Thank you so much to everyone who has sent me reviews!! I appreciate the imput, so enjoy! Sorry it took so long to post, but exams are a bitch and my Engilsh teacher is evil!!!

" Well, what happened next?" Anna asked Seth while they were eating lunch. Seth was filling in Anna on last night's events.

" Ok, ok. So Ryan was going back to give Marissa her drink, when he saw it. "

" Saw what?" Anna asked eager to find out what happened next.

" Marissa and Luke were making out."

" No Way!!" Anna exclaimed.

Seth nodded. " Yea. Ryan looked absoutly heart broken. But that's not all."

" Well, what happened next?" Seth took a long sip of his coke, trying to keep the suspense in the air.

" Luke looked right at Ryan and said, ' told you so'. Apparently, Luke had been bragging to Ryan about how him and Marissa were still together. Ryan never believed it, until he saw it."

" So Ryan gave Luke his black eye and broken arm." Anna said proud that she figured it out on her own.

Seth shook his head. " Nope. You remember Riley?" Anna nodded. " She got so mad at Luke. She started to talk to him in some foreign language, slowly moving towards him. Than, the next thing you know, Riley is sitting on Luke's back with his arm totally behind him. Luke was yelling in pain, it was so great. I wish I could've.."

" Seth!!" Anna practically shouted.

" What?"

" So let me get this straight. Riley, the little Australian who can't be more than five feet tall gave big, bad Luke a black eye AND broke his arm?" Anna looked at him with doubt.

" No. If you would've let me finish, you would have found out that she only broke his arm. Jake yelled at her that Ryan ran off. She looked up, muttered something in that strange language she speaks. I wonder what language that is. I bet it's like Russian or something, and their really spies..."

" Seth!"

" What?" Anna gave him a warning glare, signing that if he knew what was good for him, he would finish the story.

" Oh, right. Yeah. So, Riley took off after him. Jake started to go after her, but than he turned around and looked Luke right in the eye. He said, ' you just made the biggest mistake of you life.'Than he punched Luke and took off after Riley. Summer and I ran after Jake, to make sure he and Riley didn't do anything stupid. When we got to my house, Ryan was staring intensely at Marissa, than ran outside towards the poolhouse. Marissa followed him. We were about to go after them, but my parents started asking questions."

" What did you tell them?"

" Nothing. Summer saved my ass. She said she needed a ride home, so I gave her one." Seth smiled at the thought of the kiss.

Anna made a face, but Seth didn't see it. " What happened when you got home?"

" What?" He asked comming out of his daze.

" After you dropped her off, what happened?"

" Oh, right. Anyway, my parents were about to grill me again, but we heard a loud crash, like glass was breaking or something. We ran outside..."

" We?" Anna asked.

" Yes we. Me, and my parents. Now if I may please continue."

" Be my guest."

" Where was I? Oh, yeah, the crash. anyway, we ran outside to see what happened. When we got out there, Marissa was near the door, scared silly. Jake was beside her, saying something to her, I don't know what. Get this, like a few inches from Marissa, was a broken glass. On the other side of the room; ok, brace yourself."

" Ok, consider me braced."

" Ok, Ryan was on the floor crying. Yeah, you heard right, he was crying. I think Riley was trying to calm him down. I don't know. Anyway, my parents took one look and sent me to my room."

" Did you go?"

" Yea, I had to. Mom and Dad were giving me death glares if didn't leave soon."

" Wow."

" Yeah, I know."

" So that's why they weren't in school today."

" Yep, pretty much."

Ding Ding, Ding. The bell went off signaling to them that lunch was over and they had to get back to class. They started to walk to study hall together. Anna suddenly sat down on a nearby bench.

" Seth?"

Seth stopped. " What?"

" Where was Marissa during all of this?"

" Oh. Umm, she just kind of sat there like she was going to cry or something. She took off as soon as Ryan did."

" Wow. Sorry I missed it."

" Yeah, me too." Seth smiled at her.

Summer caught up to them. She looked at Anna, and than over to Seth. " Why are you guys smiling?"

" No reason Summer. Let's just get to class before we're all late." Seth smiled happily.

*** At the Cohen's Pool House ****

Ryan sat on the bed with a distant look in his eyes. Jake sat next to him. The boys waited in silence for Riley to return. After what seemed like forever, Riley came in.

" It wasn't her fault." She stated as she sat down in between Jake and Ryan.

" What?" Ryan asked the voice that jolted him back to reality.

" I talked to her. She said it wasn't her fault and I believe her." Riley said.

Ryan only nodded in response. " I'll listen."

Riley got up and went back outside for a moment. When she came back, Marissa was at her side, looking scared.

" Me and Jake will be outside." Riley told them. She took Jake's hand and led him outside to a chair.

Marissa sat next to Ryan. A long silence followed.

" I'm sorry." Ryan muttered.

Marissa looked shocked. " For what?"

" For whatever I did that drove you to Luke. I'm sorry. If you want to break up, I understand." Ryan looked at her. He tried to keep his face emotionless, but a flash of pain and heartbreak broke though.

Marissa looked at him. She took his hand in his. " It's not your fault. You did nothing. I do not want to break up. I..." she started, but than stopped. She didn't want a repeat of last night's performance. She gave him a small smile.

He returned it. " What did happen?" his face suddenly turning seious.

" I don't want to talk about it." she said, turing away. If Ryan would have saw her face at that moment, he would have seen shame.

" If we're going to get pasted this, than you're going to have to tell me what happened."

" Ryan, no. I can't." Marissa turned to leave. She felt a strong hand on her shoulder to stop her.

" I'll tell you why I freaked out if you tell me what happened." His voice got lower as he talked longer.

