THE NERVES

"GOOD MORNING RYAN!" Seth exclaimed has he entered the poolhouse. "She's coming home man. Now, our 2 months of planning, our mission is undergo! Get ready, we've got a long day ahead of us!"

"Seth, its 8. Leave." Ryan said, hiding from his pillows.

"Nope! You've spent a majority of summer like this, now it's time."

"First of all, there was never any 'planning' nor is there a 'mission'. Second, she doesn't arrive till like 12. The welcome home dinner isn't till... dinner time. Thirdly, its 8. Goodbye." Ryan grabbed another pillow and threw it at Seth, who just caught it and tossed it aside.

"So? We need to brush up on your lady skills. Practice a little" Seth said, opening the blinds allowing more light to pass through.

"Ugh. Fine I'll get up." Ryan grunted "But for breakfast. I don't need to practice anything. What do you mean, 'lady skills?'"

"The big romantic gesture? How are you going to sweep her off her feet? Express your feelings towards her? It's been months since Christmas Eve, New Year's. Who are we kidding, you've never stopped loving her. Plus, school starts soon. She may not wait for you forever. Some new guy in her classes may steal your chance sooner or later. What are you waiting for?"

"It's doing to be fine. We're going to be fine. It's Marissa, I'll just talk to her." Ryan said.

Seth looks at Ryan, and Ryan then thinks back to what he says.

Seth laughs, "Talk? Since when do you talk?"

Ryan thinks for a while. What will he actually do when he sees Marissa again? Since Christmas Eve and that moment they shared on New Year's, their "friendship" has never been better! A lot of flirting and "almost" moments. But that was before summer, before 2 months ago. What will he do now? 2 months later. Will she still feel the same way? A lot can happen over the summer. Ryan looks over to Seth again, who's waiting for a response.

"I hate to say it, but you've got a point."

/

(Marissa is staying at Summer's house. She stays there every holiday when she's not living in her dorm in Berkely or when Julie and Caitlin, who still live in the trailer, don't have space for her)

It was 4 in the afternoon, and Summer was getting ready for the dinner, which was in 2 hours. As she was finishing up, Marissa walks in from her nap.

"Hey, how was your nap?"

"Good!" Marissa rubs her eye. She lays down on Summer's bed. "So how've you been? How's Seth?" As much as she wanted to ask about Ryan, Marissa didn't want to show too much angst in front of Summer. She already teases her enough.

"I'm good! We're good. We've spent all summer just being together. No big drama since high school. Except when he took me to this comic book convention. He tricked me saying we were going somewhere romantic and..." Meanwhile, Marissa thought of Ryan. She was so nervous to see him tonight. She hopes that they can start where they left off before summer. She was waiting for him to make the first move hopefully before school starts. Her stomach felt uneasy just thinking about if he's changed his mind over the summer. Or what if he is actually nervous to see her just as she is to see him? Then she smiled at the sight of him in her head, sweating bullets, nervous, in his casual wife beater and shirt.

"HELLOOO? Stop smiling"

"Right. Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. That's Cohen for you!" Marissa laughed nervously, it was obvious she wasn't paying attention.

"Mhmm... Coop? It's obvious you were on some other planet. What were you thinking of? Ryan?" Summer teased.

"What? no." Marissa lied. "...Yes, maybe. Okay look, I came here because I need your help with getting ready for tonight. I want to look perfect and for this to be perfect."

Summer laughed, "I should have known. Well Coop, Ryan is hot. You gotta look equally hot. But then again, let's face it, you could wear one of Cohen's geeky shirts and Chino will still be head over heels in love with you"

"He's not.." she paused as she blushed, "In love with me."

"And Cohen's the most normal kid ever." Summer sarcastically said. "Stop denying the facts. You both have never stopped loving one another...and Cohen's still a geek"

Marissa laughed. She missed her best friend and the way she can bring a smile to her face.

"I missed you, Sum."

"I missed you too. Anyways, how was Italy? Any hot Italian men?" Marissa gave her a look. "Right, Ryan."

"Italy was great! Lot's of cool buildings, Ryan would have loved it."

Summer raised her eyebrows at her best friend.

"Because he's studying architecture and hopes to be one! What? It's true. Anyways, Caitlin found 'the one'...again. Hot, rich Italian guy about her age named, Anotonio." Summer laughed. "Yeah I know. But he came to Newport with us because his family was going on a vacation to LA."

"Wow. Mini Coop on the loose once again. But maybe he is the one. Everyone's got one. Maybe Antonio is her Ryan?" Marissa shot her a glare. "Wow, Coop. I'm kidding. Sorta. Glaring now are we? You and Ryan are meant for each other." Marissa didn't respond. "Gonna stop talking now. Let's get you ready!"

/

"Ryan? You in here? The Dinner's in like, an hour. You ready? Mom's getting near the food, it's scaring me a little."

Ryan came out of the bathroom, his hair was wet and he was just in a wife beater and nice pair of jeans.

"I like the 'welcome-home-Marissa-fall-in-love-with-me-now' outfit you got going there" Seth said sarcastically.

"Seth, I'm not ready yet..." Ryan looked around in his dresser.

"Oh by the way, make sure you remember to call your mom, she called while you were in her shower? She said one of her close friends works with an architecture firm that might be offering an internship?" Seth just observed him. Soon, Ryan started to get impatient and started messing around with his clothes, throwing some of them on the ground.

"Ryan. Calm down a little. Do you need help? I won't tell anyone that you needed help finding an outfit because you want to look good for a certain someone."

Ryan just turned around and glared at him. "I don't need help. I'll come over to help set up the dinner in a bit. I just need to change. Architecture firm? Wow. I'll definitely call her." With news of his mom and the internship offer he felt a little better. He couldn't be more proud of his mom. Sober now for almost 5 years, turning her life around, involved in his life calling every now and then, he was definitely proud of her. "Did she say anything more?" He asked.

"Just that her close friend Lily really needs someone to fill in a spot, so I guess here's your chance! Oh and your mom also says she misses you, we should all go out for dinner, blah blah blah."

"Thanks. I'll give her a call later tonight or tomorrow. Now please leave. I'm getting weird vibes from you walking in on me after I shower and now before I'm about to change." And with that, Seth left to go back to the house.

Why am I so nervous. It's just Marissa, Ryan thought. But everyone, even himself, knew that it wasn't nor was it ever just Marissa.