Disclaimer: Sadly, I own nothing.

A/N: Okay, I'm having a hard time updating both this story and my other story. A lot of crap has come up and I just don't have the energy to write anymore…BUT today I felt like writing so I wrote this up. Sorry if it's cheesy or whatever…I'm hoping you like it. I'll be working more on my 'Emotion Is Dead' story later today so, hopefully I'll have another chapter up soon.

SEASON TWO: Episode Six

"Oh my god. Did you just see Holly? She's such a whore! I can't believe she's going out with Brad." Summer exclaimed, as she opened her juice and set it on the table. They were at school eating their lunch outside.

"Yeah, I'm sure by the end of this year she'll have dated all the guys in our grade." Marissa mumbled.

"Coop, what's wrong? You've been acting like Ryan all morning. Brooding is definitely not your style. Smile, girl!" She said with enthusiasm. Marissa glared at her and Summer continued, "Is this about Ryan?" She asked.

Marissa shrugged. "He wouldn't even look at me, Sum. I can't believe it…When he's the one that kissed me. I didn't kiss him, although I'm sure I would have if I had the chance to. He beat me to it." She explained. "He'll have to face me sooner or later. We have English together next block."

Summer stole one of Marissa's fries and threw it at her. "Cheer up! I'm sure the brooding bad boy you once loved will return and steal your heart away – again."

Marissa laughed and threw the fry back at her. "I'll remember that." She replied and saw Seth coming towards their table. She was surprised that Ryan wasn't with him. "So, how are you and Seth?"

"Good. We haven't like done anything…Yeah, but we're good. I'm not really mad at him anymore. I'm way past that little trip. I'm glad he's finally home." She replied.

"Guess who." Seth held his hands over Summer's eyes.

"Cohen, get those clammy hands off of my face!" Summer turned around and swatted him in the chest.

"Chillax." Seth sat down next to her and nodded a hello towards Marissa.

"Cohen, you're white." Summer commented on his slang usage.

"I know that." Seth smiled at her and took out his lunch. "Peanutbutter…Yum." He bit into his sandwich, letting his eyes roll into the back of his head. Summer rolled her eyes at him and ignored him.

"So, Seth, have you seen Ryan around?" Marissa asked, all too cheerfully.

"Him and Anna are in the library. Apparently this new guy, Mr. Bates, has already handed out essays and projects. Boy am I glad I don't have him." Seth leaned back in his chair and continued eating his sandwich.

Summer looked at her schedule. "No way, this is not happening! I have Mr. Bates next block. This year is going to suck…I hate the library…And homework!"

"Uh, well…We are in school, Summer. Also, I'm here…So, school coudn't possibly suck with me here." Seth added.

Summer slapped his arm. "You're on thin ice, Cohen!"

"I never knew Newport had ice, let alone snow – or coldness."

"Come on you guys…" Marissa stood up. "We're going to be late for our next block." She grabbed her purse and left the food court, smiling to herself as she heard Seth and Summer bantering back and forth between each other about Canadian customs.

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Marissa walked into her English class and spotted Ryan sitting in the far back corner, with his head on the desk, looking out of the window. Lucky for her, the seat next to him was empty.

"Hey." Marissa sat down in the desk next to him. "I missed you at lunch. Seth told me you were in the library."

Ryan lifted his head and looked at her. "Yeah. Anna and I have this huge project to do. It sucks…Being the first day and all." He said, opening his binder and doodling over the lined paper. He looked back up at her and she was still staring at him. "How's living with Caleb and everything going?" He asked, ignoring all possible subjects that could arise with Marissa. He wasn't in the mood to explain the spontaneous kiss the other night. He really didn't know how he felt about her. He knew one thing though. He knew things would never be the same like they were last year.

Marissa shrank back into her seat and sighed. "Truthfully? I'm about to murder both Caleb and my mother."

Ryan laughed. "That bad?"

"Caleb's trying to be a father to me. And well, you know my mom…She's Julie Cooper. What more can I say?" She smiled and him and Ryan smiled back. "I haven't seen you smile in a long time." She commented.

Ryan shifted in his chair. "Yeah, well…I'm just glad to be back in school. You know how much I love studying and homework." He joked around. It was true, though. School was a lot better than working at the construction site.

"Don't we all." She replied. "So, what are you doing after school today?"

There it was, Ryan thought to himself. She wanted things to go back to the way things were before Theresa. Even before the whole Oliver fiasco.

Ryan shrugged.

"Ryan, are we okay?" Marissa asked.

"I don't know." Ryan replied and then added. "If you were thinking things were going to go back to normal…You're wrong."

"What about the kiss?"

"It was just a kiss." Ryan quickly replied, raising his voice. A couple of jocks turned in their seats and started staring at them. "Look," Ryan lowered his voice. "I can't be in a relationship right now. Not with you or anybody else."

"So the kiss didn't mean anything to you?" Marissa clarified.

Ryan shook his head. "No, I didn't mean to kiss you like that." The teacher walked into the classroom and started talking. "It's too early for any kind of relationship." He whispered.

Marissa nodded. "Then will you be my friend?"

"Now, that…I can do."

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Ryan was in the poolhouse working on his laptop when Seth barged in. "Dude, its supper time." Seth informed him and then walked over to a basket of clothes. He picked up one of Ryan's wifebeater's and threw it at him. "Looks like you're running out of clothes, my friend."

