A/N: The reason this chapter is so long is it's like two chapters combined into one. I also had to change a few details in this chapter so the details wouldn't contradict events that are going to happen later in the story. This chapter isn't in script form anymore because of certain details that had to be expanded on because of later chapter events, Happy Reading!

Ryan was awaken by a knock at the door by Seth. Ryan tried to get out of bed to open the door and fell on the floor. Ryan got up and stumbled over to the door to let Seth in.

"Hey, Ryan" Seth said in an unusually chipper mood for it being so early.

"My head is throbbing" Ryan replied in a manner that told Seth he was not in a good mood.

"And a good morning to you too Ryan." Seth replied wishing he never come out to the pool house as obviously Ryan was in a bad mood. "W-Wait a minute you went out with Theresa last night, you obviously got drunk and now you have a hangover. What I don't understand, Ryan is how you got drunk when you told the Mom and the Dad that Theresa and you were "studying"" Seth emphasized with air quotes. It wasn't like this was out of character for Ryan, it was just so fun.

"And you know what you're so smart. How about you go get me some aspirin?" Ryan wanted Seth to just leave and get him the aspirin. He'd go get it if it weren't for the fact that he told Kirsten and Sandy that Theresa and him were just going to hang out. She was going to help him study for a Western Civ. test, of course he didn't know that involved doing shots whenever he got an answer wrong. He kinda liked "studying" with Theresa, he did stuff last night that Marissa never would have.

His thoughts of last night was interrupted by Seth's interjection "I've never gotten really drunk, Ryan".

"That's nice how about you get me some aspirin, before I kick you ass!" Ryan tried to sound threatening, but it was so hard when he was going through a hangover.

"You can't even kick someone's ass when you're sober, how do expect to do it when you not?" Seth thought there was no way that Ryan would do anything to him now but to be on the safe side he figured it would be advantageous to his health to do what Ryan said. Seth started towards the pool house door "I'm going now to got you your aspirin".

"So what do you want to do tonight, Coop?" Summer asked not really sure why because it didn't matter what Marissa wanted to do as long as it kept her entertained. "Coop, Coop are you listening to me?" Summer didn't like when people didn't listen to her. It was exactly like what her step-mom did to her. She would try and talk about her life but her step mom just blocked her out.

"Sorry Sum, you say something?" Marissa looked up from rummaging in her closet. Marissa didn't want it to seem like she was ignoring her best friend. She tried so hard to pay attention to everything Summer said, but Summer could be sorta artificial and fake so sometimes it was just easier to act like she paying attention.

"You're still thinking about Chino aren't you?" Summer wasn't sure why she was asking Marissa this. It just seemed like a good question at the time. She didn't realize till after the words left her mouth that Marissa would probably mentioned Seth Cohen, and that was the last thing she wanted. Seth Cohen equaled pain to her. Pain she didn't want to remember. Pain she wanted to forget. He was just like any other guy, he used her until he got bored and then dumped her.

"Well, you're still thinking about Seth Cohen" Marissa snapper back. Marissa didn't realize the magnitude of this statement. She didn't understand the magnitude of Summer's pain. Summer had gotten good at putting on an act, acting fake so other people would like her.

"Don't remind me, Now what to want to do tonight?" The sooner she got off the subject of Seth Cohen, the happier she would be.

"I have to go to another stupid party at the Cohen's all because my mom wants to try and get back with Caleb" Marissa was only going in hopes of seeing Ryan. She missed the time she spent with him, he always seemed to make everything better

"I'd go but it would be a whole big horrible suffering thing" Summer never had a very big vocabulary but it got her point across.

"So, you'll go?" Marissa didn't mean for him to come out as a question. She knew that Summer would go with her because they've been friends for too long for her to desert her at a time like this. She had to get back with Ryan.

"I guess I could go with you, but what am I going to wear?" Summer made her way over to the Marissa closet "I want something hot and sexy, something that makes Cohen want me again" Summer never really knew why she and Seth Cohen had broken up, at times she didn't care, then again she wish she could be back in Seth's arms. She knew it would probably end the same way he would get bored and then break up with her. She couldn't help but remember how much of a perfect guy he was, he always made her laugh, always made her smile. But now whenever Summer thinks about Seth Cohen all she can think about was dark thought, dark painful thoughts no one knew. No one would ever know. Because that wasn't Summer Roberts, that was someone else.

