Ryan stood up with a sigh, gathering his things and shoving them in his backpack.
Lindsay: How do you think you did?
Ryan: Not bad.
Lindsay: Good.
Ryan nodded and slung his bag over his shoulder, Lindsay did the same and the two walked towards the door of their physics class.
Lindsay: You have plans for spring break?
Ryan: Not really.
Lindsay: You're not going to Cabo?
Ryan: No. Can't leave Sam…
Ryan looked up in the air and mumbled to himself.
Ryan: (Quietly mumbling) …he's got me saying it now…
Lindsay looked at him curiously and Ryan shook his head, indicating that it was nothing.
Ryan: How about you? Going to Cabo?
Lindsay laughed and looked at Ryan.
Lindsay: Yeah, sure. Can't you just see me running around on the beach in a bikini and holding beer in my hand?
Ryan started to nod his head, but then stopped. He thought about it for a second and shook his head, looking over at Lindsay.
Ryan: No, I can't really see that.
Lindsay: Exactly.
Ryan laughed and they both came to a stop in the hall a few feet away from their physics class. They were both headed in opposite directions.
Lindsay: Well, I'll see you later…
Ryan: Yeah. Have a nice break.
Lindsay nodded and walked down the hall heading to her next class. Ryan turned the opposite way and slowly walked up the hall as well. Suddenly, Marissa walked out of a classroom door and stood almost directly in front of Ryan.
Ryan: Hey…
Ryan moved towards her, wrapping his arms around her and greeting her with a kiss.
Ryan: …you are just the person I wanted to see.
Marissa: Believe me, the feeling's mutual.
Ryan smiled and leaned in for another kiss, which Marissa welcomed.
Ryan: Do you have anything incredibly important that you're doing in your next class?
Marissa: Well that depends on your definition of important…
Ryan: How does your father's yacht sound?
Marissa: Perfect.
Ryan: Let's go.
Marissa giggled and wrapped her arm around Ryan's. They quickly made their way through the hallways. There weren't many kids in school today, there never were on the day before Spring break. A bell rang through the halls and a few straggling teenagers hurried into classrooms. Ryan and Marissa walked outside and towards the parking lot, quickly getting into Marissa's car and speeding out of the parking lot.
Marissa parked her car at the pier and they moved swiftly out of the car and walked down the pier towards Jimmy's yacht. Marissa reached over, grabbing hold of Ryan's hand and leaning in, kissing him on the cheek. They each smiled to each other and starting walking a little faster towards the yacht. The two moved quickly onto the boat, Marissa fiddling with the keys at the door while Ryan stood behind her, his hands on her waist and his lips running across her neck.
Marissa: (Laughing) Ryan…stop…it tickles.
Ryan smiled into Marissa's neck and continued, breaking for only mere moments to speak.
Ryan: Yeah…I know…
Finally, Marissa pushed the door open and the two fell through. Ryan's arms still wrapped around Marissa, the two stumbled into the small quarters of the yacht, laughing. Marissa looked into Ryan's eyes a silly grin on her face. She turned her head, and she took a sharp breath in. Her eyes widened and her smile slowly faded.
Marissa: Oh my God.
Jimmy: Hey kiddo.
Marissa: Dad!
Marissa moved away from Ryan and jumped into her father's arms. Jimmy smiled and wrapped his arms around his daughter tightly.
Jimmy: I missed you.
Marissa: I missed you, too.
Marissa pulled away and looked at Jimmy. They both smiled and Marissa fell back onto Jimmy again, wrapping her arms around him tightly.
Jimmy: Whoa, kiddo. I have to breathe.
Marissa: Sorry. I just missed you.
Jimmy: I know. I'm sorry for staying away so long.
Marissa: Where were you?
Jimmy: Maui.
Marissa: Really? I thought you were in Cabo.
Jimmy: I was, but only for a few weeks.
Marissa: Oh…
Jimmy: So what's been going on around here?
