Chapter 17
Usual disclaimers...
A/N: Wow, so I haven't updated in a while...like I said, I've been busy with tennis, lacrosse, and school. And this story is pretty much done...Enjoy the chapter! And tell me if you want me to continue, one or two more chapters, or if this is good...(if I do one or 2 more chapters, it would be about graduation, etc...) If this is it, I'm sad to see this story go! But I'm starting Best Days of Our Lives again and also adding a new story sometime this weekend.
A/N2: It's mid-January and the gang is getting ready to go back to school. I don't know what the deal is with colleges and valedictorians, so just go with the flow! Marissa and Summer pack, Ryan and Kirsten share a mother-son moment, Ryan gets some good news, and the gang heads back to finish off their senior year at Harvard and Princeton. (Seth and Ryan at Harvard and Marissa/Summer at Princeton.)
"Coop, do you have any room in your suitcase?" Summer asked. She had uncovered some clothes that she absolutely wanted to bring back to school for the spring. And she intended to do so, if she could find room. If not, UPS was always an option.
"Are you kidding? Ryan and I have gone shopping almost every day for the past few weeks," Marissa sighed, trying to stuff a long sleeved pink Juicy shirt into her bulging suitcase.
"Come on, do you really need to pack six pairs of Pumas?" Summer wheedled. "I'm not even bringing that many."
Marissa suspiciously eyed Summer's open suitcase. "So five is such a difference from six? Summer, you packed two pairs in the SAME color!"
Summer kept her eyes on the floor, a guilty grin appearing on her face. "Did not."
Marissa stepped over her suitcase and grabbed the shoes from Summer's. "Liar."
"Oh no you didn't," Summer said, in her best 'I'm a white girl from the ghetto' voice. Let's just say that it wasn't very good.
Marissa laughed. "I think I did." Summer threw a pillow at her. And before Marissa could retaliate, she threw another.
Soon the girls were engaged in yet another pillow fight. They were pretty common, as living with either of the girls would prove. Marissa's little sister could attest to that, as could Summer's stepmom. Even Seth and Ryan knew of Summer and Marissa's never-ending joy of whacking each other with pillows. Girls.
"So, I think we need to ship some of this crap," Marissa gestured to the clothes scattered on the floor.
"You read my mind, Coop," Summer giggled. After all those years, they were still as close as two peas in a pod and could read each other's mind. Summer didn't mind. Coop was one thing in her life that remained constant. Unlike her boyfriends, taste in clothes, and stepmothers. Right now, Mr. Roberts was on wife #4. Unless something had changed since Summer had been in college. Summer hoped that Seth would be her boyfriend for a long time. He was one guy she knew she wouldn't get sick of. Possibly ever.
Marissa went to her closet and pulled out a large L.L. Bean duffel bag. Her bag of choice was normally Louis Vuitton, but when she and Summer had gone to sleepover camp their parents had insisted they buy less expensive camp goods.
"You still have that?" Summer asked, her eyes widening. She remembered the summers at Camp Timber Ridge. And the preparing and packing.
"Of course!" Marissa rolled her eyes. "Don't you?"
Summer hung her head sheepishly. "Okay, okay. I kept it too."
"Do you remember our second summer? We were going into seventh grade."
"Duh. Do the names Sean and Brad ring a bell?" Summer asked.
"I thought we agreed not to talk about that," Marissa lowered her voice.
"Yeah. But only when other people are around, Coop," Summer replied, giving Marissa an exasperated look. Coop could be so slow sometimes.
Sean and Brad were two older guys that the girls met at camp. Older as in, high school juniors. Marissa and Summer had gone pretty far with them. Farther than they intended to go. Two words: peer pressure. Still, they came back to school being the most experienced girls in the grade and when word got out that they'd gotten around, all the guys wanted a piece of it. And all of the girls wanted to know their secrets. Of course, Summer and Marissa never told anyone exactly what they did, but rumors spread like wildfire at the school.