"Hey Ryan, I just remembered this might not have been the best time to get a hangover" Seth really didn't just realize this but he just loved how easy it was to poke fun at Ryan, in a brotherly way. Right then Seth Cohen realized he was happy to have Ryan here, even if he was hung-over.

"Yeah, Why's that" Ryan know what the answer would most likely be, there's a party tonight. When is there not a party? Marissa would probably be there and he didn't even know if he wanted Marissa anymore. Why was he even thinking about this now before he even knew the plans for tonight?

"Well, as you probably know or have figured out Ryan, There is a party tonight at Casa Cohen. No reason really but Marissa will be there tonight" Seth didn't know if he crossed the line. He knew that things had been weird between them lately

"I don't even know if I'm going to leave the pool house, I don't want to see Marissa" Ryan didn't tell Seth that the whole reason he didn't want to see Marissa again was he was again having feelings again for Theresa

Ryan finally felt good enough, well if you count not feeling like running to the bathroom and throwing up good, and Ryan thought that qualified as good enough to leave the pool house and see if he could find Marissa.

"Hey" Ryan was later questioning why he even left. Marissa was there, and she was probably expecting him to be all happy and lovey, but he was just not into it tonight. Also the fact that he knew that Theresa was here somewhere as a caterer, how convenient. Ryan knew he would be happy when he saw Theresa was there, why did it feel like Marissa and him didn't have a connection anymore? Ryan didn't want to get to involved with Theresa, he had to find Marissa.

Ryan spotted Theresa cleaning up one of the tables. Theresa noticed Ryan looking at her and walked over to where Ryan and Marissa where standing

"I'm going on a break soon, maybe we could hang out. You maybe want to go get something to drink? Theresa asked, of course as a come-on. If he decided that everything was too much then there was always the pool house.

"No..Uh I'm fine but thanks Theresa" Theresa gave Ryan a kiss on the cheek before leaving to clean some of the other tables she noticed were dirty. Ryan knew Theresa was sending out signals of meet me in the pool house but he wasn't sure who he wanted. Sure Marissa was fun for him to hang out with, she didn't have the best body but she was really sweet. Now Theresa, he didn't know if he loved her or if he enjoyed the whole friends with benefit thing. He knew Marissa certainly wasn't going to have sex with him anytime soon, that he might as well go to Theresa for it. Why was he thinking about all this stuff now, this was party he was supposed to have fun. After Theresa was gone he decided to go find Marissa in the sea of people, but he a lot of time to start looking. Ryan later found her hanging out alone by the appetizers. She looked so alone, like she didn't even want to be there.

"So how have you been lately?" Ryan thought if he acted like nothing was wrong with him and Marissa that would fix everything. Why should that philosophy work now it never worked back in Chino.

"I'm doing good… I mean about as good as I can be right now" Ryan was surprised to see Marissa not crying or getting emotional, she was always so emotional.

"I'm sorry it just…"

"It's okay, I understand. I don't blame you for wanting to be part of Theresa life again"

"It's not like that"

Marissa wouldn't even look at him, she didn't want anything to do with Ryan anymore

"I've got to go find Theresa" Ryan knew he probably shouldn't tell this to his on again off again girlfriend but he was having strong feelings and they could not be avoided

"Yeah, cause I can just stay here"

"So how was tonight for you Seth?" Ryan asked knowing he would not get a positive response.

"What would be the best word to describe it… ah yes awkward that would pretty much describe my whole evening" Ryan could always count on Seth for blowing things out of proportion.

"I can see why with the whole Summer/Anna problem you're having. Kinda having the same problem with Theresa/Marissa. Marissa seems to be taking our time apart rather well, I think. If you wanna talk about it I'm here for you buddy" Ryan didn't really know how that sounded, he really didn't plan what he was going to say. He was never really the comforting type, he was never around that.

