The song in this is "You Had Me At Hello" by A Day To Remember. Just thought it was appropriate. anyways i kind of get drepressed writing this fic. but it just comes so easy to me! Here is a whole flashback chapter. Set their sophomore year after Ryan moves in with the Cohen's. It pretty much goes with the show until they reach school where Taylor and Ryan meet.

Chapter 7

I'm missing you so much, I'll see you die tonight,

Just so I can get to you before the sun will rise.

I know the signs are on and I feel this too,

None of that seems to matter when I'm holding you.

"He's new here." Summer Roberts pointed across the court yard of Harbor. "Yeah, so?" Taylor gave her a strange look. "He's living with the Cohen's."

"So what?" Taylor questioned. "God, are you that clueless! Talk to him! Well before Coop keeps running after him." Summer urged. "If Marissa's going after him then let her. It's not like that guy would even like me. What's his name anyway? And why exactly is he living with the Cohen's?" Summer laughed at Taylor. "Townsend you're talking fast again. You think he's hot don't you?"

"Doesn't matter now answer my questions." Taylor raised her eyebrows. "Okay, his name is Ryan Atwood. He's from Chino and he stole a car with his brother. Sandy Cohen was his lawyer or whatever and took him in. So now here he is." Summer smiled hoping Taylor wouldn't freak. "

So he's a bad boy?" Taylor looked intrigued. "I guess you could say that except when you talk to him he's really not a bad boy. I mean Seth and I've been spending a lot of time with him since he's gotten here. I have been trying to keep Coop away but it's not happening." Summer laughed a little. "

So you just want me to like this guy so he won't like Marissa? Even if I did like this random boy from Chino it wouldn't mean he'd like me back PLUS Marissa Cooper is like…a 100 times prettier than me."

"She's too…I don't dysfunctional for him. Ryan Atwood needs someone who is less complicated." Summer sighed. "And I'm less complicated?"

"Well you're not an alcoholic nor have you OD'd so yeah I would say you're less complicated. I mean aside from all of that stuff with Veronica…But we aren't talking about that. Okay? Now come on they are walking over and you will be amazed!" Summer laughed.

I know that I had sworn I'd never trust anyone again but I didn't have to...

You had me at hello.

"Hello" That's all it took. That's all he had to say for Taylor to melt. She knew that this would create so much more bad things with her mother but…this guy standing in front of her was hot and had possibly the most amazing set of blue eyes she had ever seen.

"Come on Cohen let's let these two get acquainted!" Summer grabbed her boyfriends arm before he could protest.

"What are you doing Summer?" Seth questioned her. "Getting him away from Marissa Cooper and her evil spell."

"You are amazing you know that, right?" Seth kissed the top of her head before walking towards the school.

"Ryan Atwood." Ryan stuck his hand out for Taylor to shake. She just stared at it and then at him letting her eyes roam all over his body.

"Are you okay?" He snapped her out of the trance she seemed to be in. "Oh yeah, I'm just peachy." She laughed then shook his hand. "That's really…good." He gave her a smile.

"I can show you around if you want…" "

That'd be great. But you never told me your name." He laughed as they climbed the steps together. "Taylor Townsend." That was the first time Taylor Townsend had ever seen Ryan Atwood but it sure wasn't the last. The next time Taylor had seen Ryan was at the Cohen's. Which happened to be the same day she met him.

I've never seen a smile that can light the room like yours,

It's simply radiant, even more with everyday that goes by.

I watch the clock so I can make my timing just right.

Would it be okay? Would it be okay?if I took your breath away.

"Taylor." Ryan nodded smiling at her. She couldn't move. Her breath was literally taken out of her. She couldn't believe just by looking at this guy she was falling for him. She didn't think that was even possible. He had a past, a bad one. Well one that her mother would freak out over. "Ryan." She was finally able to get out.

"Taylor, what are you doing here?" Seth gave her a strange look. "Summer invited me?"

"Yes, I did but I'm sorry Taylor, Seth and I have some studying to do so you can hang with Atwood." Summer winked at Taylor. "No you don't. Summer, we have the same schedule." Taylor pointed out. "Well studying is just code for making out! Duh!" Summer laughed pulling on Seth towards the stairs.

"This isn't awkward." Ryan stuffed his hands in his pockets. "No, not at all. So I have a feeling those two are up to something." She laughed. "Aren't they always?" He asked. "You're right. So, since we are here how about we talk?" She motioned for the couch. For some reason Taylor wanted to know everything about him. But mostly she wanted to know what his tongue felt like on hers.

"Have you lived here your whole life?" It was strange just sitting there with Ryan made Taylor feel comfortable and almost for one second safe.

"Yeah pretty much. Actually since I was three after my dad left. My mom met this guy…Bobby and well they've been together since. Let's just say he's an ass and I like to stay as far away from him as I can. But have you always lived in Chino?" She popped a chip into her mouth.

"No. Started out in Fresno. But Chino's been home for awhile." He shrugged smiling at her.

"Why did you get in the car with your brother?" He had already told her the story and some reason Taylor was intrigued by him.

"I don't know…because he's my brother? I mean the cops were already coming…it just…happened." He looked down at her leg that was now on his. "I understand."

"So what's up with your mom's boyfriend?" He asked.

