Chapter Four: Something Has To Go Wrong

Amy stood in front of the mirror in her room, trying to decide on the best outfit to wear. A few dozen were already discarded and thrown carelessly on her bed. It was as if a tornado had just blown through her room. She knew that it wasn't actually a date, but that didn't mean she couldn't dress up a little. She finally decided to wear her black strapless dress over jeans, with her pink Chucks to punk it up a little. Her hair fell in long wisps over her face, red and blonde peeking out through the brunette. She was beautiful, but she would never admit this to anyone. Too many people in her life, namely her disgusting boyfriends, had told her that she was nothing and ugly. After so many times of hearing this, she began to believe it herself and her confidence was down to a thin, tenuous strand. She began to feel that the only thing that she had was her intelligence and shut herself down from the rest of the world. She would never allow herself to open her heart again and tried to give off a fake persona to everyone else. She never wanted her heart to be opened up and let herself be vulnerable. Her heart had been broken to pieces. She didn't need someone to do it again. This is what she had been telling herself to do up until the point in which she had met Ryan. Now, her heart and mind were pulling her in different directions, one telling her to open up to him and the other telling her to stay closed off and away. Now, she was ignoring both of them and was going to become his friend. Or at least, try to.

Unfortunately, someone else had other plans.

Ryan sat on his bed, staring solemnly into the LCD screen of his cell phone. Five missed calls, all from Lindsay, were being erased. He didn't know what to think as the calls were fading away. He couldn't tell if he still was in love- had he ever been in love with Lindsay? He didn't know. He knew that she made him feel better after Marissa had decided they should be friends, but he could never tell if he really liked her, or if he was just rebounding from a broken heart. His heart had been broken many a time, and all the while he had tried to harden it. And after Lindsay had broken up with him, Ryan thought that he finally had fallen out of love, had hardened his heart to the point of no return. But now, someone else was trying to pry it open, in the most circuitous way possible. Trying her hardest to beat around the bush, Amy was gently breaking off the pieces surrounding his heart, in the most unlikely way. She wanted to be his friend. He hadn't had a friend since Seth, and he truly believed that maybe it would help him. But somehow, he didn't feel right just being her friend. He wanted more from her. But, he couldn't decide what that was yet. And it would take a while for him to choose.

Ryan walked into the Bait Shop, Summer, Seth, and Zach bantering about the comic behind him. He figured from the tone of their voices, the whole San Diego trip hadn't been resolved. But, by the way Seth and Summer were looking at each other, Ryan didn't think it would take long for them to figure it out. Ryan scanned the room for Amy and quickly found her standing in front of the bar, her elbows leaning on it for support. He walked to her and leaned next to her. She looked at him and he could see a smile on her profile from the corners of his eyes.

"So, do you like the Killers?" she shouted above the music.

"They're really good." Ryan couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was absolutely beautiful. He wondered absentmindedly if anyone had ever told her that before, and hoped to God that they had. He made a mental note to find out if there had been anyone who had said otherwise, and a side note to beat the living shit out of them. They both stood there in silence, both rocking back and forth to the song, something Ryan caught as being called "Mr. Brightside". Ryan glanced over at Seth, who was still bickering with Summer, who was perfecting her eye roll as he spoke. Zach, on the other hand, wasn't looking too happy about the whole progress of his date, but neither Seth nor Summer seemed to notice.

Toward the end of the song, Amy turned her head long enough to see a girl with long red hair staring at her with the most spiteful look that Amy had ever seen. She cocked her head, confused, and looked around to see if she wasn't the target of that malicious look. But when she turned around again, she saw the girl walking quickly towards them. Ryan turned to look at her and then followed her gaze, grimacing when he saw who was standing in front of him. And being taken aback at the strong smell of liquor coming from her mouth.

"Lindsay, what are you doing here?"

"Why haven't you called?" she slurred at him. "And who the hell is that?"

Amy, trying to be funny, stuck her hand out. Lindsay swatted at it with horrible aim and Amy pulled back quickly.