"Thanks Ryan but actually I'm going to go into the house right now and wonder why I screwed up what I had with Summer"

"Hey Coop how was the party tonight with Ryan being there and everything?" Summer tried to be all sensitive but that wasn't her at least not to other people. To other people she was the bitchy black hearted brood but Marissa knew her differently.

"I don't want to talk about it Summer that's what I have therapy for" Marissa wasn't sure why she didn't want to talk to Summer. Summer actually listened, she cared unlike her therapist.

"It went that well huh?" Usually when you didn't want to talk about something, it's because something bad happened, at least that was Summer's theory

"It hurt so much to see Ryan tonight because I still love him and I wish he still felt the same way" Marissa wasn't sure why she all of a sudden opened up. She knew she needed someone to talk to and Summer was there.

"Did you ever think maybe he still does? But whateve right? I mean there might be a chance for you guys he didn't pick Theresa. Coop we'll get through this together and eventually you'll find someone to take your mind off of Chino and I'll find someone to take my mind off of what's his name. Its cool."

"Seth Cohen?" Marissa thought Summer could be a little dense that she would actually forget someone's name. Marissa now noticed that Summer had been looking a little sad, depressed. "Summer, is something wrong?"

"Coop, I really don't want to forget about Cohen, I think I was," Summer paused and looked away "never mind it was stupid" Summer didn't want to share her emotions even with her best friend.

"Summer what, you think you were what?"

"I think… I think I was in love with him Coop, I thought we were happy together and then he broke up me, I was afraid I'd be hurt by him just like every other guy. I guess I was right, huh Coop?" Summer looked down at the floor and looked up to meet Marissa's eyes "I think he was the one that truly got me and I just let him walk out on my life, that's not like me to give up without a fight." Summer didn't know if she should stay with Marissa until she composed herself, or go after Seth. She didn't want to be hurt, not again.

"Where are you going Summer?"

"I'm going over to Cohen's, I'm not gonna lose him. I'm not going to let him walk away from me. I realized now he was the first guy to truly like me for me and he didn't care about getting laid be me and he didn't stare at my boobs all the time. He was the perfect guy, and I didn't see it" Summer hoped this was true and it just wasn't some fantasy she had made up.

"Hey Seth, I'm going to go see Theresa. I've got to sort a few things out. I'll be back in a few hours" Ryan normally wouldn't have told Seth his plans but he didn't want him to come out to the pool house and not find him.

"Yeah, that's cool because I have plans with Captain Oats. Yeah maybe he can still have a chance with Princess Sparkle" It was then that Seth realized how pathetic he was, he was talking to Ryan about toy horses.

Theresa laid on Ryan's bed with Ryan beside her. Ryan was running his finger's through her wavy hair and it was just like it was back in Chino.

"How about we go into the hot tub?" Ryan knew that in every movie he ever saw, a hot tub was the first step in getting what you want from any girl. It was totally a cliché.

"You know I don't a swimsuit, Ryan" Theresa knew where Ryan was going with this and gave him if-you-think-that-is-going-to-work-try-again type look.

"You really don't need one, but if you insist I'm sure one of Kristin's will fit you" Ryan smirked

"Okay" Theresa bite her lip, she had forgot how much fun she had with Ryan. To bad he didn't still live in Chino. She could see him more often, then again if he was in Chino he wouldn't have a pool and a hot tub in his backyard.

Ryan waited on his bed waiting for Theresa to come out of his bathroom. He couldn't help thinking how hot Theresa would look in a bikini. It didn't really matter to him though it wasn't like he never saw her body before.

"So what do you think?" Theresa came out of the bathroom, wearing a purple bikini top with stripes and beaded detail over the stripes. The bottoms were purple with strips and a belt that accentuated her waist. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun. Ryan was totally blown away, he was so used to seeing Marissa in a bikini that he forgot how good Theresa could look.

"Why aren't you saying anything, you hate it don't you?" Theresa was ready to run back into the bathroom and go home.

"It's very nice, y-you look very nice" Ryan stuttered. He tried to sound more then a blubbering idiot, but it was so hard.

