College Blues

Hey, Ryan,

How was your week? It's getting windier here in Brown each day…Some people are also rightly crazy, if you know what I mean. Great thing I have Summer with me here, although she's also busy with all her subjects and her animal rights protests. How's Berkely? Take care, Ryan, I miss you.

Marissa

Marissa,

I'm good, been busy with all these projects, thank God Thanksgiving is almost around so I'll be able to see you again. Are you sure you're okay? Always stay with Summer, okay? I will see you soon. I love you.

Ryan

Ryan pressed the send button and closed the laptop. He was inside his dorm room in Berkely. Until now, he still couldn't believe that He still has Marissa, that she survived the car incident with Volchok. Just a few months back it was Graduation night, they were in the car, there was fire, they got out of the car almost a little too late…She asked him to stay with him, he wanted to get help…And then Seth and Summer came, panting, Summer shocked at the sight of her bestfriend… They rushed her to the hospital, and they waited… Julie was crying, He was pacing the floor, and then the doctors came out. Marissa was safe. She just needed a few days to be able to recuperate. And then things were normal again. Volchok was put in jail. Ryan wanted to kill him but Sandy said it would be useless. Everyone told him just to move on, but he couldn't…just like that. Since then, he became more protective of Marissa, even if she was in Brown. Sometimes, he just wants to take her to Berkely or bring them both back to Newport…But then again, they were in college now.

Seth was making neighing sounds into the phone receiver as he was talking to Summer. He was in Newport, taking care of his comic book shop while Summer is studying in Brown.

"Oh, that's so sweet, Cohen," Summer said, "I miss Captain Oats!"

"Hear that, Captain Oats?" Seth said, "Hey, he misses Princess Sparkle, too…"

"Oh, Princess Sparkle misses Captain Oats too! So much!" Summer said, "I miss you, Cohen…"

"I miss you more, Sum," He said, "Will you be home for Thanksgiving?"

"Of course!" She said, "I'll be at your place before you even know it…"

"How's college?"

"Good," She said, "Busy, though…but good…and the shop?"

"My comics are selling like pancakes, baby!"

"That I should see!"

"So come home!"

She laughed, "Just a few more days, Cohen…" She said, "Uhm, by the way, have you been talking to Ryan?"

"Ugh, yeah, well, he calls sometimes, why?"

"Well…" Summer paused.

"Well?"

"I think he's been worrying too much about Marissa…"

"Well…He has every right to, I mean, after what happened…"

"No, Cohen, listen, he's been calling me…And, I know he just cares about her, but I don't think it's so healthy now, I mean, she tells me to like, be with Marissa all the time. Coop has her life, you know?"

"Don't mind Ryan, he's just being protective…Good thing he's not being old-skool Atwood, you know?"

"I'm just worried, Cohen," She said, "You know how Coop gets when people try to protect her too much…"

"Relax, Sum," He said, "The incident just made it all this way, you know?"

"Try talking to him when we get there, okay?"

"Sure, my dear." Seth said.

"Okay, I shall go to bed now, big protest tomorrow..." Summer said, "Goodnight, Cohen. Send my love to Captain Oats… I'll see you over the weekend…"

"Goodnight, Sum, I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Hey, Seth Ezekiel, up early, huh?" Sandy said as he saw Seth at the kitchen that early Saturday morning. Seth was already holding some bagels.

Seth put the bowl of bagels down on the table, "The old gang will be back today, dad…" He said.

"Well, that is good to hear…" Kirsten said as she came into the kitchen. Sandy greeted her with a kiss.

"The Cohen home will be gregarious again!" Sandy beamed and drank some coffee.

"I'm excited for the kids' stories…" Kirsten said.

"Except Sum says Ryan has been being over-protective of Marissa…" Seth said.

"Really, huh? How come?" Sandy asked.

"She said he's been calling her, telling her not to keep Marissa out of her sight…"

"The Volchok incident is still taking its toll on him…" Sandy said, "Oh, well, He should be okay soon. I mean, Marissa's fine, you know?"

