Ryan slowly trudged into the kitchen the following morning. He stepped through the threshold of the French doors, oblivious to Seth, sitting at the kitchen table with an open art book in front of him. Ryan made a beeline for the coffee pot, pouring himself a brimming mug-full, and swallowing a few large gulps. He turned around, eyeing the bagels on the island counter top.

Seth: Hey, man.

Ryan's head turned quickly, finally looking at Seth; he blinked quickly, and nodded his head. He glanced back at the bagels momentarily, and then moved towards the kitchen table, taking a sip from his mug. He took a seat across from Seth, and glanced down at his art book sitting on the table in front of him.

Ryan: How did your meeting go?

Seth: Really well, actually…

Ryan took another sip of his coffee, and nodded his head.

Seth: …the rep really liked our ideas. But, we have to put together a full issue and send it to him, before he makes his final decision.

Ryan: That's really cool, man.

Seth nodded and turned back to his art book. He brought his pencil to the paper, and began shading in an area of his sketch.

Seth: When did you and Marissa decide to go to Santa Barbara?

Ryan: Um…it was Marissa's idea. She surprised me; I didn't even know where we were going till we got there.

Seth: When did you get so trusting?

Ryan shot a sideways glance in Seth's direction, causing him to drop his pencil into the seam of his art book, and lean back in his chair, laughing the whole time.

Seth: So, how was it?

Ryan: It was great.

Seth nodded his head, smiling, as his laughter died down.

Ryan: And Cabo?

Seth: Well, it started out pretty miserable, but…it seemed to end perfectly.

Ryan: Perfectly?

Seth: Well…not perfectly.

Ryan: What happened?

Seth: Y'know, this seems like more of a pool house than a kitchen conversation.

Ryan shook his head, and took another sip of his coffee.

Ryan: Sam and Marissa are still asleep out there.

Seth nodded his head, and picked up his pencil again. He nervously tapped his pencil against a blank page, thinking of how to start his story.

Seth: A few days after we got there, I decided that I was coming home. I couldn't take being around them anymore…anyway, I told Summer I was leaving, and then she told me not to go.

Ryan: What?

Seth: Yeah, man…exactly what I thought. So then, I don't talk to her for about a day, and suddenly, she shows up outside my bedroom door in the middle of the night. Next thing I know, we're running around behind Zach's back…

Ryan cringed and glanced over at Seth.

Ryan: Why didn't you just tell him?

Seth: We did. Or…actually, no…we didn't…

Ryan stared at Seth, waiting for him to finish.

Seth: …he caught us together. His parents have this expansive back yard, and Summer and I would meet back there. Anyway, he caught us kissing, and then basically ran out of the house.

Ryan: Wait…you drove him out of his own house?

Seth looked down at the floor, embarrassed.

Seth: It's not like I planned it this way, man.

The two sat in silence for a few moments, Seth's eyes darting away from Ryan the whole time. Eventually, Seth pushed forward.

Seth: So, Summer and I ran after him, and she talked to him for a while. Then, he just, kinda took off…

Ryan looked over at Seth, confused. Seth shrugged his shoulders, and then continued.

Seth: …he was gone all night. He came back to the house the next morning. He looked…tattered, and at the very least, hung over.

Ryan: Zach?

Seth stifled a laugh and nodded his head.

Seth: Yeah, man. Anyway, Summer freaked out a bit, and then, of course, I freaked out…then Zach freaked out a little, and the next thing I knew, I was suggesting that Summer and I leave early. Zach agreed…we packed our bags, and…that's it.

Ryan: Wow…

Seth: Yeah…

There was a long pause, and Seth stared down at his art book once again.

Seth: …it'll make for a good chapter for the novel, though…

Ryan smiled and turned towards Seth.

Ryan: Am I ever going to see this alleged novel?

Seth laughed slightly, and brought his hand up to his head, tapping his index finger against his temple.

Seth: It's all locked in here, Ryan…

Ryan stifled a laugh, and stood up from the table. He walked over to the sink, setting his mug down in the bottom. He turned, once again, walking back towards the table, this time glancing out the French doors towards the pool house.

Ryan: I'm going to go wake Sam up…

Seth nodded his head, and got back to his work, as Ryan exited the kitchen. Ryan pulled the pool house door open without and sound, and stepped inside, quietly closing the door behind him. He turned around, facing the large pool house bed, and a smile immediately appeared on his face. He moved towards a peacefully sleeping Samantha, who lay next to an equally peaceful looking Marissa, in the bed.

Ryan moved cautiously onto the bed, lying opposite Marissa, with the still sleeping Sam, lying between them. Ryan stared down at Sam for a few seconds, and ran his fingers through her thin blonde hair. Marissa's eyes fluttered open, immediately looking over at Ryan, who remained staring down at Sam.

Marissa: Hey…

Ryan looked up at a sleepy Marissa.

Ryan: Morning.

Marissa smiled brightly in response, and Ryan turned back to Sam, once again. Marissa followed his gaze, and the two lay in silence for a few minutes.

Marissa: When did you get up?

Ryan shook his head slightly and looked back to Marissa.

Ryan: Not too long ago…when did she wake you up?

Ryan smiled and glanced down at Samantha, before looking at Marissa again.

Marissa: I'm not sure…

Marissa let out another small yawn before continuing.

Marissa: …she was crying, so I brought her to bed with me.

Ryan nodded his head, and craned his body around Samantha's, laying his head close to Marissa's. She perked her head up, looking at the clock on the nightstand, and then sat up in bed.

Ryan: What's up?

Marissa: I'm meeting Summer for lunch and shopping.

Ryan: Back to normal, huh?

Marissa: Yeah, plus I have to hear about what happened in Cabo.

Ryan laughed and nodded his head.

Ryan: Yeah…I just got Seth's detailed description of his week.

Marissa: Yeah? So what happened?

Ryan let out a groan and rolled onto his back.

Ryan: Summer will tell you…

Ryan glanced over towards Marissa.

Ryan: …Seth will probably tell you, too.

Marissa smiled and nodded her head. She moved off the bed, disappearing into the bathroom for a few minutes. Ryan turned his attention back to Samantha, who remaining sleeping contently, now nestled into Ryan's side. Marissa emerged from the bathroom, making her way towards the bed again. She came up behind Ryan, and flopped onto the bed next to him. Her arm draped across Ryan's stomach, and her hand lay next to Samantha. She craned her neck up, and placed a soft kiss on Ryan's lips. They both smiled contently as the kiss ended, and Marissa let her head rest on Ryan's shoulder.

Ten minutes had passed, and neither Ryan nor Marissa had made a move. Marissa turned her head into Ryan's body, closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath. She raised her head slowly, peeling her eyes open again.

Marissa: I should get going…

Ryan conveyed a smile, and nodded his head.

Marissa: …I have to swing by my house after I meet Summer…

Marissa grimaced, slightly, and scrunched up her nose.

Marissa: …put in an appearance, at least.

Ryan: Okay.

Marissa smiled and leaned up, catching Ryan's lips with her own. Ryan's hand trailed up Marissa's back as Marissa pulled out of the kiss.

Marissa: I'll see you later…

Ryan: Yeah.

Marissa smiled, and leaned in, placing one last small kiss on Ryan's lips. She pulled away with a small giggle, and moved away from the bed. She offered a small wave of her hand, and then walked out the pool house doors.