Summary- 'Intense' could mean a lot of things, so I'll leave it to your imagination, but it's REALLY not intense.
Disclaimer- I remember one female name that is a producer of the OC, Stephanie Savage, I am not her, nor do I pretend to be, so therefore, I own nothing, I can only admire from afar, very far, like 2,000 miles far.
A/N- Thanks so much for the reviews. And the hints at the bottom at the last chapter, they might not come into the story until later, because right now, I have a plot, a 'dramatic' plot, if you call it. Its totally AU, but the other characters are still in it, but I don't think it will be what you expect. It might not come up clear until the next chapter, it'll be sort of blurry in this chapter,...but it'll do something with Ryan and his 'family'. And this chapter will be long, to make up for the late update. Sorry, but I've been working on the other story, Prom, and have a new one coming up soon after I finish at least 2 of my stories, but now that I know where I'm going with this, I'll update. Um...without further ado...
On with the story...
Sandy walked into the kitchen, and set his briefcase down on the counter; and loosened his tie even more. Kirsten had just called him and told him she was on her way to pick up the take out; and Seth had gone to pick up Summer for dinner. He sat his hands on the counter when he noticed a faint light coming from the pool house. "Ryan?" he thought out loud. No, no, that doesn't make any sense, he probably would've gone with Seth, but then who? These thoughts ran through his mind as he made his way outside, and slowly tip toed his way to the pool house.
He heard the faint giggles becoming louder and louder. "Ryan doesn't giggle like that," Sandy told himself, then stopped for a second, "Of course I've never heard him giggle, so what do I know?" He kept walking and walking, then he stopped again. What if it's some crazy people who had no where to go, and they chose the pool house, hmmm, he thought again. Or maybe, Ryan's talking to himself, hmm, thats always a thought. But then a girls voice came in as well as a boys. Sandy was mad as he peeked through the door, but the curtain blocked him.
So he decided to barge in. "What kind of sick bast..." he trailed off and was surprised at what was in front of him.
Marissa was on top of Ryan; snuggled safely in his arms, and her head rested on his chest. They were talking and giggling, as they leaned in every once in a while for a kiss. Ryan grazed her arms with his fingertips, and bent down to give her a kiss. They heard the door swing open, and broke away from their passionate kiss. They frantically got up, getting stumbled in their intertwined legs. Sandy's madness went to confusion; and shock.
"Ryan? Marissa? Together?" he asked dumbfounded.
The two teens stood there; looking at the ground awkwardly. He stepped in a little further, and rubbed the back of his head; confused. He chuckled, "Wow! How long has this been going on?" he asked. "For a week, right, cuz that's how long you've been here," he answered his own question. Sandy seemed impressed at how fast Ryan moved.
"Um...we're sorry?" Ryan offered.
"For what?" Sandy asked.
"Not telling you," Marissa replied.
"It's okay, I understand, you want privacy. Do Seth and Summer know?" Both Ryan and Marissa shook their heads.
"Hmm. Well, wow!" he said again, surprised. "Yeah," Ryan agreed as he laughed nervously and Marissa soon joined.
"Congratulations!" he told them with a laugh as he shrugged his shoulders. Ryan and Marissa laughed nervously and muttered "Yeah."
Sandy hated to be the barrier of bad news, so he told them half the bad news. "You do know that Ryan could be leaving in less than two days if they don't find his mother?" he told them sadly. He didn't want to tell them the rest of the bad news. The detectives found Dawn, and she was coming in tomorrow morning; to the Cohen house.
Marissa nodded sadly as did Ryan. Sandy was going to say something, but Kirsten called out for them in the main house. Sandy held back a little bit; "Are you going to say anything to them?" he asked.
They shrugged. "Do you want me to?" he asked.
"If they find out; they find out," Ryan said sadly, his head still examining the floor.
He hadn't come fully aware of how one week was rapidly becoming two days, then one day, then he would be gone. He wished that by some miracle; the Cohen's would somehow forget that he had stolen a car and swoop in to save the day. But he knew that wouln't happen. Marissa realized how sad Ryan had become since the mention of his mother.
"Okay, well, are you guys gonna join us?" Sandy asked. Ryan nodded and started to make his way out the door, Marissa stopped him by placing her hand on his chest. "Uh, Mr. Cohen, could you give us a minute?"
Sandy nodded and went into the kitchen as Marissa looked at Ryan. He looked back, "I didn't think I had to leave this early," he told her in a sad tone.
"I know, I wish you didn't have to," Marissa told him as she wiped her glazed eyes.
"Me too," he responded as he pulled her in for a hug, wiping his glazed eyes as well in the process. "I love you," Marissa whispered as she buried her head in his neck.
