Juliw smiled at him, with tears running freely down her cheeks, and hugged him tightly.
Next, it was Ryan's turn. He wasn't one to say speeches, thinking back to the Chrismakkuh-Bar-Mitzvahkah a several months back, but for Marissa, he would do anything. He stood up on the stage, tense, and looked down at the eulogy he had spent hours writing. He looked up at the chapel, and met Sandy's eye. He took a deep breath, and began to read.
"I only knew Marissa for two years, but it seems like so much longer. There were countless memories, and times that I wish could remain forever, but they can't. They could only remain in my heart. Marissa...well, I always like to say Marissa made things happen. She was like a spark, or the stars in the sky, or just....or just something really, really special. Marissa and I had a few flaws at time, but I always loved her. I cared about her, I was there for her, and even if she didn't know it, when she needed me, even if we were through our hardest times, or our most-tension filled times, she could always come to me. I was always there for her. I never told her, but I wish I had. Marissa is the most special girl I have ever met in my entire life so far. She had something no girl ever had, at least, at what I saw. I can't really explain it, but it was there. I never looked at another girl's smile and saw them illuminate the sky like stars. I've never looked into another girl's eyes and thought of a beautiful angel, and felt the need to just embrace them, and dance with them right now. I've never broken up with another girl, and felt heratbroken the whole time, even with another girlfriend, wishing I could be holding them in my arms, kissing them, and showing my love and passion to them. Marissa never knew this, but when I went to Chino that whole year two summers ago, all I thought about was her. I absolutely could not get her out of my mind. I would eat an orange everyday and spell out her name with the peel. I know that may sound corny, but I did it. I wrote her countless letters, but just couldn't send them, and they are currently stored in the pool house. I never remembered to give them to her, ever, once I came back. Now I wish I had." Ryan paused a minute, feeling light tears in his eyes. They rolled down his cheeks, and he blushed. He pictured Marissa in his mind. Kissing him, hugging him, sleeping, laughing, smiling, laying across the beach in a bikini, with her hair calmly fluttering in the wind, looking happy, looking sad, and just about any emotion. "I will always love Marissa. From the moment I saw her in the driveway when I first came here, to the moment she died in my arms. I will love her forever."
And with that, crying subtly, Ryan walked back to his spot. Julie looked at the boy who just talked, and couldn't never imagine or forgive herself for how much she used to hate him. He was bold and compassionate, with a strong heart, and a very sweet attitude. And she couldn't believe the way she'd treated Marissa about him. He was so good to her, and he really loved her. That speech said it all. She felt all the regret from everything that happened that year, and the following year. She had made Marissa's life miserable. She would never forgive itself.
The funeral ended, and two men lifted Marissa's casket, and lead it out of the chapel to bring to the cemetary. Summer watched this with horror.
"NO!!" She yelled. "Don't take her away!! You can't take Coop away!! Please, no!! She's my best friend!!" With tears streaming down her face, Summer raced toward the men, but Neil and Seth each grabbed one of her arms.
"Stop!!" She yelled, in frustration struggling to release herself from their grip. "Let. Me. Go. She's my best friend!!" Summer screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks, her feet kicking, and her body trying to wriggle from her dad and boyfriend's arms, many eyes gazed toward her but she didn't care.
"Summer, it's okay," Neil said calmly, rubbing her back.
"No," Summer said sadly, trying a bit but gave up, and fell into her dad's arms, and just sobbed uncontrobally.
"It's okay," Neil said softly, rubbing her back. Seth looked at them helplessly.
"Thank you," Neil said, and Seth smiled walking towards Kirsten, Sandy, and Ryan, and gazed back at Summer one more time sadly, and sympathetically, and then headed back toward his family.
.........
Okay, I know that was pretty long, and I just could not stop writing. I hope you enjoy it!! Feedback is much appreciated!![/i]

[SaveTheOC]

WOW this is soo good I really like the whole dramatic genre and your style of writting. I can really relate to the emotions of Kaitlin, Ryan and Julie since they are suffering the most! Summers emotions are just unbelievable it's soo sad man, i wouldn't like to be in that type of situation! I really like the idea of the song in the fanfic aswell, good job Can't wait for more!

[ocguysrhott.]

Hey wow that was the nicest comment I have ever recieved on that post!! When I wrote it on the other forum I was really excited about it but the reviews weren't as nice!! More up soon maybe later today!!

[ocguysrhott.]

Okay I'm going away for a few days not too long just until Sunday so I'll give you a post now and maybe another one later today but probably not cuz I know it gets hectic to read so much!! Anyway here's the next update please enjoy!!

