Marissa lay asleep on the couch in Alex's living room. Her arms were wrapped tightly around the pillow Ryan had used the previous night, pressing it against her chest. She buried her head into the back of the pillow, the smell of Ryan's cologne infiltrating her dreams.
Alex stepped into her apartment, quietly closing the door behind her. She turned, immediately noticing Marissa asleep on the couch. A small smile appeared on her face as she looked to Marissa. She stood silent, staring at her for a few minutes, her smile slowly fading from her face. She dropped her bag onto the floor with a light thud, and walked through the living room.
Marissa stirred from the noise, her eyes fluttered open. She smiled into the pillow as she inhaled another whiff of Ryan's cologne. She peeked over the top of the pillow and saw Alex walking into the kitchen. Marissa let out a yawn and immediately sat up, her right hand rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She plopped the pillow down in her lap, and crossed her arms over it as Alex emerged from the kitchen, and took a seat next to Marissa.
"Hey…" Marissa stated softly, unsure as to how Alex was really feeling. Alex smiled and looked to Marissa. "What did you do today?" Alex asked.
Marissa laughed slightly, and looked around the apartment. "Not much." She stated, looking back towards Alex. Alex nodded her head, and looked across the room, staring at the wall. "When did Ryan leave?"
"Oh, um…this morning. A little before noon, I think." Marissa replied cautiously. Alex nodded her head again, but didn't say anything. Marissa watched her for a few seconds, and then turned away, looking down at the pillow, which remained in her lap.
Eventually, Marissa turned to Alex again, and stared at her. "I really appreciate you understanding last night…" She stopped talking, suddenly realizing that hadn't sounded as good as it did in her head. Alex turned her head quickly, and stifled a laugh. "You think I understand?"
"Well…I…I don't know…" Marissa stumbled over her words.
"I don't understand Marissa." Alex said softly. "I mean; I get that you were worried about him, but I can't say that I understand what is happening here."
"What is happening here?" Marissa questioned cautiously.
"I guess that's the question..." Alex said quickly.
"What do you mean?"
"Look, I really don't know anything about you and Ryan's relationship. But it's obvious to me that you're still very much in love with him. And it's equally obvious that he's still very much in love you…"
Marissa looked up at Alex quickly. "What?" She said somewhat breathless. Alex watched a confused Marissa for a few seconds, and then pressed on. "Marissa I really like you. I can feel myself falling for you…" Alex stopped for a second, thinking over what she had to say. "But, at the same time, I can tell that your heart is somewhere else. I mean…if you're just filling your time until Ryan's single again…"
"Alex, that's not it. Ryan is…"
"In the past…" Alex stated, finishing her sentence. Marissa nodded slightly, although her brain was having a hard time communicating with the rest of her body. "Well, I don't think he is. I think you love him…I know you do, actually. And…so…then…" Alex's gaze glanced towards the floor. "…Then you should be with him." She finally finished.
"It's…it's more complicated than that…" Marissa managed.
Alex smiled slightly and shook her head. "Love…at it's roots, is really very simple. You can't control it, and you can't conceal it. It chooses you, and you can't do anything about it. Love is blind, and like you said…it doesn't go away just because you want it to. Love causes you all sorts of stress and heartache, but really…it's very simple. It's either there or it isn't…and you can't force it, either way."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Ryan's at the pier. About a five minute walk towards the club…"
"What?"
"I can't keep doing this knowing that it's not what you really want. I'm not trying to say that you don't care about me, Marissa. I'm just saying…I don't know…maybe we should just leave it on a good note. We've had some great times together, but I know that your heart is with Ryan. You'll never really be happy unless you're with him. And honestly, the longer we're together the more attached I'm going to become. If in a month, you leave me for Ryan, I don't know that I would…"
Alex's voice trailed off, tears welling in her eyes. Marissa stared incredulous at Alex, taking in all she had to say. "So…are you…breaking up with me?" Marissa questioned.
"No." Alex regained her composure and shook her head. "I'm letting you go…" Marissa continued to stare at Alex. Her head swayed back and forth, obviously confused. "Go…" Alex continued, "…He's probably still at the pier. Go find him. Go talk to him…tell him how you feel."
"Alex…"
"Marissa, I'm serious. I've been thinking about this all day. Seeing the two of you together…and not fighting…" Alex looked down at the floor. "…I don't know. I can see the two of you being together…being happy. And you should be…happy…I mean." She finished.
Marissa stared at Alex for what seemed like forever. She opened her mouth and forced herself to speak. "I…um…I don't know what to say."
Alex looked over at Marissa, a small smile on her face. "I don't know what I want you to say…" The two shared a brief smile before Alex's eyes darted to the floor once again. "But…we've been talking for almost ten minutes and not once have you tried to tell me that you don't want to be with Ryan." Alex glanced over at Marissa again. "Sometimes, silence speaks louder than words."
