A/N: Hey Everyone. Fanfiction isn't working at the moment that I'm writing this but hopefully it'll be up soon. And it is if you're reading this so yay! Umm, Christmuka episode coming up! Yay. I still hate that Lindsay chick. She in some way reminds me of Oliver, and I hate Oliver. He's just psycho, and not in the good way either. But enough about my opinions, what I want to know is how you all are liking this story; good, bad, horrid? I know it's not horrid, well I hope it isn't anyway… umm yea so… here we go with the story. Oh yea, someone reviewed and asked me about spoilers in the story? If you're meaning will I put any up for my fanfic, probably not. and if that's not what your asking, I don't understand what your asking. But I hope I cleared what ya needed up for ya.

The weeks following the fashion show, things went back to normal, or as normal as things get in the OC. Lindsay and Ryan were still physics partners, Ryan and Marissa weren't really talking, and Seth was getting everyone in the Chrismuka spirit. The only thing that had changed was the Summer and Seth were back together and Seth didn't waste his time, and everyone else's, groveling over Summer.

"Dude, wanna come down to the pier with me and Summer?"

"Seth, I've got calculus homework. I can't."

"Come on, just for a couple of hours? That homework isn't going anywhere. Please." Seth put on a helpless puppy face. Ryan looked at him strangely.

"Ok fine, just never do that face in front of me again."

"Deal." Ryan and Seth met up with Summer at the pier. Turns out she dragged Marissa there too. Seth and Summer were both hoping that Ryan and Marissa would realize that they needed to be together so the four of them could have fun together again. When Seth realized that Marissa was there too, he gave Ryan a look to say 'I swear I didn't know she would be here.' But Ryan replied with a 'yea right.' They met up at the ice cream stand. "Hey Summer, Marissa."

"Hey Cohen, Chino."

"Hey Marissa, Summer."

"Hey Ryan, Seth." This was getting majorly awkward.

"Cohen, come get some coffee with me."

"But I don't want any—" Summer dragged him away, leaving Ryan and Marissa to talk.

"They're getting so obvious with that." Ryan began.

"Yea I know, they should just have a sign that says 'We're leaving you alone now.'" Ryan laughed. It felt good to laugh with her. 'She looks so great, he thought. Maybe we can try being friends again.' "So how are you?"

"I'm pretty good."

"Look, I never got to thank you for standing up for me like that a few weeks ago. You didn't have to punch him ya know," she moved closer and kissed him on the cheek, "but I'm glad that you did."

"Well he deserved it. He had no right to call you that."

"I know. Thanks." She backed away.

"Look, I've missed you a lot Marissa."

"I've missed you too." She moved in closer to kiss him again but he started talking.

"Right now though, I think we should start off being friends. Who knows? We might have more fun as friends. You've got to admit, we've never tried." She backed away, stopping herself and feeling embarrassed. He didn't want to be with her, he just said it. She felt like crying.

"Yea, you're right. Friends… I guess." Even though she said it, he didn't believe her, and she didn't believe herself. They both knew that they couldn't just be friends. Ryan knew that it hurt her when he suggested it, and it hurt part of him too, but the other part knew that they needed space right now. They needed to be with other people, and then maybe, just maybe they would realize how much they missed each other and they would be back together.

"I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt you. But at least this way, we can build up new friendship and trust and then maybe we can try the dating thing again." He moved in to hug her but instead she kissed him. When the finally pulled away she said,

"Sorry, I had to do that just one last time."

"Its ok, I think both of us needed that." He smiled. He smiled because he knew what a jackass he was for letting her go, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her that he wanted her now.

When Summer and Seth finally came back from hiding by the coffee stand, they didn't have any coffee. Instead their hair sort of looked messy and their faces were flushed. "Have fun you two?" Summer glared.

"Shut up Chino," was her answer, then she took Seth's hand. Ryan took Marissa's too. He didn't know why he did it. He just felt like holding it because at that moment, everything felt peaceful. She didn't pull away.

