Alright, here is the first real chapter of Your Ex-Lover is Dead. I'm sorry for all of the Roadie fans who found it and wanted to see instant gratification. It's coming now, I promise.

Like I said last time, the lyrics are from Your Ex-Lover is Dead by The Stars. Parts of the lyrics will be included in this chapter, and more will follow as the story develops.

Disclaimer: I still don't own The OC or any of the characters. This is just my brain working out its energy.

Feedback is, of course, welcomed. I want to know where some of you see this story going.

Chapter 1: G-d that was Strange

The news of Ryan's death hit Newport shortly after a sober student found his body outside the house the next afternoon. Since no one had seen him fall, he was left outside to die, but if someone had seen him, everything would have been different.

Sandy, and Kirsten received the news first from the hospital in Ithaca. Neither one could believe the news; Ryan had always been able to take care of himself, without worry. He was strong and smart, and they couldn't understand how he had made such a poor choice. After a few hours, though, they realized that dwelling on how he died was useless, and started to let everyone close to Ryan know about his death.

Seth was the first person to hear about it from Sandy and Kirsten. He had been in his dorm room at Columbia, when they called.

"What? He's dead! How the hell did that happen?" was all that Seth could muster over 3000 miles.

"He was drunk, and he fell off a lattice he was trying to climb," Sandy, sadly, told his only son.

"Oh," Seth mumbled. He wasn't going to be able to process anymore information, so he thought of a way to end the conversation. "Do you need me to come home?"

Kirsten responded, "Of course we do Seth. Sandy and I both want to know who among your friends Ryan would have wanted to see him again." She was choking on her words, but was trying to remain calm for Seth.

"Ok. I'll look into flights and be home soon."

"We love you Seth," Sandy mentioned before Seth clicked his cell phone shut.

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Marissa Cooper, after graduating from The Harbor School, made her way up to LA and was attending USC. As much as she hated Jimmy for leaving, she felt at home being there. She was close to Newport, but she still had enough distance between herself and her mom to remain sane.

Once Julie learned of Ryan's death, she called Marissa.

"Honey, are you sitting down?" Julie asked when Marissa answered the phone.

"Yes, Mom, but I don't like where this conversation is going."

"I have some bad news, sweetie. Ryan died yesterday at school. His funeral is Saturday. You're coming, yes?"

Marissa couldn't process the words coming over her phone. Ryan Atwood, the guy she spent most of her time in high school pining over, was dead.

"Um…sure Mom; I wouldn't miss it."

Inside, she wasn't sure what to do. She hadn't really thought of Ryan since they left Harbor. With all of the Fantastic Four going to different colleges, the group had fallen apart. Even when everyone was home for vacations, they never really saw each other.

This is going to be a strange event, she thought to herself. Suddenly, Marissa had this desire for cheap vodka. She knew it was because it reminded her of Ryan, but she had moved on since then, right. She wasn't the same girl that depended on new men to help her through her problems; she could take care of herself.

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Marissa arrived at Ryan's funeral expecting to see everyone she dreaded the most. All of Newport had come out to show their support for the Cohens, even though most of those in attendance didn't think very highly of Ryan Atwood. To them, he was still the wayward kid adopted by Sandy that burned down a house, caused Caleb to have his first heart attack and was responsible for nearly sending Marissa Cooper to jail. All of the good that he had done in Newport was lost to them. Marissa couldn't help but feel very out of place, so she tried to stay close to the back of the church.

As the service ended, she tried to hide herself as Sandy, Kirsten and Seth walked by, but she caught Seth's attention as he left. She had to make her way to the Cohen house for the wake now; she'd been seen.

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Seth walked around his house in a daze. Sandy and Kirsten were busy greeting and thanking people for showing up at Ryan's service earlier, and he didn't want to be reminded of why he was home in Newport anymore.

He still hated Newport with a firery passion, and losing Ryan only made it worse. During that phone call from his parents he realized that he only true friend in Newport was gone. When he came home for vacations he would return to being the social outcast of Newport. He never talked to anyone from Newport, especially after his break-up with Summer.

As he wondered around the house, he was stopped by Julie Cooper-Nichol. She seemed in good spirits, which surprised Seth.

"How are you doing?" she asked.

"I guess I'm doing alright, considering that I just lost my only friend in Newport," he replied. He desperately wanted to leave his ex-Step-Grandmother's side, but she kept talking.

"Well, that's too bad Seth. You could always hang around Marissa, though I can't get her to stay in Newport more than a night anymore."

Shyly he replied, "I guess. It doesn't seem that she wants to be found right now."

"Oh, she's just found her way to the bar."

Seth noticed that Julie didn't have any concern in it as she mentioned Marissa and alcohol. He guessed she just didn't care enough, but decided not the push the subject.

"Ah, yes, Marissa Cooper and alcohol. Always a good combination!" he said sarcastically.

"Yes, it is Seth. Maybe you could try and cheer her up?"

"Sure. It's not like I want to talk to anyone else here."

With that, Seth walked away from Julie and over to the bar.

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G-d that was strange to see you again

Introduced by a friend of a friend

Smiled and said yes I think we've met before…

Well, here ends the first real chapter of my new project. I do have a map of this story in my head, but we'll see how it goes based on what all of you lovely people have to say. I'd really like to know if this story is interesting to people. So if you want to tell me something, please use that review button at the bottom.