Friday morning had come too soon, and Ryan found himself sitting in his second class of the day, staring up at the clock. Sandy had stayed home with Samantha, but he also stayed home everyday, so having to watch the baby was just an added perk. Ryan let out a sigh as the minute hand on the clock finally moved, indicating that he had half an hour left of class. He turned his attention towards the teacher and tried to focus on class. About five minutes later, a short and skinny girl walked through the door of the classroom, and interrupted the teacher's lecture. The girl approached the teacher with a clipboard, and a small yellow piece of paper in her hand, which she passed off to the teacher, before turning on her heels and walking back out the door. The teacher looked down at the yellow slip of paper.

Teacher: Ryan Atwood…

The teacher raised his head, picking Ryan out of the mass of students in the room.

Teacher: …you have a meeting with your councilor.

The teacher glanced down at the yellow slip briefly, and then looked at Ryan once again.

Teacher: Take your things.

Ryan slowly gathering his things putting them in his bag, and stood up, walking towards the front of the classroom. The teacher handed Ryan the yellow slip, and immediately went back to his lecture. Ryan turned and started walking out of the room, eyeing the slip of paper in his hand the whole time.

Ryan walked down the hallway, getting closer and closer to the administrative offices. Eventually he made it to the door, turning the knob, and walking inside. A blonde woman seated at a desk looked up at Ryan the second he walked in the door.

Ryan: Uh…I have a meeting with Ms. Fisher.

The woman nodded and motioned to a small hallway to Ryan's right. Ryan immediately turned and walked down the hall, stopping in front of a door, and knocking twice.

Ms. Fisher: (From inside her office) Come in.

Ryan opened the door and stepped through, closing it behind him. Ms. Fisher immediately stood up and walked around the side of her desk, greeting Ryan.

Ms. Fisher: Hello Ryan.

Ryan: Hi.

Ms. Fisher: Sorry about our impromptu meeting, but I wanted to talk to you.

Ryan: Okay.

Ryan remained standing by the door, while she walked back around her desk, and sat down.

Ms. Fisher: Have a seat.

Ryan pulled his bag off of his shoulder, and dropped it next to the chair as he sat down.

Ms. Fisher: How are all those AP classes going that I put you in at the beginning of the year?

Ryan: They're okay.

Ms. Fisher: So it's not too much work?

Ryan: No…it's fine.

Ms. Fisher nodded her head and looked at Ryan.

Ryan: Did I…do something wrong?

Ms. Fisher: No, not at all.

Ryan: Oh…

Ms. Fisher: I wanted to let you know that I spoke with Kirsten yesterday…

Ryan immediately locked eyes with Ms. Fisher.

Ms. Fisher: …she called me to let me know you weren't coming to school, and then told me about what happened.

Ryan: Okay.

Ms. Fisher: Things must be very hectic in your life right now, and the last thing you need is another person telling you the same thing over and over again…

Ryan's eyes darted away from her and towards the window.

Ms. Fisher: …which is exactly why that is not what I'm going to do.

Ryan's eyes moved back to Ms. Fisher, slightly taken aback by her statement.

Ms. Fisher: Ryan, you're one of the brightest students we have at Harbor. And, unlike most of the trust-fund babies that go to this school, you have street smarts as well. Which leads me to believe that you'll be able to handle this. But, if you are ever feeling overwhelmed, or that anything's wrong, I want you to let me know. You now have responsibilities, which extend outside of high school, and you have to take care of those.

Ryan nodded his head as he soaked up everything she was telling him.

Ms. Fisher: But that's not why I wanted to talk to you…

Ryan got a confused look on his face once again.

Ms. Fisher: …I wanted to talk to you about college.

Ryan: What about it?

Ms. Fisher: Well, you still have options…

Ryan: (Interrupting) What options? You know, I never thought I would go to college until I moved here, and then all of a sudden it was expected of me, and I got used to that. But now…with…everything that's happened…it just doesn't seem like it's feasible anymore.

Ms. Fisher: That's where I think you're wrong.

Ryan: (Raising his voice slightly) How am I supposed to go to college, support me, and support my daughter?

Ms. Fisher: I'm not saying it's going to be easy…all I'm saying is that I think you can do it.

Ryan: I don't know.

Ms. Fisher: Ryan, you have two of the most kind and supportive people I've ever met, supporting you.

Ryan: I already told you that I can't let Sandy and Kirsten pay for college.

Ms. Fisher: I'm not talking about support by monetary means.

Ryan locked eyes with Ms. Fisher once again, and completely understood what she meant. They sat there for a few seconds in silence.

Ryan: You're right…about Sandy and Kirsten, you're right.

Ms. Fisher smiled as she looked across the table at Ryan.

Ms. Fisher: Why don't you take the rest of the day off? Spend some time with your daughter, and take today and the weekend to think about some things, maybe discuss them with Sandy and Kirsten. When you come back on Monday, we'll talk…okay?

Ryan: Yeah…

Ms. Fisher: Are you okay?

Ryan: Yeah, I'm fine.

Ryan stood up, picking his bag up off the floor and throwing it over his shoulder.

Ryan: Thank you.

Ms. Fisher: Anytime.

Ryan walked out of the main offices and into the hallway, which was bustling with people. It was between classes and kids were making their way down the halls and in and out of classrooms. Ryan scanned the hallway and found Seth and Marissa talking outside Seth's locker. Ryan immediately made his way towards them.

Ryan: Hey guys.

Seth: Hey man.

Marissa: Hey.

Marissa took a step towards Ryan, leaning in and placing a kiss on his cheek.

Ryan: I just had a meeting with my councilor, I'm going to go home.

Seth: What?

Marissa: Is everything okay?

Ryan: Yeah, everything's fine…it's kinda a long story. I'll tell you guys later, but she gave me the rest of the day off, so can I have the keys to the Rover?

Seth: Yeah…

Seth pulled the keys out of his pocket handing them over to Ryan.

Seth: …you're sure everything's fine?

Ryan: Yeah man.

Seth: Okay…

Seth was suddenly distracted by Summer walking down the hallway.

Seth: …gotta go guys, I'll see you later.

Ryan and Marissa turned, walking the opposite way down the hallway. Marissa reached down holding onto Ryan's hand.

Ryan: Don't you have a class?

Marissa: Yeah, but I'm dawdling.

Ryan: (Smiling) Okay.

Marissa walked Ryan out to the parking lot and up to the driver's door of the Range Rover.

Ryan: Come over at lunch?

Marissa smiled and nodded as Ryan pulled her close to him, and leaned in for a kiss. Their kiss was interrupted almost immediately as the school bell sounded around them.

Ryan: You're late.

Marissa: That's not surprising.

Ryan: I'll see you later.

Marissa: Yeah.

Marissa smiled at Ryan before turning and heading back into school, while Ryan opened the car door and slipped inside. He put the car into gear, backing out of his parking space, and starting to drive home.