Guess what, that's right I'm actually going to post something. I apologise beforehand if it isn't great. Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews I cannot thank you enough. They keep me going and encourage me to write. So I'll be quiet now and let you read.

Seth's little comment about r/m being coupley had struck a chord in both of them. Things had been….well different. But only because now they were both hyper aware of each other. The comment lead to a few sleepless nights on both parties as they seriously considered ideas of what their friendship was. As the days passed though, things gradually relaxed and thoughts were dismissed, thrown back to where they came from. Things were finally back to the way they were pre-comment….

"Morning" a voice shatters into Ryan's shell

"Mmmph" he mumbles not opening his eyes and rolling over

"Hey come on you've gotta get up for work….I brought you coffee" her hopeful tone makes him smile into his pillow. He hears her place the coffee down on the table beside his bed. Almost imperceptibly the weight in the bed shifts and Ryan curious turns onto his stomach daring to open one eyes to see what's going on

The site that greets him is reminiscent of his morning talks with Seth. The memory of those times was still so strong. It only seemed like a year ago he had been living in the pool house and still at high school. He blinks removing the nostalgic cloud that's descended upon him and props himself up on his elbows, his arm muscles protesting at their early morning workout. Marissa sits next to him her legs stretched out, her body leaning against the head board. And silently she sips her own coffee seeming deep in thought.

Ryan's eyes drift to stare at her hand for lack of things to look at. Her once perfectly manicured nails are chipped and traces of dirt are embedded in the crevices where it has refused to come out of. Yesterday she had gone round Newport looking for a job. Many people turned her down on the spot. Nobody wanted Julie Cooper-Nichols cast offs, she had come home around lunch time a mess, swearing and cursing her mother. An hour later she had let him drive her to a florist that was advertising for a part time sales assistant and she had exited the shop 10 minutes later with an enormous grin on her face. It wasn't a job she wanted but it was still a job and it would pay her bills for now. Ryan had been surprised when she asked him to also drop her at Antonio's the new restaurant at the pier. It wasn't long before she had come running back to his car a green apron with the word Antonio's emblazoned across the bottom flapping wildly round her waist, they had asked her to start immediately. It was kind of ironic where she was now compared with a few weeks ago, but that was how quickly things could change.

Marissa turns to look at him, brushing her hair away from her face. For once this didn't feel awkward…staring at each other.

"When do you have to be at work?" his voice still sounding thick with sleep

"Coupla hours"

"I'll drive you", he didn't start till 9am today which was pretty good considering some of the hours he had to go in some days.

"No its okay I'll walk, its not that far"

He's surprised by the adamant tone in her voice but dismisses it for now reminded of something he had thought about in bed last night.

"Mmmmrisssa" he stutters out mentally kicking himself for showing his nervousness, his stomach jolts uncomfortably, and she looks at him expectantly.

"Well there's this Newport Group thing I have to go to and I know you probably wont wanna go but I thought I'd ask….I mean Summer will be there I guess and Seth'll be…" Ryan waves hand gesturing at the unknown, preferring not to delve into the depths of that mess.

"You do understand that I wont be welcome"

Ryan watches with detached interest as she carefully draws circles on his sheet and then wipes over them removing the imprint. He takes the coffee from the table and sips it watching her hopefully.

"I mean they fired me Ryan, I don't really think I should be showing my face round there that soon, when the dust hasn't even begun to settle".

All the words coming out of her mouth were totally logical reasonable arguments, and why the hell was he asking her to go when it would probably be hugely unbeneficial as far as his job at the Newport Group went. It was just seeing how he had to go, he wanted someone there that may actually make the whole night mildly enjoyable. He allows himself a glance at Marissa and it pains him to see the visible conflict he has created in her mind.

"I'm sorry, just forget I asked…I know how your feeling at the moment.." he trails off and absentmindedly runs his finger round the rim of the green mug of coffee

The silence grows and Ryan wonders if its an awkward silence or not he looks over at Marissa for confirmation. Unnervingly she's already looking at him. Actually it would be better described as scrutinising. Because there was some serious emotions pouring from every inch of her face. Her eyes wide, the deep pools of blue enchanting him momentarily.

"Are you ever gonna let it out that your actually really pissed off that Seth got that job" her words slice through the silence and her gaze never falters.

Ryan matches it determined not to let her in on that private matter. He stays silent determined to turn her question into a rhetorical one. Why did she want to know, the knowledge wouldn't benefit her….ahhhh but Ryan maybe she's trying to be a friend and you know friends actually care about other friends problems, the stupid voice in Ryan's head chants. Half of him was pleased that she was having these same thoughts though, it made him feel like he wasn't being a jealous idiot.

The chasm of silence grows but Marissa doesn't seem to be finding it awkward or maybe she's just not letting it, trying to evict an answer from him..Damn her, at least if this was awkward I could avoid the question. Another glance at Marissa confirms that she is yet to relinquish her gaze.

So he does the only thing he can think of….lie….

"I'm not pissed off" immediately he immerses himself in the confines of his coffee cup. Sipping quietly, trying to ignore the stare fest going on next to him.

"Why not, I know I would be.." she says as if its alright for him to be pissed off

He inclines his head showing her he'd like her to continue

"Well first of all you have qualifications coming out your arse compared to Seth and what's up with him being allowed to line jump. I mean what happened to working your way up from the bottom like most people….and more importantly what the hell is he doing in a company that's so close to you, when he couldn't give a shit about it 5 seconds ago. Where did this big change happen? it's a serious event…Seth Cohen interested in architecture and corporate company business"

As quickly as her outburst comes its evaporated back into the air floating round like a huge helium balloon, haunting Ryan's mind. The dulcet tones still seem to resonate eerily, comforting Ryan's inner thoughts.

"Honestly I love Seth and all…but this is just not right"

Ryan forces his eyes closed, tightening his fingers around the cup trying to block the urge to voice his own opinion and in effect support everything she just said.

The underlying force was Seth was his brother, plain and simple and if he has decided to go into the architectural business well that was his choice…even if it did make utterly no sense at all.

"I know Summers extremely pissed off, things over there have been well tense"

He rubs his head trying to eliminate the multitude of thoughts running through his head. And slowly as Marissa waits patiently and quietly next to him, his anger begins to filter through. Clouding all rational thought and judgements. He doesn't try to suppress it like usual it feels good. This diminutive time period of anger perculation brings forth questions.

And they build…and they build….and they build. His mind screams at him to let them out but he doesn't. His breathing quickens and he grips the sheet with one hand. Marissa sends him an alarming look, which he ignores concentrating on his simmering anger. It was only a matter of time before it erupted like a volcano, destroying everything in its wake.

"Ryan" Marissa shakes him

"If you don't let it out its only going to get worse" this was absurd she was treating his anger like it was an abstract thing, something that could be shelved away. But there was no way in hell any librarian was shelving this away….

Ehhh sorry it sucked but that's it for now anyways. This part isn't finished cos I really cant end it there with out a blow up from Ryan. Thanks for reading and PLEASE review!