I do not own any of the original characters from the OC.
A/N To me, I had this Chapter about 2/3 in the can when I read your review. I agree with you about it dragging on. Intense blond moments, which induced severe waffling in the author, created a lack of direction for our hero. I finally resorted to the old eeny meeny minny moe routine (not really but close) LOL Thanks to you guys for doing reviews. Please let me know what you think.
Emily woke up hanging half of the couch. If it wasn't for Ryan's arm she would be in the floor. Very slowly she slid out of his arms and moved away. He murmured something and then went back to sleep. She stretched and turned trying to relieve some of the kinks from her unusual night's sleep.
She had gotten distracted and had forgotten to call Leo yesterday. Going into the kitchen she dialed his number.
Leo: Hello
Emily: Leo. It's Emily. Sorry I didn't get you called yesterday.
Leo: Hey girl Just as well. I didn't have anything concrete until last night. I have a name, an address and a phone number. I also have a PI license number, a picture and a phone log of all the calls to and from the office over the last month. It is incredible what these computer geeks can find out and they hardly even get up from their desks. Too bad your Pop and I wasn't smart enough to get in on that.
Emily laughed. She really missed Leo.
Emily: You guys wouldn't have been happy sitting behind a computer and I know it, so save your breath. You're totally hands on.
Ryan wandered into the kitchen and straight to the coffeepot. Adeptly he measured and poured then stood back with satisfaction and watched the magic happen. Looking over at her he mouthed "good morning".
She smiled and nodded.
Leo: You got a fax there?
Emily: Yep Uncle Brad has one. Let me get the number. Hey Leo, how about sometime soon I come out and see you and Lois? It's been too long.
Leo: Make it soon kid. We really miss you.
Emily: Here ya go... 949-644-1111 Thanks, Leo. You're brilliant. I'll call soon.
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When Summer woke up she saw Marissa was already awake.
Summer: Hey Coop, what are you doing awake? It's like 7:00 Sunday morning.
Marissa's beautiful face was haggard and she looked like she'd had a real rough night.
Marissa: I couldn't sleep. All night I wanted to go down stairs and get something to drink, but I didn't. I couldn't turn my mind off. I just feel so lost and angry. Dr. Meuler says that will go away. I came to a decision... I am going to do everything Dr. Meuler tells me to. I really don't like the way I am and I have to do whatever it takes to change it.
A big smile spread across Summer's face. She reached up and hugged Marissa tightly.
Summer: So what is the next step?
Marissa: The next step is I get my head out of my ass and get straight. Do you have Emily's cell number? I 'd like to see her before I go back.
Summer: No but I bet Chino does.
Marissa: Well, I haven't been able to get hold of him at all.
Summer: So what's the deal with you going back? I mean, can't you stay out here and just see a shrink? I am so bored with you gone.
Marissa: I won't be inside much longer but I'm not ready for out here. And I sure as hell don't want to go home to my Mother and Caleb Nichol.. If it hadn't been for Emily, I would have been drunk the other night instead of watching movies with you guys. I almost lost it. Do you suppose Seth would have her number?
Summer: He might. Call him and see. We got any of that pizza left?
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Emily entered the kitchen carrying a stack of pages from the fax machine. Ryan was sitting at the table with his second cup of coffee.
Emily: Do you always get up this early?
Ryan: Frequently... you?
Emily: Not often. I'm not really into mornings that start before noon.
A wry grin reached Ryan's mouth and he eyed the stack of paper.
Ryan: Ok, I'll bite.. what's going on?
Emily: Does the name Henry Webb ring a bell with you? Do you think you should call home?
Ryan: Nope, should it? And nope, I just got off the phone with Seth. I'm covered.
Emily: That may be the flower guy.
Ryan came to attention in his chair.
Ryan: Who Seth? Seth may be the flower guy?
Emily rolled her eyes.
Emily: It's too early, Atwood.
Ryan chuckled.
Ryan: Where did you get that?
Emily: A friend of mine.
Ryan: How did you get it when the cops can't.
Emily smiled.
Emily: The cops don't have Leo.
Ryan took a deep breath and just looked at her.
Ryan: Hold that thought for a minute. We need to talk.
Emily: We are talking. What do you want to talk about?
Ryan: Us and don't say there is no us because I'd have to argue with you. We are good together in a way I have never been good with anyone before. It just works. Regardless of what you tell me I am going to break it off with Marissa. I'm tired of kicking a dead horse. It's just the same story on a different day. I screw up then she screws up and it's a viscous cycle. I wanted it to work because it was the first real relationship I have ever had. Now I realize that is a lousy reason for wanting it to work.
Emily: I don't know what I'm supposed to say.
Ryan: Just tell me if you want to try this with me.
He looked straight into her soul with those piercing blue eyes. How could she fight against that? Did she want to? Emily crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes.
Emily: What does it pay?
He opened his arms and she was in his arms a heartbeat later.
Ryan: It's about damned time!
His lips finally found hers and the kiss was worth everything second they had spent waiting for it.
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Seth had sneaked out and unmade Ryan's bed so it looked as though Ryan had been home last night. If his parents woke up before Ryan got home his plan was to pretend Ryan had gotten up early and left again. Darn good plan, in his opinion. A smug look covered his face. Ryan and Emily.. looks like something just may come of that. He took great pride in his handling of that situation. The ring of his cell phone brought his mind back to the pool house. It was Marissa. Should he answer it? Sure he should.
Seth: Hey Marissa, how ya doing?
Marissa: I'm good Seth. How about you?
Seth wasn't sure what he would say if she asked for Ryan but he figured something would come to him .
Seth: Never better..
Marissa: Hey, do you have Emily's cell number?
Now why would Marissa want Emily's number?
Seth: Yep sure do.. you need it?
Marissa: Please.. I need to talk to her before I go back this afternoon.
He hoped Marissa knew what she might be getting into.
Seth: Just a sec.
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She sat on his lap while they looked over the picture.
Ryan: Does that look like the guy?
Emily: All I saw of that guy was he was huge even in the dark. This guy pulled me up in a database and accessed information about me. Why would a total stranger do that? It's all linked together you, Marissa, Summer and me.
Ryan kissed her softly
Ryan: Jump up . You cooked dinner so I'll get breakfast.
Emily: I do love a liberated man. Division of labor is a good thing.
Kissing him on more time she let him up and moved over to a chair continuing her hypothesis.
Emily: I think Summer was just coincidence. She saw me getting roses and since she already thought I was after you, she assumed they were from you and she told Marissa.
Emily dialed the number Leo had given her for the Private Investigator. She got a recorded message saying he would be out of town for a while but would be checking for messages. Blah blah blah So what's new?
Can't anything ever be easy?
She reached for the phone logs and began scanning the list of in coming and out going calls. She suddenly stopped, so surprised she almost didn't trust her eyes. Oh my god... how could that sorry bastard do such a thing. Glancing at Ryan she decided to keep her discovery to herself for while. Laying the papers aside, she called to him.
Emily: Need some help over there?
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