But that's another story...
At the Cohen house, later...
"Honey, do you need any help?" Kirsten popped her head in the poolhouse. Seth had been packed for hours, but Ryan's suitcase was empty, and he was lying on his bed staring at the ceiling.
"That'd be great," Ryan agreed, keeping his eyes up.
Kirsten walked towards the closet and began to pull things off of hangers. "You don't mind if your shirts get a little wrinkled, do you?"
"No," Ryan couldn't help but crack a smile. Kirsten was so pathetic as a housewife; she didn't cook, clean, or know how to fold clothes. Still, she was more of a mother to Ryan than his biological one had been.
"So what's on your mind, sweetie?" Kirsten was curious as hell, but she wasn't going to push. Ryan didn't answer, and after a few seconds, she went back to messily folding his shirts. He would come around. When he was good and ready. Kirsten had learned this valuable lesson over the years. And not being a blood Cohen, she could actually contain herself. Besides, Nichols never rambled.
Kirsten rooted around in Ryan's drawers for his signature clothing, wifebeaters. She heard Ryan sigh and turned around and gave him the tiniest smile. The reassuring smile that let him know she was there. For him.
"It's nothing, really," Ryan began, closing his eyes, which had darkened for the day. "I was just thinking about how different my life was 6 years ago. Before I came to live with you guys, I mean."
"Has it really been six years?" Kirsten murmured, more to herself than to Ryan. Ryan had blended in to the family so well, he was like the missing puzzle piece that wasn't missed until it was found.
Ryan continued, "Stealing that car was the best decision I made in my life." Kirsten gave him a look. "Okay, so maybe it wasn't the smartest thing to do. But then I wouldn't have needed a lawyer, and Sandy wouldn't have taken me in. And I wouldn't have met you, or Seth, or Marissa, or anyone."
"And I'm happy I did. Because my life wouldn't be complete without you guys."
Kirsten gave him a melancholy smile. Ryan had never been much of a talker. But what he did say was full of meaning. And emotional Kirsten was tearing up. She walked over to Ryan and sat down next to him on the bed. Ryan put his arm around her. And then he did something very out of character. Ryan Atwood cried.
Not like a baby. Just some tears of mixed emotions, tears that needed to be shed. Kirsten held Ryan in her arms, surprised, and a bit confused. She ran her fingers through his dirty blonde hair, the hair that connected him to the family. People always thought Ryan looked like Kirsten and Seth like Sandy. The people who didn't know that Ryan wasn't a Cohen by blood.
"I'm sorry," Ryan sniffed. "I-I...Just being back here brings back all of these emotions and they're good. I just felt like it was a good time to cry. With you here."
"Ryan," Kirsten murmured, kissing his forehead. The kid was such sweet boy. He always knew just what to say.
"Don't mention this to Seth, okay?" Ryan asked, and Kirsten could see his lips curving up. She nodded, patting him on the back.
"I'm going to go call for a pizza," Kirsten sensed that Ryan was done bonding, at least for the moment. "Mushrooms?"
Ryan nodded. "Thanks," he said. "I think I'm going to go call Marissa. She wanted me to call her."
"Okay, sweetie. I would say she could come over for dinner, but since it's yours and Seth's last night home, I thought we would have dinner. With just the four of us," Kirsten said.
"That's fine. Thanks for helping me pack."
Kirsten smiled and went to order the pizza. Ryan lay back on his bed. All he had left to pack was toiletries and other miscellaneous items. He picked up the phone, checking to make sure no one was on the line before he dialed. Then he remembered. Here, he had his own phone line. It was at college where he shared. In Newport, people rarely shared anything but intimacy and a circle of friends.
Marissa was number 1 on his speed-dial. She picked up on the first ring. "Hey Ryan."
"How did you know it was me?" Ryan asked, knowing full well that Marissa had caller-id.
