Disclaimer: still own nothing.

BrSoccerChic, thankyou so much for your review it really helped. (That bit about 10 A+ chapters, wow thanks!) I don't think that it would be viable for me to get them together straight away, cos of what's just happened to Marissa, I think it would be a while before she trusts anyone in that way again, even if it is Ryan. Also, Ryan wouldn't pressure her, I think he'd kinda leave the ball in her court. I wrote literally ten 'chapter 11's before this one and they all had an awkwardness between the two of them that I don't think would be there, obviously there would be a little bit, but, well, who knows. I really hope you like this.

EVCGLSB, Thanks, I'm so glad you liked last chapter, I was really proud of it, so it really means a lot that you gave it such a good review.

Valkrys, thanks so much for all your reviews, they gave me a much needed confidence boost. You inspired the Seth/Ryan time in this chapter, even if it's only short!

Ryan91, wow, this is one of your favourites? Thats really cool, thanks!

Carebear Stare, no thats a cool idea, but I think (well I hope!) that I cracked it, last night, trying to get to sleep!

smartiepantz, i like to keep the shock factor high! lol, don't worry, they've got to figure out some other stuff first before it all happens, but I don't want it to drag on, so please tell me when you've had enough of me!

On with the drama:

Chapter 11

"Seth?" Ryan whispered as he walked into his room very early the next morning. "Are you awake?"

"No." Seth mumbled sinking further underneath his duvet.

"I need to talk to you, it's an emergency."

"What time is it?

"Three thirty." Seth groaned.

"Ok, I'm up. Shoot." Seth sat up sleepilyand switched his lamp on. Ryan sat down on the end of his bed and explained his predicament.

"You said what?" Seth said stunned. "Dude, you've really screwed up. That's something I would do."

"Yeah, not really helping." Ryan said anxiously. "What should I do?"

"Go and tell her it was a mistake, you didn't mean it." Ryan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, unable to look Seth in the eyes. "Ah, so you did mean it." Seth said happily. "That's great. In that case you should go back downstairs - is Marissa still on the couch? -" Ryan nodded. "Go back downstairs and tell it's all true, you love her." Ryan looked unsure.

"What if she hates me?"

"Trust me, she doesn't hate you. I've seen the way she looks at you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Now go, spread the love. I'm going back to sleep. Tell me how it goes." Seth switched off the light leaving the room in darkness and Ryan slowly made his way back downstairs to a still sleeping Marissa.

Ryan didn't sleep much, even after his talk with Seth, his mind was still racing. He couldn't believe she had heard it, she was going to hate him in the when she woke up, he was sure of it. They'd such a good relationship and now he'd ruined it. He woke up first in the morning, after only 2 hours sleep. At first he couldn't remember where he was, then it hit him. He remembered how he'd got there and more importantly what he'd said. 'I've really screwed it up this time' he thought to himself. He had truly believed she was asleep, otherwise he would never had said all of that stuff. He hadn't even planned to say it, it had just come out, although he had meant it. Every word. But, this was the last thing she needed right now. He looked down at her asleep in his arms, one of her hands had grabbed a handful of his wifebeater in the night, so he couldn't really go anywhere. He lay there for a few minutes stroking her hair and thinking how this was going to be the last time he got to do this, ever. He started to practise his apology speech. Somehow, he didn't think that "Sorry I said I'm still in love with you, but it's all true," would go down to well. She stirred in her sleep then sat up blinking.

"Hey," she whispered.

"Hey" He whispered back.

"What time is it?"

"A little before six." Marissa groaned. "Go back to sleep. It's ok."

"Do you wanna get up?" She asked sleepily, he shook his head. "Ok." Marissa lay back down and was soon asleep again. Ryan continued to think up excuses for what he had said last night. He couldn't think of any. It was unexcusable. He was so busted, she was going to hate him when she woke up properly and remembered. She stayed asleep for another hour before waking up again.

"You ok?" he asked warily.

"Yeah, much better thanks." She smiled. She looked better than she had in days.

"Listen, about last night..." He started.

"Ssshh," she put a finger to his lips. "I need coffee, then we'll talk." She got up and went into the kitchen to pour them some. Ryan was confused, she didn't seem that angry. Yet. "You wanna go in the poolhouse?" She asked when she came back "Less interuptions." Ryan nodded and followed her slowly. They went into the poolhouse and sat on the bed for a few minutes silently drinking their coffee, waking up slowly.