---
The rain seemed to be pounding down all around Marissa as she ran up the pier. Her clothes were drenched and sticking to her body, her hair was matted and stringy from the rain. She stopped suddenly, her left foot landing in a small puddle and shooting dirty water onto her already wet jeans. She turned her head, looking left and right, her eyes squinted from the constant downpour of rain. She turned again, bringing her hands up to her face and shielding her eyes. She looked through the haze of rainfall and finally found him.
He stood still at the railing of the pier. He stared out at the ocean, at the waves crashing down on the sand; rainwater hit his body, matting his hair to his head, and causing droplets to roll down his face. He closed his eyes and turned his head to the sky, allowing the rain to pound onto his already wet face. He wasn't entirely sure how he'd made his way back to the pier. When he left the house, he started walking and didn't stop, until somehow he'd made his way to an all too familiar railing.
"Ryan…"
He knew that voice…he would recognize it anywhere. Ryan turned slowly, his eyelashes fluttering, trying desperately to clear the water out of his eyes. Marissa moved towards him slowly. Ryan brought his hand to his head, pushing his hair out his eyes, as he stood frozen next to the railing. Marissa moved closer to him still, finally stopping right in front of him. She crossed her arms in front of her body, rubbing her hands over her wet, bare skin.
The two stared at each other for a few seconds. Neither seemed as though they could come up with the correct words. They had each managed to hold the others gaze, until eventually, Marissa's eyes fell to the ground, staring at a puddle gathering rain water. "What are you doing out here? It's pouring…" Ryan's voice brought Marissa's gaze back to his. Marissa quickly opened her mouth to speak, but paused suddenly, staring at Ryan for a few moments.
"Someone told me…silence speaks louder than words…" She stated softly. Ryan stared at her, a look of confusion running through his face. Marissa took another small step towards him.
"I think it is actions…" Ryan paused briefly and then nodded his head, continuing to speak. "Actions speak louder than words…"
A barely audible, "Either way…" mumbled out of Marissa's mouth. She nodded and took an unwavering step towards Ryan, her glance shifting from his eyes to his lips. The hard rain continued to fall down on them both, as she slowly leaned her body towards Ryan's. A look of confusion ran through Ryan's eyes, as Marissa's lips inched closer to his. His arms remained by his sides, as if frozen.
"What about…"
Marissa shook her head slightly, and closed the remaining space between her and Ryan. She softly pressed her lips against his, and all the tension and strain was released from both their bodies. As their kiss intensified, Marissa leaned her body into Ryan's. His arms finally moved from his sides, wrapping around Marissa's waist, and pulling her towards him. His fingers ran over the small of Marissa's back, occasionally slipping under the back of her shirt, and running across her bare, wet skin. He pulled her closer still, and Marissa's arms wrapped around Ryan's neck, her fingers running through his wet hair.
They each pulled away breathless. Their eyes sprung open, immediately locking with the others. Ryan took in a deep breath, and brought his hand up to Marissa's face. He cupped her cheek in his hand, running his thumb over her soft skin. A large smile appeared on his face, and in turn, appeared on Marissa's as well. His lips immediately found their way back to hers, urging her mouth open with his. Their wet bodies pressed against each other, as they remained in each other's arms, standing outside in the pouring rain.
---
Across the pier, hidden in darkness, a lone figure stood motionless under an umbrella. The rain was falling all around Alex as she stared intently at the reuniting of Ryan and Marissa. The two pulled out of their kiss again, allowing their foreheads to rest on the others. They remained motionless, as Alex took a small step forward, squinting through the rain. The only thing she could seem to make out clearly was the bright smiles on both their faces. She took another small step forward as Ryan's head moved from Marissa's, and was soon buried in the crook of her neck. His hand trailed up her body, finally coming to rest at the back of Marissa's head. Marissa's arms wrapped even tighter around Ryan, pulling his body as close to hers as possible. The two remained still, no words being exchanged. Alex continued to watch them, but now, there wasn't much left to see. Neither seemed bothered by the rain, each of them oblivious to everything but the person held tightly in their arms.
A few minutes had passed, and Ryan and Marissa had remained motionless, while Alex continued to watch from afar. She nodded slightly, and finally turned her head, looking in the direction of her apartment. Without hesitation, she turned slowly, and began her silent and lonely walk up the pier; never looking back at the still motionless Ryan and Marissa who remained in each others arms.
---
Ryan and Marissa ran hand in hand up the Cohen driveway and around the side of the house. The torrential rainfall was getting worse by the minute, not that it mattered much to the already drenched Ryan and Marissa. Ryan pulled the pool house door open, pausing a second for Marissa to step inside. He followed quickly, shutting the door behind him and taking a few steps into the pool house. Marissa stood next to the bed, her arms crossed in front of her, hugging herself.
