Chapter Five

"Come Pick Me Up"

"Ryan, we're here." Ryan glanced up at the sound of Seth's voice, breaking contact with the window and peering out to see his apartment block. The only sound in the car had been Seth and Summer's playful banter in their frugal attempt to lighten the mood, from what he had seen from his peeks in the rear-view mirror Marissa was sitting stoically in the back , seemingly sobered up. At least he hoped she had. He didn't want this night to be any more awkward than it had to be.

"Ryan?" Seth repeated, tapping him lightly on the shoulder. "Come on." Ryan nodded, unbuckling his seatbelt and retrieving his keys from his pocket. Seth got out of the car, shutting the door behind him.

"Why does this all of a sudden feel just like high school?" Seth said, breaking the silence as Ryan fumbled for the keys outside the apartment. Summer had her arm around Marissa, who still looked a little shaken up. Finally, Ryan twisted the key in the lock, and the door swung open.

"Home sweet home." Ryan mumbled, before dropping his keys on the counter beside the door and shrugging off his jacket. Seth walked in, following Ryan placing his jacket over his.

"So dude, is it okay if I go to bed?" Seth yawned, glancing in the sight of the guest room. "I think I'm gonna pass out if I see one more flashing light." Ryan nodded, letting him go through to the room. Ryan turned to see Summer settling Marissa on the sofa, and he ran a hand through his hair.

"Hey, c'mon Sum, she can sleep in my room, I don't mind..." Summer looked up at Ryan's words.

"You sure?" Summer asked, Marissa standing stoically beside her arms crossed over her chest. Ryan nodded, and Marissa mumbled a "thanks" before walking into the only other available room which must be Ryans. Summer looked back at Ryan, before walking past, slightly touching him on the shoulder.

"Are you okay?" Summer asked quietly. "This must be kinda weird for you." Ryan shook his head, turning away.

"Look, Summer I'm really tired..." Summer nodded, as she followed Seth into the guest room, as Ryan settled down on the sofa for some much needed sleep.

----

Ryan groaned as he turned over onto his side, feeling the black leather stick to his skin as he pulled the covers off, sitting up. It was impossible. He couldn't just lie there sleeping whilst she was laying around 20 feet away from him, of course with a wall seperating, but still...

Getting up, he walked into the kitchen, stopping short as he found Marissa sitting at the breakfast bar with a cup of coffee in her hand.

"Couldn't sleep huh?" Ryan asked quietly, walking in as he stood before her whilst she looked up tiredly. She picked up the box of Tylenol that lay beside her.

"Figured I could get a jump-start of the hangover remedies." Marissa replied, shivering slightly through Summer's borrowed pajamas. "I hope you don't mind, I took them from your cabinet."

"Its okay, its not as if they're in short supply with you around." Ryan turned his back to her, grabbing a cup, while Marissa's eyebrows furrowed and she sucked in a quick breath.

"What!" She asked, placing the packet back down on the counter. Ryan turned back, shaking his head.

"Don't worry." He said, flicking on the coffee machine, and rubbing his eyes. "Just forget I even said anything." Marissa shook her head, not quite believing what he just said, before getting up, not knowing what to say. Glancing around the kitchen, her eyes fell on the photos stuck to the fridge, and her stomach twisted as she saw a small photobooth picture of her and Ryan pinned discreetly under the Cohen Chrismukkah picture.

"Why do you still have this?" She walked over, taking it down and holding it in her hand showing him. He looked over for a second before shrugging.

"So what if I do?" He replied, eyebrows raising as he poured out the coffee, turning back to her.

"Nothing, I was just asking..." Marissa trailed off, walking back to the breakfast bar, hands in her pajama pockets. The truth was, she didn't really know the rules of their relationship now they were officially seperated. She didn't even know what to say to him, or how to conduct a proper conversation without one being rude to the other and vice versa.

"Might want to wash that off before you go back on set tomorrow." Ryan gestured to the black scrawl which closely resembled a number which was scribbled up her arm. Marissa looked down, before quickly covering it up. "So, do you remember this ones name?" His eyebrows raised in an uncertain smirk, before taking a sip of his hot coffee, whilst Marissa shifted uncomfortably on her feet.

"You know, why do you always have to be like this Ryan!"

"Like what?" Ryan put down his cup, trying to act innocent.

"Walking in here, acting like you're the one that has a completely clean record, Mr. Do-Gooder. Ryan "Never get anything wrong" Atwood, when really that is not the case?"

"Ryan "Never get anything wrong" Atwood huh?" Ryan asked, hands on his hips. "Never heard that one before. Your insults seem to progress when you're sober." He finished his sentence bitterly, before turning to walk out of the room.

"Why do you care whether I'm sober or drunk?" Marissa raised her voice, getting up out of her chair. "Because you certainly didn't when you were fucking your publicist?" Ryan turned back.

"You have absolutely no idea what the hell you are talking about, Marissa, and you know it. My publicist has no place in this argument, and I had absolutely nothing to do with her." Ryan said, in turn raising his own voice, unable to control it after having ridiculous accusations thrown at him. "I have tried so hard to understand you Marissa, but you know...I just, ...I just can't."

"Well, I'm not asking you to understand me! I'm just asking you to admit that you were having an affair!"

"Why the hell would I admit to something.." Ryan said, through gritted teeth. "That I didn't do." Marissa sniggered.

"Didn't do?" Marissa replied. "Do you know what it feels like when you have a microphone shoved in your face, asking whether you knew your own husband was seeing someone behind your back? Do you know how it feels to be humiliated like that?" Ryan shook his head.

