Author's Note: As I said last time I really have no idea where I'm going with this whole story. But just in case you wanted to know, I did have a plan with Teresa. And before you start to hate me, I could fill a novel with Teresa hate so it probably won't go her way whatever way that is. So no need to worry!
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing. Quite literally. All the things I do own have been bought for me by my parent's credit cards and since the O.C. is not for sale I don't own that.
"Teresa?" Ryan said still not over his initial shock. He couldn't believe, or really didn't want to believe who was sitting on the couch in front of him. "Wh-Wh-What are you doing here?"
"Well I arranged a 5 hour layover on my way to Georgia and I wanted to come and ask you an important question" Teresa said and took a deep breath.
"Teresa what are you doing here?" Ryan repeated "Why are you here? Kirsten said that,"
"Okay, okay," Teresa interrupted "so I told a little lie to the Cohen's,"
"How could you? After all they've done for you!"
"Oh and like you don't know all about lying,"
"What are you talking about?" Ryan asks in confusion. Out in the hallway Marissa comes to the door she opens it slightly and freezes when she hears Teresa's voice. She stands in the doorway listening in to the conversation even though she knows it's wrong.
"What am I talking about?" Teresa says with a sarcastic forced laugh.
"Yes!" Ryan cries out in frustration.
"You knew right?" Teresa said
"Knew what?"
"Oh don't give me that bull, Ryan,"
"Teresa," Ryan said in low even voice. "Tell me what you're talking about!"
"Oh Ryan don't play dumb with me,"
"Teresa," Ryan said his voice warning her
"you know that you couldn't be the father. You just wanted to help your hero complex right? Because that's the only time you ever cared about a girl when you could go and save her. And well at the moment I was the one that needed saving so you came, am I right?"
"No!" Ryan practically screamed. Marissa gasped this had to be the angriest she had ever seen Ryan.
"Oh Ryan you don't have to lie to me. I'm just your old friend from Chino,"
"You lied to me! How could you?"
"Because Ryan," Teresa said with a little laugh, "I love you," While Ryan stared at her in shock Marissa decided to make her presence know. As if she was going to let that tramp steal her man from right under her nose. As if!
"Ryan are you almost ready to go?" Marissa asked bouncing into the room like she hadn't just been listening in. Marissa started back and forth between Ryan and Teresa like she was in shock then grinned. "What a great surprise, hey Teresa,"
"What is she doing there?" Teresa asked glaring at Marissa in anger.
"We're uh we're" Ryan started trying to figure out what had just happened.
"We're roomies!" Marissa said in her perkiest voice. "I'm going to go get ready and then we can go swimming! Want to come Teresa we're meeting Seth and Summer at the pool?"
"Uh no thanks can I just have a private moment with Ryan? Then I'm going to go but thanks anyway,"
"No problem it's a shame you can't say," Marissa said crossing her fingers. She leaned over and gave Teresa a hug, "see you," she said practically skipped back towards the bedroom. She figured she deserved the award for best actress. If she said so herself that was an excellent performance. Besides it wasn't as if she was really going to leave them alone. She wasn't that stupid, her straight "A" grades certainly said different. Which is why the door wasn't totally closed. And besides if you were standing right next to the door you can definitely hear.
"Teresa what are you talking about?" Ryan was asking Teresa as soon as he was sure that Marissa was out of earshot, or so he thought. "You're talking crazy!"
"No I'm not, Ryan" Teresa said in a calm voice. "Do you think that it's a coincidence that I found work in Newport? I mean it's an hour away from Chino for heavens sake. Do you think it's a coincidence that I ran to you after I got engaged to another man or a coincidence that I went to Sandy after Eddie hit me? Or that I went back to you time after time? Ryan you were able to tell when that Oliver guy was in love with Marissa right? Why can't you see that I'm in love with you,"
"Teresa I can't do this. I've told you half a million times that I love you like a friend nothing else. I love Marissa now," Ryan said and inside the bedroom Marissa did a little triumphant dance. Or at least she tried to tripping over one of her suitcases that was sprawled out on the floor kind of ruined that affect.
