Chapter 18: We Don't Want To Spend The Next Year Alone, But Will We Find Each Other Before It's Too Late?
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.
A/N: Thanks for the awesome reviews! I'm so sorry for the delay but I'm back from France and ready to write my heart out. This story is only going to have 5 or 7 more chapters…and I'm already planning the sequel. Oh, and sorry about chapter 18 being posted wrong—I posted it but for some reason the formatting was messed up and I didn't have time to repost it.
On with the story (finally!)
Ryan woke up in the quest room of Summer's house more than a little confused.
Needless to say, Ryan was even more surprised when he twisted his neck to the right, and his eyes found an angelic sleeping Marissa.
Not wanting to wake her from her beauty sleep, Ryan slid out from under the covers but found his right arm wrapped protectively around her slim waist. Sighing, he wiggled it carefully until he had freed it, and could get up from the bed.
He thought he saw her stir when he left, but her eyes remained closed. Ryan crept downstairs, remembering last night's events but not quite so angry anymore. He vaguely remembered tucking a visibly upset Marissa into bed, laying with her until she fell asleep, promising himself that he'd get up in just a minute…so that was what had happened. Except for the getting up part; Ryan's body had forced him to sleep with Marissa. Ha. That was a weak excuse and Ryan knew it. But he didn't care. Seth slept over Summer's house all the time and they definitely didn't just 'sleep'.
When Ryan walked into the kitchen, he saw Seth and Summer sitting at the kitchen table, both reading the newspaper, glasses of orange juice and mugs of hot chocolate along with scrambled eggs and toast at their place settings. Ryan stopped in his tracks, watching the couple; he was amused, to say the least.
Summer and Seth both picked up their mugs, took a sip, and set them down to the left of their juice glasses. Seth slid his plate across the table where it landed next to Summer's crust-less bread. Eyes still in the paper, Summer pulled the crusts off of his bread in one clean sweep, then slid the plate back across the table. Without so much as a nod, wink, or glance, Seth and Summer closed their sections of the paper at the same time and passed them across the table as well.
Both took a swallow of their orange juice, then opened their new papers and began to read.
"Good morning," Ryan interjected into their morning routine, very similar to that of an old married couple. "How are the kids? Rachel in law school already? I hear Adam's just gotten engaged."
Seth and Summer both look up, look at each other, and began to laugh. "Hey, Ryan," they exclaimed at nearly the exact same moment, dissolving into giggles.
Seth clutched his heart and made a face of feigned hurt at Ryan. "We're not naming our kid Adam," Seth told Summer. "Adam's a completely awful name, Ryan. I don't know what kind of a guy you take me for, but…"
Ryan opened his mouth to retort, but Summer cut him off. "And we're not naming our daughter Rachel, either." She glared at Ryan. "When you and Marissa have kids, you're not naming any of them, okay?"
Ryan threw his hands up in the air. "Okay. I get it. Although I do like the name Adam."
"I feel bad for your unborn children already," Seth said in all seriousness. Ryan left the kitchen muttering about grumpy old married couples. "Can you believe him? Is he talking about us?"
Summer placed her hand on Seth's and smiled warmly, a sparkle in her eye. "Who knows? We'll probably be doing this every day for the next sixty years. Kid's got a point."
"You think?"
Summer nodded, reassuring her boyfriend, the love of her life with his mop of dark curls and goofy grin. "I think we've got something…I don't know what…but we've got it."
Seth knew exactly what she meant, even though to most people, her words would sound nonsensical. "What we've got…is love," he announced, " I mean, if this isn't love, then what is? I see you with puffy eyes and no makeup and you've got a mean case of morning breath most days but I stick around…"
Summer wrinkled her perfect nose at Seth, quite the comical sight. "The morning breath, I know of, but are my eyes really puffy?"
Seth smiled and stood up to lean across the table and kiss Summer on her forehead. "They're perfectly puffy. I wouldn't have you any other way."
-- A few weeks later--
"So, New Years' is just around the corner," Ryan said, causing Marissa's face to light up. Just three days ago they'd celebrated Christmukkah together, even though Ryan had been holed up in his room with the flu. He was all better now, and ready to celebrate the new year in better health.
Not much else had happened since the night of their almost-arrest. Ryan and Marissa had had a lovers' quarrel about it, but immediately after they'd made up. It was silly to let little mistakes like that weigh their relationship down. And Marissa had promised not to drink as much anymore, and was sticking true to her word—she hadn't touched liquor since that night.
