***Marissa's POV***

She walked through the house to the door. It was very quiet. She opened the door to reveal Seth Cohen.

"Hey, I think we need to talk." He started. Marissa sighed. She crossed her arms.

"About what?" She asked, pretending as if she didn't know. He looked at her stupidly.

"Marissa, you and I have been neighbors for a long time now, right? Oh say, 16 years?"

"Yeah---sure, what's the big deal?"

"So I feel like since we have a mutual friend, that I need to speak frankly with you about matters of the heart. I know you're having a rough time right now, and I understand that---well, maybe I don't. But regardless, it doesn't give you the right to play with other peoples emotions. Get it?"

"You mean---last night." She conceded.

"Yes! What did you think I meant? Ryan is sitting at home, eating a bowl of cereal in his pajamas, reading a comic book. Last night he was a fully grown man, admitting his feelings for you. You've reduced him practically to my level, which as we all know is not a good thing. The cute boyish face is my face. Ryan is supposed to be the street smart, ladies man with an attitude. Not a puddle of goo."

***Seth's POV***

She just stood there listening to him. A small tear rolled down her face. He noticed and felt like he had hurt her.

"I'm sorry---that sounded really harsh, and I get your whole not being sure about him stuff, but promise me you'll make a decision and not leave him like this? I'll do what I can."

The looked at him, and he stood looking back. They were silent.

"I just need some time, okay?" She replied.

"Okay." Seth replied putting up his hands in defeat. She closed the door and he skated off back to Ryan.

***Marissa's POV***

"What am I doing?" She shouted. It echoed off the walls of the empty house. There was of course no reply. She sat down on the couch. One day ago she'd been looking out her open window, wondering what the end of her summer would be like. Where would her life take her? Was this it? Was this the choice she had to make? Ryan or popularity? At first it seemed like an easy decision, Ryan of course. But as much as she wanted to be different, was she ready and willing to give up her life for it? For him?

The telephone rang. It rang again. And again, and then for a fourth time. She figured she'd better get it. "Hello?" She answered.

"Coop, what's up?"

"Summer, hey. Nothing more than you've heard."

"What?"

"Nothing, just nothing."

"You wanna go out, my treat?"

"I don't know if I'm really in the mood, Summer." She replied.

"Coop, what the hell is going on? You've been acting all psycho since that Chino boy showed up. You like jonesing him or what?"

"Well..."

"OH MY GOD! You so are hot for him. What the hell? You have a boyfriend, and a good one at that?"

"Summer, shut up! Yes, I like Ryan and no, I don't think I have a boyfriend. Luke is last week's news. Luke isn't now, and never was what I wanted."

"Coop, you have gone insane. Well, can I have him then?"

"Summer, feel free!" She slammed the phone back into its cradle hanging up on Summer. On the other end, Summer listened for a minute confused. She'd hung up.

***THAT AFTERNOON***

Seth and Ryan were skating and biking down the sunny beaches of California.

"What do ya wanna do?" Seth asked.

"I don't know."

"Neither do I. I never did anything before you came, so it's not like I know a lot of stuff."

"Yeah." He replied.

"We could check out what's playing at the IMAX."

"That could be boring."

"It is probable. It's the best chance we've got though." Seth replied.

"Fine." They both sped off on their wheeled transportation units.

***Luke's POV***

He rang her home phone. No answer. He rang her cell phone. No answer. He rang Summer's home phone. No answer. He rang Summer's cell phone. No answer. She obviously didn't wanna talk to him. Fine, if Marissa didn't wanna see him, then he didn't wanna see her. They we're over. That chino kid had gotten in the way, so whatever. At least now Holly was free.

Marissa was controlling and a downer. He called her message machine again, and this time left a message.

"Hey, it's---Luke. I just called to say we're over. Whatever's goin' on with you, I don't wanna be involved. Have a great life."

He hung up the phone and walked away.

***THAT NIGHT***

***Seth's POV***

"Yeah, so that skydiving movie---pretty cool, huh?" Ryan asked Seth as the entered the pool house.

"Made me wanna puke." He answered.

"Afraid of heights now?"

"Always have been." Seth replied.

"You might have considered that before seeing 95 minutes of breathe taking, spine tingling, free falling action from ten thousand feet in the air."

"You'd think." He laughed and so did Ryan. "So did the distraction work?"

"I only thought about her when they were in mid-freefall."

"So basically 3/4ths of the movie."

"Yes."

"Woo hoo for me." He said unenthusiastically. Ryan smiled, reassuring him that he was thankful for him trying to help. "All right, I'd better get to bed. Goodnight!" He waved.

"Goodnight." Ryan replied.

He slumped down in his bed and drifted off to sleep. He had a lot on his mind, so he was surprised in the morning, that he didn't remember falling asleep.

A/N: Okay, I know that doesn't seem like much---but it's all set up. Most of you can guess what is gonna happen in the end. Lol---anyways. Hope it was mildly enjoyable, I promise resolution soon.