Chapter 2 Uncertainty
The next morning Ryan did not want to explain to Seth why Marissa was not picking them up for school. He just gave his signature look and that was that. Seth knew not to push Ryan too far. As soon as he saw Summer, he ran towards her to make-out much to Ryan's disgust. As he walked alone to class, he could see Marissa from the corner of his eye. She was standing with the captain of the football team. His name was Jeremy. They seemed to be standing way too close for comfort. He couldn't watch more of this and made his way to class.
Things were going well until fourth period. This was the class he had with Marissa. He decided to change his seat so they wouldn't sit next to each other. Then she walked in looking as happy as a sunny day. This made him pissed a bit more.
Marissa first noticed his seat was empty and did not want to look around to see where he changed it. She wanted to leave the room right then, but bore a smile either way and sat down in her usual seat. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of thinking she was looking for him.
"Alright class. The year is more than half over so there is one more group project left. Since the reports the last time were good, I will choose groups again. The names will be posted after class." Mr. Abbott spoke.
Ryan was actually hoping to work with Luke this time. That project really helped him see who he was on the inside. Hopefully he would get the chance again. He even wondered why he wasn't in class today. Maybe something came up.
This was not good, not good at all. She needed a miracle and was not sure she would get one. Something told her luck was not on her side and after class she realized that was true. The look on Ryan's face said it all when he looked at the sheet. He didn't look pleased. When he walked out of the room, she looked at the paper.
Groups
The Civil War – Luke, Marissa, and Ryan
In the back of her mind, Marissa kept thinking at least it was not just going to be her and Ryan. That should help her somewhat.
When she was walking to her car after school, Jeremy called out her name. She turned around happy to be greeted by his face.
"Marissa, I was wondering if you are free tonight?"
"Tonight um..."
She was thinking about what to say when she saw Ryan talking to Seth and figured what she wanted to do.
"Sure. Pick me up at 8."
"Alright."
Ryan did not see them, but he sure will hear about it.
Later that night at the Cooper apartment, Marissa had a hard time deciding what to wear. On the phone with Summer, she was given advice as to what she should choose. Jeremy and her were going to go on a double date even though Jeremy did not know about that part. She wanted Seth and Summer there for two reasons.
Jeremy was quite surprised at this arrangement, but went along anyway.
"So Jeremy, how does it feel like playing sports?" Seth asked.
"Makes me feel like a man. It's such a man's sport." Jeremy answered.
"And we know Seth is no man." Summer added.
"So I'm like a girl Summer?"
"Well not exactly. Somehow a little boy sounds more like it. My little boy."
"Okay, now you are sounding a bit odd."
"So uh Jeremy, how long have you been playing?" Marissa asked.
"For many years. I lost count. Maybe I can't remember cause I got hit too many times."
"Must be." Seth spoke, but laughed on the inside.
"Um could you excuse me and Marissa for a sec. We are going to go to the ladies room." Summer said.
"Right cause once again women can't pee alone."
After Summer checked that no one was in the bathroom, she needed to have a talk with Marissa. What she was trying to accomplish was not working. Not only was she not having a good time with Jeremy, but now her plan of having Seth tell Ryan what fun she had tonight was ruined. They both agreed that they should just end the date. Seth would have no juicy gossip to report to Ryan.
Ending it was easier than she thought it would be. Jeremy didn't seem to care at all. This made her feel much worse and she went to bed that night feeling as horrible as she did the night before.
The next day in Mr. Abbott's class, he started off by reading everyone's groups like Marissa could forget. His next line made everything feel worse.
"Now since you have to finish this by this Friday, I made the time for you to work on the project together in class today."
"So where do you want to start?" Luke asked.
"I don't know." Ryan answered.
Marissa then made her way to the back of the room where Ryan and Luke were sitting. Mr. Abbott insisted that she should work with her group so she sat down all silent and didn't look up.
"We could do the powerpoint like the last time. I could work on that. What about you Ryan, or Marissa?"
"I'll do the research." Ryan and Marissa said simultaneously.
"You could do that. I'll do something else." Marissa said.
"Alright." Ryan agreed.
"I'll be back." Marissa seemed to be only talking to Luke.
When Marissa was not within hearing distance, Luke broke up the silence.