--

Here's my latest update. Enjoy and keep up the comments!!
--------
Chapter 3
Moving on??
The song 'Eve The Apple Of My Eye' plays as the characters are shown gathered around the cemetary with Marissa's casket in the middle. Julie is sobbing and holding Neil's hand. Jimmy is crying and standing with his arms around Kaitlin , who is just staring at the casket, as if she can't believe this is happening. Kirsten and Sandy were also holding hands and Kirsten is crying lightly. Summer and Seth are next to them, Summer sobbing and hiding her eyes. Ryan stands alone, and just watches the casket miserably. Tears were rolling down his cheeks and he could feel his heart breaking more and more each time they lower Marissa's casket further and further. Finally she is buried. Summer whimpered and Neil patted her shoulder. Ryan he runs away, as far from the cemetary as he could probably get. *Song ends.*
---------
Julie sat on the couch, with a glass of wine shaking in her hand. She looked at the pack of pictures on the table. They were the newly developed pictures from the graduation. She felt like she needed to look at them, but she felt like she was being held back. Finally, she snatched up the pack and started leafing through the pictures. She cried as she saw everybody all happy together. They were finally happy, and everybody was getting along and in shape with one another. Specifically, her and Marissa. And now this had to happen to ruin it all. She whimpered as she came up to the picture of her, Marissa, and Kaitlin. Then she got up to the next picture, of just herself with Marissa. She touched Marissa's smiling face on the photo, and stroked it with her finger. Tears were running freely down her cheeks.
"I can't believe she's gone," Julie said quietly, "I can't believe my baby is gone."
"Hi Mom!!" came Kaitlin's cheerful voice.
Julie glanced away from the photos and looked up to see Katilin standing there, like nothing tragic had just happened. She was wearing one of Marissa's pink dresses, and a pair of sandals.
"What are you doing in Marissa's dress??" Julie asked.
"I just felt like borrowing it. Well, keeping it." She laughed. "Marissa always let me borrow her clothes. So, I figured, I'd clean out her closet and find some nice outfits of hers." Kaitlin said simply. She sat adjacent Julie, and picked up a Glamour magazine that lay on the table and began flipping through it.
Julie looked at the dress sadly. She remembered buying it with Marissa, not too long before she and Jimmy got divorced. Those had been nice times.
"So, I was thinking of going shopping today, and I kind of need a ride," Kaitlin said, giving Julie a hinting glare.
Julie sighed. "Kaitlin, now is not a good time."
"Why not??" asked Kaitlin.
"Kaitlin, if you haven't noitced your sister just died," Julie said slightly snappily. "I am in no mood to do anything but sit in the house and grieve."
"You have to let it go sometime," Kaitilin siad rudely, wincing as she thought of Marissa again. She really was upset, but liked to keep her sorrow subtle. And she was just dying to forget about it.
"KAITLIN NOW IS NOT THE TIME!!" Julie yelled.
Kaitlin looked a little taken aback, but recovered quickly. "It was never the time to do anything with or for me. It was always about Marissa." Kaitlin said angirly.
"That's not true," Julie denied. "I always loved you just the same and I always will. Marissa just had a lot of troubles and-"
"So do I," Kaitlin cut off, "But you were just too busy thinking about Marissa to care. And so now I'm left in the dusk again. As usual," Kaitlin added witheringly.
Julie couldn't help but be sympatheic. She lay a hand on Kaitlin's shoulder. "Look sweetie, I know you're upset, okay, we all are. A terrible, tragic thing has just happened and it's a hard time for all of us."
"It's not about that," Kaitlin said in a shaky voice, even though it may have been. She wasn't even sure anymore. "I just figured since Marissa is gone, you could pay more attention to me. Now she's out of our lives. Maube for the better." As soon as Kaitlin said it, she regretted it. How could she say a thing like that??
Julie widened her eyes and gaped at Kaitlin, before raising her hand and slapping her in the face.
Katilin didn't show any emotion. She just glared at Julie, picked up her bag, and left the room.
"Kaitlin, wait!" Julie yelled desperately, disbelieving that she could have just done that.
Then the door was slammed.
Julie sank back onto the couch, feeling disoriented and alone in the world. She felt tears prick her eyes. She couldn't believe Kaitlin had just said something so terrible, yet she couldn't believe what she herself had just done to Kaitlin. Marissa had just died, and it was hard on all of them but Julie kept thinking about Katilin's words that morning: "Just remember that you have another daughter." And Julie knew she was right. She had another daughter. One she had to make things right with.
------
Summer ran up past the Cohen's driveway and arrived at the Cooper's old house nervously. She looked at it, and remembered the times she and Marissa had shared in this house. She smiled up at Marissa's bedroom window, and remembered when they would have sleepovers in there, and play truth or dare, and gossip constantly aboiut guys. She smiiled shakily and walked up the proch steps. She knew she had to do this.
She walked over to the porch, and remembred the days she could just walk right in, greet Julie, Jimmy, and Kaitlin and then go up to Marissa's room. Now, she didn't even know the people who lived here. As far as she knew, they could be old people. After she ramg the doorbell, she wished she had stopped at the Cohen's first, and asked Seth what kind of people lived there.
The door was flung open by a small boy in a blue shirt with a lion printed on front. He glared at Summer with large blue eyes.
"Hello," Summer said in a cooing tone. "Is there a grownup home??"
The boy nodded, and then a woman came up front behind him, and looked at Summer with a sort of surprised look. She lifted up the boy.
"Do I know you??" she asked.
"Um, no," Summer said, embrassed. "But, um, my, uh, best friend used to live here, and I used to come here all the time. And now I desperately need to...get something from here, you see...she recently passed away and uh,...."she looked at the room with pleading eyes. "Could I just look upstairs for something??"
The woman looked rather shocked but nodded.
"Okay, thank you so much!!" Summer yelled, as she frantically whizzed up the stairs and went into Marissa's old bedroom. She watched it sadly, the memories seeping in, although the room now had a truck bed, a postor of Clifford, another postor of Looney Toones chracters, stuffed animals, and a Mickey Mouse lamp. Summer walked over to the walk-in closet, praying it would still be there. She went through all the toys and little kid's clothes, and dug way deep and then walked in through it. Finally, under the small dent in the wall, was the shelf, and under the shelf was the box. Summer smiled at the box with hers and Marissa's initals carved in, Summer's letters frilly and fancy in script, and Marissa's neat, careful, and printed. She sighed with relief, and hugged the box to her, tears streaming down her face. The box was part of the special bond between her and Marissa. When they were ten, they hid it in that part of Marissa's closet, and planned to take it out right aFter high school graduation. They had put special items in there and had written each other notes. With all the graduation fiaso, Summer had completly forgotten to ask Marissa about going to find it before she left. Now Marissa was dead, and they wouldn't be able to open it together like they'd planned when they were ten. With tears escaping from her eyes rather ceaselessly it seemed, Summer headed back home hugging the box to her.
------
The loud music poured through the poolhouse, and Ryan continued punching his punching bag as hard as he could. Sweat poured from every inch of his body, blood curled through his fingers, which were grasped into a fist, and fury took over his emotions. His wife beater stuck to his body. He couldn't stop punching, he was overcome with adreneline, and his anger and emotions rose and rose with every punch he took. And every time he would punch he would think of Marissa. He felt like something was missing when he lay in the poolhouse in that morning and he had figured out what it was immediately. Usually by this point of day, if he had been staying in the poolhouse cooped up, Marissa would have come in. Or Marissa would have called him. Or Seth would come in saying he invited Summer over and Ryan should call Marissa and ask her to come too. Could that happen now?? No. Never again. Punch. Ryan remembred Volchuck, ramming into the car. Bang. He remembered Marissa screaming and looking frightened as this was happening. Punch. He remembred carrying her in his arms on the road, and watching her die. Bang. He remembred the funeral. Punch. He remembered Volchuck again. BANG. Volchuck. PUNCH. Volchuck. And with every thought of Volchuck he punched and banged harder and harder on the punching bag. He imagined the punchbag as Volchuck and fury really took over, and he aimed his fists once more, and clobbered the bag. He gritted his teeth and gave the bag one more furious punch and then lay down onto his bed, panting heavily with exhaustion. He had come to a desicion. He was going to find Volchuck.
