So this is my first O.C. story but not my first fanfiction story. But after watching the new season of O.C. I had to jump on the bandwagon and join in on all the fun. Now don't get me wrong, I was a huge Ryan/Marissa fan but looking back their relationship was always so serious and angst filled. But Ryan/Taylor is fun and it makes Ryan seem like he's happy and I like it. I really do so now I am also a Ryan/Taylor fan. So this is a Ryan/Taylor story. If you don't like that, please give it a chance. Thank you so much. R and R please.

Disclaimer: I do not own the O.C. but I wish I did.

Chapter 1

Seth knocked after opening the door to the pool house. He smiled when he saw Ryan staring off into space with a weird look on his face. "So Ryan, you missed a great party last night."

"Party," Ryan mumbled still lost in his own thoughts.

"Yeah, turns out Little Coop through a big bash last night and then called the cops because she thought it was lame," Seth said sitting down chuckling at the memory of Kaitlyn standing in the middle of the living room as the police ushered everybody out.

"Hmmm," Ryan said still seeing Taylor flirting with Roger the night before. He should be happy that she'd moved on but instead he wanted to go back in time and punch Roger.

"I talked to Taylor last night," Seth continued talking knowing eventually Ryan would tune in to what he was saying. "She told me this great story about you and her 'hanging out'," he said using air quotes.

"Taylor…what about Taylor?" Ryan asked looking over at Seth. "How long have you been here?" he asked confused.

"On Earth or in the pool house?" Seth asked laughing when Ryan through one of his pillows at him. "So care to tell me why you're so distracted today?"

"No," Ryan said closing his eyes.

"Well then why don't you tell me how you could let me go on and on about Summer and me last night and then let me walk out of here without telling me you had a date with Taylor?" Seth asked sounding outraged.

Ryan opened one eye and saw he was serious and groaned. "I did not have a date with Taylor…not exactly."

"Oh excuse me 'hanging out'," Seth said using air quotes again.

"We were going to watch a movie and eat popcorn," Ryan explained but then something occurred to him, "what exactly did Taylor say?"

"Even less than you surprisingly," Seth said in disgust. "Who knew Taylor could keep a secret."

"It's not a secret," Ryan said shaking his head. "I thought maybe it would be fun to hang out and so we did for awhile."

"Ryan Ryan Ryan," Seth said sadly. "In order for me to be able to make fun of you I need all the details."

Ryan looked at Seth and he knew even before he opened his mouth he would be making a mistake but he had to talk to someone. Kirsten and Sandy's advice the day before had been well good but he still didn't know what to do. "I kissed Taylor."

"On you date," Seth said sitting up. He had thought maybe he would have a couple funny Taylor stories but this…this was something else.

"No, I kissed Taylor the night she brought me the tea," Ryan said quietly.

"You kissed Taylor days ago and didn't tell me," Seth said trying to do the whole outrage thing again but then he rolled his eyes. "Forget that; tell me…how was it?"

"It was…" Ryan said searching for the right words. "Different."

"Not quite the word I was going for," Seth said leaning back. "Well I knew it was wishful thinking on Dad's part when he said you two looked good together. I mean its Taylor."

"What does that mean exactly?" Ryan asked looking confused.

"What?"

"You said 'it's Taylor.' What does that mean?" Ryan asked.

"Uh…it means that Taylor is weird and rarely do we understand the way her mind works. I mean she's probably already run off to a foreign country and got married again," Seth said chuckling.

"I feel bad for her," Ryan said making it Seth's turn to look confused.

"For Taylor," Seth said in disbelief. "If there ever was a person who could take care of themselves it's Taylor Townsend."

"I don't know," Ryan said shaking his head. "I think it's a front…a cover up."

"Then it's a damn good one," Seth said. "But now that you seem to be returning to the land of the living, it's time for the gang to hang out again. With Summer kicked out of school and me not going to college until next fall, the gang is back."

Ryan nodded but his mind was still wrapped up in Taylor. Last night she'd looked so happy with Roger but he'd thought that maybe she'd felt something more for him. It had been so long since somebody had looked at him the way Taylor had right before she'd suggested they kiss. And while they were dancing, they'd had the best conversation he'd had with somebody since he'd moved back into the Cohen's.

A part of him didn't know what to do. He missed Marissa with every breath he took and his heart broke every time he remembered carrying her from the burning jeep. Sometimes he found himself looking for her or wanting to call her.

He wasn't ready to move on with somebody, not even Taylor. It didn't matter how she could make him smile with just one grin or that she made his heart speed up whenever he saw her. He just wasn't ready to let go of Marissa. Sometimes he didn't think he ever would be.

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"Taylor!" Summer yelled making her way around the house trying to locate her friend. She finally stumbled upon her in the living room watching some dumb talk show. "What are you doing?"

"Watching these women find out who their baby's daddy is," Taylor said staring at the TV in a trance.

"Okay but why?" Summer asked sitting down beside her.

"Nothing else to do," Taylor said shrugging her shoulders.

"Nothing to do," Summer said reaching for the remote. "You could go shopping or go see a movie or I don't know, go talk to Ryan about your feelings."

"He's made it perfectly clear that he doesn't care," Taylor said not even protesting when Summer shut off the TV.

"No he didn't," Summer said rolling her eyes.

"He's scared of me Summer. He ran away from me on our one and only…whatever it is and didn't even bat an eye when I pretended to be on a date the next night," Taylor said turning to face Summer with tears in her eyes. "I know I scare people but I never thought he'd be scared. I just wanted him to like me and now he….doesn't."

Summer sighed. "I admit that it may look like he's running and that he is scared but I am positive that it isn't you. I have a feeling it has something to do with him and with…Marissa."

"You do," Taylor said thoughtfully.

"Speaking for myself…I could barely talk to Seth about things and I love him. I have this big whole in my heart where she is and I have a feeling with Ryan, it's even bigger. He loved her so much Taylor," Summer said wiping away a stray tear. "So even if he does feel something towards you, he's going to fight it."

"Then the best thing I can do is to back off," Taylor said seriously.

"How do you figure?" Summer asked confused.

"Because he needs to work through his feelings on his own." Taylor stood up and made her way out of the room. She stopped in the doorway and turned so she was facing Summer. "I really like him and if I want him to like me then I have to let him get there on his own. I can't force it. No matter how much I want to go over there and be his sleep therapist again."

"You did what!" Summer yelled laughing following her out of the room.

Taylor smiled as they left the house to go out to lunch. It was going to be nice having Summer home again to hang out with. She missed having friends and Seth and Summer had been the closest thing she'd ever had. She didn't want to mess this up and if she pushed herself on Ryan, she might lose not only him but her friendship with Seth and Summer. So she had to back off, even though she didn't want to.