Forbidden Flower

PG-13 for some language and sensual content- fluffy piece- one parter--but not anymore

Summary- Ryan and Marissa's first kiss- when they were 13 and on a school trip

Disclaimer- I don't own The O.C. or any of the characters- but a girl can dream right?

Reviews are always welcome- so please review- my first fanfic

On with the story...

The sun beamed in the big yellow bus crammed with Chino Middle School kids. The sun, especially, made 13 year old Ryan Atwood squint. Trying to see his friends while blocking out the sun with his hand, he scooted closer to the conversation, but saw it was no use so he let his head drop to the soft bus seat. He occupied his thoughts trying to make out the words and pictures on the seat in front of him, when he heard his name being called. His head shot up.

"Hey Ryan! Ryan, over here!"

He looked up to some girls calling his name and laughing at the same time. He shot them a quick look as they started to swoon even more at him. He went back to making out the figures on the bus seat, when a shadow came over him, it was his friends, looking down at him. "Man, I don't get it, what do you have that we don't got, we please 'em with everything we got, and yet they still like him," his friend, Jake, said. "It's because he's so puure and innocent, and theywanna take it away from him, until whatever's next week," Dan, another on of Ryan's friends,replied jokingly. A group of boys huddled around them, getting in on the conversation.

"So, where's Theresa?" one of the boys asked. Ryan replied with a simple shrug. "Probably screwing some guy, she does high schooler's now," another one said laughing. "So, Atwood, what's your favorite base with Theresa?" Dan asked. "Personally, I love second base." They all started naming their bases while Ryan moved to a seat closer to the front. He could hear calls in the back of the bus, saying what a wimp he was, and making fun of his sensitivity. "I'm not a wimp," he thought to himself, "Just want someone special."

He blocked out all the sounds in the back of the bus, the girls' laughing and the teachers' shouting out directions to the bus driver. He put his head to the cool window and let out a sigh of relief. He looked at the yellow road lines, slowly becoming bigger and then smaller again. He suddenly got very dizzy so he looked at the cars, trying to remember their license plate numbers. His thoughts were interrupted when a yellow bus started to drive at their pace. He looked at the other bus, trying to make out the figures when he saw a girl walking to the front, covering her face and putting her head against the window just as he had done moments ago. He tried to imagine what she really looked like since he couldn't see that well because of the tinted windows.

&&&&

"C'mon, do it, do it!" Holly exclaimed excitedly. Marissa and Luke were about to kiss for the first time. Holly knew what a good kisser Luke was, but Marissa didn't have to know about that. She looked at her best friends, as their lips were only inches away. They had been down this road many times, but Marissa always chickened out. Marissa had her lips puckered up, and eyes closed, she got closer and closer to Luke, but backed out at the last moment, face scrunched like he was some sort of bad stench.

"I'm sorry," she managed to get out weakly.

"I don't get it!" Luke said, "We're boyfriend and girlfriend, right?" Marissa nodded. "So then what's the problem?" he asked scooting closer and closer to her. She pushed him off with her hands,starting to get up and brush off the bottom of her capri pants. "I'm... I'm just not ready, okay, give me some space," she said as she walked to the front of her bus, bumping into Seth Cohen.

"Oh, sorry Seth," she said looking back at him and saw Summer Roberts sitting with him. He shrugged helplessly and went back to his conversation with Summer, telling her how you can do a double flip if you press certain buttons of the game controls. Summer grinned at him. He grinned back. She pretended to be interested in what he was saying, but she couldn't help but stare into his chocolate brown eyes.

Marissa went to the front of the bus, her mind clouded with thoughts. She put her head on the cool window, feeling its coldness, she let out a sigh of relief, and thought to herself, " Luke's not the one I want to share my first kiss with." She looked at the bus they were catching up with, when she saw a pair of blue eyes staring at her. She stared back. Although she couldn't see him very well, she thought she saw a smile come onto his lips, so she smiled back. They both closed their eyes, forgetting everything else besides each other, smiling inside.

&&&&

"Gather 'round, gather 'round!" the teacher shouted. "Now, I want everyone to get with their buddies, if you don't have a buddy I want you to raise your hand!"

