A/N: As always, I am grateful for the reviews. I am glad you like this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own 'The O.C.' or any characters on the show.

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Marissa's POV

"So that's our story," Seth gleefully announced right after he told me how he and Anna had found one another. I had been a little surprised to learn that they were dating because I thought that chapter had been closed but I guess it wasn't. In fact, looking at them, it was obvious that it was still very much open. Other than the obvious changes in the bachelor pad since I'd last visited - fresh and not fake flowers in the living room, actual china, the magazines arranged in a rack and not just thrown next to the television and other girly touches, Seth had also changed. He was happier now. Sometimes, instead of just speaking, it was almost as if he sang his words. And how could he not be? They seemed satisfied in their relationship, in fact, they were quite a joy to watch. Even though Seth narrated most of the story, Anna interrupted him from time to time to add little details he had forgotten. The only word that could possibly describe them was cute.

"Ryan was telling me your story. As usual he didn't tell us much so, we're listening...," Anna said. I guess we were having our couple bonding thing. It's actually quite funny. When you get in a committed relationship suddenly, you see your single friends less and less and start hanging out with other couples. It's not like you consciously choose it, but your single friends start feeling like a third wheel, so hanging out with couples just seemed easier. For once, I was with a couple I actually liked.

Nick and I were in town to spend the weekend with his family. We'd spent Saturday morning with them and came to spend the afternoon with the gang.

"What did Ryan tell you?" I asked her wanting to fill in the gaps.

"He said he hooked you guys up - that he did a three-way call thing to introduce you."

"Yes. We ended up spending about three hours on the phone that night. I guess we were both intrigued 'cos we met the next day. Of course, I was a little scared he was going to look like a troll... I figured he might have been Ryan's payback for hooking him up with Lara."

"Who's Lara?" she asked.

"Some psycho he dated in senior year - the girl used to stalk him and everything," Seth said.

"Wow."

"Yeah, she was a piece of work. Anyway, I thought he might be ugly so by the time I got there I'd already decided that if he were ugly, I'd show him around town then we could just be friends or something."

"Can I say that I knew she was going to be hot?" Nick interjected.

"How?" Seth asked.

"Because Ryan has great taste."

"Anyway," I continued, "so when I met him and saw that he was cute, all blonde and tall, I was very relieved."

"For me it was like slow motion - it was love at first sight," Nick added, with his arm around me caressing my upper arm.

I put my head on his shoulder, "I wouldn't say it was the same for me, but when he told me he was royalty, it was over - I mean, how often do you get the chance to meet a prince?" I joked. "I--"

I was interrupted by a loud groan. The door slammed then Ryan came to the living room holding boxes of food.

"Not the royalty story again," he complained.

Anna glanced at him then back at me. "Ignore him. I want to hear about it," she said.

I certainly didn't mind. I couldn't tell it enough times.

"Well, Nick's grandfather is 139th in line to the Norwegian throne." It was silly but a fun fact nonetheless.

"Which means, if there's a plague that kills 139 people including King Harald, my grandfather will become King," he joked. "But don't ask me what position I'm in because it's too difficult to calculate."

"See, isn't that cool? I could potentially be Queen." Nick rolled his eyes and Seth and Anna laughed in response.

"Guys, I've brought plates, let's eat - I am starving," Ryan called. We all got off the couches and headed for the table.

"You have your story about the phone, Anna and I have ours about the train," he said glancing at her. "What about Ryan?" Seth teased.

"Ryan is too busy dating Playboy bunnies to settle with just one girl," Anna said with a wink.

Ryan's face was expressionless. "Jealous?" he asked her.

"Hmm.... let me think about it...," she said her head on her finger in mock thought, "....nope. Why would I want to date a playboy bunny?"

The problem with knowing someone so well is that even when they try to hide something from you, you can always sniff it out. From the moment I'd walked into the apartment, I'd noticed that there was something bothering Ryan. In private, I asked him about it but he insisted it was nothing. But ever since the five of us sat down together, Ryan had been coming up with excuses to get away from us. After insisting on making mixed drinks, he insisted on picking up our lunch instead of getting it delivered. I'd thought it was work-related but sitting there looking at them, it was clear as day - Ryan had fallen for Anna. For the most part, Anna seemed completely in love with Seth and they did seem to have a wonderful aura around them but sometimes, the glances she gave or didn't give Ryan made me wonder.

Seth pulled out a chair for Anna to sit on. Ryan had gone a little overboard - we practically had a feast. There were two specialty pizzas and a plain one, calzones, hot wings, drinks and a few other choice items.

Anna skimmed the table. "Did you forget the Greek salad?" she asked.

He looked over the buffet. "I must have left it in the kitchen - I transferred it to a bowl," he said getting up.

"Don't worry," Anna said, also getting up. "I'll get it."

"No," Ryan insisted. "I am already up."

Anna sat back down and turned to me. "Seth fed me so much this morning that if I don't watch what I have for lunch, I'll blow up."

