Chapter 4

Taylor's pov

I can't believe how well dinner went on Saturday night, apart from Marissa being there, the evening went fantastic, sandy and Kirsten were lovely and welcoming, Seth and summer were their usual selves and Ryan…. Well Ryan was Ryan, he was… he was wonderful, he was kind, and I could see what a hard time Marissa gives him, and I couldn't help but think that he could do so much better.

After Ryan had dropped me home on Saturday night, I had managed to slip past derrick and avoid any interrogations he might have sprung on me, I went straight to my room and laid on my bed, still wearing Ryan's jacket, I couldn't help but think of him all night, what he was doing? Had he met up with Marissa at the 'party'? was he thinking of me the way I was thinking of him? Eventually I had drifted off to sleep.

The following day, I had immersed myself in my school work, catching up on the books I had to read for English, you know the usual, I had only taken a break when summer had called to see what had happened last night, what she hadn't expected was the grilling I gave her for not telling me that sandy was Ryan and Seth's father, I could hear Seth chuckling in the background, and I couldn't help but join in, they had obviously kept it a secret for a reason, and I was definitely going to find out why eventually.

Today was Monday, the beginning of a new week at oc high, and part of me couldn't wait to get there in the hope of seeing Ryan, but a part of me dreaded the thought of going, knowing that Marissa had probably told her minions everything that had happened on Saturday, that I was not looking forward to.

I arrived at school on the school bus and immediately felt venerable, as Marissa confirmed my fears, there she was waiting or at least I thought she was waiting for me with her clones, still of which I didn't know which one was clary or rose.

I slowly left my seat on the bus and eventually started to step down into the school car park, 'please don't let me fall, please don't let me fall' was all I could think about, and I was concentrating so much on not falling that I didn't see a water polo jock step right out in front of me holding a cup of iced coffee, until it was too late, I was covered, and I could feel it seep into my cream summer dress, a few slushy bits of ice trailing down between my breasts, I stood frozen to the spot, with my arms out wide from the shock, I looked up and everyone was staring, and pointing, then Marissa shouted out, "don't you know where your mouth is new girl?" and sniggers irrupted from the crowd that was now gathering,

"spaz" one of her clones said, and my eyes started welling up, I couldn't help it, all it took was those few words from some of the most popular girls at school and now I was a laughing act, other people started joining in,

"freak", "aw poor baby, is she going to cry?", "loser" some of the crowd said, half In a whisper, but mostly loud enough for everyone to hear, I couldn't bear to here anymore, so I turned to run, the stinging in my throat threatening to spill my tears, but as I turned I was caught in someone's arms,

"Taylor, what's happened?" it was Ryan and if life couldn't get any worse, it just did,

I looked up into his eyes and he could see how upset I was, he pulled me closer, and he looked around at the crowd, and could immediately see what had gone on,

"hey, Johnny, hold these" he said, as he passed his books to another water polo jock,

I looked at his in awe, what was he doing, but then it became clear, he took off his letter man jacket and draped it around my shoulders, smoothing out the collar, and pulling it around me to warm me from the ice cold slushy, everyone hushed, and whispers started circulating the crowd,

"are they a thing now?", "is Ryan dating the new girl?", "maybe I should get slushied, then maybe Ryan would comfort me", I couldn't believe the turnaround, then Ryan took his books from 'Johnny' and put his arm around me totally ignoring the crowd, he let down and whispered in my ear, "lets go find summer" and I nodded,

Some of the crowd moved to let us through, the shock evident on their faces, but one face in particular stuck out, Marissa, and boy was she mad, her face was purple with anger, her clones, clary and rose were whispering in her ear and pointing at me and Ryan, until she pushed them away and stormed off.

I couldn't help but smile, yes I was covered in iced coffee, and yes it had probably ruined my dress, but I was in Ryan's arms, and I felt safe.