At school, everyone was in buzz about the Christmas holidays coming up. Seth was listing up the presents he wanted, although he claimed to Summer that she was the best of all. Ryan and Marissa talked more, still as "friends" though, even though Summer and Seth had a feeling that by Chrismuka they would be back together for good. Lindsay and Ryan still talked. This irritated Marissa and she talked to Summer about it.

"Sum, I hate this Lindsay girl. It's like whenever I want to talk to Ryan, there she is, talking to him first. She knows that I want to be with him, and what sucks is that she wants to be with him too."

"Well Coop, Chino is a pretty great guy."

"I know. I can't blame her for wanting him too."

"Ya know what Coop? She needs a new love interest. Maybe I can set her up with Zack. Or you can set her up with DJ."

"No way," Marissa answered defensively.

"You sound a little protective there."

"I'm not…"

"Coop…"

"Ok fine. I don't want her to date any guy I've been with. Even if it hasn't been for long time."

"Coop, are you still played tug-a-war with those two?"

"I don't know…"

"Coop you can't want Ryan if your heart hasn't chosen him yet. If you still have feelings for DJ it's not fair to string Ryan on."

"I know. But it's like everywhere I turn there DJ is. He won't leave me alone."

"Well then tell your mom to fire him."

"I can't do that. It would be selfish."

"So you do want him around."

"No I don't."

"So fire him."

"He shouldn't pay with his job for me to be happy."

"Coop, stop making excuses and really decide. When you have, give me a call." Summer hung up. Marissa couldn't believe that Summer was being so bitchy all of a sudden. But in reality, she knew Summer was right. It wasn't fair to Ryan or DJ that she couldn't choose. And she wasn't being fair to herself either, she was being selfish.

"Mom," she called. Julie came to her door immediately.

"What is it honey?"

"I want you to fire DJ."

"Why? He's doing a great job with the flowers and lawn."

"Mom, he keeps staring at me. It's uncomfortable and I don't think the yard guy should do that, do you?" Julie couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"He's been staring at you?"

"Yea and I'm afraid he'll come into my room one day and hurt me."

"Your right honey, I'll call them right away and tell them to bring a new guy from the company, an older guy."

"Thanks mom." Her mom left to call the company. Marissa felt a lot better. He wouldn't be there to bug her any longer, and now she could focus her full attention on Ryan. She started by calling him up to hang out. Just as friends of course.

"Ryan?"

"Marissa? That you?"

"Yea, hey, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out today."

"Umm, I can't right now, I'm meeting Lindsay to work on our physics project. But maybe I can after then if you want."

"Can I come join you?"

"At my physics meeting?"

"Yea, it sounds like fun. And I promise I won't cause any trouble."

"If you really want to, sure." Ryan didn't get why she would want to spend the day talking about physics when she could be shopping but he didn't want to be rude. "Meet us at school in fifteen minutes."

"Ok, see ya then." She hung up. Now she could pull Ryan and that wannabe apart. She couldn't let them be alone. Not now, not when she knew that she and Ryan were supposed to be together. She called Summer and told her about the plan. "Sum, sorry about earlier, but I've already got a plan to break Ryan and that wannabe apart."

"Coop, that's great. What are you gonna do?"

"I'm meeting Ryan at their little study date. And I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that she can't get a word in edgewise."

"Awesome. Well I've gotta go meet Cohen. Ya know it's a lot more fun when someone breaks up and gets back together, it brings the excitement back."

"I know. Hopefully that will happen too." There was a knock on Summer's door.

"Well Cohen is here. Have fun with Chino."

"See ya Sum." They hung up and Marissa headed to school.

That's chapter 6. I know, not that much detail, but at least Marissa if finally fighting for her man. Hehehe. I'm excited for the new episode next week, but what if Lindsay really goes out with Seth? Ahh that would be so crazy!!! Well I hope ya guys enjoyed it. If any suggestions, please, please give. And please review and be kind. Till next chapter.