Chapter Eight

Ryan knocked on the door to Marissa's house. She came running down, newly clad in a tight jean mini skirt and a lime green tube top. She smiled when she saw Ryan, her golden, genuine smile. Ryan kissed Marissa on the cheek, as she stood in the doorway.

"What's the password to come in this time?" Ryan asked playfully.

Marissa pretended to think, and she finally came up with something, "I'll pick you up at Seven Saturday, because we're going to the movies." Marissa said, with a smile wrapping around her cheeks. Ryan pretended not to be amused, as he said the sentence with boredom, and little or no compassion.

"I'll pick you up at Seven Saturday, because we're going to the movies." Ryan said, "There. Satisfied?" Ryan asked, as he grinned.

"Actually, I want something more." Marissa puckered her lips, in an obvious joke, but Ryan took this opportunity nevertheless. He kissed Marissa, as he wrapped his hands around her waist- she didn't fret to find the perfect spot on his neck. "Now that is a GOOD morning kiss." Marissa said, making the doorway free for entry. Ryan laughed, as he walked with Marissa, arm around her waist, side by side. Marissa sat down in the kitchen, on a high stool in front of the countertop, where a fresh fruit plate had been arranged. Marissa snatched a strawberry and she started to munch on it. "Sit." She touched the stool right next to her, as she crossed her legs, one over the other. "This has been a hell of a week, eh?" Marissa started.

"Yeah, definitely. But it all turned out in the end." Ryan nodded, as he snatched a grape from the pile of fruits. His taste buds stung as the sourness of the grape tickled his mouth. Marissa laughed at his expression, as she tried to imitate it. Ryan, in turn, laughed at her impression, which was totally off either ways.

"Are you hungry?" Marissa asked, pulling out an orange juice jug out of the fridge. She pulled out two glasses, filled them half-way with ice, and poured the already cold orange juice inside the cups, slowly, but perfectly. She filled it out to the brim, and she placed it carefully in front of Ryan. "Drink up, precious." Ryan grinned, as he tried to tasty orange juice- it caressed his taste buds, with it's icy touch of fruity flavour. The cold liquid flowed smoothly down his throat, as it cooled his whole body at once.

"That's exactly what I needed." Ryan said, satisfaction piercing in his eyes. Marissa smiled.

"Me too." Marissa said slowly. Something in her mind protested from her saying the next thing, but Marissa swayed towards the romantic words of her heart, "Ryan, I really love you." Marissa said carefully, as she looked straight into Ryan's dreamy eyes. Ryan looked bothered by this, and Marissa was confused as to why. She didn't dare to ask- she knew Ryan would tell her what he thought about it.

"You really think this is love?" Ryan asked. Marissa seemed shocked at the suggestion,

"Of course. Of course I think that what we have, is love. True love, Ryan. It hurts me that you think it isn't." Marissa truly looked hurt.

"This isn't love, Marissa. Marriage is true love. Don't you think?" Ryan asked, his mind not focused.

"Wait. Is this what it's all about? Just because Seth and Summer are getting married, you're saying what they have is love, and what we have just isn't? It's that easy for you?" Marissa asked, her voice tensioning.

"Marissa, if I were to ask you to marry me right now, right here, would you say yes?" Ryan asked out of curiosity.

"Is this your idea of a proposal?" Marissa asked through her bewilderment.

"No!" Ryan said quickly, "Hypothetically. Just to prove my point. Would you say yes?" Ryan pressed, as he waited for an answer.

"No. I'd say no, because I'm not ready. I'm eighteen, Ryan." Marissa said, trying not to prove Ryan's point, even though she knew very well she did.

"Age is nothing but a number, Marissa. If you really loved me, you'd say yes, just like Summer. So don't say you love me, until you mean it, till death do us part." Ryan said gravely, completely ruining the morning's mood.

"Ryan," Marissa said softly, "Why are you being like this? Did their engagement suddenly brainwash you into thinking that we're worse then them, just because we take it a tad slower? Just because we're not rushing into marriage doesn't mean that our relationship isn't worth it, doesn't mean it's not love." Marissa said, as she put her empty orange juice cup into the sink. She sat on the counter top, cross-legged, glaring at Ryan, "Say something." Marissa said harshly.

"What? What do you want me to say?" Ryan asked coldly, "You want me to admit you're right even though I don't think so? I just don't think this is the real thing, Marissa. Maybe it's just not. I like you, I really do, I just, I just don't see what's next."

"You've never been a planner, so why start now? Huh? You wanna know what's next? Well. Day by day, we get to 'love' each other more and more, and one day, maybe your paranoiac self, will propose to delusional me. I gotta get to school. Don't bother giving me a ride today; you won't spare me a single minute." Marissa hissed, as she grabbed a purse, and a few notebooks and school things. She dashed out the door, leaving Ryan in this stranger of a house.

"Marissa!" Ryan called after her. Before she could lock the car door, where she was already safely tucked inside, he opened it, and sat in the car. Marissa glared at him, "Marissa, you misunderstood me. Don't dramatize, please. Give me a second to explain myself, without you btching at me."

"Get out." Marissa pleaded, as she was ready to leave.

"No." Ryan refused, shaking his head humbly, as he fastened his seat belt. "Step on it." He offered. Marissa did as hard as she could, so that Ryan got the biggest whiplash ever. Marissa raised her eyebrow as she looked at Ryan- Ryan noticed pure evil in her eyes. "Okay. Now that I have a second to speak." Marissa turned to glare at him, and she turned the stereo system in her car to full volume. "Okay. If you want it this way, well then, I'll manage. You'll just get a headache, Marissa." Ryan grinned, "Love is overused in the society today. I'm just afraid that when we say 'I love you' it won't be as special as it should. I'm afraid this 'love' will wear out. I want to take it as slow as possible, so that we'll have enough love to last a lifetime." Marissa looked at Ryan, once he finished it. Marissa had her mouth opened just a tad in shock. She didn't know tough-boy Ryan was capable of something so beautiful. She closed her mouth reluctantly, creasing her forehead with thought, and anger. "Why are you mad? I told you how I feel about this. About us?"

"Because you're so freaking sweet." Marissa glared at him, after she yelled. "And you're right." Marissa admitted. It took much modesty to admit something like that. Ryan grinned.

"So 'like' is enough for you? For now?" Ryan asked sincerely.

"Yeah, actually. Yeah it is." Marissa nodded. She looked at her stereo, and she turned down the music, still not looking at Ryan.

"M'rissa?" Ryan said quickly. Marissa tilted her head slowly to look at him, "I like you. A lot." Ryan said, as he nodded his head.

Marissa smiled. Ryan was so happy to see her smile, after having such a horrendous outburst, "'K. Fine. I like you, too. A little." Marissa said playfully.

"Always better than nothing at all." Ryan said excitedly. Marissa grunted.

"Yeah, really." She laughed slowly.