Chapter 10-

Marissa and Ryan were dragging suitcases out of the back of the car when Kirstin and Sandy approached them suspiciously. "So, how was the concert in Las Vegas?"

"Oh," coughed Ryan and Marissa, both glancing at each other. Summer and Seth stood behind them, glancing down at their feet, for, no matter how horrible Summer's rage blackouts may be, there was something even worse in the presence of all four. The Cohens. Oh, and then there was the dreaded JULIE COOPER-NICHOL. Marissa glanced at Ryan, who smiled and turned back to the Cohens. "Um, well, we sort of..."

"It was very fun!" cried Seth, jumping in between Marissa and Ryan. "I love The Killers, don't you, Summer?"

Summer glared hard at him. "Yeah–yes. I do. Um, can I speak to you in private, Cohen?" Summer grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked him behind the car. "What do you think you're doing Cohen?"

"Uh, protecting us from the wrath of my parents. Listen, tonight I'll tell my parents that I'm thinking of proposing to you. You're only a few weeks pregnant and not showing yet...we can get married and say it happened on the honeymoon."

"Good thinking Cohen," smiled Summer, "but what about Ryan and Marissa!" She slapped him upside the head. "God, you mentally challenged freak!"

"Calm down, calm down. We can have like a double wedding ceremony or something."

"How about NOT!" Summer shoved him against the car. "I want my very own wedding. O.K.?"

"O.K... Our last week of school is next week. We can pull this off."

Seth and Summer walked back towards Ryan, Marissa, and the Cohens. "Yeah...Ryan, I'll help you unpack."

"Me, too..." said Summer

Marissa glanced from Ryan to Summer to Seth and back at Ryan. "Okay, I'll help too."

"Y'all are some freaky peo–"

"Just come on," said Seth, dragging Ryan towards the pool house, a suitcase in hand.

"So," said Sandy, glancing at his wife. "What do you think they did this time?"

"Okay, here's the deal..."

"Yeah?" said Ryan. "You know you totally blew it for us out there, Seth?"

"No," said Seth. "I saved all our asses. Now, today, Ryan and I will go to the jewelry store, and buy two engagement rings..."

"Cohen, where is this plan going?"

"Ryan will go to Julie Cooper and–Bad plan, nix that. Ryan, you're just gonna ask for Sandy and Kirstin's approval for your marriage to Marissa, as will I–"

"You're getting married to Marissa!" cried Summer.

"God, woman, will you let me talk?"

"Whatever."

"Anyway, I'll ask for Summer's hand in marriage from her parents, and then we can propose to each other and it's a done deal."

Marissa sat in her bedroom, brushing her hair, thinking over the past few months. Everything from her past was starting to piece together now. She had a reoccurring dream in which she fell from the pier...over and over and over. And then there was this dude with black hair that stuck up in the front–a gun...a mental hospital...that had talked about him... some psycho, Ryan said. She didn't notice the man with the gun as she sat in her bedroom that very day, staring in at her from her window.