"Oh shit!" she cried as she went falling all over. There was silence in the other room as Ryan and Teresa started at the closed door. Ryan went over and opened it slowly to find Marissa sitting up and rubbing her head. "Hi Ryan," she said then shook her head "Do you have a twin?" Ryan started at her.
"What!?"
"An identical twin 'cause there's two of you!" Marissa said and crawled over to the bed. "I think I'm going to lie down,"
"You okay?" Ryan asked in concern. Marissa nodded slowly and closed her eyes before sitting up.
"I'm fine," she insists and Ryan looks at her like she's crazy. Because there's a bump on the side of her head that's growing by the second. Marissa suddenly smiles.
"What?" Ryan asks wondering if she was really okay. Teresa was staring at him before she sighed sadly and turned towards Ryan.
"Can I talk to you outside for a sec," Teresa asked taping Ryan on the shoulder. He shot a concerned look at Marissa but finally nodded and followed her out of the room. "Listen I'm going to go. It's time for you to begin your new life, without me. But just so you know some where out there wherever I am I'll always love you," Teresa said and gave Ryan a quick kiss on the cheek and then smiled sadly and headed out door "Good bye Ryan," And then she was gone. As the door to their suite closed softly behind her another time in Ryan's life ended. He wasn't just some deadbeat soon-to-be dad from chino he was a guy with some potential, a great girlfriend and a family that actually cared about him. His life was good for now at least. Things in Newport might be better then chino in a lot of ways but trouble seemed to follow Ryan like a stray cat that you just gave milk.
"Hey" Summer said poking her head into the door. Ryan smiled at her and Seth followed her in. "Where's Coop?"
"She hit her head or something, she's laying down,"
"Oh!" Summer said rushing from her boyfriends side to the one of her best friend. Which left for the first time practically the entire trip Ryan and Seth alone. Seth grinned uncomfortably at Ryan.
"What?"
"Um I think you should know who we saw in the elevator?"
"You were in the elevator? Why? You're staying on the same floor as us!"
"Uh yeah, we were going to meet at the pool remember?"
"Right," Ryan said
"Okay anyways don't shoot the messenger but I saw," Seth said taking a deep breath, "Teresa,"
"Oh," Ryan said going over to the mini fridge and taking out a coke.
"Dude it's your ex-pregnant-ex-girlfriend!" Seth said
"Yeah she was just here,"
"And you didn't say anything this whole time!"
"You've been talking the whole time,"
"Oh right," Seth said with a grin "so what did she want,"
"She told me that she loved me," Ryan said aiming to shock Seth. But Seth just nodded seriously.
"So tell me something I didn't know,"
"What!"
"Come on Ry, you must have had a clue, all that time. I mean come on!" Seth said and made a face when Ryan shot him a look. "Okay so you didn't have a clue. Well news flash everyone else did,"
"And no one said anything?" Ryan asked in disbelief
"Would you have listened if they had?"
"Uh" Ryan said stalling
"Exactly, you never would have. You would never want to even think something like that. But admit it you had a whole my thanksgiving situation going on,"
"What are you talking about man?"
"I mean two girls who like you. Just like Anna and Summer did with me. And in the same fashion as I did you made the more compatible one leave." Ryan shot Seth a look, "but you see" Seth continued "It's like the old saying opposites attract,"
"Okay," Ryan asked taking a sip of his coke and staring at Seth.
"Come on me and summer, totally different. But think about it we're perfect together,"
"true,"
"Just like you and Marissa,"
"Okay," Ryan said and got another coke for Seth. He held it out for him.
"Okay." Seth said and took the coke. "Hey did you realize that you're tv has a play station?" Ryan shook his head and Seth went over and showed him. Ryan raised his eyebrow at Seth. Then the two of them raced to the couch.
Meanwhile back in the bedroom Summer was talking quietly to Marissa. She handed her a pill and a water bottle. Marissa took it her eyes still closed. Then the two of them sat in silence.