He paused for a second, gulping the muffled sob that was escaping him forcefully. Marissa slowly lifted her head up; surprised he didn't say it back; he always did. She saw that his eyes were glazed and laughed silently, "Ryan Atwood? Are you crying?" she asked in a joking matter as she wiped away the tears that wouldn't come out past his eyelshes.
They rested their foreheads against one another; as Ryan also wiped away Marissa's tears. "I love you too," he whispered back. They closed their eyes tightly, both forcing back the tears that would soon take overtake them.
"It'll be okay," he told her quietly as he reached down and took her hand; squeezing it tightly. She squeezed back; and wrapped an arm around his neck; and leaned in to kiss him. And just like every time they kissed; Marissa felt her knees wobble and go weak. She felt Ryan loosen his grip on her hand and wrap both hands around her waist. Ryan felt her knees go weak, and he loved that feeling; making her do something like that; something that seemed so powerful to him; and he was able to control it. He kissed her harder; his tear ridden face gaining back its normal pink color.
Marisssa knew Ryan felt her knees go weak; she could always feel his arms wrap around her waist right away; as if to keep her from falling in the deep ends of the Earth; he was truly her knight in shining armor. They kissed passionately, and held on to each other tightly; and the rest of the world was forgotten.
Summer and Seth bust their way into the pool house. "You guys, whats taking so long?" Seth asked halfway in the door. Summer jumped back; from surprise; at the sight in front of her. Ryan and Marissa standing in the middle of the pool house; with their arms around each other; and kissing. Seth shut the door and followed Summer's gaze, "Um...that's what's taking so long," he responded, pointing his finger towards the couple who had broken the kiss when they heard Seth's voice. "Wow! Hey! Look at that, Ryan and Marissa...together!" Seth exclaimed happily.
"What's going on you guys?" Summer asked with a mischevious smile spreading across her face.
"Nothing," Marissa replied, "We've just..." she trailed off.
"Ah, so you guys like...an item now or something?" Seth asked, a cheerfullness still in his voice.
"Um, yeah, I guess," Ryan said with a sad smile directed towards Marissa; as Marissa shyly smiled back. One arm was still around her waist, he pulled her in a little closer.
"Oh, my god! You guys are so cute!" Summer squealed. Ryan and Marissa turned their attention to Summer and smiled sweetly at her.
"So, is the lovely couple joining us today?" Seth asked sarcastically.
Ryan and Marissa silently laughed and nodded as they made their way out the door. Seth and Summer stayed back a bit. "Aww, Cohen, they're so cute," she whispered in a squeal, placing a hand over her heart.
"Yeah, they are", Seth now sounded more serious, "But, remember, Ryan's leaving soon", he whispered.
"I know, but..." Summer looked at the two retreating figures, "I mean, it's not like they're serious or anything like that."
Seth shrugged, and ushered her out the door, and put an arm around her, Summer gave him a look. "Oh, do you mind?" he asked sarcastically. "No," she replied, and pulled their bodies closer together.
&&&&
Kirsten noticed Ryan lightly tap Marissa's waist as he ushered her inside the dining room, and pull her chair out for her. Maybe he's just being a gentleman, she thought, but then she noticed his shiny and red lips. A confused expression came over her face.
&&&&
The dinner went by with good conversations and ended just as fast. Ryan was with Marissa at the front door. "So I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked. Marissa nodded and leaned in for a kiss. The kiss was turning out to be more than a good night kiss when Kirsten walked in, "Hey Ryan, did...oh, oh my, I'm sorry," Kirsten trailed off as the two lovebirds broke their kiss. Ryan and Marissa seemed slightly embarassed; they were being caught by everyone today.
"I'll come by tomorrow morning," Marissa confirmed as Ryan nodded in agreement. "Thanks for dinner Mrs. Cohen", Marissa said as she walked out. Ryan looked at Kirsten; "Um, everyone else knows," he told her out of the blue.
"Oh, well that saves the embarassing part," she joked, as Ryan laughed nervously.
"Well, Marissa's a great girl."
"Yeah, she is," Ryan agreed.
"You two look happy."
Ryan nodded a barely audiable 'mhmh'.
"I'm gonna go...sleep," Ryan replied as he walked by.
"Okay, good night Ryan."
"Night Mrs. Cohen," and he leftfor the pool house.
&&&&
Marissa giggled as Ryan whispered something and flipped the channel again, to make it look like they were watching tv. Kirsten came down; dressed but obviously still sleepy. She went into the living room and was surprised to find Ryan and Marissa; kissing and murmuring things to each other. "Marissa! Morning."
Marissa looked up, "Morning Mrs. Cohen."
Kirsten looked around akwardly; "Uh, how about some breakfast?" she suggested.
"We already ate," Marissa explained, "but we made some for you guys as well," she lit up.
We? Kirsten thought, Ryan cooks?
"Okay, I'll go eat it then." Marissa and Ryan looked at her weirdly before they nodded their heads towards the kitchen.