"Hey, dad, mom, I should go, They'll be arriving in a bit…" Seth said.

"Come, I'll drive you." Sandy said.

"And I shall try to prepare some stuff here…" Kirsten smiled.

Sandy left Seth at the airport and went to his office. Seth then went to the reception area and was surprised to find Ryan inside.

"Atwood!" He greeted.

"Seth!" He shot back, they hugged. "Hey…"

"Hey…Early, eh?"

"Yeah, ugh, I wanna be here when Marissa arrives."

"Oh." Seth said

Just then they heard Summer shouting from behind.

"Cohen!" Summer screamed and ran towards Seth, they hugged and kissed. Marissa was trailing behind.

"Summer, Summer," Seth smiled.

Summer then saw Ryan, "Hey, Atwood," She greeted.

"Sum…" He said, and gave her a peck on the cheek. He then turned his attention to Marissa.

"Marissa," He greeted.

"Ryan…" She said and hugged him. There was some awkwardness in the hug, although they both couldn't figure out why. "Hey…" She said, "You're early."

"I just wanted to see you."

Marissa smiled slightly.

"Yeah, Coop," Seth said, "He was here like way ahead of me…"

"Oh, really?" Marissa said.

"Took an early flight." Ryan said, "I mean, come on, it's been too long since I last saw you."

"That's ugh…that's good…" Marissa said unsurely.

"You know, we should get you guys home…" Seth said, "It's gonna be a long weekend…"

"Yeah, good idea, Cohen…" Summer said.

"Marissa, look at you, more beautiful than ever…" Julie said as Marissa and Summer were back home at the Roberts' residence that day.

"Mom!" Marissa said. She then saw Kaitlin going down the stairs seemingly going somewhere. "Hey, Kaitlin…" She greeted.

"Oh," Kaitlin said nonchalantly, "Hey. You're back."

"Yeah, I'm…back…well, for the weekend."

"Cool." Kaitlin said with less enthusiasm, "I'll see you around." She then went out of the house.

"Seems like she's so excited to see you!" Summer said sarcastically.

Marissa just laughed slightly.

"You girls should get some rest, The Cohens are planning a big thanksgiving party…" Julie said, "Just like the old days…" She winked.

"Yeah, mom, cool." Marissa smiled.

"Oh, well, just no turkey for me…" Summer said. She's been a Vegan since college started.

Dr. Roberts laughed, "Definitely no, Summer."

"I shall get some sleep," Summer said, "I missed my pink room!"

They all laughed.

Kirsten knocked on the door of the poolhouse as she saw Ryan inside.

"Hey," Ryan smiled.

"Everything okay, Ryan?"

"Yeah, yeah," Ryan said, "I'm just…wow, I missed it here, I actually did."

"We missed you too, Ryan." Kirsten smiled, "So how are you? You look a little upset, is everything okay?"

"Yeah…" Ryan said, "It's just…I'm just…"

"Is it about Marissa?"

He sighed, "I've just been really worried…I mean, sure, Volchok's in jail but then again Marissa's not with me, you know? It's not easy."

"Relax, Ryan, it's okay, everything's fine now…" Kirsten said, "And it's Thanksgiving, it's gonna be fine…"

"Thanks…" He said, "Uhm, you want me to go out and buy anything?"

"Oh, no, it's all good, just relax, okay?" Kirsten smiled, "See you later…" She then left him in the silence of the poolhouse.

Hours later, Marissa, Summer and Kaitlin were at the Cohen home. Just like the old days. Marissa and Ryan opted to stay in the poolhouse for a while.

Ryan and Marissa were lying down on bed, just staring at the ceiling when Ryan got up and sat down, holding Marissa's hand. "Don't you just miss it here?" He asked.

Marissa got up too, "Of course, I do." She said, her beautiful curly locks falling down her shoulders, "Newport's home, you know?"

"But don't you just want to like, get back here? Or go to Berkely?..."