Ryan looked at her. "What have you been drinking?"

"The same stuff Marissa is."

"What, are you two like friends now?"

By this time, Summer had made her way over to Amy's side and was watching. Lindsay, who had completely ignored Ryan's last question, tried to smack Amy, but she grabbed her hand.

"Let go of me, you whore, and get away from my boyfriend."

"Lindsay, I'm not your-"

"Shut up. Come on, Ryan," she said, dropping her voice and rubbing against him. He pushed her away at about the same time Marissa strolled over, who was looking pretty smashed herself.

"What's going on here?" she asked, the alcohol cascading off of her breath.

"Why don't you tell me?"

"What are you talking about?" Marissa slurred, her eyes slowly glazing over.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about, Marissa. This is the second time Lindsay's gotten drunk because of you."

"I didn't do it because of her. I did it for myself," Lindsay said this with a very proud look on her face.

"You know, you don't have to protect us all the time Ryan. We're big girls. We can take care of ourselves."

Ryan sighed and reached out to grab Marissa as she tripped over her own feet, but she swung at him and regained her balance.

"Don't you fucking touch me, Ryan. I don't want your hands on me."

"Hey, come on Coop," Summer said, placing a hand on Marissa's arm, but she pulled back from her grasp as well.

"I don't need you to take care of me either Summer. Besides," she said, smirking evilly, "don't you need to take care of some things for yourself, Sum?"

Summer eyed her nervously. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, well, I don't know, maybe this big choice between Cohen and Zach?" She looked at Seth and mouthed, "It's you" to him and then gave Summer a huge smile. Summer looked as if she were going to burst into tears and Ryan looked at Marissa in awe. Summer lifted her head up high and said in nothing more than a whisper, "I guess I'm finally figuring out what you actually think."

"I guess so," Marissa said, crossing her arms across her chest. Summer nodded and turned quickly, walking out of the club. Both Seth and Zach began to follow her, but Amy, who had been quiet throughout the whole ordeal, stepped in.

"I think that I should go. I don't think she'll want to talk to either of you about this tonight," she said, with a reassuring glance at Seth. Seth and Zach eyed each other, then nodded and walked off in separate directions.

"See you on Monday, Ryan," Amy said, and then went off to find Summer.

Ryan nodded and then turned back to Marissa. Lindsay had been staring off into a corner for a few minutes, staying out of the conversation. Ryan was surprised at her; he had never seen Lindsay like this before, but was more concerned with Marissa's actions.

"What's wrong, Marissa?"

Marissa stared at him. "Why should I tell you? You'll just find someway to blame it all on me, anyway. So, I really don't think I want to tell you." Marissa had almost gone to the point of losing consciousness and was slowly rocking back and forth on her heels. Lindsay looked at him.

"Ryan, just go home, okay? I'll take Marissa into see Alex."

Ryan stared at Lindsay and then shrugged, letting her take over. He turned around, slowly becoming aware that the whole ordeal that had just played out had completely ruined his "date" with Amy. He found her outside with Summer and Seth, who was lingering back and watching them. Amy had her arm around Summer and was trying to sooth her. Summer, Ryan could see, was crying. Seth, noticing he was there, patted Summer on the shoulder and walked toward him.

"Bye Amy," Ryan called, but she seemed not to notice. Ryan turned around dejectedly and began walking toward home with Seth.

"I've never seen Marissa act like that before." Seth said this about five minutes into the trip.

Ryan sighed. "I have. I was actually worried about Lindsay."

"Well, it's kind of obvious as to why she did that."

Ryan looked at him, bewildered. "Why?"

"She wants to get back together with you. And Amy seems to be standing in her way."

Ryan shook his head. "Why? She broke up with me."

Seth just shrugged. "I'm just saying man. I think someone's involved in a three-way triangle again. And one that is actually much more pleasant than that of the Ryan-Lindsay-Caleb triangle." At that image, they both shuddered.