A/N- Ok someone asked for longer chapters so here it is.  Someone also asked for more Ryan and Marissa so here it is.  I really love this chapter and it was really easy for me to write.  I hope you like it and don't forget to review.

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As Time Goes By

Ch. 5 – Caught

            Millions of thoughts raced through Ryan's head.  Where the hell was she?  Worry soon turned to anger.  It dawned on Ryan that Marissa had lied to him about where she was going.  And she obviously didn't want to be found because she had left her cell phone, signaling the fact she didn't want anyone to be able to contact her. 

            Ryan put his detective skills to work and picked up her cell phone.  He flipped through the "calls received" list.  The last five calls in her log had been from Mark.  Who was Mark?  The same guy who was listed as number 4 in her phonebook.  Ryan clicked on the icon for messages and typed in the access code.  Marissa had told it to him a while back and he had told her that he would never need to know the code.  Now he was glad she had told him.  The code cleared and a list of past messages popped up.  The three most recent were from Mark.  He clicked the button for "listen" on the first message.  He put the phone up to his ear and listened.

            "Hey Riss.  It's me.  I want to see you tonight.  Call me back when you get this message.  Bye", came Mark's voice through the phone. 

            Ryan was fuming.  He knew he shouldn't jump to conclusions but it sounded a lot like Marissa was cheating on him.  He knew that voice too.  He had heard it before.  He just couldn't remember where.  He sat down on the bed and out his head in his hands.  His mind was reeling.  If she had been cheating on him, how long had this been going on?  Who was she with?  Well, Mark obviously, but who the hell was he.  Ryan sighed knowing that if Marissa was cheating on him it was over between the two of them. 

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            Marissa pulled away panting as she laid her head down on his chest.  She stayed like this for a few minutes then turned her head and began to kiss him again.  He followed suit and soon they were making out… again.  This continued for thirty minutes when Marissa pulled away again.

            "I gotta go", she said quietly.

            "Stay, please", he begged her, kissing her again.

            "I would, but Ryan is gonna wonder where I am", Marissa informed him.  "I told him I would only be gone for the night."

            "Yah you're probably right", ha agreed.  "I have to prepare for class anyway."

            Marissa kissed him one last time and wrapped the bed sheet around her thin figure.  She rolled out of the queen sized bed and stood up.  Marissa walked over to the corner of the room to retrieve her clothes which had been tossed over there earlier that night.  She dressed quickly and tried to straighten up her messy hair.  She glanced back at the bed and then went to the door and slipped on her shoes. 

            "Ciao, Mark", she called over her shoulder as she slipped out of the room and closed the door behind her.  She took the steps down to the ground floor of the building and quickly walked across the large expanse of the Pepperdine campus, and back to her own dorm.

            When she arrived back to dorm room 577 she slipped her key in the lock and turned the door handle.  The place was still quiet and she slipped quietly into the room she shared with Ryan.  He appeared to still be sleeping so she slipped off her shoes and slid into carefully under the covers and cuddled up against his still form.  Ryan stirred and turned over to face Marissa.  She took this as an opportunity and gave him a gentle good morning kiss.  Ryan pulled away and this startled Marissa. 

            "What's wrong", she said her voice laced with concern.

            "I can't do this", Ryan said.  "We need to talk."

            "About what?" Marissa asked beginning to get worried.

            Ryan tried to keep his composure.  Yelling at her would not help the situation right now.  "I know what's been going on."

            "I'm not sure I know what you're talking about", Marissa said innocently with a quizzical look on her face.

            "Oh, I think you know exactly what I'm talking about", Ryan said beginning to lose control.  "I know you weren't at Jill's dorm last night."

            "Yes I was.  What are you talking about?" Marissa said.

            "No.  You were not.  I called there to tell her you forgot your purse and cell phone.  And do you know what she said to me?" Ryan asked Marissa furiously.  "She told me she hadn't spoken to you in three days!  It's kind of hard to make plans with someone especially if you don't even speak to them.  Wouldn't you agree?"