Marissa ignored the question. "I miss you. Want to come over before my dad picks me up? I'm next door," she let her own question linger.
Ryan sighed. "Wish I could, babe. But Kirsten wants us to have dinner as a family. Since it's our last night in Newport."
The disappointment was evident in Marissa's voice. "Oh. Well, I guess I should finish packing. Summer came over today but we didn't really accomplish anything. You know how that is."
"I love you."
"Love you too. Oh, and Ryan?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm going to be at my mom's house tonight," Marissa's voice was innocent and laced with honey, but Ryan could detect the suggestive tone underneath.
"Bye," Ryan said. He and Marissa loved to play those little mind games. Ryan always got turned on when Marissa got all seductive. Or innocent. Actually, he got turned on anytime he saw her or heard her voice. Go figure.
Later...
Ryan stumbled into the kitchen. After hanging up with Marissa, he had taken a little nap. When he woke up he was surprised to find that it was 7, and that no one had woken him.
In the kitchen, Kirsten was tossing a Greek salad—one of the few foods she prepared that Sandy, Seth, and Ryan had deemed safe to eat.
"Did you have a good rest?" Kirsten asked, slicing up some tomatoes and mixing them into the salad.
Ryan nodded, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "I'm starved."
"Good, because the pizza just got here five minutes ago," Kirsten pointed to the oven. They always put the pizza in the oven unless they were eating it right away, to keep it hot. "Will you go get Seth? I think he's crashed out in his room."
Ryan trudged up the stairs, knocking on Seth's door before opening it. After all, Ryan didn't want to walk in on a Summer/Seth party.
"Come in," Seth moaned, obviously still half asleep. Ryan opened the door and walked in.
"Dinner's ready," Ryan announced. Seth didn't stir, just made a few groaning noises that sounded vaguely like 'Just a few more minutes, Mom'. "Seth, get up!"
Ryan now realized what Kirsten and Sandy went through every day trying to get Seth up. He also smiled; he had new material to tease Seth with. Oh, joy. He walked over to Seth's bed and yanked the covers off of Seth. Seth immediately curled up into a fetal position.
"Mom," he complained, "I'm cold."
"Seth, open your eyes. If I'm your mom..." Ryan trailed off. Seth squinted. Then he sat straight up.
"Jesus, Ryan. I'm getting up," Seth swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. He stretched and yawned. "Onwards, I can smell the pizza!"
Ryan groaned. Seth was weird. The boys took the stairs two by two and went into the kitchen. Kirsten handed Seth the bowl of salad, and Ryan the pizza.
Once everyone was settled around the table, Kirsten had an announcement to make. "Sandy, Seth, Ryan," Kirsten said. "I just got a letter today from Harvard. Ryan is valedictorian!"
Sandy's famous bushy eyebrows rose. "No shit." He patted Ryan on the back. "Good work, son."
"Dude. That's amazing," Seth turned to give Ryan a high five. He half expected Ryan to give him the look that came whenever Seth offered him a high five. But for once, Ryan lifted his hand up and completed the high five.
"Which brings me to my first question. Why did you get a B in Physcology, Seth?" Sandy asked. "Ryan got straight A's."
Seth feigned hurt. "Sure, make me the bad guy. It's not my fault if Ryan spends *all* his free time studying. And brown nosing the teachers, might I add."
Kirsten, Sandy, and Ryan all rolled their eyes at the same time. "See, now you're ganging up on me," Seth covered his face and made some pitiful crying noises.
"Come off it, Seth. Just try to do better. I'd like to see straight A's your last term as a senior," Sandy said, smiling at Seth so he would know that Sandy wasn't really mad.
Later that night...
For old times' sake, Ryan and Seth sat down in front of the PS2 and played for hours. They had to pack in enough gaming time to last them until next trip home. Which was spring break. And to them, spring break was a hell of a long time away. After Seth beat Ryan in Tony Hawk for the second time, Ryan said he was going to the poolhouse. He did go to the poolhouse, but just for a few minutes.
