Chapter Five: What happens now?
Disclaimer: It might come as a shock…but I don't own the O.C.
Summary: Sure, we all know Ryan's "fish out of water" story. But what if Marissa was the fish out of water?
A/N: I realized that I haven't mentioned this, so here goes: Ryan was adopted by the Cohens when he was 13. So he's been with them a while. And I might have to go back and fix one of the earlier chapters, because I think I mentioned Ryan being at his house and getting ready to come to Seth's. Which is impossible, since they live in the same house. Also, the poolhouse is like a hangout for both Seth and Ryan. Ryan lives in the house with his family. Wow!! Addressing the great response to the story so far:
Ryansosexy, Sis2ACesarSalad: Ryan's going to "rescue" Marissa from a variety of things—emotional and physical.
Sis2ACesarSalad: About the kiss, I know it was kind of abrupt and rushed. Just like you, I wanted their first kiss to be meaningful and passionate like on the show. However, you'll see in upcoming chapters how I make this up…Because they are not getting together soon.
Natalie: Glad you like it. Even though it's not exactly the same chain of events as on the show, hopefully people will begin to realize the similarities. I couldn't believe that no one's done this story with Marissa as the new character, so hopefully I'm doing a good job on it!
To ALL: Thanks a lot for reviewing!! You guys really inspire me to churn out the chapters quicker, and to make them good. Any suggestions you have, leave them in your review, because I like to incorporate your ideas into my own story to make it better!
On with the story…
"What just happened?" Marissa asked, slowly backing away from Ryan.
"I don't know," Ryan offered.
"That's so helpful," she replied dryly.
"So…" Ryan asked. "What now?"
Marissa bit her lip. What had she been thinking? Ryan was very, very much involved in a relationship. But he was such a good kisser…Damn.
"What the hell is taking you guys so long?" Summer yelled from the living room.
Marissa chose to ignore Ryan's question. "We should go back." She grabbed her soda off of the counter and started to walk back to the living room. Ryan grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her around.
"Wait," he pleaded. "What are we going to do?"
"You're going to go back to your perfect girlfriend and your perfect life and forget this ever happened. Because that's what I'm going to do. Minus the perfect girlfriend and perfect life part," Marissa told Ryan. Ouch. Ryan cringed slightly.
"But…" he started, but Marissa had already walked out of the kitchen. Was he going to let her walk out of his life, too?
***
"Hey," Ryan said, stepping into place with Marissa.
She didn't answer. Eyes kept straight ahead, Ryan guessed that she was trying out the silent treatment. Hey, he had considered it a few times, too. I mean, that kiss had meant something. To him, at least.
"Is something wrong?" Ryan decided to play the naïve card.
"Ryan," Marissa searched for the right words. But luckily she didn't have to.
"Hey, babe," Grace joined her boyfriend and "friend". She kissed Ryan on the lips, at which Marissa wanted to gag. Instead, she noted that Ryan kept his eyes open the whole time and, surprisingly enough, they were focused on her.
"We've got," Grace consulted her Burberry watch, "two minutes to get to Harper's class, Ry."
"I'll see you around," Marissa waved, and ran off. That was awkward. What was she supposed to say to Ryan? He was with Grace, even if his heart was elsewhere. But who was she to judge him? She didn't know anything about him. Just like he didn't know anything about her. And that night? Maybe it had been the moonlight…or some crazy thing like that.
Marissa tried to tell herself that the kiss meant nothing. Because if she didn't, she'd have to once again face reality: it did.
She walked down the hall to her next class, which she had with Seth. No one smiled at her. They were so unfriendly…maybe it was because they were pre-programmed robots. But then again, no one glared at her or looked down on her. So maybe no recognition was a good sign. Finally spotting a familiar face…er, rather, a familiar hair-do, Marissa ran up to the boy.
"Seth!" Marissa exclaimed.
"Somebody's a little too excited to see me," Seth commented, but he couldn't help but grin at Marissa's eager face.