Marissa sat back down on the bed. She looked at him with interest. She had been trying for 3 months to get him to open up about his past. The only thing he told her was that it wasn't pretty. Besides that, she only knew what Jake had told her and what she saw when she went with him to Chino that one time.

" Okey." She said. " But you first."

Ryan nodded. He stared at the wall. The distant look that disappeared before had come back the more he talked. Ryan took a deep breath.

" My mom's boyfriends', and Trey, and sometimes, even my mom would hit me. When my mom was sober enough to realize it, she would come into my room, telling me how much she loved me, and how she never ment to hurt me." He involuntary shuddered at the thought." Back in Chino, Me, Jake, Riley, a kid named Matty used to hang out all the time. We are, er, were best friends. About 1 1/2 years ago, Matty was killed. He was shot because of me. See, Trey made a deal, and he didn't come though. The people that Trey made the deal with were real mad, so they decied to teach him a lesson. They decied to kill me. So, they drove by my house where me and Matty were hanging out outside. We were waiting for Jake and Riley with the booze. Anyway, the guys drove by and shot. Only problem was, they thought Matty was me. So they killed Matty, and I watched the entire thing. It hit me really hard. I mean, I've seen people killed, but never one of my best friends. Anyway, my mom told me how much she loved me; how she would never hurt me and always be there for me. That night, my mom's boyfriend, AJ, beat me to a pulp for whatever fucking reason he made up. Anyway, I blacked out. When I woke up, Riley and Jake were there. When they took me home, I found out that my mom left, and I freaked out. Riley and Jake were there."

Marissa just looked at him. She tried to process the information. Ryan felt his eyes start to fill with tears. He quickly pushed them back, and turned to look at Marissa. Marissa met his gaze. That warm, tingling feeling returned. Marissa broke the gaze.

" My turn." She said. She met his eyes again. Ryan could swear that he saw fear in them.

He shook off the thought. WHY WOULD SHE BE SCARED, he wondered. CHILL ATWOOD, I'M SURE IT'S NOTHING.

Marissa looked at the floor. She played with the end of her skirt as she talked.

" First, I haven't been with Luke since Tijuana, ok?"

Ryan nodded. Marissa took a deep breath, and continued.

" Luke has been trying to get with me ever since me and you got together."

Marissa saw a flash of anger.

" Don't worry, he was just talking to me." She added quickly. " Anyway, When I saw him at the party, he said he accepted the fact that I'm with you, and he wanted to try to be friends, and asked if we could go by the wall to talk because it was quieter." Tears started to come to Marissa's eyes. " We were talking, and the next thing I know, He's pushing up against the wall, telling me that if I made a sound, I would seriously regret it."

Marissa could no longer contain her tears. They fell freely as she continued on. " And the next thing I know, he stopped, and I heard him talking to you. I'm so sorry I didn't do anything, I didn't know what to do. I'm so sorry." She sobbed.

Ryan embraced her as head fell on his shoulders. The rage in Ryan's eyes was growing. Marissa finally stopped. She saw the rage in his eyes.

" Please don't, Ryan. I don't want to lose you. Promise me you won't do anything." She gave him a pleading look.

" Ok." Ryan agreed.

He kissed her on the forehead. Marissa's head rested on his shoulder. I COULD STAY LIKE THIS FOREVER, she thought.

Just than, Kirsten's voice rang though, indicating that she needed to talk to the 4 teenagers. Ryan and Marissa sighed, neither wanting to let go. Ryan took Marissa's hand and let her outside. When they got outside, they saw Riley and Jake in a heavy make-out session.

" Oh crap." Ryan muttered, shaking his head.

Marissa went to go tap them and tell them that they were needed, but Ryan stopped her.

" Watch and learn." He said, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

Ryan walked over and looked them over. Jake was sitting on a chair, his arms wrapped tightly around Riley's waist. Riley was sitting on Jake's lap, strattling him; her hands playing in his hair. Ryan walked behind the chair, and slowly started moving it forward.

" Ryan, what are you..." Marissa started, but was cut off by Ryan's " shhh"

Ryan pushed the chair to the edge of the pool, and tipped in. Riley and Jake hit the water with a big spalsh. Neither Ryan or Marissa could supress their laughter. Riley and Jake, however, emerged from the water looking pissed. Jake shot Ryan an evil glare.

" Kirsten wants to talk to us. What else was I supposed to do?" Ryan said, looking as innocent as he could.

" Again, calling all teenagers to the kitchen. I repeat, get in here!" Kirsten's yelling could easily be heard outside.

The 4 teenagers walked inside. Kirsten was standing in the middle of the kitchen, tapping her foot impatiently. When Riley and Jake walked in, they were soaking wet. She gave them a weird look.

" Wha... You know what? Never mind, I don't want to know." She said.

" Good choice" Riley replied.

" Thanks. Anyway, I've got to run to the office. Something came up. I'll be back around dinner. Sandy and my numbers are taped to the fridge." She carefully studied every teenager in her house. " Be good." she said. Kirsten looked back one more time, than walked out the door.

***** Science Class at School *********

" Seth." Anna whispered.

" What?" he whispered back.

" What do you think their doing right now?"

" Who?"

" You know. Ryan, Marissa,..."

" Oh." Seth said a little too loudly.

" Mr. Cohen, is there something you want to tell us?" The teacher asked him.

" No sir." Seth said turning red. He hated when teachers did that.

Anna, on the other hand, was trying to conceal her laughter.

" Good, now maybe you can start paying attention?"

" Yes sir."

" Well?" Anna whispered.

" I have no idea. With Ryan, you never know." He whispered back.