Kids started linking hands with each other. Marissa walked up to Luke. "Luke, are we still buddies?" she asked. Luke raised his eyebrows and simply replied, "I don't know." Holly walked up to them. "Great news Luke! We can be buddies...oh Marissa." "Wow Luke, that didn't take long at all!"; Marissa snapped, slightly trembling as shefor an answer. "Whatever," he simply said, but then added, "I don't want keep playing games, Holly doesn't like games, so..." he said looking at Holly slyly, and to break Marissa's fragile heart even more he added, "plus she's like the prettiest girl ever."

Marissa gave them a disgusted look and walked away, back into the crowd of linked-armed kids. "Anyone still not has a buddy?" The teacher asked loudly. Marissa raised her hand shyly, and looked around to see if anyone had their hand raised. But saw no one.

"Great!" the teacher yelled happily. She walked over to Marissa and led her to the back where stood a sandy hair boy with his hand also raised and with the most beautiful blue eyes. "You and... Ryan," she said squinting to read his name tag, "are buddies. Come on and follow me so we can get started soon." The two kids smiled shyly at each other as soon as the teacher walked away; theyrecognized each other immediately from the bus. They started to walk with the rest of the crowd, occasionally shooting the other a glance along their walk.

&&&&

"Okay!" the loud teacher yelled, "go get your supplies, they're right over there." She pointed to a tree with trash bags, sticks and plastic gloves at the trunk of the tree. Luke smelled a flower garden nearby, saying "Ew, these flowers smell like shit," and Holly nodded approvingly.

Ryan, in the back, and not hearing it, got closer to the garden and smelling it, said, "mmm, they smell sweet." Marissa got closer, smelling them, and enjoying the smell as well, nodded to him, "you're right, they do." She took another sniff, enjoying their fragrance and added, "These are the best smelling flowers ever."

They were still shy around each other, embarrassed because of the bus incident. The teacher came to the back where Ryan and Marissa were and started speaking. "This garden," she began, "is called 'The Forbidden Flower Garden' because these flowers are very rare, and they have a horrible stench to them, but because they are very rare, we have them at this park. They are not allowed to be picked, but who would want to anyways? They smell horrible!" she finished laughing nervously. Ryan and Marissa looked at the teacher, then at each other, wondering what it was that made the flowers smell good to them but to everyone else they smelled bad. They smiled shyly at each other.

&&&&

Ryan and Marissa were in a small area picking up garbage, Ryan had the black trash bag open for Marissa to put the garbage in. They moved to another spot where litter was laying around. When Marissa found a small piece of brown leather string, she stuffed it in her pocket without him seeing it. Ryan walked over to Marissa, slightly touching his pocket, making sure the object was still there. "So," he began, "what happened to your buddy"? He wanted to know more about herrelationship with Luke. He had heard the hurtful comments he said to her, and saw how it had hurt her. She froze when he asked this question. She thought about it for a second, and simply stated, "He's an ass." Ryan chuckled and Marissa joined him.

"What about your buddy?" she asked. "I don't really know where she is," he answered her question. "She?" Marissa asked slyly, which made Ryan blush a little bit. "Yeah," he said and continued, "she's okay, I guess, but she wants something from me, I know that much."

"Like what?"

"Well, she's very experienced if you know what I mean." Marissa nodded. "And she's very popular with the boys at school, so I think she-, well she's a slut," he finally finished. Marissa laughed at his sudden outburst, but composed herself when she saw his straight face. "Sorry. But if you think your buddy is a slut, my so called boyfriend is a man slut."

Ryan grinned at her, and she softly explained to him what it was about Luke that she really hated and he explained what it was about his friends that he didn't like. They listened to each other intently as the other spoke, smiling at an occasional joke the other one made. After they explained their life story to each other, it was getting even sunnier so they moved to a shady spot by a big oak tree.

"Here," Ryan said handing her a juice box.

"Thanks," Marissa replied, giving him one of her Oreo cookies.

After they were done with their snack, they laid there for a few minutes in silence. Finally Marissa broke it. "You know, this trip isn't as bad as I thought it would be," sheadmitted facing Ryan. "Yea, it was actually fun", he replied staring into her eyes. He saw something in them, a twinkle, and something overcame him. The feeling he had for her all day, suddenly became stronger. "What time is it?" he asked, she shrugged. "Well, we better get back before they leave without us," she joked. Marissa went a little ahead of him, but stopped when she heard her name being called. "Marissa, Marissa, wait up," Ryan called. She stopped and turned around to face him, they were only two feet apart from each other.

