<P> In the wake of Johnny's death, Marissa struggles to find closure, as well as her own place and purpose in Newport . She develops a relationship with Kevin Volchok after she and Ryan break up, which causes her to go back to her rebellious ways . She begins to abuse alcohol again and tries cocaine . Marissa distances herself from Ryan, Summer, and Seth and becomes argumentative again with her mother . After some time, she comes to her senses and decides to leave Kevin . But when she finds him watching The Sound of Music, she realizes he has a sensitive side and decides she may be able to have a relationship with him . During their senior prom, though, she catches him cheating on her and breaks things off . </P> <P> In the season finale, Marissa receives a letter from her father inviting her to live for a year on a boat with him in Greece, and she accepts . The day she graduates from Harbor along with her friends Summer, Ryan, Seth, and Taylor, Kevin begins calling her and asks to see her, but she declines . Marissa pays Kevin to get out of town and to leave her and Ryan alone . She says her goodbyes to her family and friends and prepares to leave for Greece . After their time together, Ryan drives her to the airport . On the way to the airport, a drunken Kevin begins hitting their car, causing them to go off the road . </P> <P> The car flips over several times and lands upside down on another street . Marissa is unconscious, but Ryan pulls her out of the car, which begins to drip gasoline . Ryan takes Marissa into his arms and away from the car as it explodes . He tells her that he will need to go get help, but knowing that nothing can be done, she asks him to stay . After a few moments of looking into each other's eyes, she dies while in Ryan's arms . </P> <P> In "The Avengers," Summer believes she sees Marissa - as a ghost - when she returns to the adjoining bedrooms they shared together for the first time since Marissa's death . This causes Summer to fast track her trip back to Brown and leave Newport . Moreover, many characters throughout Season 4 catch glimpses of Marissa, whether they be similar - looking girls in passing or a ghostly imagination of Marissa while reminiscing about her in a familiar place . </P>

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