(the next morning… Ryan's bedroom)
He watched her sleeping beside him, her head on his chest, her long golden hair spread out, her face snuggled in the crook of his neck, her expression serene and untouched, a smile on her face, her long eyelashes fanning her cheek. She was holding him even in her sleep like she would never let go. He felt her steady breathing… in… out… in… out… her breath mingling with his, matching his. How many days had he spent hoping against hope that he could just hear her breathe? He had never realized how much he had loved her until the day he had lost her. All ha had thought of in those months was the precious seconds that he had wasted fighting with her, denying his love for her. There had been no one else that had ever come close to how he felt about her. There had been no one else who could ever understand him the way she did. He was never doing that again. Because he knew he couldn't afford to lose her again. She just felt absolutely, terrifyingly, terrifically right!
A slow smile crept across his face as he saw her pulling the covers even more firmly around them. looked like she was getting cold. he moved to gently lay her aside so he could get up and get more blankets but she wouldn't budge. Instead she snuggled even more deeper into him putting a long, slender, naked golden leg around his waist. He looked at the leg a moment longer, then looked at what it was doing to him, as it went up and down around his waist evoking a multitude of reactions in him. Ah…well, being the gentleman that he was he would have to make sure that she was warm. Really…he reasoned… he had no choice but to wake her up...
In one swift motion he overturned their positions so that he was on top. Still… no response. He kissed the tip of her nose. then. Softly he kissed her lips. he began kissing her tummy and slowly moved upwards. If he knew her and her ticklishness well and he thought he did she would wake up about… 3… 2…1…
Marissa spluttering and opening her eyes…
Ryan: now…
M: what the hell?
Seeing Ryan's blond hair and blue eyed face inches from her tummy…
M: oh I am so going to get you for that…
R: hmm… looking forward to it!
M: really…?
They both began tickling each other. They were totally laughing and spluttering when all of a sudden the laughter died from their faces replaced by a charged moment. Ryan moved to kiss Marissa on the mouth… when…
Seth opening the bedroom door, not really seeing anything under the covers…
Seth: hey Ryan… wake up man.
Ryan and Marissa both stilled under the cover.
Seth pulled open the blinds as sunlight streamed into the room. He saw Ryan's bulk under the covers… weird he thought… Ryan seemed to have grown bigger and bulkier in a day… oh well… this was Newport. Weirder things had happened…
Seth: man… Its like 7 in the morning. I was expecting you to be up and brooding by now. did you find a new way of brooding? You do it in your sleep now?
Marissa mimed 'yes' Ryan shushed her by kissing her as she erupts in laughter against his mouth.
Seth: And what happened to you yesterday? You just like disappeared after that entertaining show that you put up. And Marissa's been missing since then too. Summer's worried sick man, which is why she has commanded you on a Marissa mission today. And she has said that she doesn't care what issues you have with her or yourself but to only show her your face if you have Marissa in tow with you.
Ryan and Marissa both were shaking with silent laughter by now. "I do have you in tow" Ryan whispered mischievously very close to Marissa's ear…
Seth: hurry up man… I've tried searching for her everywhere… the life guard stand, the diner, the pier, all our usual hangout places…
Mumbling as he pulls open the covers partially, shock making him speechless for a moment…
Seth: except… it seems… here!
Ryan giving Seth a half annoyed a half exasperated look…
Ryan: man… don't you ever knock?
Seth: (plopping down on the bed) well… the last time I checked there was a little invention called a lock…
So… Marissa… Marissa… Marissa…
Marissa: (awkwardly as she blushes profusely) yes Seth, glad you're finally learning my name.
Seth: ahh… well… things are looking pretty good around here aren't they? I mean no broken furniture… bed seems to be alright…! you two do know how to surprise everyone. I mean, who'd have thought after last night…
Ryan: (seeing Marissa getting awkward) yeah… well… things are good, so if you could just…
Seth: yes… yes… get out you mean… yes, I will… let me just get my bearings okay… I mean wasn't it just 12 hours before when you told me never to mention the name Marissa again… you should just have said you have a problem only with the name… I would have called her something else…
Ryan: (smiling) Seth… get out!
