A/N:- Sorry it's been so long! Hope you like this next chapter, its kind of long, I guess. For my standards at least. Anyway, about this character called Brittany, she was in the last chapter. I've already kind of planned out her storyline, but I was wondering what you guys thought. So, do me a favour, and in your review, tell me whether you want her to be like, evil (Not asextreme as Oliver, but you get my drift) or nice. Its up to you, I need some help! Anyway, enough of me, here's the chapter, read and review!
Chapter Four - Proving It
If you love someone, prove it.
Kirsten's words echoed in Ryan's head as he trudged up the stairs to Summer's house. Seth had rung him earlier to tell him to meet him there; he needed a lift back to the Cohen's. He sighed as he simply pushed the front door open, the lock obviously forgotten. Not that they needed it in the gated community. He walked up to Summer's room, knocking before he entered. This came from previous experience; he had many a time walked in on something he definitely did not want to view.
"Come in!" Summer shouted, as Ryan twisted the door knob and walked in finding Seth and Summer in a completely uncompromising position, Summer seated at her white, princess type desk, with Seth sitting on her bed, seemingly pre-occupied with this week's edition of Ultimate Spiderman.
"Hey Ryan." Summer looked up fleetingly from the piece of paper she was holding to greet him as he joined Seth to sit on her bed.
"What you reading?" Ryan started the conversation in the otherwise silent room, Seth turning to face him.
"I would have thought that would be obvious." Seth replied, shoving the garishly coloured cover in his face, obstructing Ryan's view of the person he was actually talking to.
"He wasn't talking to you, asshat." Summer answered, rolling her eyes and facing her desk. Seth laughed sarcastically and then returned to whichever villain Spidey was currently facing. "I'm just reading the letter from Marissa."
Ryan looked up at the mention of her name, Summer had been getting letters from Marissa? Why hadn't she written him anything?
"So, she's been--she's been writing to you?" Ryan stood up, walking over to the desk to peer over her shoulder. "Is this the first time?" Summer shook her head, no.
"Well, I guess I've had a couple." She replied, vaguely, not wanting Ryan to feel she hadn't written any to him on purpose. Ryan nodded and shoved his hands in his pockets, dejected as he walked over to Seth again. Summer turned in her chair, facing him as he sat back down.
"She said she's tried to call you." Summer said, somewhat in apology to make up for her previous mistake. Seth looked up rather guiltily from his comic, shifting his eyes over to Ryan's, who had a blank look on his face.
"Oh yeah…about that…" Seth began, but promptly stopping as he noticed his girlfriend's look.
"Cohen! What have you done now!" Summer said, placing the letter back down on the desk, and crossing her arms over her chest. Seth put his comic book back in his bag.
"Uh, well…..I think Marissa kinda called a few days ago…" Seth replied, face down, trying to hide the fact he had messed up. Big-time. "And I may have forgotten to tell you…"
"What!" Ryan answered, getting up from his position once again, only this time out of anger rather than curiosity. "She called and you never told me!"
Seth nodded, placing his hands out. "I'm telling you now…" Ryan gave him a death-glare as he began pacing the room.
"So now she probably thinks I'm avoiding her calls?" Ryan said, turning to face Summer. "What if she hates me?"
"Ryan, relax, she doesn't freakin' hate you."
"I need to call her." Ryan turned to the door, and walked out quickly, heading back out towards the Range Rover.
"Well, call her then!" Seth said to Ryan's retreating back, slinging his bag over his shoulder and walking over to Summer, placing his hand on her waist, and kissing her as way of goodbye.
"Cohen, promise me you won't screw things up for Ryan." Summer said, looking up at him as he stood before her.
"It wasn't my fault!" Seth answered. "If I remember rightly, you called straight after so that's probably why I forgot." Summer's frown turned into a smile as she stood up and kissed him on the cheek, seemingly forgetting her troubles for a moment. Seth returned her smile as he said goodbye, and walked out of her bedroom, hurriedly chasing after Ryan so he wouldn't drive off without him.
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Jimmy pushed his front door open as he twisted the key in the lock, shoving the bags of groceries on the floor as he immediately heard the bleeping noise of the newly installed phone. He pushed the green button as he picked it up.
"Hello?" He answered, hearing the other person's sigh of relief as though he had been waiting for someone to pick up.
"Mr. Cooper?" Jimmy frowned as a hint of recognition flashed through his mind.
"Ryan?"
"Yeah, it's Ryan. How's things?" Jimmy could tell Ryan was only making conversation as he realised Marissa was the one he wanted to talk to.
"Things are going great, thanks. I take it you want to talk to Marissa?"
"Uh, yeah, if that's okay?" Jimmy smiled.
"Of course it is, I'll just go get her." He took the phone away from his ear, and knocked on his daughter's bedroom door, opening it slightly as he saw her lying on her bed, watching television. She smiled as she noticed her father.
"Hey Dad." Marissa got up from her lying position and crossed her legs, switching off the television at the same time. "What's up?"