"Summer told me about the party you always throw, since your parents go away and trust you with the house." Marissa snuggled in closer to Ryan. They were on the couch watching Summer and Seth compete in Dance Dance Revolution, the mat on the floor and the patterns showing up on the TV.
Ryan grinned, played with his hands a little. "Well…" Ryan played with the unraveling hem of his oldest wifebeater. Kirsten had been on his case for months to throw the cotton tank away, but Ryan couldn't bear parting with it.
"Well…?" Marissa prodded him, taking his hand and entwining her fingers with his.
"I was thinking maybe we'd skip the party…I mean, Seth has Summer to help plan and run the party so maybe we could go to Summer's house…hang out just the two of us? Go out for a fancy dinner beforehand, if you wanted...?"
Marissa's face fell. "Oh. I was really looking forward to the party…I don't know…"
Ryan nodded, not really understanding why Marissa wouldn't want to spend the night with him, just the two of them and the New Year.
--Later…--
"Marissa walked into Ryan's room, where he was busy unplugging his computer and stashing it in the closet. She was wearing a short black Elie Tahari pleated dress, with a fitted bodice and grosgrain-trimmed neckline. From the waist down it was pleated with trimmed sheer inlays. A pair of Moschino suede bow patent pumps completed her outfit, and her hair was pinned and twisted off to the side, ringlets falling in soft patterns on her shoulder.
Ryan was wearing a fitted white cotton t-shirt and jeans. "Hey," he greeted Marissa, who looked stunning. She almost made him want to stay for the party…almost. But he was going to stick with his convictions. They could spend the night apart. It wouldn't be terrible… "You look beautiful."
Marissa walked up behind Ryan and looped her slender arms around his waist. "You're really not going to stay for the party? Summer got me all dressed up and everything." She was obviously hurt, but Ryan nodded. Marissa kissed him on the cheek to let him know she wasn't too mad. "I'm going downstairs to help Seth and Summer move the couch."
Ryan nodded again as Marissa left the room. God…why did she have to smell so good and look so goddamn gorgeous? It was making it very hard for him to leave…Ryan finished packing his computer into the closet and grabbed his leather jacket. He turned the lights off and left his room, hoping it wouldn't be in shambles when he returned after dawn.
Meanwhile, Marissa walked down the stairs and into the kitchen to find Seth drinking a can of iced tea. "Aren't you supposed to be helping Summer move the couch?" Marissa eyed Seth suspiciously.
He grinned at her, ignoring the questioning look she shot his way. "Yeah," he confirmed simply. Marissa tapped her high-heeled foot impatiently on the kitchen floor. Seth looked away from her, and she sighed irritably.
"Fine," she huffed, and stomped into the living room to help Summer. Summer was laying on the couch in her Y Yigal tank dress, a multicolor dream of turquoise, fuchsia, and coral colors. The front and back were deep v-necks and the shoulders had tied ends. On her feet were fuchsia Stuart Weitzman crocodile slides with a little bow on the front.
She sat up as soon as she laid eyes on Marissa. "Thank God! Seth is no help at all," Summer whined, "He could barely lift his end of the couch, much less follow my directions."
Marissa nodded her head sympathetically, as cousins do, although she found the whole situation rather laughable. Seth was a weakling and his girlfriend had absolute power—and that wasn't just emotionally, but physically as well. She lifted up one side of the couch with considerable effort, and Summer got the other. Between the two of them they managed to move it to Summer's appointed spot.
"Seth, we're done," Summer shouted, "Get your bony ass back in here…I'm not done with you."
"Yes, dear." Summer and Marissa could hear Seth fumbling around in the kitchen, most likely trying to rearrange the china cabinet so he could stall. Facing Summer when he was in trouble was not one of his favorite pastimes.
"Cohen!" Summer resorted to screaming after five minutes and put her hands on her hips. "He is going to get it…he's lucky it's New Year's Eve or he wouldn't be getting any."
"Summer!" Marissa admonished, covering her ears and feeling a rush of red creep up her neck, "I did not need to know that."
Summer shrugged. Seth came walking into the room, head down, studying the movement of his feet. Ryan walked in behind him, carrying his leather jacket for the cooler winds of that night, still clad casually in the white t-shirt and jeans. Marissa sighed; she'd been looking forward to this party, to spending New Year's with Ryan. But he was hell-bent on not being at the party this year, and she didn't know what she was supposed to do. Summer and Seth had recruited her to help organize the party and she'd really enjoyed the preparations. But was a party—without Ryan—going to be fun?
The Cohens had left the previous day for their annual New Year's vacation getaway, and the party was bound to get out of control, just as it did every year, according to Summer.
