Ryan found Marissa talking to Summer about something. He didn't care that
he was about to interrupt their conversation. All that was on his mind was
finding out the truth. The truth of why she was upset and what did Vicky
have to do with any of this? When Marissa saw Ryan coming closer, she
motioned for Summer to move along with her away from him.
"Marissa!" Ryan called out.
No answer came out of her mouth. She did not even turn around. This was confusing Ryan more by the minute. What is going on here?
"Marissa, we need to talk. I have to ask you about something."
"She doesn't want to speak to you. Leave her alone." Summer said as she protected her best friend.
"Summer this is important. Let us talk alone."
Marissa gave Summer a nod that meant it was okay for her to leave. She looked Ryan right in the eyes. With that action she would be able to tell if he was telling her some lies. She crossed over her arms expressing that she meant business.
"Why were you crying before? You have me worried Marissa."
"I just found out some bad news and I just needed it to sink in a bit before talking with anyone."
"You could always tell me. I'm here for you."
Ryan then offered to give her a hug that Marissa accepted. She rested her head against his shoulder as he held her tightly. He then suggested that they either just step out for a while, or just leave altogether. Marissa agreed with the second suggestion. Before leaving she informed Summer of their plans.
They were not sure of their destination, but anywhere was better than where they were. Marissa tried holding back some tears, but couldn't. As much as she tried being emotionally stable, it was easier said than done.
"I could just take you home. That might make you feel better."
"No, I want to be with you. Let's go to that diner. We could get something to eat. I am starving."
"Alright."
Before leaving the car, Marissa wiped away any trail of tears left behind. She didn't want her appearance looking like she felt inside. Ryan gave her the time to collect her composure before entering the Endless Eatery.
They decided on a booth in the non-smoking section and sat down. Marissa felt bad for running to the bathroom before and not explaining anything to him. She knows he is always there for her, but she keeps forgetting.
"I'm sorry Ryan. I should not have shut you out like that."
"It's okay. As long as I'm not the cause."
"No of course not. I don't want you to think that. I was upset because my dad might have to leave Newport. He found a job in San Francisco. I don't want to leave so I might have to go back to living with my mom."
"I don't know what to say to that."
"I just don't know what I should do. I don't know if I can take living with her again."
"Maybe you could stay with someone who still lives here. Have you thought about that?"
Before Marissa was able to answer that question, the waitress came to their table.
"Are you ready to order?"
"I'll have the burger and fries with a coke." Ryan ordered.
"Same here."
"Alright. It will be ready soon." The waitress spoke before leaving them alone again.
Marissa was thinking about the question that Ryan posed. Was there a different solution to her problem? Ryan looked at her for an answer and asked her again just in case she didn't hear him.
"There is not anybody. Not that I know of."
"What about your cousin Vicky? She told me earlier that you two just found out that you were distant cousins."
"I don't have any cousins named Vicky. (pause) Are you referring to the girl from my class?"
"Yeah."
"She is not my cousin. What would make you think that? That is the strangest news I have heard all day."
"That is what she told me." Ryan said confused.
"And why would she say something like that to you?"
"So she never said anything to you about what happened?"
"No, but should I know. What are you talking about Ryan? What did she supposedly say to me?"
Once again the question was broken, but the waitress coming back with their meals.
"Marissa!" Ryan called out.
No answer came out of her mouth. She did not even turn around. This was confusing Ryan more by the minute. What is going on here?
"Marissa, we need to talk. I have to ask you about something."
"She doesn't want to speak to you. Leave her alone." Summer said as she protected her best friend.
"Summer this is important. Let us talk alone."
Marissa gave Summer a nod that meant it was okay for her to leave. She looked Ryan right in the eyes. With that action she would be able to tell if he was telling her some lies. She crossed over her arms expressing that she meant business.
"Why were you crying before? You have me worried Marissa."
"I just found out some bad news and I just needed it to sink in a bit before talking with anyone."
"You could always tell me. I'm here for you."
Ryan then offered to give her a hug that Marissa accepted. She rested her head against his shoulder as he held her tightly. He then suggested that they either just step out for a while, or just leave altogether. Marissa agreed with the second suggestion. Before leaving she informed Summer of their plans.
They were not sure of their destination, but anywhere was better than where they were. Marissa tried holding back some tears, but couldn't. As much as she tried being emotionally stable, it was easier said than done.
"I could just take you home. That might make you feel better."
"No, I want to be with you. Let's go to that diner. We could get something to eat. I am starving."
"Alright."
Before leaving the car, Marissa wiped away any trail of tears left behind. She didn't want her appearance looking like she felt inside. Ryan gave her the time to collect her composure before entering the Endless Eatery.
They decided on a booth in the non-smoking section and sat down. Marissa felt bad for running to the bathroom before and not explaining anything to him. She knows he is always there for her, but she keeps forgetting.
"I'm sorry Ryan. I should not have shut you out like that."
"It's okay. As long as I'm not the cause."
"No of course not. I don't want you to think that. I was upset because my dad might have to leave Newport. He found a job in San Francisco. I don't want to leave so I might have to go back to living with my mom."
"I don't know what to say to that."
"I just don't know what I should do. I don't know if I can take living with her again."
"Maybe you could stay with someone who still lives here. Have you thought about that?"
Before Marissa was able to answer that question, the waitress came to their table.
"Are you ready to order?"
"I'll have the burger and fries with a coke." Ryan ordered.
"Same here."
"Alright. It will be ready soon." The waitress spoke before leaving them alone again.
Marissa was thinking about the question that Ryan posed. Was there a different solution to her problem? Ryan looked at her for an answer and asked her again just in case she didn't hear him.
"There is not anybody. Not that I know of."
"What about your cousin Vicky? She told me earlier that you two just found out that you were distant cousins."
"I don't have any cousins named Vicky. (pause) Are you referring to the girl from my class?"
"Yeah."
"She is not my cousin. What would make you think that? That is the strangest news I have heard all day."
"That is what she told me." Ryan said confused.
"And why would she say something like that to you?"
"So she never said anything to you about what happened?"
"No, but should I know. What are you talking about Ryan? What did she supposedly say to me?"
Once again the question was broken, but the waitress coming back with their meals.