Thankyou for the pleasing reviews! Enjoy my next instalment!

Ryan opened a sleepy eye at the sound of Seth turning on the Plasma. The summer vacation had just began and already he felt the hot Californian sun on his neck.

"Morning!" Seth said in his typical Cohenish way. He was already loading the playstation.

Ryan tried not to listen, and attempted to fall back to sleep.

"So, got anything planned for today? Eating with Marissa, shopping with Marissa, smooching with Marissa, all of the above?"

Ryan had had enough. He pulled out an arm, grabbed his half-full water bottle and pegged it at a still-grinning Seth. Seth caught the bottle with his right hand.

Ryan groaned, "Seth! It's 7am! Can't you be in your own room annoying Captain Oats or something?"

Seth continued to stare intensely at the screen, his fingers pushing vigorously on the control. "Oh, I'm sorry, Ryan, but Captain Oats was still asleep and I couldn't bear to wake him!" he smiled slyly.

Ryan knew he was arguing a winless case and reluctantly stumbled out of bed. He put a shirt and jeans on and joined Seth in front of the Plasma and took hold of the second control. "Pay back time!"

"You totally cheated!" Seth yelled half-an-hour later. "Totally illegal!"

"You've always been a sore loser, Seth," Ryan grinned, satisfied.

"You killed my guy… AND WE WERE ON THE SAME TEAM!"

"My finger slipped."

Seth dropped his control, "Isn't it funny how we are still playing these games?"

Ryan cocked his eyebrow, "Don't talk mature, Seth, you're scaring me."

"Sorry, dude."

Ryan got up. Seth followed.

"Oh, that reminds me," Seth said, "Ryan, I gotta borrow you're watch today. Mine broke and I need it." Seth made his way to Ryan's drawer.

Ryan froze. Oh no! He was hiding something in there. If Seth found it he would never speak the end of it. He turned around hastily. "No! Wait, Seth!"

But it was too late. Seth had already opened the drawer. All of a sudden, watches were off the agenda when he saw it. A hideous smirk came across his face as Ryan stopped in his tracks. They both looked at it; Ryan with utter humiliation, Seth with utter satisfaction.

"What… is… THIS!" Seth exclaimed. He reached into the drawer and pulled out a small square, velvet-clad box – a jewellery box! Seth ran his fingers over the material and opened the top. Revealed was a stunning sapphire ring with small diamonds encircling it. Seth turned to Ryan, whose heart was beating fast, "Ryan!"

Ryan was speechless.

Seth was so shocked he jaggedly sat on the bed and looked intensely at the ring. "You're going to propose to Marissa!"

Ryan sighed, this day could only get better, right? "I wanted it to be surprise."

"Oh, believe me, buddy, I'm surprised!"

"Yeah, well, I still haven't thought how I'm going to do it, you know… ask her." Ryan said in a small voice.

"When did you get this?" Seth asked, still overwhelmed.

"Last month. I've been keeping it here ever since."

"Amazing how you're fine with punching people at my parents' parties, but you're afraid to propose to your girlfriend!" Seth laughed.

Ryan elbowed him hard in the ribs, "OW!"

"Seriously, man! I love her, and after all we've been through it seems like the next step right? And, I mean, we're 20, 20's not too young is it?" Ryan said quickly.

Seth shrugged, "Man, I know that if anyone should be together in this way it's you and Marissa… I mean, well, you've survived this long."

"Yeah, and with Marissa's depression, maybe it could help her finally recover."

Seth was about to respond when, speak of the devil, the familiar sound of Marissa's car drove into the Cohen driveway. Ryan's heart began to race.

"Quickly! Put it away! Give it to me!" Ryan shrieked, "Hurry!"

Seth quickly popped the ring back in the box and tossed it to Ryan, who only just closed the drawer before Marissa stepped in.

"Hey, guys!" Marissa said in her best happy voice.

"Hey!" Ryan said almost too cheerfully. He kissed her on the cheek. Both of them looked at Seth who simply sat there, looking at them with an absent-minded smile on smile on his face.

Ryan shot him a truly threatening look.

"Oh, yeah! Hey, Marissa! You're here early. What's goin on?"

Marissa looked at the two suspiciously, "…Ok! Well I'm here to ask if you two would like to come to a party at my place tonight? It's some Do my Mom's doing for her friends," she said "friends" rather sarcastically. You didn't really classify back-stabbing forty-something party-goers as "friends". They were more like contacts.

"So do you wanna come?" Marissa asked.

"Oh, sure! I'd love to. Seth what about you?" Ryan asked in a don't-you-dare-say-no kind of way.

"Summer's coming?" Seth asked stupidly. Of course she'd be there!

Marissa nodded, looking increasingly curious. What the heck! "Ok, now, you tell me what's going on?"

"There's something going on? I didn't know something was going on, Seth did you?" Ryan asked.

"Nope."

Marissa stared at them, obviously not believing a word. She hated not being told things. She felt really depressed when it happened, and often she'd blame herself. "You know what? Forget it!" she said slightly angry, but she still managed a pleasant smile. She exited the pool house.

Ryan watched her go, feeling bad about his behaviour. He went after her.

"Hey, wait!" he called. Marissa spun around.

"Sorry about that," Ryan smiled, "Seth troubles." He hoped his white lie worked.

"Oh, I get it!" Marissa laughed genuinely this time, "Don't worry, 'kay? I'll be alright." There was an awkward silence. Ryan was having a serious think to himself. So many thoughts. So many feelings!

"SO, I'll see you tonight then?" he confirmed, forcing himself out of his ponders. Marissa nodded. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips. "Okay, I'll see you at seven."

It was at that moment that he decided that tonight would be the night.

NEXT CHAPTER: Will Ryan get his chance to ask Marissa the ultimate question?