A/N: So before I start, I'd really like to thank two authors on here who, by the quality of their work, have inspired me to try my own hand at writing and not just lurking. Both ObsessedRomantic and XWaltzforVenusX have written some great stuff. Maybe I just enjoy it so much because I'm a sucker for good Townwood stories. Take some time right now to go check out some of their fics if you haven't read them yet. I'd recommend any of the Townwood series from Obsessed and the Chino-verse or "Vegas" from Waltz. All great reads. Now for you featured presentation.

"Not everyone that likes the music can play the tune." Nora Roberts

Let's see if I can at least keep the beat.

"What the hell am I doing here?"

Ryan hated Newport. Correction: He abhorred Newport. It always looked so fake everywhere, what with its perfect weather, perfect beaches, and perfect assholes with their perfect problems. San Francisco wasn't the greatest place in the world, but Newport Beach made it look like the Garden of Eden. Ryan had not returned to the area since the Cohens had moved back to Berkley.

So let's return to the question at hand. What the hell was he doing here? Personally, he blamed Seth. Although, that might not be very fair to his best friend, seeing as how Summer twisted his arm to make him go. Literally. He watched as his brother got manhandled by a woman eight inches shorter and 50 pounds lighter. This wasn't the first time it had happened nor would it be the last. Summer pretty much always got what she wanted. The woman was famous for her quick temper and frightening rage blackouts. Frankly, Ryan thought that Seth loved her so much that he never really cared to fight back and always gave in way too easy.

So here he was, thanks to Summer's threats and Seth's pleading, standing at the entrance to The Harbor School's gymnasium, looking up at a banner proclaiming, "Welcome Back Harbor School Class of '06! Go Pirates!"

God he hated his life.

4 Months Earlier

"Honey I'm home," Ryan yelled as he stepped through the door of his modest three bedroom house. It was big but it was nice to have some extra room for guests or unexpected company. His little sister had one of the rooms all to herself and a standing invitation to stay the night anytime she liked. Place was costing him a fortune but that's why he made the big bucks. In five years, Ryan was already a partner at his architectural firm. He was a damn good architect and had very progressive ideas that brought in some very respectable clients. That and he made the firm lots of money. Of course, it didn't hurt that Ryan's best friend and roommate in college was the son of a senior partner.

Ryan turned to the kitchen to hear a clicking sound against the tile floor and smiled as his sandy haired beauty ran to welcome him home with a big, wet kiss. Honey, his golden retriever, stood up on her hind legs with her fore legs on Ryan's shoulders and licked his face. There was just something about dogs, with their faces that always looked like they were grinning about something and their unwavering loyalty, that just screamed man's best friend.

"Let me open my mail real fast girl," he said as Honey went to get her leash for her afternoon run. "Bills, credit card offers, more bills, a letter from Sandy, more credit...wait. A letter from Sandy?" Why the hell would Sandy send him a letter? "Maybe he owes me money," he offered to Honey. She just cocked her head and looked at him with those patient eyes.

"I know, I know. Just let me read this real quick and we'll go," he promised. He ripped open the envelope and pulled out Sandy's letter along with a thick, gold-embossed card.

Hey Kiddo,

Bet you're surprised! I'm also willing to bet you've forgotten that Kirsten, Sophie, and I took off for Florida for vacation, which is why I couldn't give you this in person. Apparently, your last know residence was here, so this is where yours and Seth's both got sent. I'm sure Seth will call you soon to talk about it. I'll call you when we get back and we can get together for some bagels and coffee. Kirsten and Sophie send their love.

Sandy

Shit. He had forgotten about their little spring break vacation. Ryan picked up the small postcard, saw the address of the Berkley house, and turned the card over. And promptly felt his jaw hit the floor.

You're Invited!

Ryan Atwood

You're invited to attend the

10th year reunion

Of the class of 2006

Come see old friends, dance the night away,

And share some stories

Saturday, August 12th 6:00pm

Men's attire: Suit and tie

Women's attire: Cocktail or evening dress

RSVP no later than July 31st

See you there!

He was going to be running for awhile.

Ryan gad gotten back into the habit of running to clear his mind after graduating from college. His thoughts usually consisted of him considering what kind of style to go with for a certain project or how to handle a particularly annoying client. Today was a little different. Even Honey could tell that this was personal. She kept looking up at him, asking with those expressive eyes if he was alright.

Trouble was, he didn't know. That note bothered him more than it should have. Not going should be a slam dunk decision. His only "old friends" were the ones that he still talked to regularly, Seth and Summer Cohen, he royally sucked at dancing, and the only stories he remembered, he didn't feel like sharing.

He might see her there.

The thought stopped him in his tracks and about gave Honey whiplash. Where had that thought come from? His inner voice was right, though. Taylor Townsend would undoubtedly be at his class reunion.