We found summer sitting with Seth at one of the lunch tables, and just like the crowd that had just been surrounding us, Seth and summer were both surprised to see me and Ryan together, summer looked at me wearing Ryan's jacket, yet another one, which reminded me, I still had to give the other one back, and then she saw why,

"Taylor what happened, are you ok?" she asked standing up and opening the jacket to see the full extent of the damage,

"I got off the school bus and didn't see this jock walking across my path, and we sorta collided and his drink ended up all over me" I said, cringing at how stupid it sounded,

"did anyone see?" Seth asked smiling

"there was quite a crowd, so I would say erm… yes" Ryan replied,

I cringed again, "well at least you was there to be a knight in shining armour bro" Seth said as he slapped Ryan's back, Ryan looked up at me and smiled, and I couldn't help but blush, it seemed every time I needed saving he was there, and I didn't want it any other way,

"so, lets get you out of this wet dress, and find you something else to wear, I keep some extra stuff In my locker" summer stated, as she started to pull me away, and I reluctantly let her.

Luckily summer and I were roughly the same size, so when she handed me some denim shorts and a loose camisole top, I knew they would fit and I was grateful that I wouldn't have to wear my now ruined dress.

As I changed in the girls bathroom the questions started,

"so you and Ryan?" summer asked,

"me and Ryan what?" I replied,

"oh come on Taylor, its obvious he likes you, and I think you like him too, right?"

"summer Roberts, I don't know what you mean" I said smiling,

"you do like him, ooo this just got good" she said, making me blush, smile and giggle all at once,

"yes, ok I like him… I like him a lot, but its not like anything Is going to happen, he's with Marissa"

Summer rolled her eyes, "oh Taylor come on, you and I both know he can do way better than Marissa, and besides she doesn't think much of him when she's running around with Luke from the basketball team, or Johnny, Ryan's friend from the water polo team, does she?"

I was shocked, I couldn't believe that Marissa could have something so perfect like Ryan and be willing to throw it all away by cheating, summer noticed my shock,

"oh, don't tell me you cant see it" summer said,

But now she mentioned it, the other night at dinner Marissa had been awfully pleased that Ryan was going to lukes party,

"so if she's cheating on him, why doesn't she just end things with him?" I asked

"you know, she wants the status, she wants Ryan to be hers and no-one else's, if she cant have him then no-one can" summer replied,

"does Ryan know, you know that she cheats?" I asked,

"no he doesn't, and you cant tell him Taylor, he has to find out on his own, he has to see what a lying, two faced bitch Marissa really is, if we tell him, she'll just deny it like always"

"summer, what went on between you and Marissa for you to hate her so bad?" I asked, hoping I wasn't treading on thin ice, there was something there, and I could tell it wasn't good,

Summer put her head down, "we've been like this forever, and I've never told anyone, so you gotta swear.."

"I cross my heart" I said, making the motions,

Summer took a deep breath, "Marissa isn't just a high school cheerleader or my worst enemy, she's also…" but summer was interrupted by the very person we were talking about, Marissa and her clones,

"ew, skank alert" Marissa sang, whilst me and summer were already reaching for our things,

As we reached the door to pass them, Marissa stuck out her arm blocking me from leaving, I looked her in the eye, and she leaned in, "don't forget what I said new girl," she said menacingly, summer looked back and realised that Marissa was blocking me,

"hey, move it or lose it" summer said to Marissa, and Marissa looked at her with a look that would win hands down if the saying went ' if looks could kill, summer would be dead'.

"who do you think your talking to like that?" Marissa yelled in summers face, "don't you know who I am?"

Summer grinned, "yes Marissa, I know exactly who you are, or did you forget, so unless you want all your shit laid bare, I suggest you let us on our way"

Marissa froze with shock, what summer had said had obviously stirred some bad thoughts and feelings,

"you wouldn't" Marissa whispered at summer,

"oh wouldn't I? would you like to try me?" summer replied, but Marissa was for once quiet, "thought not, now if you don't mind, we have a class to get to"

Marissa moved her arm, releasing me, and me and summer made our way to class, I looked around, and saw Marissa and her clones throwing daggers our way, and I knew that this, whatever this was, is far from over.

Me and summer sat through two classes together, and not once did I have the opportunity to ask her, what 'shit' she knew about Marissa and who she really was, but I would definitely get it out of her soon.

After lunch, was my psychology class, something I was looking forward to and dreading at the same time, the first one because Ryan would be there and the second because Marissa would be there too.

I slowly made my way into class, and found a seat near the back, out of the way, this was one class I didn't have with summer, and already I felt vulnerable and alone.

