A/N: Thanks for all your great reviews and telling me how you want the story to continue…I hope you will like how I write it. And a heads up to my bud Victoria…you rock girl!

"Ok…so I organise the engagement party…"

"Then I tell Ryan about a work promotion party for you…"

"I don't tell Marissa about Ryan and then…"

"We wait for the fireworks…"

Seth ended the phone conversation a bit anxious. Summer had come up with a plan at work and had rung him immediately. Seth was to ring Ryan, tell him about Marissa being back but not tell him about Marissa being engaged. Putting down his coffee mug, Seth picked up the phone again and dialled Ryan's cell.

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Ryan looked over the house plans again and tried again to look over the deck. They just didn't match.

"Hey Atwood!" His boss called him over.

"Yes sir…"

"Those house plans…who commissioned them?"

"Uh…Mark did sir"

"Mark? Then why doesn't the deck match?"

"I'll try to rework the deck if you want…change the plans"

"If you impress me Atwood…no more construction sites for you." His boss gave him a knowing look and walked away.

Ryan knew, as he took off his hard hat, that this was his chance for promotion. He needed to get home and draw up a new deck plan. Jumping in his beat-up 4WD, full of building equipment, he started to drive home. On the way his cell rang so he put it on loudspeaker. Seth's voice filled the car.

"Hey…Ryan…"

"Hey, you never call me this early of an afternoon. What's up?" Ryan asked, smiling to himself. He and Seth had definitely grown closer over the past years. They weren't just brothers they were best friends, and regularly saw each other.

"Yes. What is up." Seth rambled trying to think of a way to tell Ryan.

After Marissa had left him, he never opened his heart to anyone again. Sure Ryan had been on dates and such but no one seemed to stick. And Seth knew Ryan still thought about Marissa, he was just afraid to dredge up old issues.

"Ok you may want to sit down."

"I'm driving Seth…c'mon what's going on?" Ryan concentrated on the road ahead.

"Well I got a call from Summer. Marissa's back in Newport."

Suddenly Ryan cut across two lanes, much to the annoyance of drivers, and parked the car, trying to keep his hands steady.

"Wh...what?"

"Marissa has moved back because of her mum and got a job at HOAG."

Ryan felt his heart in his throat. Marissa Cooper was back in Orange County. The girl who left him was back. A lot had changed since then, since he had seen her with another guy.

Seth and Summer never found out but Ryan had gone to see Marissa. It was during New Year's in his second year at Berkeley. Heartbroken, yet determined to set things right he had travelled to New York. Tracing her down he found her at a local bar, in deep conversation with a guy she was obviously with.

Hurt, Ryan finished his architectural degree, trying to forget her. Living in a small apartment, not too fancy but adequate, he found a job. He was an onsite consultant and builder, which paid enough to pay the bills. He was finally in a good place, but now she had come back.

"Oh…ok" Ryan stuttered, swallowing his nerves.

"I just thought I'd let you know, oh and also Summer got a promotion at work and we were going to have a dinner. You coming?" Seth had to make sure Ryan didn't suspect a party.

Ryan snapped out of his thoughts and started the car again.

"When?"

"Oh…this Saturday night. 6?"

"Yeah…I'll be there."

"Alright…We'll see you then man. Bye."

"Bye"

And with that the plan was in motion.

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"Oh Coop…you have to get this dress" Summer picked ff the rack a white cocktail dress from Marc Jacobs.

"Summ…it's just an engagement party…" Marissa sighed even though she loved the dress.

"Yeah…exactly and Jake, your fiancé, will love you in this." Summer smiled cheekily as she pushed Marissa into a change room.

Summer had decided, as matron of honour, she'd take Marissa engagement party dress shopping. Seth had confirmed Ryan was coming to her "work promotion party" and it was set for tomorrow.

"So…what time is it on for tomorrow Summ?" Marissa asked as she came out in the dress. It fit her like a glove, accentuating her curves, and she looked stunning. Both Jake and Ryan would have to be crazy not to notice her.

"Six. Marissa you look gorgeous" Summer smiled as she started fussing with her hair.

"And who's coming?"

"Well…me, Seth you, Jake – of course- your mum and a couple of other people." Summer tried not to say Ryan's name by accident.

She knew Marissa was going to be angry with her but in the end it was for the best, or was it?

A/N: Next chapter we will have a confrontation so stay tuned…