The First Step

"When are you going to do it dude?" Seth asked not taking his eyes of the TV.

"Soon." Ryan said.

Ryan and Seth we're in the Cohen's living room playing Playstation and Ryan was so distracted he was losing.

"I can't believe you're going to propose to Marissa." Seth said as he won the game.

"Me neither." Ryan replied as he set down his controller.

Seth shut off the TV and turned to Ryan, "But you and Marissa are meant to be together. If she's not the one then no one is.

Ryan smiled and gave Seth a pat on the back. "Thanks man." He said as he got up off the couch. "Marissa and Summer are going to be here soon. If you say anything to Summer, I'll kill you." He said, giving Seth a warning look.

"Bro, let's not resort to violence. But I will try and keep it a secret, though I'm not promising anything." Seth said walking off towards the kitchen.

"Thanks. That's so reassuring." Ryan replied sarcastically. He went into the pool house to get changed. Tonight the friends were going to the Kick Off Carnival. It had been three years since they graduated but Marissa's sister Kaitlin was Social Chair and she had planned the carnival.

Ryan had just taken off his shirt when he heard the door to the pool house open. He turned around to see Marissa standing there.

"Sorry." She said.

"It's ok. You're my girlfriend, I don't care." He assured her. She walked over to him and gave him a kiss on the lips.

"So, almost ready to go?" Marissa asked as she sat down on Ryan's bed.

"Just about." Ryan said as he pulled a shirt over his head. He grabbed his jacket off the hook and opened the door for Marissa. She got up off the bed and went out the door. Ryan took her hand and they walked together into the house.

"Where are Summer and Seth?" Ryan asked her.

"Upstairs. I think Princess Sparkle and Captain Oats missed each other." Marissa said and they both laughed. Marissa sat down on the couch and Ryan sat down beside her.

"I love you." Marissa said quietly.

"I love you too." Ryan said, kissing her softly.

Summer and Seth came running down the stairs and the couple stopped kissing.

"Ready to go?" Summer asked walking to the front door, Seth just behind her.

"Yeah." Marissa and Ryan said together as they too headed for the door.

"Who's driving?" Seth asked as the approached the car.

"Me." Ryan said as he opened the passenger door for Marissa. Summer and Seth got into the back. Then Ryan quickly undid his seatbelt. "I'll be right back." He said as he ran into the house. He ran out to the pool house and unlocked the door. He ran to the stand beside his bed and took a blue velvet box from it. He opened it and smiled, inside was a diamond ring. It was a white gold band covered in little diamonds with a large circular diamond in the middle. Ryan quickly closed the box and put it into his coat pocket and ran out to the car.

"Ok let's go." He said as he got back in the car. He put his seatbelt back on and started the car.

"Do you guys want to see a movie tomorrow?" Summer asked as soon as they pulled out of the driveway.

"Sure. But let's not see a sad one. Seth might cry again." Marissa said with a grin. Ryan, Summer, and Marissa all started laughing.

"I was having an allergic reaction!" Seth cried out.

"Whatever Cohen." Summer said as she stopped laughing.

The four friends arrived at the Carnival and got out of the car. Ryan took Marissa's hand and Seth took Summer's. They walked around looking at all the games and food stands.

"I'm starving. Let's get something to eat." Seth said, looking at the hamburgers and fries.

They all chipped in and bought an extra large order of fries and 3 bags of mini doughnuts. They sat down at a table and dug into the food.

After about half an hour, Marissa stood up. "I'm gonna go find Kaitlin."

"I'll come." Ryan said to Marissa, standing up as well.

"You guys don't want to go on the rides?" Seth asked pretending to be hurt.

"Ryan doesn't like heights." Marissa reminded them. Ryan gave Marissa a fake insulted look. Seth and Summer went towards the direction of the rides while Ryan and Marissa went to find Kaitlin.

"Where would she be?" Marissa asked, but before Ryan could answer they saw Marissa's younger sister coming towards them.

"Hey Marissa, Ryan." Kaitlin said, "Do you like it?"

"It's great!" Marissa said looking around.

"Looks just like it did when we we're in school." Ryan added.

"Thanks." Kaitlin said as she beamed. This was the first thing she had planned as Social Chair.

Then a girl with long black hair came running up to Kaitlin. "Kaitlin," She panted, "We need some help!"

"What's wrong Sarah?" Kaitlin asked worriedly.

"We're out of ice cream! The customers are getting angry!" Sarah said quickly.

