-1A/N The actual basketball part will come in the next chapter. Thanks for all the reviews, R/R, enjoy!
Marissa Cooper sighed as they got into the car and headed for the party. Ryan seemed really distant today. She wanted to know what was wrong with him. Their time yesterday was amazing. Whether they were talking or making out, it was perfect. It was just what she needed to escape. Then though, today, he started acting weird.
He wouldn't look at her at times. When he did, there was a blank expression or a forged smile. She could tell when people were lying, and he did all the time. He didn't talk to her, unless she asked him a question. Even if she did, he didn't always give an answer.
She looked over at him and smiled. He may not be talking, but he was as handsome as ever. She reached for his hand and held it. He didn't look at her, but she could see the soft smile on his face. It was one of the few genuine that she'd seen from him today.
Yeah, they only knew each other for a couple of days, but her feelings were real. She liked Ryan, and she really hoped that he had the same feelings for her. He'd kiss her, but not the way he did yesterday. Today, it was almost like it was forced.
When they arrived at the yacht club, he let go of her hand and walked around to open her door. She smiled at him. He always was sweet like that. "Thanks." She said, a shy smile on her face.
He just nodded and smiled genuinely at her. Maybe this party wouldn't be so bad. Maybe the Ryan she'd known yesterday would come back. He held her hand and kissed her cheek. "Are you ready for the party?" He asked her softly.
"Yeah." She smiled back at him. "I'm used to these parties though, the question is, are you ready?"
He looked deep into her eyes and she felt the usual connection. "As long as you're right there beside me." He looked away and together they walked into the building.
Ryan Atwood felt Marissa's hand in his own and smiled to himself. He was lucky right now. He frowned though. How long would his luck really last though? He was from Chino, and he doesn't have the best luck. He has bruises on his face to prove it.
Marissa seemed upset by something. Maybe she could sense something wrong. Maybe she knew something he didn't. Or maybe she finally realized that she was better than he was and was debating whether to be with him or not. If she was, he could only hope that she would pick him.
As he walked into the party, he saw Sandy and Jimmy. They waved him over and him and Marissa walked over to them. Sandy seemed surprised to see Ryan with her, but Jimmy just smiled. "Hey Ryan, glad you could make it." Sandy said. Ryan just smiled though. They really didn't need him in this party. Sandy continued. "Someone wants to see you, she kept calling today looking for you."
Ryan was confused. Who would want to see him? He looked over to Marissa who looked just as shocked, if not more. She seemed uneasy about the situation. Ryan couldn't understand why though. Then it hit him. She must think an old girlfriend came back. Ryan just smiled and said, "Who?"
Sandy seemed uneasy with replying. "Your mom." Ryan felt as though he was going to faint though. His mom was looking for him? There was no way, she was the one that abandoned him, remember?
"My mom?" Ryan looked over to Marissa who seemed a little relieved. When she saw his expression though, she frowned again.
She looked up at him and asked quietly, "What's wrong with your mom?" Ryan didn't answer though. What wasn't wrong with his mom?
Jimmy answered his question though. "Your mom really wants to see you Ryan. She seemed relieved when she found out you were here." Jimmy paused and looked uneasy. "Is it okay if you see her?"
Ryan was still upset, "She's here right now?" Jimmy nodded and Ryan continued, "But what if I don't want to talk to her?"
Jimmy didn't answer so Sandy stepped in. "Ryan, she's come all this way------"
But Ryan wouldn't let him finish his sentence. "She came all this way for what, huh? She's the one who abandoned ME, I didn't want to leave." Marissa tried to say something but Ryan wouldn't let her. He took his hands from Marissa and gestured to his face. "This, do you see it. You see how screwed up my face is?! That's because of HER boyfriend."
Ryan stormed off. He was angry. How dare she look for him, want to see him. She's the one who abandoned him. She's the one who made his life hell. He didn't want to see her ever again. He didn't want to talk about her, didn't even want to think about her.
Little did he know that his mom had heard the whole thing.
Ryan Atwood still wasn't cooled down a half hour later. He was still angry at his mom, angry at Jimmy and Sandy for allowing her to come, and angry at himself for revealing his secret. He didn't want to go back to the party, he liked it out here. He'd walked to the beach and was on the sand. He didn't care if his clothes got sandy. It didn't matter to him.
He heard footsteps approaching, and expected it to be Marissa. He was actually surprised that she hadn't followed him here earlier. He turned his head, smiling, but his smile disappeared when he saw her. His mom. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his anger apparent.