"So we're ready to go out then?"

"Yeah" Ryan didn't know if he would be able to let Theresa leave when it was time for her to go.

They moved out of the pool house and out into the hot tub. It was really no different then being in the pool house as all they were doing is making-out.

"You want to move over to the pool?" Ryan wanted to stay this way forever.

"Well that depends Atwood, what's the point of moving if we're just going to continue making out?"

"More room" Ryan thought yeah that sounded like a believable excuse.

Ryan got out of the hot tub and made his way over to the pool. Theresa realized that he was serious about moving. Ryan made his way over to the deep end and dove in. He came to the surface and shook the excess water out of his blond locks of hair. Theresa seemed to have a more timely approach, dipping her foot in until she become accustomed to the temperature of the water.

"It's going to take you forever to get in at the rate you're going" Ryan shouted up at Theresa.

"Calm down, Atwood I'll get in when I'm good and ready" Theresa could be very stubborn when she wanted to be.

Ryan scooped up some water and attempted to throw it at Theresa .

"What are you doing, you're getting me all wet Ryan!"

"That's the point of the pool Theresa, that's why you're wearing that bikini."

Ryan put up with Theresa's "method" of getting into a pool for about ten minutes. Ryan then thought that her method was taking to long and when she dipped her foot in for the millionth time; he grabbed a hold of her foot and pulled Theresa in making her go under the water.

Theresa came up from under the water, gasping for air "What are you trying to do Ryan, kill me?"

"Now why would I do that, then I wouldn't have you to keep me company" Ryan tried to think up a good defense, but it was the best he could think up.

"Yeah real good come back Atwood" Theresa's response was met by a splash of water Ryan shot towards her. "What are you doing?"

"Don't you want to have fun?" Ryan questioned

"Yeah I do" Theresa had known that it was only a matter of time before they would be making out in the pool and this was the time. Ryan's lips met hers and it seemed like nothing else existed. To bad Marissa and Summer had to show up and ruin everything.

"I should never have come." Marissa yelled to Summer as she ran away.

"Wait Marissa, don't go" Summer thought she had everything figured out, but now things were just worse.

Ryan lifted Theresa out of the pool and then jumped out "I'm sorry Theresa this wasn't what I had planned, but I think now would be a good time for you to go. The pool house is unlocked and there are towels in the bathroom. I'm sorry."

Ryan ran after Marissa and by the time he caught up with her, he was gasping for air "Wait a minute, Marissa don't go"

Marissa face was stained with tears, she wiped the tears off her cheek "No! Don't tell me what to do, you obviously have moved on and I should to. I'm leaving now, so I guess this means goodbye Ryan."

"Just…" Ryan didn't know if he should continue, he never had a way with words and didn't want to make things worse "Never mind if you want to go then go"

Marissa wished she didn't get so emotional; it made her feel so vulnerable. "Don't you think you should get back to your date she might be worried about you"

Ryan didn't care he was going to say what he originally intended "It's just"

"What!" Marissa didn't know if she was more angry or more sad at the betrayal she felt.

"I don't" Ryan didn't know how to tell Marissa "I don't know if breaking up with you was the right thing. I still love you Marissa"

"Oh really, well I really don't care anymore about anything that you say. Why don't you just go back to Chino? I'm sure that'd make Theresa or whoever it is your hooking up with now very happy" Marissa only knew that she wanted to be back at her house, she wanted Summer there to talk her through it, she wanted to cry.

"So, how is Ryan this morning?" Seth always had a way of trying to make things right. If you acted like nothing was wrong, things would be good but look what that got him with Summer.

"If you call Theresa wondering why I don't want to be with her now and Marissa wanting me to go back Chino good, then my evening was great" Ryan knew his evening went bad but saying it that way made it seem better even if it was sarcastic.