Seth: and he is actually smiling when he is saying it right now…
Ryan: Seth…
Seth: and the smile turns to murder in just a few seconds… fine… fine… I am going… I am gone…
As Seth left, Ryan looked at Marissa…
Marissa: that was even weirder than Kirsten walking in on us…
Ryan: I know… but he is gone now… (with a seductive look in his eyes)
Seth has barely even made to the door when he hears…
Summer: Cohen you there? Is Ryan up yet? We have to hurry…
Before Seth could stop her… summer walks into the room followed closely by a completely disheveled Seth…
Summer: We have got to go and find… (coming face to face with Ryan and Marissa trying to kiss) COOP! (shock on her face) You're here … with Ryan…I mean together…
Marissa: uhh… yeah…
Seth: I tried stopping her, but the woman… will she ever listen to me?
Summer: (taking in everything in one glance) looks like things did work out yesterday…
Marissa smiles…
Marissa: yeah… they did!
Ryan: way better than expected…
Seth: you know what this means guys… we could be "the older and better fab four" again… I was running out of new ideas for my next comic book anyways…
Summer: hmm… we could hang out at the mall together…
Ryan and Seth together: no mall…
Summer and Marissa both laugh at the look of horror on their faces…
Marissa: For now I'll settle for breakfast… the diner anyone?
Ryan: sounds perfect!
Seth and summer: deal!
Seth and summer leave the room to allow Ryan and Marissa to get dressed.
Seth looking at summer frown…
Seth: hey… so Marissa and Ryan are back together… you should be happy…
Summer: I am happy…
Seth: so why the long face?
Summer: it's just… Marissa is back in Newport for what… like two days? And they have spoken to each other… what? Maybe once?
Seth: twice actually… you forgot "the fight" yesterday at our party…
Summer: I was trying to… but anyways, my point is they are like beyond rushing things…
Seth: yeah well, they are "Ryan and Marissa"! they have a name to live up to…
Summer: too bad … the names come attached with way too many break ups and misunderstandings to count…
Seth: don't worry about them. They are like the 'waves'… the crests and the troughs… right now they are on the tallest crest. Let them ride it!
Summer: hmmm… you know what I am worried about though… right?
Seth: what?
Summer: that the trough might just be right around the corner…
(The diner…)
Summers, Seth, Ryan , Marissa are sitting in their usual booth. The waitress comes to take their orders…
waitress: so what can I get you guys?
Seth: pancakes would be good for me.
Ryan: yeah, same for me…
Summer: hmm, I am trying to lose the baby weight. So ill go with a sandwich.
Marissa: uhh… I think I'll go with a double cheeseburger, chili fries, and a chocolate shake…
Ryan chuckled…
Ryan: someone looks hungry today…
Seth: yeah… I mean what will people say? Remember, you are supposed to be the chick who battled anorexia once…
Marissa: hmm… I don't care… I feel like I have no energy left… God! I am so hungry.
Summer: yeah… an awesome, mind-blowing sex usually tends to do that to you…
Both Ryan and Marissa blush
Summer: (grinning as she looks at their telltale blushes) Atwood… looks like you haven't lost your touch…
Marissa: (smirking at her) no he hasn't!
Summer: like you've got loads of people to compare it to.
Marissa: (smiling mischievously) maybe I do…
Ryan: (raising his eyebrows and smiling) oh you do… do you? Then I'll just have to do something to erase them from your mind.
Marissa: somebody's being too full of oneself…
Ryan: nah… I am just confident about you…
Everyone was laughing by then… well everyone except Seth because somehow he thought he picked up a slight underlying tremor in Ryan's voice…
A guy walks in the diner at about the same time. He goes over to the counter…
Counter lady: can I help you?
Guy: (winking at the lady) hey doll you sure can… I am looking for Marissa cooper?
All four turn towards the sound of her name. Marissa jumps out of the booth and runs towards the guy. The guy picks her up and twirls her round and round.
Marissa: hey… what are you doing here?
Guy: Is that the way they wish people in Newport? Where's my kiss?
And with that the guy kisses her full on the mouth…
Summer's spoon clattered on the floor, Seth's mouth hung open, and Ryan's entire demeanor stilled…
Ryan watched this entire byplay with nothing but an absolute gut wrenching, blood curling fear in the pit of his stomach. He felt as if someone had punched him in the gut. He couldn't hear what they were saying but what was the guy doing kissing his girlfriend? At least that's what they were, weren't they? From the way Marissa had spoken to him last night, he was under the impression that she had been in love with him. But they hadn't really talked about stuff. What if last night hadn't meant anything to her? The 'old Marissa' had been confused and lost but she had never been casual or cheated on him. This 'new Marissa' was confident and sure of where she was going and what she wanted. What if she had changed in other aspects too? Suddenly his earlier claim that he was confidant about her started to feel very hollow to his own ears. All his old jealousies and insecurities resurfaced as he felt the anger bubble inside him…
(at the counter)
Marissa looked at Jason as she put on a stern expression.
