Ryan and Marissa had just pulled up the long driveway which lead to Jimmy's beach house. Ryan got out of the car first and stared at the house for a few minutes. Marissa walked around the car and stood next to Ryan.
Ryan: Wow.
Marissa: Pretty cool, huh?
Ryan nodded his head in agreement as he continued to look the house, or at least what he could see of the house, over. Eventually Ryan turned, walking to the back of the Jeep and opening the rear door. Ryan was about to pick up one of the boxes when Marissa walked up next to him and stopped him.
Marissa: Leave those there for now.
Ryan gave Marissa a confused look.
Marissa: I haven't exactly asked my dad yet, everything happened so fast.
Ryan: Marissa, you're dad's going let you stay here. He'd never tell you that you couldn't.
Marissa: I know.
Ryan looked at Marissa and the two seemed to have a brief conversation without words before Ryan lifted his arm up and pushed the door closed. Ryan stepped towards Marissa, and she took his hand, leading him up the path towards the front door. Marissa cracked the front door open and stuck her head inside.
Marissa: Hello?!
Hailey was in standing in the kitchen, she heard Marissa's voice and started walking towards the front of the house.
Hailey: (Shouting, so Marissa could here) Come on in!.
Marissa and Ryan stepped into the house and shut the door behind them, just as Hailey emerged into view.
Hailey: Hey Marissa, hey Ryan, what's up?
Marissa: Hey Hailey, actually I need to talk to my dad.
Hailey: Is everything okay?
The three of them began walking through the house, back towards the kitchen.
Marissa: Yeah, well, no…some stuff happened with my mom.
Hailey grimaced knowing all too well that nothing good ever comes from her newly appointed quasi-step-mother. The three stepped into the kitchen; it was huge with floor to ceiling windows with a beautiful view of the beach. To the left was a small eating area, where Hailey sat down picking up her drink and taking a sip.
Hailey: What did she do now?
Marissa began a short story of what had gone on over the past day and half. Marissa figured Hailey was going hear about it sooner or later. As Marissa and Hailey were talking, Ryan started to wander away from them, not interested in listening to a story that he had just lived through 24 hours earlier. Ryan walked to the opposite side of the kitchen where off to right resided Jimmy's game room. The room was large and rectangle shaped, with couches lining an area of the wall, a large screen TV, and pool table with bright blue felt sitting in the middle of the room. Ryan walked around the room, taking notice of the array of pictures that were hung up. There were a lot of Marissa and Caitlyn, even a few family pictures of the Cooper's, pre-Jimmy's dabble in the criminal side of things. Ryan continued walking around the room, seeing newer pictures of Jimmy and Hailey together, he even found one of Jimmy and Kirsten back when they were teenagers. Ryan laughed to himself as he looked at the teenage, 80's version of who was then known as Kirsten Nichol. Ryan's laughter subsided as his eyes shifted to the left and he saw a picture of him and Marissa; that he had never seen before. Ryan moved towards it, standing right in front of the photo, it was of the two of them dancing at Cotillion, they were both staring into each others eyes, with small smiles on their faces. Both of them obviously completely caught up in the other one, and not caring where they were, or who would see them. Ryan stared seamlessly at the picture taking in every aspect of the photo, and getting lost in the memories of that night, which occurred just a year ago.
Jimmy was walking up the beach headed towards the small wooden staircase, which lead from the sand up to his patio deck on the back of his house. Jimmy walked across the patio and opened the sliding glass door, which lead into his game room. When Jimmy stepped into the house he saw Ryan standing next to the wall to the left of him. Jimmy took a few steps towards him, eyeing the photo he was looking at.
Jimmy: I really like that picture.
Ryan turned suddenly, startled by Jimmy.
Ryan: Oh, hey Jimmy.
Jimmy smiled at him and walked towards Ryan looking at the picture. Ryan noticed this and looked at the picture once again.
Ryan: I haven't seen this one before.
Jimmy: Yeah, I just found it not too long ago. I found the roll of film when I moved in here, I got it developed and it was a bunch of shots I took at Cotillion. The roll was in an old box that I guess I never unpacked after I moved out of Julie's.
