Summary- Marissa fought for Ryan, will Ryan fight for Marissa?
Disclaimer- If I owned the OC, Ben would be mine forever and unfortunately, I don't have Ben here with me, so therefore, and I own nothing.
A/N- You guys are the BEST! Thank you so much! Your reviews are so great. I'm glad everyone found the cat fight entertaining- and to correct a few mistakes, I did not mean for Marissa to say "Shit up". When I read it, it made sense for some reason; I must've been pissed off, so it made sense. And now I realize 'trust' is a five letter word, not four, my mistake. Well, enjoy this chapter, review. Thanks again. Sorry for the late update, it was supposed to be up 2 days ago, but my computer started acting up. It's all better now though, so expect more updates.
On with the story...
Marissa sat with her head in her hands. It was a Thursday lunch and she was eating by herself. Ryan had to stay a little later for a test, and Seth and Summer were no where to be found. All of a sudden, Jeremy came up to her. He smiled as he sat himself down.
"Hey," he greeted her.
"Hi," she greeted him back, and bit her bottom lip as the swelling still showed.
"So..." he started, trying to start a conversation, "Some fight on Saturday."
Marissa nodded; and looked down; not too proud to show it; but inside, very happy.
"What was it about?" he asked.
"Oh...just girl stuff", Marissa told him.
Jeremy leaned in a little closer and let his voice drop, "Like...guys?"
Marissa couldn't help but smile, "Yeah, like guys."
"A special guy?" he asked seductively.
Marissa wanted to laugh. This kid was so self centered; everything had to be about him. But she decided to play along, "A very special guy," she responded.
"Well, then..." Jeremy started when Ryan came up to them. Jeremy was slowly becoming sick of Ryan; he was always around Marissa. And all these times he had wanted to ask her to prom; she wasn't paying attention or Ryan was there, so it would be awkward.
"Hey," Ryan said suspiciously, eyeing the two of them. Jeremy sure was starting to hang around Marissa a lot. Ryan knew Jeremy had a thing for Marissa and was going to 'fool' her with some joke to get in her pants, so he had to protect her.
"Marissa? Do you wanna go sit with Summer and Seth?" Ryan asked.
Marissa got up and nodded. "See ya Jeremy," she said, pulling Ryan away from the table Jeremy was still occupying.
"What did Jeremy want?" Ryan asked.
"He was asking about the fight," she told him.
Ryan nodded and tried to surpress a laugh. Marissa raised her eyebrows and looked at him. He tried to cover it up with, "I have to stay after school, student union, for their computers on my research project," Ryan explained.
"Do you want me to stay with you?" she asked.
Ryan nodded and they made their way to Seth and Summer's table; trying to avoid Summer's topic of prom; dates and love lives.
>>
Jeremy smiled as he saw Ryan by himself; Marissa no where in sight. He walked up to Ryan who was packing his books up. "Hey man," he said.
"Hey," Ryan greeted back.
"What's up?" he wanted to strike a conversation, and lead it to the subject of Marissa, and do it smoothly as well. Ryan shrugged.
"So...Marissa?" he said.
Ryan looked at him funny, "Yeah...Marissa."
"She's great isn't she?"?
"Yeah, she is," Ryan responded. "Is this going somewhere?" he asked.
"Well, I know you two hang out a lot, and I was just wondering if she's going with someone."
"Going where?" Ryan asked.
"Prom! Dude! Prom!" Jeremy exclaimed.
"She hasn't mentioned anyone," Ryan explained, trying to keep cool.
"Ok, cool, so than can you like give us some space, cuz I wanna ask her, but you're always around, and I can't. Are you two going out?" Jeremy said
Ryan shook his head, "No."
"So than that means I can ask her," he said, more to himself than to Ryan.
Ryan was about to say something, when Marissa made their way to them. "Hey," she said, looking at them.
"Hey, Marissa. Didn't know you were here," Jeremy said nervously.
"I was just getting my books from my locker," she said, pointing to the books in her hand.
