"Well, I hope he likes it." Ryan said, as he and Marissa walked out of South Coast Plaza, after around 2 hours of shopping. Ryan probably could have found the present in around 10 minutes, but as Marissa was with him, she had to look in every single shop, and try on every single item of clothing she could possibly find, it had taken 2 hours.
"Of course he'll like it." Marissa replied, smiling. Ryan had bought Jimmy the World Series Highlights 2004 DVD, because he loved sports. Marissa walked over to her Jeep, and unlocked it. Ryan placed the bag into the back seat, and climbed into the passenger seat next to Marissa. Marissa started backing out of the parking space, but stopped when she heard a huge crash. She looked into her wind mirror.
"SHIT!" She said, climbing frantically out of the car. She had backed out into the car which was just driving by. "Oh my God!" The driver was getting out of the car, and looked angry. Marissa braced herself for a mouthful or two, before the figure turned round, and she saw who it was.
"Lindsay?!" Marissa said, turning to look at Ryan, who in turn looked as shocked as she did.
"Um, hi!" Lindsay replied, trying to smile, but couldn't as looked at the back of her car. "My mum is going to kill me." The bumper was hanging off, and the boot was all smashed up.
"I am so, so sorry!" Marissa apologised profusely. "I'll pay for all of it, it was my entire fault."
"Yeah, you'd better!" Lindsay said, glaring at Marissa. First she was nicking the boy that she liked; now she was crashing her car in to hers?! Lindsey was starting to hate her. Marissa looked up from the cheque book, with a confused look on her face.
"Look, I'm going to pay for it, there's no need to be like that!" Marissa replied, angrily.
"Just give me the cheque!" Lindsay shouted, holding her hand out, before bursting into tears. "Sorry, I'm sorry; I've just had a bad day."
"It's O.K." Marissa said, giving Ryan a weird look whilst tearing off the cheque. "I just need to get my step dad to sign it; can I give it to you tomorrow at school?"
"Yeah, sure." Lindsay looked at her wreck of a car. "Listen, I'm sorry again, for you, know, biting your head off. You know what, I'm just gonna go home"
"Don't worry, just remember, count to ten in your head before you react." Marissa replied. "That's what they told me in therapy. Works for me."
"Um, thanks." Lindsay said. "Well, nice seeing you. Kind of." Ryan laughed nervously as Lindsay climbed back into her car.
"Argh, stupid bitch!" Marissa stated as she watched Lindsay drive off in her beaten up car.
"I guess she can be alright." Ryan replied. "I mean she was alright towards me." He shrugged his shoulders, and opened up Marissa's car door.
"Yeah, that's 'cos she fancies you." Marissa murmured underneath her breath, climbing into her car.
"Sorry, what was that?" Ryan asked.
"Don't worry." Marissa said. "All I'm saying is she seems to hate me, and I haven't even done anything to her."
"Apart from smashing your Jeep into the back of her car?" Ryan answered, smiling. In return he got a 'look' from Marissa. "Look, she's new, she hardly knows anyone, just give her a chance."
"I am." Marissa said, pulling out of the car park.
"Fine, that's fine then." Ryan replied, looking out of the wind mirror. "By the way, you've got a massive dent in the back of your car."
"I know." Marissa replied. "But it's not as if I can't afford a new one. I mean Caleb could go out shopping and come back with three Lamborghini's."
"Don't forget the Porsche." Ryan smiled, and Marissa laughed, pulling back out onto the freeway.
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"Hey Ryan!" Lindsay called out through the crowded hallway, pushing past several students so she could get to him. Ryan turned round, smiling, thinking it was Marissa. When he saw who it was, his face dropped slightly, but regained his composure.
"Um, hi." He replied, opening his locker door, then turning round to face her.
"Listen, I'm really sorry about yesterday, I really shouldn't have been so mean towards Marissa." Lindsay apologised, looking at the floor.
