It is now May of 2007. Ryan has just completed his first year at Berkeley. He began to pack his cloths out of his dorm room, to head back to the Cohen's house for the summer. It would be good to be back. He hadn't seen Seth since spring break, when Summer and him had come up from Rhode Island. Seeing Seth again would be great. Things hadn't turned out the way Ryan had expected them to be this year. For one, he was going to a great school, and getting a great education. Second of all, he was dating a great girl, Taylor. He had finally been able to tell her he loved her last night. The first person since Marissa Cooper.

Marissa had promised to e-mail him every night, but she failed to do so even once. He however, had sent her messages for months. It was in November that he gave up for good, and started to slowly move on with his life. He sat in his dorm room, and typed on his laptop the last contact he had with her. Now, 7 months later, he still hadn't heard from her. That didn't mean she didn't pass his thoughts everyday.

Marissa,

It's been hard here without you. I'm not one to express my feelings, or say how I truly feel, but I've come to be able to tell you anything. You're the only person I feel I can tell anything to. The past few years have been filled with great memories with you. Going to Berkeley without you has been hard. I know, this past year, we couldn't make it work. So many things have happened. That day before you left, I felt something. More them something, the feeling of loving you had never left me. It came alive in me again. I cant keep expressing all of this you to either never read, or never write back. So I'm done with this. I'll check everyday, but I will not send you anymore. Hope you've been having a good time. Goodbye.

Marissa felt tears in her eyes as she read the e-mail again from a crumpled piece of paper. She had read every e-mail, every single one. So many times she had typed a response, but she just couldn't. She loved Ryan so much, but the problem had always been she didn't love herself enough. Her realization had been to ever have things work between them she would need to get to love herself and learn how so solve her own problems. Marissa was now headed on her way to Newport, finally ready to get her life back. She had yet to talk to Summer, her mom, anyone. Her return was to be a surprise to everyone.

Summer had finished packing up her stuff, on the top of one of her bags was a picture of her and Marissa. Summer loved her, but she hadn't even like tried to contact her, and if she had maybe she could have warned her. Warned her about Taylor. Maybe if Marissa hadn't left, Taylor and Summer wouldn't have become friends over Christmas break. Summer KNEW if Marissa hadn't left, Ryan would not be with Taylor right now.

Summer picked up her cell phone to call Seth, who was finishing up packing over at RISD.

"Are you almost ready? We have to leave for the airport, in like less then an hour, so you better be ready soon!"

"No, not at all Summer. I haven't packed anything. I plan on staying here by myself all summer, no Ryan, no you, just me and captain oats."

Summer rolled her eyes, "see you soon."

Ryan and Taylor arrived back at the Cohen's, Sandy and Kirsten weren't home. Then again, they had come a few days earlier then expected. It was now 10 at night, and Seth and Summer weren't due until the following morning. Ryan and Taylor walked into the pool house to find it exactly as Ryan had remembered it.

"I think I should go head over to Summer's, Summer told me that I could stay at her place for a few weeks, until, I go to Paris. To visit my mom." Taylor spoke.

"To visit your mom? Or that wonderful French husband of your's? Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?"

"Really, Ryan its to visit my mother. She is staying there for the summer, and she asked me to come and join her. The fact that she wants me there, means so much to me. I have to go."

"I understand, I just got a little worried. I love you, and I don't want to lose you."

Taylor kissed him, "Love you too. I'll be back tomorrow."

The car dropped Marissa off at the Robert's home. She carried her Chanel bad up the front steps as the driver opened the trunk to get her luggage out. Julie heard steps on the door, she thought maybe Summer and Seth had come back earlier then expected. She got up to go and greet them at the door.

"Mom!" Marissa said as she went to go and hug her mother.

"Marissa, how have you been? I haven't heard from you at all since you left, I had no idea you were coming back, this is a surprise."

"I know, and I'm sorry about that. I just needed a break from everything and everyone Newport. I really did miss it."

"Newport missed you too." Julie replied to her daughter.

"Are Summer and Seth back from Rhode Island yet?"

"Tomorrow morning actually. I know they'll both be thrilled."

Before she could even get the chance to ask about Ryan, another car pulled up. Taylor got out of it.

"Hi Mrs. Copper, I realize Summer isn't back yet, but she had told me I could stay here for a few weeks."

"Oh, yeah, that's fine. I think we might need to do some slight rearranging. Marissa, your sister is in your room. So Marissa, why don't you sleep in Summer's room and Taylor you have the guest room. There, problem solved."

"Marissa, you're, um, back?" Taylor asked, suddenly nervous.

She nodded, "Yeah. I only planned on going away for a year. I'm thinking of doing the whole college thing this year."

"Well, that is awesome. I'm really tired, we'll talk tomorrow!" Taylor went upstairs to the guest room and pulled her cell phone out immediately. Every part of her was tempted to tell Ryan, but she decided not to. Seeing Marissa here suddenly created a sense of fear, of losing Ryan. What would happen when she left for the summer? Then again, why would he still love Marissa. She had been gone nearly a whole year, with no communication.

Marissa was shocked. Since when was Taylor good friends with Summer, enough so to stay at her house. She wondered what else had changed since she left. Mostly, she wondered about Ryan. Marissa grabbed the phone in Summer's room and dialed the Cohen's home phone number, Ryan picked up. She hung up the phone.

Marissa asked for her moms key's and said she needed some shampoo and stuff for Summers bathroom. Instead of heading to a store, she decided to go right to the Cohen's.

As she walked out back, she saw the lights of the pool house were on. After one knock, Ryan opened the door, to see Marissa.

"Hey," Ryan said to her.

"Hey!" She replied.