On the Flip Side

Chapter 3: What has she gotten herself into?

Disclaimer: I don't own the O.C. or its characters. All I own is my piece of the story line, which has been done…too many times to count.

Rating: PG for now. May change in later chapters.

Summary: We all know Ryan's "fish out of water" story. But what if Marissa was the fish out of water?

A/N: This is my first fanfic, so please be nice. I've been reading stories on here for a while and I finally decided to register. Please review, constructive criticism is encouraged and appreciated. I'm really getting into this story, and thought of ways to develop it better. So I might be making changes to the first two chapters.

Marissa managed to convince the three that she was fine. Really, she was. She just needed to sleep it off. Sighing, she reached under her pillow and grabbed the bottle with the sleeping pills in it. For once, she was actually going to use them for their intended purpose.

She didn't notice Ryan still standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame. "What are you doing?"

Hastily shoving the bottle back under her pillow, Marissa replied, "Nothing."

Ryan raised his eyebrows. "That bottle of pills didn't look like nothing."

"Thanks for caring, but really, I'm fine," Marissa snapped, curling back under the covers. "You should leave." Ryan came and sat by the bed, ignoring her request.

"Don't fuck yourself up. It'll get you nowhere," snarled Ryan, his blue eyes flashing with concern. Marissa knew he meant well. And she was touched that he cared, not knowing her well and all.

"What would you know about screwing up? I bet your perfect Abercrombie life has never, ever gone horribly wrong," Marissa shuddered suddenly. The room had taken on a slight chill.

"More than you know," Ryan sighed heavily, and for some reason Marissa felt inclined to believe he knew what he was talking about.

"You don't know the half of it," the words came out of her mouth before she could stop them. And then the tears squirmed out of her eyes, before she even realized it. Then she was in Ryan's arms and he was holding her, rubbing her back as her body convulsed with shivers and sobs.

"Hey. We heard crying and decided to investigate," Seth announced as he flung open the door dramatically. Seeing Marissa in Ryan's arms, he turned on his heel. "Oh…sorry, I didn't know."

He shut the door behind him and went to find Summer.

"Did you know that your cousin is in Ryan's arms? Ryan who I might add has a girlfriend? Your best friend as a matter of fact," Seth stated in one breath. Summer gave him a look. "Was I rambling? So sorry."

"Chill out. It's probably nothing. Maybe she's upset over something and he just happened to be there to help. It doesn't help to get like, overly excited," Summer pointed out. "Besides, it's not like Ryan would like a girl like her. I mean, she is my cousin…but, you know?"

Nodding, Seth opened the refrigerator and grabbed the milk carton. He opened it up and brought it to his lips, gulping a good four times before setting it firmly on the counter and wiping his mouth.

"Seth Cohen!" Summer admonished. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Seth looked at her, tilting his head as if he was trying to figure something out. "Drinking some milk," he replied seriously, flexing his arms. "It's good for the bones, you know."

She rolled her eyes. "That wasn't the point. The point was that it was extremely rude and I'm never coming over here for breakfast. And I won't stay overnight to get breakfast in the morning, if you're going to contaminate the milk like that!" Summer crossed her arms defiantly.

"Uh…sorry?" Seth offered. "You're the one that kisses this mouth. So I don't really find it disgusting."

"Well I do!" Summer yelled.

"Well I do!" Seth mimicked quietly, focusing his eyes on the coffeepot.

"Excuse me?" Summer cupped one hand to her ear.

"What?" Seth asked innocently, opening up the pantry and grabbing a Pop-Tart. Summer was always on his case to stop eating the unhealthy snacks, but he really couldn't. It was an addiction. And if it kept him off drugs, he reasoned it was a healthy obsession.

"I'm sorry…you should go," Marissa said, pulling away from Ryan's grasp. He held onto her though, for a reason he couldn't figure out. "Please," she pleaded with him, and he complied this time.

"Don't do this to yourself," Ryan said.

Looking up at him with eyes threatening to spill over with tears, Marissa said, "I wish I didn't have to."

Ryan sighed. He couldn't deal with this right now. "I'm going. I'll see you around."

Marissa collapsed back on the bed and began to cry. She felt so alone; even Ryan though she was a freak and wanted to get away from her. Soon Summer came in and began to sing to Marissa. The exhausted girl feel asleep almost instantly, after which Summer smiled, covered her cousin with a blanket, and left the room.

***

"So, you start school tomorrow, right?" Ryan asked Marissa, taking a bite of his pepper covered pizza. They had gone out for lunch and realized that they both loved pizza with lots of pepper on it, Cokes with fresh lime, and chocolate cheesecake.

Marissa rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately. I don't want to, though. It's a waste of time, really. I could be out there getting a job or something."

"Harbor's not that bad. I think you'll like it. If you can escape all the Abercrombie zombies. I mean, don't get me wrong, I have to admit I'm just like them, but in a way I'm different, you know?" Ryan shook his head empathetically. "At least your parents aren't always on your case to get perfect grades."

"Believe me, I wish my parents were on my case," Marissa smiled ruefully. I wish I knew where they were.

Ryan wanted to ask her about her family. He was so curious as to what would drive her to take those pills and the drugs. But they hadn't talked about that night when he held her in his arms. And, quite frankly, Ryan wasn't looking forward to it. Because he had a girlfriend, which didn't explain his actions that night. After Marissa had fallen asleep, he'd tucked her in and kissed her on the forehead. So maybe it could've been interpreted as a friendly, caring gesture. But he had a girlfriend, which definitely didn't explain the extremely vivid thoughts about Marissa that were going through his head.