Ryan: Like father like daughter.
Jimmy: Huh?
Ryan: Oh, nothing.
Jimmy: Anyway, I saw that picture and had to hang it up, I thought it was pretty telling.
Ryan looked back at the picture again and nodded his head.
Ryan: I guess you're right.
Jimmy looked over at Ryan and smiled, the two stood there for a second in silence before the girls came into the room.
Marissa: Hey dad, how are you?
Marissa walked up to Jimmy and gave him a hug.
Jimmy: I'm fantastic kiddo, how are you?
Marissa: Well, that's kind of what I came here to talk to you about.
Jimmy: What's wrong, are you okay?
Marissa: Yeah, I'm okay, but I was just hoping that it would be okay with you if I moved back in.
Jimmy: Honey, you don't even have to ask. Of course you can.
Marissa: Thanks dad.
Ryan and Hailey both smiled as they watched Jimmy and Marissa hug again. Ryan knew Marissa would be happier now that she was back with her dad, and at the same time Hailey knew that part of Jimmy had been missing ever since Marissa had moved out. They each knew that both of their significant others would be much happier with these living arrangements.
Ryan walked towards Marissa who was standing next to Jimmy. Ryan came up behind Marissa and hovered over her shoulder.
Ryan: See, I told you…I could have had all your stuff moved in here by now.
Marissa turned towards Ryan.
Marissa: (Teasingly) All of it?
Ryan smiled and looked at Marissa.
Ryan: Well, maybe not all of it.
Marissa: Well, then I guess you should probably get to work.
Ryan gave her a mock look of insult and then cracked a smile as he turned and started walking out of the kitchen. Ryan made his way towards Marissa's Jeep to start unloading her things while Jimmy, Hailey and Marissa remained in the kitchen.
Jimmy: Why don't you and Ryan stay for dinner? We'll get you settled in, order in some food, what do you say?
Marissa: Sure dad, sounds good…I'm going to go help Ryan unload my stuff.
Jimmy: Okay, I'll come too, he could probably use a hand.
Jimmy and Marissa made their way through the house and towards the front door. As they approached, they found both of Marissa's suitcases standing up next to the door along with a few of Marissa boxes. Ryan came walking up the path with a box in his arms; he stepped into the house and saw Marissa and Jimmy.
Ryan: I don't know which room is yours.
Marissa laughed and took a step towards Ryan.
Marissa: I keep forgetting that you haven't been before.
Ryan smiled, as Marissa extended her hand up pointing to a long hallway, which was to the right of the front door.
Marissa: Last door on the left.
Ryan nodded and made his way down the hall, setting the box in Marissa's room and turning around to go back for another. About an hour and a half later, Ryan had finished unloading all of Marissa's boxes and had brought them to her room. Marissa was pulling her suitcase behind her, walking down the hallway towards her bedroom, while Ryan had gone on break for a little while so Jimmy could give him a tour of the house. Marissa pulled her suitcase into her walk in closet and pushed it down on the floor. She let out a tired sigh as the suitcase made a loud thump as it hit the floor, and turned and walked back into her room, only to find Ryan standing in the doorway.
Ryan: Hey, can I come in?
Marissa made her way towards Ryan and pulled him into the room closing the door behind him.
Ryan: This house is really amazing…
Marissa nodded her head and placed her hand at Ryan's hips making him start to walk backwards towards the bed.
Ryan: …why didn't you take one of the rooms upstairs, they're much big--…
Ryan wasn't able to finish his sentence because he had backed into the bed, and subsequently fallen back onto it. Marissa smiled and moved onto the bed sitting up on Ryan.
Marissa: Because it's a lot easier to sneak out in the middle of the night to go see you.
Ryan started pulling Marissa down towards him.
Ryan: Hmm…I like the way you think.
Marissa smiled and Ryan pulled her into a kiss. The happy couple had a long make out session, before deciding that it was probably best to make themselves presentable and make an appearance with Jimmy and Hailey.