--------
Kaitlin sat at the lifesguard stand, once again, and smoked a cigarette. She had comfort sitting on the lifeguard stand, and decided that now Marissa wasn't there to sit by it, Kaitlin could take over the spot. She looked down at herself, wearing Marissa's dress, sweatshirt, and sandals. Carrying her purse. Her freshly manicured nails, used in Marissa's nail plish that she had given her, done before she even went back to boarding school after the time she had come back and Johnny had died, before this whole thing happened. When Kaitlin didn't care about anything. Now, she cared, even if she acted like she didn't care, she cared. She regretted what she had said to Julie before. She regretted what she said before Marissa died and even before she had left: "I don't really love her." If she could take that back now, she would.
Kaitlin watched the sun setting along the horizions and was happy to see dawn hit this awful day.
"Hey," a voice called.
That was when she realized she wasn't alone on this beach. A boy, looking not much older than her, stood on the beach, smoking a cigeratte just like Kaitlin. Kaitlin folded her arms and looked on with interest. As of now, she felt alone in this world, but she had this randon consumption that this boy could end that. Especially if they had anything in common. Then they could definitely become friends.
"Hey," Kaitlin called out bluntly, and the boy smiled. Kaitlin observed that he looked around fifteen, and had light brown sand color hair.
The boy walked over to her with a sneaky smile on his face. "What are you doing out here alone??" he asked.
"Oh, you know...just hanging around," Kaitlin said, looking at the ground glumly.
"Youi probably feel alone right now...like there's nobody to talk to, nothing to do, nobody to see, and nobody that cares about you...am I right??" he asked testily.
Kaitlin gaped at him, surprised at how he had just spilled most of her emotions out right there, without Kaitlin even telling them to him.
"Yes," she said, shocked. "That's pretty much exactly how I feel. How did you know that??"
"Hey, I'm good with this stuff," he said modestly. "Why else would a pretty girl like you be sitting here alone??"
Kaitlin put her hands on her hips and looked at him with a triumphant smile. "Why are you standing out here alone??"
"Hey, like you, nobody to talk to and no place to go. It's like I'm invissible to my parents, but when I show them my thoughts they get mad at me. I don't have much friends, and every person that keeps in touch with my family barely notces me to how they notice my brother. It's like I;m not even here." The boy held out a hand to Kaitlin. "I'm Jeff."
"Kailtin." Kaitlin said, accepting his hand and shook it.
"So do you have parental problems and family issues??" Jeff asked bluntly.
"Yeah!! I feel the same about my parents as you do, pretty much!! When I was younger, they'd go to these fancy parites and leave me alone with babysitters. They were so proud of my sister, because she was popular, with a sexy boyfriend, and always was the planner of school-fund raisers and functions and what-not. Then she started developing problems and my parents were too involved in hre. Then my mom remarried the richest guy in the whole community, and sent me off to boarding school, thinking there was too much here for a little girl like me to handle." Kaitlin rolled her eyes at that. "I mean, they gave me everything I ever asked for, but it was as if they were doing it to get me off their hands. And then I came back here in January, and of course my sister was all vulenerable problems everywhere, and my mom forgot about my birthday, but tried to make it up to me by making this huge party. Sure, it was nice but, she did forget. Then I met this nice guy, Johnny, who liked Marissa, my sister, of course, and after he died when he was drunk one night at the beach, I decided it was time to go back to boarding school. I came back here for my sister's graduation and decided to stay because she was going to go sail boats with my dad. Now I wish I never came back." Kaitlin took a vigourous puff from her cigarette. She was happy to finally get out her emotions to somebody, even if it was a stranger.
"Sister still getting all the attention huh??" Jeff asked, throwing his cigarette to the ground and beginning to light another cigarette. "Never writes, never calls and your parents are concernered?? Problems on the sailboat??"
"Actually, she's not sailing on the boat. You see on her way to the airport she was--- she was killed in a car accident." Kailtin threw her cigarette, tears streaming down her face again. "And I miss her, I really do, but when she was alive I never really loved her, and now I regret it. I have a subtle way of showing things and I'm acting like I don't care, but I really do. I just had a fight with my mom over something I said that I wish I didn't say....and it was about Marissa, and, I don't know. I just feel like I can't show my sadness, except at the funeral earlier today i was able to, and I feel like people, including my mom, hate me for it, and I just feel so helpless and alone." Kaitlin was really crying now, and she roughly wiped the tears away with her sleeve.
"You're never alone. There's always somebody by your side," Jeff said, sitting beside her and taking her hand.
Kaitlin was a little surprised that he had taken her hand, but quite happy. "Well I have a stepfather, a father, and a stepsister and a mom but they think I\'m so insensitive to this, and I really think they hate me for it. I have nobody else." Kaitlin sobbed.
"You have me." Jeff said simply, taking her other hand in his own.
Kaitlin looked at their joined hands, and smiled up at Jeff. "Yeah, yeah I do," she replied.
---------
Summer sat in her room with the box in between her legs.
"Okay," she out loud, "I'm ready."
She opened it up carefully, pulling out the letter she had written to Marissa.
"I wish she had gotten a chance to read this," Summer mumbled. Then she took out a red purse, the item she had put there. It was meant for Marissa to keep when she opened it. Next, she went to Marissa's items. A sealed letter, and the item she had left for her, which turned out to be another toy horse. Summer smiled, knowing how Marissa always knew how much Summer loved toy horses. She picked it up, stroked the mane, and put it next to Princess Sparkle. She pikced up the letter, about to read it, and then realized something. She had to read it with somebody. Marissa. She had to read it with Marissa or the pact would be broken. She picked up the toy horse, the purse, and the letter and left the house, running a long way before she reached the grave. Tears spilled down her cheeks, as she watched the grave, and she couldn't believe that was where Marissa was buried. She knew her so well that it was almost unreal to think of her dead and buried, and most importantly, looking at her grave.
"Hey Coop," she said softly, laying the letter and the purse on her grave. "Remember when we made this box?? Pretty childish to think of it now, but we were just kids then. Anyway, I'm going to read your letter, with you, like I promised. Thanks for the toy horse, I don't have a name, but I may call it Coop or something, after you. I miss you." Summer's lip trembled. She unfolded the letter.
Hey Sum,
Wow this is weird, thinking about our graduation. It's so long from now, but it will come before you know it. I wonder what it will be like when that day comes. I wonder if I'll still be with Luke, and if my parents will still fight, and if we would have had a good four years in high school. We aren't even in junior high yet!! It's weird to think about that too!! I hope we could live up to our goals, and go to good colleges, and eventually get married and have kids and be co-workers in a major fashion designing company. But whatever happens, I hope we could do it together. I surppose we'll still get that apartment in the city for us to share after we graduate from college. I doubt we'll graudate from Yale, no offense, but it's good to dream. And I hope that prom is great, I don't think much about it, but I know you do, and have a nice dream all set out, that I hope could happen. I wonder if you'll ever notice Seth Cohen, I mean, as of now you haven't even realized that he is always staring at you. Wouldn't that be funny if the two of you ended up dating?? I mean, you're completly different!! I dont know what will happen, but I have to say I'm in no rush to find out. I like where we are now, even if my parents are always fighting, and I'm always stuck at home babysitting Caitlin. Well, I'll end this letter now. When we're done putting this box in my closet, we're getting mocha smoothies which I'm craving!! So, bye, infinite, x's and o's and I LOVE YOU!!
Your bff,
Marissa.