Marissa: common Jace… you can't behave like that with me. How many times have I told you not to kiss me…
Jason: (winking at her) and how many times have I told you that that's the way they say hello from where I come from…
Marissa: from where you come from is the la-la land…
Jason: aww… you are hurting my feelings…
Marissa: and ill be dead before I believe that. God, am I happy to see you or what? Common, I'll introduce you to everyone…
Taking his hand and dragging him to the booth…
Seth saw Marissa walking the guy over to their table with something close to absolute trepidation. He looked at them walking uncomfortably close then looked at Ryan's expression. Oh… boy… not good… he looked at Ryan's eyes then… looked like he was going to punch the guy… oh boy… definitely not good…
Marissa: hey everyone… this is Jason.
Then looking at Jason,
Marissa: and this is summer, Seth, and this is Ryan…
Jason: (smiling) oh… so you are Ryan…
Ryan: (eyes blazing with anger) yeah… I am Ryan.
Suddenly the atmosphere became extremely tense and charged.
Jason tentatively shook Ryan's hand…
Jason: uh… it's nice to finally meet you. I have heard so much about you…
Ryan: (looking at Marissa) funny… but I didn't hear anything about you…
The air crackled with electricity as Ryan's deep eyes bore into Marissa's.
Marissa: (fully seeing Ryan's expression for the first time) uh… I was going to tell you… Jace and I… we've been friends for a long time. I met him in therapy…
Ryan: (with a bite in his voice) like all your 'other friends'? figures…
Seeing Marissa's stricken expression at his uncalled for oblique reference to Oliver Ryan felt a slight amount of guilt…
Ryan: (running his hands through his hair and sighing as he tried to control his emotions) I should probably go… late for office… Jason, you should sit down. The food here is really good… but you probably know that already…
With that Ryan leaves…
No one spoke anything for a couple of seconds as both Seth and summer turned to look at Marissa. Marissa sighed as she sat down at the place emptied by Ryan. She was so used to Jason behaving that way around her that she hadn't realized how it would look to someone else. There was nothing there at all. That was just the way Jason was. He behaved that way around all his friends. And she was one of his closest one.
Meanwhile…
Summer looked over at both of them giving them a very perceptive glance. She looked at Marissa… there was absolutely nothing there. She looked at Jason. There maybe something there but it was buried way down. The more she looked she became more and more sure that they actually were just friends in spite of their more than unfriendly greeting a while ago…
Seth suddenly remembered summer's earlier conversation with him.
Seth: (looking queerly at Jason) is your surname 'trough' by any chance?
Jason: what?
Summer kicks Seth under the table…
Summer: nothing really… sometimes my husband talks just to make sounds…
Jason: uh… okay…
Summer: we should probably go too. I bet you guys have a lot of catching up to do. Coop… I'll talk to you later?
Without waiting for any response summer dragged Seth out of the booth…
Marissa: I am sorry about.. you know…
Jason: oh no… no problem. it is totally cool.
Marissa: so tell me… what brings you here?
Jason: work…
Marissa: really? How's that?
Jason: I got transferred over here. (waited for a millisecond before adding) I am your new boss…
Marissa: what?
(Ryan's office – lunch hour)
Ryan was sitting on his desk staring into space. Great way to go Atwood… his girlfriend was kissing some stranger and he was here procrastinating about it. Great. Just great. Okay so maybe it had looked a little too suspicious from where he was standing. But he knew Marissa would never do that. Would she? It was just that there was way too much similar history between them and his overactive jealous streak had kicked into place. It was not just that either. If it was true, if she had a boyfriend then she would hurt him more than she had ever hurt him before and he wasn't sure this time he could handle that.
Seth enters…Seth: hey…
Ryan: not now Seth… I am busy…
Seth: I can see that… seeing as you've got absolutely no paperwork on your desk and you are staring into space…
Seth: okay… no talk… right… so did you speak to Marissa after our little diner rendezvous…?
Ryan: didn't get the time… busy…
Seth: hmm… monosyllables…perfect… we're getting back our old Atwood…
Seth: wow…no response… even more in character…
Seth: okay… so did she call you?
Ryan: what is this? 20 questions?