"Excuse me?" She said, "Ryan, are you telling me to stay where you are?"

"Marissa, I'm just…"

"Look, I love it here, okay? I missed this place, but Ryan, college is good, okay? I actually have been enjoying it, really."

"I'm just worried…"

"Ryan, Volchok's in jail, everything's okay now."

"Marissa, I almost lost you once, you know? I don't want it to happen again."

"It won't," She said, "Just stop worrying too much." She stood up, "You know, let's just go inside…We probably could help them out." She then went out of the poolhouse, without even looking back.

"Mrs C, your turkey smells terrific…I actually could eat it but it would betray the animals' feelings…" Summer told Kirsten while they were at the kitchen, preparing for the Thanksgiving celebrations.

Kirsten and Sandy laughed. Seth wrapped his arm around Summer's shoulders, "That's my girl…" He said and gave her a kiss. Just then, Marissa and Ryan walked in to the kitchen, both looking uptight and upset. Seth and Summer looked at each other.

"Hey," Marissa just said while holding her neck, the way she always does when she's upset.

"Hey, Coop…" Summer greeted, "Atwood!" She also greeted Ryan. Ryan just smiled. They then heard someone ring the doorbell.

"Oh, that must be Julie…" Kirsten said.

"I'll get it…" Marissa said and made her way to the living room. She opened the door and was surprised. It wasn't her mom or Dr Roberts. It was Anna. Anna Stern. The smart, sassy, sexy Anna Stern from Seth's past. The girl who loved comic books. "Anna," Marissa said.

"Hey, Marissa…" Anna beamed.

Summer and Seth then came to see who arrived and were both surprised to see that it was Anna.

"Anna," Seth greeted.

"Hey Cohen…" Anna smiled, "Hey, Summer…"

"Hey…" Summer just said.

"Hey, you're here…" Seth said.

Anna laughed, "Ah, yes, for a while, well…until Christmas…I just decided to visit and bring you some food, canapés, anyone?" She smiled.

"Come on in…" Kaitlin said and grabbed her by the arm, "It's gonna be a great thanksgiving…" She winked at Summer.

"Yeah. Totally." Summer said silently.

The whole Cohen family, the Roberts, The Coopers, and Anna Stern all had Thanksgiving dinner together.

"So, Seth, how's the comic book shop?" Anna asked, in between mouthfuls of turkey.

"Great!" Seth said, "You'd love it there."

"Does atomic county have me in it?"

Seth laughed, "Know what? It's actually not too late for that…"

"I'll wait for it." Anna winked. "Hey, Summer, heard about your work for the animals, sounds great, huh?"

"Yeah, it is." Summer said.

"How did this weekend pass by so quickly?" Seth told Summer as she and Marissa were about to board the flight back to Brown the following day. "Captain Oats will miss you again, Sum!"

"Yeah, and you won't…I mean with Anna Stern around…"

"Hey, that's not true."

"Make sure of that."

"Sum…"

"Be a good boy, Cohen, okay?"

"Of course…I'll miss you."

She sighed, "I'll miss you, too. Loads…"

"Marissa, I'm sorry, okay?" Ryan told Marissa while they were also at the airport.

"It's okay, Ryan." Marissa said, but by her tone, Ryan noticed something was wrong.

"Look, I was just really worried."

"I know." Marissa said, "I'll see you on Chrismukkah."

And with that the alarm rang for the next flight. Seth and Summer kissed and hugged, while Marissa only gave Ryan a peck on the cheek. Minutes later, the two girls were gone, leaving Ryan and Seth in the airport.

"I made her weekend horrible…" Ryan told Seth.

"Chill out, Atwood…" Seth said, "Everything's just starting again."

"I might lose her."

"Nah, you won't, you belong together."

Ryan just shrugged. "I wish you're right, Seth. I wish you're right."

"So, you're heading back to Berkely… and I'm staying here."

"With Anna Stern?"

"Nothing's gonna happen."

"Nothing should happen, Seth. Nothing should happen."