"So, you're really not staying?" Seth asked Ryan, casting a meaningful glance in Marissa's direction.
Ryan shrugged, helpless. He felt bad but wasn't looking forward to being at a party. "Yeah," he managed to say. "I'm gonna go now…maybe go down to the pier or something. Have fun and Seth—if it gets too out of control, call me, okay?"
With one backwards glance at Marissa, Ryan felt his heart twist in his chest and hurried out of his house. He'd go down to the pier for an evening of silent, lonesome contemplation. Marissa watched him go, an increasingly sinking feeling in her stomach. This was not how she was supposed to spend New Year's. Marissa was all dressed up but wanted nothing more than to be in jeans and a tank, out on the pier with Ryan. She'd stay at Ryan and Seth's house though—she had to. Marissa had promised Seth and Summer this.
There was always next year…
Seth and Summer noticed how obviously unhappy their two best friends were about their decisions, but decided to keep their mouths shut (for once!) and let fate play itself out.
There were only forty-five minute until the party, and Seth and Summer still had to set out all of the alcohol and liquors they'd been stashing for over a week under Seth's bed and in his closet.
"The party's going great!" Rocky yelled to Marissa over the heart-pulsing music, beer in hand.
She nodded and smiled, looked down at her drink—tequila and a mix of cranberry and orange juice. It was drinkable. She hadn't taken a sip yet, remembering her promise to Ryan. It didn't seem right to break it, not on this night and not without him.
"So, where's Ryan?" Rocky looked around, as if he could spot Ryan's head in the crowd of gyrating teenage bodies.
"He didn't want to come," Marissa told Rocky, a little embarrassed. She knew what was coming next. Rocky would ask her if they were still together…why wasn't he here…yadda, yadda. Marissa herself was still asking these questions in her mind. It was New Year's Eve, for chrissakes. What was she doing alone, at this party, when she had an utterly amazing boyfriend somewhere on the pier?
"Are you guys…are you still together?"
Marissa nodded. "We just wanted to spend New Year's in different ways." Rocky nodded his head, and he and Marissa both knew it was completely ridiculous, her reasoning. Couples did not just 'spend New Year's in different ways'.
"Are you in a fight?" Rocky ventured, touching Marissa's arm hesitatingly. She shook her head, not so unconvincingly, although they really weren't in a fight…or was this a fight, a display of power, of sorts?
"You know what…I need to go…I'm sorry Rocky. Happy New Year." Marissa kissed Rocky on the cheek awkwardly, and made her way through the crowd to the patio, thinking she could leave from there. She set her full cup down on the patio, hoping nobody would knock it over.
An extremely wasted girl crashed into Marissa. "Sorry," she muttered, then, seeing that it was Marissa, brightened up.
"Grace?" Marissa stared curiously at Ryan's ex-girlfriend, who was limping. "Are you okay?"
"Does it look like I'm okay?" snapped Grace, clutching Marissa's arm.
Marissa wrenched her arm out of Grace's viselike grip and started to walk away, shaking her head. She'd tried to be nice to Grace and all she got in return was attitude.
"Wait, Marissa, can you help me?" Grace looked over her shoulder and saw four girls helping another out of the pool. Marissa too looked at the Cohens' infinity pool, where a drenched girl was being helped out of the pool.
"What happened?" Marissa eyed the group of girls attempting to get their friend out of the pool. One slipped on the wet stones and fell into the pool alongside her friend, emitting a scream.
"I…I got into a fight with this girl and I kind of pushed her into the pool. Long story."
Marissa nodded her head. It sounded like one. "So what am I supposed to do? Assuming I'm willing to help you."
"Please," Grace pleaded, "Just take me home, Marissa…you don't know what those girls will do to me if I stick around…please?"
Marissa sighed and opened her purse, checking the time on the cell phone Mr. Roberts had purchased for her use. Twenty minutes to midnight.
"I live like, five minutes away from here."
"Fine." Marissa sighed again. "Let's get out of here." She saw the two girls being pulled out of the water and grabbed Grace by the elbow and dragged her off of the Cohen property.
Once they were in Summer's car—Marissa was holding the keys for Summer—Marissa turned to Grace and, rather coldly, said, "You owe me—big time."
Grace nodded. "You know, you're not as bad as I thought," she said softly, offering Marissa a weak smile.
"Thanks," Marissa replied somewhat sarcastically.
"I mean it…" Grace looked out the window. "I've never seen Ryan happier than he is with you."
That was a lot for Grace to admit to Marissa, and Marissa knew this. "Thanks," she said, this time, sincerely.
