There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Mr Scott-the biology teacher-shouted. A student entered.

"Erm, Coach wants to see Ryan Atwood immediately," Ryan gathered his things and stood up, but the teacher held his hand up in a stop signal.

"And why does coach think he can pull my students out of important lessons?"

"Erm...I..."

"It's not like soccer is going to help you in your future, right Atwood?" Mr Scott looked towards Ryan, who now stood awkwardly by his desk.

"It kinda does, sir," Ryan said. "I'm planning on get a scholarship to a college,"

"Right...and what percentage of college athletes actually go pro?" His question was rhetorical, but Ryan knew the answer.

"Less than 3 percent, sir." The teacher was taken aback. "I might be dumb at science, but I can research stuff that's important to my future."

"Science isn't important to your future?" It was meant to be rhetorical, that was obvious in the teacher's tone of voice, but Ryan still answered.

"I'm going to be an athlete, not a scientist,"

"And how come you're so sure on that one?"

"Because I've been working towards that goal since I was 4. I gotta go see coach," Ryan slung his bag over his shoulder and left. The teacher stood dumbfounded for a minute, before clapping his hands together.

"DNA. Facts. Anyone?"

***************

"What did Coach want?" Seth asked. They were all in his pool house. The two girls had tried to force them to watch the Valley but they had refused. Ryan now lay on the floor attempting to work through some biology homework.

"Nothing," Ryan didn't even look up.

"Come on, Atwood. Spill," Summer looked at questioningly. Ryan looked up at the other 3, who were sat on the bed.

"Guys, it was really nothing,"

"Come on!"

"It was just soccer stuff, you guys aren't interested in that,"

"Most of what Cohen says is just about comics, he knows full well we ain't interested in that,"

"Yeah." Seth searched for a comeback. "And Summer only ever talks about the Valley,"

"Look, it was just about the game,"

"Not buying it. If it was he would have told you at practice,"

"Just leave it. Can you guys just tell me these answers? I wasn't even in class,"

"Cause you were with Coach discussing some mystery..." Seth thought. "Maybe he's not too keen to fess up because something WROOOONG is going on. Watch out Riss," Marissa hit Seth playfully.

"Shut your huge mouth for one fucking second!" Ryan shouted. Everyone went silent. "I'm...look, I'm sorry," Ryan began gathering his things. "My Dad's back today." Ryan stood up. "Better go stop world war 4." He mumbled quietly.

"Shouldn't it be world war 3?" Seth pointed out, Summer hit him. Cohen, she mouthed.

"We've already had that in my house. I'll see you all...later," Ryan closed the door behind him.

"Something's going on," Seth pointed out the obvious. Marissa got up quickly and followed Ryan.

"Hey," She called running to catch up with him. He turned around.

"Erm...hey," Ryan wore a confused look on his face.

"I just...wanted check you were...ok,"

"Last time I checked I have no disability preventing me from doing anything, I'm doing pretty good at school, I have money and I have friends." Ryan paused. "I'm...great," He smiled weakly at her.

"How's your Mom?" She was fed up with dancing about the subject, she had to be blunt. She'd been hinting at it since that Christmas Eve and that was a month ago.

"Erm...she's..." Ryan stopped. He looked as if he were having a debate inside his head. He was. He had never talked to anyone about it, not properly. But then Marissa wasn't just anybody. He closed his eyes briefly, the inner pain washing over him. When he opened them she had taken a couple of steps closer to him. "She...erm...she gets worse...when Frank's home,"

"Frank?"

"My Dad."

"Oh..."

"Yeah."

"When's your Dad due in?"

"In like..." Ryan was cut off by his phone. He checked the caller ID. Dickhead flashed up on screen. "It's him...I've got to get..."

"Sure," Marissa smiled sweetly.

"Hello." She noticed it wasn't his usual hey and that he seemed to tighten up, to be on guard as he spoke. "Right. Of course. Business? Yeah. Thought so. I've gotta go." Ryan snapped the phone shut and returned it to his pocket. "Turns out he's due in about...3 weeks," Marissa closed the gap between them and hugged him. He hadn't quite gotten used to the hugging yet, but he was beginning to. He was beginning to really like it. She pulled back.

"Still need some help with that biology?" She smiled at him.

"Thanks...but...I'm just gunna...go." Ryan turned and was about to leave when she pulled him back.

"You have to kiss your girlfriend goodbye," She pouted. He pecked her on the cheek before turning again, this time she allowed him to leave. She put her hand to her cheek, feeling where his cold lips had pressed against it.

