I do not own any of the original characters from the OC.

A N. I took this story down a while back to rework it a bit and once something is up on fan fic it appears it is impossible to change it. (or it could be operator malfunction on my part ;) Any way it's back for good or bad. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Ryan stood with Seth and Summer, in the Harbor School parking lot waiting for Marrisa to join them. His head hurt and tension hardened his shoulder and neck muscles painfully. He was back home. He knew he was not the father of Theresa's baby. There had been no baby. It had all been a lie. He was trying to collect the shreds of a life he had barely begun but it was an uphill battle. Marissa was still drinking. She lied about it frequently but he knew. A sixth sense long developed during his childhood made him an expert on drunks and lies. One more year to go but he wasn't sure how much more he could take.

As Marissa approached them, a bright green Ninja slowly drove by and parked at the rail. The rider dismounted. As the rider lifted their helmet a cascade of soft loose red curls fell down across the rider's shoulders. The girl grabbed her backpack and passing the group of friends, made her way toward the building.

Seth: Wow, is she ever HOT!

His comment was punctuated by a hard slap to his midsection from Summer.

Summer: Cohen! Put your eyes back in your head and quit drooling over that other girl!

Seth: Ouch! That hurt! I was merely commenting on her really hot body er.umm... chassis.

Another slap landed in Seth's midsection.

Seth: Enough Summer. Can't a man express appreciation for a fine machine without being abused?

Summer: The only chassis you need to attend to is mine... got that Cohen?

Ryan and Marissa stood holding hands and smiling at the antics of the other two. Marissa moved closer to Ryan and kissed his cheek as they all moved toward the school building. She was so afraid she was losing him. He was her strength and courage. Without Ryan she had nothing and she was terrified he would leave her.

Ryan smelled the alcohol on her breath and saw its effects in her eyes but said nothing. "Another day in paradise", he thought as he clenched his teeth and entered the school.

Emily quickly found her locker and deposited her jacket and helmet. Collecting the books she would need for her first three classes she closed her locker and began weaving her way through the crowded halls to her first class. Thank God she had taken the time to locate all of her classes so she wouldn't spend most of the day lost in the maze of hallways. She smiled to several kids as she walked and more than a few heads turned to follow her progress.

Seth and Ryan shared the same first hour class. Saying good bye to Summer and Marissa they made their way to the classroom.

Seth: Algebra II this early in the morning? Someone has played a dirty trick on us Ryan. It's not normal for

the human brain to think like this so early in the day.

Ryan: Seth, what would you know about normal brain activity?

Seth: Very funny.. very funny is that an example of Chino sense of humor?

Ryan smiled and punched his friend on the arm as they entered the classroom. Ryan turned to speak to Seth and bumped into someone and he heard books fall to the floor. He turned. A girl was kneeling to retrieve her books. Ryan quickly bent to help her. Both sets of hands found themselves gripping the same book.

Ryan: I'm sorry. I wasn't paying any attention to where I was going.

Emily: No prob. It was partly my fault too.

As she spoke she raised her head and their eyes met. Ryan felt as though he was falling. Below the crop of red lustrous curls was a set of eyes so green they hypnotized him. They sparkled with intelligence and warmth. She was talking but his ears didn't hear what she was saying. All he could do was look into those eyes.

Emily: Are you all right? Hey.. Hello?

Ryan: Oh um yeah, I'm ok. Sorry.

Ryan was blushing. His face felt like it was on fire. They both stood up and stepped away from each other. None of this was wasted on Seth as he stood by and watched. He hadn't seen Ryan this way since the early days with Marissa. This could prove to be interesting he thought as a playful smile spread across his face.

Seth: Excuse me but my friend seems to have lost his manners. My name is Seth Cohen and you have

already met Ryan Atwood, even if it was a somewhat unorthodox introduction.

Emily laughed as she reached out to take Seth's offered hand.

Emily: I'm Emily Tate. Glad to meet you both.

Ryan smiled sheepishly as he extended his hand.

Ryan: Glad to meet you, sorry again for being so clumsy.

Not many students were in the room yet so there was several empty chairs. Looking around Seth spotted her backpack at a empty table.

Seth: Would it be all right if we sat with you?

Emily: Sure. I'm over at that table. I'll be right back. Need to sharpen my pencil.

As the boys made their way to the table Emily looked over her shoulder and watched them. " Maybe this place won't be so bad after all", she thought.