Summer finished up the letter, crying so hard she had to keep desperately trying to catch her breath. When Marissa talked about their future in the letter, the parts about college and growing up, Summer had to hld back sobs until she was done reading. And it was funny how Marissa knew Seth liked her when they were ten. She had never told Summer!! She laughed when she mentioned what it would be like when they were together. She couldn't believe Marissa was gone, but she had this letter to cherish forever.
------

[SaveTheOC]

The idea of Ryan is awesome, i never thought of Ryan crying before, If i was Julie i would have slapped kaitlin for wearing Marissa's dress, what the hell, i cant believe Kitlin is happy about Marissa dyeing either! I like the whole idea of the graduation box thing ant the note that was found in it, another great installment, i cannot wait until Sun/Mon for more Great job again!

[outboundchad]

so good, i really hope you post more soon, i like the whole letter in a box, in the closet, something Summer and Marissa would do.

[ocguysrhott.]

Im back!! Hope you like!!

"Episode" 2: The Easy Way Out.



Chapter 4
Over and out

The Bait Shop roared with loud music as a bunch of happy, and some drunk, teenagers jumped up dancing to the loud music, as The Fray band played.
"Isn't this awesome??" a far too drunk Kaitlin yelled as she spun around taking another swig of her beer.
Deciding that Kaitlin had seemed very depressed, and wanting to maintain a friendship with her, Jeff had suggested the two go to the Bait Shop where the Fray was playing, and Kaitlin of course agreed. Any excuse to not go home, and she didn't really want to sit in the beach all night, because she'd have too much time to think about reality, and feel all the angst she'd been feeling perpetually for the past couple of days. Jeff smiled, not drunk at all, but definitely having a good time and happy to be able to be spending time with her.
"Definitely," he said with a smile.
Kaitlin stood up on a chair and raced her beer bottle high above her head. "I LOVE THE KILLERS!!" She screamed. She was responded with a few stares, but she didn't seem to care.
"Kaitlin, Kaitlin," Jeff said laughing, as he walked over to her. "It's the Fray!!"
"Yeah, whoohoo, the Fray!!" Kaitlin slurred in an abnormally loud tone. She jumped off the chair, spilling some of her beer.
"Oh, whoops," Kaitlin laughed, her loud tone still intact.
"Kaitlin, I think maybe you should calm down now," Jeff advised.
"Let's go to the beach," was Kaitlin's reply. "I'm bored of the The Fray."
"Alright," Jeff agreed, as tht two sauntered through the crowd of people, and left the Bait Shop.
Kaitlin's cellphone started to ring through her pocket.
"I should check your phone," Jeff suggested, pulling the phone from Kaitlin's pocket. The Caller ID read 'Mom.'
"Kaitlin it's your mom," Jeff informed, but Kaitlin didn't seem to care. She just continued racing down the road.
Jeff glanced at the ringing phone once more and then pressed 'Ignore.' He couldn't answer the phone for Kailtin's mom, it would sound too suspicious. He closed the door, and continued to race after Kaitlin, who had begun running across the beach, kicking the sand furiously and rand towards the water.
"Let's go swimming!!" Kaitlin slurred, kicking off her sandals which flew across the beach.
"Kaitlin I don't think that's such a good idea-" Jeff stated.
"Let's go!!" Kaitlin ignored him, and raced towards the water, and Jeff passed.
"Let's go sit on the sand or something instead," Jeff told her, grabbing her wrist about to pull her out of the water.
"NO, JEFF, LEAVE ME ALONE!!" Kailtin yelled, snatching her hand away.
---------
"Ryan," Seth walked into the poolhouse, cautiously, watching as Ryan leaned over a bag on his bed, and threw a wifebeater into it.
"Haven't you heard of knocking??" Ryan asked gruffly. He stuffed his sneakers into the bag. He opened his dresser drawer and grabbed his gray hoodie. He threw it on, and stuffed his hood over his head.
"Sorry," Seth said meekly.
"What do you want??" Ryan asked.
"I just wanted to talk. I mean, we haven't talked much since-" Seth's trailed off sadly.
"Save it, Seth," Ryan snapped.
"I mean I know it hurts, but I know what all this anger is all about. This is about Marissa, isn't it??'' Seth went on, hoping to get it out of Ryan.
"Seth, I don't want to talk about it," Ryan said, through gritted teeth. He threw more clothes into his bag.
"Could you at least tell me why you're packing a bag??" Seth asked.
Ryan didn't answer him, he just turned to the mirror, and his eyes gazed plantively at the picture of Marissa and him. He grabbed the photo, and stared at it a minute, the pain in his eyes consipicous. He felt tears prick his eyes, and roll down his cheeks, and he refused to brush them away, so he threw his hood over his eyes so Seth wouldn't see them. He threw the picture into his bag next to the 'Model Home Mix' CD.
"Lie to them for me, will you??" Ryan finally spoke, looking at Seth with defiance.
"Lie to who?? About what??" Seth asked, confused.
"Kirsten and Sandy. Don't tell them where I'm going," Ryan zipped up his bag and put it on his chair.
"Well where are you going??" Seth asked.
"I'm going to find Volchuck," Ryan replied, the vegeance obvious in his words.
"Do you even know where he is??"Seth interrogated.
"Mexico."
"How do you KNOW??" Seth pleaded.
"I just do."
"Ryan...are you sure you want to do this?? I mean, people need you here." Seth was trying his hardest to make Ryan feel better.
"Nobody needs me Seth. Or at least they don't need me THAT badly. They have somebody they could go to before me. I'm not the number 1 person in their life," Ryan's tone was angry, but was evidently more sad than angry. "At least not anymore," he added plaintively.
------
Julie held her vodka bottle limply in her hands, the hand holding it shakily, as she contemplated whether or not to drink it. It would only be her second today, which would be good for her lately. Some part of her just wanted to swallow it all down, to wash away her pain and sorrow over Marissa, and her regret over her fight with Kaitlin, the regret over slapping her, the regret over being a lousy mother to Marissa all the times she had, and the fact that she was close to shattering her relationship to pieces with her remaining daughter, who was god knowswhere, not answering her phone, or coming home, the images and rememberence of Marissa and the sounds of her voice replaying in her mind, as she regretted everything she did to her in the past, the images and rememberance of the funeral, and the sound of the heartwarming speeches and the look of Marissa's casket, as it lowered further and further, separating Julie from her daughter and far too soon....it wasn't fair, Julie only had her for eighteen years, and Marissa only got to have eighteen years of life, and now it was all over for her...and life would just go on, her family and friends would just on, living their life without somebody who used to be a big part of it, and Julie would have to move on...without her oldest daughter. Her first child. The one she raised when she was pratically a kid herself, only eighteen years old.
"If only I'd paid more attention. If only I'd thought more. If only I thought more of her instead of always myself. If only I could be mature to handle grief and miss her, but be able to give Kaitlin the mother she deserves," Julie said aloud, to nobody in particular, her eyes tearing up. 'And the mother she deserves has to make better choices...and not sit around drinking alcohol', Julie thought to herself.
And that was the some part of her that didn't want to drink it. She put it down on her nightstand, and got up, walking down the hall to Summer's room. But not just Summer's room. Marissa's room. She wandered in, looking at the builletin board that hung in the center of the wall, the one Summer and Marissa had put up of pictures of them. She watched the pictures of them, a smile creasing on her face. Next she walked over to the closet, a large walk-in, shared between the two girls. She opened the closet, knowing Kaitlin had sorted through much of Marissa's clothes earlier, but only took one outfit as her own. How hard it must be for Summer to see her belongings each morning. Julie sighed, and took all of Marissa's stuff, pushing it back to the back of closet, feeling guity, but knowing it was needed to be done.
------