"I'm noticing a hint of sarcasm. Well back to your Theresa/Marissa dilemma yeah yeah I know what your talking about Captain Oats said having two ladies after him wasn't all it was cracked up to be either" How can you be mad if you get advice from a plastic horse. But obviously Ryan wasn't a fan of Captain's Oats advice "Sorry, just trying to lighten the moment"

"Now that you know how great my evening was, how was yours. You do anything after the party?" Ryan didn't know why he was asking Seth this. Seth never had a social life, even when he was dating Summer

"Summer was here, Yeah if you didn't know but Marissa and Summer are friends. They go everywhere together"

"I'm sorry I brought it up Seth, I guess I didn't notice she was here. I was a little preoccupied with keeping Marissa from leaving and everything is screwed up now"

"Could it also be that you were to busy wondering why you broke up with Marissa in the first place, I for one am now fine with the fact that Anna left, as I can still keep contact with her yet I have Summer to keep me company, or did anyways before I only had Captain Oats. This was supposed to be a uplifting speech but now I'm just sad"

"I'm glad to see things kinda worked out for you" What was Ryan supposed to say to Seth when he starts talking about Captain Oats.

Ryan got up to take his plate the sink, even though it wasn't dirty in the first place. Sometimes he needed a break from Seth, even if it was only for a few minutes.

"I'm sure everything will work out. You know Ryan everything happens for a reason" Seth knew that Ryan mostly likely wouldn't care about his motivational reasoning but it was worth a chance.

"Yeah can't wait to see the reason for this"

Marissa was at her dad's house, she was sitting in her bedroom laying on her bed crying with a box of tissues next to her bed and a pile of tissues on the floor, there was a knock at the door and her dad came in to tell her that Summer was there to visit..

"Hey Coop, I just thought I'd stop by and see how you were holding up" Summer tried her best at comforting Marissa. She knew she's had enough practice with all the problems Marissa has had in her life.

"I just want things to go back to normal" Summer had to strain to understand what Marissa was saying, because she was so worked up she keeping taking deep breaths in between each syllable.

"At the expense of sounding shallow, why do you care if Chino likes you, I mean Luke was a really great guy." Summer knew this probably wasn't what Marissa wanted to hear but it was the truth

"I thought him and I had a special connection, he made me feel special, different from Luke"

"I guess I never realized that just because he is from Chino doesn't mean he could be a great guy. Yeah he stole a car, burnt down a model home, and has an uncontrollable urge to punch people. Who wouldn't want a guy like that sounds like a great catch to me too" Summer knew that Marissa wouldn't appreciate her sarcasm but it had became her way of coping, if you don't care you won't get hurt.

"He is a really great guy if you get to know him Summer, which you never did"

"Last night you hated his guts, and now you're defending him? But sorry Coop I was trying to make you feel better. You know what why don't I take you shopping that'll get your mind off of Chino, Promise"

"Okay, I guess, It'll be better then hanging around here" Summer was so proud of herself, Marissa was already calming down and all it took was the mention of shopping.

Summer and Marissa left her house en route to South Coast Plaza, apparently Seth had the same idea.

"So this is your idea to make me feel better, shopping?" Ryan didn't go shopping in Chino but lately he had being hanging out with Seth and since Summer liked shopping, so did Seth.

"Yeah, its rather minty don't you think" Seth always used the word minty when he couldn't come up with an adjective or something. He knew the meaning never fit the context he was using it in, then again how many people know what minty actually means.

"Do you even know what you said" Ryan tried hard to stifle a laugh, Seth tried so hard to sound cool he ended up so sounding stupid.

"No, Not really, but I sounded cool didn't I Ryan? Look Ryan its Summer don't look Ryan I mean you can look just don't look like you're looking"

"You done rambling Seth? I can't believe we choose the one place where Summer and Marissa would be" Ryan half-wonder if this was Seth's big plan he knew that Summer and Marissa only went to the mall

"I'm going to try and get her attention Ryan"

"No, really its cool" Ryan wished he was back in his pool house asleep on his bed. Marissa had made it very clear to him see wanted nothing to do with him anymore

"Hey Summer" Seth shouted half-assed not really sure if he wanted Summer's attention or not. Summer had made an attempt to get back together with him but he wasn't sure what her motivation was

"Cohen, it you"

"Ryan and me just wanted to get in some umm some Seth Ryan bonding time" Seth knew that sounded totally cheesy and gay but it was better then telling them they were at the mall because Ryan couldn't get over Marissa.

