Disclaimer: still own nothing

Wow, I'm am so relieved that you all liked the last chapter! Thankyou all for reviewing. Hope you'll do the same for this one!

BrSoccerChic, I'm glad it didn't disappoint as well! lol, don't worry, it will all sort itself out, eventually! (well you know what Ryan and Marissa are like!)

xGoingUnderx, I'm really glad you liked chapter 10, it was the most fun to write! Read on, to find out what the demon has been up to!

cuttiepie732, hey, wow, thats quite a compliment, thankyou!

EVCLGSB, yeah, she was pleased about it, (sorry if I didn't make that clear enough). I didn't want her to say that to Ryan though, cos I wanted him to freak out!

valkrys, I know, it's so frustrating having the ideas in your head, then when you write them down they don't come out right (grr!) This Marissa/Summer talk was really fun to write, enjoy!

smartiepantz, Thanks, that review wasreally sweet xxx

On with the drama!

Chapter 12

"Summer, " Marissa called as she ran after her best friend later that morning. "you wil never guess what happened last night?" she said beaming.

"Woah! Calm down there Coop."

"I can't it's just so exciting. Come on guess." Marissa said impatiently.

"I give up." Summer said sitting down on the nearest bench.

"You haven't even guessed." Marissa said sitting down next to her.

"I know, come on, you're killing me here."

"Last night..." she said slowly. Summer nodded encouragingly. "Ryan told me that he loved me and that he regretted breaking up with me." She blurted out.

"What?"Summer shrieked her eyes wide. "That's...wow... that's awesome."

"I know" Marissa said excitedly.

"Wait a second" Summer said suspiciously "Ryan said all that? Was he feeling ok?"

"Well he thought I was asleep."

"Huh?" Summer was totally confused. Marissa explained. "Coop, that is so cute." Summer breathed when she had finished. "I can't believe he said all that."

"I know, it's so cool."

"So? Where is he?" Summer demanded looking around.

"Ah, well he got a bit worried that I was going to like hate him or something. He kinda freaked out."

"Did you talk to him?"

"I tried, I dunno how well it went though."

"Why?"

"I dunno, I was just-" They were suddenly interrupted by the arrival of someone Marissa definitely didn't want to see, Scott.

"What the hell do you want?" Summer snapped, she had almost forgotten about him.

"To talk to my girlfriend." He shot back.

"Oh no, no chance. Come on Coop." Summer stood up and grabbed Marissa's hand.

"Please babe, I just need to talk to you. Alone." He stared pointedly at Summer, who shook her head furiously. "Please, I've been trying to all week but I need you alone, without Ryan."

"Well that's too bad then isn't it." Ryan said from behind Scott.

"Oh just get lost will you?" Scott said turning round to face Ryan. "She chose me, not you, get over it."

"Yeah, and you chose to try and rape her." Ryan said quietly

"We've been over this, I didn't try and rape her."

"Oh, ok, so what do you call forcing someone to have sex against their will in Newport? Because where I come from, they call that rape."

"Yeah, well you're from Chino." Scott laughed.

"So?" Ryan wasn't going to lose it. Yet.

"So, what do you know about Newport. Anyway, it's her fault. If she'd just agreed to in the first place then I wouldn't have had to. She brought it on herself. She led me on." Marissa gasped, that was insane. He was such a liar. Ryan saw her face and totally lost it, hitting Scott with all the energy he could muster. "That's right, talk with you fists," Scott goaded.

"You seem to enjoy it." Ryan growled. All hell broke loose as Scott retaliated, until half of the water polo team waded in to break it up. Ryan stalked off, furious with himself that he'd punched him when he'd promised he wouldn't. Marissa ran after him.

"Are you ok?" She asked concernedly, he had a bloody lip and the beginnings of two black eyes.

"I'll be fine, what about you?"

"I know it sounds kinda stupid but I had sort of forgotten about him, it's a bit of a shock." She said, her bottom lip trembling. "He's such a liar. I didn't...I mean..I told him not to...but he..."

"I know you did." Ryan gently pulled Marissa toward him, she squeezed him tightly, determined not to cry.

"Do you think he got the message?" She asked tearfully into his shoulder. "That I am categorically not his girlfriend."

"I think so." Ryan said softly.

"Good," Marissa said firmly, standing back and studying Ryan's war wounds. "Are you ok, seriously?"

"I think I should be asking you that."

"Why? He didn't hit me."

"I know, but I think I came off lightly compared to what he did to you." Marissa nodded slowly in agreement.

"I know. But, hey. At least my bruises are covered up." She said gesturing to the tops of her arms. "Sandy and Kirsten are gonna kill you."

"They'll understand," Ryan said playing with her hair.

"You think?" Marissa was doubtful

"Well, no. But I'll survive. Listen," He said turning serious "Are we ok? I mean about last night, this morning."

