Chapter 12

During lunch, Ryan got into his car and drove out of Harbor's drive way. He had to get away from everything that was happening. He wasn't really sure where he was going, but that didn't stop him from turning around.

Finally, about half an hour later, he found himself cruising down a familiar street in Chino. Ryan hadn't been back to Chino since the beginning of the summer when Theresa had told him that she lost the baby. Ryan didn't know why he was back in Chino…maybe it was because he just needed to see a friendly face. He stopped in front of Theresa's house and thought about getting out and knocking on her front door. But then, he decided not to and just sat in the car going over everything in his head-Trey getting out of jail, Marissa and him together, then breaking up…again, Jess…Seth even. It was way too much to handle. Suddenly, Ryan heard the sound of someone walking up the pathway. Ryan looked over and saw that it was Theresa, with a baby stroller. She didn't recognize him at first.

"Theresa?" Ryan asked getting out of the car. Theresa looked up and her face turned blank.

"Ryan, hi," she said uneasily.

"What are you doing here? I thought you moved in with your cousin," Ryan wondered.

"Well, I'm just back for a visit," Theresa said. "What are you doing here?"

"I don't know actually," Ryan admitted. It was then that he realized she was with a baby. "Is that our baby?" he asked motioning towards the stroller. Theresa nodded.

"So, you didn't have a miscarriage?" Ryan asked.

"I didn't have a miscarriage," Theresa replied. "Look, you're probably mad at me right now for lying to you about the baby, but I hated seeing you upset. You clearly missed Marissa and I wanted you to go back to your home." Ryan thought about this for a while before answering.

"Thanks," Ryan said.

"So, how are you and Marissa?" Theresa asked.

"Not so good. She actually got together with Trey…" Ryan trailed off.

"Trey? He's out of jail?" Theresa exclaimed.

"Yeah…he just kind of showed up in Newport and well, he and Marissa got together," Ryan filled her in. "She seems happy with him."

"Ryan," Theresa began. "Do you really think she's happy with him?"

"Well…" Ryan started, but Theresa cut him off.

"No, you don't. Ryan, when I came to you with the news of me being pregnant it killed Marissa when you had to leave to come back here. She was still in love with you. And I bet she still is. I bet she's with Trey because that's the closest thing she can get to you."

"But why is she with Trey when she can have me?" Ryan interjected.

"Maybe because she thinks you're mad at her. Something tells me that you guys had a fight before that," Theresa guessed.

"We did," Ryan said.

"Don't loose her. You guys are meant to be," Theresa said sincerely. Ryan leaned in and hugged her.

"So this is our baby," Ryan said, looking at the sleeping boy in the stroller.

"Yeah. He looks a lot like you," Theresa informed him.

"He does," Ryan said. He finally looked at his watch and realized what time it was. "I should be getting back. The school's probably wondering where I am."

"Okay. Don't worry about the Marissa thing. She still loves you…trust me," Theresa said as he got into the car. Ryan thanked her once again and drove off back to Newport with positive thoughts.