Ok just a quick summary of where my story is taking off. Its senior year at harbour for all our favourite teens. Ryan and Lindsay have been together since junior year, Marissa broke it off with Alex almost a week after it started and has been single ever since. Her and Ryan have become proper friends and now consider each other their best best friends. The group are all best friends. Summer and Seth got back together and have been bickering in love for a long time now. Jimmy moved to Japan to be with Hailey and their now married. Sandy and Kirsten are fine, Rebecca never happened. And since this story's going to have a lot of inner monologue, bold is for their more rational thought and italics is what their heart is telling them. And now to the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own the OC or "Such Great Heights"
Ryan stood at his locker door. It was the first day of his last year of high school. He sighed, thinking about the holidays. The summer just hadn't been the same this year. There was something missing. Someone. Marissa had gone to Japan for the break to visit her dad, Hailey and The Belly, so Ryan had spent the holidays with Lindsay (A/N dough face girl), Seth and Summer. Seth had, as usual, been sailing as much as he could, well when he wasn't glued to Summer's face.
Ryan found he had been thinking about Marissa way more than you were supposed to think about your best friend, not in a bad way, just thinking about her. He sighed again and started pulling things out of his locker. As he was closing it he looked at the inside of the door. He looked first at the picture of him and Lindsay, she was smiling but his smile didn't seem to quite reach his eyes. His eyes went to his favourite pictures, they were of him and Marissa in their junior year after Sandy had given them a surf lesson. The first one showed Marissa and Ryan on the same wave and Marissa pushing Ryan off. The last was of them sitting together in an old wooden lifesaver's chair. Sandy had taken it while they weren't looking so neither of them were facing the camera. Marissa was sitting with her head on Ryan's chest looking up and him and he was kissing her forehead.
Stop thinking about her!
He slammed his locker closed, and a piece of pink paper floated out
"Hey Ry, this song reminded me of us. I love you and your freckle forever. Love Rissa
I'm thinking it's a sign that the freckles
In our eyes are mirror images and when
We kiss they're perfectly aligned
And I have to speculate that God himself
Did make us into corresponding shapes like
Puzzle pieces from the clay
And true, it may seem like a stretch, but
Its thoughts like this that catch my troubled
Head when you're away when I am missing you to death
When you are out there on the road for
Several weeks of shows and when you scan
The radio, I hope this song will guide you home
They will see us waving from such great
Heights, 'come down now,' they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away,
'come down now,' but we'll stay...
I tried my best to leave this all on your
Machine but the persistent beat it sounded
Thin upon listening
That frankly will not fly. You will hear
The shrillest highs and lowest lows with
The windows down when this is guiding you home
It was a note Marissa had stuck in there when they were going out because she noticed that they both had freckles in their years in the exact same place but in different eyes. He never told her, but he felt that they were like two halves of one whole. He didn't like to admit it to himself, but they did fit like puzzle pieces. He didn't like to admit even more that when he hugged Lindsay it was like she was just slightly the wrong shape so it felt a bit uncomfortable and like there was a gap between them. Nothing bit, but still a gap. He never been able to bring himself to throw out a single thing she gave him.
You threw out that idiotic lamp Lindsay gave you
Well that was just common sense, it was two POODLES, I mean sure they were supposed to be in love, but come on!
That shows how well she knows you after you've been going out, is it 2 years now?
I don't know how long we've been going out
When you were with Marissa you got her a present for each month anniversary. And I'd like to point out you haven't stopped listening to those Journey CDs she got you. When's the concert again?
What do you mean YOU'D like to point out? We're the same person! Anyway I like Journey. The concert's in 3 weeks. And Lindsay's present was nice! She obviously tried really hard and she didn't have any help! It's not her fault she doesn't know me as well!
A stranger in the street could tell from one look at you that you wouldn't like a POODLE lamp for your 18th birthday. Anyway, Lindsay's only known you ONE YEAR less than Riss, and you've been dating her longer than you dated Marissa. Who are you taking to the concert with you by the way?
Well she genuinely though I'd like that lamp. I'm bringing Marissa, because she got me the tickets. And she's my best friend. NO OTHER REASON.
Well whatever. You don't love Lindsay.
Yes I do!
How come you've never said I love you to her then?
I have! Numerous times
Au contaire ma cherie. I have evidence. I am privy to your mind and memories remember?
Flashback
It was Valentine's Day. Ryan and Lindsay we're dancing at the Heart Foundation Benefit. There was a live band playing classical music and hearts and flowers everywhere. Ryan was vaguely aware of Seth and Summer dancing nearby, but his attention was focused mainly on dancing and keeping Lindsay in time.
"Let's go out on to the balcony" she whispered in his ear
"Ok"
Outside they stood together looking at Newport Beach.
"It's beautiful view from here, so beautiful" she said to him
"Yeah it is" he replied, but he wasn't looking out at the beach. He was looking at her.
She turned and hugged him, burying her face into his neck. He shifted with discomfort; it didn't feel like it fitted.
"I love you" Lindsay said lifting her head
He stood completely frozen. She waited anxiously, squeezing him.
"Ryan?" she never had been patient
He pulled her into a hug and whispered something incoherent the "love you"
Lindsay's body relaxed with relief against his. She was completely sure he'd said "I love you"
Ryan was sure he'd said "I don't"
End Flashback
You don't love Lindsay, you love her
Who?
There was no answer because as he questioned himself someone slipped their arms around his waist and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"Hi sweet" he said turning to face Lindsay
"So how've you been? I haven't seen you much lately because you've been shopping so much with Summer"
"Well it is Marissa's birthday in two days. Anyway, I found her the most perfect present so I'm pretty much free now. Apart from the birthday dinner"
"Well ok" replied Lindsay a little doubtfully.
Ryan turned and gave her a reassuring kiss. He pulled away at the end and shut his locker door. He and Lindsay started walking down the hall to her locker. As they turned to corner he saw Marissa. She was back from Japan.
When she saw him she broke into a run. When she reached them she pulled him into a best friend's bear hug which he gladly returned.
"Hey freckle buddy. Missed you"
"Missed you too" she whispered back to him.
Then she stepped back and hugged a very worried looking Lindsay
So what do you think? Please Review! xxooxx Clara