"It's ok, but you should really be telling this to Marissa, not me." Ryan said, grabbing his books.
"Yeah, sorry." Lindsay answered, smiling slightly. "So, I was thinking, are you busy on Saturday night, maybe we could . . .?" Ryan slammed his locker shut, turning fully round.
"Lindsay, I'm with Marissa, didn't you know that?" Ryan said, giving her an angry look. "So, no I can't go out with you on Saturday."
"I was just wondering…"
"Well, quit wondering, O.K.?" Ryan replied. "We're friends, nothing more, as I said before, Marissa's my girlfriend, and I don't think that's going to change." He shrugged his shoulders, and looked past her, catching sight of Marissa. "Sorry, got to go." He jogged past her to catch up with Marissa.
"Hey you." He put his arms around her waist, making her jump.
"Ryan?!" Marissa turned round. "Don't do that, you scared me!" She laughed, and pulled his arms round her gently, while he leaned in to kiss her.
"Next time, I'll make it more like that." He smiled.
"You got it." She returned his smile as they walked down the hallway. "Oh hey, have you seen Lindsay? I need to give her the insurance money. Caleb signed the cheque last night."
"Uh, yeah, I was just talking to her." Ryan turned back round to where his locker was, but she had gone. "I think she's gone."
"Well, I honestly don't know why I'm even bothering." Marissa answered. "She acts so weird around me, like she's jealous of me or something. I don't even know why." Ryan simply nodded his head, agreeing.
"Yeah, she is kind of, I don't know, out of place?" He said, he thought for a minute. Should he tell Marissa about his previous conversation? Marissa and him had a strictly 'no secrets' promise to each other, so he felt he should, besides she knew he loved her. "You know, she just came up to me and asked me out."
"What?!" Marissa answered, flying around angrily. "But, doesn't she know we're together?"
"Yeah, well she does now. I set her straight, don't worry." Ryan said, rubbing his hands up and down her arms to calm her. "And anyway, you know you're the only girl I want." Marissa smiled a little and Ryan smiled back at her. "Nothings gonna change that, right?"
"Right." Marissa replied, Ryan taking her hand. "Sorry, I just over-react sometimes. Hey Ry, you did say no, right?" She asked.
"Of course! What do you take me for, huh?" Ryan replied, laughing. "I get no credit round here these days!" Marissa pushed him jokily through the door to their science lab.
"Well, good." Marissa said, setting her bag down on the nearest desk. "'Cos I love you, and nothings gonna change that right?" She smiled, sitting down, patting the chair next to her for Ryan.
"Definitely." Ryan said, sitting down. "'Cos I happen to love you too."
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"So are you guys up for it?" Seth asked, as Ryan, Marissa and he sat down next to him at lunch.
"Up for what?" Marissa answered, taking a sip of her orange juice.
"Didn't Ryan tell you?" Seth replied. "I got tickets for Journey. They're playing at The Bait Shop."
"Really?!" Marissa said, looking at Ryan. "Aren't they like your favourite band?" Ryan nodded his head.
"Yep, they are." Ryan replied. "Should be fun."
"So, is it just us?" Marissa asked. "Or are you bringing anyone? Hey why don't you invite Summer?"
"Um, actually, I have a supposed 'date'." Seth said, leaning back in his chair, eating his chips.
"Oh yeah, and who might that be with?" Summer cut into their conversation, pulling up a chair so she could join them. "Hey Coop."
"Hey, we were just finding out who exactly Seth has a date with." Marissa replied, looking expectantly at Seth.
"Well…her name is Alex." Seth answered; he could feel Summer's eyes boring into his. "She works at The Bait Shop."
"The Bait Shop?" Summer replied, rolling her eyes. "Ew!" Seth laughed sarcastically.
"Ha! So Summer, are you and Zach going?" Seth said. "Oh, no, no don't tell me. Zach's too busy shaving his chest to go out, right? Am I right?"
