A/N: So this is going to be a little AU. Marissa isn't dead and everyone in the gang is roughly twenty two. The changes in the established universe will be revealed as the story progresses. I don't have a fully formed plan for the story, but I have some ideas.

Now, without further ado:

Foundations

They couple sat at the table, emotionless and expressionless, with the candlelight playing off each of their faces. The man toyed with his food restlessly, pushing it to and fro on his plate, while the woman sipped her wine absently. Sporadically, the waiter would appear and inquire after their food, to which they would politely respond, "Fine, thank you".

It wasn't working.

And he knew it and she knew it. They had been together on and off for 6 years and slowly it had happened. They had grown apart and into completely different people. Secretly, he had always known that the day would come. There had always been blaring signs that they would never work, but they had wanted it so badly or at least, they had thought they wanted it.

It just seemed like the natural progression of things. He saved her, she saved him, and a relationship was expected. As they had both admitted once, they had never really done the friendship thing. It had been the immediate jump from strangers to lovers, and for that reason they had never really known one another. But when they were sixteen and oh-so-passionate, none of the great gaping holes in the fabric of their relationship had seemed important.

Until now.

Now, when all the drama and angst that had riddled their teen life had fallen away, they could finally see the cracks in their foundation. There was no chemistry, no spark. Their relationship had turned into that of a friendship, purely stemming from the fact that they had gone through so much together.

And for the first time in a long time, they were on the same page. He looked up from his food just as she drained her glass.

"I think−"

"Maybe we−" He broke off and laughed nervously. "You go first."

She cleared her throat and looked at him. Six years later and sometimes she still felt sixteen, as anxious as she had felt the first time she had ever spoken to him.

Well, she had to do it…for both of them. She squared he shoulders. "I think I can safely say that we both know it just isn't there any more. We've tried for so long to make it work that I think we don't even know why we want it any more. We were different people in high school and maybe we were compatible then and maybe we weren't, but I just know we aren't now. And my intention never was to hurt you but I don't want either of us to settle for… this."

He had been turning his napkin in his lap and at the end of her speech, he finally looked up. She held her breath.

"You're right. Obviously."

She exhaled in relief and he laughed at her expression. Some of the tension began to melt away, and he seemed to gain a little confidence from the lightened atmosphere.

He rubbed his forehead in frustration. "It just didn't seem right anymore. Nothing ever seemed to fall into place."

He looked up at her tenderly, grabbing her hand across the table. "I do know I still love you…it's just not the kind of love we talked ourselves into believing it was."

She smiled at him to ease some of his nervousness. She knew he genuinely didn't want to hurt her, and it was for that reason she said the next thing she did. "I'll always love you Ryan. Whether we're together or not. Always. That's just how it's going to be."

They sat in silence for awhile after that. It wasn't everyday that one ended a tumultuous six-year romance. Nevertheless, both would later admit that it had been a far smoother break-up than actual relationship.

Marissa had eventually told him about how she had landed an internship at an Australian fashion label, Sass & Bide, in their Sydney office. Since she now planned to accept the offer, she would leave in three weeks time and would remain in Sydney for eight months. While he drove her home, she talked about her various plans once in Australia to which he would offer occasional suggestions. The awkwardness was present but both were confident it would slowly melt away.

When he finally dropped her off at the Roberts', she gave him light peck on the cheek, which he found to be a welcome change. They said their goodnights and then it was over.

After he left her, Ryan had meant to drive back to the Cohens' where he had been staying for the weekend, but ten minutes later, he found himself down by the pier. Night had just fallen and the air was brisk and cool.

Finally, he was alone with his thoughts and the first thing that ran through his mind was: it's over. After six years of blood, sweat and tears, it was finally over. Their weird, codependent, emotionally-draining romance was done with, finished at last. And he didn't even feel slightly regretful. A bit nostalgic, but he knew that was to be expected.

It had been a long time coming, but he had always lacked the courage to break it off. He was grateful now more than ever that Marissa was not shy of confrontation. They had ended it once and for all, and he knew it was the best possible course of action for both of them.

As the night grew darker, the wind began to blow more forcefully around him. He could hear the waves slamming against the pier, and he felt strangely comforted by it all. He shut his eyes and inhaled deeply.

"Ryan?"

His eyes snapped open and he turned around. A tall, slim figure was making its way towards him from across the pier. As the figure drew closer, he was able to make out an immaculate white trench coat and long auburn hair. Soon a beautiful girl about his age stood before him, wearing a huge smile on her face looking genuinely happy to see him.

"Taylor?!"

Like it? Hate it? Undecided? Review!

A/N: As previously mentioned, I don't have a fully worked-out plot. Thus, suggestions of any and all kinds are very welcome.