"Oh, ok."
Ryan slung his backpack over his shoulder and tried to make a hasty exit, but heard his name being called, so he turned around, and put on a fake smile.
"Are you guys coming to the party?" Jeremy asked.
Marissa looked confused, "What party?"
"Oh, John, from soccer, you know him Ryan...", Ryan nodded his head saying he did, "He's throwing a party tonight, beach house, are you guys in?" he asked looking at Marissa.
"I think I should stay away from parties for a little bit," Marissa responded shyly.
"Oh, don't worry, Megan's not gonna be there. She got grounded, her parents came back early and the house was still trashed, and she had a black eye," Jeremy explained.
Marissa looked over to Ryan who showed no expression if he wanted to go or not. "Then I guess we'll be there."
"Great!" Jeremy responded as Ryan and Marissa turned their backs to him and left.
>>
Ryan and Marissa walked up to the beach house. They would've driven, but Seth took the car that he and Ryan shared; something about picking up Summer's dress and shoes; and since Marissa doesn't have a car anymore, they walked.
They walked inside and saw people drinking, doing cocaine, and making out, a regular Newport party. They walked around; and found their way to the drinks table. Marissa immediately picked up a beer as Ryan stared at her skeptically. Marissa noticed Ryan's stare and put down the bottle.
"No, it's okay, you can drink," Ryan told her.
"No, it's okay, really," Marissa started, "besides, I wouldn't want you to be the only sober person here," she added playfully.
Ryan gave her a half smile, and they looked around awkwardly. The smell of alcohol was getting to them as was the smell of cocaine. "You wanna go outside?" Ryan suggested.
Marissa nodded and they dashed out the door. It felt good to smell the fresh air and the smell of the ocean instead of whatever was inside. They sat down by a big rock down by the shore and started talking.
>>
Ryan and Marissa were still talking about whatever came to mind; except the thing that was both on their minds; prom; and the almost kiss that happened so many days ago. Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by a stumbling and slurring Jeremy. He positioned himself between the close space between the two of them. "Well, well, if it isn't the lovely couple?" he slurred.
Ryan rolled his eyes and slowly started to get up. Marissa followed suit. Jeremy stumbled back into Earth and noticed the two retreating figures. He crawled up to them and pulled down the one that seemed skinnier by the leg.
Ryan heard "Oof!" and looked at his side. He noticed Marissa wasn't there and looked to see her lying on the sand. He quickly ran over to her and helped her up. "Are you okay?" he asked.
Marissa nodded and scratched her elbow. Ryan looked angrily at Jeremy. "What the hell do you think your doing?" he asked.
"Man...I just wanted some alone time with...Marissa," and laid back down on the sand and closed his eyes. Ryan looked at Marissa and then nudged Jeremy's side...making sure he was alive. Jeremy winced and got up. "Marissa? Is that you?" he asked.
They looked at him and saw he was alive; and moved on. But Jeremy wasn't done. He reached out and saw a still figure. He touched it and smoothed it with his hand that didn't have the beer. "Your hands are so smooth," he complemented the big rock. Then he bent down to smell it, "And they smell so good," he said with a smile.
Ryan and Marissa laughed at each other and walked down by the shore; Jeremy still complementing the rock heard in the faded distance.
>>
Ryan was trying to come up with a way to discuss prom with Marissa; without being too forward. He had his knees drawn up to his chest and his arms around them as he nervously fidgeted his fingers. Marissa noticed and asked, "Are you okay?"
Ryan looked up from the inspection of his fingers and turned his attention back to her. Her sun streaked hair blowing in the slight wind there was and sitting Indian style. Ryan was leaned up against a rock; his back to it for support.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he said. He fidgeted with his fingers a little more. Marissa started to get nervous.
"Ryan. Stop! You're making me nervous," she told him with a laugh and snatched his hands from each other.
"Sorry," he said with a small smile.