"So Summer do you know what?" Marissa finally asked
"Mmmm?" Summer asked examining her nail in a bored fashion
"You know who was just here?"
"Teresa?" Summer asked
"What! You ruined my news!"
"Oh,"
"How did you know by the way?"
"Oh we ran into her in the elevator,"
"Hmmmph!" Marissa said crossing her arms and giving Summer a look. Summer just rolled her eyes and pretended to look interested. "Oh well anyways she was here yelling at Ryan for something or other and then she said"
"That she loved him right?" Summer asked in a bored voice.
"Uh-huh how did you know?"
"Coop, everyone knew that,"
"Oh well I didn't. Do you think Ryan did?"
"Nope, he's even more clueless then you,"
"Thanks. By the way where's Seth?"
"Cohen's inside with Chino. Probably desperately trying to give him a pep talk and failing miserably,"
"Oh,"
"Yeah, I guess I should go check on Chino and make sure Cohen's not talking him half to death,"
"Okay," Marissa asked closing her eyes and leaning farther back onto the pillows. Summer got up and walked into the living room area and rolled her eyes at what she saw. Ryan and Seth were sitting on the couch, playing what else? Video games.
"You guys come all the way here to play video games?"
"Uh-huh," Ryan answered
"Great well then give me you're room key Cohen,"
"What?" Seth asked not really listening
"If you're going to just sit around and play video games instead of paying attention to something more important. Like say me. Then you can sleep in the hallway or maybe Coop and Chino will take pity on you and let you sleep in the bathtub" Summer said going to stand next to Seth and holding out her hand.
"Okay, Okay," Seth grumbled and turned off the play station.
"Dude!" Ryan cried and Seth sent him an apologetic smile.
"It's not that I don't love you or anything man, but between sleeping in here with your or with Summer, well she wins every time,"
"Fair enough, but did you have to shut it down just as I was about to beat you?"
"Uh-huh all part of my game plan,"
"Right," Ryan said raising an eyebrow, "how's Marissa?"
"She's fine," Summer asked "but I totally think that we should let her rest and go swimming and then pick her up and get food. Right Seth?"
"Uh-huh sweetheart whatever you say,"
"Great," Summer asked pulling him up and then turning to Ryan. "Let's go vamanos Chino, get dressed,"
"You know what Summer I think I'll just stay"
"Let's go," Summer interrupted through gritted teeth. Ryan started at her for a second and then headed towards the bedroom.
"Hey Marissa," he said closing the door softly. Marissa didn't answer. Ryan just shrugged and grabbed his bathing suit and headed towards the bathroom to change. When he was done he quickly wrote a note to Marissa:
Marissa- Seth, Summer and I went to the pool. Should be back soon to go to dinner. Ryan paused thinking about how to end the letter and finally just signed his name. Leaving it on the nigh table he snuck out of the room and followed Seth and Summer down to the pool.
"Oh my god," Summer said "It's so crowded," It really was. Tons of little kids were running around and playing. They managed to grab three seats and spread their towels out to save them. Summer stripped out of her clothes, pulled on a pair of large sunglasses and demanded that if anyone bothered her she was going to kill them. This lasted all of about five minutes before she spotted a group of kids around their age playing water volleyball.
"Let's go play," she demanded of Seth and Ryan.
"We can't just go over," Seth said but stopped when he saw the death glare Summer was giving him
"Please Cohen, I'll be your best friend,"
"ugh what the hell," Seth said and shrugged at Ryan. The two of them followed Summer over to where the six boys and three girls were playing.
"Hey," Summer said and when no one looked at her she said it a little bit louder. Finally someone noticed her. "Can we play?" she asked sweetly
"Sure," one of the guys said looking her up and down. Summer grinned and slid into the pool. "What side am I on?"
"The girls side,"
"That seems a little bit unfair to me," Seth said, "if all the girls are on one side and there's so much less of them"
"Cohen shut up," Summer said elbowing him hard in the stomach. Everyone laughed as Seth doubled over in pain. Ryan just rolled his eyes at his brother's behavior and slid in to the pool.
