A/N: Hey! Sorry it took me so long to update, I had/have writers black. Um, anyways, guess what?

Today is my birthday! Yay! And, seriously, the best present in the world that I could get is if everyone who reads this chapter reviews it. I know it's asking a lot, but all you have to do is click the little "submit review" box, and type in "good" or "bad". That's all I ask:-D You guys rock.

Disclaimer: Does it look like I own the OC? Didn't think so. But guess what? I own Madison Atwood. And Katie and Evan Cohen. And the plot. Wow, so much.

Ryan Atwood was not having a good day.

He sat on a bed; at some motel that h couldn't even remember the name of, antagonizing over that fact that… well, he didn't really want to talk about it. Or think about it.

But how could he not? How could she have done that to him? Marissa was always so hotheaded. If she had just given him a chance to explain…

He was snapped out of his thoughts by his cell phone ringing.

"Marissa?" he asked hopefully.

"Is that how you answer the phone these days? Guilty conscience, is it?" Seth asked coldly.

Ryan struggled not to throw his cell out the window. "Listen, Seth, I know what I seemed like-"

"What it seemed like? You mean what it was. How could you, man?" Seth sounded… disappointed?

"I didn't!" Ryan raised his voice. "Everyone thinks I'm some dirty liar who cheats on my wife!"

"Because you are."

"I'm not! Seth, listen to me, please hear me out. I'm going to go insane if I'm the only one who knows the truth!"

"Fine. Let's see what far-fetched tale you come up with this time."

"I had a bunch of paperwork at the house, and I had to give it to the secretary. So I went upstairs to get it, and she followed me up. I was reaching across the bed to get it, and she tripped on something and fell on me, getting her lipstick all over my face and shirt. So I took off the shirt to get a clean on, and then Marissa walked in!"

"I don't know, man… That's just a little too convenient. Dude, I just never thought you'd cheat on Marissa…"

"Exactly! I wouldn't! I didn't! Think about it. Which makes more sense: My klutzy secretary tripping, or me cheating on Marissa!"

"When you put it like that…"

"Please, Seth. You've got to believe me."

Seth let out a slow breath. "I do."

"You've got to- wait. What?"

"I believe you."

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Meanwhile, back at the Atwood house, Marissa was once again sobbing her eyes out, as Summer patted her back and handed her Kleenex.

"Let it all out, Marissa," she said sympathetically.

"I just-" she blew her nose "don't understand why he would do it."

"Because he's an, evil, cheating, lying, stupid, dumb ass loser." Summer explained.

"We were so happy."

"Yeah, well, you'll be a lot happier as soon as you get rid of Chino, The Amazing One Man Cheater for good."

At that precise moment, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it." Summer got up.

She swung open the front door.

"Hi, could you come back later-" she stopped, and realized that she was talking to Ryan.

"Much later." she finished. "As in, never."

"I have to talk to Marissa."

"Yeah, right."

Marissa appeared at Summer's side. "What are you doing here?" she hissed.

"I have to talk to you," he repeated.

"Yeah, well, maybe you should have tried that before you threw your marriage down the drain." Summer eyed him nastily.
"Please. Marissa, you've got to hear me out."

"Why would you want to talk to a drunk, homeless idiot like me?" she asked, glaring at him.

"I know I said some things I shouldn't have. But I didn't cheat on you!"

"Oh, and I just imagined you with that secretary, I suppose. Now I'm having hallucinations, right?"

"Marissa, listen-"

"Get out. Go away. I never want to see you again!"

"But-"

"Go."

Ryan left.

Summer glared at his retreating form. "We've got to do something about him. I don't want him talking to you any more."

"What can we do about it?"

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"You what?" Seth screeched the next morning.

"Shut up, you'll wake the kids!" Summer looked agitated.

"Marissa got a restraining order against him?" Seth asked incredulously.

"He went over to her house-"

"Their house-"

"and bother her again!"

"You idiot! I sent him there!"

Now it was Summer's turn to be shocked. "You what?"

"He didn't cheat on her!"

"And we got Katie an elephant for her birthday!"

"I'm serious! It wasn't what it looked like! I talked to him!"

"You're in contact with that excuse for a human being?"

"Yes! I am! He just happens to be my best friend, you know! You've got to hear his side of the story!"

"I don't want to hear his bullshit, Marissa doesn't want to hear his bullshit-"

"It's not bullshit!"

"Mommy?" Katie poked her head in through the door.

"What?" Seth and Summer snapped together.

"Um… never mind."

Summer regained composition first. "I'm sorry, honey. What do you want?"

"Just wanted to let you know that Evan heard you guys yelling and started crying."

Summer sighed. "I'll be there in a minute, sweetie."

"'Kay."

"This discussion is not over," Summer informed Seth as she left the room.

Seth threw up his hands. "You call this a discussion?"

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Seth could hear Ryan's shock over the phone. "You've got to be kidding me."

"I wish I was."

"She got a restraining order in one night? How is that even possible? Don't you have to like, beat up your wife and stuff for someone to do that?"

"She's got connections. Or rather, Summer's got connections. Which are really my connections! That's not fair!"

"I don't believe this. How am I going to see Maddy?"

"That's like the least of your problems right now."

"Huh?"

"I heard Summer talking to her just now, and she was like "You should divorce him, Marissa!""

Ryan's jaw dropped. "Shit."

"Yeah."

"You think Summer'll convince her?"

"I hope not."

"But what do you think?"

"Honestly?"

"Yeah."

Seth sighed. "Things aren't looking good."

Today is my birthday. Review!