The weekend passed with no major incidents, and soon Monday rolled around, and Joan and Luke were back at school, and Kevin and Will were back at work. Helen had taken some time off while they had guests. Will and Kevin had managed to scrape a week off, toward the end of the Cohen's visit, which was going to last around three weeks.

On the Monday morning, Helen was having a hard time coaxing her children to go to school. They seemed to think that school was second to time spent with long lost second-cousins.

Helen had to admit she was getting worried about how Joan was acting around Ryan; all flirty and happy. Was it legal for them to be in love? Technically they weren't related, but they were in a round-a-bout way. She put the thought out of her head, and tried to concentrate on more pressing issues. Like trying to keep Kirsten occupied.

Kirsten was the kind of spoilt, perfectionist, rich girl Helen had never been. Kirsten had good looks, wealth, and a house on the most desirable piece of beach in the country. Finding activities to keep her happy was difficult. Rock-climbing – too much work involved. Hiking – way too much nature. Driving around – yeah, right, in Helen's beat up old car. She couldn't think of anything.

Seth followed his mothers footsteps quit closely from what Helen understood. Sandy wasn't much better. Kirsten's influence must have rubbed off on him. However, Ryan had been perfectly happy and thankful the whole time. Helen didn't know his story, about how he came to live at the Cohen's, but she was getting the vibe he didn't like to talk about it.

Ryan himself was also not coping too well with his foster family. He knew they were used to a more luxurious life then what the Girardi's had, but he didn't see why that gave them a right to be down-right rude. Ryan on several occasions had pulled Seth aside to remind him about manners, or to help Helen with the dishes.

Ryan was also worried about Joan. He knew she was trying to crack onto him, but he didn't have the heart to tell her about Marissa.

On Monday night, Joan and Luke asked Ryan and Seth to the movies. They told them their friends Grace and Adam were going. When Adam's name was mentioned, Joan turned a severe shade of red, but she said nothing.

So at six o'clock, the four kids caught the bus and met up with Grace and Adam at the entrance to the cinema. They went into the darkened room and sat waiting for the movie to start.

Seth wasn't sure what to think of Adam and Grace. Adam seemed as if he was on drugs – you know, just not with it. And Grace seemed rather…ambiguous. At least in the movies people don't have to try to make conversation, just sit and watch a movie.

They were half-way into a crappy kung-fu movie when Ryan's phone went off. After cursing himself for being such a knob for not turning off his phone, Ryan excused himself and answered it.

Surprisingly it was Marissa.

"Hey babe," was the greeting she used.

"Uh…hey," Ryan replied.

"I've got a surprise for you!" she squealed excitedly.

"What's that?"

"Guess!"

"Uh…"

"Oh you'll never guess!" she said hastily.

Ryan thought to himself, of course I wouldn't.

"I'm in Arcania…wait, Aracdia. Yeah that's it."

"What?" said Ryan in disbelief.

"I'm in Arcadia!"

"Yes I heard that bit; I meant, why are you in Arcadia?"

"Oh I was bored in boring O.C. so I decided to go on a road trip to visit your aunt or whatever she is. She seems nice!"

"Okay…" said Ryan slowly.

"Oh, I thought you'd be excited," she said disappointedly.

"No, I am, it's just a bit…unexpected, that's all."

"Oh…"

"Where are you now?" he asked.

"I'm at Helen and Will's,"

"Oh. Are they cool with you staying there?" he asked.

"I think so. They didn't freak out. Only problem is I don't know where I can sleep. All the rooms in this tiny house are taken,"

"Listen Marissa, I'm coming home now. Just wait okay?" said Ryan.

"Okay, love you,"

"Love you too,"

Ryan hung up in a state of shock. It wasn't that he didn't want Marissa there; just that he wasn't prepared for her. She was a bit like a cyclone; okay if you were prepared. He quickly ducked in to tell Seth what was going on.

"Oh, tough man, it's a good movie," said Seth when Ryan told him he was leaving.

"Yeah, just your cup of tea, ninja's and women in bikini's,"

"What can I say, I like my kung-fu…"

Ryan left the cinema in a state of disgust. Seth knew how to act completely inappropriately when he really doesn't need to.

Ryan waited for the 7.45 bus. He hopped on and waited for five stops, and then got off and walked the rest of the way to Helen's house.

He entered the door, and saw Marissa sitting at the kitchen table, talking with Kevin and someone who was presumably his girlfriend. When he entered the room, she jumped up and yelled "Ryan!" She gave him a big hug, and then told him to sit down.

"How was the movie?" asked Kevin.

Ryan shrugged half-heartedly.

"Oh, okay. Ninja's not your thing?"

Another shrug.

"Well, Ryan this is Beth, my girlfriend, and Beth this is my…well, I'm not sure what the proper title is, but we'll just say cousin, Ryan."

"Nice to meet you," said Beth sweetly.

"Thank you. Nice to meet you too."

The young adults started talking amongst themselves until the others returned home, including Grace. Adam had already gone straight home, so Luke, Grace and Joan just went straight to bed. Ryan asked Marissa, "You want to hit the sack?"

"Whoa, you sound like a real country hick! You'll fit right in here! Okay, let's go."

Ryan tried to hide his blushing face. They walked up the stairs, and stopped halfway up.

Ryan stood and stared at Marissa. She had a dangerous glint in her eye that made him think of what she was like around Alex; wild, spontaneous and untouchable. What was Marissa really doing in town?