"That'll just mean that there's more of you to love," he said leaning across and kissing her neck as Ryan walked in with the salad. Luckily, I was the only person that saw him flinch before he handed it to her. I felt sick to my stomach. Poor Ryan. He really was trying hard to mask his feelings but he certainly wasn't fooling me.

After lunch, Anna and I went shopping to get some bridesmaids' gifts. We'd walked around 6th avenue for about thirty minutes before we stepped into Macy's. We were looking at jewelry when I took a deep breath and broached the subject. I really wanted to stay out of it but seeing Ryan in so much pain compelled me to act. I knew that if I didn't do something, Ryan wouldn't.

"So you guys are doing great?" I asked her as she fingered an emerald bracelet that had caught her eye.

She looked at me. "Who? Oh, Seth and I? Yeah, it's actually quite great," she said a little too enthusiastically.

"Yeah?"

"Yes. I had my reservations when we first met because I kept remembering the disaster we called our high school thing."

"But now?"

"Now, it's great. We are different people. It's a different thing now. I mean, it still has elements of the old but it's new and wonderful," she said with a huge grin. "I am actually very happy." Watching her all full of praise for her relationship made me wonder. Who was she trying to convince? Me or herself?

"Great and you're not scared it's going to end up like the last time?"

"Not at all. I think what makes me feel really good about this relationship is knowing that Seth is not going to change. He's the same guy he's always been and the sense of security in knowing he's not magically going transform into something else is amazing. Plus he's funny too," she said still grinning.

"Really?"

She looked at me suspiciously. "Yeah...?"

"Oh, I was just thinking about Ryan and I trying again -it would never work."

"Oh..." she laughed, playfully hitting me on the arm. "It's different for you - you're in love with someone else."

"And you're not?"

She frowned. "Sorry?"

I was looking for a way to say what I wanted without actually saying it but since I hadn't yet come up with it, I chickened out. "You're in love with Seth?"

She thought about it for a moment. "I'm not sure... but if I'm not, I'm definitely heading there."

"And how do you think he feels? I hope you don't think I'm prying..."

"No, it's fine. Girl talk right? About Seth's feelings, hopefully they are like mine. In fact, with the way he's been going on, you'd think he fell in love the moment he saw me."

"He probably did. But I wasn't talking about him."

"Who then?"

"Ryan."

She put down the bracelet she was holding.

"What?" she replied slowly. That was the sign I'd been waiting for. If she had responded in a dismissive or even playful manner, I would have stopped. But she replied with such intensity that I knew that she felt something for Ryan. Something that was not quite platonic.

"I'm sorry?"

"What does Ryan have to do with this?" she asked through squinted eyes.

"Did I say Ryan? I'm sorry I meant Seth," I apologized, making sure that my eyes said otherwise. I wanted to make sure she knew what I was really talking about.

"Marissa, I don't know what you're getting at but as you know, Ryan and I are just friends and Ryan and Seth are best friends."

"I know."

"Great."

"But I just don't want you to dwell in the past, Anna. Part of growing up is living in the present and dealing with life as it is and not as it was."

"That's exactly what I am doing... what the fuck are you talking about?" she asked angrily.

"I'm so sorry," I said, touching her arm to calm her down, "I didn't mean to offend you. It comes with being a bride- for some reason we feel all knowledgeable about everything. Please forgive me, I was just displaying some bridezilla tendencies and babbling," I replied.

She studied me and when she was satisfied that I was being honest smiled.

"Alright then, let's get back to what we came in here for," she said, turning her attention back to the jewelry.

As I looked at her, I felt pleased with myself. If anything, I'd helped water the seed of doubt she already had in her.

When we got back, Anna and Seth went out, and while Nick was in another room talking to his parents, I decided to implement the second part of my plan.

"Ryan, don't give up," I said from across the room.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, tearing his eyes away from the game on ESPN classic.

"You know..."

"What, Marissa?"

"What's been bothering you, what you refused to talk to me about. Why you've been a little different these past couple of months."

He eyed me then went back to his game. "I have no idea what you're on about."

I sat next to him. I held his hand and said, "Look at me, Ryan."

He refused. "I am trying to watch the game. You can say whatever it is you want to say, after all my ear is in your direction."

Sometimes he could be so stubborn but I wasn't giving up without a fight. Ryan had been there for me so many times that I refused to fail him when he needed me most.

"Please Ryan, look at me," I pleaded.

He sighed. "What?"

"You know I love you, right?"

"Yes, I know that."

"And you know that I know you."

"Yes, and?"

"Sometimes I know you more than I even know myself."

"Marissa, is there a point to this?"

"I know you're not going to admit anything to me -"

"There's nothing to admit -"

"But don't give up. I think she might feel the same."

He looked at me with eyes conveying the thanks his lips refused to. As I left him, I hoped my interference hadn't worsened the situation.