How was he going to ask her? Hey Marissa, prom is coming up soon, do you wanna go...maybe with me...just as friends. No that'll never work, she's not gonna go with 'friends'. Okay, how about, so I'm going to prom...are you? If you are, then maybe we'll see each other there? Yeah...real smooth, he said to himself. So...prom...together. Great going Atwood, speaking in caveman, she's really gonna understand that. He was about to try and mentally ask her again; but was interrupted.
Marissa noticed he was having an emotional battle with himself, and wasn't paying attention so she snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Ryan! Ryan! Are you sure you're okay?" she asked again.
"Yeah, fine," Ryan confirmed. "So...you know prom?" he asked.
Marissa looked surprised, "Uh...yeah! It's like the only most important night of a girl's life. Well besides her wedding day, and then the day her child is born, and then there's always..."
"Marissa!" Ryan interrupted.
"Sorry," Marissa apologized. "Yeah, I know what prom is," she said.
"Then do you think you...well we...me and you...um.us?" But this time Ryan was interrupted by a slightly sober Jeremy. They acknowledged his presence by getting up and brushing the sand off their butts. Jeremy looked up at them, "Hey...Marissa," he greeted. "Do you think I can talk to you?" he asked getting up by pulling down on her arm so he could get up as well. But before he could get all the way, Marissa screamed in horror seeing as he had just pulled on one of her bruises; and was digging his nails into her skin. Ryan pulled him away and put himself in front of Marissa.
"What are you doing?" he asked angrily.
"Relax. I'm just trying to have some fun," he explained while his eyes crossed.
"Leaver her alone!" Ryan ordered.
"What are you gonna do about it, Chino boy? Burn down my house?" Jeremy laughed at what he thought was a funny joke. A nerve in Ryan's jaw made itself visible as he tried to hold back from punching him. Jeremy pushed Ryan so he went into Marissa's arms. Marissa stood him up; as Ryan pushed him back. Once the fight was started, Ryan wasn't gonna be the one to end it. A group of Jeremy's friends saw the so called 'fight' and rushed over to the scene.
"What's going on?" an overweight boy with mushroom cut asked.
"Nothing!" Ryan protested and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. Ryan turned around to walk away and made some progress with Marissa in tow, but about a minute later; they heard shuffling feet in the sand, and "Hey Atwood!" being called.
Ryan turned around and was welcomed with a blow in the face. He put his hands over his face and crumpled to the floor. Marissa knelt down next to him. "Oh my gosh! Are you okay?" she asked concerned.
Ryan nodded weakly and motioned for her to help him up as she did; with great struggle. Ryan shook his head; to get some of the fuzziness out and once he was okay; he punched whoever was in front of him; who just happened to be Jeremy. Jeremy fell back on to the sand and moaned and groaned; clutching his eye. The big burly football player looked at his friend and than at Ryan. With no hesitation; he punched Ryan's gut. Ryan made a funny noise; but hit back. Big, burly, football guy wasn't falling off to easily. "Why did you take her away from me?" Jeremy complained from the sand. Ryan threw a disgusted look his way, as the big guy threw another punch.
Marissa yelled for them to stop but the big football guy didn't listen. Marissa pulled some of his hair until he finally stopped and collapsed to the ground. "C'mon, let's go," Marissa said, linking an arm throughRyan's and dragging him along.
>>
It took an hour, but they finally got to Marissa's house. She put her finger over her lips to motion for him to be quiet as she jiggled the key into the doorknob and they tip toed their way to her bedroom. They finally got to her room and Marissa locked the door and laughed silently as she leaned up against it. She saw Ryan sitting on the edge of her bed and feeling his lip.
She came over to him and looked at him. "Are you okay?" she said, snatching his hands from his face and cupping his jaw to see any type of bruise. "You look okay," she inspected.
"It hurts," he whined.
Marissa laughed, "You'll be fine."
Ryan inspected the room and looked at the clock; 2:27. "Mind if I crash here?" he asked.
