Okay so this post is a little longer and I was orignially going to make it into two chapters but I figured all of you are probably anxious about the finale so I thought I'd be generous and give you more to read this time. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews they're deeply appreciated.
The scene switches to the next day late in the afternoon and we pan in on Ryan fixing his tie. "Hey man" Seth said coming in already dressed. Ryan turned sideways to acknowledge his presence. "Hey" He said.
"So the girls are coming here in twenty minutes to take pictures" Seth said. "Right" He said. "You okay? You know with the whole Marissa thing?" He said. "I'm just going to put it aside for tonight" Ryan replied.
"So you pick up those corsages?" Seth said. "Summer's is on the counter" Ryan said straightening out his tie. Seth grabbed it. Ryan grabbed his shoes. "So I'm gonna see if anyone needs any help? Or at least see if they left yet" Seth said
"Seth Summer told you twenty minutes don't rush them" He warned. "Since when do you care about them prettying themselves up? Oh I get it. The longer it takes for them to get here the sooner you have to face Marissa and these feelings that have just crept up onto you" Seth said in a sarcastic tone.
Ryan glared a fiery glare. "Yeah okay too far I know. I'm just gonna go" He said. "Good you do that" Ryan said sitting lacing his shoes and Seth walked out.
"Hey Sum you ready?" Marissa said walking into her room. Summer was looking in the mirror. She turned and looked at Marissa. "Coop you look beautiful" She said with a smile staring at her friend.
Marissa had her hair pinned up and curled loose pieces framing her face complete with a long but classy crème colored gown which fell to the floor. It was simple but was simply Marissa. Marissa smiled.
"You look Beautiful too Sum. Seth is a lucky guy" Marissa said taking in Summer's long but very elegant black gown with her hair half pulled into a fancy clip and half down and straight. Summer smiled sadly. "I'm gonna miss you next year Coop" She said hugging her.
"Hey today is prom and we're supposed to be having fun. We can think about the future tomorrow but tonight is supposed to be fun " She said. "Okay. Seth said to meet them at the house the Cohen's want to take pictures" Summer said.
Marissa smiled. "You all set because my mom and your dad are waiting to take us" she said. "Yeah let's go Coop" She said grabbing her purse and leaving.
Meanwhile at the Cohen's everybody was gathering for pictures. "Come on I want a picture of my boys" Kirsten said. Ryan smiled and Seth laughed at Kirsten's response. They came and stood together.
"Now guys act like you like each other" Sandy said. Ryan turned to look at Seth and they both laughed and then turned back facing Kirsten and she clicked the camera and caught a nice shot of both of them smiling. They heard the bell ring.
"That's the dates" Seth said running to open the door. A few seconds later he came back with Taylor and that guy Ben Marissa had told him about. "Hey Ryan" Taylor said happily. "Hey Taylor" He said. "This is Ben Stiles" She said. "Ryan Atwood. How ya doing man?" Ryan said shaking his hand.
"Good it's nice to meet you" He said. "Okay so no ETA on Summer and Marissa yet" Seth said coming over to join them. "Hey Seth" Taylor said. "Hello Taylor" He said. Ben nodded. "Hey Ben I'm Seth how's it going?" He said.
"Excuse me" Ryan said not staying to hear the conversation and instead going into the kitchen.
"Hey Atwood" Summer said appearing before him. He looked at her and smiled. "Summer you look" He said not finding quite the right words. "What? Stupid?" She said nervously. He laughed. "No elegant" He said She smiled and playfully hit him. "Did Ryan just say elegant?" She said teasing him.
"Did Summer just say Ryan?" He mocked her with a smile plastered across his face. She laughed. "Well you look handsome" She said. "Thanks" He said. "So Coop's on her way in. Where's Cohen?" She said. "Entertaining Taylor you might want to go save him" He said.
"Well I'll see you out there" Summer said leaving him alone. It wasn't to long before he heard "Hello Ryan. Well don't you look Handsome" Julie said. "Thanks" He said. "Kirsten out back?" She said. "Yeah" He said. 'Ryan" Dr. Roberts said. "Dr. Roberts" he said. He followed Julie out back.
Ryan went to the living room and saw her closing the front door. She smiled when she noticed him. "Hey" She said walking towards him. Ryan was too amazed at her beauty to talk. Snap out of it he told himself.
"Hey" He said managing to at least get that out. "So everyone out back already?" She said. "Yeah even Taylor" He said. "Well we should probably join them" She said. "Yeah hold on a second" Ryan said walking over to the bar and grabbing her corsage.
She smiled when she realized what he was doing. "You didn't have to" She said. "Stop its tradition so put your wrist out" He said taking it out of the box and strapping it to her wrist. "My favorite white roses" She said. He smiled nodding.
"Well it must be a small world she said opening the box she had in her hand. She pulled out the buttoner which also was a white rose. " I guess great minds think alike" She said attaching it to his tux. Ryan laughed nervously.
