A/N:- Heh. Next chapter. So yeah, slight knowledge of The Notebook required...only for a short bit : ). Thanks for the reviews, you guys sure as hell do rock! Oh, flashbacks are in italics..
Chapter Three - Getting Through
Ryan was at a loose end. Bored, tired, and even the slightest bit angry. He didn't believe what Courtney said was true, why would he? She'd hated Marissa, and Marissa had hated her. So naturally, it would make sense for Courtney to say that, Ryan reassured himself as he leant back onto his bed. He could never figure girls out. Except for Marissa….
He needed to get a grip. A harsh grip on reality. Even though it hurt, even though all the scars he had left to heal would have to be opened and slashed out again, it had to be done. Marissa was gone, and she wasn't coming back. No matter how many times he wished she would, or how many times he stared at the picture on his bedside table. No matter how many times he would doodle her name absent-mindedly in class, no matter how many times he thought about her. Marissa was gone, and even though the connection seared on, he had to forget about her.
Although he knew that would never be possible. He had known all along. He had been anticipating this move since last year. The past year hadn't been bad for him, as he had the satisfaction of knowing Marissa wasn't dating anyone else, and neither had he. During the past year, he and Marissa discovered they both had a lot more in common than they thought, thus making their relationship, or whatever they wanted to call it, even stronger. Take the kick-off carnival for instance, six months before-hand…..
Ryan and Marissa stood on the dusty ground as they watched Summer and Seth amble onto the next ride. Which, much to Ryan's disappointment, was the Ferris Wheel.
"So, Ryan are you sure you can take it?"
Ryan looked up as he heard Marissa's voice, shivering slightly from the cold wind. At least, he thought it was from the wind…He gulped as he realised she meant the Ferris Wheel, and his heart sunk as he realised this time around he wouldn't even have Marissa to take his mind off things.
"Uh…." Marissa folded her arms as he stuttered, looking up at the great heights.
"Come on, Atwood, even I didn't expect you to be as wussy as this the third time round!"
Before he knew it, she had grabbed his arm, and dragged him over to the ride, plonking him down beside her as the man clipped the bar into place. Great. The point of no return.
"You know, Marissa, a true friend wouldn't drag me onto this thing." Ryan smiled slightly as he caught a glimpse of her out of a corner of his closed eyes.
"Ah, but see, a true friend wouldn't let another miss out on the Ferris Wheel, it's like the best ride of the whole fair!" Marissa replied, triumphantly rocking the seat a little, as Ryan quickly shut his eyes again. "Its not as if I'm asking you to jump off, hanging from the carriage!"
"Well, we all know I'm no Norris." Ryan answered, swearing silently underneath his breath and praying for the ride to be over.
"Norris!" Ryan jumped yet again as he heard Marissa squeal with laughter. "Norris?" Ryan opened his eyes fully now, determined to see what was so funny about him being stuck in a carriage 130 feet in the air.
"What?" Ryan demanded, hands clenched tightly to the bar, almost laughing himself when he saw the expression on Marissa's face.
"Don't you--D" Marissa broke off again as she collapsed into giggles. "Don't you mean Noah?"
Ryan blinked as he thought for a moment, then turned away, face red, and a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Maybe…"
"Ryan, you don't have to lie to me, I know you've seen The Notebook numerous times." Marissa laughed as she patted his back jokingly sympathetic.
"Only because you forced me!"
"I did not force you Ryan!" Marissa snorted again, laughing unexpectedly.
"Well, your tac-tics were a bit un-ethical." Ryan turned back, and locked eyes with Marissa as he remembered just exactly what her 'tac-tics' were. She was the first to turn away, reverting back to a funny comment which hopefully would break the tension.
"You know you loved it."
"I did not love it."
"You so did!"
"I didn't!"
"I didn't."
"I did…….." Ryan replied, as he heard Marissa laugh again. "I mean……what the hell!"
"Ha, you fell for it mister!" Marissa laughed. "I tricked you, and you just admitted to loving 'The Notebook', the most un-Ryan Atwood thing to love."
"Marissa, if this conversation gets out of this carriage…"
"Oh yeah, what are you gonna do about it, huh?" Marissa replied, raising one eyebrow questionably. Ryan in turn, folded his arms.
"You'll see." Ryan replied, looking at Marissa as she laughed. Her laugh was infectious, as soon as she laughed, he couldn't help but crack a smile. That was the thing about friends. Friends. That was what they were. Friends nothing more, nothing less. And it was painful for them both to realise how much fun they actually had together. In fact, it was painful for them both to realise the fact that they weren't together.