Ryan looked uncomfortable, shifting uneasily from foot to foot. "Are you okay?" Marissa asked. "Yeah," he replied. Sucking in his pride, he shoved his hand in his pocket and took out a flower. Marissa gasped, "Is that the..?" "Yeah, I know we weren't supposed to pick 'em, but it was just one and I don't think they count 'em, I saw how much you liked them, and so I got one for you." Marissa beamed with happiness, "Thank you," she replied happily.

They had gotten closer while they were speaking, and now their bodies were only inches away. Ryan, taking a risk, stepped in a little closer, brushed a few hairs away from her face and placed the flower in her soft hair. "And for the record, I thinkyou're the prettiest girl," he added. She smiled and blushed at the same time, but was going to do what she wanted to say all day long with him, "Well, I think you're pretty cute yourself," she replied truthfully. He felt her breath on his lips.

He gave her a half smile and they both leaned in closer, trying to savor the moment, they closed their eyes. Usually at this point, Marissa backed away from Luke, but her nose wasn't scrunched up and her lips weren't puckered up, her face was at peace. Ryan's on the other hand was surprised; a million thoughts running through his mind, but when their lips crashed together, his face too, fell at peace. Marissa felt her knees go weak, Ryan put his arms around her waist, holding her up, and she loved the way he took charge. She put her arms around his neck, putting their lips even closer together. Ryan's tongue was like velvet against hers, smooth, and she loved the way it felt against her own. Their tongues explored even more of the other's mouth. He loved the wayher tongue was on his, like ice cream, smooth and fulfilling. The kiss intensified and their legs got tangled into one another, Marissa fell on her butt. Ryan smiled and lent his hand to her; she took it but pulled him down instead, him lying down on top of her.

"Umm...oh...do you wan..." Ryan started, but was cut off Marissa's lips. He felt his resistance slip away like a parent's when a child makes puppy dog eyes at them. Marisa ran her hands through his hair smoothly, trying to remember what each moment felt like it. 'Oh, screw it', she thought, and went back to their kiss, getting lost in the passion. Sure they were only 13 years old, but they had never felt like this and they were sure this would never happen with someone else. Smiling into the kiss, they heard a squirrel loudly chewing on its nut. They both looked over to the tree, seeing the squirrel trying to get in the garbage bag. The furry little animal looked at them and then scurried up into the tree's branches.

Ryan looked down at Marissa; she had a disappointed look on her face.He bent down and planted a soft, but passionate kiss on her lips. She returned the kiss, and as if on cue, a robin on a tree, witnessing the whole afternoon, started singing a melodic song. They broke away and smiled at each other. Ryan got up and put his hand out for her to help her up, she took it, but didn't let go as she brushed herself off. They held hands tightly as if they let go, they were going to disappear into thin air. Ryan gave her a reassuring squeeze and she softened her grip. She let go of his hand and put in her pocket pulling out the leather string she had found earlier.

"I found something...for you," she said taking out the string, "and since we found these bracelets for me", she jingled her wrist displaying the three bracelets they found this afternoon, together, she added, "I wanted you to have something too... I know it's not much...but..."

"It's great," he smiled.

"Can I put it on?" she asked.

Before he even had a chance to say anything, she zipped to the back of him and adjusted the choker against his skin. Her fingers were long and slender. She brushed her soft skin against his newly decorated neck. "There!" she exclaimed. "Thanks," he smiled. Before she even had a chance to think about what she's doing, she turned him around and gave him a kiss. They pulled back, smiling. "Well, I guess this is it," Ryan said disappointed. "Yeah, hey maybe...well it was really special," Marissa smiled, referring to the kiss. "For me too," he replied. He planted the last kiss on her, and gave her hand a last squeeze. "Maybe some day..." she cut him off with, "I hope so." With one last smile, Marissa hugged him, and gave his cheek a gentle kiss. They got on their buses, taking their previous seats when they first came. They put their heads against the windows again, feeling the coolness; they let out a sigh, mixed with disappointment and pleasure. He gave her a small wave, she waved back and the buses drive off on opposite directions.

Ryan let all the noises in the bus fade away, letting his eyes drop. His hand felt the choker and he smileed dreaming himself to sleep.

Marissa couldn't stop smiling. She played with her bracelets, letting her eyes droop to their resting position. She smiled as the sounds of kids' screaming and hollering start to drown out of her ears andlooked at her reflection in the window. Smiling as she saw the flower. Letting herself smell it, the sweet smell of the flower and taste of his lips.

Let me know what you think! And Review! I know it's kind of long but I really wanted to be descriptive.