Chapter One: Almost Too Pefect

"Hey, Ryan?" Marissa called out from their master bedroom. "Can you make some coffee?"

"Yeah, sure." He replied from the kitchen.

Marissa shuffled through her closet, wanting to wear something professional for her interview today. She settled with a black pencil skirt, a white button down blouse and Prada heels. After applying her make up she carefully pinned her hair back into a messy bun.

She made her way into the kitchen just as Ryan was pouring her a cup of coffee. "Hopefully this will wake me up." She said, taking the cup from him. "You kept me up late last night." Laughing, she kissed him on the cheek.

"You're going to be great." Ryan said, referring to the interview.

"I hope so. Does this look okay?"

He looked her up and down, smiled, and kissed her deeply. "Well, I'm not much of a fashion expert, but… I'd say your shoes don't match."

Marissa playfully hit him, "Yes they do!"

"Oh, well, see that's what Summer is for."

Marissa nodded and glanced down at her watch. "Shit, Ry, its almost eight and my interviews at eight-thirty. I better go." She grabbed her purse and kissed him quickly.

"Wish me luck." She said over her shoulder.

"Good luck."

Ryan went into the master bedroom of their two bedroom apartment in Manhattan. He opened his dresser drawer and unburied the black, velvety box. He popped it open, revealing the diamond ring. Last week he and Seth went all around the city, looking at engagement rings. Ryan was planning on proposing to Marissa tonight.

He smiled, imagining the look on Marissa's face when he asked the question. She would start to cry, say yes and kiss him hard. Then, he would slip the ring on her slender finger. They would eat dinner then rush home to have sex as an engaged couple. But first Marissa would call Summer and tell her the news.

Ryan pushed the thought aside and decided he should get ready for work. He was a Math professor at NYU, a job he never thought he would fill. If it weren't for Sandy and Kirsten taking him in and Marissa believing in him, Ryan would probably be dead, killed in a brutal fight in Chino.

Instead he was as happy as ever, living in New York City with his girlfriend, hopefully future fiancé, had a good job, friends that lived just blacks away, proud parents. Everything was perfect. It almost seemed too perfect.

-----

"Summer! What are you doing in there? It's been an hour!" Seth yelled from outside the bathroom.

She slowly emerged, "Fuck you Cohen. I'm a girl, it takes effort to look like this."

"Oh believe me I know… I've seen you without the make up." He joked.

"Oh … You're going to get it now." She said, tackling him.

"Oww," Seth shrieked.

"Sorry, Cohen, did I hurt you're scrawny little ass?"

"Physically I'm fine. Emotionally, I'm hurting."

-----

Marissa was running a little late for her interview, arriving on the 31st floor of The World Trade Center at 8:33. She was three minutes late. Hell, even three minutes could give the impression that she was unprofessional. "Hi, I'm Marissa Cooper. I have an interview with Dean Hamilton." She told the receptionist at the front desk. "Oh yes, I'll tell him you're here."

"Thank you." Marissa took a seat on one of the cushiony chairs and went over what she would say in the interview.

"You can go on in Ms Cooper."

Marissa thanked the woman and opened the heavy door on the right, taking a deep breath as she entered. 'You can do this. It's just an interview. What could go wrong?'

"Hi, I take it your Marissa Cooper?" Dean Hamilton, stood and shook her hand.

"Yes, nice to meet you Mr. Hamilton. Thank you for this opportunity, I would be thrilled to work with you."

She was off to a good start, answering all of his questions with complete honesty and seriousness.

When she glanced at the clock, it was 8:45 and the sun was shining brightly. It truly was a beautiful morning, seemed almost perfect. 'Yes.' Marissa thought to herself. 'Today, September 11, 2001 feels like the day my life will change.'