A/N- Okay! I'm back. This post is going to be a long one because it was originally two chapters but I really wanted to get this up so I combined them, it seemed to flow better. Enjoy and once again, sorry about the length. Oh and thanks for the reviews guys and girls, much appreciated.
Summer, Marissa and Seth stood together at the charity auction. Seth was looking around the room furtively and Marissa looked glum. Summer was talking, completely oblivious to the other two's current state.
"So, I mean, we're done high school! Well, all the important stuff, now we just live the good life, all summer. It should own. It's my favourite season; I mean that's probably a requirement, what with the name and all. Is that George Lucas?"
"What? Where?" Seth's head whipped around and faced Summer. Marissa shook her head slightly.
"Can't you tell sarcasm when you hear it, it's all that ever even comes out of your mouth." Marissa turned away, hercloudy mood clearly putting a damper on everyone else's night.
"Uh… sorry Sum, I was looking for Mom, I just wanted to ask about, well, Ryan."
"Seth." Sandy was standing next to Summer and Marissa. "Can I talk to you for a second?" Seth looked confused but agreed and both Sandy and Seth left the two girls alone.
"Look, maybe I should just go home, I'm not brightening anyone's day, I can tell you that." Marissa shrugged and looked defeated. They had gone all afternoon without hearing from Ryan and even it seemed the Cohen's were getting worried. They had called his cell phone but all they got was the answering machine. Marissa had tried calling but couldn't leave a message, she wasn't sure what to say. She wasn't sure if she wanted to take it back or leave the question on the table.
"You can't Coop, we're your ride and Seth has to stay for a bit longer but why don't we just leave early, in like 30 minutes? You can wait that long, it won't kill you or anything."
"Okay fine, but then we get to have a depressing day tomorrow with ice cream and Legends of the Fall."
"Oh yes but Brad Pitt with long blond hair is anything but depressing."
Marissa smiled and continued talking about the following day with Summer. Meanwhile, Sandy and Seth had been talking since they walked away.
"So you finally got through to him. And he is coming home?" Seth asked.
"Well, he said he had some things to think about and think through. He also asked a favour. He said that he knew Kirsten and I were sleeping with at Julie's tonight and he wanted to see if he could arrange it so he was alone tonight or something. He wanted you to call him on his cell like five minutes before you leave. He said that was important so don't forget." Sandy nodded at Seth, to make sure he understood.
"Okay, I get it, wait until Marisa hears this. She has been a SERIOUS pain in the— "
"Oh, yeah, he said not to tell her." Sandy added.
Seth's jaw dropped a little. "What? Oh I am so not good with the stealth missions. I can't make any promises." He gave his Dad a pat on the shoulder and headed back to Summer and Marissa. "So apparently, one of the table legs was really shorter than the other and it was causing one of the older ladies to think we were having an earthquake so Dad wanted me to uh…look at it with him."
"Your Dad asked you for help with manual labour? But I'm here." Summer said. Seth smirked at her and stuck out his tongue. "Oh, look at my boyfriend, so suave and mature."
"I didn't know you knew what suave meant. It's such a big word for you."
Marissa watched the two of them squabble for the next few minutes. She seriously had this need to be with Ryan and she didn't know where he was, and he didn't want her to. That was probably the part that hurt the most. She'd bared her soul to him and he had put her off, and ran away. It was so unlike him. Watching Seth and Summer made her see how much more she missed Ryan. Loneliness enveloped her and she finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Guys, I think I'll just take a taxi, I really can't be here anymore."
Seth whirled around. "No, you can't do that. Wait right here, and I will show you why."
Seth ran off and pulled out his cell phone, he went out onto the patio and dialled Ryan's cell. He picked up on the second ring.
"Ryan? So Marissa's going to leave like… now? I thought you wanted to know, not sure why, I'll just tell her to go to the Roberts' house and sleep at Summer's since you want the night alone. I think Summer and Marissa made plans for tomorrow, so it won't be a problem."
Ryan stopped Seth from babbling. "No. Just, you can't let her leave yet. I lied to Sandy, I don't want the house alone it's just, I have a surprise for her and if she leaves early, it won't be ready. Five minutes Seth, and then let her go." And with that, the other end of the phone went dead.
"What? Hello? Ryan? How am I supposed to…What the hell?" Seth slammed his phone closed and walked back inside where he caught Marissa trying to edge away from Summer and head to the door.
"Well, what is it? Did you find Ryan?"
"Well no, it was just that I um, have not danced with you tonight! And I thought that we should do that because really, I've always wanted to dance to um, what is this? Save the last dance for me? Well, ironically I think I am taking you home, so it fits right?" Marissa just stared at him. You know, the lyrics for the song…so donèt forget whose taking you home…right, you don't but let's have the last dance anyway!" Seth pulled a bewildered Marissa out onto the dancefloor, leaving behind an equally shocked and confused Summer. Kirsten and Sandy walked up to Summer. Sandy just gawked.
