Chapter 2

Disclaimer: still own nothing, although, if Josh wants to take my story and use it in the show then that is fine with me. He doesn't even have to pay me, much.

First up, shout out to my reviewers:

IluvDanBen33: my first reviewer, yay! thanks, really glad you liked it.

KC-Chick: Wow, yay! You reviewed (faints), thankyou, am loving 'In The Dark' btw, thankyou very much for you lovely, lovely review!

I-Believe-In-The-Butterflies: Marissa's Choice is in your favourites, wow that means a lot, thanks! I took your point about Ryan's feelings, and modified chapter 2, so I hope you like it.

Yes. I am evil- oh well: Thankyou very, very much for your review - it's very much appreciated, I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint you!

BrSoccerChic: yay! so glad you liked it, hope you enjoy the rest of it!

smartiepantz: thanks so much for reviewing! enjoy!

I didn't mention this is chapter 1, but a huge, huge, huge thankyou to EVCLGSB, for inspiring me to write this fic!

XXXX

Ryan took a deep breath and started to walk slowly over to where Marissa sat reading her bio textbook, the next day at school. They'd been avoiding each other for over a week now and he figured it was time to clear the air. He didn't quite know what he was going to say yet but, as Seth often said, he was sure the words would come. Or not in Ryan's case.

"Hey." He said making her jump.

"Hi," she mumbled closing the book and standing up, but not quite meeting his eye.

"You ok?" Ryan asked, awkwardly, she had gone an interesting shade of green.

"Yeah, fine, just a bit late, so...y'know," she started to walk towards the school building.

"Hey, listen, I was wondering..." Ryan said following her "If you wanted to go to the diner after school...the one by the pier?" What? He mentally scolded himself, as soon as the words left his mouth, what the hell are you doing Atwood? You were meant to talk to her, y'know, a simple 'hello' would've been nice, you didn't have to ask her out.

"Um, the diner...yeah ok." Marissa was confused, was this, a date?

"I've asked Seth and Summer," Ryan hastily lied, in an effort to redeem himself, this was not a date.

"Yeah, of course." Marissa said quickly, feeling stupid, of course it wasn't a date, he'd broken up with her.

"Bout four-thirty?"

"Yeah, ok."

"Great, see ya then." Ryan smiled before quickly setting off to find Seth to let him know he was going to the diner later with them, and that he was going to bring Summer with him.

"Ooh, Coop, what was that?" Summer demanded, almost running up to Marissa, seconds later.

"You were spying?" Marissa asked incredulously

"Naturally." Summer said matter of factly. "So? What'd he say?"

"He just asked if I wanted to go to the diner with you and Seth after school." Marissa said, trying and failing to keep the excitement from her voice.

"The diner? Huh?"

"I dunno, He just said you guys were going and asked if I wanted to go too."

"Oh, yeah" Summer said unconvincingly "Must've forgotten" "So, the diner, Coop, this gonna be awesome!"

XXXX

It turned out to be anything but awesome. Ryan, now regretting his stupid decision to ask Marissa to the diner, had returned to talking in monosyllables and Marissa barely spoke either. She was confused. This morning Ryan had been all smiles and chat (well, as chatty as Ryan ever was) but now? Now, he sat opposite Marissa avoiding eye contact and only speaking when addressed directly. Even Seth and Summer, who, let's face it could turn talking into an Olympic sport, were running out of things to say.

Eventually Marissa couldn't take it anymore, she was going to either scream, cry or punch someone (yeah, she definitely had been hanging out with Ryan too much.)

"I'll be right back." She said quietly, standing up.

"You ok Coop?" Summer asked sympathetically. Marissa suddenly found herself fighting back tears and unable to speak properly.

"Yeah...I just, I just need some air." She gulped.

Summer sighed, glaring at Ryan who had suddenly become fascinated with the floor. "I should go after her, I just...I don't know what to say.."

"I'll go," Seth volunteered standing up.

"Oh no you don't Cohen" Summer grabbed his arm "You'll make her cry."

"I think Ryan managed that all by himself." Summer smiled wryly.

"That's true."

"Will you two stop talking about me like I'm not here." Ryan interjected.

"Oh look, it talks." Summer said sarcastically. Ryan gave her a look. "Ok, go, Cohen but upset her, and I'll kill you."

"I shall do my best."

"What to make her cry?"

"Oh ha-ha, you're funny." Seth quipped before leaving the diner to find Marissa. He didn't have to look far. She stood hunched over the railings her head bowed low.

Marissa didn't even know why she was crying, well, she did, but she thought she could at least have dinner with him. Apparently not. She heard someone come up behind her and put their hand on her back. She took a deep jerky breath, but didn't turn around.

"I'll be fine, honestly, Sum...it's just...boys I guess."

"I know, we totally suck." Seth said, making her jump.

"Seth...what?" Marissa gasped furiously trying to wipe away her tears with the back of her hand. "I thought you were Summer." She said turning around to face him.

"I know, happens all the time." Seth grinned, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a tissue. "Here." He said handing it to her.

"Thanks. I'll be fine, you should go back to the others."

"What? And leave a damsel in distress? I don't think so." Marissa smiled in spite of herself. "Besides, I think that now would be the perfect time to enjoy a little Seth/Marissa time. You wanna sit-" he gestured to a nearby bench "- or stand, cos I can talk for hours."

"So I've heard," Marissa said walking over to the bench and sitting down, Seth followed suit.

"Come on, then, spill." Seth encouraged jovially after an awkward pause. Wrong move. Marissa tried to start talking but couldn't, she started to crying again. Instinctively, Seth put his arm round her and she rested her head on his shoulder, sobbing quietly. Neither of them said anything for a few minutes.

"Cohen! I said cheer her up, not hit on her." Summer laughed, coming up behind them a few minutes later, Marissa laughed weakly through her tears, but didn't move.

"Well, y'know, the ladies...they just can't resist my charm." Seth said nonchalantly. At this Marissa did move, sitting up and whacking him on the chest.

"You wish!"

"You gonna be ok Coop?" Summer asked seriously.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, it's just, how can he sit and act like, wait-" She stopped herself, realising what she needed to do. "Is he still inside?" Summer nodded. Marissa stood up and straightened her shirt, "I'll be right back." She strode purposefully into the diner to where Ryan sat.

"You ok?" Ryan asked

"You care?" Marissa snapped. Ryan recoiled looking hurt.

"I-" He began.

"Save it. I've apologised so many times, and you know what? I'm done. I'm sorry that Oliver turned out to be such a loony but do you really think I knew? Do you really think that I thought 'I know that Oliver's going to go completely psycho with a gun, but I'll ignore Ryan anyway, cos I quite like having my life threatened'?"

"Well, no-" Ryan admitted.

"Exactly. I love- loved you" Marissa corrected herself "Do you really think I wanted to risk that?"

"Loved?" Ryan repeated emphasising Marissa's use of the past tense. "You can turn off your feelings just like that?"

"You obviously have done, and believe me, I'm trying to." She snapped before picking up her jacket, "Tell Seth and Summer I'll see them tomorrow." she finished before turning and leaving the diner feeling oddly liberated. What the hell have I just done? She thought to herself ten minutes later, that was supposed to make everything better, not worse. He was never going to talk to her again, she was sure of it.