"So, where was Ryan? I didn't see him at the party…"
Marissa sighed. "He didn't go. We wanted to spend New Year's different ways…so he went to the pier or the beach or something…"
"Oh." Grace seemed surprised. "You know, they say the way you spend New Year's Eve is the way you'll spend the next year."
Marissa sat in silence as Grace proceeded to direct her towards her house, letting Grace's words sink in. After she'd dropped Grace off, the words echoed in her head.
They say the way you spend New Year's Eve is the way you'll spend the next year. Alone.
Marissa didn't want to spend the next year alone. She didn't want to spend the rest of New Year's alone. She wondered if she'd made a mistake, not agreeing to spend New Year's with just Ryan.
Her mind made up, Marissa began to drive towards the pier. Her cell phone rang shrilly and she fumbled to get it.
"Hello?" she said, grabbing a lip gloss out of her purse as well.
"Coop? It's Summer. I saw you leaving with Grace…what was up with that?"
"Hey Summer." Marissa unscrewed the top and began to apply the gloss to her lips, cradling the phone on her neck and attempting to drive with her knees. Naturally, she began to swerve all over the fortunately deserted road.
Meanwhile…
Ryan stood about ten feet away from a couple caught up in their embrace. It was New Year's Eve, and there were pairs huddled in the sand on the beach, waiting for the fireworks to ring in the New Year. Ryan, of course, was alone. He began to conjure images of the beautiful Marissa in his mind, wondering what she was doing at the party and if he should go back and spend the rest of the evening with her. After all, there were only—he consulted his watch—eight minutes until midnight. He would just barely make it if he left now…
Ryan got into the Range Rover and quickly sped away from the pier. He was driving down the mostly empty road and saw a car careening down both sides of the road, paying no attention to the solid yellow line. Passing the car, he saw Marissa in it, and was shocked. Was she on her way to meet him? Quickly, Ryan made an illegal u-turn and followed her, honking frantically.
Three minutes to midnight. Marissa heard the car behind her honking and pulled over to the side, thinking the driver wanted to pass her on the one lane road. But the other driver stopped, and she became very scared. Here she was, on the side of the road, a few minutes before midnight and there were no other cars in sight. And another driver was following her, had stopped her.
Marissa locked the doors as Ryan got out of his car. She kept the engine running, hoping she could make a quick getaway if approached.
Ryan walked over to Summer's car and realized that Marissa was scared. Of course she would be. She had absolutely no idea who the other driver was (him) and was probably freaking out majorly right about now. He tapped once, twice on the window.
Thirty seconds to midnight. Marissa cowered in the drivers' seat, too scared to drive away. She was all alone on New Year's Eve, being cornered in her car by a madman. Not exactly how she thought it would all pan out.
Marissa wished she were with Ryan, wished she were preparing to kiss him as the seconds ticked down. Where was he? Where was her knight in shining armor? Would Ryan come to save the day, or would Marissa spend the night exactly how she didn't want to—alone?
Fifteen seconds to midnight. Peeking open her eyes, they lit up, Marissa saw that the "madman" was only Ryan.
Ten seconds to midnight. Marissa unlocked the doors and got out of the car, wrapping her arms around Ryan.
Two seconds to midnight. "You scared me!" she said, and looked up at him, her lips meeting his in a passionate touch just as the fireworks exploded in the night sky, and in their eyes. Ryan gently nibbled on Marissa's lower lip, then pushed his tongue inside her mouth, exploring it, caressing it with his sensitive tongue. When he finally broke apart from the rousing kiss, a perfectly dramatic way to ring in the New Year, Ryan looked at Marissa with an adoring gaze.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" Marissa questioned, the events of only a minute before lost in her mind. All that she could think of was Ryan, and his kissable lips, and the way he'd looked at her when they touched.
"For scaring you," Ryan explained. "Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year," Marissa responded, so happy she could hardly contain herself. She let out a tiny squeal of delight. Ryan looked deep into her eyes and something within them struck him like a sword.
It was love.
So he opened his mouth, took a deep breath, and let the words come spilling out on their own accord. "Marissa, I love you."
Lost for words, Marissa let her lips do the talking, expressing more with a caring touch than her words would ever be able to.
"I love you too," she managed. Ryan held onto his girlfriend, the love of his life, for dear life. He had finally found her, and was never going to let her go.
The wind an invisible shadow moving Marissa's golden-brown strands in the slightest way, she and Ryan stood against the firework-smudged sky, having found the perfect way to ring in the New Year; together.
A/N: So, what did you think of the chapter? Let me know…I hope it was worth the wait!