"I thought you guys were going to be friends. What happened?"
"Too much to get into right now, and this project is not helping."
"It had something to do with your ex right? Seth told me a little about it yesterday. Like why the things at the party happened, and why you were taking a break."
"Not you too. Things just happened that way okay. I couldn't control it."
"Whoa Ryan. You don't need to explain it to me. Remember I was on your side with the Oliver problem."
"Sorry. I just get worked up over that."
"I can see your ex was there and it seemed like the right thing for you." "I never wanted to hurt her." Ryan admitted.
"Neither did I, but it just happened."
When she came back, Ryan and Luke discussed more about the project and Marissa just worked on an assignment for another class.
While Ryan went over Luke's house to work further on the project, Marissa just sat home watching t.v. This was starting to become a routine, but slowly she was enjoying it. Maybe taking some time off to herself can do her some good. She didn't need to have someone always by her so when Summer called later that night, she declined her offer to come over. Summer was surprised and worried. She never gave up the chance to hang out.
"Okay Seth. You need to have a serious talk with Ryan." Summer demanded.
"Why Summer? He looks fine to me."
"It's really not about him, but Marissa. You need to tell him to forgive her. She is not being herself. Even to me. I don't want what happened in TJ to happen again."
"You really think she might do that again. Are you sure about worrying like that?"
"Believe me Cohen. I would not joke about something this serious."
When Ryan returned from Luke's house, Seth started to bug him the minute he walked in the door. He didn't want to start off on what he really wanted to talk about so they played Playstation.
"Well you beat me again. I'm going to head on out."
"Wait. Ryan. I need to talk to you about something serious."
"Make it quick. I don't know how much longer I can keep my eyes open."
"It's about Marissa."
Ryan started to walk away with Seth trailing behind.
"Summer's worried about her."
"Why would she be worried and what does it have to do with me?"
"She is not herself and is afraid history will repeat itself with what happened in TJ."
"Look Seth. She's going to have to save herself this time. I won't always be there."
He continued to walk off with a confused Seth watching him. Why would he just brush something like this off? He would walk through fire over her regardless of whether they were together, or not. This was certainly non- Ryan like.
The next morning Ryan did not want to explain to Seth why Marissa was not picking them up for school. He just gave his signature look and that was that. Seth knew not to push Ryan too far. As soon as he saw Summer, he ran towards her to make-out much to Ryan's disgust. As he walked alone to class, he could see Marissa from the corner of his eye. She was standing with the captain of the football team. His name was Jeremy. They seemed to be standing way too close for comfort. He couldn't watch more of this and made his way to class.
Things were going well until fourth period. This was the class he had with Marissa. He decided to change his seat so they wouldn't sit next to each other. Then she walked in looking as happy as a sunny day. This made him pissed a bit more.
Marissa first noticed his seat was empty and did not want to look around to see where he changed it. She wanted to leave the room right then, but bore a smile either way and sat down in her usual seat. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of thinking she was looking for him.
"Alright class. The year is more than half over so there is one more group project left. Since the reports the last time were good, I will choose groups again. The names will be posted after class." Mr. Abbott spoke.
Ryan was actually hoping to work with Luke this time. That project really helped him see who he was on the inside. Hopefully he would get the chance again. He even wondered why he wasn't in class today. Maybe something came up.
This was not good, not good at all. She needed a miracle and was not sure she would get one. Something told her luck was not on her side and after class she realized that was true. The look on Ryan's face said it all when he looked at the sheet. He didn't look pleased. When he walked out of the room, she looked at the paper.
Groups
The Civil War – Luke, Marissa, and Ryan
In the back of her mind, Marissa kept thinking at least it was not just going to be her and Ryan. That should help her somewhat.
When she was walking to her car after school, Jeremy called out her name. She turned around happy to be greeted by his face.
"Marissa, I was wondering if you are free tonight?"
"Tonight um..."
She was thinking about what to say when she saw Ryan talking to Seth and figured what she wanted to do.
"Sure. Pick me up at 8."
"Alright."
Ryan did not see them, but he sure will hear about it.
Later that night at the Cooper apartment, Marissa had a hard time deciding what to wear. On the phone with Summer, she was given advice as to what she should choose. Jeremy and her were going to go on a double date even though Jeremy did not know about that part. She wanted Seth and Summer there for two reasons.
