I had a huge amount of fun writing this even though I was half practicing my Romeo & Juliet lines while writing. I sort of hate Marissa, and I made her pretty catty, but I had to have Summer defend her cause they were close. Hopefully Ryan didn't sound like he hated Marissa, lol. Rate & Review loves!

Sight

He watched her. Not in that creepy, stalker way that Seth had looked at Summer when she was with Zach, he just saw her. He wondered if he was the first person to see her, the first person to take a good look at her. No one else seemed to care about her, no one else even bothered to look at her. She was always just there, unless Summer brought her up and told everyone to try and avoid her. But she seemed pretty much harmless in his eyes. He had seen worse in Chino, he had seen worse Newpsies than Taylor Townsend. According to Summer, the girl was a mini Newpsie. She schemed, she gossiped, she coveted Social Chair, and she was just so perky, but so cunning. Maybe he should stop listening the his brother's girlfriend, but she seemed to know so much about Harbor and stuff that he felt sort of glad she had 'warned' him about Taylor.

To him, the girl seemed sort of harmless. Most likely she was so uptight and conniving for a reason. Besides, anyone that cheerful couldn't be all bad. She wasn't bad to look at either. The only good thing about Marissa not coming to Harbor anymore was that now he had a chance to look at Taylor without Marissa's high pitched complaints coming from behind him. He still felt bad that it was basically his fault that Marissa got kicked out of private school, but she did need a dose of reality. His girlfriend seemed to think that he would do anything to save her, that she was special and she needed a man to protect her. At her new school, she probably befriended the first guy who came along. But Harbor was a lot different now, different in a good way. He didn't have to worry about being perfect and impressing Marissa so that another Oliver doesn't come around.

His blue eyes followed the tight body that was making its way up to the front of the classroom. He licked his lips as Taylor Townsend crossed her legs, causing her already short skirt to ride up her thighs a bit more. If he didn't know any better, he would swear she could tell he was watching her. But just looking at her smooth, tan skin made him clench his fists in anger. Every time he saw her, he felt a small surge of hate fill his body because all he could picture was Dean Hess with his filthy paws all over his- well, not his- Taylor. Looking at her now, she didn't look like she could have ever had an affair with the Dean of Discipline. She looked vulnerable, and innocent, sweet and oddly enough, alluring. He didn't like thinking of the blond man touching, feeling the girl who was in the front of the classroom. Summer thought that Taylor knew what she was doing when she first started seeing Hess. But Ryan knew better.

He could see the way her amber eyes would shine with unshed tears whenever someone brought up the subject of Hess and saw her cheeks flush. He would've bet anything that she hadn't had a clue what Dean Hess wanted from her until the man had first touched her. He bet she was scared, but wanted to be considered powerful and in control, so she didn't report him. He bet she hadn't had a single clue about what she was getting into when the Dean started to feel her up. Thinking about Hess's slimy hands on Taylor's smoother skin, on her cheek, her neck, her collarbone… He shook his head, clenching the seat he was sitting on in anger. The Dean of Discipline was gone now, Sandy was sure of it. But Taylor was still here, and it was Taylor who had to deal with Summer's harsh words and Seth's comments on her taste. It was Taylor who had to deal with ridicule ay after day, and nothing anyone would ever do would help her.

He watched her all of class, watched her raise her hand to answer each question the teacher asked but only get called on once. He watched her take notes with a green pen in a small pink notebook. He watched her brush her auburn locks off of her face, he watched her whisper the answers to the people beside her when the math teacher asked them a question. Finally, class was over and he was out of that classroom. Looking at her tan, slim legs for that long had practically driven him crazy. Walking out into the hallway, he heard a small voice pipe up behind him. "Hi Ryan." The cheery voice said and he knew who it was instantly.

"Taylor. What's up?" He was going to ask her what she wanted, but couldn't bear to watch the hazel light dim from her wide eyes.

"Just heading to Social Committee. I was wondering if I could ask you something." Her lips curved up in a bright smile, and he couldn't refuse that look. She looked strangely desperate, as if she was still trying to get things under control. "I know I already sort of asked you and Seth, but I really wanted you to know that your help setting up for the lock in would really be appreciated."

"That's not a question, Taylor," Ryan replied, expertly avoiding the crowds in the hallway.

"Well, could you please, please help us set up for the lock in? Oh, and clean it up?" She asked, no evidence of the usual blackmailing and bargaining ways in her voice. "I mean, no one really wants to helpme, and I don't think Seth could set up all by himself so could you…?"

Ryan waited for a moment, carefully watching the desperate expression in her amber eyes. She really looked like she could use the help, and he would never, could never refuse a damsel in distress. Especially not one who looked like this. "Fine Taylor, I'll help. You're probably right anyways; Seth would be able to do any of the heavy lifting."