When he was sure that Seth had gone upstairs, Ryan slipped out of the poolhouse. He felt a little stupid, "sneaking out". After all, he was 21 and no longer had to adhere to a curfew and whatnot. But he still got that familiar rush, the one he used to get sneaking out to Marissa's, or when she would sneak in to the poolhouse.
Marissa let him in the back door, even though her mom was out with Caitlin (sp?) and wouldn't be back for a few hours. Plus the fact that Julie Cooper didn't care if Marissa had Ryan over, now that they weren't in high school anymore. Again, it was the familiar rush that she got.
They crept up the back stairs to Marissa's room, and when they got to her room, Marissa slammed the door shut and locked it. Then she pulled Ryan close to her and brought his lips to hers.
After letting their passions free, they lay in Marissa's bed, not speaking, because there was no need to. All their emotions had been spent, and all they needed was each other. Ryan fell asleep with Marissa in his arms, capturing the moment in his head, because there were a lot of lonely nights coming up.
The next day...
"You know, I never thought I'd say this, but I'm going to miss you, Seth," Summer wrapped her arms around Seth.
"Wow, you remembered my name," Seth grinned, giving Summer a quick peck on the lips, even though he knew she wanted a long, passionate kiss.
"Shut up. You have to come visit me. Chino will probably come up every weekend. Seeing as he and Coop can't keep their hands off of each other," Summer laughed, looking at her best friend, who was playing tonsil hockey with Chino.
"I will. And I'm going to miss you too," Seth told her. "By the way, you're a sneaky one."
"Oh?" Summer raised her perfectly manicured eyebrows.
"You planned Operation RyRissa not only to get them together. You knew that our best friends' happiness would ultimately lead to our getting back together," Seth gave Summer a look that said 'Don't play dumb'.
"Okay, so you caught me. But if I could make them happy AND myself happy at the same time, I thought I might as well go ahead and do it. You're not complaining, are you?"
Seth swept Summer up into a kiss. "I'll take that as a no," Summer said, after the two had parted.
Just then the flight attendant called Summer and Marissa's flight. Ryan and Seth had a later flight but came to see their girlfriends off.
"I love you," Seth whispered into Summer's ear, giving her one final kiss.
"I love you too," Summer replied, returning the kiss and then getting in line for her flight. Seth kept his eyes on her the whole time. He would stand there, watching until the plane took off. Just to make sure she was safe.
"Marissa..." Ryan said. He didn't want to let her go. He didn't know if he could let her go now. His arms were wrapped around her waist, and they had just finished playing a little game. Of tonsil hockey, duh.
"This isn't goodbye forever," Marissa reminded him. She was always the optimistic one.
"For now," Ryan affirmed. "I love you."
Marissa slowly broke away from their embrace and mouthed the words, 'I love you', before joining Summer in line.
Ryan, in a true romantic fashion, blew Marissa a kiss. Yeah, it was corny and sentimental, but he couldn't help the way Marissa made him feel. He joined Seth by the window as the girls disappeared into the gangway (is that what it's called? Cant remember).
Seth shook his head. "We had a true Christmukkah miracle, bro."
Ryan looked at him, somewhat confused. "We came home for Christmas break single and unhappy, and we go back to college attached and happier than happy," Seth explained.
"True. You've got to admit, it was also a true Newport vacation. Filled with drama, love, and more drama," Ryan added.
"Oh, the drama," Seth swooned dramatically.
They watched the plane take off. It soared high into the sky, just like their spirits had. All too soon it was enveloped by the clouds and zoomed out of sight. Last time they had seen Summer and Marissa off was their first year of college. Both couples had been broken up by that time, and Ryan and Seth had wanted to avoid the girls like the plague. Goodbye had meant forever that time, however long forever could last. This time, goodbye meant nothing at all.