Marissa: Well…Ryan and I got back together.
Jimmy laughed and nodded his head. He looked over to Ryan who was lingering
by the doorway looking only mildly awkward. To Ryan, his and Marissa's intentions were blatantly obvious, and he was beginning to understand that whole father/daughter bond.
Jimmy: Yeah, I could see that. Ryan, how are you?
Ryan: Good, thanks. How was Maui?
Jimmy: Oh, it's beautiful there…very relaxing.
Ryan nodded his head and smiled, although the only part of Maui he'd ever seen had been in postcard format.
Jimmy: So, what else is going on? How's your mother?
Marissa: She's…well, she's normal…for her, at least.
Jimmy: Some things never change.
Marissa: Tell me about it.
Jimmy: So what else? I've been gone a long time…I'm sure at least a few interesting things have happened since I left.
Marissa glanced over at Ryan, the corners of Ryan's mouth curled up slightly in a comforting smile and he nodded his head once.
Marissa: There's one thing…
Jimmy: Okay.
Ryan: Why don't you take a seat, Jimmy.
Ryan finally moved from his position next to the door and moved into the small room next to Marissa. Jimmy looked at them both confused and slightly worried. He took a seat on the bed and gave them his full attention.
Marissa: Well, it's kind of a long story…
Two hours later. Ryan and Marissa walk hand in hand up the pier towards Marissa's car. The explanation of the entire Theresa and Samantha situation took a while. Plus the expected, what now, college, and is this what you really want conversations. After the story telling and the serious conversation, Jimmy came to his usual conclusion. Either way, he just wanted her to be happy, and would support her.
Marissa: So that went okay.
Ryan: Definitely better than your mom.
Marissa: Anything's better than my mom.
Ryan: True.
Marissa: But I mean…he took it well. Right?
Ryan: Yeah…he was a bit shocked. But, we all were, when we first found out…
Marissa: Yeah…
Ryan pulled Marissa to the side of the pier and wrapped his arms around her, leaning her back against the rail.
Ryan: Marissa, he took it fine. And he loves you and supports you…in whatever decision you make.
Marissa: Decision I made…
She reached up tugging at Ryan's shirt, and pulling him closer to her. Ryan gave in eventually and nodded his head, a sly smile appearing on his face.
Ryan: So much for our afternoon in bed.
Marissa laughed and poked playfully at Ryan's stomach.
Marissa: I was so looking forward to that, too…
Ryan smiled and closed the gap between him and Marissa, catching her lips with his own.
Ryan: Yeah, I was kind of hoping to spend a lot of our spring break on the yacht…
Marissa smiled and leaned into him.
Marissa: I'm sure we'll come up with something.
Ryan smiled and nodded his head.
Ryan: It was worth it though…to see that look on your face when you saw your dad.
Marissa looked down at the ground with a smile on her face, only slightly embarrassed. Ryan brought his hand up to her chin, and raised her head.
Ryan: Hey…it was cute…you were like a little kid. Like Sam, so giddy and innocent…
Ryan stood with a slightly goofy smile on his face.
Marissa: Sam?
Ryan: Oh, I forgot to tell you. Seth felt it was his obligation to give Samantha a nickname. He went off on this rant, about names being one syllable…
Marissa laughed and stared out into space for a few seconds.
Marissa: I don't know…it's all about the three syllable names.
Ryan looked at her for a second, as he pieced the puzzle together. He nodded his head as he internally sounded out both Marissa and Samantha's names in his head.
Ryan: Yeah, well you can argue with him about that if you want. But, I don't know…he's already got me saying it…
Marissa: No…I like it.
Ryan smiled, and pulled Marissa away from the railing.
Ryan: Come on. Let's go home…
Ryan looked down at his watch.
Ryan: …I have to check on Sam anyway.
Marissa nodded and wrapped her right arm around Ryan's left bicep. She lightly leaned her body into his as they walked quietly back up the pier towards Marissa's car.