"You don't know how lonely it is here," Marissa admitted. "No one talks to me, besides you, Summer, Ryan, and Grace if she has to."
"That's not true," Seth protested, "Well…okay, so maybe I'm not that lonely. But what about Grace and Summer's friends?"
"I never see them."
"Hmm…" Seth scratched his chin as if deep in thought. "We'll have to do something about this. But let's go to class. Learning awaits!"
They walked off to class. Someone had saved Seth a seat, but one for Marissa as well. That, of course, made her feel better…just a teeny bit better. Okay, a whole lot better.
***
"Seth, wait up," Ryan yelled, running to meet his best friend. Seth turned around, searching for the caller of his name.
"Hey, Ry," Seth said. "What's cooking?"
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Lame, Cohen, lame. Have you seen Marissa?"
Seth shook his head. "She went that-a-way," he crossed his arms and pointed them in the opposite directions.
"No really," Ryan said. "Have you?"
"Her and Summer went down to the pier. Something bout ice cream and the beach? Although that could mean a number of things, like getting ice cream at the mall and shopping for bathing suits. Or getting jobs at the beach selling ice cream. Or…"
Ryan cut in at this point. "I get the point. I highly doubt Summer's getting a job. I doubt she'd even get one if her dad went bankrupt. You would have to take over the bill-paying responsibilities."
Seth groaned dramatically. "As if I don't already?"
"I feel the crunch, man. Grace asks me go shopping with her so I can hold her bags, but I end up footing the bill too," Ryan nodded his head sympathetically. "Listen, I'm going to head down to the pier. Come with?"
"Nah, I think I'll pass. A nap sounds really good right about now," Seth yawned, as if to prove his point. "Give Summer my love…no, actually, don't do that. Because that would entail kissing her. Which you are, by the way, not allowed to do."
"Damn!" Ryan said. "I was so looking forward to doing that."
"Later, man," Seth grinned, and walked across the quad to
the parking lot. Ryan walked the other way, as his Range Rover was in the other
parking lot. Him and Seth shared one Range Rover last year, but now that they
were 17 and could drive without adults in the car, their parents had sprung for
a new Range Rover for Ryan. Which led Seth to complain about how Ryan was the
favored child. Which was ironic, seeing as Ryan was adopted and all. But the
Cohens treated both of their boys with equal love and authority.
Ryan got into the car and drove to the pier. He parked in front of this dumpy motel called the Mermaid Inn. It was starkly different compared to the other hotels around Newport. After bumping into a few friends from school, Ryan spotted Marissa and Summer, sitting on the steps to walk onto the beach. People had to walk practically on top of them to enter the beach area. Which was fine with those people, because the girls were so fine.
"Summer, Marissa," Ryan waved, walking over to them.
"Ryan!" Summer squealed, as if he were the greatest invention since sliced bread.
"Hey," Marissa said. She seemed to be in a better mood than before. Maybe it was PMS. Ryan knew that although this was quite possible, the more likely cause of her bad mood was him.
"Seth wanted me to give you his love. But not actually give it to you," Ryan told Summer. This generated a laugh from both girls.
"Give him my love," Summer said, after hearing the story. "But don't, like, kiss him. That's my job."
The three of them laughed. But an awkward silence soon drifted in. Both girls were obviously waiting to hear why Ryan had made the trip down to the pier, looking for them. Now that Ryan was here, was he man enough to confront Marissa?
"Uh…Marissa? Can I talk to you for a sec?" Ryan asked, sticking his hands in his pockets. He was suddenly extremely self-conscious; that loose thread hanging from his shirt was taunting him now.
"Sure, Ryan," Marissa replied sweetly. Huh? Ryan started to walk away, then turned around, realizing that she wasn't following him.
"I meant alone," Ryan clarified. Duh!
"Oh," Marissa seemed genuinely sorry. But Ryan knew she was just messing with him. "I didn't realize that there was something you couldn't talk about in front of Summer."
