'Forever Young'

Chapter 1:

Set in season 3 when Marissa found Volchok cheating on her and how I would've written the storyline from there

Marissa's P.O.V

Marissa sat at one of the tables alone, watching all the happy couples dancing, completely unaware that someones world only a couple feet away from them was crashing and burning

"What did you think, that you could dress your bad boy up and bring him to prom to show your friends how cool you are?"

Who was she kidding? Volchok wasn't that guy, who acted tough but inside was a sweet guy who she thought she brought out. Volchok was Volchok, inside and out. He wasn't that guy who loved her and wanted her safe and would do anything for her. That ship had sailed months ago.

Her eyes swam across the room for drinks. Bingo. On a table by drinks was an unopened bottle of pure vodka, something to ease the pain. She stood up and began to walk over to the bottle when the song changed and she stopped abruptly

Let's dance in style, let's dance for awhile. Heaven can wait we're only watching the skies, hoping for the best but expecting the worse….

Memories flooded her mind, memories that made her want to smile and cry at the same time

"My life just doesn't work without you" She said. He laughed pulling her closer "Because it always goes so smooth when we're together"

Ryan's P.O.V

"Look, I'm sorry, this was really fun but I seriously have to go, my mom called and well when my mom calls, the baby calls" Theresa said

"No, I get it, but we should hang again, this was really fun" Ryan smiled, leaning in for an awkward hug and kiss on the cheek.

"You should check on Marissa, she's taking it pretty hard"

"Yeah, I think I will" he said

"you're nothing like him"

Ryan sat in the same spot after Theresa left for about 15 minutes, contemplating on what he should in terms of comforting Marissa. He had to be gentle with her at this state, sending her the wrong messages would do the complete opposite of helping her wounded heart. He kept thinking the worst. What if she was in the bathroom right now, alone, drinking herself numb, or worse. The last time she caught her boyfriend cheating on her….

"I didn't want to kill myself, I just wanted to escape"

An escape… No, Marissa has grown since then, and Marissa hadn't loved Volchok, had she? She couldn't have, could she? Stop. How had he come back to this, constantly worrying about Marissa? They were barely even friends. He finally decided to get up, he would find Marissa and let her know that he was there if she needed him, when he heard those familiar lyrics.

Let's dance in style let's dance for awhile, heaven can wait we're only watching the skies. Hoping for the best but expecting the worse….

So many memories he'd tucked away swam through his mind, of how he fell for Marissa Cooper in the first place. He looked up to see Marissa with the same look of being caught off guard, and deep in thought. She glanced over to him and their eyes met.

Marissa's P.O.V

She turned around and saw him. Her eyes met his bright blue eyes. A nervous smile crept up on her face, as did on his, as he slowly walked over to her, while she did the same.

"Hey"

"Hey" She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "The timing's great huh?" Marissa said laughing nervously

"Yeah," he said laughing nervously too "so uh, do you wanna dance?" he said, scratching behind his ear. She just smiled and composed her expression of pure excitement

"I would love to" She smiled as he took her hand and led her to the dance floor, placing his hands on her waist while she wrapped hers around his neck.

Ryan's P.O.V

"So uh, do you wanna dance?" he blurted. It was their song; even if they weren't together they had to dance to it at their senior prom. He watched her cautiously, waiting for a reply. Was this too much? Should he have just talked to her instead? But he watched the corners of her mouth turn up

"I would love to" Ryan exhaled, realizing he'd been holding his breath. He gradually took her hand and led her to the dance floor, placing his hands on her waist while she wrapped her hands around his neck. They swayed back and forth for awhile, avoiding eye contact when Ryan finally broke the silence

"So, how are you? I mean, are you okay?"

"Honestly," she hesitated "I'm glad you caught me, I think if you hadn't I would've done something stupid" she said nodding towards the bottle

"I'm glad I caught you too" Ryan said, adding "Plus, I just want you to know that I'm here, if you need anything, I'm glad we can talk as friends"

Marissa's P.O.V

Friends

It was like a slap in the face. That's all her and Ryan would be. All they could be, right?

"Yeah, right," she said looking down "I missed that, hanging out as friends. Well, I guess we never really did..." she said frowning "but, we're seniors, almost college freshman, we are practically adults. Who's to say we can't try again, and make it work this time?" she said smiling

"Oh yeah, who knows, maybe we'll be best friends?" Ryan said, now smiling too "But don't tell Seth"

"Oooh, don't tell Summer either, she will kill you to keep her spot" Marissa said laughing, with Ryan joining in

Summer's P.O.V

Summers head was pounding, she knew she had to say something to Cohen, while he was babbling away, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"Hold up Cohen, are you seeing what I'm seeing?" she said gesturing toward Ryan and Marissa, dancing and laughing together

"But what about Volchok-"

"He's an ass" Summer said, cutting him off "But Theresa-" she started

"Left for the baby" Seth finished "Leaving Ryan and Marissa…" he said pondering this "huh, well this night is ending quite well" Seth said smiling as he put his arm around summer, walking away