Seth sat on his bed, holding his drawpad on his lap, and the copy of the Atomic County comic book in front of him. He had no idea what to draw, just like he had no idea what to do, or what he was meant to do, about anything. He knew that he wasn't perfect, but he felt like it was his job to help everybody. He looked at the comic book cover, the core four that he drew, standing in a line together blissfully. He flipped the comic, reading what he wrote unitl it occured it to him. Whether she was under the arm of her boyfriend, shopping with her best friend, or laughing and joking with The Ironist like a good friend, Cosmo Girl got along with everybody. She had a special relationship with everybody. He turned to the next page, and looked at CosmoGirl, with her golden hair in a graceful flow, elegantly framing her slim frame, and these blue eyes that had the rare ability to look sincere, friendly, giggly, and beautiful all at the same time. Seth touched the page, right where CosmoGirl stood with her wide grin, and realized for the first time since the car accident, that he missed Marissa.
A knock on the door interrupted Seth's thoughts. Thinking it was Ryan, he decided to be cautious.
"Come in," he called quietly.
The door opened and in walked Summer.
"Hey, Summer, how's it going??" Seth asked.
"Oh, the usual," Summer replied gloomily, flopping on the bed. Seth picked up the comic book, and put it next to Oats on his dresser....he didn't want Summer to have to see CosmoGirl, and be upset.
"Where have you been??" Seth asked her.
"At Coop old's house...and Coop's old closet....and Coop's grave. The only place I could ever be with her again. We used to hang out in the beach, thr mall, our houses, each of our bedroooms, and eventually just our bedroom, the one we shared, the Bait Shop, the Pier, the pool, the movie theater, and the Crab Shack. But, now, just the graveyard. The depressing, and quiet graveyard." Summer was crying now, and grabbed one of Seth's pillows, hugging it to her chest. "And the worst part is," she added quietly, "is that I could talk to her, but she can't respond."
"Oh, Summer," Seth said sadly, as he rubbed her back affectionately.
"You know sometimes it helps to talk about it." Seth told her, as he moved on to her shoulders and massaged them lovingly.
"Yeah, but you know this day has been far too hard. The funeral, the speeches, the tears....and spending this whole day thinking about Coop. It's not fair. I mean, I miss my best friend...and it just bothers me that an innocent eighteen-year old girl would have to have her life taken so soon...as she drives in a car going to spend a nice time in a boat for a year getting to spend some time with her dad after a while of not seeing him.... and because of some jerk, she doesn't get to have that. Her life just ends. A life with so much ahead of it, just, gone. I mean, Cohen, me and you, we still have life and get to go on living it...but she doesn't. How could we just go on without her??" Summer looked up at Seth, something she'd barely done since she came in.
"Summer...it's going to be hard, but you have to move on and be happy with what life brings you, and live it to the fullest...you just think- it's what Marissa would want." Seth assured.
"Wanna go do something?? I feel like I can't stay here anymore," Summer suggested.
"Sure....where do you wanna go??" asked Seth.
"Mmmm....the diner??" Summer asked.
"Sure," Seth agreed, and linked his arm with hers about to leave the room. That was when Summer's cellphone rang. Sighing, she picked it up and looked at the Caller I.D.
"It's Kaitlin," Summer said surprised, as she flipped open the phone. She pressed 'Accept' and put the reciever to her ear.
"Hello??"
"Hi," Jeff's nervous voice said. "Um, this is Kaitlin's friend....Jeff."
"Kaitlin has a friend named Jeff??" Summer asked.
"Yeah, I just met her. Look, sorry to bother you but I saw your name on her Caller I.D. and I kind of need youor help." Jeff informed.
"Why?? What happened to Kaitlin, what's going on??" Summer asked, getting nervous. Sure she'd never really got along with Kaitlin, but she was still her soon to be stepsister, and they really couldn't afford any more bad things. To top it all off, she was Julie's only child now, and Summer could barely even imagine the thought of losing two children, or one dead, and one seriously injured or hurt. Julie was going through enough pain over Marissa.
"She's fine. She just got a little drunk when we were at the Bait Shop- okay very drunk- and she's passed out on the beach. And I need somebody's help getting her home," Jeff explained.
Summer breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, well, I live at her house, so my boyfriend and I will be right over, and we'll help you." They hung up, and Summer looked at Seth.
"Kaitlin's passed out on the beach, drunk, and she's with some guy Jeff a friend that she just met. They need our help." Summer explained in a rush.
"Kaitlin's drunk?? How irnoic," Seth said sarcastically.
"Come on Cohen," Summer said, rolling her eyes. They set off for the beach. When they arrived, they found Jeff and Kaitlin in an instant. Kaitlin was passed out and leaned aganist the kifeguard stand, and Jeff was sitting next to her, desperately trying to get her to come to.
"Okay, Cohen and Jeff, why don't you carry Kaitlin to the car??" Summer suggested.
Seth groaned. "Come on, Cohen, stop being such a girl." As the boys carried Kaitlin to the car, Summer glanced suspiciously at Jeff's retreating back. She did not have a good feeling about him.

[outboundchad]

oh, really good, i loved that, i wished for just a bit more of Ryan, but other than that, it was outstanding, everyone is just as they should be, but even if it's just a bit, more sandy and kirsten please, it is good to keep everyone in a post, please again ,soon.

[ocguysrhott.]

Kirsten and Sandy will have a big plot coming up in the next few chapterss, and it will progress as the story goes on.... .....and if you want more Ryan, you're going to love the upcoming posts as well!! I could almost guarantee it.

[SaveTheOC]

Haha love it I really want a Kandy plot, they make every story interesting! Cant wait.

[ocguysrhott.]