Usual disclaimers...
A/N: Wow, so I haven't updated in a while...like I said, I've been busy with tennis, lacrosse, and school. And this story is pretty much done...Enjoy the chapter! And tell me if you want me to continue, one or two more chapters, or if this is good...(if I do one or 2 more chapters, it would be about graduation, etc...) If this is it, I'm sad to see this story go! But I'm starting Best Days of Our Lives again and also adding a new story sometime this weekend.
A/N2: It's mid-January and the gang is getting ready to go back to school. I don't know what the deal is with colleges and valedictorians, so just go with the flow! Marissa and Summer pack, Ryan and Kirsten share a mother-son moment, Ryan gets some good news, and the gang heads back to finish off their senior year at Harvard and Princeton. (Seth and Ryan at Harvard and Marissa/Summer at Princeton.)
"Coop, do you have any room in your suitcase?" Summer asked. She had uncovered some clothes that she absolutely wanted to bring back to school for the spring. And she intended to do so, if she could find room. If not, UPS was always an option.
"Are you kidding? Ryan and I have gone shopping almost every day for the past few weeks," Marissa sighed, trying to stuff a long sleeved pink Juicy shirt into her bulging suitcase.
"Come on, do you really need to pack six pairs of Pumas?" Summer wheedled. "I'm not even bringing that many."
Marissa suspiciously eyed Summer's open suitcase. "So five is such a difference from six? Summer, you packed two pairs in the SAME color!"
Summer kept her eyes on the floor, a guilty grin appearing on her face. "Did not."
Marissa stepped over her suitcase and grabbed the shoes from Summer's. "Liar."
"Oh no you didn't," Summer said, in her best 'I'm a white girl from the ghetto' voice. Let's just say that it wasn't very good.
Marissa laughed. "I think I did." Summer threw a pillow at her. And before Marissa could retaliate, she threw another.
Soon the girls were engaged in yet another pillow fight. They were pretty common, as living with either of the girls would prove. Marissa's little sister could attest to that, as could Summer's stepmom. Even Seth and Ryan knew of Summer and Marissa's never-ending joy of whacking each other with pillows. Girls.
"So, I think we need to ship some of this crap," Marissa gestured to the clothes scattered on the floor.
"You read my mind, Coop," Summer giggled. After all those years, they were still as close as two peas in a pod and could read each other's mind. Summer didn't mind. Coop was one thing in her life that remained constant. Unlike her boyfriends, taste in clothes, and stepmothers. Right now, Mr. Roberts was on wife #4. Unless something had changed since Summer had been in college. Summer hoped that Seth would be her boyfriend for a long time. He was one guy she knew she wouldn't get sick of. Possibly ever.
Marissa went to her closet and pulled out a large L.L. Bean duffel bag. Her bag of choice was normally Louis Vuitton, but when she and Summer had gone to sleepover camp their parents had insisted they buy less expensive camp goods.
"You still have that?" Summer asked, her eyes widening. She remembered the summers at Camp Timber Ridge. And the preparing and packing.
"Of course!" Marissa rolled her eyes. "Don't you?"
Summer hung her head sheepishly. "Okay, okay. I kept it too."
"Do you remember our second summer? We were going into seventh grade."
"Duh. Do the names Sean and Brad ring a bell?" Summer asked.
"I thought we agreed not to talk about that," Marissa lowered her voice.
"Yeah. But only when other people are around, Coop," Summer replied, giving Marissa an exasperated look. Coop could be so slow sometimes.
Sean and Brad were two older guys that the girls met at camp. Older as in, high school juniors. Marissa and Summer had gone pretty far with them. Farther than they intended to go. Two words: peer pressure. Still, they came back to school being the most experienced girls in the grade and when word got out that they'd gotten around, all the guys wanted a piece of it. And all of the girls wanted to know their secrets. Of course, Summer and Marissa never told anyone exactly what they did, but rumors spread like wildfire at the school.