"Bobby? The jerk? I don't want to talk about it…" She gave him a weak smile. "Does he like…"

"Rape me? No. He doesn't touch me that way…" "

So he…hits you?" She just shrugged pulling up her sleeve slightly. Taylor always wore long sleeves. The bruises were always too dark to wear short sleeves.

"Jesus, and your mom doesn't care?"

"My mom actually tells him to do it. If that makes much sense…" She trailed off.

"I'm sorry. I mean I've had my fair share of being beat but…you just seem so…you don't deserve that."

"Yeah well neither did you. But it happens and we can't change it. As long as he doesn't hit me in the face I'm okay."

"So you wear long sleeves constantly? Doesn't it get hot?" He asked. "Lot's of questions." She laughed nervously.

"Well somehow I already feel like I care about you." He shrugged. "So we're friends? And yeah I wear long sleeves year around and I have since I was young. No one questioned me…I always said it was because I'm clumsy which isn't totally untrue but you know…Not many people cared any way. Everyone in this town is scared by the wrath of Veronica Townsend."

"Yeah we're friends."

"You can't tell anyone about this, Ryan. The only other person who knows is Summer and I'd like to keep it just between the three of us. Okay?" She looked at him seriously.

"You just…seem so much stronger than this."

"I put up a front." She shrugged. "Yeah, well I can keep a secret but…"

"If it gets worse I'll do something about it."

"Promise?"

"I promise." She lied. Taylor knew no matter what she couldn't say anything. No matter what her mother and Bobby were her only family…besides Summer Roberts. But Summer also had Marissa.

Taylor and Ryan only seemed get closer after their talk. Ryan refused to look at Taylor's bruises after seeing them for the first time. Although he always asked her if there were any new ones. She only showed him her arms afraid to show him her other body parts.

Everything was okay until the night it all went downhill. It was a month after she had met Ryan. Bobby had gotten carried away with hitting her. She couldn't stay there. She needed someone. She couldn't go to Summer's because her dad would start asking questions. The only place she could go was to Ryan. To his pool house. But part of her didn't want to go there. But there she was staring at the closed door. The lights were on inside and she could see a shadow moving about. She shut her eyes tightly letting the tears hit the bruises on her cheeks. She didn't want to just barge in. So she knocked. She almost turned around and started running but he was already at the door staring at her.

And I'm wasting away, away from you.

And I'm wasting away, away from you.

"Oh, Taylor." He went to grab for her but she stepped back. "Don't touch me…" She stuttered. "Okay, I won't but come in." He opened the door wide so she could step in without him touching her. "Thanks." She shivered at the coldness of the room.

"Here." He wrapped a blanket over her shoulders watching her wince at the slightest touch. "God, even wearing clothes hurts right now…" She just stood there. "Can I…can I see?"

"You won't tell anyone?"

"No but I'm pretty sure people are going to be able to tell when they see you."

"I've got good concealer plus I always wear long sleeves so there won't be any difference." She shrugged.

"As long as they don't touch you…"

"Yeah." She pushed the blanket off of her. "Are you sure you want to see this?" She asked closing her eyes once more. It hurt just shutting her eyes. She was surprised her right eye wasn't closed shut as much as it hurt. "Yeah." He gulped.

"They aren't all new. Some are old…" She started pulling her pants down. She wasn't sure why she was sharing this with Ryan Atwood. They were only friends, slowly turning best friends. She could be herself with him. That was why she wanted him to know everything about her. She needed him to know her pain. Taylor winced at the fabric sliding down her legs touching ever bruise she had. It hurt so bad but felt so good to get them off. She heard Ryan gasp and could feel him coming towards her.

"Don't." She squeezed her eyes shut. "There's more." She turned around to start pulling her shirt off so she would just be standing in front of him in her bra and panties but this wasn't something sexual. This was showing him her pain. This was letting him know what was going on in her life. This was to let him in even more even if there was a chance he'd say something. But he promised and Taylor trusted his promise.

The shirt hurt the worst to pull off mainly because the fabric hit her sore ribs on both sides. "This is me." She turned around keeping her eyes closed as she felt his eyes roam her body. But once again his gaze wasn't even close to sexual. It was pain. It was wanting to save her from this. It was so much more than she knew she could handle but there she stood in front of him dressed in only her underwear and bruises.

"I…God Taylor." She finally opened her eyes. "It hurts…" She started crying hard. "I just…want to…hold you." He tried stepping towards her but backing up when she flinched a little. "You can't…You'll hurt me." She shook. "That's the last thing I want to do…" He whispered. "Good because that's the last thing I need." Suddenly Taylor stepped towards Ryan and pulled his hand.

"Feel it." She wasn't sure why she wanted him to touch her bruises…she wasn't sure what she was even doing there. He touched the bruises that started from her eyes to her legs. He covered each bruise with his touch. Some times his touch would cause pain but…she needed him to know. "

How could he do this to you?" He took his hands away staring at her ribs. They looked terrible and possibly broken. "I don't know…power maybe?" She shrugged picking the blanket up from the floor and wrapping it around her body.

"You can sleep in my bed. I'll take the floor." He pointed. "Don't be silly. Your bed is big enough for two…" She whispered. As much as she didn't want him to wrap his arms around her she didn't want to feel his weight in the bed, to just k now that someone was actually there for her. For once.

What have I gotten into this time around?

I know that I had sworn I'd never trust anyone again but I didn't have to...

You had me at hello.