She stood up, brushed the sand off of her butt, and followed Ryan. He stopped when they came to a spot not overrun with people. Looking out at the sparkling water, Ryan leaned on the banister.
"Well?" Marissa prompted, after a few moments of silence.
"Why won't you talk to me?" Ryan demanded. "Did that kiss mean nothing to you?"
After a second's hesitation, Ryan drew up the courage to say what had really been on his mind. "Because it meant a lot to me."
"Ryan…" Marissa's voice was soft, pleading with him. "I-- "
Whatever she was about to say, flew right out of her mind. Because her lips had found his and couldn't stand the distance.
"Well," Ryan put his hand on her face, "I think that answered my question." Then he kissed her again.
That was it, Marissa promised herself. No more kissing Ryan. It was too dangerous. What if someone found out? Like, Rocky, a sweet guy who really seemed to like her. Or worse, Grace. It could happen. She'd already witnessed the effects of gossip on some of the girls in Summer's circle of friends. All that and she'd only been in Newport for a little while
***
"Marissa," Summer called, waving to her cousin. Marissa
spotted Summer and walked over to the lunch table, setting her tray down across
from her.
"Hey," she smiled, opening the container of fruit salad on her tray and picking up her fork.
"I've got to talk to you," Summer dropped her voice, eyes glancing around casually to see if anyone was close enough to hear what she was about to say. "I saw you kissing Ryan."
Shit. Marissa had totally forgotten about Summer's presence at the pier yesterday. "I think it was a big misunderstanding," she said, trying extremely hard to keep her cool.
"I don't think so," Summer said. "But you better make sure that I don't see you in a 'misunderstanding' again."
"It was wrong. But I couldn't help myself," Marissa bit her lip. So it was a bad habit. But she'd been sober for the past few days. If biting her lip was the worst habit on her list at the moment, she was doing well.
She realized what she had said, and prepared for another harsh comment from Summer. "I know what you mean. Look, don't tell anyone this, especially not Grace. But right before they started going out…I mean, they'd been dating casually for a while. Well, to make a long story short, Ryan and I hooked up," Summer confided. It was then that Marissa knew she could trust Summer. Because what Summer had just told Marissa was private information; it could ruin her relationship with Seth and Grace, and her reputation at Harbor.
"Consider your secret safe," Marissa said. Wow. Summer and Ryan. That was something she never would have guessed.
"It's a thing of the past, believe me. We were drunk and bored," Summer explained. "So, the mall sounds good this weekend!"
Marissa was confused as to why Summer had changed the subject so abruptly.
"Hey," Rocky sat down at the table, next to Marissa. "Mind if I sit here?"
"Of course not," Marissa forced herself to smile. Why wasn't she tripping all over herself; she had this amazing guy that was so into her!? Easy. And it was two syllables: Ry-an.
Seth sat down next to Summer, and Tom on the other side of Seth.
"What's going on?" Seth asked. "I'm starved," he announced to no one in particular.
Summer laughed and patted his stomach. "I don't know how you eat so much and manage to stay so skinny."
"Look who's talking!" Seth smiled, taking a huge bite of his hamburger. He dipped a fry in ketchup and stuffed it in Summer's mouth. "Gotta put some meat on those bones."
"Seth, stop it," Summer giggled, mouth full of mashed fry.
"Yeah, Seth, stop it," Rocky snickered in high-pitched voice. "If not for her sake, then mine."
Ryan walked up to the table and took a seat on the free side of Marissa. There was only room for half his butt, so he nudged Marissa gently with his side. She and Rocky scooted down to make room for him.
Seth and Ryan kept up a witty banter for the remainder of lunch, with Summer butting into the conversation more than a few times. Actually, it was more like after every time someone made a comment. That was besides the point.
Marissa tried not to notice when Ryan's knee brushed against hers, she really did. But she couldn't not notice that he didn't move it.