This is my first post to fanfiction, so i am really nervous. The title of this is a Mayday Parade song, so I can't take credit for that and of course I don't own the OC.

"So how goes life?" Ryan Atwood had been sitting on the beach for the past hour. He was visiting Newport, but he had no idea she'd be back from Paris. He didn't think she'd ever come back, not with the way she was talking in her emails an phone calls. Those ended up stopping a few years after they went their separate ways.

But she was here now, right in front of him. She looked as amazing as she had when they were together, maybe even more. Her smile was still addicting.

"Life is good. But Ryan, I don't want to talk about me. What about you?" She questioned the only man she had loved in her 23 years of living.

He just stared out at the ocean. Digging his bare toes into the sand. He was only there on business, there was a job that he might be accepting, or if he didn't get the job he was going to grad school. He was a promising Architect, one of the best in his class.

College had been a great experience for him, he learned to focus more on his future than rather focusing on girls. He looked over at Taylor Townsend suddenly noticing her auburn hair was now a darker shade. Her eyes seemed bigger and brighter, showing Ryan that she was truly happy with her life. Or at least that's what he figured.

"Maybe I'd rather talk about you." he smiled at her.

Her face broke into a smile, not wanting to miss an opportunity to talk about herself. He knew that she would tell him, because that's just who she was. He didn't have to ask twice. "Lonely, especially in France. I mean sure there's tons of people there but it just wasn't the same as when I lived here. I've always been an outsider and I was even more so in France. I lived a boring life actually. Taking extra classes in College so I could graduate early and go to Grad school. It was a tough decision but in the end it all paid off. Except I couldn't stand living there anymore, alone like I was. So I came back here to live with my mom and I plan on going back to school to get another some more schooling under my belt before I start my career. Now enough about me, it's time to talk about you, mister" She smiled.

Ryan couldn't help but wonder why she was telling him how unhappy she had been. Truth was he hated hearing that because of all people Taylor deserved to be happy. After dealing with her witch of a mother, and her high school years. She deserved to have the happiest, most wonderful life there was to offer.

"I've been good, to be honest. Graduated, I'm thinking about either going to Grad school or opening the Newport group back up. I talked to Kirsten and she said that the building was still unoccupied and it was all mine if I wanted. But I'm not sure so I'm here trying to figure out what I want. It would be a great opportunity and I could go back to school at the same time if I really wanted to. It's a big decision that I have to make on my own. In college, I dated this girl. We were really serious but she ended up sleeping with my room mate and left me to pick up the pieces but in the end I realized I never really even loved her. I just used her to fill up the void. But now I'm on my own and it's actually okay. At least for now." He never once looked her in the eye for fear that looking in those deep eyes of hers he'd kiss her. How he wanted to do that to her and more, but why was he thinking this way? They had broken up years ago, they couldn't still love each other. It just wasn't even close to being possible.

So he looked out at the ocean, trying to find some sort of sign as to what he should do with his life. "I think the Newport group would be a great idea. I'm not just saying that because you'll be here in Newport with me. It's just you deserve a good life, a good job like this. Plus if it doesn't work out you'll have a great experience and you'll be able to correct your mistakes if you make any." She smiled, and he knew right then that he'd think much more about staying here.

He suddenly felt that feeling, the one he felt when they had their first real kiss, not the one when he was saving her from her terrible marriage, but the one at the pool house where he nearly lost his breath. He wasn't sure why he was feeling that way or what provoked that feeling but it was there.

He watched as she pushed a piece of her hair back behind her ear. She looked over at him and gave him a shy smile, all the while wishing he would just say something already. Suddenly he noticed the silence between them.

"You're right, if it doesn't work out I'll move back near Sandy and Kirsten. They are one of the reasons I'm not sure I want to be back here. I'll miss them and little Sophie. Seth and Summer have moved into the same apartment building from me, and I'm not sure it will be easy for me to leave them as well. But this could be good for me, plus I'll have a friend to get me back into the groove of Newport beach" He smiled nudging her.

He noticed as a smile spread across her beautiful face. "I could use a friend around her. I pretty much only have my mother, who by the way hasn't changed one bit! Even after the earthquake everything went back to the way it used to be. I don't know how I thought that woman could change. I'm thinking about getting a place around here somewhere so I'm not living with her anymore. I actually got a job to work on the Newport paper. It's nothing right now but it's enough. I mean I can't live on my inheritance forever." He loved how she rambled, the way her nose would crinkle up when she talked about her mother. The way she talked with her hands.

"Sounds good, if I do take this job then I'll need a place to stay." He said, then he thought maybe they could share a place. But he pushed that aside, he shouldn't even think about that. Even if they would just be living together platonically.

He was interrupted from his thoughts with "How about you and I get a place together. I mean, I understand that it might be a little strange considering out past, but today does mean we are friends, right?" She asked him. He was startled that she had been thinking the same thing he had. He wasn't sure what he should say. Yes they were friends but could he live with her? Of course there would not be anything going on, the both of them were over their relationship, right?

"I might just take you up on that offer, Taylor. And yes this does mean we are friends" He smiled pulling her closer to him with his arm around her shoulder. She suddenly clapped her hands together and cried out "yay!"

"Well don't get to excited I might not even take this. I mean it's a huge deal. I'll have to get employees. You've seen the building it's huge! How can I keep up with that?" He panicked.

He hadn't really thought about all of that but he figured he should start now. "You can handle it. If not you can always rent out some of the building to other's. You'll have me around to push you, and you know how much I love to bulldoze." She smiled up into his bright blue eyes.

He nodded at her, knowing full well she was right. But he was ready to end the conversation and get back to his hotel room to get something to eat. He would ask her but he just wanted to be alone with his thoughts. "Here's my number, can we catch up later? I'm really tired. This was nice Taylor." He pulled his arm from around her shoulder as he grabbed a pen out of his pocket and writing it on her hand. Not caring that she was probably freaking out because her hand was dirty. "Ryan, you know how I am about this kind of thing" She laughed as he just rolled his eyes at her. "Just program it in your phone as soon as you get home and wash it off, you'll be fine" He smiled standing up and brushing the sang off of his bottom.

He picked his shoes up from in front of him, then offered Taylor his hand to help her up. She gracefully excepted.

"How long will you be here?" She asked as they both walked to the parking lot. "The rest of the week. I'll be leaving on Friday." He said, it was only Sunday so he really hoped she would call.

Maybe by that time he would have his decision made and he could discuss it with her, because to be honest he was totally terrified.

The weird thing about when they broke up, they both knew it was going to happen. They both knew that if they were meant to be together then they would end up together some how some way. So neither of them really dwelled on it. Secretly, the two were still in love with each other but neither of them would admit it, not out loud any way.