Title: Everybody's Changing

Summary: A Ryan/Marissa fic. Set summer before/early S3. Marissa moves to New York, what happens with her and Ryan's relationship a year later?

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing, characters and sections of plots are from the writers and producers of the show.

AN: This is my first attempt at writing a fanfic- so please go easy on me. Reviews are appreciated; I'm always up for advice and new opinions. There isn't much of a plot to this story so far but I promise it will develop in the next few chapters.

Chapter 2

The next morning Marissa woke up in her room on her queen size canopy bed. She would've much better preferred waking up next to Ryan, but she thought that her parents would probably get mad at her for not being home two nights in row. Slowly, she rolled out of bed and got dressed. As she made her way towards the kitchen she saw Julie and Jimmy at the table, talking seriously.

As she stepped into clear view her mom said, "Oh good, you're up. Marissa we need to have a serious talk."

Oh god, that didn't sound very good.

"Um, did I do something wrong?" Marissa questioned sliding into a chair opposite from her dad.

"Well, not exactly," she paused. "I know you were planning on going back to Harbor this fall, but maybe it's not such a good idea."

"What?" Marissa asked, snapping to attention. "Why!"

"Oh come on, Marissa. You know this town, people gossip. It's going to be impossible to go back to school without everyone talking about you and the teachers thinking you're a criminal."

"I don't care what people say or how they think of me. I want to go to school and enjoy my senior year with my friends."

"Sweetie, you just don't understand. No one's going to treat you the same anymore, not even your friends or boyfriend."

"Ryan loves me."

"You shot his brother!"

"Yeah, and I saved Ryan's life!"

"Look, Marissa, you're too young to understand. Your father and I know what's best for you. And honestly I think you should be spending a little less time with Ryan."

"Where are you suggesting that I should go to school then, not like that's going to stop everyone's gossip?"

"We're moving to New York City."

"But, no! We can't move. Newport's my home!"

"Marissa, we're doing this for you. We want you to have a fresh start where you won't be judged and no one has to know that you shot a guy."

"I don't want a fresh start. I want to stay here. And you moving me to the other side of the country is not going to keep me from Ryan."

"I'm sorry, but we've already made the decision. The movers are coming for our things tomorrow morning and we're taking a flight tomorrow afternoon."

Marissa couldn't stop the tears streaming down her face as she ran out of the house and onto the street. She walked quickly with her head bent, not daring to lift it until she found herself in front of the Cohen's house. She scurried around to the pool house as fast as her flip flops could carry her.

Marissa went up to the door and knocked, noticing her tear-stained reflection.

"Hold on," she heard Ryan's groggy voice mumble.

When he got to the door he was still rubbing his eyes, but immediately woke up when he saw Marissa's face.

"What's wrong?"

"I...we're..." she started but her uncontrollable sobs made it hard for her to get out the words.

Ryan slid his arm around her shoulders and guided her to the bed. Marissa paused and sniffled.

"I...we're...mo... we're moving to New York," she managed to spit out before bursting into fresh sobs.

"What! Why?" Ryan asked trying to suppress his anger and sadness.

After her cries calmed down a bit she said, "My parents say that I need a fresh start and that everyone here is always going to view me as a criminal and they don't want me near you."

"I'm so sorry," he said pulling Marissa into a hug.

"I don't want to go. I can't leave the school and Summer and Seth and especially you."

"I know, I don't want you to leave. But maybe this is for the best."

"What?" Marissa asked sliding out of his embrace.

"Marissa, if anyone deserves a fresh start it's you. If you stay in Newport things will never be like the way they were before. I think you'll be unhappy here."

"So you want me to leave? I thought you loved me."

"I do love you, so much. That's why I think you should go to New York. It would be selfish if I told you to stay just for me."

"I can't believe you, Ryan," she felt the tears coming again. "I came here thinking that you would want me to stay and help me find someway to get around moving. Instead you agree with my parents! You want what's best for me? What's best for me is to stay in Newport!"

Marissa abruptly got up and stormed out of the pool house. Ryan sighed and leaned back on his bed. I really don't want Marissa to leave. But I still want what's best for her and now she's mad at me for wanting so.

It was later that night that Ryan found Marissa sitting in their lifeguard stand staring out into the ocean. Her eyes were red and her face was tear- stained but Ryan still thought she looked beautiful.

"Hey," he said coming to sit next to her.

"Hi," Marissa wiped at her face.

"I'm sorry. It's just that--"

"It's okay; you don't have to apologize for anything. If anyone should be apologizing, then it should be me."

She glanced at Ryan wondering if he was going to say something and when he didn't she took this as a cue to continue.

"Like you tried to say earlier, you just want what's best for me. But I'm so tired of everyone saying that they 'want what's best for me.' I mean shouldn't I have say in what's going on in my life?"

"Marissa, I'm not trying to tell you what to do or how you should live your life. I just want you to be happy and I really do think that you deserve a chance to start over."

"But if I leave Newport, I'll also be leaving you behind."

"I know it's going to be tough, but when you go to New York it might be better not to feel tied down to me. We'll be on different sides of the country and I would hate for you to miss out on opportunities because you're thinking of me here."

"Are you breaking up with me?"

"Basically," he paused. "Yeah. But I love you and that's why I think we should break up."

"But once I move to New York will you still love me?"

"I know it sounds cheesy but, Marissa, I'll never stop loving you."

Ryan gave her a long kiss, savoring the feeling, knowing that he might never feel it again.

He walked away, leaving Marissa to sit where she was crying fresh tears, thinking of what lay ahead for her.

The next afternoon Marissa was in the backseat of her car pulling away from the driveway and looked behind her. She was hoping that Ryan would be there, so she could have one last glance, but he wasn't and her heart sank. And for what felt like the millionth time, she cried.
I hope you guys liked this chapter! It was brief, but at least it was slightly more eventful than the last chapter. Geez, I had Marissa cry a lot :P Anyways, Thanks for the reviews I've gotten so far! I'm glad that some people like my story even if I've only written two chapters. Anyways, I hope to update soon and I might fit a S/S side to this fanfic!

- Margot