A/N- I read a novel with a similar premise to this one awhile back. I thought that it would be interesting to try an AU fic about Ryan and Marissa, since my last one kind of died. Let me know what you think. The story is going to unfold over several chapters so don't worry if it's confusing at first.
Ryan Atwood was absolutely bored out of his mind. He had spent the past three hours of his life talking and socializing with people he didn't really know. He hated these kinds of people. The privileged people, the ones who got whatever they wanted and didn't have to ever work for it. He glanced up as his best friend walked up to him, holding out a beer.
"Ryan, man, you have got to get into the swing of things. I mean, I know this isn't exactly your ideal place to be on a Friday night but this place isn't bad. In fact, with all these girls, I'd say it's pretty great."
"Seth, how many of these have you had?" Ryan asked, gesturing to the beer bottle that had been swung wildly by Seth, spilling some of the contents.
"You know…I'm not even sure. I had to funnel with that thing they funnel with."
"Right…okay…are you almost ready to leave?"
"Come on man, loosen up. Since when have I ever been the life of a college party?"
"Since when have you been to a college party?"
"Fair enough. But if we compare people being cool, you win. And you aren't following that pattern tonight. It's weird Ryan." Seth paused and waved at a girl who called out his name. "Even the fact that a girl noticed me is totally off the cosmos scale of normal."
"I just don't like these things and you know it."
"But why? What's not to like?"
"Um, the preppy kids that think people from where I'm from should be wiping their shoes and bringing their cars around as a valet. The kids who have never actually experienced life outside of a credit card. Seth these aren't people. These are dolls. I want to call them neo-newpsies. No one here is real. You know I grew up in Chino and yeah I have lived in Newport with you but I still know what it's like to not be able to afford something."
"Oh, I see. Well then you take your sanctimonious high-road and I'll just chill with my own people. Since I'm not real. Whatever man. I'll see you later."
"Seth!" But it was too late as Ryan lost sight of Seth in the crowd of people around him. This definitely had not been his day.
He hadn't been able to find the place the party was supposed to be in, then he hadn't been able to get in because no one knew who he was exactly. The party was lame and he had now alienated his only friend there. One thing Seth had said was right. The cosmos were out of whack, they were indeed stacked against him.
Taking a deep breath, Ryan surveyed the room and decided to attempt talking to one of the girls nearby. He just needed to think of something generic enough to say.
"Hey, so what's your major?" He leaned in, yelling so he could be heard over the music.
"Um? Ew." She said and walked away. Oops, wrong question, Ryan thought.
Ryan just wiped his eyes. This night could not possibly be any worse. He glanced around the room again looking for Seth but could not spot him. Seeing another red head nearby, he thought to have one last shot at normal conversation.
"Uh, hi. I'm Ryan. Do you go to Berkeley?"
She turned and smiled, and Ryan was so relieved he had made contact with someone normal he missed the tell-tale signs of a drunk.
"Hey! So like yeah. I like major in like fashion. Or art. Maybe it's history? I don't like remember but I don't remember you either. Guess it's one of those nights. Did you know that it's impossible to touch your ear with your nose."
Ryan stared at the girl for a minute. He could not believe the luck he was having. Before he answered, someone walked up behind him and bashed right into him.
"Whoa!" Ryan shouted as his drink spilled all across his lap.
"Oh for fu—nevermind. I'm going to the bathroom." He said as the girl who had hit him while grinding with her boyfriend attempted an apology.
After five minutes in the bathroom, Ryan realized he was not going to get the stain out. But he couldn't walk around looking like a retard. So he poked his head out of the door and spotted a familiar face walking down the hall, someone he had Lit class with.
"Summer! Summer Roberts. I need your help." He pleaded as he leaned out the door, trying to hide the stain.
"Hey Atwood, what's up?" She stopped walking and leaned in to the bathroom to see the problem.
"Oh, that's bad. Hm, okay well I know the guy throwing the party pretty well. I'm trying to set him up with my best friend. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I grabbed a shirt from him and let you borrow it. As long as you give it back next class?"
"Are you sure? I don't want some Ken Doll trying to kick my ass when I leave."
"No, it'll be fine, I'll square it with him. Quickly come into the bedroom but don't let anyone see this happen. I have a reputation you know."
Ryan snuck into the bedroom behind Summer and took off his shirt. Just as he took the shirt Summer offered him, the door opened and a stumbling blonde walked in.
"Oops. Sorry. As you were little soldier." And she stepped out of the room.
"Oh my god. That did not just happen. This can't get around. I'm not some slut. You stay. Or no go. God I don't know. Just Callie come back! It's not like that." Summer ran after her friend trying to convince her of the truth.
"Right." Ryan said and picking up his old shirt, put on the new one before quickly exiting the room and looking for the nearest exit. He realized then he had left his jacket by the front door so he would have to walk back through the main throng of party-goers but then he would be safe and out of the self-proclaimed hell.
"Ryan! Ryan! Dude, I heard you were hooking up with some chick. Well I mean, I think it was you because of the 'blond, blue-eyed, broody description I heard."
"It's not like that Seth. I don't just sleep with randoms. That part of my life is in Chino."
"Whatever man, you should have seen…" Ryan stopped listening and just took a gaze around the room and it was at this point when…
Ryan's world simply stopped. He couldn't breathe. Time stopped ticking. The music actually stopped playing. He could only see. A girl. But not just any girl. His girl. She had to be made for him. He had never had this kind of reaction. She was slim, blonde, and if he could tell from all the way across the room, she had blue eyes. Everything about her was perfection. He just had to talk to her. Get to know her…anything. She seemed to be talking to the girl that had walked in on him and Summer. All he had to do was cross the room and…
"Ryan? Uh RYAN!?" Seth stepped directly into Ryan's view of Dreamgirl and all of a sudden his trance ended with a whooshing sound. "Dude, like you zoned out. And at the best part of my story. So anyway I was talking to Karen…"
"Seth. Move!" Ryan shoved aside his best friend and glanced back to the corner. But she was gone. And so was the girl she had been talking to.
"Where is she? Where'd she go?"
"Who man? The girl you were with?"
"No…shut up. The girl…she was perfect."
"Right. Um I'm gonna go then and let you talk to your imaginary friend."
"She was right here." Ryan exclaimed as he stood in the spot the girl had occupied only seconds before. "Where did she go? I don't even know her name!"
Ryan searched the entire room full of people and he could not locate his girl. And since the room was full of endless tall blondes, he couldn't exactly get a name. It was as if she had vanished with a trace. But fate couldn't be that mean, could it?