The Easy Way Out Side 2:
Chapter 5: Desicions and Escapes

Julie sighed as she walked into the kitchen. It was a mess. The table was cluttered, with dinner and breakfast dishes from the day before. The floor was in need of a mop. Julie sighed exhaustedly and then walked over to the sink. That was even worse. It was cluttered with cereal bowls, glasses, plates, bowls, and spoons. Julie groaned.
“And it’s not like Neil will be home to help clean things,” Julie murmured, as she began stacking up the dishes. The house has not been cleaned at all since Marissa died. Cleaning just wasn’t important compared to the amount of grief the family was going through. Julie looked up when she heard somebody walk in. She looked up and saw Kaitlin. She was in a wrinkled t-shirt and sweatpants, and her hair was knotted and scraggily. “I have such a bad headache,” Kaitlin moaned, as she sat down at the table and folded her arms, then rested her head in them. “Maybe I’m getting the flu.”
“Try hung over,” Julie snapped.
“Hmmmm??” Kaitlin asked drowsily.
“You were very drunk last night, young lady. I was worried sick over where you could have been. I was calling you all night. I felt really bad about our fight,” Julie told Kaitlin. “And then Summer brought you in last night, completely passed out. Do you realize what I was going through while you were at a concert with some boy getting drunk??” Julie yelled.
“Sure, I know what you were going through. You were crying over Marissa,” was Kaitlin’s immediate reply.
“You know Kaitlin, what in the world has made you so insensitive??” Julie snapped.
“Hey, you’re my mom. I’m supposed to be a bitch,” Kaitlin replied smugly and she stood up and went over to the kitchen cupboards.
“I was at home….Alone, to add. And I was really worried about where you were,” Julie said angrily. She picked up the mop and rubbed it half-heartedly across the kitchen floor.
Kaitlin took a box of Frosted Flakes cereal and a bowl from the cupboards. She yawned. “I’m sorry Mom…about what I said yesterday. I guess I’m upset too, but I just have a different way of showing it. I really didn’t mean that comment that I said about her. I know I should always respect her…as my big sister. And the thing is I do, just in a different way. Same with the way I handle grief. And after we had our fight I really needed to get away. I met Jeff at the beach, and he offered to take me to the concert because I was upset. I guess that’s why I got drunk.”
Julie smiled weakly piling the dishes into a neat pile. “Would you mind helping me clean this all up??” Julie asked, in a tone that basically said forgiveness.
“Oh, Mom, just seeing it is increasing my headache,” Kaitlin groaned crankily, as she poured the cereal into a bowl for herself. “Should I make you something instead?? Anything. You really look terrible,” she observed.
“Oh, I’m fine,” Julie lied. She opened up the dishwater and stuffed the dishes in. “Ugh, look at the table. I don’t know where you’re going to eat.”
Kaitlin carried her bowl to the table and pushed everything sloppily to the side. Then she smiled triumphantly at her mother.
Julie was annoyed but didn’t say anything. Kaitlin got up and opened the refrigerator.
“You know, I don’t have a good feeling about that boy. The one you were out with last night. I mean, the first night you guys have known each other and you get drunk from a concert he takes you to. And you just met him at the beach. And the way Summer described him was pretty suspicious. I’d be careful. In fact, I’d stay away from him,” Julie advised her daughter.
Kaitlin frowned as she peered into the refrigerator. “Mom, we’re out of milk.” She ignored her mother’s comment.
“Kaitlin, if you would just listen to me for once!! I’m just to talk you about something important. I’d really like you to be careful around this kid. Could you promise me that??” Julie asked, folding her arms.
Kaitlin turned around, waving the empty milk carton at Julie, rudely. “Milk,” she reminded her.
Julie closed her eyes a minute. Obviously, they were talking about different things. And she was getting absolutely nowhere.
“Ask Neil to get some….when he FINALLY comes home. I mean. He is never around. He did purpose to me. I really need some help with the shopping anyway. I just haven’t had much time since it happened and, everything’s just so hard,” Julie was mumbling now. She raised her hand to her forehead, with tears pouring down her cheeks again.
“Mom, are you okay?? I didn’t mean to get you so upset,” Kaitlin was pretty upset when her mom would have these random depression hits. “Want me to go do the shopping??”
“Don’t worry about it, sweetie,” Julie said, wiping her tears and heading back toward the table, grabbing the dishes. “I’ll do the shopping.”
“Mom, are you sure you’re okay??” You almost just had a nervous breakdown,” Kaitlin walked towards Julie, who had started scrubbing the dishes with a sponge.
“I’m fine,” Julie said, smiling at her daughter.
“Then why are you hand washing the dishes?? We have a dishwasher,” Kaitlin opened up the dishwasher for Julie.
“I know, but, I figured they’d be cleaner if I hand washed them first,” Julie told her. Kaitlin gave Julie a confused and concerned look.
“Honey, I’m fine,” Julie convinced.
“Alright. I’m going out,” Kaitlin told her, as she left the room. Her head was still spinning, but she knew it wouldn’t cease with all the craziness going on in her house.
“Where are you going??” Julie asked. “I hope it’s not to be with that boy!!”
“No,” Kaitlin lied, as she went up to her room, grabbed her purse, and left the house. She knew where she was going- to the beach.
--------
Seth yawned, as he sleepily slumped his way into the kitchen. He opened the cupboard, looking for something decent for breakfast. Surprisingly, the bowl that usually contained bagels was empty. Seth sighed, as he found a box of Rice Krispies, and a carton of milk. As he poured his bowl of cereal, he thought about what happened the day before. Not with Kaitlin, but with Ryan.


‘Lie to them for me, will you??’

‘I’m going to find Volchuck’.

‘Nobody needs me….at least not anymore.’