"I wanted to see how you were." She said, a soft expression on her face.
"I don't want you here though." He shot back. "You abandoned me, remember."
She sighed, and walked towards him. He got up and took a few steps back. "I know I did, and it was a mistake."
Ryan still didn't care though. His blood was boiling when he saw her. She was the enemy. She was the one that didn't care. "You think?"
"Ryan, I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have done it, but with the drinking and Jack….."
"Oh, so blame this on him now." Ryan said fiercely.
She sighed and took another step towards him. "I know it's my fault, and I shouldn't blame it on him, but I am sorry."
Ryan took another step back. "Sorry doesn't cut it though." Ryan said softly. His anger was beginning to disappear and in its place was sadness. Deep sorrow.
"I know, Ry." She said. Ryan could remember when she would call him that. It was when he was a little kid. She had started calling him that when he was three years old. He had just learned how to bounce his small basketball his dad had bought him. Way to go, Ry. It seemed like a lifetime ago that she'd first used it.
"Where's Jack?" Ryan asked. It was the most important question of all.
"He's at home." She said softly, not making eye contact.
"You mean you're still going to be with that jerk?" Ryan asked.
His mom looked up. "I don't have much of a choice." She looked around the beach. "I don't have a job, and I have a problem with drinking. It's not like anyone's going to hire me."
Ryan wouldn't let her go though. They'd just made up, he couldn't let her go. "You can stay here with me, I'll find an apartment and you can stay in one room."
His mom shook her head though. "No." She looked at something in the distance, and Ryan could see Marissa slowly making her way to them. She was hesitant, probably afraid to intrude. He gave her a small smile and she quickened her pace. When she arrived, Ryan took her hand in his and kissed it gently. He turned back to his mom who was smiling at the exchange. "You have a life here already." She sighed. "Even if you've only been gone a couple of days."
She turned around and started walking away. Ryan couldn't let her go though. He couldn't let her leave without a proper goodbye. "Mom!" She turned around and gave him a questioning look. Ryan let go of Marissa's hand and walked towards her, giving her a hug. When he pulled back, he said, "Don't be a stranger."
She just smiled and nodded. Ryan turned back to Marissa who looked happy. He walked up to her and said, "Hey."
She smiled shyly and said, "Hey."
Ryan put his hands on her waist and looked into her eyes. "I'm sorry for the way I've been acting." She just nodded, waiting for him to continue. "I've had a lot on my mind."
She gave him a peck on the lips and Ryan smiled when she pulled back. She said, "Tell me about it." She looked deep into his eyes and said, "Talk to me."
Ryan took his hands off her waist and sat back down on the sand. He patted the spot next to him and Marissa sat down. He pulled her closer to him to where she was leaning on him. He kissed her cheek and held her hands, playing with them.
"I guess it all started when my dad got arrested. My mom started drinking a lot and started attracting drunk men too." Ryan paused, looking out to the ocean. He'd never told anyone this story, no one ever wanted to know. "She brought home a guy named Tom Harper first. He said that I was making too much noise one day and he hit me in the stomach. At the time, I was ten."
He looked at Marissa who had a disturbed expression on her face. Ryan continued, "It only got worse after that. I thought it was normal, until I saw that other kids had loving parents, and not ones that hit them. So I tried to fight back a couple of times. That only ended up in a broken rib and arm." Ryan sighed. "Then, Jack came along. He was the worst of the worst. He would hurt me physically and mentally."
Marissa was confused, "What do you mean?"
"He told me I was worthless, and no one wanted me. He also said that was pathetic, and a he even treated the neighbor's dog better than me. It was horrible. When I got told about the try outs for your dad's team, I didn't think I'd make it. After all these years of being told you're worthless, you start to believe it yourself. When I got in though, I thought that him and my mom would be proud of me. My mom seemed proud, but Jack tried to convince her I was still worthless. So I got abandoned by my mom."
Marissa seemed shocked, "I never thought anyone's life could be like that. You read about it in books, even see it in movies, but you never think it's real."
Ryan smiled though, and she seemed slightly confused. "But the thing is, if I'd never been abandoned, you and I wouldn't me together right now." Ryan leaned in and gave her a tender kiss on the lips. He pulled back and said, "Now that out of everything would be the worse thing to happen to me."
Marissa smiled at his words. "Me too." She kissed him once again, this time a little longer. Ryan pulled back and pulled her closer to him. Together they watched the ocean and looked up at the dark sky. Together, they'd get through anything, right?