"No, its fine," she told him as she got up and started to pull the comforters and sheets to the foot of the bed. Ryan looked at her curiously. Marissa noticed his surprised look. "Sorry, not gonna let you ruin my sheets", she explained with a sarcastic smile. Ryan returned her sarcastic smile and plopped down on her bed; head resting comfortably on the pillow. He started fidgeting his head around; trying to make his head comfortable on the feather filled pillow as Marissa made her way around the bed and lay down as well. Ryan continued moving his head around; until Marissa put a hand on his arm.
"Okay, you really have to stop that," she said with a laugh.
"Sorry," he apologized, "just not too used to it."
"Then you should sleep over more often," she suggested.
Even though it was dim in the room; Marissa could make Ryan's face out. "They're not that bad anymore," she explained about her Mom and Caleb.
Ryan raised his eyebrows and looked towards Marissa, "Your Mom still hates me; and we're not even dating more."
"She hates all my guy friends," Marissa lied.
"She has no objection against Seth," Ryan told her.
"True," Marissa admitted.
"Or Luke," Ryan tried to catch his words; but they had already come out. He noted the dismal look on Marissa's face at the mention of her mother's affair with her ex-boyfriend. "Sorry," he apologized with an apologetic smile. "It's ok," Marissa told him.
"Must be something about me," Ryan said more to himself than Marissa as he interlaced his hands over his stomach.
Ryan's cell phone rang; it was Seth. Ryan vaguely told him to cover for him.
Yea, I actually love you and she doesn't approve of me loving anyone, or doesn't approve of me loving you, she can't understand that...she's never loved anyone, or as much as I love you, she thought as he talked on the phone. "Yeah, must be", she said instead, turning her back to him as he hung up.
"Good night Marissa," he said as he turned his back to her back.
"Good night Ryan," she responded. Soon enough, they were asleep hearing the silent; peaceful noise of Marissa's silent buzzing phone.
>>
Caitlin jiggled the doorknob until it finally swung open. She walked in and gasped at what she saw.
Ryan's face was pressed into the pillow and his arm was slung over Marissa's waist freely; and Marissa's face was also deeply pressed into the pillow and cuddled up to Ryan.
She was going to have some fun with this one. She had the day off; Julie and Caleb were in San Francisco for a gala. Now Ryan and Marissa could take her shopping. "Marissa! Wake up!" she yelled.
Marissa muttered something but eventually woke up. Ryan stirred as his arm shifted off of Marissa's waist and landed into her lap. Marissa first noticed Caitlin at the foot of the bed; arms crossed and an evil smirk on her face. Marissa poked Ryan until he finally sat up, as he did so; pressing some pressure on Marissa's leg as he sat up. Marissa noticed; but didn't say anything; just pressed her lips together from not moaning from the pressure; but pleasure as well. Ryan may have not noticed yet, but Caitlin did.
"Get your hands off my sister!" she snapped.
Ryan looked at his hand, then at the other one and saw it was gripping Marissa's leg. He slowly started to turn a shade of red. "Uh...sorry, thought you were," he stuttered, "the bed," he muttered under his breath. He snatched it away and Marissa got up and closed the door, then turned to face Caitlin, who was now sitting at Ryan's feet.
"Cati! Please don't tell Mom!" Marissa begged her sister.
"Why not?" she asked. "So you and lover boy over here can make babies all night?"
Ryan gave her a funny look. Caitlin saw this," What?! I have health," she told him.
"We weren't doing anything!" Marissa protested.
"It didn't look that way to me," she said with a sly smile, crossing her arms once again.
"We weren't!" Ryan defended.
"Oh, keep your pants on lover boy," she said waving him off dismissively, "if I tell Mom you weren't doing anything, what are you gonna do for me?"
Ryan looked at the clock on the night stand. "Wait! Aren't you supposed to be in school?" he asked.
"Yeah, why aren't you?" Marissa questioned even more.
"It's teacher's day," she explained. Marissa nodded and looked to Ryan, "Wait! Why aren't we in school?" she asked frantically.
"Shit!" Ryan exclaimed.