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"Hey kid." Sandy said, as Ryan walked into the kitchen, surprised when he found Sandy and Kirsten sitting at the table eating their dinner. Ryan raised his hand as a greeting, then quickly set his empty glasses down in the sink and made for the door once again.
"You up for some dim-sum?" Kirsten asked, holding up the little silver container that held the contents of their dinner. "There's enough to go round."
"Its okay, thanks." Ryan gave a slight smile, then retreated back through the door, into the poolhouse. Kirsten sighed as she set down the container.
"Sandy, you've got to talk to him." She said, looking at Sandy seriously. Something was up with Ryan, she knew it.
"Kirsten…" Sandy whined half-heartedly. "Why does it always have to be me?" Kirsten laughed at his failed attempt.
"Because it just does." Kirsten replied, whipping his plate away from him from right under his nose.
"Hey, I wasn't finished--,"
"Go!" Kirsten cut him off, pointing her finger outside, laughing.
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Sandy got to the door of the poolhouse, and knocked tentatively. When no answer came, he gently pushed the door open, stepping inside.
"Ryan?" Sandy heard a door close and looked up to where Ryan was exiting the bathroom. "Oh, there you are." Ryan tossed his towel into the laundry basket, and sat down on his bed, while Sandy stood by the door wringing his hands,
"So, um…." Sandy started, trying to ease into the conversation unsuccessfully. "You seen Seth around, I can't find him..?"
"Probably hanging out with Summer." Ryan affirmed, looking down at his shoes. "That's where he normally is."
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that." Sandy replied, nodding. "How comes you're not with them?"
"That would be a little weird." Ryan answered, looking up. "I mean, I don't want to be the third wheel."
"Yeah." Sandy responded, thinking quickly of what to say next, before deciding to just cut to the chase. "So how you been? With Marissa leaving and all….I mean, I know she was your friend?" Ryan closed his eyes, and groaned.
"Sandy, I really don't want to talk about this right now." Ryan stated, the truth was he didn't want to talk about it ever again. Especially to anyone who had the last name Cohen. Sandy stood there for a moment, studying Ryan's face.
"Well, if you ever need to talk…"
"You're here, I know." Ryan's blank face looked up again, wincing at the harshness of his own words. Sandy nodded.
"Oh by the way, Kirsten said someone called and asked for you today." Sandy said, as Ryan's heart leapt.
"Who was it?" Ryan asked quickly, sitting up straight. "Did they leave a message?"
"No, no, they didn't leave a message." Sandy replied, opening the door. "Maybe they'll ring back later?" Ryan nodded slowly, as Sandy exited the poolhouse, shutting the door quietly behind him.
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Marissa pushed a strand of her away from her eyes as she found a seat near the back of the bus, and shivered as she stood up to close the window that was surprisingly open, considering the harshness of the weather outside. She winced again as the doors slammed open again for the latecomers, and placed her bag on the seat next to her as to avoid any people sitting next to her. Over the past two weeks she hadn't really made any new friends, but she hadn't really felt the need to. Compared to the old Marissa Cooper, this was unexpected, but she kinda like being left alone. This was why it was so surprising when a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Um, is this seat taken?" Marissa looked up, as a girl who was about her age stood impatiently in front of her. The girl had long, straight brown hair, and braces which accented her extremely white teeth. She hitched her handbag up her shoulder higher as she waited for an answer for Marissa.
"Sure…" Marissa answered, moving her bag from the seat next to her onto her lap, and turning the other way so she could face the window. The girl sat down next to her, crossing her legs, and placing her bag next to her.
"So, how comes I haven't seen you around?" She took out her make-up bag and began applying some more foundation, as Marissa turned around.
"Oh, I just moved here." The girl nodded as Marissa replied, closing her compact as she turned around to properly face her.
"Well, I'm Brittany. Brittany Milne." Brittany held out her hand, as Marissa took it, and pulled Marissa into a hug. Marissa pulled away rather awkwardly as she gave her a short smile. "You can call me Britt." She shot Marissa another huge smile. "And you are…?"
"Marissa." Marissa answered, returning Brittany with a small smile. "You can call me….Marissa?" Brittany laughed.
"Now, you…you're funny!" Brittany continued laughing until she let up, and pulled out her make-up bag, digging around until she found a small bottle, and she proceeded to spritz it in the air around her. Marissa wrinkled her nose as the too-sweet smell reached her lungs, and let out a tiny cough.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry, do you have asthma!" Brittany turned around, and genuinely looked shocked, quickly placing the bottle back in her bag.
