Disclaimer: unfortunately I don't own the oc. I wish I owned a box set. hint hint

hey guys this is my first fanfic so wish me luck! Okay um im not sure where I am going with this story but I thought I would give it a go. I hope its okay!Thx to Clara CarebearStare 4 helping me out with my spelling gramer ect. plz review!

Our story begins when Newport's coolest teens have just finished there somophore yr. Christmukkah is over and New Years Eve is fast approaching. Seth and summer are back together, Zach is gone and so is Alex. Unfortunately, Ryan is still with Lindsay and Marissa is single.

Ryan sat down to lunch at school by himself. He was pleased at this, that there was no one to talk to him-or talk at him rather. Ryan needed his alone time and when living with Seth Cohen that was sometimes a problem. And then there was Lindsay. Lately she always seemed to be there, talking and not leaving him alone. But this was how it was meant to right? Well she was his girlfriend. Aaargh! So many thoughts where whizzing around Ryan's head. One day it was going to explode. Just as well he had sometime time for himself to think………….

"Ryan!" (okay maybe not) Lindsay plonked herself down in a seat next to Ryan. She gave him a look of anxiousness, waiting for a response.

"Oh, hi Lindsay," Ryan muttered.

Lindsay shifted nervously in her seat. She didn't know what to say to Ryan lately. It just seemed like, he was on another planet or something. The awkward silences where killing her –she had to say something.

"So do we have any plans for New Years Eve?" she asked him hopefully.

"Ah, I heard Summer talking about throwing a party or something."

"O-oh um okay," Lindsay wasn't really into the types of parties summer threw but she couldn't argue with ryan-after all she couldn't not be with him on NYE right?

"If that's what you want to do," she agreed.

"Yeah." Ryan didn't actually want to go but Seth would be there and so would……………..Marissa. He scolded himself for thinking about her. He had been doing that a lot lately. He tried to stop but he couldn't-there was just something about her…..

Marissa leaned forward and opened her mouth wide as she applied thick black coats of mascara to her eyelashes. She was at Summer's place getting ready for the New Years Eve party her best friend was organising.

"Coop, this top or the green one?" Summer asked in a panic. Normally she would have chosen her outfit days in advance but this time she simply hadn't had the time.

"Ummm, I think the green one; it brings out your eyes."

"Thanks Coop, what would I do without you?" Summer glanced at her watch.

"Crap the party starts in an hour, we really should get there to help setup."

So, the girls piled into Summer's new SUV that she had gotten for Christmukkuh. She started the engine and then it stalled.

"Oh my God, I just can't get the hang of this thing," she gasped. But soon enough they were on their way. Summer had started blabbing about something totally irrelevant but Marissa wasn't listening; she was in her own little world. How she wished that she didn't have to go to the party that night. All of these parties were the same. It was all right for Summer, she would have Seth with her for the night. Ryan would be there but he'd be there with… Lindsay. So, that left Marissa all alone. The thought of counting down to the New Year by herself was driving her crazy. However, she had to go-she couldn't disappointe her friend.

Ryan sat on the futon, tying up his black leather shoes. Seth stood in front of the mirror and adjusted his tie so that it sat on the centre of his chest. Ryan was nervous, he wanted to stay home- these parties really weren't his thing He thought back to last years New Years Eve. He remembered Marissa going to Oliver's party without him, and arriving at the party during the countdown to New Years, just in time to kiss Marissa. But his thoughts were once again interrupted by the intruding sound of his phone ringing. Ryan answered it with a slight hello and a familiar voice replied,

"Hey, its Lindsay, um, I was just calling to see what time you were picking me up"

"Uh, how about in ten"

"Okay," There was yet another awkward silence.

"Well I should finish getting ready," Lindsay said.

"Yeah, bye"

"Whoa, that was one of the most interesting, unawkward phone calls in the history of …. Ever" Seth said sarcastically.

Ryan grunted, he wasn't in the mood for jokes.

"Come on lighten up dude its NYE!"

"Uh, yeah, I better get going, Lindsay's waiting. I guess I'll see you at the party." With that Ryan left and once again, and for a sweet 10 minutes in the car, he was alone.