"So what if he is?" Summer replied. "At least he has chest hair to shave." Marissa laughed, and Summer smirked at Seth, whilst Ryan sat and watched the 'friendly' exchange silently as usual.
"So, Summer do you want to come?" Marissa asked, glancing at Seth, who was fidgeting around incessantly, glaring at Marissa.
"You know what?" Summer replied. "Cohen, I would absolutely love to. Journey are like so cool." Seth rolled his eyes, mouthing 'thanks' sarcastically to Marissa. Ryan laughed, and Summer looked at Seth.
"Sorry, am I missing something?" Summer asked, Seth shook his head. "O.K., well if you could get me a ticket Cohen, seeing as your best buddies with the manager, that would be good."
"Yep." Seth replied. "I'll get you one tomorrow." Summer smiled brightly, and turned to Marissa.
"So, English next Coop." Summer looked down at her watch. "We should get going."
"Yeah, sure." Marissa grabbed her bag, leaning down to kiss Ryan's cheek. "I'll see you after school. Love you." She whispered into his ear, while he smiled and repeated the words back at her. The girls walked off to lessons, and left Ryan and Seth too finish their lunch.
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"Dude, your girlfriend totally sucks." Seth said as he and Ryan sat down for a game on the Playstation. Ryan looked at him.
"And why's that?" Ryan replied, grabbing a controller. "I don't think she does."
"Well, why did she have to invite Summer to the concert?" Seth said, changing the disc in the console.
"Um, because she thought you would like her to go?" Ryan replied. "Come on, man, you've loved her since forever."
"And since that time, I've realized she's way too good for me." Seth answered. "I mean, me and her? Seriously, people have laughed when they see us together."
"Well, maybe you just need to prove yourself." Ryan said. "You know, that there's more to Seth Cohen than comic books and Playstation." Seth looked up.
"But there's not." Seth replied. He started pressing the buttons frantically as he normally did when he was playing the Playstation.
"Sure there is." Sandy appeared at the doorway, and walked over to sit down. "I mean, what girl wouldn't want this fine specimen of a man?"
"Seems like Summer wouldn't." Seth answered. Ryan leant back on the sofa, finishing the game.
"Seth, all you need to have is some lessons in love." Sandy said, taking a sip of his water that was on the table. "And who better than me and Ryan, the womanizers of the house." He finished his sentence, and looked up, seeing Kirsten glaring at him from the kitchen. "Well, Ryan's the womanizer, I'm the loving husband."
"Sure you are, Dad." Seth sighed, shaking his head at his father. "Just face it, I do not take after you in the subject of women."
"You can learn." Sandy replied. "You need to figure out the meaning of 'playing hard to get'."
"Definitely worked for me." Ryan said, sitting down at the dining room table.
"What? When?" Seth asked, sliding in beside him, grabbing his glass and pouring himself some water.
"Well, when Marissa was with Luke, it made me want her even more." Ryan replied. "If that makes sense."
"Son, what Ryan is trying to say is, if Summer sees you with this Alice…"
"Alex, Dad, Alex." Seth shook his head yet again. "Please, if you're trying to explain, just get it right."
"O.K, O.K, Alex then, if Summer sees you with Alex, maybe she'll realize what she's missing." Sandy finished his sentence.
"You guys, I don't think you're giving very good advice here. .." Kirsten said, from the oven, trying to save her chicken.
"No, no, Mother, I think they're actually onto something." Seth said. "Summer sees me and Alex, I dunno, maybe kissing, she realizes she still loves me, I still love her, and we'll have a happy ending just like in the movies." Seth sat back, contented, just as the fire alarm started beeping. "And I'm guessing… dinners ready?" Sandy laughed as Kirsten gave up trying to cook and picked up the phone.
"Everyone okay with pizza?"
A/N : Next chapter :- Jimmy's party… It's gonna exciting!! Lol, I promise you secrets will be revealed!!! Oh, and more Ryan/Marissa fluff! I can't get enough of them!