"What is going on with him?"
"I don't know but he's been acting really weird tonight, then again, he is Seth, so…"
"Yeah, I can't even explain this one." Kirsten added and laughed as a breathless, tired Seth walked back to the group with Marissa in tow.
"Woohoo!" Seth said, he was secretly cheering that the 5 minutes of postponement was finally done. "That was awesome, you have some moves. A little Shakira Shakira"
"Uh, whatever. So, I'm gonna go okay guys? I'll see you back at the house." Marissa said but Sandy shook his head.
"No, why don't you go to the Roberts', and we'll all leave in a bit, I don't want you to have to stay home alone when we're all going to be together." Sandy put an arm around Marissa. Seth glared at his father, he needed to somehow signal that Ryan had lied and needed Marissa to go to their house after all. "Of course it has to be alright with you Summer, it is your house."
"Well, I don't know Mr. Cohen, you asked for Seth's help with that table leg earlier when I was available, I don't know if I can forgive you for that." Summer winked at Seth.
"What table leg?" Sandy asked, crossing his arms and turning to Seth. Summer did the same.
"So you lied?" Marissa asked. "What were you doing? Was it about Ryan?"
"Oh, well you see it was…" Seth didn't finish before Sandy, Summer and Marissa started talking at once, all discussing separate things. Seth just shrugged and struggled, he didn't know how to get out of it.
"Oh my god." Kirsten said, pointing. Summer looked up too, since she was facing the same way. "Oh my god, it's Ryan!" She said.
"Nice try Summer but you're not going to fool me twice with that prank on the same night." Seth shook his head. Marissa turned and there he was. In a suit. And looking amazing.
He had quickly parked the car and jogged up the stairs into the banquet hall. He had stood at the top of the entranceway surveying the crowd, looking for signs of his family.
And then he had seen her, only the back of her but he had known it was her none the less. And he felt his heart shudder a little. He hadn't moved when Kirsten had reacted and he couldn't move when Marissa turned. She looked stunningly beautiful. He couldn't quite put into words how she looked, except that the dress she was wearing, a nice red colour, was making her almost irresistible. Even when they were fighting, she still managed to make him want her. But he knew that couldn't be what tonight was about.
"Holy shit!" Seth finally said when he turned, "it really is him."
He walked down the stairs slowly. Keeping his eyes only on Marissa, he made his way to the group. He turned to Sandy and Kirsten. "Sorry about today. Just needed to make that decision." He said, nodding in Kirsten's direction. "Marissa? Can we talk? I think we have some stuff to…" he trailed off, not wanting to finish in front of other people.
"Sure." She said. She was shaking and him looking so good wasn't helping. She could only hope she hadn't already lost him.
"Okay, Seth, thanks again for stalling, I couldn't tell you why but you know, thanks anyway."
"Wait a minute, you KNEW?" Summer smacked Seth in the arm. "You are so paying for that Cohen."
"We'll see you guys." Ryan touched Marissa's elbow and guided her to the exit. It was all the contact he could possibly allow himself so that he could remember everything he wanted to say to her. Marissa was just keeping pace, unable to say anything, feeling the immense tension both normal and sexual surrounding them.
"Where are we going?" She finally said, breaking the silence as Ryan opened her door for her.
"Just to the house."
"But you look so nice?" Marissa commented. Ryan blushed a little and so did she.
"Thanks but I couldn't show up here in a t-shirt exactly. You look… awesome too."
"Thanks."
He started the car and they drove for a few minutes in total silence. Marissa couldn't take it anymore so she finally broke it.
"So, are we going to ignore this morning completely because I don't think I can do that. We both said a lot of heavy things and it will weigh us down if we just ignore them."
"I know. Just, I'd rather not be driving, I want us to talk and clear up whatever."
Marissa nodded. She still wasn't sure what that meant for their relationship. Would they resolve the morning's issues and stay together or just agree that it would be too hard and break up. She really wasn't sure she could handle the last option. Finally Ryan pulled into the Cohen driveway and they got out of the car. He led the way to the poolhouse and opened up the door. A few candles were lit and a single rose was on the bed. Marissa felt her heart ease a little. Everything in front of her was looking pretty good for her.
"Why don't we change first?" She asked.
"You can, I'm going to just stay like this, I have only been in it for like 40 minutes."
Marissa nodded and decided to wait too, she really wanted to talk it over. "Okay so… who starts?"
Ryan took one of her hands and guided her to the bed and sat her down. "Well, I don't know. I've spent all day thinking. We had such an amazing night last night. We both know that we did. That will never be disputed. It's this morning that is what is hard to figure out I don't want to break up with you, I never have."