"There's some in the freezer. I'll go and get it." Kaitlin said hurrying off. "Bye guys. Have fun!" She called to Ryan and Marissa over her shoulder.

Then Marissa turned to Ryan, "Would you like to go on the Ferris Wheel with me?" She asked.

"Sure." Ryan said. He was terrified of heights but he only ever went on because Marissa wanted to and that was where they had their first kiss.

They walked towards the Ferris Wheel and got in line. "Remember the first time we rode on this?" Marissa asked.

"Yeah." Ryan said. He could remember that night as though it was yesterday.

Marissa and Ryan got onto the next seat and Ryan put the bar down. The ride started moving and Ryan held Marissa's hand. Ryan couldn't think clearly because so many thoughts were going through his head. He wanted to propose to Marissa now. He didn't care if they were on a Ferris Wheel, or that there were hundreds of people around. He just knew that this was the perfect place. It was where their relationship had started.

The ride had stopped and the couple was stuck on the top. Ryan turned to Marissa. "Marissa," He said.

"Yeah." She said turning towards him.

"I love you so much. I know we've been through a lot together but we made it through. I've seen you at your worst and at your best but I loved you no matter what. I can't imagine my life without you, you complete me, Marissa, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Ryan told Marissa.

All Marissa could was smile. She could feel tears in her eyes. She couldn't believe what Ryan was telling her.

Ryan pulled the box out of his jacket and opened it. "Marissa, will you marry me?" Ryan asked, taking the ring out of the box and holding it up to Marissa. He could see she was starting to cry.

"Yes! Of course I will!" Marissa cried out.

Ryan slipped the ring onto her finger and then he kissed her.

"I love you." Marissa said quietly.

"I love you too." Ryan said. He pulled Marissa into a tight embrace. When they let go Marissa looked down at her ring.

"It's beautiful." She sighed.

"Just like you." Ryan told her, looking into her beautiful blue eyes. Marissa leaned in and kissed him again.

"This is the best carnival ever." She whispered.

"Yeah. It is." Ryan replied.

The ride stopped and Ryan and Marissa had to get off.

"I have to tell Summer!" Marissa said desperately. She grabbed Ryan's hand and hurried off, dragging him behind her.

Marissa searched for Summer and finally found her coming off the Tilt-A-Whirl with Seth. "Summer!" She called out, and then waved with her free hand.

"Hey Marissa, Ryan." Summer said.

Then Seth came behind her, "Summer, no more rides. I feel sick." He said holding his stomach.

"Cohen, you went on one ride!" Summer said, rolling her eyes.

"Guess what?" Marissa asked excitedly. She was smiling and her eyes were twinkling.

"What? You know I hate surprises." Summer said folding her arms.

"We're engaged!" Marissa cried out.

"Oh my god!" Summer cried out just as loud. She practically jumped on Marissa and hugged her.

"Wow dude you did it! I didn't think you were going to do it tonight!" Seth said hugging Ryan.

Summer stopped hugging Marissa and turned to Seth. "You knew Cohen! And you didn't tell me?" She said and hit him in the arm.

"Ryan promised me not to tell you!" Seth told her, rubbing his arm.

Summer rolled her eyes at Seth and turned to Marissa. "Let's see your ring Coop. Wow; I won't be able to call you that anymore!" Marissa lifted her hand and Summer took hold of it. "Wow! It's gorgeous! Well Chino, you have better taste than I thought."

"Of course he does. He's marrying me!" Marissa joked.

Ryan turned towards her and smiled. "I know."

"What do you want to do now?" Seth asked the group.

"Let's go back home." Marissa said.

They all got back in the car and Ryan started driving. "I still can't believe you guys are engaged!" Summer said as they left the parking lot.

"I know. Now you're my fiancé." Marissa said looking down at her ring.

Ryan and Marissa were in the pool house kissing on the bed. It was about 1 o'clock in the morning. It was way past Marissa's curfew and she would be in big trouble.

"I wish I didn't have to go." She said.

"You don't have to. Stay here tonight." Ryan told her.

"Ok. But what will I sleep in?" Marissa asked. She didn't want to sleep in jeans and a designer shirt.

"You can wear my bathrobe." Ryan said, getting off the bed and going to the bathroom. He took his robe off the hook and brought it to Marissa.

"Thanks." She said as he handed it to her. She took off her jeans and shirt and threw the robe on. They got underneath the blankets and Ryan reached over to turn off the light. Marissa moved closer and Ryan put his arms around her.

"Goodnight." Marissa said.

"Goodnight."