Summary: Marissa made the spur-of-the-moment choice to make a left turn and head to the Cohen's to talk with Seth. Now at the Cohen's she gets a surprise she wasn't expecting.

Story Notes: Continues right after Marissa's drive. This act also includes Ryan and Sandy.

Title taken from the song "Twisted Logic" by Coldplay.

Disclaimer: Frick, Frack, Fic. Last season the O.C. writer was a tic, but not really a prick so I won't steal his characters. I'll only borrow them, put them on loan.

Random Notes: Ok, the act I titled Moody Monday. I finally figured out where I got the inspiration for the title. It was from the song "Moody Mooday" by Damien Rice. I just happened to be going through some lyrics and there it was. And it was such the perfect song to fit that act. You should really seek out the lyrics. You'll surely agree. Oh and BTW, I accidentally said the title for "The Other Way" came from a Joe Beleznay song. It doesn't. It comes from the song "The Other Way" by Weezer.

This series is shaping nicely. It's taking me places I never thought I'd go and clearly is going longer than I had originally intended, but that's ok.

Feedback Notes: Where has all the feedback gone? I do miss it so.

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"Marissa… Hey."

"Ryan, hi."

Marissa was a little startled by seeing Ryan come down the stairs just as she entered the Cohen house.

Out from the other side of the opening fore came Sandy. Marissa barely noticed.

"Marissa."

She turned her head when the sound of his voice prompted her too.

"Mr. Cohen," Marissa said as she politely nodded.

Ryan watched vigilantly knowing that she seemed a little off.

"I'm beginning to think you are becoming one with the family again," Sandy said.

"Yeah and with no threat of Julie becoming a great-mother-in-law," Ryan replied trying to be funny.

No one laughed however. They just stood still and apprehensive. They couldn't laugh. They couldn't argue. The notion was far too serious of a matter.

"So is Seth around?"

"Seth, he left," Ryan said.

"Do you know when he'll be back?"

Sandy looked at her concerned.

"Honey, he's gone. He left for the bus about an hour ago."

Marissa tried to contain her shock and just nodded.

"Oh, ok," Marissa said as passively as she could.

"Just because Seth left for that drawing workshop doesn't mean you can't hang around the house. Stay. In fact stay for dinner. We wouldn't have it any other way," Sandy said.

"Thanks Mr. Cohen."

Sandy was pleased she seemed to agree and he then exited the room.

Ryan watched her stand still and edgy. Marissa was unsure of her next move. She did find it a little awkward standing in front of Ryan's view.

"You want to talk or something," Ryan said fully sensing the tension in her posturing.

"I'm cool," Marissa replied.

"Cool."

"So you're home for a change."

"Theresa's parents took him for the day."

Marissa nodded and Ryan nodded back. There was still an obvious tension and Marissa tried to shift it.

"So when I am going to see this amazing little boy of yours. I'd love to hang with him."

"I'd like that," Ryan said as he graciously smiled.

"Yeah I could baby-sit or something. For you and Theresa."

"I'll let her know you offered. I'm sure she'd appreciate."

"So I guess, I guess I should go. I just stopped by. You know, to see Seth and all. So yeah, I should go."

Ryan stood baffled by her behavior.

"Yeah, ok."

And with that she exited out of the house. She finally gasped. She had held in her utter shock that Seth had left for some sort of workshop and couldn't contain it any longer. Why had he not even tried to say a quick goodbye before he left? She wondered.

Her mind traced all the outlines of what could have happen had he ha still been here. She was going to face him and make both her and him battle this out in whatever they could. But he wasn't.

He simply left before any such moment could formalize. He had taken the easy exit and she couldn't say she was truly angry. Had she been given the opportunity she may have taken the door too. But she was a little dislodged, a little sad. The only place she could think to go now was home. She'd slide past her mother, she'd head up to her bedroom, and then fall into bed and curl up with Shear Bear.