But that's another story...
At the Cohen house, later...
"Honey, do you need any help?" Kirsten popped her head in the poolhouse. Seth had been packed for hours, but Ryan's suitcase was empty, and he was lying on his bed staring at the ceiling.
"That'd be great," Ryan agreed, keeping his eyes up.
Kirsten walked towards the closet and began to pull things off of hangers. "You don't mind if your shirts get a little wrinkled, do you?"
"No," Ryan couldn't help but crack a smile. Kirsten was so pathetic as a housewife; she didn't cook, clean, or know how to fold clothes. Still, she was more of a mother to Ryan than his biological one had been.
"So what's on your mind, sweetie?" Kirsten was curious as hell, but she wasn't going to push. Ryan didn't answer, and after a few seconds, she went back to messily folding his shirts. He would come around. When he was good and ready. Kirsten had learned this valuable lesson over the years. And not being a blood Cohen, she could actually contain herself. Besides, Nichols never rambled.
Kirsten rooted around in Ryan's drawers for his signature clothing, wifebeaters. She heard Ryan sigh and turned around and gave him the tiniest smile. The reassuring smile that let him know she was there. For him.
"It's nothing, really," Ryan began, closing his eyes, which had darkened for the day. "I was just thinking about how different my life was 6 years ago. Before I came to live with you guys, I mean."
"Has it really been six years?" Kirsten murmured, more to herself than to Ryan. Ryan had blended in to the family so well, he was like the missing puzzle piece that wasn't missed until it was found.
Ryan continued, "Stealing that car was the best decision I made in my life." Kirsten gave him a look. "Okay, so maybe it wasn't the smartest thing to do. But then I wouldn't have needed a lawyer, and Sandy wouldn't have taken me in. And I wouldn't have met you, or Seth, or Marissa, or anyone."
"And I'm happy I did. Because my life wouldn't be complete without you guys."
Kirsten gave him a melancholy smile. Ryan had never been much of a talker. But what he did say was full of meaning. And emotional Kirsten was tearing up. She walked over to Ryan and sat down next to him on the bed. Ryan put his arm around her. And then he did something very out of character. Ryan Atwood cried.
Not like a baby. Just some tears of mixed emotions, tears that needed to be shed. Kirsten held Ryan in her arms, surprised, and a bit confused. She ran her fingers through his dirty blonde hair, the hair that connected him to the family. People always thought Ryan looked like Kirsten and Seth like Sandy. The people who didn't know that Ryan wasn't a Cohen by blood.
"I'm sorry," Ryan sniffed. "I-I...Just being back here brings back all of these emotions and they're good. I just felt like it was a good time to cry. With you here."
"Ryan," Kirsten murmured, kissing his forehead. The kid was such sweet boy. He always knew just what to say.
"Don't mention this to Seth, okay?" Ryan asked, and Kirsten could see his lips curving up. She nodded, patting him on the back.
"I'm going to go call for a pizza," Kirsten sensed that Ryan was done bonding, at least for the moment. "Mushrooms?"
Ryan nodded. "Thanks," he said. "I think I'm going to go call Marissa. She wanted me to call her."
"Okay, sweetie. I would say she could come over for dinner, but since it's yours and Seth's last night home, I thought we would have dinner. With just the four of us," Kirsten said.
"That's fine. Thanks for helping me pack."
Kirsten smiled and went to order the pizza. Ryan lay back on his bed. All he had left to pack was toiletries and other miscellaneous items. He picked up the phone, checking to make sure no one was on the line before he dialed. Then he remembered. Here, he had his own phone line. It was at college where he shared. In Newport, people rarely shared anything but intimacy and a circle of friends.
Marissa was number 1 on his speed-dial. She picked up on the first ring. "Hey Ryan."
"How did you know it was me?" Ryan asked, knowing full well that Marissa had caller-id.
