Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Sorry I took so long to post this. I suck. This chapter sort of directly follows chapter 18, so you might want to go back and re-read it. I hope this helps explain the last chapter a little bit more, I know it was vague. Intentionally vague, but vague.
Marissa took a deep breath and stepped directly into Ryan's path as he attempted to leave school for the day.
"Ryan. We need to talk."
"Marissa, this isn't really a good time. I've gotta meet-"
"Summer and Anna?" Marissa guessed. "They'll wait, and this is important. I'm worried about you."
"Marissa, I appreciate the concern, but..." Marissa tuned out Ryan's 'I'm Okay' speech. She wondered vaguely how often he had to recite it. "...it takes time to move on."
"I know. But are you really moving on?" Marissa asked, guiding Ryan to a bench in the sun. "You spend all of your time with Anna and Summer. I understand that you guys needed to heal, but I think maybe you are getting too dependant."
"Marissa, thanks for caring, but really, I'm fine," Ryan stood to leave. Maybe three months ago, before her talks with Seth, Marissa would have let Ryan walk away. Not anymore.
"When was the last time you spoke to someone besides the Cohen's, Anna, Summer, Luke, or me?" Marissa asked.
"I've never been a big talker Marissa," Ryan pointed out coolly.
"Not the point. When Ryan? 'Cause I'm guessing it's been about two and a half, three months," Marissa accused.
"Wrong. I talked to Seth yesterday," Ryan snapped, trying to throw Marissa.
"Well I win. I talked to him at lunch," Marissa said matter-of- factly. Ryan returned to his seat next to her.
"You talk to Seth?"
"Someone's gotta keep an eye on you-and-Summer-and-Anna since he can't," and in a strange way Marissa's argument sounds perfectly logical.
"Yeah. Okay."
"So, when I visited Seth today he suggested that we have a little chat," Marissa continued. Ryan raised an eyebrow. Marissa ignored it. "You know you, Anna, and Summer have quite the little clique going?"
"So?"
"It's not good Ryan," Marissa explained. "You guys are healed. It's time to come out of your cocoon and face reality."
"We are facing reality."
"Really? When's Prom, Ryan? Which Harbor sports team won the most games this year? Who is running for senior class president? Answer one of these questions, any one, right and I'll disappear," Marissa challenged.
"I... I don't know. I guess I've been busy," Ryan shrugged, a little embarassed at how unaware he was of school activities.
"Doing what? Working for Kirsten? Helping Sandy? Long walks with Summer and, or, Anna?" Marissa asked. "You need to get a life."
"I guess I have been a little...insulated," Ryan acknowledged reluctantly.
"A little, and so have Anna and Summer," Marissa pressed. "Anna'd make a good class president, don't you think? We could really use Summer's help with the Prom committee. They're both completely oblivious to everything going on around you guys. Seth would be disappointed. He died, not you guys."
"Okay," Ryan accepted Marissa's statements. "What should I do?"
"Move on. Stop using your friends as crutches. Move on."