"Ahhh!" he cried "It's cold"
"Stop being a baby chino and Cohen get in the water!" Summer cried and Seth shot her a nasty look.
"Hey I'm Josh," one of the guys said "and this is Danny, Mattie, Jack, Andy and Sammy. The girls are Hilary, Christina and Jessica,"
"Okay that was a lot of remember so if I mess up don't be mad at me," Seth said with a wiry grin. Summer rolled her eyes.
"Okay I'm Summer, and this is Ryan," she said pointing "or Chino if you want," she said ignoring Ryan's look "and that guy who makes terrible attempts at a sarcasm is my jack ass boyfriend Seth or Cohen if you want,"
"Bleh!" Seth said sticking his tongue out at Summer.
"Okay let's play" Mattie said and served the beach ball.
"I got it" Hilary said slamming it over the net. Josh slammed it back and the game was on. Both sides were really good and competitive. Eventually even Ryan got into the game playing hard and getting competitive. It was starting to get dark by the time they finished their third game. The girls had won two of the games, which came as a surprise to both Ryan and Seth who had thought that the guys since they outnumbered the girls, would win. But they had all played hard and it showed as the final score for the last game was 19-21. Which all in all wasn't too bad to be beaten by.
"We got to get going," Josh said and everyone else murmured in agreement. They nine of them were here on a teen tour and had to meet the rest of their group in 20 minutes. They all climbed out of the pool and after collecting all their stuff rode the elevator up to their floors.
"Hey wait a sec," Sammy said as the elevator doors opened on his floor "we always go and play there around this time. You guys want to come tomorrow?"
"Uh sure maybe," Seth said looking at Summer and Ryan for conformation. They shrugged. "Actually we have another friend, a girl, with us. She's sleeping right now, but maybe can she come too?"
"Sure bring anyone," Danny said smiling, "but maybe you should bring guys so we can actually beat these girls,"
"You wish," Jessica said "now come on. We're going to get yelled at if we're late,"
"Uh-huh," Danny agreed and they all raced out.
"That was fun!" Summer squealed as the doors closed.
"Glad you enjoyed it princess," Seth said as she cuddled into him. Summer murmured something incoherent. Seth shot a what in the world did she just say look at Ryan to which Ryan shot a how in the world should I know.
"I hope Marissa's okay," she said as Seth and Ryan stared at her in confusion. "I mean that pill should make her tired but it's been almost three hours. You think she's up?"
"Maybe, maybe not," Seth answered. "You know what this was one of her best idea's,"
"Whose?" Ryan asked suppressing a grin, "Julie Cooper's or Marissa's?"
"Ugh. She's not Julie Cooper anymore dude," Seth said "She's my step-grandma, practically yours too, so she's Julie Nickel now,"
"That is just creepy," Summer piped up
"So I'm dating my aunt's best friend," Seth said with a bigger grin, "and you my man are dating my aunt,"
"We know Cohen, you've only told us that a million times,"
"Yeah man, why is it that you have to keep repeating that,"
"Because it's just too weird to ignore,"
"Well try please," Summer said rolling her eyes at Ryan. The elevator stopped at their floor and just as they were about to get off, Marissa wearing nothing but a tiny bikini and tiny shorts got on.
"Ugggh you guys have been gone forever, I've been waiting and finally I just got tired of waiting," Marissa said as they all got off. "Where were you anyway?"
"playing water volleyball," Summer said "with these people we met,"
"Oh" Marissa said looking a little hurt.
"They invited us to play with them tomorrow, and if you want to you're invited to come too," Seth said trying to make her feel better. Marissa smiled happily and grabbed Ryan's hand while Summer shot Seth a relived look. She loved her best friend but she could sure be touchy.
"Let's get dinner," Seth said "I'm starving,"
"You're always starving," Summer said and all four of them laughed.
Author's Note: Wow! That was longer then I intended it to be. As nothing is ever perfect in their world don't expect it to say that way forever. Okay hope you liked it please review and give me your thoughts! I totally appreciate it!
