Chapter 6: Paradise

Ryan walked down to the beach. He just needed to be alone and clear his head. He had too much to gain and too much to lose and the same time. It was so hard for a man to love more than one woman. He didn't even understand how he got in this position. He thought he had finally gotten away from Marissa's downward destructive pull, but then she reeled him back in.

He walked along the shore line kicking the barely there waves as they rolled in. This just maybe the week he needed to sort everything out. He may actually know what he feels by the time he leaves this small island. All he could think about was how someone was going to get hurt in the end, and he didn't want to hurt either of the girls. There was no way out now; he was stuck to make a decision he wanted nothing to do with.

He looked back at the bungalow. He could see two figures on their balcony. He was wondering who they were. By the way they were arguing with hand gestures, he was almost certain it was Summer and Seth. He just rolled his eyes and sat down letting the scenery calm his nerves.

Summer sat on the balcony in her room. She had just gotten out of the shower so her hair was still wet and her dress was clinging around her body. The wind blowed at her hair lightly. The few strands of hair that were dry bounced around. She almost wanted to cry because she knew no one would see her. She hated how Cohen always seemed to get to her.

"Hey!"

"Leave me alone Cohen."

Seth walked up even though she told him not to. He was grinning as he sat across from her. He knew she wanted him there. He knew that in spite of everything she tried to get over him with didn't work. But the biggest reason he was grinning was that he felt the exact someway. As much as he hated her at times, he loved her.

"Hey, you invited me on this trip. That must mean something."

"It means, I wanted you and Alex to have a good and be in paradise."

"You didn't want Alex here. You're glad she's not."

"Maybe."

"You still love me…"

"You're just upset because you still love me too."

"I am in a very happy relationship, thank you very much."

"You're just happy because you got laid."

"And you're just upset that you didn't"

Summer slapped Cohen. Out of all the things he said, the last comment was what hurt her the most. She wasn't upset that he had lost his virginity before her, she was upset because she still loved him despite all the shit he put her through over the last few months. He sailed away from her for a whole summer and didn't even bother trying to get a hold of her until it was too late. Then just when she thought she was over him, he found a way to make her want him again. She hated herself for loving him, but she couldn't stop herself.

"I hate you Cohen! There is no reason that I would ever be upset that some girl was stupid enough to fuck you. On top of that, you're an asshole! I used to think I loved you, but now I see I was wrong." Summer said getting up and walking into her room to brush her hair. She just needed to get away from him.

"Summer…"

"Don't even think of trying to talk your way out of this."

Seth walked over by Summer. The two of them just stood there looking at each other. Neither one of them knew what to say or do. He almost wanted to cry. He had almost gotten back the woman he truly did love and now he blew it. There was nothing he could do to make it all right again.

"I don't understand you, I may never fully understand you, but I do know I love you Summer. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"No."

He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her to him. He wanted to look him in the eye and say that she didn't care. He wanted to know the truth. The two of them have been playing this game long enough. It was time to see if they really did have unforgettable feeling, or if their previous relationship had just been a fling. He prayed with all his might that she really did care for him.

"I know you love me… Because I still love you."

"You don't know what you're talking about. We've both moved on."

"I haven't been able to get you off my mind. You're all I think about."

"I'm with Zack now…"

"When you're with him, is it better then it was when you were with me?"

"That's all the past Cohen."

"Is it? If I kissed you right now, you wouldn't kiss me back?"

"No…"

"Fine."

"Fine? You're not going to try or anything?"

"What's the point?"

"Oh…"

Seth looked at Summer and saw the disappointed look on her face. He had her just where he wanted her. She would come to him in the end. He just shrugged and walked away. All of the playing games had made him hungry and thirsty. He knew he had to go check out their small kitchen. He just prayed they had something in their fridge.

Summer watched him walk away and walked back out to her balcony table set. She saw Chino sitting on the beach. She hoped that Marissa would have better luck then she did. She just wanted to give him a little chase. Summer hoped that Cohen would walk right back in but he never did.

Marissa walked down to Ryan and sat down. Her white sundress was just see-through enough to show off her cute black bikini underneath it. Her messy and perfect hair was blowing in the calming wind. She eyes lit up when she saw him. She couldn't believe she had ever let him go. She loved him.

"Hey, why are you down here all alone?"

"I just needed to think."

"Oh, I can leave if you want me to…"

"No, you can stay if you want to."

"Need some one to talk to?"

"Have you ever been in love? I mean real love before?"

"I thought I had that with you."

"I'm not sure I know what love is."

"It's hard to explain. I mean it's different for every person."

"What is it to you?"

"Ryan when I am around you nothing else matters. I don't care if I am poor have no family. I don't car e if I have anything as long as I have you. To me love is that feeling you're floating on air whenever you're around that person. You don't worry about what it is you just know. I know that when I'm with you I'm happy and I feel safe. I may not even know what love is but I want to think I love you even if you don't love me back."

Ryan just looked out into the ocean he didn't know what to say or do. He just didn't know how he truly felt. If this were some great love film the guy would kiss the girl, but it wasn't. He wasn't an actor and he didn't always know the right thing to say. He didn't know if he did love her. He just knew thing changed between them. All he had to do was figure out if it was for better or worse.

Marissa smiled at him patted him on the shoulder and walked away. She wasn't expecting a reply but she just gave him everything she had. If he didn't care for her, she had nothing left to give him. She just knew how she felt and she knew that wasn't going to change.

AN: Sorry for the wait. No I am not going to stop writing this fanfic. I have just been going through a lot lately with school work and all. Well I hope you liked this chapt. I'll try to update again soon.