Caitlin cleared her throat and gave him a disapproving look. He realized what he had said, "Sorry," he told Caitlin.
"Not the first time I heard it," she explained. "Marissa? Dad's picking me up in a few minutes, what should I tell him?" she asked.
"About what?"
"Why you and Ryaaaaan aren't going to school on, don't tell your Dad about this," Ryan pleaded.
"Why not," she asked as she inspected her fingernails.
"Because..." Ryan tried to think of something, "Because...it'll be our little secret, just the three of us," Ryan finally finished, trying to coax the 11 year old.
"I'm listening," she told him, looking up at him interestedly. Marissa urged for him to continue. Ryan shrugged his shoulders; as Caitlin looked at the two of them.
"Hellooooo," she said in a mature; yet childlike voice, as she tapped her imaginary watch.
Marissa finally went over to her and knelt down so she was face to face with her sister. "Please...you know I'm not supposed to have boys over...or not have Ryan over...especially not sleep over," she begged with a pouting face.
"Fine! But Mom and Caleb aren't even here, they're at a gala until Sunday- remember?" she asked.
Relief clouded Ryan and Marissa. "But that doesn't mean I can't tell Dad, he's with Mom on this one," she added with a smirk.
"What do you want?" Marissa urgently asked.
Caitlin grazed her chin and sat there looking into space as Ryan and Marissa waited impatiently. "I'll have to think about it", she told them after a few moments. "I'm getting my stuff. Marissa are you staying?" she asked. Marissa nodded and Caitlin got off and ran to her room, but before she did; "Have fun", she told them. Marissa groaned and occupied the spot next to Ryan.
"Can you believe her?" she asked in disbelief.
"It's like your Mom," Ryan told her. "Except she's shorter and has brown hair."
Marissa laughed, "Yep can't wait to see how she turns out."
Ryan laughed as well and rubbed his eye. "OW!" he exclaimed.
Marissa looked at him, and saw his slightly bruised eye and swollen lip. Ryan went over to the mirror. "I can't go to school looking like this," he said, as he inspected his lip.
Marissa got a look of cheerfulness as she went over to Ryan and motioned for him to sit on the bed, as she rummaged through a small bag. She came over to Ryan with a peach colored tube.
"It'll help," Marissa explained. "Its concealer," she clarified.
"Isn't that like...make up?" he asked.
Marissa nodded and started to unscrew the lid.
"No, no, no, no," Ryan said as he raised his hands in front of his face.
"Why not?" Marissa asked.
"Because I'm a guy...guys don't wear make up."
"Actors do," she told him.
"But I'm not an actor," he responded back.
"Ryan..." she pleaded.
"Marissa," he interrupted.
"Ryan! Don't make me sit on your hands to keep you from moving."
He rolled his eyes and went closer to her, their dangling feet slowly colliding together.
"Good!" Marissa said as he followed her orders. "Now, close your eyes." Ryan obediently did so, as Marissa started to smooth out the cool liquidy cream on his eye.
After a few minutes, she smeared a few more times and pulled back. "There!" she exclaimed happily. Ryan slowly opened his eyes as Marissa started to giggle at his appearance. He frantically got up and looked in the mirror. One half of his face was covered in a peach color; while the other was his usual slightly pink face.
"Very funny," he said with a sarcastic smile as he started to wipe it off, and walk over to her.
"Don't!" Marissa urged. "I'll do it."
Ryan nodded and sat down next to her on the bed. "I may suck at putting it on, but I'm better at taking it off," she explained. "At least on other people." She went over and got the last tissue out of the box and started to wipe off the concealer.
I'm not going school", he told her.
"C'mon, it'll wash off."
"I know, but...ow!" he exclaimed in the middle of his sentence; as Marissa was rubbing his eye frantically.
"Your such a baby," she said with a smile.
"No...It hurts there," Ryan defended.
"Sorry," Marissa told him as she rubbed more gently.
"Do you want me to stay home with you?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"No, no, wipe this crap off of me and than go to school; make up an excuse as a tardy."