Seth felt sad as he brought his bowl and a large glass of orange juice over to the table to eat his breakfast alone. He sliced some bananas into his cereal. What would he say to his parents?? He figured he could at least tell Summer….she was always good with keeping secrets. Unlike himself.
Seth looked up as he heard the door open. Sandy walked into the room, his wet locks framing his face as he held his surfboard. Seth took a deep breath, and took a large, subtle spoonful of cereal.
‘Please don’t ask about Ryan’, he prayed to himself.
“Hey, Seth,” Sandy called, as he came into the kitchen. He seemed to be in a good mood, so the waves must have been great.
Sandy looked at the empty bagel bowl. “No bagels today,” he said with a frown.
“No, I guess not. I’d settle with cereal,” Seth smiled.
Kirsten came into the kitchen then. “Hey Seth, Sandy.”
‘Don’t ask about Ryan’, Seth prayed, rapping his fingers on the table.
“Kirsten, we have no bagels,” Sandy complained.
“We always have them on a Sunday morning.” Kirsten shrugged. She started up a pot of coffee. She looked around the kitchen when she was done. “Where’s Ryan??”
“I think I’ll check up on him,” Sandy said.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Seth jumped up from the table.
Sandy narrowed his eyes at his son. “Why not??”
“I just…wouldn’t. After what he is going through, I’m sure he wants to just grieve and have peace,” Seth said, desperate with this excuse. He shoveled a gigantic amount of cereal into his mouth, hoping to keep it from having to speak for a little while.
“I know, Seth, but he hasn’t done much speaking since his eulogy. And he didn’t leave the pool house once since the funeral. And he ran away after Marissa was buried. I need to make sure everything’s okay,” Sandy decided, exiting the kitchen, and heading toward the front door.
Seth jumped up from the table, waving his hands at Sandy. His mouth was still full of cereal, so he couldn’t talk. He raced over to him and shook his head vigorously.
“Seth what is going on with you??” Sandy asked.
Seth stood there a minute, chewing his cereal quickly, before swallowing hard. “You can’t go in the pool house.”
“Seth, I’m going in,” Sandy told him.
He left the house, with Seth following. He walked towards the pool house and was about to open the door.
Just when Seth felt like he had just pretty much blown it, he blurted out something he had used as an excuse three years ago to stop Kirsten from going into the pool house to see Ryan.
“He’s naked!!” Seth exclaimed.
Sandy looked at Seth, surprised.
“What??” Sandy was confused.
“Dad look….it’s a Chino thing, okay, something I thought he got over, but, and don’t get the wrong idea by me saying this, but, I almost walked in on him yesterday and he told me never to come in when he was grieving naked again.” Seth nodded at his dad trying to keep a straight face intact. “Look, Dad, it sounds like a lie….and it may actually be one. But he lied about it most probably if he did at all, clearly stating that he doesn’t want disturbance. And when Ryan’s grumpy well….he can fly off the handle. And he will. Oh, he will.”
Sandy sighed. “You know what; I’m late for an important meeting at work anyway. But tonight, I’m going in there and I’m talking to Ryan.”
“Fine by me,” Seth murmured, and Sandy headed back toward the door. “Or not,” he whispered to himself.
----------
Kirsten stood in front of Julie’s closed bedroom door. Every time she thought about knocking on it, she’d pull herself back. Since Marissa’s death, Kirsten had been coming over there and trying to open up to Julie. Every time she’d stand in front of the door in this exact way. Sometimes she’d knock, sometimes she’d just walk in, or sometimes she’d just leave.
She couldn’t this time. If something ever happened to Seth or Ryan…she couldn’t even begin to imagine the pain and grief she’d be going through. She wouldn’t exactly be graceful to company, but she’d want to know people cared. She slowly knocked on the door.
“Neil, I don’t need to see you right now. You’re always working, leaving me to handle a messy house, a trouble-making teenager, and a bunch of random neighbors at the door with condolence cards and a bunch of cakes and fruits, by myself.” Julie’s tired and lousy sounding voice came through the door.
Kirsten sighed sympathetically. “Julie-“
“It’s not like Jimmy’s been much help either. Or Kaitlin. If anybody should be able to handle this, it should be you. You want to help me, don’t knock on the door, go get rid of the neighbors, and tell them to stop knocking on the door. And go find my fifteen-year old and get her back home, I’m sure she’s out making loads of trouble now.”
“Julie, calm down, it’s not Neil,” Kirsten walked through the door. “It’s Kirsten.”
Julie looked up, slightly surprised, and turned her head to the television screen. “What kind of show is this?? There’s just a bunch of drunken teenagers getting into a Jeep, and ready to drive it. It’s terrible how some teenagers choose to do these things and give themselves such risks. There are some people who are trying to have their lives but end up losing them from people with steel as hearts, like these teenagers.” Julie whimpered a little, but only slightly, before glaring back at the screen and cursing at the character.
Kirsten picked up the remote from the bedside table and shut the television. “Julie, don’t watch these kinds of shows, just try to calm down. Those shows will make you crazy.”
“You know, Kiki, maybe I should stop watching them but go show them off to Kaitlin. If I don’t, she’ll become just like these kids.” Julie closed her eyes a minute, deep in thought. She opened them again and looked at Kirsten. “But I mean, what would it matter anyway?? I’ve already lost almost everything. Take that back, I’ve lost everything.”
Kirsten sat down on the bed beside Julie. “Julie, I know you’re very upset. Look w-we all cared about her. Ryan hasn’t left the pool house since the funeral, Seth has been spending a large amount of time here trying to help Summer, and everybody feels the emptiness that has been going on. But you haven’t lost everything. You’ve got Kaitlin-“
“Kaitlin is basically me when I was a teenager. Counting on all the bad things like drinking, and smoking to clear her head and attempt to get the bad things away. Looking at things with a negative attitude. Not admitting the pain she’s feeling.”
“But Julie, you may not realize it, and you know what, she may not either, but she is feeling pain. She lost Marissa too. All that drinking and smoking….it’s not the right thing to do, you’re right. But Kaitlin’s fifteen years old, and she’s been going through a lot for somebody her age. She just doesn’t realize that what she’s doing isn’t good for her, and she’s trying to escape from reality…she’s still young, and she doesn’t realize that this won’t help anything.”
“Since when have you had a teenage daughter, Kirsten??” Julie snapped brusquely.
“I haven’t. But I’ve been a teenager. And I know that what Kaitlin needs right now, is somebody to talk to and be with her, and go let her know that somebody cares about her,” Kirsten advised.
“I care about her!!” Julie demanded.
“Maybe you should let her know that,” Kirsten said sincerely, as she got up from the bed and left the room.
-------

The waves crashed into each other gently, and poured over the thin brown sand. Kaitlin curled her toes into the damp, wet sand, and the water wash over her bare feet. She breathed heavily, enjoying the feeling of the light breeze circulating her hair. She looked at the cigarette bud that she grasped in her hand, and contemplated whether or not to smoke it. The thoughts kept running through her mind until one thought, out of nowhere, came right in her mind with a thud.



What would Marissa do??’

Kaitlin pressed her lips together and started sighing irritably through her teeth. Why did she keep thinking of what Marissa would do, why, why, why?? She’d never seen her sister as a role model, never looked up to her as somebody heroic, and never intentionally went by Marissa’s actions or choices. They were completely different people, and Kaitlin knew it. She had always wanted to be treated as an individual, and not exactly like Marissa. But now she would always re-think her choices and think ‘What would Marissa do??’ Suddenly, and slightly unintentionally, she wanted to be just like the person that she usually longed to be the exact opposite of. And she didn’t exactly like it.

‘Marissa always did these things when she was upset. She would have sobbed and smoked; a routine.