I started to get my books out, when a shadow appeared over my desk, my heart skipped a beat, 'please be Ryan, please be Ryan'. I looked up hoping, but they were dashed immediately when I saw it was some random jock that loved himself,

"you are fine" he stated, whilst looking me up and down, I cringed involuntary,

Before I could tell him to 'jog on', Mrs Parsins our teacher entered the room, "seats please people" she yelled, and immediately everyone hushed, then the jock, took the seat next to me, ' I wish a hole would swallow me now' I thought, and then every thing was forgotten when Ryan walked in, and apologised for being late, and took his seat next to marissa, I couldn't help but wish I knew how It felt to be sat at a table with Ryan, instead of bug eyes that was sat next to me, checking out my legs, as he leaned back on his chair.

"names Luke" the jock said, offering his hand,

"Taylor" I said being polite but dismissing his hand, then just at the right moment before 'Luke' could say anything else, Mrs Parsins started to speak,

"right class, its project time, as you all know, we have had six teen pregnancies, and one marriage at this school in the last year, and as our president of the celibacy club, Marissa cooper, pointed out, we have decided to use you are lab rats, so to speak"

Some of the guys started to squeak and twitch their nose, but I was intrigued to see where this was going,

"thank you Mr Anderson for your lovely herring impression, however what I meant is that you will be taking part in this project, to help you learn what it take to be a parent and to be married" she continued,

A few groans rang out around the room,

"ok, now what is going to happen is that you are going to pair off, we will perform a little marriage ceremony then you will act like you are in a real marriage for eight weeks, then we will assign you baby bumps, that have been made to the highest standard for you to get a feel for what it would be like, girls you will wear the bumps for around two further weeks, by then I think you will have had enough, then we will be assigning you a programmed doll to look after like a real baby, this will be for a further two weeks also, the baby will cry, eat, sleep and poo just like a real baby, but we will explain that once you are at that part of the project, any questions?"

I looked around stunned, hands shot up everywhere, "yes Luke?" Mr Parsins said, and I turned to he jock sat beside me,

"how will we act like we're in a real marriage when we don't live together, and most of us have curfews?" he asked

"excellent question, well the school have already had the approval of this project from your parents, so once you have paired up, one of you will move into the other persons house, you will eat, talk, argue, cook, clean, and do everything that a married couple do, and there will be no cheating on this, as all of your efforts of marriage will be recorded on a video diary, and yes some will be shown to your parents, and other classes, so please behave" Mrs Parsins said,

"what about sex?" clary, or was it rose, spoke up,

Mrs Parsins held her hands out, "well what about it?"

"well if we have to pretend we're married, don't married couples have sex" she said

"again another good question, but I think you will find that not many couples do have sex once they are married, as work and everything else that goes into a marriage is far too tiring, obviously if that is something you want to include then so be it, but that is up to your selves and not me, however class we are doing this project to sway you from the marriage and parental role so please if you do be careful"

Everyone started smiling, thinking this was going to be fun, and I could see Marissa already planning things with Ryan and I couldn't help but be jealous, knowing my luck I will get stuck with Luke.

"right, now I have a list here of your pairs that I have organised" Mrs Parsins said to the class, capturing their full attention,

"what? I thought we would choose our own partners" Marissa fumed,

Mrs Parsins looked at Marissa, "I'm sorry dear, but yours and everyone else's parents have decided that set pairs would be best, so as I was saying, I have the list of pairs, so when I call your names please come and collect your wedding rings, and meet your wife or groom"

"Clary, and jace" they both stepped forward nervously, they collected their rings and made their way back to a desk together,

"rose and Eli" and again they stepped forward, class went this way until there was me, Marissa, Luke and Ryan left, ad I knew for sure that Luke would be my partner, I put my head down on the desk, and dreaded my name being called, six weeks married to this jerk, a further two 'pregnant' ergh! I was pulled from my world by Mrs Parsins calling my name,

"Taylor… Taylor…" I looked up and everyone was staring, "come meet your new husband, and collect your ring dear" she sang, I stood up looked to my right and saw Luke still sat there, I looked back up to the front where he was waiting, Ryan was waiting for me, I walked up to him, and stood smiling whilst out of the corner of my eye I could see Marissa fuming, her fists clenched and steam pouring off her, I pushed her away with my mid and looked back at Ryan, he was smiling back, then all of a sudden he reached for my left hand, and he slipped the little plastic ring on my wedding finger, and then the world seemed to spin.