Marissa ignored the question. "I miss you. Want to come over before my dad picks me up? I'm next door," she let her own question linger.
Ryan sighed. "Wish I could, babe. But Kirsten wants us to have dinner as a family. Since it's our last night in Newport."
The disappointment was evident in Marissa's voice. "Oh. Well, I guess I should finish packing. Summer came over today but we didn't really accomplish anything. You know how that is."
"I love you."
"Love you too. Oh, and Ryan?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm going to be at my mom's house tonight," Marissa's voice was innocent and laced with honey, but Ryan could detect the suggestive tone underneath.
"Bye," Ryan said. He and Marissa loved to play those little mind games. Ryan always got turned on when Marissa got all seductive. Or innocent. Actually, he got turned on anytime he saw her or heard her voice. Go figure.
Later...
Ryan stumbled into the kitchen. After hanging up with Marissa, he had taken a little nap. When he woke up he was surprised to find that it was 7, and that no one had woken him.
In the kitchen, Kirsten was tossing a Greek salad—one of the few foods she prepared that Sandy, Seth, and Ryan had deemed safe to eat.
"Did you have a good rest?" Kirsten asked, slicing up some tomatoes and mixing them into the salad.
Ryan nodded, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "I'm starved."
"Good, because the pizza just got here five minutes ago," Kirsten pointed to the oven. They always put the pizza in the oven unless they were eating it right away, to keep it hot. "Will you go get Seth? I think he's crashed out in his room."
Ryan trudged up the stairs, knocking on Seth's door before opening it. After all, Ryan didn't want to walk in on a Summer/Seth party.
"Come in," Seth moaned, obviously still half asleep. Ryan opened the door and walked in.
"Dinner's ready," Ryan announced. Seth didn't stir, just made a few groaning noises that sounded vaguely like 'Just a few more minutes, Mom'. "Seth, get up!"
Ryan now realized what Kirsten and Sandy went through every day trying to get Seth up. He also smiled; he had new material to tease Seth with. Oh, joy. He walked over to Seth's bed and yanked the covers off of Seth. Seth immediately curled up into a fetal position.
"Mom," he complained, "I'm cold."
"Seth, open your eyes. If I'm your mom..." Ryan trailed off. Seth squinted. Then he sat straight up.
"Jesus, Ryan. I'm getting up," Seth swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. He stretched and yawned. "Onwards, I can smell the pizza!"
Ryan groaned. Seth was weird. The boys took the stairs two by two and went into the kitchen. Kirsten handed Seth the bowl of salad, and Ryan the pizza.
Once everyone was settled around the table, Kirsten had an announcement to make. "Sandy, Seth, Ryan," Kirsten said. "I just got a letter today from Harvard. Ryan is valedictorian!"
Sandy's famous bushy eyebrows rose. "No shit." He patted Ryan on the back. "Good work, son."
"Dude. That's amazing," Seth turned to give Ryan a high five. He half expected Ryan to give him the look that came whenever Seth offered him a high five. But for once, Ryan lifted his hand up and completed the high five.
"Which brings me to my first question. Why did you get a B in Physcology, Seth?" Sandy asked. "Ryan got straight A's."
Seth feigned hurt. "Sure, make me the bad guy. It's not my fault if Ryan spends *all* his free time studying. And brown nosing the teachers, might I add."
Kirsten, Sandy, and Ryan all rolled their eyes at the same time. "See, now you're ganging up on me," Seth covered his face and made some pitiful crying noises.
"Come off it, Seth. Just try to do better. I'd like to see straight A's your last term as a senior," Sandy said, smiling at Seth so he would know that Sandy wasn't really mad.
Later that night...
For old times' sake, Ryan and Seth sat down in front of the PS2 and played for hours. They had to pack in enough gaming time to last them until next trip home. Which was spring break. And to them, spring break was a hell of a long time away. After Seth beat Ryan in Tony Hawk for the second time, Ryan said he was going to the poolhouse. He did go to the poolhouse, but just for a few minutes.