Jeremy was quite surprised at this arrangement, but went along anyway.
"So Jeremy, how does it feel like playing sports?" Seth asked.
"Makes me feel like a man. It's such a man's sport." Jeremy answered.
"And we know Seth is no man." Summer added.
"So I'm like a girl Summer?"
"Well not exactly. Somehow a little boy sounds more like it. My little boy."
"Okay, now you are sounding a bit odd."
"So uh Jeremy, how long have you been playing?" Marissa asked.
"For many years. I lost count. Maybe I can't remember cause I got hit too many times."
"Must be." Seth spoke, but laughed on the inside.
"Um could you excuse me and Marissa for a sec. We are going to go to the ladies room." Summer said.
"Right cause once again women can't pee alone."
After Summer checked that no one was in the bathroom, she needed to have a talk with Marissa. What she was trying to accomplish was not working. Not only was she not having a good time with Jeremy, but now her plan of having Seth tell Ryan what fun she had tonight was ruined. They both agreed that they should just end the date. Seth would have no juicy gossip to report to Ryan.
Ending it was easier than she thought it would be. Jeremy didn't seem to care at all. This made her feel much worse and she went to bed that night feeling as horrible as she did the night before.
The next day in Mr. Abbott's class, he started off by reading everyone's groups like Marissa could forget. His next line made everything feel worse.
"Now since you have to finish this by this Friday, I made the time for you to work on the project together in class today."
"So where do you want to start?" Luke asked.
"I don't know." Ryan answered.
Marissa then made her way to the back of the room where Ryan and Luke were sitting. Mr. Abbott insisted that she should work with her group so she sat down all silent and didn't look up.
"We could do the powerpoint like the last time. I could work on that. What about you Ryan, or Marissa?"
"I'll do the research." Ryan and Marissa said simultaneously.
"You could do that. I'll do something else." Marissa said.
"Alright." Ryan agreed.
"I'll be back." Marissa seemed to be only talking to Luke.
When Marissa was not within hearing distance, Luke broke up the silence.
"I thought you guys were going to be friends. What happened?"
"Too much to get into right now, and this project is not helping."
"It had something to do with your ex right? Seth told me a little about it yesterday. Like why the things at the party happened, and why you were taking a break."
"Not you too. Things just happened that way okay. I couldn't control it."
"Whoa Ryan. You don't need to explain it to me. Remember I was on your side with the Oliver problem."
"Sorry. I just get worked up over that."
"I can see your ex was there and it seemed like the right thing for you." "I never wanted to hurt her." Ryan admitted.
"Neither did I, but it just happened."
When she came back, Ryan and Luke discussed more about the project and Marissa just worked on an assignment for another class.
While Ryan went over Luke's house to work further on the project, Marissa just sat home watching t.v. This was starting to become a routine, but slowly she was enjoying it. Maybe taking some time off to herself can do her some good. She didn't need to have someone always by her so when Summer called later that night, she declined her offer to come over. Summer was surprised and worried. She never gave up the chance to hang out.
"Okay Seth. You need to have a serious talk with Ryan." Summer demanded.
"Why Summer? He looks fine to me."
"It's really not about him, but Marissa. You need to tell him to forgive her. She is not being herself. Even to me. I don't want what happened in TJ to happen again."
"You really think she might do that again. Are you sure about worrying like that?"
"Believe me Cohen. I would not joke about something this serious."
When Ryan returned from Luke's house, Seth started to bug him the minute he walked in the door. He didn't want to start off on what he really wanted to talk about so they played Playstation.
"Well you beat me again. I'm going to head on out."
"Wait. Ryan. I need to talk to you about something serious."
"Make it quick. I don't know how much longer I can keep my eyes open."
"It's about Marissa."
Ryan started to walk away with Seth trailing behind.
"Summer's worried about her."
"Why would she be worried and what does it have to do with me?"
"She is not herself and is afraid history will repeat itself with what happened in TJ."
"Look Seth. She's going to have to save herself this time. I won't always be there."
He continued to walk off with a confused Seth watching him. Why would he just brush something like this off? He would walk through fire over her regardless of whether they were together, or not. This was certainly non- Ryan like.