Expecting to be rewarded with a smile or a time he needed to be there, he listened to the tinkling laugh that bubbled its way out of her pink mouth. He held back laughter of his own as she clapped her hands and let out a small, "Yay!" She was too adorable; he really didn't understand she had no friends, or at least no real friends. "I mean thanks." She corrected herself quickly, pushing her hair off of her face.

"No problem. It's for a good cause anyways." He was surprised to find himself smiling as she beamed at him, her eyes shining and her cheeks pink.

"It's just nice to have someone who actually wants to help…" Taylor trailed off, looking over Ryan's shoulder. He bit his lip, wondering why she looked so thoughtful. Much to his surprise, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, leaving the faint smell of strawberry lip gloss behind from her kiss. Before he could even think of something to say back to her, he felt someone tap him on his shoulder and whirled around.

"Marissa." Ryan muttered hoarsely, looking at his tall, blond girlfriend. The girl didn't look angry, only disgusted and thoughtful. He stepped in front of Taylor, wondering what his girlfriend was going to say.

"Hey Ryan." Marissa shot him a self assured smile before tossing her golden locks back and facing Taylor. "Hey Dork-whoops, I mean Townsend. What are you doing, talking to my boyfriend?" The malice dripping from her voice suggested that she hadn't really made a mistake, and made Ryan feel worse than he already did.

Clearly, Taylor felt just as bad. Her cheeks turned red, and he wondered if he had seen the slightest glimmer of tears in her formerly gentle eyes. "I was just asking for help for the lock in I'morganizing, as Social Chair. Not that I need much, you know better than anyone that the carnivals and dances we throw are usually organized by me."

He felt proud of Taylor for sticking up for herself, but he could practically see the steam coming out of Marissa's ears. "Listen, Taylor. Just because I'm out of Harbor and you have nofriends, doesn't mean that you can try and take my friends, like you took my position as Social Chair. So do everyone a favor and crawl back into your little cave." He glared at Marissa, shaking his head. He was almost certain that Taylor was about to cry now. "I'll wait for you in the car, Ryan." With that, the blond sauntered away confidently.

"Sorry about that. She had no right to say those things, Marissa's just jealous that you're better than her at being Social Chair. And that you're at Harbor and she isn't." He patted Taylor on the back softly before watching her face become composed of a cool mask.

"Thanks Ryan," the clipped tone she was using made him sure that she wasn't thanking him and that she was hurt. "But I have to go- what was it? Crawl back into my cave and work on plans from the lock in." With those words, she turned on her heal and walked down the hall. Before turning the corner, she turned her head and her face softened into a sweet smile. "Really, thank you. I'm just used to dealing with things like that on my own." He felt his blood run cold as she said 'things like that'. He wasn't surprised that this had happened to her before, but he was surprised that she could deal with it so coolly, taking it in mechanically.

"Shit," he muttered to himself, walking to the door. It was time to go and face the blond Newps- er, Marissa.

…

"Atwood!" Ryan realized that Summer's eyes had almost turned black. He cringed as she slapped his arm. "Marissa was not that mean. I mean, she had her moments, especially around Taylor, but she wasn't a Newpsie-in-training."

"I know, I know, but I just want Taylor to know how much she meant to me, even back then, when she thought she had no friends." Ryan squeezed his girlfriend's arm and his eyes widened as she took him in a bone crushing hug. As she pulled away, he realized her eyes were all teary and groaned. "Not again."

"I'm sorry," Taylor protested, wiping her hazel eyes. "That was just…exactly what I needed to hear." She rested her head on his shoulder as he lovingly stroked her hair.

"What I'm curious about it what Taylor was thinking, having an affair with Hess. And I don't mean because he was the Dean, but because he's just so slimy and cruel." Seth wrapped his arms around Summer, pulling his own girl closer.

"He just paid attention to me, and he liked me. Put yourself in my shoes. If you had no friends and no one liked you, if someone showed you the smallest bit of affection, wouldn't you go for it?"

While Ryan and Seth shook their heads, Summer thoughtfully nodded. "I get it. It's just, Tay, you didn't need to sleep with the Dean of Discipline to get attention."

"Who said I slept with him?" Taylor raised a perfectly arched eyebrow and Ryan planted an affectionate kiss on her forehead.

"Whatever." Summer replied, looking down at the ground. "Brief Case or No Brief Case is on channel 15, let's watch it!" She made a dive for the remote, but Seth held her back.

"No, Summer, my dear, it's your turn for your little trip down Memory Lane." Before his girlfriend could groan, Seth swiftly covered her small red mouth. "Summer…" He warned, releasing her lips.

"Fine." The small brunette pouted, but seemed to accept that it was her turn.

"Good."

"While you shut up so I can think?"

"What would the fun in that be?"

"Shut up Cohen, I have one."