After letting Honey do her business, he brought her inside and fed her. Ryan grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and sat down on the couch. He was tired as hell, but thoughts of Taylor were bringing back memories and feelings that weren't entirely unwelcome.

God, the last time he had seen her was at Seth and Summer's wedding, four years ago. They had broken up yet again after trying the long distance thing after Julie's almost wedding to the Bullit. He had made an oath to himself that he was done with her for good. One look from her during the ceremony was all it took to make his resolve crumble. He had done so well until then; picking her up from the airport when she flew in, being friendly with her, and even having some meaningful conversations. All in very crowded, very public places of course. However, with that one look she had given him, those eyes so mirthful and suggesting, he fell apart inside. He knew he still carried feelings for this woman that would never go away.

He was putty in her hands that night. She was dominant by being submissive, which you could only understand if you knew Taylor. She led the entire encounter, all the while allowing Ryan to think that he was in charge. Ryan always knew that she was clever. He woke the next morning to an empty bed and already knew that she was gone. No sappy note, no sobbing voicemail; that wasn't Taylor's style. He tried to enlist Summer's help in tracking Taylor down and getting her to come back, but her allegiances lay elsewhere. According to Summer, Taylor wasn't ready yet. She needed more time.

Five years is too damn long to wait for some girl, he decided. He was perfectly happy never seeing her again. "Goodbye Newport! May you fall into the Pacific!" He balled up the invite and drained a three-point shot into the trash can just as the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"You're going Atwood."

"Roberts. How lovely to hear from you. How's Mr. Roberts?"

"Shut up asshat. You're totally going."

"And where would that be?"

"Don't be dense. The class reunion."

Oh shit. He'd forgotten that she got an invitation also.

"Atwood?"

"Hell no I'm not going. You know how much I hated that place when we went there. What makes you think I want to go back?"

"A: Tough Shit. B: I'm not gonna go with Cohen and listen to him bitch all night and watch him cringe when those former jocks walk by. He's a good man Atwood, and I don't want him being intimidated all night by those morons with half a brain and a job that a trained chimp could do. Blindfolded. Where was I?"

"Uh C, I believe."

"Right. C: I know that a certain auburn-haired, fast-talking temptress will be in attendance."

"Ok, let me rank those in the order of most significant to most insignificant reason I don't want to go: C, C, and uh C."

"Great now here's another multiple choice for you Atwood. A: I drive up to your place, kick your ass, and you decide to go; B: Cohen calls you every day for a month to whine about getting his shoes peed in at the tender age of 28 and you decide to go; C: You decide to go. What's it gonna be Atwood? I've got the keys and Cohen's begging for the phone."

"I'm already packing."

Present Day (or Night)

"Have I mentioned how much I hate you both right now?"

"Dude," Seth cried, "I really like pee-free shoes and it's been so long since I've gotten any wedgies, I think it would break me."

"And Taylor will be there. After what happened when she was here for the wedding, I figured you'd be dying to finally see her again," Summer added.

"After what happened when she was here for the wedding, I'd be perfectly happy to NEVER see her again. What she did hurt and I've never felt like that before. Never want to again." A slight pause. "Let's just go, make an appearance, say hi, and get out of there."

"We'll make like a tree and leaf," Seth added. "We'll make like a banana and split. We'll make like a ball and bounce. We'll make like a baby and head out. We'll - "

"Shut up Seth," they both said in unison.

Ryan entered first and immediately went back in time to the 10th grade again. He missed Marissa. She always did know how to organize an event and this party could definitely use her touch. Shitty paper decorations and streamers decorated the walls. Dear God, was the DJ playing "Baby Got Back"? Ryan wanted to cry. He looked over and was fairly certain he saw two former water polo players spiking a bowl of punch. Apparently they didn't notice that yes, there was a bartender here serving drinks and, yes, everyone here was over the age of 21. Morons.

All of a sudden, Ryan caught a glimpse of auburn hair and a red dress. He knew that dress well. It covered an ass that always could hold his attention. That ass connected to a beautiful pair of legs that said girl in question wasn't currently using. Taylor Townsend was sitting in a chair in the corner of the gym, drinking bottled water.

Ryan spotted Seth hurrying towards him.

"Dude, don't go over there. Taylor's there!"

"Yeah, two problems with that. I already saw her."

"Well what's problem number two?"

"I still love her."

He was so screwed.

I'm calling this an AU because I'd really love to believe that Ryan and Taylor learned their lesson from what happened after the earthquake. They always fit so well together. Unfortunately, only Josh Schwartz knows. Humbug. In other news, the next chapter will be in Taylor's point of view leading up to the reunion.

Please read and review. Good or bad! Az