"No, no I insist on staying home with you."
A smile came onto Ryan's face. "Well if you insist."
"I insist," she told him while smiling as well. There was a little concealer still left over. She dabbed the tissue on her tongue from a little spit she coughed up, and then dabbed it on his skin.
Ryan felt the moisture and spoke up, "Is that your spit?" he asked.
"Yeah," Marissa stated plainly, concentrating on getting it off the cheekbone. "Sorry?" she offered.
"Oh. Well, it's not like I haven't tasted it before," he said with a smile. He opened his eyes, and Marissa pulled back. Without any words; they leaned in just a little closer. Ryan let out a tiny nervous laugh as his breath winded Marissa's lips. Leaning closer and closer, and interrupted by...
"Marissa! I'm going. Dad's here. Bye!" Caitlin shrieked from downstairs. "Bye Ryyyan!" she added with a smile on her face.
Ryan and Marissa broke away, or leaned back actually. They heard the car door slam and the tires fade away in the distance. Marissa got up and went over to the door. "Sorry", they both said simultaneously.
"Sorry," Marissa repeated. "I'm gonna go," she added nervously.
"But you live here," Ryan told her.
"I know. I'll just...uh...wait downstairs. Bye," but before she could get very far, Ryan gripped her arm lightly; and turned her around.
"I'll leave," he said.
"No, no, no, don't leave."
"One of us has to leave," he told her.
"This is just," she said, more to herself than him, "Just like this...arrangement we have going on."
"Arrangement? What arrangement? I thought we were friends?" he asked.
"Yeah, friends...well your friend is madly in love with you," she told him truthfully; sounding slightly insane.
Ryan let out a huge sigh. A weight had been lifted off his shoulders and suddenly he had confidence in what he was about to do. He tuned Marissa back in.
"And there's this tension...sexual tension between us that goes wherever we go." Ryan smiled at her rambling. "And see this lip? Yeah, you know why me and Megan were fighting? Because of you...you Ryan! Because of you...I had to fight someone...a girl, a slutty girl, so I could get you! But do I have you? Noooo...because I just had to let you go. Now I want you, I've always wanted you...and at first you wanted me as well...but now..." she trailed off as she was cut off by Ryan's lips. He pressed them firmly against hers to shut her up at first; but now opened his mouth to welcome hers in. Marissa was surprised at first but did nothing to resist. Ryan abruptly ended the passionate kiss after a few moments; Marissa was happy but confused.
"Me too," he whispered, resting his forehead against hers.
"You too what?" she asked.
"I feel the same way...I've always felt this way," he said; slowly becoming unsure of how the words were coming out and if they were sounding right or not. They must've sounded right because he was greeted by Marissa's lips once again. Marissa grabbed his cheeks (face, not butt) and they collapsed on the bed; her on top.
She felt a little lightheaded as their tongues scorched in the other's mouths. Marissa continued drizzling her tongue down Ryan's as he did the same. She felt her knees go a little weak as his lips followed down her neck.
"You really fought for me?" he asked in between deep breaths as he pulled back, as she quickly tried to lift his wifebeater off. Marissa nodded and kissed him again.
"That's why I fought--" but never got to finish his sentence as he kissed her again; with a much heated passion. He interlaced his hands together around her butt and slapped it as she gave a high shriek.
She pulled back, but still on top of him, "Does this mean we're going to prom together?" she asked.
He rolled over her so their heads were at the foot of the bed and legs at the headboard.
"Marissa Cooper...would you like to go to prom with me?" he asked with a grin on his face. She nodded "I would love to Ryan Atwood," and he leaned in to kiss her once more.
A/N-So...did you like it? Only one chapter left! Aaah! It's prom night...what shall happen. Theme ideas are still appreciated, or any ideas for that matter, but I think I already know the theme, but still not sure how I'm gonna end it. So any idea...thanks! Now that my computers up and running, I should update soon...as well as my other stories. Hope you liked it.