Disclaimer still stands.

A/N: Alright, so just as a heads up, I'm really close to finishing this fic. Maybe a chapter or two more, I'm not sure, but I promise that I'll finish it properly and not just leave it because I have become attached to this story, and it is a pretty good one, not the best, but not that bad. So here we go with Chapter 26, one of the final chapters.

Ryan was walking down the pier, hands in his pockets and staring straight ahead of him. He had become oblivious that Seth was skateboarding next to him and his mind was on the person he had hurt. As he kept walking he was reminded of all the times he was with Marissa at the pier, of all the times she had smiled and of all the times they had spent intimately. He knew she was hurt, and it was his own fault. Attractions for another had got in the way. Sure, at first he didn't see any problems with being partners with Lindsay, but then when he saw that Lindsay was willing to fight for him, well he should have taken that as a sign to back off the friendship with her, but he was stupid and eventually he was the one coming to her instead of the other way around. Leaving Marissa unconscious on his bed was wrong, and he knew it, yet he had left anyway and made reasons of excuse to make himself feel better of his actions. And as he was thinking about it, he didn't blame Marissa for being furious with him, and he knew what he had to do. he started walking the opposite direction and it caught Seth off guard.

"Dude, where ya going?"

"I need to take care of something."

"Alright, I'll just go find Summer."

"Ok, I'll meet up with you later." Ryan walked at a faster pace and soon made his way to Lindsay's house. He hurriedly knocked on the door and waited for a reply. The door creaked open and Lindsay appeared behind it with a smile on her face.

"Ryan, what are you doing here."

"Lindsay, listen. I have something to say and I have to say it fast."

"Ok…" Lindsay seemed a bit startled and she closed the door behind her.

"I…I mean we, we can't be partners anymore."

"Is something wrong?" she was confused.

"Yea, yea it is. Just this whole thing, its causing problems and I think its best if we put some space between us."

"Oh, umm alright then, I guess I'll just see you around then…or not." she quickly stepped back into her house and closed the door. Ryan breathed a sign of relief and walked to the sidewalk thinking of what to do next. He decided to go talk to Marissa and straighten everything out. He quickened his pace again and found his way to the Cooper/Nichol Mansion. He knocked on the door and Julie Cooper answered.

"Ryan, surprise to see you here," smirked Julie.

"Is Marissa around?"

"No, she's not. She's never here."

"Right, ok, thanks."

"Ryan honey, try Summer's." Ryan nodded, and kind of winced at the word "honey." He quickly made his way to the Robert's house, almost feeling as though he was in a maze and Marissa was the prize at the end. He knocked on the door and Summer's step-mom let him in. he climbed up the stairs and stopped in front of Summer's door. Summer opened the door.

"What the hell do you want Chino?"

"I just want to talk to her."

"Yea, well I don't think Coop wants to talk to you right now."

"I know, she probably doesn't, but I need to talk to her."

"Fine, just don't hurt her again." Ryan nodded and closed the door behind him. Marissa's back was to him and she was staring out the window.

"What do you want Ryan?"

"I, I need to talk to you." he was out of breath and was barely able to get the words out. She turned and faced him.

"No, I mean what do you want, me or Lindsay?"

"You."

"Well then you really have a funny way of showing it." he walked closer to her and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Look, I'm sorry, I really am, and I took care of it."

"How?"

"I told Lindsay that we couldn't be friends anymore."

"Why'd you do that?"

"For, for us."

"You think your so weak that you have to put space between you just so you'll be with me? I would think that you would just on your own."

"Marissa…"

"Ryan, you messed up."

"I know."

"And?"

"And I'm sorry ok, I'm sorry. All that I know is that I've been a big huge dumbass and I need you back."

"And I should take you back because?"

"Because I love you, and I think you love me too."

"I do, but if your going to be thinking of Lindsay while with me, well it can't work that way."

"I know, but I won't." he once again and kissed her. "I promise." She smiled at him again.

"You better not, or your never getting this again." she kissed him and when Summer peered in, she found her friends kissing and decided to leave them alone and go find her own guy.

The next few weeks….

For the next few weeks Lindsay and Ryan didn't speak. Lindsay had already taken care of the partner situation once Ryan had walked into physics that day so he had nothing to worry about. It wasn't until a couple of weeks after he had talked to her that she confronted him to the lounge.

"Uh, Ryan, I need to talk to you, is after school ok?"

"Yea, yea its fine, I'll meet you then."

Throughout the day Ryan was pondering what Lindsay needed to talk to him about. They hadn't talked for about 3 weeks and all of the sudden she had come up to him. He had told Marissa about it and she advised him to go.

"It seems that this is important to her and who knows? Maybe she's come to her senses."

"You're right, I'll meet you after to tell you about it ok?" he kissed her and with that he made his way to Lindsay's house. he hadn't been there since he "put space between them" and it reminded him of the hurt face she left him with that day. As he knocked on the door he was nervous. His thoughts were that she was going to yell at him in furry and express all the anger that had built up over the past few weeks but as she appeared on the other side of the door, her face expressed no anger, just sadness.

"Ryan, hi. Thanks for coming today, come in." Ryan walked into the house and sat down on the couch.

"So, what's this about?"

"Ryan, I know we haven't talked awhile but this is important."

"Alright."

"Since I've come to Newport you've been great to me, even when I haven't deserved it. You took me to that fashion show and then Christmukkah and New Years…and then the concert. You've just been great to me and I thank you so much."

"Well, your welcome. Is this what this is really about?"

"No, I had no right to try to ruin your relationship and I deserved what you said to me a few weeks ago, but you won't have to worry about me anymore."

"I won't?"

"No, because I'm moving."

Alright, chapter 26. Did you guys like it? Like I said, almost over, but not quite. Chapter 27 is coming soon but I need reviews on this one first to keep going. I want your guy's input on it. Ok, so please, go review, it'll be much appreciated.