Ryan closed the laptop and threw the tank top back at him. "I like my wardrobe."

"Well, I do give you credit for pulling off the wifebeater. I mean, if I could, I would." Seth remarked. "Although, I'd probably go more vintage." He said and then left. Ryan followed him inside the Cohen's house and sat down at the dinner table.

"Mother, please tell me this is take-out." Seth forked his burnt chicken and raised it in the air. "If so, Father, I suspect to go to court with this one. Burnt chicken? That's just unacceptable." Seth put down his chicken.

Sandy and Ryan both laughed.

"So, it's a little burnt." Kirsten served herself some mashed potatoes. "I thought we'd try something new tonight."

"So you went and cooked dinner?" Seth laughed. "Where's Rosa?"

"She's visiting her family in Greece." Kirsten replied, biting into her chicken and chewing hard.

"Oh God, when is she coming back?" Seth moaned.

"Next week. Now eat!"

"Charcoal causes cancer…I can't eat this." Seth slid his plate away from him. "I realize that they're starving children in less fortunate areas of this world, that we live in, who would love to eat this lump of coal…So, I'll just wrap it up for them and mail it through Fed Ex once I have the time to."

Sandy laughed at his son.

"Come on, boys, at least try to eat it." She encouraged them.

Ryan looked down at his chicken and tried to cut a piece. He dug his fork into the meat and ran his knife over it. There was no way a knife could cut through the chicken. Ryan looked up from his piece of meat and saw everyone eyeing him. "Yeah, it's a little hard to cut."

Sandy agreed. "Where are the take-out menu's?"

"No." Kirsten grabbed a hold of Sandy's sleeve. "No take-out. This chicken is perfectly fine."

"Honey, you've been chewing on the same piece for awhile now." Sandy commented.

Kirsten gave in and threw her napkin down on her plate. "Fine. I'll go order us some Chinese food." She got up. Before she got to the phone, it rang. Kirsten picked up the cordless phone and answered it. "Hello?"

"Mrs. Cohen, its Theresa. Is Ryan there?" She asked.

"Ryan? Yes, he's here. Hold on." Kirsten replied and walked back into the dinning room. She handed the phone over to Ryan. "It's Theresa."

"Oh." Ryan took the phone. "I'll just…" He pointed to the patio doors. "I'll be right back." He walked outside and held the phone up to his ear. "Hey, how are you?"

"Good. How's everything at the Cohen's?"

"Great." Ryan replied and then added, "I miss you, though. I wish I could help you out."

"I know you do." Theresa paused. "I just came back from the doctor's."

"Oh? Is everything all right?" Ryan asked, nervously.

"I have some news and – "

Ryan cut her off. "What happened? Is everything okay? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Theresa assured him and then laughed. "I just found out that I'm having twins, that's all."

Ryan sat down in a pool chair. "Wow. Twins?"

Theresa laughed. "I know." Ryan didn't say anything. One was enough for him. Two…Two is a lot. If they were struggling to support one baby, how were they ever going to survive in supporting two babies? "Ryan?"

"Sorry. I – I mean, congratulations." Ryan stumbled on his words. "Have you told your mom?"

"No, not yet and I don't think I can. I mean, one was enough, right? She'll freak out if I tell her I'm having twins. I still can't believe it myself." She explained. "Also, the doctor told me I had to take it easy for awhile. He said I was overdoing it."

"He's right. You are. You're working way too much…Even if they cut back your hours, it's still a lot, Theresa." Ryan agreed. "The offer still stands, you know."

"And what offer would that be?" She asked, confused.

"You're welcome to come live here. Sandy and Kirsten are great and they could help us out. I know you don't want to take their charity, neither do I, but I think we need to. Sandy's not letting me work…So, there's no way we can support the babies now."

Theresa new he was right. "Let me think about it, okay?"

"Yeah, just don't forget to think about yourself too. The doctor does have his orders…"

Theresa laughed. "You're lucky I'm not there to kick your ass!"

Ryan smiled. "I know."

"Well, I'll think about it. I promise." Theresa looked down at her her belly and smiled. "I can't believe we're having twins." She said.

"I know." Ryan mumbled. No one was sure if the babies were his anyway, though. For all he knew, they could be Eddie's children and he could be wasting his time with Theresa. No, Ryan thought to himself. Theresa was his friend. If he didn't bang her, he would have helped her with the babies no matter what. Ryan knew that she would do the same if he was in any trouble.

"I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay." Ryan said and hung up.

Ryan walked back into the dinning room. The Chinese food had just arrived and everyone was unpacking it.

"Hey, kid, how's Theresa doing?" Sandy patted him on the back.

"She's doing good."

"Is everything all right?" Kirsten asked.

Ryan sat down in his seat and pulled open a container of chicken fried rice. "She just found out that she's having twins." Ryan replied casually.

Seth's mouth dropped to his plate. "Dude…That's like…Cool. Right? I mean, now they'll be two little brooding babies…How cute." Seth said, chewing on some rice. "I can just picture it…Those little itty-bitty babies with their gap outfits putting on their little brooding faces…"

"Seth." Ryan stopped him.

"Right…Sorry, I meant they'll be wearing their little itty-bitty wifebeater's." Seth corrected.

Sandy and Kirsten both congratulated him.

"If she needs anything, you'll let us know, right?" Sandy asked.

"Yeah, I know." Ryan replied.

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