Recap:

She didn't want to go upstairs to her apartment; she didn't want to face Kyle. But, she knew she had to, so she sighed again, grabbed her purse, and slowly walked to the elevators.


"Theresa!" Ryan called, as he let the screen door slam shut. He kicked off his wet shoes, and threw his keys on the counter. Theresa appeared in the doorway, her hair was dripping wet and she was wearing a pink bathrobe.

"Hey." She walked across the room to Ryan, and kissed him on the cheek. He looked away.

Her kisses were different than Marissa's. Not that he cared.


She was an escape from his usual life. She was something to look forward to; someone to keep you on the edge of your seat.


Marissa sighed as she traced the diamond on her ring with her index finger. She sighed again, and looked down at her feet. It had been a long night. Marissa had just gotten out of the shower. She had been thinking. She was getting married soon. And a few weeks ago, she didn't want anything else in the world more than she wanted to be married to Kyle. She pictured her wedding day over and over again in her head. But now things were a little different. She still loved Kyle. But when she saw Ryan, when she talked to Ryan, it was like there was no Kyle; it was just Ryan and Marissa in their own world. She decided she would call him first thing in the morning. She had to know if there was actually something between them.


Ryan couldn't really sleep. Yet he was exhausted. There were so many things racing through his mind. He pulled the blanket over his chest, and turned over onto his side. The couch was uncomfortable. He wasn't exactly sure why he had chosen to sleep there. He just had a feeling like he should. He had originally climbed into bed next to Theresa, but it was..uncomfortable. He knew he couldn't pretend he didn't have feelings for this girl for long. If he woke up next to Theresa, it just wouldn't be right. It'd be like he didn't like Marissa in that sort of way.

But he did.

So he slept on the couch.

Ryan rubbed his chin as he continued to think. He wanted to talk to Marissa. He wanted to take it all back; he wanted to tell her he cared about her. That he wanted her. That he needed her.

But there was also Theresa. It wasn't that he didn't love her. But...it wasn't like he did love her. It was confusing; with Theresa. He had known her pretty much all his life, and everyone figured they'd end up being together. But to him, she was more like a best friend than a girlfriend. She didn't know that, though.


Marissa blinked her eyes a few times. Her vision cleared. "Ow.." She said to herself, as she grabbed onto the edge of the mattress, and pulled herself up.

Kyle: "You okay?"

She looked up, to see Kyle looking at her, grinning. "Um, yeah." She sat back down on the bed. "I guess I rolled off."

Kyle nodded, and leaned in to kiss her forehead. She quickly leaned back, avoiding his kiss. "Um, sweetie?" She thought of a quick excuse. "I have a headache, mind getting me some aspirin?"

Kyle looked confused, but nodded okay. "Sure."

She watched as he walked out of the room. She didn't exactly remember what happened last night. She knew she came in around 3and went to sleep. She also remembered what she had to do. She had to call Ryan.A few minutes later, Kyle appeared in the doorway.

"Here, take this." He handed her a pill, then a glass of water. She looked down at the pill lying in her palm.

"Everything okay?" Kyle asked. She nodded, popped the pill into her mouth, and swallowed.

"Thanks." She mumbled.

"Anytime, honey. You hungry at all?"

Marissa shook her head, and kept her eyes glued to the floor.

"Oh, okay." She glanced up at Kyle. He was watching her, with the same confused expression he had before. "And you're sure everything's okay?"

Marissa: "Yeah, everything's fine. I'm just…a little tired." She looked up at Kyle and tried to smile.

He stroked her cheek and smiled. "Okay. I'm going to work today, okay? So I'll probably leave in an hour or so."

"Okay." Marissa looked away.

"Yeah, so…I'll be in the shower." Kyle turned around, and walked towards the doorway.

"Okay." Marissa replied stiffly. He turned his head and glanced at her, then walked out. Marissa sighed, and as soon as she heard the shower turn on, she grabbed her cell phone, which was lying on the table next to her bed. She scanned through her phone book until she found "Ryan." The phone rang a few times, and then someone picked up. A girl.

Theresa: Hello?

Marissa: Uh.

Her mind went blank. Then she remembered. He had a girlfriend. Right.

Marissa: Oh, Hi. I, uh, I'm calling for Ryan.

Theresa: Um. Okay.

Marissa could hear talking in the background, then Ryan's voice. She walked out of the bed room, past the bathroom and living room, and into the kitchen.

Ryan: Hello?

Marissa: Ryan, Hi.

Her voice was shaky.

Marissa: I was just calling to see if we could…get together today?

Ryan was silent.