"There now you look classy and handsome" She said giving him a heart wrenching smile. He looked into her blue eyes and found himself saying "You look beautiful" Honestly telling her how he felt instead of censoring his words.
She didn't expect for Ryan to grace her with those words but she knew she would remember them forever because they were genuine. "Thanks" She said not knowing what else to really say. He looked at her and she stared back feeling awkward but feeling right at the same time.
Seth interrupted the moment. "You guys the parent's are getting antsy they've taken so many pictures of me and Summer that I can barely see from the flash. So come on or otherwise Ryan my man your gonna have to guide me to the dance floor all night because I'm about to become blind" Seth said joking. Marissa laughed. "Right behind you Seth" She said. Ryan followed her out.
They were met with an excited Kirsten and Sandy seeing Marissa for the first time. "Hey you look gorgeous" Kirsten said. "Thank you" Marissa said. "Absolutely radiant" Sandy said. "Thanks Sandy" She said.
"Marissa" Summer had called her over. She walked over leaving Ryan in his own little world still keeping his eyes on her. "So Marissa looks nice" Sandy said. He looked at him. "Yeah she does" He said. Sandy patted him on the shoulder and walked away and he went back to watching her smile now talking to Taylor.
"Okay you guys Ryan, Marissa we still need one of you too" Kirsten said. "Yeah you guys come on" Julie said taking her camera out. They both stood on the platform together. Marissa laughed nervously and Ryan smiled. He felt he couldn't get any closer to her then he had felt in this moment.
"Ready you guys" Kirsten said. They smiled. Kirsten snapped a few then it was Julie's turn. "Okay now one of all the girls and then after that the whole group" Julie said. Ryan stepped down and Summer had joined Marissa and Taylor and wrapped their arms around each other.
Secretly Summer and Marissa had taken a bunch of photos together back at the house as to not offend Taylor of being left out of some of them. "Okay smile" Julie said. And then pictures were taken. "Okay Ryan, Seth, Ben come on get up there" Sandy said.
The boys met the girls on the platform each one going near their dates. Summer smiled and moved closer to Seth and he put his arm around her. Marissa smiled watching them and Ryan caught on. Taylor had done the same with Ben even.
"Okay you guys move closer" Kirsten said. Ryan moved in and put his arm around Marissa true they weren't a couple but they were best friends and Ryan was starting to feel that he had come to his decision.
He just wasn't sure if hers would be the same. She smiled at his gesture and then turned back. "Okay smile" Sandy said. After six takes they were released. "Okay the limos are ready so grab your stuff you guys" Sandy announced. They all did and then went in the limo to the prom.
When they arrived they all smiled when they looked at the gym which was transformed with a million little twinkle lights and moons and stars all over the place. It was truly an evening under the stars.
"So what do you think you guys" Taylor said. "It's great Taylor" They all said. "Great I was hoping you'd like it" Taylor said pulling Ben off to go dance. Ryan turned to Marissa. "It's amazing Marissa" He said.
She smiled. "Really Coop excellent Job" Summer said. "Yeah Cooper one hell of a job "Seth said. She laughed. "Thanks you guys" She said. "Come on Seth lets dance" Summer said pulling him to the dance floor.
"See ya guys" Seth said leaving Ryan and Marissa alone. "So how about a drink?" She said trying to break the awkwardness. "Great idea" Ryan said smiling going with her to the refreshment table.
Later he had come from the bathroom to see that Marissa was dancing with Seth and Summer was sitting at the table. "Hey" He said going over to her and sitting. "Chino did I thank you for your coordination? This lily corsage matches perfectly with my dress" she said. He laughed. "No thanks needed" He said.
"So I see Seth is still out there busting a move" He said. "Yeah it was getting a little boring so I told Marissa to fill in. Are you ever gonna dance with her by the way you know this is prom?" She said.
"Yeah I realize that" He said. "Good so come on at least dance with me. It doesn't look good for last years prom queen to be seen not dancing" Summer said. He laughed and got up and grabbed her hand and she pulled him to the dance floor.
They started dancing. "So obviously you've gotten better" Summer said trying to strike a conversation. "I still suck so not really" He said. "But better at least now you don't need to be guided you at least have the steps down" She said teasing him. "Right" He said.
She turned to see Marissa and Seth having a good time. "So Marissa looks really nice" Summer said. He looked at her. "Is this your way of bringing up Marissa in hope that I'll actually discuss what's going on with me? And assuming Marissa has something to do with it?" He said.
"Well doesn't she?" She said. "And if she does?" He said. "It's none of my business I was just wondering" Summer said. "She looks beautiful actually " He said honestly. Summer smiled and with that the song was ending so she dragged him over to Seth and Marissa.
"Hey guys switch partners Ryan's not as fancy stepping as Seth and I kind of miss that" Summer said. Seth smiled. "Lead the way Summer" Seth said. Marissa laughed. "I tried to warn her" He said.
And another song started. "You want to? Ryan said asking her to dance. "I think I can handle it" She said. He laughed. "You are quite the comedian aren't you" He said. "Well let's not forget I was the one who taught you how to dance at Cotillion" She said. A smile graced his face.