Ryan moved towards Marissa. "You're shivering…"
Marissa nodded with a smile. Ryan turned away from her quickly, crossing the room and stepping up to his dresser. He pulled out a clean pair of sweats and a fresh tank top, immediately walking back towards Marissa. He extended his arm out as he neared her. "Here…put these on…you need to warm up."
Marissa smiled and stepped towards Ryan. She raised her arm, her fingers grasping onto Ryan's clothes, and brushing against Ryan's hand. Their eyes locked and eventually, Ryan let go of the clothes, letting his arm drop to his side. Marissa tore her eyes away from Ryan's, looking down at the tank top and pair of sweats hanging loosely from her wet hand. She looked back up at Ryan and took a sharp breath in. She let the clothes fall into a pile on the floor as she took a confident step towards Ryan. She reached out, her fingers taking hold of the small metal zipper on the front of his sweatshirt. She slowly ran the zipper down the front of his body, letting it fall from her hand as it unhooked at the bottom. She inched closer to him, running her hands up Ryan's chest, and letting them stop momentarily at his shoulders. She pushed the wet grey material off of his shoulders, guiding it as it slid down Ryan's arms and eventually fell to the floor.
Her fingers wrapped around his arms as she suddenly became aware of how intently Ryan was staring at her. Her eyes locked with his and without hesitation she leaned in, catching his lips with her own. Their kiss intensified as Marissa's hands trailed down Ryan's body, playing with the hem of his tank top. Ryan let his hands rest on Marissa's hips, one of his fingers slipping into Marissa's belt loop, and pulling her hips towards him. Marissa's fingers slipped under Ryan's tank top and began to push it up his body.
Ryan pulled out of the kiss breathless. His hands found their way to Marissa's, gently pulling them off his body. "We don't have –" Ryan's voice trailed off and he looked down at the floor. He repositioned his hands, interlocking his fingers with hers, and brought his gaze back to Marissa. "I just…I…" Ryan eyes locked with Marissa's once again, as he searched for the right words. "…You know there's no…pressure, and…I'd never –" Ryan's eyes darted away from Marissa, still trying to figure out just how to say everything.
Marissa smiled largely as Ryan continued to stutter over his words. She leaned in, interrupting him with another kiss. Ryan smiled into the kiss, and Marissa slowly raised Ryan's arms over his head. She let her fingers slide out of his, and trail slowly down his arms and torso until they reached the bottom of his tank top. Marissa's hands slid up Ryan's sides, pealing his tank top off of his wet body. The two broke their kiss for mere seconds as Marissa pulled the tank top over Ryan's head, and arms. Ryan's hands caught Marissa's in the air as their lips met again. Marissa dropped Ryan's tank top, letting it land on the floor next to Ryan's sweatshirt, while Ryan's arms trailed down her body, quickly ridding Marissa of her shirt. Marissa's hands dropped to Ryan's shoulders, and wrapped around his neck. She kicked her shoes off her feet behind her and stepped into Ryan as his arms snaked firmly around her waist.
Ryan and Marissa moved the few steps towards the bed, never breaking from their kiss. Ryan pulled out of the kiss momentarily. "You're su-" Marissa cut him off with her lips once again, smiling into the kiss. A grateful moan escaped from Ryan's lips as he gently lowered their bodies onto the bed. Marissa sunk back into the fluffy pool house pillows, feeling the weight of Ryan's body pressed against hers. Ryan's lips strayed from Marissa's, slowly kissing his way down her neck and chest. A small moan slipped out of Marissa's mouth as Ryan continued kissing down her body. His hands slid down to her still wet jeans, quickly unfastening them and peeling them away from her skin. His warm hands ran up Marissa's cool skin, as she pulled his lips back to hers, each one aching for the other. Marissa's fingers made their way to Ryan's pants, she unbuttoned them with ease, and Ryan squirmed out of them, kicking them off the foot of the bed; their lips still never parting. The two seamlessly shed their remaining clothes; their now naked bodies pressed together under the comfort of the pool house blankets.
Ryan pulled away from the kiss, looking into Marissa's eyes. "Marissa, I…" His voice came out wispy, almost breathless. Marissa brought her finger to Ryan's lips, and smiled sweetly. "Silence speaks…" She whispered. Ryan smiled weakly, breathing deep. Marissa's finger moved from Ryan's lips, allowing her hand to rest on Ryan's cheek. She gently pulled him closer, allowing their bodies to tangle under the covers, and their lips to meet passionately, once again.
THE END.
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A/N: So I guess, kinda sorta…technically…well, yeah – I lied. 4 chapters is it. In my defense…I did say five-ish. Sorry to anybody who was expecting many chapters to come…or at least another after this one. But, when it's done it's done…so, I really hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. And a BIG thank you for all the amazing reviews I got on this story.
