Great. Just great. Marissa Cooper was Ryan's ex-girlfriend? He hadn't told her that, of course. In the many discussions they had about previous lovers and relationships, her name never came up. But the tension in the air back there on the balcony had made it pretty clear. If she hadn't had so much drink, Macy would have driven herself home immediately. How could he not tell her that Marissa Cooper was his ex-girlfriend.

Not that he would know why that was a big deal. Not that he would have any way of knowing that her very presence had ruined Macy's entire existence. In all fairness, Marissa probably didn't know it, either. But as soon as Caleb had married Julie Cooper, and added yet another perfect debutante to his daughter arsenal, Robert Campbell had jumped that much harder on Macy to measure up. Macy didn't wear the couture as well as Caleb's daughters. She didn't show as much respect to her elders as Caleb's daughters. She didn't show as much potential for success as Caleb's daughters.

For years, she had been running from who she was, pretending to embrace it while all she wanted to do was hide. She thought that Ryan would make it better – that he would validate her chosen existence somehow. She thought that he would be able to make her feel like she was doing something right for once. And maybe, just maybe, she would show her father that two people from incredibly different backgrounds could merge into the Newport lifestyle without stark, gaping contrast. She knew that they could, if everyone would just lay off and let them.

But now that one perfect thing – that one untouchable – was ruined. Now she had to worry about whether or not she measured up to Caleb's daughter in one more area. "Dammit," she groaned in the bathroom corridor before kicking the wall.

"Problems?" Kirsten Cohen asked, holding the door as it closed behind her.

Macy had always liked Kirsten. When she was in high school, Caleb's eldest daughter used to babysit her while their parents went away on "couples' retreats" for the weekends. Sometimes Jimmy Cooper would come over, too, and they would play board games. Macy loved that memory – it was filed in the "safe" folder of her mind, from a time before the expectations started. Now, Kirsten was just another one of Caleb's daughters who did everything better than she did.

"I'm fine," she said quickly, wiping runaway tears from the corners of her eyes and turning for the door. Of course, if she left, she would never find out the truth. "Kirsten?" she asked.

The older woman turned, her eyes expectant. "What is it, Macy?"

"What do you know about Ryan's relationship with Marissa?"

Kirsten took a deep breath. "I think it's something you should probably talk to him about," she said honestly.

But Macy shook her head insistently. "He won't tell me the real truth. He'll tell me what he thinks I want to hear," she pouted.

Kirsten knew it was probably true. "They dated and it didn't work out. They're still trying the friends thing, but that doesn't usually work so well for them, either," she smiled sympathetically. "He is crazy about you, though, Mace."

With a quick "thanks," she headed out of the corridor and back into the ballroom. The friends thing doesn't work so well for them was all that she could think.

"Macy," her father's voice stopped her cold.

"What is it, Dad?" she asked, tension growing in the back of her neck.

"It was nice to see you here tonight, Dear," he said, his hand on her arm.

She wanted to kick him in the shin and run away. But she knew, no matter how many times she executed the action in her mind, she would never have the courage to do it in real life. "Thanks, Dad," she sighed. "And thank you for at least pretending to like Ryan," she added, hoping that a compliment would diffuse whatever rant he was ready to spill.

Robert gave her a knowing smile. "It's not a problem. Everyone has to get their teenage rebellion out at some point. And I'm just grateful that you waited until you moved out of my house to do yours," he added with a jovial laugh. "Sweetheart, I want you to stop by my office in the morning, okay? There's something I would like to discuss with you."

He walked away before Macy could remind him that tomorrow was Sunday, and that she didn't really give a damn what he had to discuss with her. Her head was throbbing now, and as soon as she found Ryan, she was going home.

"So?" Julie asked as Robert made his way down the hall and back into the ballroom.

"Don't worry, Julie. By tomorrow afternoon, she will be packing her bags and boarding a plane," he said, taking the hand that she had extended. "You will have a limited window of time to take care of this boy from Chino, though. If I know my daughter, she won't be gone for long."

He was gone, leaving Julie to stare in satisfaction after him. One down, one to go, she thought as she set off in search of her daughter's boyfriend.