"Ryan." Jimmy replied, almost smiling at the sight of Marissa's shocked face. "On the phone. Wants to talk to you." He held the phone out to her, and when she took it, he walked out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. Marissa breathed out slowly, how long had it been since she had heard his voice? God, she was even starting to sound obsessive. She shook her head from her thoughts as she realised this was along distance call, and he was on the other end.
"Hello?"
"Marissa? It's Ryan." Marisa breathed out another sigh of relief as she heard his voice, lying back down on her bed.
"I know."
"Yeah….well, I guess…..I needed to talk to you, about everything. I'm sorry I didn't return your call."
"It's okay, I figured Seth might not have passed on the message." Ryan laughed.
"Got that right." A moment of silence passed between them as they both tried to think of something to say. It was easy to think of your feelings, really think of them while you're alone, but when it comes to the time to describe them, you somehow lose your confidence.
"Well, the reason I was calling, it's just, it's Spring Break in a couple of weeks, and I was just wondering if you wanted to come stay, you know…well, with us. The Cohen's. I dunno, I mean, if you want…" Ryan stumbled over his words as he silently cursed for making himself sound like a fool. To his surprise, Marissa simply laughed at his nervousness.
"Aw, Ryan, I would love to see you. I've missed you, you know…" She replied, thinking of only one problem in her head. "It's just, I don't know if I could really afford it right now, I mean, me and my Dad aren't exactly rolling in it."
"I can pay for your plane ticket." Ryan answered immediately, hoping Marissa would accept his offer.
"I can't ask you to do that, Ry."
"I don't mind. Honestly. I need to see you." Ryan admitted, the slightest bit embarrassed. Marissa thought for a moment, hearing him sounding so desperate over the phone broke her heart.
"Well, what if, you come stay with me instead?" Marissa replied, Ryan's face breaking out into a smile the other end of the line.
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"Okay, so that banner over there…" Courtney clutched her clipboard to her chest as she pointed over the gym floor to the stage. "And then we can go put the tables and chairs over the other side…" Ryan walked in the gym, and surveyed the scene in front of him. Most students were laying out tables, or putting up banners and arranging the sound system. Harbor High's Annual Spring Fling. Another chance for the entire student body to get pissed out of their heads then dance the night away. A social event, he most definitely would not be attending. Ryan turned and tried to duck out unnoticed before he heard Courtney's grating voice practically scream at him.
"Ryan! Where do you think you're going?" He turned reluctantly round to face Courtney, complete with her Social Chair smile and the whole preppy sweater-over-shoulders thing going on.
"Courtney, hi." Ryan replied, forcing a smile onto his face as he dug his hands deeper into his pockets.
"Well, come on, strong man, we need help lifting the speakers." Courtney said, gesturing Ryan to follow her as she walked over the back of the gym. "Don't look so down, it'll all be worth it on the night. Who are you taking? I'm available if you're looking for anyone…" Ryan looked up.
"Me? Oh, I won't be here on Friday." Courtney's face fell.
"What?"
"Yeah, I'm going to visit Marissa in Denver." Ryan smiled back at Courtney's dismayed face.
"But….we need you here…" Courtney replied, regaining her normal smiling expression. "You know I can't do it without you!" Ryan leaned over to pick up the first speaker, figuring he wouldn't get out of there if he didn't at least help.
"You'll be fine." He replied, walking over to the stage, leaving Courtney with her clipboard and no date from Spring Fling.
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Ryan smiled as he heard the Captain's voice ring out, signalling their arrival in Denver. He slid his headphones off as he peered out of the window, the snowy surroundings making him thankful that he had packed sweaters as well as his normal wife beaters. The plane taxied around the runway, coming to a halt at the gate. He collected his bag from the overhead storage, and made his way off the plane.
Wandering around the Arrivals gate, he searched for that one familiar face, and smiled as he did so. Marissa was standing by the entrance, looking in the complete other direction. Pushing his luggage trolley with one hand, he made his way behind her, jokingly covering her eyes.
"Guess who?" Marissa jumped and turned around, her lips curving into a smile as she saw Ryan. Finally.
"Ryan!" She squealed rather loudly and flung her arms around his neck, resting her head against his shoulder, as he returned her embrace, stroking her hair softly. Marissa held back tears as she moved to rest her head against his chest.
"Oh my God, I've missed you so much." She whispered, uncertainly moving her head up to face his.
"I've missed you too." Ryan replied softly. Their matching blue eyes connected as their lips drifted closer together, finally meeting as Ryan placed his hand round her shoulders, kissing her. Marissa smiled into the kiss, no trace of tears now. They pulled apart, conscious they were in a public place. Besides, there would be more time for that later. Ryan settled his arm around Marissa's waist, and used his other free hand to pull his suitcase off his trolley. Marissa pulled out a bag from behind her back.
"Here, I got this for you." She smiled as he took the bag from her. "It gets kinda cold round here." Ryan returned her smile and pressed his lips to his as he found a black and grey striped scarf inside. Marissa took it from him, and wrapped it around his neck, before taking his hand and leading him to her car. Finally, they were together. And they were certainly going to make the most out of it.
A/N:- Together! Finally! I couldn't stand writing them apart! Review, tell me what you think! And give me your thoughts on the Brittany situation!