Seth: so she did!
Ryan gives him a look…
Seth: so…
Ryan: I didn't pick up… I had something else on my mind…
Seth: and would that be punching a 30 something tall, blond haired, blue eyed Luke look alike who just happened to have a knack of playing pirouette with a lean friend of ours?
Ryan: (got up from his chair and faced Seth, his eyes boring into him) now why would you think that?
Seth: coz maybe I have eyes and I know you well?
Ryan: (showing his frustration for the first time) yeah… yeah… I have eyes too, and today morning was clear enough.
Seth: but shouldn't you at least talk to her?
Ryan: (shouting) about what? He is just a friend, she was just helping him out, and they connected blah blah blah. I know the story back to front especially since this is happening to us for like the millionth time.
Seth: okay if not talking to her and brooding about it works for you…whatever… I wont interrupt. Its just I know that you know that this is it. That she is 'it'. Then why are you complicating it?
Ryan: I am not. She is…
(meanwhile Marissa and Jason at the diner…)
Marissa sneaked a look at her phone for the 'nth' time now. Twice she had tried it. Twice she had received his voice mail. She was starting to get angry now… typical Ryan! He would rather brood about it than talk to her about it. She couldn't believe he was actually ignoring her calls. She looked at her phone again…
Jason: just give him a call ,girl…
Marissa: tried that. Voice mail. Probably busy…
Jason: you want me to bash up the jerk? Knock some sense into him?
Marissa: (smiling) no thanks… but I doubt you'd be able to bash him up anyways… he is better in that department than you are… and he is not a jerk.
Jason: okay… so why is he acting like one?
Marissa: its… its just I think today morning may have looked to him like there was more than what really was and well…he is Ryan. (as if that explained everything)
(looking at Jason's confused expression)
Marissa: It's more complicated than that.
Jason looked at Marissa. Okay, so maybe he didn't know this Ryan. And maybe he didn't get their whole deal. But he did know a few things about relationships. And he did know Marissa. She could be confused sometimes and lost sometimes and withdrawn sometimes. She needed someone who could sort out through all those feelings and find the real 'her'. Now if the guy couldn't even talk to her about his own feelings, forget about hers, then it was tough... real tough…
Jason: honey… you've been in love with the guy since you were 16. since I met you, you have not even dated another guy in spite of my numerous efforts in that direction. If he can't give you even this much credit for it, then I think it's time you moved on…
Marissa: look…I know how it must look to you… but in the past I have hurt him many times… and well Ryan… he doesn't trust people easy…
Jason: but it's not people, it's you we are talking about. How is this relationship going to work without trust?
Marissa: (looked at the phone again… then looked at him) you're right about that…
(At that moment phone rings)
Marissa: hello
Ryan: hey… it's me… uh… I was wondering if maybe you wanted to meet up like this evening?
Marissa felt a sigh pass through her as she heard Ryan's voice at the other end. She knew she should be angry at him for treating her with so little trust but right now she just felt relief.
Marissa: (biting her lips) uh.. yah… okay… I am at the diner right now. Do you want me to pick up something and come to your house?
Ryan released a breath that he didn't even know he had been holding as he heard her response. How had things become this complicated just a day after they had gotten together?
Ryan: (running his hands through his hair) okay.
Suddenly hears voices in the background.
Ryan felt his breath catch in his throat…
Ryan: who are you with?
Marissa could have killed herself to be at any other place at this time except here with Jason.
Marissa: (biting her lip) uhh… nobody… see you at 7?
Ryan: (with narrowed eyes) uh… okay!
Seth and summer's house Seth: so… Ryan and marissa…Summer: I was thinking of the same thing…
Seth: weird… but this time I thought it would really be 'it'.
Summer: me too…
Seth: what with marissa going into rehab and supposedly becoming more mature…
Summer: and Ryan having mellowed down a little with age…
Seth: no… but Marissa had to go ahead and complicate things…
Summer: what do you mean? It isn't her fault.
Seth: oh and Jason just dropped out of the sky is it?
Summer: and Ryan just forgot to trust her, is it?
Seth: hey… hey… give the guy a break. Marissa's been pulling stunts like this ever since the first moment they met.
Summer: and Ryan's been hurting her by not trusting her since about that time too.
Both of them sighed as they thought back to two their best friends and their complicated relationship.
Seth: how is it that two people who love each other so much continually tear each other apart.
Summer: I don't know. But this has to stop.
Seth: I couldn't agree more…