***

"Hey," Marissa said, walking up to Ryan. Summer and Seth had gone off, wanting to get the best seats for first period—the back row. Marissa, who had Mr. Lee fourth period, had been forewarned that he was a spitter.

"Hey," Ryan smiled. "Guys, this is Marissa. Summer's cousin. Marissa, this is Jake, Eric, Rocky, and Tom."

Marissa nodded hello to each of the guys. She could feel their eyes moving from her head to her toes. They were checking her out, and she should've been enjoying it, but all she could think of was Ryan. Had he checked her out when they first met? Marissa couldn't remember. She silently thanked Ashley for taking her shopping. Her old clothes would obviously not cut it in Newport.

"Marissa? You go here?" Grace asked dubiously, coming up behind Ryan and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Hi, Grace. Now I do," Marissa said. She could tell that Grace was a little jealous of her, for reasons unbeknownst…yet. Sure, Marissa liked Ryan, but the chances of him liking her were like, one in a million. Besides, he had a gorgeous girlfriend already. She was sure he wouldn't want a grungy pill popper such as herself. Which made her want to cry, and take away all the pain.

"Ry, I'm going to show Marissa around, and introduce her to the girls," Grace said, kissing Ryan on his nose. Marissa locked eyes with Jake, and their eyes laughed at the sight. Grace gestured for Marissa to follow her. She waved apologetically at the boys, and followed Ryan's girlfriend.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Marissa asked innocently, "Grace, is something wrong?"

Grace's eyes narrowed. "Not yet, but there will be, if you keep hanging out with Ryan. He's mine, babe. So keep your hands and eyes to yourself, got it?"

Marissa laughed. "You think that I want Ryan? Sorry to break the bad news to you, but I don't go for rich bastards like him. So don't get your panties in a bunch. We're just friends."

"Whatever. Just wanted to make sure that was clear. Now, let's go introduce you to the girls."

Marissa began to walk away. "No, that's okay. I have a meeting with Dr. Kim before class starts, anyway. I'll catch you later though," having no intention of meeting up with Grace later, Marissa smiled and waved.

"I know you guys are best friends and all, but Grace is such a bitch," Marissa told Summer. The two were sitting on the shag carpet in the den, eating Sun Chips and drinking Diet Sprite.

"I'm going to pretend that I didn't hear that," Summer said, and that shut Marissa up pretty fast. "So how was your first day of school?"

Marissa grabbed a handful of chips. "Surprisingly well. Other than the fact that I'm really behind."

"You should ask Dr. Kim for a tutor. Some of the kids tutor for community service hours. And some because they've got no life," Summer smirked.

***

"You're my tutor?" Marissa asked incredulously, staring at Ryan. The sandy haired boy was standing in front of her, backpack on back and a few thick textbooks in his hands.

"You need a tutor?" Ryan asked, equally skeptically. Shit. Grace was so not going to like this.

"I can just ask Dr. Kim to switch me," Marissa offered. The last thing she needed was for Grace to badmouth her to all of the other students at Harbor. Especially when, if she couldn't have Ryan, she wanted Jake. Or Rocky. Or any other hot guy there. Which pretty much meant any guy at the school.

Ryan shook his head. "No, no, it's okay. Why shouldn't I be your tutor?" As if to challenge her, Ryan raised his eyebrows.

"So how was tutoring?" Summer asked, turning on the flat screen plasma television in the media room. "Ohmigod! There's like, a The Valley marathon on! Do you watch that show?"

"It was fine," Marissa said. "And no, I've never heard of it. But then again, we didn't have a TV."

"Ohmigod! Are you, like, serious?" Summer turned to Marissa with eyes as big as silver dollars. "That blows."

Marissa shrugged, and Summer let it be. It wasn't Marissa's fault that she was too poor to have a TV, Summer reasoned.

"So did I tell you? We're going to a party Thursday night," Summer announced, sighing as Grady Bridges' beautiful body filled the screen.

"We?" Marissa asked.

"Yes," exasperated, Summer began to explain. "It will give you a chance to get to know everyone, out of school."

***

"Hey, Ryan," Marissa slurred, stumbling over to where Ryan was hanging out with Rocky and Tom.

"Marissa, are you drunk?" Tom asked. Rocky laughed, slinging his arm around her.

"Just a little," Marissa showed them with her hands. "Come here," she motioned to Rocky, wrapping her arms around his neck. Suddenly she went limp, and Rocky had to grab her around the waist to keep her from sliding down his body.

"We need to get her out of here," Ryan said, pointing to the half-conscious girl.

Tom and Rocky exchanged looks. "Why?"

"Because two asses like you are going to take advantage of her if we don't," Ryan explained, glaring at his friends. How dare they try to get with Marissa! Only he could. Wait…what was he saying? He had a girlfriend…oh that's right, Grace. And she was gorgeous, popular, and everything Ryan should want in a girl. At least according to his parents.

"Oh, come off it, Ryan," Rocky said. "What's it to you?"

Shit. They'd cornered him. Now, if he admitted that he cared about Marissa, they'd know. And it would get to Grace. Whom he'd been "in love" with since 5th grade. So, he had to pretend to not care about Marissa. Not one little bit.

"I'm just playin', guys," Ryan grinned and high-fived Tom. "Go have your fun."

Marissa, who was no longer limp, opened her eyes and found herself in Rocky's arms. After pausing for a second, she began to nuzzle his neck. Ryan gave Rocky the thumbs up, while at the same time knowing he would regret this later.