"Cotillion yeah I pretty much felt like an idiot. Here was this beautiful girl who I had known for all of a few days and she was teaching me how to dance. Whatever impression I left on you couldn't have been good" He said with a laugh. "You were nervous and it was cute" She said with a smile.
"Right a fifteen year old guy not knowing how to dance is cute that's a new way to look at it" He said with a chuckle. "Hey after a few minor toe injuries you turned out to be not so bad" She said. He smiled. "You even helped me out when Luke couldn't come because he was sick and you filled in for him" She said reminding him.
"That's right I did didn't I. You were welcomed into society on the arm of a juvenile delinquent or at least that's how the Newpsie's saw me" He said with a smile. "And so began a beautiful friendship" She said teasing him.
He looked at her and smiled. "Right you were the only one who wanted to befriend the kid from chino" He said. "And you were the only one who wanted to help me when my life started to get tangled up like when my parents got divorced" She said.
"Well I figured who better to know how to help especially since I'd been there before" He said. She smiled. "We had some fun times like the car chase in Chino" She said. He laughed. "Yeah we did" He said.
She laughed. And he looked at her seriously. "I'm gonna miss you next year" He hadn't planned on blurting it out like that. She stopped laughing and returned his serious stare. "Ryan" she said.
He looked at her and he thought it was now or never. He leaned in to kiss her and she was shocked but kissed him back. When they parted she stared into his eyes not believing what just happened. "Marissa I'm sorry I shouldn't have She interrupted him. "No don't" She said walking off the dance floor leaving him alone.
Idiot he thought to himself running after her. He found her outside. "Marissa wait" He said. "Go away" She said. He ran to catch her. "Marissa please wait" he said tugging on her arm to pull her to face him.
"Why should I?" She snapped. He hadn't expected her to react this way. "Look I'm sorry I made a mistake" He said. "Yeah so did I" She said continuing to walk away from him. "I'm sorry will you please listen to me" He begged. "No" She screamed turning towards him.
"I'm done Ryan. One minute your telling me your gonna miss me next year. Then you kiss me and then you tell me that it was a mistake. I mean what is that Ryan?" She said. "Look I didn't mean to do it besides it's not like you feel any different about me I mean we're friends" He said.
"Friends? Wake up Ryan. What do you think this is all about?" She said waiting for him to catch a clue. It suddenly clicked she was angry because she had felt something more for him not because she was angry that he had tried to kiss her.
"Marissa" He said. "No I am not doing this just leave me alone" she said walking away crying leaving him standing there. Way to go Atwood he said to himself.
He went back inside and smacked into Summer. "Where's Coop?" She said. "I messed up Summer" Ryan said truthfully. She looked at him concerned. "Where is she?" She said. "She left" He said. "Cohen" She called and Seth came over. "Let's go we gotta check on Marissa but the prom" He said.
"Screw it something's are more important" Summer said staring at Ryan and they both left. Ryan walked off and left deciding to go home.
It was going so well and then he had to go and mess it up and what was that? One minute he had decided he was actual going to show Marissa how he felt and then he choked up pretending it had been a mistake when it wasn't and now he just may have lost her over this.
Meanwhile Summer and Seth had gone back to her house. "Coop" She said searching her room and then going into Marissa's and spotting the corsage laying on the bed. "She's gone" Summer said. Seth looked at her.
"Where would she go?" He said. "I dunno maybe the lifeguard stand" She said. "Come on I'll drive" Seth said and they left hoping to find her.
Meanwhile Ryan had gotten home a little while ago and had pulled his tie off. He put his head in his hands. "How was he ever gonna fix this"
He thought to himself when the creak over the door broke his thoughts. He looked up to see none other then Marissa bearing something in her hand but still dressed in her gown but her make up had ran from her crying.
She stared at him with her red rimmed eyes. "Marissa" He said surprised that she had came. "No you know what you don't get to talk" she said. He nodded sadly. "You know here I thought that I could see you as something more and maybe just maybe you could feel the same but you don't" She said looking at him sadly.
He looked at her. "Marissa" He said. Again she interrupted. "I'm done Ryan I've had it. So you can go to Berkeley in the fall and forgot all about Marissa Cooper because I'm done" She said turning to go.
"Wait" He said "For what? I was ready Ryan I was and this is how much I wanted it" She said not bothering to hide the tears slidingdown her cheekswhile shehanded him the letter. He took it. "There's nothing left to wait for now. I already got my answer. Have a nice life" she said walking out on him.
He sat and opened the letter and glanced over the words "Welcome to Berkeley Marissa Cooper". He looked up.
Marissa had applied to Berkeley and hadn't told him if it wasn't obvious before it sure was now Marissa did feel something for him and Ryan and just let the best thing in his life walk out of it. He didn't know what to do.
In the coming chapter: A call from Jimmy. Ryan question's if he'll ever be able to fix his relationship with Marissa in time for Graduation.