You kiddies have been waiting for this, huh? This one's pretty long for me at least. Whatever. Anyway, thanks for reviewing the last chapter. All I need are like two or three word reviews. I just need to know that I'm not just writing for my health, and personal joy. Thank you. And have a great day. Teehee. I'm retarded. (No offense to anyone.)

Ultimately

Ch 6 - Confessions, Confusion, Convincing

Cohen Residence; Seth's Room

June 2; 10:00am

Summer walked into the Cohen house. She was determined to make Seth see how much he screwed everything up. She was going to force him to help her find Alex. He just wanted everyone to be happy. But no matter how much he wanted for the fantastic four to get back together, he had to realize what was at stake; Marissa's sanity, happiness, and even life. He played with people's feelings. If he really wanted happiness for everyone, he'd help and fix his dumb ass mistake.

The thing was, Seth was sorry. It wouldn't take a lot for Summer to convince him. But then again, he would be turning his back on Ryan. But he had to help Marissa and Summer would kill him if he didn't. He was so confused. He hadn't seen Marissa in awhile. Maybe he should talk to her and maybe he would see the pain for himself. That's it.

"Seth Ezekiel Cohen!" Summer roared as she stormed into Seth's room.

"Before you go on, I have an idea. I know what I did with Marissa and Alex was stupid and totally low and selfish. But Ryan is my friend and he was unhappy." Seth explained fast.

"No Seth. We've had this argument, okay? I'm sick of it. I'm tired of hearing your stupid excuses. You played with their relationship. That's all I have to say about that. Now you said you had an idea. What is it?" Summer retorted irritated.

"Let me talk to Marissa."

"Why?"

"Because, I'm confused."

"About what?" Summer was getting confused herself not knowing where he was going with this.

"About whom I should help. Ryan is my best friend. He's in as much pain as Marissa. Breaking up with her would kill him. He loves her. He would go insane." He clarified.

"You haven't even seen Marissa. She's not happy with him. Do you even know why she's upset?"

"Yeah. Alex."

"And why would she be upset about Alex?"

"Because she broke up with her."

"Why?"

"There's more?" Seth was more confused than before the argument started with Summer.

"YOU! You made Alex believe that Marissa was fooling around on her dipshit; with Ryan! You basically forced Ryan on her! You kept pushing and you made Marissa believe she wanted to be with Ryan again." Summer practically yelled in his face.

"Right. I knew that." Seth said with a nervous chuckle.

"So you have to fix it!"

"But Ryan's my-

"NO! Fuck Ryan! You're going to help me fix this. Ryan and Marissa are over Cohen. Get that through your head. She needs Alex. Okay? There's nothing for you to be confused about. Got it? Because if you don't help me, I'll be forced to kick your ass." And just like that, Summer made everything clear for Seth.

"Fine." Seth sighed in defeat. "But would it be possible for you to kick my ass anyway?" Seth answered with a witty comment. Summer on the other hand took the pillow on the bed and repeatedly smacked Seth with it.

Pool House

Same Time

Marissa was out of her house for the first time in a week. She didn't know why the past week was worse than the rest of the time Alex was gone. It was because she finally realized her mistake. She had to do this. Her and Ryan weren't going to last and she didn't want him to think that they had hope. This would also take him off her mind and give her a bit of relief. This had to happen. It was now or never. Plus, at this point, she would do anything to get relief. She would do anything that might help to get Alex back. Wait; did she just think that? No. All she wanted was release. This had nothing to do with Alex; not at all.

So now Marissa was at the door. Step 1: knock. So she knocked. Ryan looked up and went to the door. 'Okay Marissa. Now you have to do this. There is no turning back. Think of Alex. No. It has nothing to do with her. Yes it does. Face it, all you want is her. That's why you're breaking up with Ryan; Her. No. Yes! Remember the confession of you're real feelings? Oh yeah; Alex. Duh. Idiot. What? Nothing. Mind on Alex. Right.' She thought chuckling to herself of the realization. This was all for Alex. If only she was here.

"Hey," Ryan mumbled nervously. He didn't want their relationship to end again. It had happened a few times and hurt more than the last one. He knew if they broke up again, than it was really over. It would end for good. He wasn't really sure why they would break up but he had a feeling. But they could talk everything through and they would be okay.

Step two: get right to the point. "We need to talk." Marissa decided to get right to it. She didn't even look at him in the eye. She couldn't bear to see the pain in them. She didn't want to hurt him but knew it would be more painful for him than her. He still loved her. But she loved Alex and everyone knew it. But did Ryan?

"I know. Look-

"No. Let me get this out. We have been on and off ever since we met, and still can't find the reason why we kept getting back together. It's been weird between us since you came back from Chino. This whole time, I thought that I loved you and at one time…I did. But…now? I feel alone. Even before the shooting and your brother coming to town I felt nothing. I guess we got back together just to make everyone happy, but myself. Everyone expected us to." Marissa didn't mean to be so direct but she didn't want to beat around the bush. She wanted this to be as fast as possible. "Ryan, I always came running back to you because I knew you would always be there. But I ran to you when I had someone too. And that gave me the impression that I still loved you." Now she was starting to tear up and on the verge of falling into Ryan's arms as usual. But she held back. "I still loved you when I was with DJ, and when you were with Lindsay, But…" She was going to have a panic attack soon if she stalled anymore. She couldn't say her name without bursting out into tears.

"It's okay." Ryan took a step forward when he saw a tear fall from her eye. "We can work out anything that's bothering you."