"At the house, I mean." She added.

Ryan: Um, yeah. Sure. Sounds great.

Marissa grinned.

Marissa: Okay, so…I'll meet you around 12. Is that okay?

Marissa jumped when Kyle, who was standing behind her, spoke. "Meet who at twelve?"

She turned around quickly. Kyle was standing in the hallway. He was holding a towel around his waist, and his hair was dripping wet. She could feel herself blushing. "Summer." She blurted out.

"Huh?" Ryan asked.

"Oh." Kyle raised his eyebrows. The two of them just stood there, staring at each other.

"Hello?" Ryan asked on the other end of the phone.

Marissa (to Ryan): Oh, sorry.

Kyle turned around and walked into their room.

Marissa: Okay, so 12's good?

Ryan: Yeah, that's good.

Marissa: Okay, see you then.

Ryan: Bye.

Marissa hung up the phone and smiled to herself. She hurried to the bathroom, and started getting ready.


Marissa took one last look in the mirror. She knew she had taken he time getting ready. She wanted to look good.

"Okay, honey!" She called, as she draped her purse over one shoulder and grabbed her keys. "I'm leaving now!"

She stood by the door, waiting for a reply. Nothing. Marissa looked at the clock. "Maybe he already left for work" She thought.

"Honey?" She called again.

"Yeah, bye." She heard Kyle say. She shrugged, and left the apartment.


"Where are you going?"

Ryan slowly chewed his apple. "I'm meeting someone."

Theresa raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

Ryan took another bite of his apple. "Marissa."

"Marissa?" Theresa repeated.

Ryan nodded. "She's, uh, the owner of the house."

"Oh." Theresa smiled bitterly. "Right."


"Hey Ryan."

"Hey."

Marissa folded her arms across her chest. They stood in the driveway, looking in opposite directions. An awkward silence fell between them.

"So, should we go inside?"

"Yeah, I guess."

They silently walked up the driveway, sneaking glances at one another. They came to the door, and Ryan held it open for Marissa. "Thanks." She said as she stepped inside. She walked around the empty house.

"Do you…want to go take a look at the pool?" He asked without making eye contact.

"Oh, yeah!" She said cheerfully. Marissa followed him out of the house and into the backyard.

"Wow." She said, as soon as she saw the infinity pool. "It's…huge." She walked around the edge of the pool, before kicking off her sandals. "I love it."

Ryan smiled. He watched as she sat down, and rolled up her jeans. She splashed her legs in the pool, then turned around, squinting in the sun. "C'mon." She patted on the ground next to her. "You don't have to be so shy."

Ryan hesitated, then walked over to where she was sitting.

"It feels good." She looked up smiling, and wiggled her toes in the water.

He grinned, then decided it wouldn't hurt. He kicked off his boots, then rolled up his jeans like Marissa had done. He lowered his feet into the pool, and Marissa turned towards him and grinned. "Not so bad, huh?"

Ryan looked down at the water and shook his head. There were a few minutes of silence, but then Ryan turned his head towards Marissa.

"Marissa, I want to talk to you about…last night."

Marissa's smile slowly faded. She continued looking down.

"Okay." She said softly.

Ryan was silent. "I…I'm sorry. About what I said. I don't want things to be awkward between us."

Marissa was disappointed. At this point she was too shy to tell him how she really felt.

"Yeah." She nodded. "I totally know what you mean."

"And I was wondering if you wanted to go out for dinner sometime this weekend."

Ryan seemed more surprised than Marissa did. She grinned, and looked up. He had just asked her out for dinner.

"I'd love to."

Ryan smiled. "Okay, cool. I guess I'll…call you?"

"Call my cell." She replied quickly.

"Okay." Ryan stood up, then reached his hand down towards Marissa. She took it, and he helped her up.

"And Kyle can come, too." He added. Marissa looked down at her feet. "Uhh, yeah, maybe."


"Hello?"

"Hey Kyle, is Marissa there?"

"Summer?"

"Yup."

Kyle frowned. He switched the phone from one ear to another.

"Isn't she with you?"

"Ummmm…" Summer trailed off.

Kyle leaned against the kitchen counter.

"She said you two went shopping…"

"…Oh, oh! Right. That's Right. We were shopping, but then…Marissa went home. Yeah! And, so I was, um, calling to see if she got home safe." Summer giggled. "But, I guess she's not home yet, so bye!"

Kyle heard a click, then hung up the phone. He folded his arms across his chest. Where was Marissa? He grabbed his sunglasses and keys, and headed out the door. He could only think of one place where'd she be that she wouldn't tell him about.

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