Chapter 3: The Pact

Ryan sat on his bed with his cell phone in his hand. He was waiting for Lindsay to come over. All of the Cohen's went away on a family trip. Ryan was supposed to go, but he weaseled his way out of it by saying he had to tutor some kids Sunday afternoon. That gave him a Saturday night to do whatever he wanted to, and he wanted to do Lindsay.

He stared across the room thinking about what had happened in the last 24 hours. Everything was all screwed up. He didn't know what to do. He had two girls in love with him, but he didn't know which one he loved more. The only thing he did know is that they both meant a great deal to him and he didn't want to hurt anyone. He looked at his caller id as he lifted his phone to his ear to answer it.

"Hey."

"Where are you?"

"We have a little problem."

"Yeah, what is it? Aren't you coming over?"

"I can't. Caleb wants to have a bonding experience. He wants to take me out to dinner, and you know disastrous it was when you came. I think it would just be best if I went alone. Maybe he really does want to make an effort."

"He only cares about himself. He probably wants something, don't let yourself get hurt."

"I'm not stupid Ryan. I'm a big girl. I just have a few questions that I want to ask him. My father just showed up after 18 years, there are a lot of things that have been unsaid and unanswered. I think it may be best if we didn't see each other for awhile…"

"What! Is this because of Marissa? Nothing happened… She just cut herself; someone had to save her."

"I want to try and have a relationship with Kirsten. I really want to get to know my sister."

"Tell me the truth Lindsay. Don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying I have to go…"

Ryan could tell she was lying. He could hear her start to cry as she got off the other line. He didn't want to loose her. He had to find out how to win her back. His only hope was for Marissa to go to her and tell her what really happened. He had to find Marissa.

Marissa cried to herself. The last time she talked to Summer, she was trying to get Zack to talk to her. She shooed Ryan out of her life. As far as her mother goes, she was never there. She just needed someone to listen to her.

"I have two presents for you," Julie said as she stuck her head in her daughter's room. "One is downstairs and I have the other one in my hand. I want you to know that I have always only wanted the best for you. I know that I haven't been perfect. In fact, I am the exact opposite of perfect. Here." She tossed a black notebook onto Marissa's bed.

Marissa was about to say something smart ass when she saw a piece of pink paper fall out. It was a note from her mom. It said how that whenever she didn't have someone to talk to, there would always be herself. The best way to get advice is from your own spirit. It was her mom's way of saying; use this journal to tell your problems at least the pages will listen.

Julie smiled as she saw her daughter stop crying for the first time since being back at home. She had actually made Marissa a little bit happy instead of making matters worse. She looked at her daughter for a moment before walking away. She didn't say anything. For the first time ever, Julie Cooper-Nichols was speechless.

"We need to talk."

"Hi to you, too."

"You ruined my relationship with Lindsay."

"You make your own decisions Ryan. You told her to leave, you dint tell me to."

"That's not true."

"I told you I would leave, but you didn't want me to. You wanted me just as badly as I wanted you."

"I was just scared of what you would do to yourself, and I had every right to be."

"I am a grown woman, I can handle myself."

"By killing yourself?"

"What I do is none of your business anymore."

"I still owe you something. If we are going to cut all ties of our relationship off, she we cut that off?"

"I thought it matters anymore Ryan. I know who you love."

"I don't even know who I love."

"What do you want?"

"We made a wager and I didn't hold up my end of the bargain."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Ryan shut the door and stepped closer to her. He sat on the bed next to her and kicked his shoes off. He grinned. He needed to figure out the truth as much as she did. He needed to feel her lips. He had missed her touch for so long; he almost forgot how much she truly did mean to him. There was nothing more important to him than the way he felt for her or at least the way he used to.

Marissa set her new journal on her side table and looked straight into Ryan's eyes suddenly it became clear what he wanted. She needed his touch more than he could ever understand. She melted just looking at him. She could never understand why she was with DJ. She didn't know how she could fuck it all up. She knew they belonged together; she should have had faith in destiny. It had always brought them back together.

Ryan pushed her body down and rolled over on top of her. His breathing was steady and fierce like a lion about to seize his prey. He grabbed both of her and held them above her head as he lowered his head. He needed to taste her. He needed to feel her lips on his own. It was desire that drove him, but something deeper made him know something about this moment was right.

"Coop!" Summer exclaimed as she barged in through the closed door. "I really need to talk."

Ryan sighed knowing that it was a good thing Summer walked in. He looked at Marissa and got ready to go. He took one last look and left.

"Did I interrupt something?"

"Never."

"Zack dumped me! HE dumped ME!"

"Did he say why?"

"Because I'm still in love with Seth. That's what he told me. Isn't that ludicrous?"

"Why would he say that?"

"I may have called Cohen in the middle of the dinner date with his dad."

"Are you listening to yourself?"

"You are so right! I need to go talk to Cohen, because that's the only way Zack will belie vim over him."

"You're not over Seth, and I know because you look at him like I look at Ryan. I still love Ryan."

"By the looks of it he still loves you."

"Shut up!"

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Forgive Seth. Alex left anyways. He is all yours."

"Alex left him?"

"Yep, it turns out she is in a relationship and she needs to get that straightened out first."

"Let's make a pack. We do whatever it takes help one another get our men back."

"Here, here."

"Look out Biatches here we come."