***************

"Is Mr Atwood not joining us today?" Mr Scott looked around the class, expecting one of them to retell an excuse Ryan had told them to give. Someone always did.

But nobody did.

The class was silent, looking at each other, shrugging. Marissa, Seth and Summer all exchanged worried glances. The door flung open.

"Atwood," The teacher spoke coldly.

"Well, good afternoon to you too, sir," Ryan said cheekily before settling down into his usual place.

"You're staying behind after this lesson,"

"As much as I'd love to spend my free time with you, I'm afraid I can't,"

"And what's today's excuse? Soccer?"

"No, biology,"

"What?"

"I've got a tutor session and you wouldn't want to cut into Marissa's time because of me,"

"How about you do your tutor session here?"

"Can't sir. All my work's at home," The teacher gave up and continued the lesson, he had given up trying to get through to Atwood, although he had noticed a defiant improvement in not just his grade, but also his general attitude since he had been paired with Marissa. Ryan wore a triumphant smile the whole time. The bell for the end of school went and Ryan got up out of his seat. Marissa and Seth hurried off whilst him and Summer loitered around with the gang.

"You actually going to the tutor session?" Luke asked.

"Got to, she reports back to Scott, and my Dad will kill me if he hears I skip or anything,"

"When have you bothered about what your Dad thinks?" Someone asked.

"I don't, it's just, you know, college and everything. If I don't get the scholarship I'll be depending on him, so better stay in his good books,"

"We all know you'll get it,"

"Yeah," Ryan pulled his backpack onto his shoulder. "Party later?" They always had one on a Friday night.

"Holly's beach house,"

"I'll be there,"

"See you,"

"Hey, Atwood,"

"Yeah?" Ryan turned back around to Summer.

"Can I grab a lift?"

"Sure," That happened every day. They'd of course end up at Seth's house. His parents were the ones they trusted most to not tell everyone about the kids hanging out. In fact they trusted them completely.

"We brought supplies," Summer held up a bag of shopping as she entered the pool house. It had become their regular hang out. Larger than Seth's room it had plenty of room for the four of them; it also provided much needed privacy.

"Great, I'm starving,"

"Where's Ryan?" Marissa asked.

"Probably brooding somewhere. That's not important, Summer's the one with the food," Marissa rolled her eyes and looked at Summer expectantly.

"Don't worry, your lover's just coming, he got a phone call," And as she finished Ryan walked into the pool house. "Who was it?"

"Mom, she's gone off to some spa or something for the weekend,"

"Ooohh, I know what this means," Seth said. "You'll have like a big party, like on the Valley...for the cool kids of course," Everyone looked at Seth curiously.

"The Valley? Are you sure you're not gay?" Ryan asked.

"Summer makes me watch it! Just 'cause your girlfriend doesn't physically abuse you into watching chick flicks and stupid TV shows,"

"Ok...and no party,"

"What?! Come on Ryan, this is like my fantasy, I mean of course I won't be there, but you'll be there and you can tell me all about it and it'll be like I was there and..."

"No party Seth,"

"Really?" Marissa and Summer asked at the same time, both surprised.

"No party." He had another idea. "No parties at all this weekend,"

"You're skipping tonight?" Summer asked.

"Yeah,"

"And you'll explain that...how?"

"I'm Ryan Atwood. Since when did I need an explanation?" It scared Marissa how cocky he was sometimes, but it was a facade, she knew that. It was his method that meant he didn't have to open up to people, which also meant he didn't have to open himself up to the hurt that usually came along with that.

"True,"

"What are you going to do then?" Seth asked curiously.

"I've got an idea,"

"Marissa outside with me now." Summer grabbed Marissa and dragged her away.

"What, Sum?"

"He's got an idea about this weekend,"

"I know he just..." Marissa cottoned on to what Summer was getting at. "Oh...you really think...?"

"He's Ryan Atwood. He's held out for 4 months, I doubt he'll wait much longer."

"Ok...erm...so...I..."

"Are you a virgin?"

"Of course not, I'm 17,"

"Riss?"

"Ok, maybe I am,"

"It's ok. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one,"

"You're..." Summer hushed her.

"Don't tell anyone,"

"Of course I won't!"

"So...are you...ready?"

"I like him more than I've ever liked anyone else..."

"Good. Well...be prepared."

"I will..."

"This is so weird..."

"You think?"

"We better get back in there," Summer said and dragged her inside once again.

January 22nd.

Edward VII crowned.

Happy Birthday Sam Cooke and Sir Francis Bacon.

R.I.P Heath Ledger.

Everyday has a story.