Title: Everybody's Changing

Summary: A Ryan/Marissa fic. Set summer before/early S3, and the summers after.

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.

Marissa slowly opened her eyes and smiled expecting that the arms holding her belonged to Ryan. But when she turned and looked for Ryan's face so that she could wake him with a kiss, she found Shane instead. The night came flashing back to her. She and Shane drove down to this abandoned house to talk and they ending up kissing. It didn't go father than that since she fell asleep, but she still felt so guilty.

She quietly stood up trying not to wake Shane, and went outside to stand on the attached deck that looked over the ocean. What have I done? How could I do this to Ryan? Ugh, I always screw things up between us no matter how much we changed. And why did I fall for Shane again? He has a way of making me forget about Ryan and I end up just giving into him instead.

Marissa was too pissed off and confused to cry, so instead she was just standing there tearing herself up on the inside. I need to see Ryan and explain everything. Maybe he'll forgive me she hoped. I mean me and Shane didn't do more than kiss, so he can't be too angry with me, right?

Her thoughts were interrupted when Shane walked up next to her and slid his arm around her waist. "Good morning," he said trying to peck her lips but Marissa turned her head so he got her cheek instead. "What's wrong?"

"Umm...about us, I think that last night was a mistake."

"How so?"

"Well we kissed. You and I both know perfectly well that I have a boyfriend who I love."

"Marissa, don't act like the kiss was all my doing. I admit I leaned in first but you definitely didn't pull back or stop kissing me back."

"I was just confused, okay? Everything has just been happening so fast lately. I don't know where my head was last night."

"Come on, Marissa. You know that we're meant to be together."

"No we're not, I'm sorry. Can you please just take me home?"

No matter how pissed Shane was at her right now, he couldn't just abandon her out there.

"Fine. But just so you know, if things don't work out and you want me back I might not return the favor anymore."

"I'm willing to take that chance, just can we please drive?"

Shane pulled the car into reverse and they were soon back on the highway. The wind whipped through Marissa's long dirty blond hair as her worries continued to circle inside her head.

After what seemed like an eternity, they were a block away from the Cohen's house.

"You can let me out here," she said. She didn't want Ryan and Shane to get into some sort of showdown over her.

"Thanks, Shane. Bye," Marissa said as she slid out of the car and broke into a run down the street.

She was breathless by the time she reached the pool house, but that didn't stop her from opening the door and running over to kiss the still sleeping Ryan. He kissed her back with his eyes still closed and when he opened them he saw Marissa smiling widely at him.

"I missed you," she whispered to Ryan who was now sitting up and fully awake.

"I missed you, too," he replied reaching up to pull her down next to him.

Marissa hugged Ryan tightly and nestled her chin onto his shoulder.

"Wow, it's not that I'm not excited to see you or anything but why the sudden "never let go" attitude?" he joked.

"Do I really need a reason?" she asked kissing Ryan once more.

"Hmm... I guess not," he said as they laid back on his bed and continued to kiss.

"So," Ryan said after they had come up for air and were now sitting side by side propped up on their elbows. "I'm guessing that last night went well."

"Well, yeah I guess. I think that Shane is finally giving up, which means that there's nothing standing in our way anymore."

"Really?"

"Yep, we can finally have a real relationship," Marissa smiled.

"So, nothing else happened between you two?"

"What do you mean?" she asked even though she knew perfectly well what he meant.

"Did you kiss him?"

"Ryan, I can't believe that you'd ask me something like that," Marissa tried avoiding answering him.

"Marissa, just please look me in the eye and tell me that you didn't kiss him."

She looked anywhere but at him- she couldn't handle lying to him. Finally she managed to stumble out at a whisper, "I- I can't."

Ryan stood up and looked seriously pissed off.

"You keep on wanting me to trust you, but how can I when every time I let my guard down you betray me?" he said, in a more confused tone than an angry one.

"Ryan, I'm so sorry. The kiss meant nothing, I swear," the tears started to roll down her face.

He still had a hurt expression on his face that didn't soften at hearing her say that.

"Please, tell me that you forgive me."

"I don't know if I can. Marissa, I'm so tired of always getting hurt. We spend more time arguing or trying to get through things; we barely have time to be just a normal, happy couple."

"Hey, it's not like you're the only one who gets hurt in this relationship. And so what if we have a few more troubles than most people do, I thought that since we got through everything together we were a stronger couple. But I guess I thought wrong."

Marissa didn't want Ryan to see her upset any longer, so she stormed out of the pool house and headed for her lifeguard stand.

Sorry it took me so long to get the new chapter up! I completely forgot about this fanfic in the past few weeks. Anyways, this will probably be one of the last chapters. I'm not exactly sure yet how the story will end but it will be soon. Thanks always for the reviews :)

-Margot