Kaitlin felt tears come through her eyes, and her emotions completely took over her, a rush of anger and sadness overcame her. She threw the cigarette fiercely into the water, and watched it made an aggressive splash as it hit the water. She folded her arms over her chest, and tried to suppress her tears. She looked back over the water just staring at it.
“Feeling better, I see,” a voice sprang through the beach, sending Kaitlin to jump. She turned around and saw Jeff coming by her side.
Kaitlin smiled. “Jeff, hey. Actually no, I’m not feeling better…life still sucks at the worst point.”
“I just figured, you know, you may still be feeling a little out of it after last night,” Jeff started Kaitlin’s shoulders. She glared at him.
“How bad was it??” Kaitlin asked.
“You were just…wild. And then before I knew it, you had passed out right at the lifeguard stand.”
“That was Marissa’s spot,” Kaitlin murmured to herself.
“Look, Kaitlin,” Jeff stopped massaging her shoulders, and put his arm around her instead, “There’s something I have to ask you.”
“Yeah??”
“Well, before I met you, I really felt like I had nobody. So I figured, I really had no reason to still be here. I planned on going to Mexico…seeing an old friend of mine…catching up. But I figured I just met a great girl with so much in common with me, and you feel like everybody’s abandoned you and I don’t want to abandon you either.” Jeff smiled and inched his body closer to Kaitlin’s, his light breath draining down her neck.
“So you’ve decided to stay??” Kaitlin asked carefully.
“Actually….I wanted to ask you…if you’d like to…come to Mexico with me.”
--------
Seth glanced down at the phone, for some unaccountable reason, nervous to call Ryan. Maybe it was because of his rude attitude the day before. Seth didn’t get it. He used to feel like he and Ryan could tell each other anything. But, lately, Ryan was distant. Seth knew he was feeling a lot of sorrow and pain lately over Marissa, but he wanted to help him, and Ryan simply was not allowing it. Nervously, Seth scrolling through his speed dial list until he reached Ryan’s name. He pushed the button, and waited for Ryan to pick up.
“What do you want, Seth?” Ryan huffed rudely into the phone.
“Uh, hey, Ryan, you know my dad’s been going crazy looking for you,’ Seth started.
“And let me guess,” Ryan shot back rudely. “you told him that I’m here and he’s coming after me.!”
“No, I wouldn’t do that to you,” Seth answered sadly. “I was just calling to ask you what I should tell my dad…. And- and to see how you were doing.”
“How do you think I’m doing, Seth?!” Ryan spat. “I wish you and everyone else would just leave me alone already! Tell your dad that I’m at Berkeley and that I do not want any visitors. Good bye, Seth! “ Ryan slammed down the phone angrily, leaving a confused and heartbroken Seth on the other end of the line.
-------
Summer strolled up the stairs exhaustedly. In her arms she carried The Valley Season 3 on DVD and large bag of corn chips. She was looking forward to a night to herself, curling up with Princess Sparkle and CoopHorse, the new one from Marissa, and pig out with the drama of other people’s life, to drain out her own for the night. As she walked by Kaitlin’s room, she found her on her bed, throwing items into a suitcase on the floor.
“Kaitlin??” Summer asked cautiously. “Why are you packing a bag??”
Kaitlin looked up at Summer. She looked much better than the night before, she had put her hair up in two French braids, and she even wore some light eye shadow.
“I’m going to Mexico,” she replied vaguely, as she stepped off the bed, and leaned under the bed. She picked up a magazine and threw it into the bag.
“Mexico??” Summer was surprised. “Why??”
“My friend invited me to go with him. And I mean, what do I have to do here?? What do I even have here??”
“By “friend” do you mean, Jeff??” Summer asked testily. “The boy you were with last night??”
“Yeah.” Kaitlin shrugged. “Why??”
“Something,” Summer sat down at Kaitlin’s bed, drumming her fingers through the mattress, “Something was wrong about him.”
Kaitlin rolled her eyes. “Oh come on Summer, not you too. I get enough of it from my mom.”
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt. Look, you’re Coop’s little sister. When we were younger, she would always say she hoped that you stayed put of trouble, and have a much better life than she did at your age.”
“Ha,” Kaitlin snorted.
“Look, Kaitlin, I know you don’t care about what I have to say, but you and I are going to be sisters soon, and I’ve never had a little sister… I never expected Marissa’s little sister to become mine. I’m just trying to protect you and keep you out of trouble…like Marissa would want. If anything happened to you, I’d never forgive myself.” Summer was sincere in her words, but it was clear Kaitlin wasn’t taking any of it.
“Why should you care?? Why should anybody care?? Marissa never did. She wouldn’t ever have expected you to take care of me, or look after me after she was gone. She didn’t want it when she was going away with my dad. I was probably the last person she even thought of. You know, when I came back from winter break she told me she couldn’t wait for me to leave!!” Kaitlin yelled. Summer ducked as another magazine soared through the room.
“Even if she did…she cared about you. She loved you. She was going through a confusing time. Senior year, college, graduation, Johnny’s crush on her, trying to maintain a relationship with Ryan. The point is that, I don’t want to see you get hurt. You’re- you’re only fifteen. You can’t just go off to Mexico.”
“Jeff is sixteen,” Kaitlin informed Summer smugly.
“How long do you plan on staying in Mexico??” Summer asked.
Kaitlin shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe until somebody realizes they miss me. Which could be a while.”
“Kaitlin, you know that’s not true. Your mom would be devastated if you left,” Summer assured.
“My mom doesn’t care about me, Summer. I don’t matter to her. I don’t matter to my dad either. I didn’t ever matter to Marissa, and I don’t matter to Neil, you’re only pretending to care about me because you know it would make Marissa happy…or you THINK it would…and I don’t have any friends, or I didn’t, until Jeff came along. Jeff makes time for me unlike anybody else. Which is why I am going to Mexico with him.” Kaitlin zipped her bag up and stood up from the bed, the strap hanging from her shoulder. “Tonight.”
Kaitlin brushed past Summer brusquely, leaving her feeling like she’d failed…again.
“Jimmy!!” Julie yelled across the house. Jimmy ran up to Julie’s room.
“What’s going on??” Jimmy called, as he raced into the room. Neil and Jimmy had been keeping special watch of Julie since what happened. They never knew what she could do, at any time, considering what she was going through.
“Look,” Julie said tearfully as she shoved a piece of crumpled paper into her ex-husband’s hands.
Julie sort of leaned on Jimmy’s shoulder, as he skimmed the letter their daughter had written them. In Kaitlin’s large printed handwriting she’d written:
To the family that cares nothing me and never has,
I went to Mexico with somebody who DOES care about me. I don’t know when I’ll leave, or I’ll even come straight back to Newport when I do leave. Obviously, I mean nothing to this family. I never really have, but I thought I’d be more noticed when I came back from boarding school. Don’t try to stop me. Jeff has booked a hotel, and picked me up already. You know my cell phone number and I doubt you care enough to call me but if you do, I’ll be here to answer it. Bye.
-Kaitlin.
“Why would she do that??” Julie cried. “She thinks running away will help?? Now I have to worry about my fifteen-year old roaming around Mexico with some boy I specifically told her to stay away from. She’s such a- she’s such a little me.”
“I’ll-“ Jimmy was still a little shocked. “I’ll call her and try to straighten things out.”
Summer opened up her drawer, in a frantic search for something. She skimmed through all her junk until she found it. A can of painkillers. Her hand shook as she opened the lid, and dropped two pills into her palm. She was about to swallow them down, when she heard a knock on the door.
“Come in,” she called distractedly. The door opened, and Julie walked in.
“Hey Mrs. Cooper-Nichol….oh, I mean…Julie. I know you wanted me to call you that, I just sort of forgot.”
“Kaitlin went to Mexico,” Julie said plaintively.
Summer stood up. “Oh, I know Julie, she told me. I tried to convince her otherwise…I really, really did.”
“I just don’t know why she does these things, but, I can’t say I blame her. I mean, I was sort of like that as a kid, and then Marissa, and now her, But I just feel like…I’ve been a terrible mom.”
“Julie, don’t say that. You haven’t been a terrible mom. You’re just going through… a lot, and I understand that, and you know what, so does Kaitlin. You just don’t realize it.” Julie smiled at Summer’s comforting words.
“I’ve always been Marissa’s best friend, and you’ve always been her mom, and you’ve always been just like a mother to me. So I want to let you know, that you’ll have somebody. I’m not going to go to Brown until Kaitlin gets home. Until I know you’re fine.”
“Summer, you don’t have to do that,” Julie attempted to stop her.
“No really,” Summer insisted. “I will.”
“What would your dad think??”
“He’d think it’s finally time I was nice to a step mom,” Summer said, adding a laugh.
Julie laughed, too. “Um, Summer, I hate to break this up, but I’m going down to Jimmy. He just tried calling them in Mexico…”
“Oh it’s fine, go, Kaitlin will be happy to know you care.” Summer assured her. Julie smiled and left the room. Summer couldn’t believe the promise she’d just made. She said she wouldn’t go to Brown until Kaitlin got back.
And she meant it.
Summer went back to her desk, and picked up the painkillers once more, her hand with them shaking. Slowly, she leaned her head back and swallowed them down.

[outboundchad]

great, liked that too, but imnot so suire RYan would be that mean to Seth, maybe to some one else, but not to Seth, it's kinda wierd, i mean maybe Ryan would get that kind of attitude towards everyone with the marissa being dead and all, so yeah but really great update, want some kandy action in there!


all the best
chadz