"No, no." Marissa shook her head, laughing slightly. "I think I just have a cold?"
"Oh, tell me about it." Brittany replied. "I bet the weather isn't like this where you come from…"
"No, it really isn't…" Marissa turned again, staring out the window at the icy roads and the snow that lined peoples roofs and window-sills. "I can't remember the last time it snowed in Orange County."
"Florida?"
"California…" Marissa trailed off, turning away from the window, facing Brittany. "Newport Beach. It was pretty much summer all year round."
"Wow. I would like, kill to live in California, how comes you moved?"
"Long story." Marissa answered. "I guess….me and my dad just needed a change."
"So you picked Denver?" Brittany cocked an eyebrow as she sarcastically replied to Marissa's statement. Marissa shrugged. "Okay, seeing as I'm feeling generous, and you seem like a nice person, I'm going to personally tell you how to survive Mitchell High, seeing, as no offence," Brittany held up a hand. "You obviously have no idea." Marissa raised her eyebrows in surprise, and narrowed her eyes as she listened carefully to Brittany.
"First rule, you can go your whole high school career without any even knowing who the hell you are, so I suggest you take some sort of extra-curricular? What are you into? Cheerleading? A little bit of chess maybe?"
Marissa didn't even justify that question with an answer, and gave Brittany a blank look.
"Okay, okay, maybe chess is taking it a bit too far…now, wait…" Brittany turned and placed her hands on Marissa's shoulders. "Now, you see, I have something in mind, but I honestly cannot tell whether you'll be the right person…"
"Well, what do I need to do?"
"It's long hours, hard work…" Brittany replied, nodding her head. "And lots of coffee runs." Marissa looked at Brittany confused. "Social Committee." Marissa's face broke out into a smile.
"Now that I think I can help you with."
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"So I see "Operation Cheer Up Ryan" didn't work?" Kirsten entered the kitchen, looking directly at Sandy who was sitting at the table, reading his newspaper.
"What?" He looked up, confused as to why his wife was glaring at him with her hands on her hips.
"Ryan? He's still brooding in the pool house!" Kirsten said, sighing as she collapsed down into the nearest chair. Sandy set down his newspaper and rubbed his forehead.
"It's Marissa."
"What?"
"Well, it obviously is." Sandy replied, holding out his hands. "She just left, and he turns like this. He was fine when she was here." Kirsten's confused face turned into a look of realization.
"You know, Sandford, you are a lot more intelligent that you make out to be." Kirsten stood back up and gave her husband and smile jokingly.
"You underestimate me!" Sandy replied, sliding his glasses back on and continuing with his crossword. Kirsten smiled, and made her way to the poolhouse.
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"Ryan, you in here?" Kirsten stepped into the pool house, shutting the door behind her, peering around to check whether Ryan was in there or not. She looked behind her, moving so Ryan entered the pool house. "Ryan, hi."
Ryan looked up, and smiled uncertainly as he saw Kirsten standing there. "Hey, Kirsten."
"Oh, so I brought you this." Kirsten brought a steaming cup of coffee from behind her back, and placed it on Ryan's bedside table.
"Thank you." Ryan smiled, and picked it up, taking a small sip. "So, whats up?"
"Well, this whole thing with Marissa leaving…" Ryan immediately caught Kirsten's eyes, and he sighed.
"Kirsten, seriously I'm fine." Ryan laced his fingers together in his lap. "I'm over it, I know she had to leave, there's nothing more to it." Kirsten flinched slightly at his cold words, noticing the resentment in his voice.
"Ryan, I'm going to be straight with you." Kirsten said rather sternly, making Ryan sit up. "You and Marissa, when were you ever really not a couple?"
"Uh, since we broke up…" Ryan replied, keeling back down onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"No, no.." Kirsten replied. "I mean, when were you ever really not….in love?" Ryan sighed again. Why was it so weird for her to be talking about this? He didn't know, but it was creeping him out to know that she somehow knew all this. "Ryan?"
"Huh?" Ryan snapped out of his day-dream, standing up from his bed, in front of her, a few steps away.
"Look, all I'm trying to say is…" Kirsten struggled with her words, unfamiliar at talking to such a vulnerable being. "If you love someone, you're gonna have to prove it." Ryan looked down at his shoes. She was right, he had to prove it.
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A/N:- Kind of a bit longer, I guess? Coming up:- Is Brittany all she says she is? Will Ryan really'prove' it? Muahaha review, and I'll let you know ;)