"Oh I know! Me too, I--"
"Wait." Ryan put a finger to her lips. "Let me say my stuff before you do okay?"
She nodded to him and he continued. "It's not what I've ever wanted but… I don't want to fight with you and I don't want this to be a one-sided relationship where I'm caring the most and you aren't. And I don't want you to give up what you want to have me, I don't mind if you need to go to a university that's far but that doesn't mean I don't still want us to be together. We could make anything work. If we just tried. I really thought about this today, if we just stay committed, I think it could work."
"Oh Ryan." She leaned forward and kissed him. He held her for a moment before pulling back.
"I'm…I'm not done." He looked away and stared at the wall for a few seconds. "Um, this morning, you asked me to marry you and I just, why? Did you mean it?"
Marissa blushed a little. "I mean I don't know, at the time, I knew I couldn't lose you. And I wanted to prove it. I love you Ryan. And I know we're young and there are so many reasons why we should wait of course but in that one second I couldn't think of any."
Ryan nodded at her. "That's funny, al day I was thinking over what you had said. It took me a while to get over the shock of marriage in general. And then I really thought about it. And I came up with a whole bunch of reasons why it would not be a good idea."
Marissa nodded, she didn't know why what he was saying was hurting her, she didn't think she'd actually meant the proposal.
"But you know what?" Ryan asked, touching her chin and forcing her to look into his eyes. "None of those reasons matched up to the one reason I had for yes. I love you and I want to have a future with you and a family some day. Sure times get hard but I think with this commitment, it would solidify us."
"Wait, Ryan what are you saying?" Her eyes were starting to get misty.
"I'm saying if the offer is still on table, I'd like one lifetime with you, if you'll have me."
"Oh my god. Oh my god. Ryan, do you know what you're saying? At least I suggested marriage in the heat of the moment of insanity. What am I supposed to say to that. Oh, god." She clutched her heart and took a deep breath. "I don't even have a ring? Am I supposed to? I don't know what happens when the girl asks."
Ryan took her hand and calmed her before kneeling to the floor before her. "It so happens that I thought along the same lines. And I knew that I wanted you to have an engagement ring, so, I took today and went out and found the perfect one for you. So, Marissa Cooper, will you do me the honour of becoming Mrs. Ryan Atwood?" he opened the box and Marissa started at the beautiful diamond ring he had bought her. It was stunning.
"Holy. Holy wow. How did you? How could you? How did it? Wow."
"You like it?" He asked.
"Oh wow. Ryan it's too much, I really can't…"
"Can't? I really don't want to hear negativity while I'm asking you to marry me. And speaking of which, you haven't answered."
"Oh.Ryan. Let me have a minute just so I can say this properly. I thought last night would be the end of us. And I thought it would be okay because it had been perfection. But I woke up and I just knew that I wanted every night after it to be perfection too. And I have never experienced such pain and fear as I did this morning when you suggested that maybe we break up. And that's when I knew Ryan Atwood. That's when I knew without any doubts that no other man would ever make me happy. So, yes, yes I will marry you!" She kissed him passionately and he kissed her back with all the shared intensity that had always been between them and they both fell backwards onto the bed.
"Wait until Summer sees THIS." Marissa exclaimed pulling away so that Ryan could put the ring on her finger. "I told her I proposed, I don't think she'd be expecting me to the be the one wearing a ring. Oh and wait until Seth hears too! Unless, does he know? Did he know all along?"
"No, this was something I decided after something that Kirsten said to me today." Ryan put an arm around Marissa as they cuddled on the bed. He turned around and picked up the rose. "This is for you. I was going to lead with it but I'll be honest and tell you I forgot. But I want you to have it. To symbolize how simple I think our relationship can be, I love you and you love me. That's all we need. I tried to think up a billion different ways to propose, but it all came down to where we are the most comfortable, and where we've been living for the past few months, almost already like we're married."
She took the rose from him and put it on the table beside the bed. "I'll put that in water in the morning. It's perfect."
Ryan kissed her neck softly. "I'm glad you like it. Now, I needed to look fancy when I asked but this tux is really not feeling good, so maybe we should lose some layers?" he inquired, lightly brushing a hand over Marissa's chest as he hugged her a little closer.
"Definitely. Why not all of them?" She asked. He smiled and responded, "your wish, my command."
"Remember you said that." Marissa giggled out and smiled even wider.
"I have a feeling I'll regret that."
"Oh you will. You will." She giggled and again and pulled him on top of her, preparing to spend their first night together as fiances completely naked.
A/N- alright good news is I updated, bad news is I don't have the next chapter ready so there will probably be an extra day delay but don't worry, I'm on it. Just enjoy.