When he was sure that Seth had gone upstairs, Ryan slipped out of the poolhouse. He felt a little stupid, "sneaking out". After all, he was 21 and no longer had to adhere to a curfew and whatnot. But he still got that familiar rush, the one he used to get sneaking out to Marissa's, or when she would sneak in to the poolhouse.
Marissa let him in the back door, even though her mom was out with Caitlin (sp?) and wouldn't be back for a few hours. Plus the fact that Julie Cooper didn't care if Marissa had Ryan over, now that they weren't in high school anymore. Again, it was the familiar rush that she got.
They crept up the back stairs to Marissa's room, and when they got to her room, Marissa slammed the door shut and locked it. Then she pulled Ryan close to her and brought his lips to hers.
After letting their passions free, they lay in Marissa's bed, not speaking, because there was no need to. All their emotions had been spent, and all they needed was each other. Ryan fell asleep with Marissa in his arms, capturing the moment in his head, because there were a lot of lonely nights coming up.
The next day...
"You know, I never thought I'd say this, but I'm going to miss you, Seth," Summer wrapped her arms around Seth.
"Wow, you remembered my name," Seth grinned, giving Summer a quick peck on the lips, even though he knew she wanted a long, passionate kiss.
"Shut up. You have to come visit me. Chino will probably come up every weekend. Seeing as he and Coop can't keep their hands off of each other," Summer laughed, looking at her best friend, who was playing tonsil hockey with Chino.
"I will. And I'm going to miss you too," Seth told her. "By the way, you're a sneaky one."
"Oh?" Summer raised her perfectly manicured eyebrows.
"You planned Operation RyRissa not only to get them together. You knew that our best friends' happiness would ultimately lead to our getting back together," Seth gave Summer a look that said 'Don't play dumb'.
"Okay, so you caught me. But if I could make them happy AND myself happy at the same time, I thought I might as well go ahead and do it. You're not complaining, are you?"
Seth swept Summer up into a kiss. "I'll take that as a no," Summer said, after the two had parted.
Just then the flight attendant called Summer and Marissa's flight. Ryan and Seth had a later flight but came to see their girlfriends off.
"I love you," Seth whispered into Summer's ear, giving her one final kiss.
"I love you too," Summer replied, returning the kiss and then getting in line for her flight. Seth kept his eyes on her the whole time. He would stand there, watching until the plane took off. Just to make sure she was safe.
"Marissa..." Ryan said. He didn't want to let her go. He didn't know if he could let her go now. His arms were wrapped around her waist, and they had just finished playing a little game. Of tonsil hockey, duh.
"This isn't goodbye forever," Marissa reminded him. She was always the optimistic one.
"For now," Ryan affirmed. "I love you."
Marissa slowly broke away from their embrace and mouthed the words, 'I love you', before joining Summer in line.
Ryan, in a true romantic fashion, blew Marissa a kiss. Yeah, it was corny and sentimental, but he couldn't help the way Marissa made him feel. He joined Seth by the window as the girls disappeared into the gangway (is that what it's called? Cant remember).
Seth shook his head. "We had a true Christmukkah miracle, bro."
Ryan looked at him, somewhat confused. "We came home for Christmas break single and unhappy, and we go back to college attached and happier than happy," Seth explained.
"True. You've got to admit, it was also a true Newport vacation. Filled with drama, love, and more drama," Ryan added.
"Oh, the drama," Seth swooned dramatically.
They watched the plane take off. It soared high into the sky, just like their spirits had. All too soon it was enveloped by the clouds and zoomed out of sight. Last time they had seen Summer and Marissa off was their first year of college. Both couples had been broken up by that time, and Ryan and Seth had wanted to avoid the girls like the plague. Goodbye had meant forever that time, however long forever could last. This time, goodbye meant nothing at all.