            Marissa looked guilty.  Her eyes shot from Ryan face to the floor.  She was avoiding his eyes. 

            "Why?" was all Ryan could say.

            Marissa didn't answer.

            "Why?!" he asked again getting frustrated.

            "I'm sorry" Marissa replied meekly.

            "Sorry", Ryan said to himself chuckling sarcastically.  Sorry just isn't going to cut it this time Marissa.  I forgave you for the whole Oliver thing in High School.  I forgave you for hooking up with that random clubber in Tahiti.  But I can not, forgive you for this.  You know what they say.  Third times a charm.  I mean you could have at least chosen a student", Ryan said.  He had figured out that it was her French professor by looking him up on the teacher/student registry.  "But a professor.  Your French professor.  Come on, that's a little sick not to mention against the rules", Ryan said.  "I can't do this anymore.  I need to get out of here.  We're through", Ryan said as he began to put his clothes on.  He grabbed his cell phone and wallet off of the dresser and shoved them into the pockets of his pants.  "Tell Seth to give me a call."  And with that Ryan walked out the door and out of Marissa's life.

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            Ryan drove down the Santa Monica freeway with the windows down and Journey blasting out of the stereo's speakers.  He couldn't believe Marissa had cheated on him.  Actually he could.  He just didn't think Marissa would do that to him.  They seemed so in love.  Love right.  Well not anymore.   The Journey CD ended so he shut off the stereo and rode for the next hour in silence.  As he neared the off ramp he thought about how his life had gotten so screwed up so quickly.  He couldn't, for the life of him figure out why he was the one always having problems.  He got off the freeway and drove for about five miles and then saw the "Welcome to Newport Beach!  Population 21, 500" sign.  He headed north.  He was going to talk to the two people he knew would listen.

            Ryan pulled into the Cohen's massive driveway around 10:30.  He parked the Range Rover and got out.  Ryan hesitantly walked up the steps to the front door and rang the bell.  He assumed Sandy and Kirsten would be home since it was the weekend and they didn't usually work on the weekends.  Ryan heard arguing coming from inside the McMansion.  Sandy and Kirsten were fighting again.  They had been having problems ever since Ryan and Seth had gone off to college.  He didn't think they ever fought enough to get a divorce.  But hey, this was Newport Beach and anything could happen here.  Despite the constant bickering going on between the two, both were still great parents, who always had time to listen to their sons' problems.  Which was often.  Seth and Ryan came down for dinner about twice a month and Kirsten was always checking in on the boys to make sure they were eating. 

            Finally Kirsten answered the door and was surprised to see Ryan standing there in front of her. 

            "Ryan! What's a nice surprise", Kirsten said cheerfully as she pulled him into a hug.  He returned it, which was rare for Ryan, and the two stepped into the foyer of the large house. 

            "So, what brings you to Newport?" Kirsten asked him.

            "I need to talk to you guys."

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            "Thanks", Ryan said as he got up from the table.  He had just told Kirsten and Sandy everything.  "Hey do you think I could stay here for the weekend?  I'm not ready to go back yet. 

            "Of course", Sandy said hospitably.

            "I'll go get the pool house ready", Kirsten said as she left the table and exited the main house. 

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            Ryan's phone rang so he quickly switched off the TV and answered it.  "Hello."

            "Hey man.  Where are you?" Seth greeted.

            "I'm at home", Ryan told him.

            "No you're not", Seth said.

            "Home, home", Ryan replied.

            "Wait, what?  You're in Newport?  Why?" Seth asked confused. 

            "I had to talk to your parents.  I'll explain later", Ryan informed him.

            "You better", Seth said and then hung up.

            Ryan out his cell phone down and leaned against the back of the couch.  He closed his eyes.  Ryan was exhausted.  His thoughts drifted to Marissa and thirty seconds later he was asleep.

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A/N- I hope you like that chapter.  I think that one was a little longer than my other ones so yah.  More drama to come in the next chapters.  Please review if you wanna find out what happens.  Thanks!

-Nicole