As soon as Kirsten sat down and was sarting to enjoy the breakfast, the back door opened and Sany came in. "Hey," he greeted his wife.
"You should really try some of these eggs, Ryan and Marissa are good cooks," she told Sandy as she gulped down another mouthful. Sandy was going to ignore the comment, but then decided not to. "Ryan cooks?" he asked surprisedly. Kirsten nodded, "And suprisingly well".
Just as Sandy was about to say something, the door opened to reveal a disheveled Dawn, with dark blue eye shadow surrounding her eyes; and dressed completely in denim from head to feet. "Hi," she said, embarassed. Kirsten quickly got up, and wiped her face.
"Hi, are you...?" she asked as she shook Dawn's hand.
"Ryan...is he here?" Dawn asked.
Kirsten nodded, "Um, yes, he's in..." but she was cut off by Ryan who had come into the kitchen.
"Hey, is it okay if we...?" Ryan's face dropped as he saw his mother. "Mom?" he asked, both confused and suprised. Marissa felt Ryan's grip on her hand loosen completely and then he let go. He stood there; not making any motion or any signs of movement. Dawn walked over to him; and grabbed his shoulders; "Ryan", she whispered, as she grabbed him more closely and then hugged him.
"Oh, my Ryan," she whispered, on the verge of tears.
Ryan didn't hug back, just whispered "Mom."
Kirsten looked at Sandy who was looking back at her. He offered her a look of sympathy as they looked at the reuiniting family.
&&&&
After they had talked; mostly about where Dawn had been for the past week and how she was trying to be better, and some lunch, they all returned to the living room to finsih their conversation. "Ryan, my baby boy, you comin' back home with your Mom?" Dawn asked out of nowhere.
Ryan looked at the Cohen's sadly then to Marissa; and then shrugged. Anger built up in Dawn as her eyes showed it. "What do you mean?" she demanded.
Ryan stood up as well; following her lead. "What do you mean what do I mean; I mean, how do I know you won't drop me again, or kick me out again?" he asked.
Marissa got up as well as did Sandy and Kirsten as they listened intently to the conversation. "But I've changed," Dawn reasoned.
"Look the same to me," Ryan snapped.
Dawn grabbed him by the arm; and pulled him close to her; raising an accusing finger, "Don't be a smart ass, al'right? Don't think you're better than me kid, 'cuz you ain't," she told him.
Ryan pulled away and mumbled something under his breath. Dawn walked away a little bit but then turned around, as though she was pacing, "You know what Ry? You wanna live with these rich people--" she started then turned to Sandy and Kirsten, "No offense." Kirsten waved her off, telling her it was fine, but Sandy wasn't fine; he stepped forward. "Offense taken," he told her.
"Excuse me?" Dawn asked, hands on hips.
"You heard me, you don't get to come into my house; and then insult me," he told her; angered.
"Who do you think you are?" Dawn asked.
"Who do I think I am; I'm Sandy Cohen; who do you think you are?" he asked, hands also on hips.
"I'm Dawn Atwood," she replied, and then walked over to Ryan; "and I'm getting my kid back from you rich bast--"
"Don't say it Ma," Ryan warned, cutting her off with a sad tone.
"Say what Ry? You one of them now?" she slurred.
"No, but--" he started.
"Tha's right! You ain't! Your an Atwood! Just like me! And you're coming with me," and grabbed his arm again. Ryan shrugged it off violently. Dawn was even more angered. "Boy, you better not start with me!" she told him; waving a finger in front of his face. Ryan clenched his fists, his knuckles becoming white while the insides became red.
"Don't!" Marissa exclaimed.
Ryan didn't hear anything but the hurtful comments and his heart just wanted to cry out. He knew he was going to have to answer to his mom once they got back home; but he liked the feeling of having someone on his side.
"What?" Dawn asked.
"Don't!" Marissa repeated once again as she went over to Ryan and put an arm around his shoulders and one around his waist; and Kirsten saw his fists unclench and hang loosely at his side. She led him to the couch and muttered something to which he nodded and they spoke unclearly to the other.
The three adults looked at the exhange between the two teenagers. Marissa continued to rub his back soothingly and rested her head on his shoulder; still murmuring things to him. It was like she was some sort of medicine to him; making him calm again. Ryan finally sat down; Marissa still on arm. With one last glare at Dawn; Sandy sat down as well as the two women followed suit. They all looked at each other.
A/N-Okay, so that chapter wasn't exactly intense, but had to get the Dawn thing in there. Next chapter should be good because Ryan will make a decision; which will surprise you; and it might not be what you think; and it won't be following the show either. Or if I did, this would end in a few happy chapters; so this way we get some angst as well. Hope you liked it, and I should be updating soon! Possibly by Monday night, maybe even earlier, we'll see, I got 2 other stories I wanto to get finished.