"Ryan, I-" She paused, should she tell him how she felt? He looked at her expectantly "it's fine I promise." Marissa said giving him another hug. "We're fine."

"You sure?"

"Promise, now you should go to class. you don't to get want detention."

"I think I've already got one of those." Ryan said smiling and pointing to his face.

"Well, you don't want another one. Go! I'll see you later."

"So?" Summer demanded later that day. "Did you tell him?"

"Tell who, what?" Marissa asked trying to figure out whether to buy the top she was trying on or not. Summer had insisted on taking her for some retail therapy after school.

"Ryan, that you love him." Summer said loudly, too loudly for Marissa's liking.

"Sssshh!" She said. "Someone might hear."

"Like who? That mannequin over there?" Summer said sarcastically. "It's ok, I think she can keep a secret."

"No, I didn't tell him." Marissa said ignoring Summer and taking off the top, too clingy.

"Why not?"

"I dunno, I tried to but I couldn't go through with it. It didn't feel right."

"Why?"

"Summer," Marissa said exasperatedly throwing back the changing room curtain, "If I knew that it wouldn't have been 'not right' would it?"

"Good point." Summer agreed passing her another top.

"Lets try and figure this thing out."

"Ok, I'm all ears."

"The thing is, Coop," Summer said through the curtain, "You and Ryan equal the perfect couple, yeah?" Marissa raised her eyebrows and looked at her reflection in the mirror, perfect couple? She didn't think so.

"Yeah, we're like perfect." She said sarcastically.

"No, I mean you work really well as friends, yeah?" Marissa nodded. "And you're worried that if you start going out again then you're going to screw it up again, like you did with Oliver."

"Thanks for reminding me." Marissa said sulkily pulling back the curtain, "But you're right, that's it. I don't wana screw it up."

"Exactly" Summer said proudly. "Sssooo, all you have to do is tell Ryan this and what do ya know, you're back together." Marissa looked unsure. "I'm telling you Coop, that's the way to go." Marissa nodded warily

"Ok, I'll give it a go."

"Hey, how was the mall?" Ryan asked as Marissa entered the poolhouse.

"It was ok." Marissa said kicking off her shoes and flopping down on the bed and lying down. "You're face looks better." She commented.

"Yeah well, shame it doesn't feel better, Scott punches hard."

"I know." she raised an eyebrow and rolled up her sleeve.

"Sorry."

"It's ok."

"Anyway, the mall. Just ok?" Ryan sat down next to her.

"Yeah, Summer kept going on and on and on about me and you."

"So you told her?" Ryan asked blushing. Marissa nodded.

"She thought it was cute."

"Great." Ryan said sarcastically

"Yeah, so anyway, she kept going on and on about how I should just tell you-"

"Tell me what?"

"I'm getting there." She took a deep breath and proped herself up on her elbows. "Ok, basically, you don't know this. But there was time when I was going out with Scott that I was going to break it off cos I realised how much I still liked you." Ryan didn't say anything but this was news to him. "Yeah, but I didn't I dunno why now, I should've."

"You didn't know how it was going to turn out." Ryan reminded her quietly.

"True, but then, where was I. Oh yeah, so I nearly broke up with him, and then I didn't but I still wanted to cos I realised I still loved you. But you were so cool about Scott, which made me think that you were over me."

"I thought I was."

"And now I have broken up with Scott, and I do still love you, and it's really cool that you told me how you feel." She finished flopping back down on the bed and sighing Ryan suddenly laughed..

"What? Stop laughing, it's not funny."

"Yes it is. We're so stupid." He said lying down next to her. They lay in silence for a few seconds.

"The thing is..." Marissa sat up. "I can't be with you right now. I mean I want to be, I do but..."

"I know," Ryan said quickly sitting up and turning to face her. "I understand, totally."

"You sure?" He nodded. "So, when I'm ready- and I honestly don't know when that'll be-"

"Marissa stop. I understand." Ryan said half smiling.

"Good," she kissed him lightly on the lips. "Wait, we can still play playstation and do stupid things when we're going out can't we? Cos I don't want it to be like last time."

"If it is like last time, then I don't want to go out with you again." He said.

"Oi," she grabbed a pillow.

"No, don't." Ryan protested. Too late. "My face, it really hurts,"

"Oh yeah, sorry." She stopped and sat back down stroking his hair. "You look almost cute all bruised."

"I do?"

"I said almost."

"Yeah right, ok. Face it, you find me irresistible."

"Might do."

"That's a yes! You do!" Ryan said triumphantly

"No, it's a maybe." Marissa said indignantly but she couldn't hide the smile that was creeping across her face. "Totally different."

"Ha! Don't believe you."

"Enough!" She said hitting him gently. "We're gonna play playstation and I might just let you beat me this time."

"Really?"

"Maybe, you'll just have to wait and see" She said winking at him.

Woah, that was long! K folks there's only one chapter left in this epic tale. Will post it tomorrow! Hope you enjoyed that. Claire xxx