Chapter 11

It was Monday morning, and finally Marissa would be able to talk to Ryan. After that little melt down she had in front of Seth and Summer, she had gone to the Cohen's to find Ryan. However, Kirsten told her that he was tutoring someone. Marissa had given Summer a ride to school that day. When they saw Seth, Summer ran into his arms, and without caring who was watching, flung her arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth. Marissa looked away. This was the last thing she needed, seeing Seth and Summer happy only made her feel worse. During Seth and Summer's make out period, Marissa looked around and saw Ryan walking with a petite blond haired girl. She didn't know who it was, so she decided to go up and find out…also to talk to Ryan.

As Marissa got closer, she realized that it was her old friend Jess Sanders. The two of them hadn't spoken since the eighth grade.

"Hi Ryan," Marissa said, smiling a little. "Hey Jess."

"Hi Marissa," Jess replied. Ryan looked down.

"Listen Ryan, I was um, wondering…" she was cut off however, when she saw Ryan looking over and whispering something in Jess's ear. She whispered back and touched his arm. Marissa felt like she was stabbed in the back. Ryan looked back at Marissa.

"What were you wondering Marissa?" Ryan asked.

"Never mind. It's not important," Marissa said, turning away and walking as fast as she could to her car, so Ryan wouldn't be able to see her cry. She got into her car and drove off. She didn't know where she was going. She just knew that she wanted to get as far away from Ryan as possible.

Meanwhile, back at school, Jess caught Ryan looking at him.

"You're staring at me," Ryan said, while they were sitting in their calculus class.

"Sorry, I can't help it. No wonder Marissa Cooper and you were together for half the year. I understand why," Jess said seductively.

"Hey, you know earlier, when Marissa was there…" Ryan started. "Do you think I said something to hurt her?"

"I just think she's being a little stuck up. I mean, I heard all about the huge blow up you two had. You know if you want to talk about it, you know my number," Jess flirted.

"Jess, I like you, but I am your tutor," Ryan said firmly.

"But Marissa obviously likes your brother, so what do you have to loose?" Jess questioned. Ryan ignored her and went back to listening to the teacher's lecture. However, Jess's answer stayed with him throughout the entire time.

As Marissa was driving down the street, tears pouring down her face, she couldn't stop thinking about Ryan and Jess. How could Ryan do that? Sure Marissa had kissed Trey, but that was totally different. He had actually kissed her first, she was just taken aback by it. Finally, she decided to listen to some music, to hopefully, soothe her mind and calm her down. She fiddled through the pile of CDs in the glove case and took out one that didn't have a cover on it. As the music swelled, she started crying even more; Jem's Maybe I'm Amazed was playing. The last time Marissa had heard that song, she was dancing with Ryan at her mother and Caleb's wedding. It was the last time she thought she would ever see him, because he was going back to Chino. She had told him she loved him and yet, there was no response. She couldn't listen to this. It reminded her too much of Ryan.

Finally, after she had switched off the CD, she figured out where to go. She drove down the familiar path to Alex's old apartment where none other than Trey Atwood was now living. If Ryan wanted to play this game, so could she! She got out of her car and knocked on the door of Trey's apartment. He opened it, a few moments later with a surprised look on his face. He obviously wasn't expecting her.

"Marissa…hi," He said. "I thought you would be in school."

"Well, my plans changed," Marissa shot back.

"Ah, I see. Look, I'm sorry about the other-" he wasn't finished however, but was cut off when Marissa leaned in a kissed him, hard on the mouth. She knew that this wasn't right, but this was the closest thing to Ryan as humanly possible. She pulled back after a while and gazed in Trey's seductive brown eyes.

"Can I stay with you for a while?" she asked sweetly. He nodded as she swept by him and into the apartment.