"You are unbelievable." Ryan shouted bitterly. "Unbelievable. I have tried so hard to make this marriage work, but its now come to the point where you are blaming me for everything. For everything I didn't do."

"I don't believe you."

"Of course you don't, Marissa!" Ryan shouted again. "Of course you don't, you never do!" His fist banged down on the counter, and Marissa's purse fell on the floor, a distinct sound of smashing, whilst Ryan shook his head again. "I should have known. Whats it this time? Smirnoff? Bacardi? A little bit of Malibu maybe!" Marissa crouched down, picking up the glass quickly, not even caring that the glass seemed to cut through her fingers. "I can't believe I am doing this again."

"Why? Are you jealous beause I was with another man!" Marissa exclaimed, slamming her mug down on the counter, hands on her hips.

"Actually, I think he was a boy, but why would I care about that?" Ryan replied quietly, seeming to calm down as he paced the floor. Marissa shut her eyes, hands shaking as she picked up her bag.

"Ryan.." He put a hand up before she could continue, walking out of the door quietly.

"I'll sleep on the sofa." Marissa said quietly, as Ryan nodded leaving the room and slamming his bedroom door behind him.

----

Ryan turned in his bed once again, trying to firmly close hiseyes but to no avail. Sitting up once again, he rubbed his eyes, sighing inwardly as he looked at the clock. 5:00 am. He shouldn't have gone off on Marissa, he knew it. He knew it deep inside. Getting up, he peeked through his doorway to see Marissa sleeping peacefully on his sofa, completely wiped out. He stepped out quietly, walking around to where she lay. Staring at her resting face, his brow furrowed as he saw she had no blanket. Quickly taking a thick white one from the nearest chair, he laid it softly over her body, before sliding his hands gently around her, picking her up. Pacing back to his room, he shut the door behind him and laid her on his bed. Tucking the covers around her, he stepped back, before softly leaning over and placing a kiss on her forehead, walking out and shutting the door behind him.

Laying back down on the sofa, Ryan stared confused up at the ceiling. Why did he do it? Why did he try so hard to push her away? Why did he try so hard to push her away when he knew he couldn't do it? It wasn't unexplainable, in fact it was very simple. He did it, because he still loved her.

--

"Knock, knock!" Summer opened the door cheerily, carrying a blue tray with a homemade breakfast in it. Marissa groaned as she rolled over in the bed, squinting as Summer threw open the curtains, before setting the tray down on the bedside table and clapping her hands.

"Come on, up, up, up!" Summer said, glancing at the clock. "Somehow I've got to get you all the way back to L.A. by 10, and its already 9:15." Marissa shook her head, throwing her pillow over the top of her. "If it helps, Ryan made it..."

"What?" Marissa propped herself up on her elbows, hair dishevelled. She looked at the clock that was on the table next to the tray, and sent her body into overdrive as she saw the time. "Where am I!" Summer rolled her eyes as Marissa squinted her eyes, her headache pounding as a result of last night's 'festivities'.

"You're in Ryan's apartment..." Summer replied. "In his bed in fact..." Summer looked pointedly at the breakfast. "Come on, eat up!" Marissa nodded slightly, still visibly confused about her whereabouts.

"So, what exactly happened last night...?" Marissa trailed off as she took a sip of her orange juice, placing the tray on her lap careful not to spill any food on the light blue covers. "I mean, I remember going to the club...and now I'm here..." Summer sighed.

"Well, I guess, you got a little bit smashed..." Summer said quietly, placing an arm behind her head. "And you kind of hooked up with a random..." Marissa looked up.

"What!"

"Yeah." Summer replied, looking down. "Ryan kinda stepped in, you know...punches were thrown." Marissa closed her eyes, laying back in bed, groaning.

"How could I be so stupid!"

"You're not stupid, Coop." Summer replied, rubbing Marissa's arm. "It probably just, happened, you know. Its not even as if you and Ryan are even together anymore."

"Yes, Sum, but thats not even the point." Marissa answered, rolling her eyes and getting out of bed. "I have a reputation to uphold, whats everyone gonna think if I just suddenly break up with my husband, then move on to the next remotely good looking guy I can find?" Summer looked down, before being interupted by the sound of a phone ringing. Marissa looked up.

"Oh, thats mine..." She said, offhandedly. Summer picked up her purse.

"Is it in here..?" Summer asked, digging through trying to find the silver phone which carried on ringing insistently. Frustrated, she shook the bag out onto the bed, not noticing a small box fall to the floor in the process. Marissa grabbed her phone as Summer handed it to her, opening it up and holding it to her ear.

"Hello?...Yes, Michael...I'll be there, okay?...Okay...Bye." Rolling her eyes, she snapped her phone shut, flopping back into the bed while Summer looked on sadly.

"Hey, come on, why don't you have a shower, we don't have to leave for about another 20 minutes." Summer said, smiling slightly, as Marissa nodded, climbing out of bed, and walking into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Summer sighed, getting up off the bed, and quickly making it. Turning around to check the room was presentable, she noticed the small box on the floor which had obviously fallen out of Marissa's purse, picking it up curiously, she peered at the label which was on it. The label stated:- 'Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine ®) Prescribed to Marissa J. Atwood. Dosage Once a day when/if needed.'

Summer looked up from the box, thoughts rushing through her head. Placing the box quickly back in Marissa's bag, it all suddenly clicked in her mind.

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A/N:- Okay, so maybe R/M didn't talk rationally, but they still talked : ). Hope you enjoyed, I tried to be a bit quicker with it this time! Expect next post soon. Coming up:- Summer talks to Marissa about what she has found and Marissa tells all, leaving Summer shocked. Whilst Ryan is devastated as something comes up that is unavoidable. Reviewwwww :D