"No we can't." Marissa took a step back. She wasn't going to crumble like that anymore. She was strong. "Let me finish." She couldn't get it out. "When…" She couldn't say it. She took a couple of deep breaths. And closed her eyes. "After I met Alex, the 'boyfriend' love, if that makes any sense, disappeared. And I started to like her more and more with everyday and with those days, you faded. Ryan, I don't love you anymore. Not like that. I haven't since Alex. I only want you as a friend. It was stupid of me to choose you over her." Marissa spat out in a heat of courage. She surprised herself. She thought for sure that she would collapse into his arms like always.

"I love her." Marissa quietly said. She chuckled to herself at her accomplishment. She didn't know whether she should break out in tears or laughter from all the relief she felt lift off of her shoulders. Marissa just said the three words that took her so long to say for the first time. She just stood there. A few moments went by before she opened her eyes to see Ryan's reaction.

"Why?" Ryan asked.

That is so not what Marissa expected. That was the most surprising thing that she ever heard come out of Ryan's mouth and it was a simple, one word question. She was taken back and took a moment to respond. "Ummm…W-what?" She stumbled. She honestly thought that he would somehow understand. It was a Ryan thing to do; to understand. She was dead wrong.

"What's so damn lovable about her? What does she have that I don't? Jesus Marissa! She's exactly like me. What's the difference?" Ryan was getting worked up. He turned from understanding to irrational.

"She's not you." Marissa finally found the courage and what she wanted to say to Ryan this whole time. She started getting irritated with his behavior and her tone changed as fast as Ryan's facial expression.

"Never mind. I don't want to hear it. Why don't you go drink some more?"

"That's not fair."

"I tried to get you to stop."

"You're the reason I started in the first place!"

"Oh really?"

"Yeah really! You know what? Fuck this. This isn't the reason I came here."

"Then what was the reason Marissa?" Ryan was losing his temper. He was starting to yell. "Don't. Say. Her. Name." He turned his back to her. His face was violently red.

"What are you gonna do Ryan, punch me? Go ahead. It's better than not having Alex here!" Marissa yelled in his face to provoke him making sure that the last word was the loudest.

That did it. Ryan quickly spun around and wound up blinded by the rage that was building up in him honestly ever since he found out Alex and Marissa were dating so long ago. But suddenly, Seth and Summer came bursting in and Seth dove in front of Marissa and took the punch from Ryan.

"Seth!" Summer yelled. She ran over to his side. "Ryan! What the fuck?"

"You were gonna hit her. You were gonna punch Marissa." Seth stated in shock and pain.

An L.A. Surf Shop

2:00pm

Same Day

Alex, half asleep, was doing damn inventory at work that day. Not only was she tired to the point of exhaustion, but she was doing the most boring part of her job of the week. What a damn coincidence. But it was the first time that she didn't think of any of her problems. Usually, she could just zone out and clear mind. But not lately. She always thought of Marissa and how she was doing, and now her sister. She had to worry about her too. She always worried about Parker. But right now, nothing mattered. It was like she was there, but not really there. Not in her head.

The shop was empty as usual at this time of the day. Only she and another employee were working the shift. "Hayden, I'm going on break. And before you tell me I've only been working an hour, no one is here."

"Okay, but when you come back you're helping to stock this shit."

"Fine."

"Hey, Alex?" Hayden kind of became Alex's new best friend. She was like Jodie before they started going out. But Alex wasn't planning on dating Hayden anytime soon or ever. Before Parker came, Hayden was the only one she had. "Is something bothering you?"

"What? No. I'm fine." Alex gave her a reassuring smile that Hayden didn't buy at all.

"Don't lie to me. I know how to read you. What's up with you?" She asked matter-of-factly with concern in her voice at the same time.

"I don't want to talk about it right now. It's too much at one time. Okay? Please?"

"Okay."

"I'll be back in 20 minutes; I promise." Alex went to her jeep and grabbed her cell out of her pocket. She felt like something was wrong at home so she called to see if Parker was alright. Then she got that feeling at the pit of her stomach that she felt every once and awhile. The feeling was increasing with each passing moment of her life. Now she had two separate feelings that something happened. It was overwhelming her so she quickly dialed her house number. She got even more anxious when she got the answering machine. 'Maybe she was still sleeping. Nothing woke her up. She sleeps like a dead fish.' She thought to herself reasoning with herself that everything was fine. Before she knew it, her break ended 5 minutes ago.

"Alex!" Hayden yelled her name to the parking to get her attention which it did. She guessed that all this had to wait. She was about to get out of the jeep when her cell rang. She looked on the caller ID hoping it would be Parker. But it wasn't. She didn't recognize the number but decided to pick it up anyway while making her way back to the shop.

"Hello?" There was dead silence. Alex knew the person on the other line didn't hang up because there was no click. "Hello?" She asked again with a little annoyance in her voice.

But then something washed over her. She stopped dead. That damn feeling just wouldn't go away. And just then, she realized who the mystery person was who called. The only person she ever wanted to talk to. The one she wanted to be with; forever.

Dial tone.

I am finding out

That maybe I was wrong

That I've fallen down

And I can't do this alone...

Lyrics by: Paramore; My heart.

You'll see them again in future chapters. Okay. Ryan's getting violent. That's the only thing I like about Ryan. Now, I would like to turn you're attention to the Review box thingy down there at the corner. Those reviews feed my ego. It's like the pot for my bong. Help the poor egos. It takes like 15 seconds, minimum. They are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

-Ej