"Well Coop and I are here because there is another" Summer paused and looking around trying to think up an excuse "there's a party tonight pretty much there's a party tonight and Marissa needed something to wear to it. Right Coop?" Summer hit Marissa in the side, Summer knew this was a total lie but if Seth could lie why couldn't she.

"Yeah big party at Summer's tonight" The most minimal interaction she had the better, less time for her to get emotional.

Summer knew she would have to came up with a plan to get Ryan and Marissa alone together.

"You know what I just remembered it is Anna's birthday tomorrow" Summer mentally thought that Seth could blow this and the plan wouldn't work but it was worth a shot. Ryan and Marissa had to get back together.

"What no, no its not" Seth didn't get why Summer was making up imaginary problems. Then again he never really understood how Summer's mind worked.

"Yeah and Cohen promised to help me pick out comic books or whatever it is you two like, right Cohen?" Summer made a eye movement to Seth that he took as a signal to go along with her story.

"That's right, Summer, because I uh uh I should probably point out the comic books Anna already has" Seth thought it sounded believable and Summer's plan hopefully would work. At least they were be able to be alone now.

"So how long do you think they are going to be, Summer can shop for a long time." Ryan hoped if he asked very casual questions, there problems wouldn't even be brought into the conversation.

"God, Ryan why are you trying to act as if nothing happened, pretending isn't going to make anything better."

"I'm sorry Marissa, I'm just confused, I've never had a long term relationship back in Chino" Ryan was hoping that Marissa would see that he really did mean that and it just wasn't a lame excuse.

"Theresa?" Marissa didn't know how he could act like that they way he used to talk him and Theresa were a couple.

"That relationship never become that serious. It was always a friends type thing" Yeah because friends always have sex together, he thought better then to bring this up. "I just wanted to see if there was any spark there"

"Yeah, because that's just what I wanted to hear" Marissa could see how Ryan never had serious relationships he sucked at keeping the girl happy. "Tell Summer when she gets back I went home!"

Summer and Seth finally decided to go find Ryan and Marissa only to find Ryan alone

"Dude where did Marissa go?" Seth couldn't believe that Summer and him got Ryan and Marissa alone and she wasn't even there when they came back.

"Oh yeah Summer, I'm supposed to tell you that she went home. I blew it again, every time I try to make things better between us she pushes me away" Ryan didn't know what to do anymore maybe him and Marissa just weren't meant to be together.

"Oh yes I see yeah you might want to try and improve on that because my experience well more like fantasies with Summer I know to have a relationship the girl has to stay long enough for you to talk to her" Summer knew Seth was probably the only person that could come up with that solution using that logic.

"Cohen, you have fantasies about me" Summer was disgusted that Seth would have fantasies about herself. She wasn't some play thing that you could toy with. She was a living person with emotions and dreams"

"What what's wrong with that?"

"While you two talk abut his fantasies I'm going back to the pool house to think about the best way to make Marissa stay long enough for me to talk to her" Ryan couldn't help thinking how good he be if Marissa was there with him"

"Dude, wait what about Theresa?" Seth did not understand the mind of Ryan Atwood nor did he want to.

"Obviously Chino, doesn't know what he wants"

"So Summer, you wanna give me a ride home?"

"As long as you don't talk to me or touch me" Summer didn't know what she was being mean to Seth. Earlier she was crying to Marissa about how he was the perfect man, maybe it was her defense mechanism.

"You know what Summer I like it when your aggressive, its really hot, it turning me on"

"Cohen, Ew"

"What, what's wrong now" Seth questioned never really quite sure what he does to offend Summer

"Shut up Cohen"

"Shutting up now" he knew from past experiences that when Summer told you to do something you did it. It was like some power she possessed.

Seth and Summer arrived at the front of the Cohens' house and saw that the lights were off in the pool house except for a slight glow . Seth noticed that Ryan didn't take long get over his relationships. Ryan was no longer alone in the pool house.