Chapter Seven- Marissa's Breakthrough I was surprised by this, by Ryan. I couldn't believe he didn't believe there was an "Us". I starred at him for a short while, then stood up and quickly walked toward the door. "No Wait" he jumped up after me. "I've. I've got to go" I stuttered, idiotically. Just then he grabbed onto my waist passionately and began to kiss me. I was so excited and I most definitely could not believe what was going on. I calmed a bit as he broke away and, as if he knew it would make everything perfect, he smiled. I felt my face tighten as I began to smile and blush.

All I could manage was a pathetic "Wow" as I tried to pull myself back together. "Why thank you!" he joked, his smile widening. I was going to reply, I truly was, but just then I heard Seth shout something like "Oh come on already". Ryan opened the door slowly and looked up at him. I heard him laugh slightly and mumble "Yeah right, sure". Just then I began to laugh, and I couldn't control myself. Everything was just so right; it wasn't something a normal person would laugh about, but, well, I'm not normal! Ryan looked at me like there was something wrong, which made me a bit upset, but I still kept laughing. "Sorry" I gasped, "It's just, too much" I began to stop, and control myself to a mere chuckle... "Oh, I'm... I'm... sorry" he began to back off, he began to walk back over to his bed. "Ryan..." I pleaded, but was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Hold on a second" he said as he walked back over and put his finger on my lips. As I smiled, and shivered, he walked over and opened the door, at first a tiny bit, then all the way to show me who was there. It was Summer and Seth. I sort of frowned, because this was supposed to be just me and Ryan... Me talking with Ryan. "Coop! What are you doing here! You should be over at your house! Getting ready for Cotillion! Not..." She stopped as she looked around, then at Ryan, "Uh.." She stuttered as she tried to think of something nice to say, "Not here" she managed. "Sorry Summer, I was just on my way back to my house... I'm sorry..." I stopped... 'Just tell her you aren't going' I told myself 'Come on already!" "I'm not going to Cotillion" "WHAT?" she screamed, which reminded me of my mother. "I'm not going!" I replied in the same tone. "Coop, your going crazy... You know you need to go" I looked at Ryan quickly, then Seth, and then back to Summer, "I'm not... I can't go." I stormed out of there, upset, but at the same time I was relieved to know that I was finally standing up for myself, finally taking charge of my life.... Wasn't I? But it wasn't over, not to Summer anyway. She followed me out of there and almost started chasing me when I started to run. "Coop! Coop Wait!" she wailed. I wasn't going to stop, not for her. She would do the same thing my mother would. Lecture, Lecture, and more Lecturing. I couldn't take it, as soon as I reached my porch I searched around in my purse for my keys, and as I pulled them out the door opened and there stood my mother. She looked even more pissed off then usual, and I didn't dare say a word. "Marissa! Where have you been! You needed to be ready ten minutes ago!" she started on me, and I didn't want to hear it. I stormed passed her and headed for the steps, but she continued anyway. "Marissa, hunny. Stop this now. So what, you and Luke had a tiny fight, all great relationships have their troubles" Right then and there, she could have stopped with the "Marissa, hunny" and just could have let me go up to my room. But no, she had to bring up Luke. I spun around, obviously furious, and began screaming. "MOTHER! Get this through your brain. Luke and I, we are OVER. Get that? OVER! We didn't have a great relationship! We didn't have any relationship! If he can get completely jealous over the fact that I'm friends with the new kid, then I'm pretty sure he just knows Ryan's better for me than he is!" Wow. Did I just do that? I stood there for a second, amazed at myself for what I had just done. My mother, too, was shocked. I didn't wait for an answer, though. I turned back around and headed up to my room. As I slipped in there and shut the door I once again stood there, amazed. Wow. Just... Wow. Hey, how did you like the update? I'm sorry it's been so long since I've posted it on here. I'm truly sorry! I hope you like everything so far. I'm currently working on my story, which is cutting into my fic writing time, but I swear I'll try my best to get the new chapter finished and up so ya'll don't have to wait so long!! Luv- Marissa Barton