Title: Everybody's Changing

Summary: A Ryan/Marissa fic. Set summer before/early S3, then a year later, and then another 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.

One year later...

Ryan was walking on the beach and plopped himself down in the sand. He looked out into the ocean thinking about the previous summer. Lindsay had told him to make up with Marissa after the difficult conversation they had earlier. He floated through the summer wondering if he should just go find Marissa and apologize but it became harder to bring himself to do so as more days passed.

So as the end of his vacation came to an end he went off to UCLA and tried to keep his mind off of his former girlfriend. But it was impossible for his thoughts to not drift to Marissa whether he was sitting in class, studying, or out at a club with his friends. Ryan had no clue where she was or what she had been doing for the past year. He was hoping that she'd be back in Newport for the next few months and then finally he might be able to get her back.

Marissa was walking on the beach and headed for her lifeguard stand. It was difficult to be back in the same place where Ryan had once claimed that he'd always love her and then explained a year later that they could never be. It broke her heart to end things so badly with the guy that she was and still is in love with.

About a week after they talked Marissa decided to head back to New York where she was staying with some of her friends from her old school. As fall rolled around she attended college at NYU. She did all that she could to stop thinking about Ryan. Marissa found her old self emerging as she downed a shot of vodka followed by many more when she went out partying every night. She considered downing some painkillers to clear her mind of her still growing troubles, but realized that this time there wouldn't be Ryan to save her. Marissa closed her eyes trying to forget these not so proud moments. When she opened them again, there he was.

Ryan was wearing jeans and a t-shirt and he looked untidier than usual, like something had been bothering him lately Marissa noticed. She stood up and nervously walked towards him.

"Hey," she said keeping her hands in the pockets of her jean jacket.

"Hi," he replied, seeming just as anxious as she did.

"Umm... how have you been?"

"I've been doing okay. I just arrived here from L.A. a few hours ago."

"Oh, so you've been living in L.A. for the past year?"

"Yeah, I go to UCLA," trying to see if Marissa looked surprised at this news. She didn't. "So how have you been?"

"I was at NYU for the past year. I think that I'm staying here, in Newport, for the summer."

"Cool."

There was an awkward silence while Ryan squinted out into the ocean and Marissa looked down at the sand.

"So," he said finally. "This is kind of awkward."

"Yeah, just a little." she paused. "It's just that we used to be so normal around each other. I guess we've changed," the words came pouring out of her mouth before she had time to decide whether or not to say them.

"Well of course we've changed. Marissa, you were my girlfriend 2 years ago and now I don't even know what we are. Our last conversation didn't exactly clear things up."

Marissa let out a sigh and plopped down in the sand. "I wish we didn't end things that way."

Ryan followed suit and sat down waiting for her to say something more.

"Even if we aren't going out anymore, I just want to know that you don't hate me."

"Why would I hate you?" he asked with confusion.

"I don't know. I guess I screwed things up for you. I ruined your relationship with Lindsay last summer. And there was the whole mess with Trey that summer before," her eyes were tearing up a bit as she looked everywhere except at Ryan. "I guess the summer isn't when I'm at my finest," she joked.

"Look, Marissa, I don't hate you. I never could no matter how much damage you think you've caused. And believe me; you haven't screwed my life up."

She sniffled.

"You know, I think that one of the reasons our relationship didn't really survive is because of what we didn't talk about. About Trey and... the shooting and everything."

"I keep on wondering what would've happened if I never shot him."

"If you never shot him, I would be dead," he said as Marissa finally looked Ryan in the eye.

"So you don't still hold what happened against me?"

"I never did and I still don't hold it against you."

"But you said that's why our relationship didn't work."

"No, I don't mean we broke up because you shot my brother. I think we broke up because we never talked about it and just held all of our emotions in."

"Oh, now it makes more sense. I've been wondering the past year what ever happened to us?"

"People change, we just grew apart."

"I agree with you about the change part. Back when I first met you I could barely get you to talk to me," Marissa smiled remembering that night as the conversation shifted from serious to light hearted.

"I didn't talk because I didn't know what to say to you," he smiled back. "You looked so beautiful and perfect; I was worried that anything I might say would sound stupid."

She laughed. "God, that feels like such a long time ago."

"I know. We were so young and carefree back then."

"Oh come on, we're not some geezers with boring lives. We're 20 years old; we still have the rest of our lives to live and lots more drama to see."

"What do you say we go be carefree, then?" Ryan asked offering his hand out to Marissa.

She placed her hand in his and got to her feet.

Before she knew it Ryan had picked her up and ran into the ocean, getting them both soaked. They laughed and joked around as Marissa took this opportunity to dunk him under the waves. It was almost like they had never left off from when she had moved to New York.

"I can't believe you!" Marissa squealed laying down on the sand, to catch her breath and let the sun dry her off.

"I'm just reliving our past experiences- although they usually involve the pool at the Cohens' instead of the Pacific Ocean," he joked thinking about their sort- of date 2 years ago.

"Well if you are so into re-enacting our old times, what do you say we hang at the diner?"

"Sure, but let's dry off first."

"So," Marissa started once they were dry and settled into their old booth. "How was L.A.?"

"It was good. For once in my life I don't hate school," he said as Marissa feigned shock.

"Geez, what's next? Will Ryan Atwood move back to Newport so he can join the water polo team?" Marissa laughed.

"Not before you come back and join Seth's old comic book club," he joked back.

"Good chance neither of those things are gonna happen," she smiled at Ryan.

Ryan smiled back and said, "Now that we're in college, I miss high school. The good old times when me, you, Seth, and Summer were inseparable."

"Well, Seth and Summer still are inseparable. I saw them in New York- I think they're thinking about moving there next semester."

"Really? I can't believe that they've stayed together all of these years, even though all that Zach/comic book drama."

"Well I guess some couples are just stronger than others," Marissa said looking up from her milkshake and into Ryan's eyes.

Sorry I haven't updated in a while! I hope you guys liked this chapter and thanks so much for reading and reviewing :)

-Margot