"I'm so sorry." Ryan said after a while. "I didn't mean it. Well, I meant it but I didn't mean to say it."

"It's ok."

"No, it's not though." Ryan said "This is the last thing you need at the moment, and I promise, I thought you were asleep, I would never have said it otherwise. And I don't want you to think that everytime I comforted you or anything like that I only wanted to get you into bed because I swear that's not it."

"I know," Marissa said quietly.

"I'm so sorry." Ryan said again "Feel free to hate me."

"What?" Marissa was shocked.

"I deserve it. You trusted me and I screwed up."

"Did you mean it?" She asked after a short pause.

"You really wanna know? Honestly?" She nodded

"Yes, I did. But I'm really sorry."

"Why?"

"Cos, as I said, this is the last thing you need after everything that's happened, and I'm really sorry."

"If you apologise one more time I'm gonna kill you." she said smiling

"I'm-" He started automatically.

"Don't" She warned. "Listen, I know you thought I was asleep but it's good that you said it."

"How d'you work that out?" Ryan said raising one eyebrow.

"Ok," Marissa turned to face him "imagine you're in my shoes, those really nice Manolo's, you know the blue ones with the... anyway," She said winking at him "you've just been attacked by your boyfriend, you're a mess-"

"Then your ex-boyfriend turned friend tells you he loves you, yeah great." Ryaninterrupted sarcastically.

"Shut up, we're in my shoes not your horrible old boots."

"Yeah, so you're a mess, then your ex, who you really never wanted to break up with in the first place, he dumped you, tells you that he loves you. Not a bad thing." She said. Ryan stared at her, his eyes wide.

"You're not mad?" She shook her head. "Are you sure?" She nodded smiling. "I thought you'd wanna kill me." He said relieved.

"I know, you looked kinda terrified." She said "Besides, it was cute." Ryan winced at the memory.

"I know, I'm sorry." Marissa suddenly grabbed a pillow pushed him down onto his back and put it over his face.

"What did I say?" She asked mock sternly.

"That I had to stop saying sorry." Ryan said into the pillow.

"And will you?"

"I'll try, now move the pillow, I'm gonna suffocate."

"Shame." Marissa said pressing the pillow down harder.

"Marissa, I'm gonna die. You wouldn't want that on your conscience would you? "

"Well, the world would be a better place without you and your undying love declarations." She said moving the pillow, then she saw his face, he looked really hurt. This wasn't the time to joke. She threw the pillow over her shoulder and sat down next to him. "I'm totally kidding. Honestly. It's cool. Now," she said standing up "I have to go and dressed, we'll be late for school."

"You sure you wanna go? To school I mean."

"Yeah, I'll be fine," she said airily. "Besides, I have to tell Summer about this, she'll be so pleased."

"No, you can't tell her." Ryan said quickly.

"Why not?"

"Because..."

"Ok, I'll try not to." Marissa said, who was she kidding, of course she was gonna tell Summer. This was awesome! Ryan raised his eyebrows. "I can make no promises." She looked down at Ryan who was still sitting on the bed, he looked so small, so confused. "Come here." She sat down next to him and wrapped her arms around him. He didn't respond, this didn't phase her, she was going to sit there until he hugged her back. He knew her game.

"You're not going to give up are you?"

"Nope!" Slowly he brought his arms around her waist and buried his head in her shoulder sighing. "That better?" She asked when they had been sitting there for what felt like hours. He nodded, half smiling. "I promise," she whispered "we'll be ok."

"Ok," he whispered back.

"We have to get dressed," Marissa said, still in a whisper.

"Why are we whispering?" He asked, she laughed.

"I dunno!" She giggled, her voice at normal volume. "Now, I have to go. Be back soon." He nodded and she left the poolhouse. Ryan flopped back down onto the bed, his mind racing. What the hell had just happened? And more importantly, why had she found it so funny?

Ok, folks so there you go, chapter 11. I'm really worried about you'll review this one 'cos it has taken me literally days and days of sitting in front of the computer to figure this one out. As I said at the top this is my tenth attempt (literally!) at chapter 11 and I really hope it didn't disappoint. Please review, thanks! Claire xx (p.s. more Summer/Marissa next chapter, along with the return of Scott, the demon water polo player!)