The secret project

The New Port group was pretty busy the next afternoon but he didn't want Marissa to feel like this was her project to finish so he dialed her cell when he got a free minute. She grabbed her cell from her purse and smiled when she checked the caller id.

"Hey" she said picking up. "Hey I was just checking up making sure everything got there" Ryan said. "Yeah it's all here now it's just a matter of rearranging stuff" She said looking around. "And you're going to do this all by yourself? You can't lift anything" Ryan said.

"I told the movers where to put the bigger things and I'll just do the rest. It's really not that hard" Marissa said. "Are you sure this isn't too much trouble because I could send someone down there and she interrupted

"No you asked for my help and I'm doing it. Okay now all you have to do is show up around say five thirty and it should all be done. You got that or do you want to write that down?" she said. He laughed. "Hey don't get smart with me Cooper!" He said kidding. "I got that and listen I really appreciate this" he said.

She smiled. "Well anything for you right" she said. "Seriously you're saving me" Ryan said. "From asking Julie Cooper to help you yeah I know" She said joking. "Thanks" He said. "I don't need a thank you. I need you to show up at five thirty" she said. "Okay geez when did you get to be so bossy?" he said kidding.

"I dunno maybe it was from all those years of being around you" she said teasing. He chuckled. "Alright although I'd love to sit and talk. I got some work to do but I'll definitely be there for five thirty" he said. "You office workers are so committed" she said with a laugh.

"Well we can't all be free spirited like your self" he said. "Alright bye Ryan" she said giggling. "See ya Marissa" he said hanging up. She looked around. "Back to work" she said to herself preparing for his arrival.

Ryan was leaving his office for the day when to his surprise he came across Seth. "Ryan" he said. "Hey man what's up you looking for your mom?" he said. "Nah I just thought I'd see if you'd want to hang" Seth said. Ryan thought back to Marissa waiting for him.

"Yeah I can't I'm busy" Ryan said hoping that would work. "Wait a minute what's up?" Seth said. "Nothing I'm just late meeting someone" Ryan said rather quickly. Seth looked at him weird. "Okay Spill" Seth said. Ryan thought fast. "I have a date" saying the words without even really thinking about them. Seth smiled. "Seriously with who?" Seth said.

"No one you'd know" Ryan said. "Ryan come on is it someone from work?" Seth said. "Yeah Lisa she works upstairs in accounting" He said. "Wow didn't know you had a thing for brainiac girls" Seth said joking. Ryan glared. "Okay so maybe tomorrow then. I guess I'll just see what Marissa's up to" Seth said.

"Yeah I don't know Marissa said something about having dinner with Julie" Ryan said. "Huh Summer never mentioned that" He said. "Why don't you spend some time with Summer" Ryan suggested. "Can't she's working overtime" Seth said. "Oh" Ryan said. "Well it looks like everyone's pretty busy tonight" Seth said.

"Yeah but you know your mom isn't Sandy has to work late why don't you spend sometime with her. I'm sure she'd love that" Ryan tried to convince him. Seth nodded. "Yeah why not I mean it's better then nothing" Seth said.

"Yeah so have fun" Ryan said walking into the parking lot. "Alright man but I want details tomorrow" Seth said. "I'll try" Ryan said. "Well go ahead I wouldn't want you to stand her up" Seth said walking to his car. Ryan jumped in his and flew to the house he was already late.

He put the car in parked and jumped out not bothering to knock he just went in. "Hey Marissa sorry I'm late. I sort of had to get rid of Seth he was pestering me about spending time and" he stopped talking going into the living room and looking around.

"What do you think?" She said standing behind him. He turned and looked at her. "It's… It's amazing. It's great" Ryan said. She smiled. "Come on in to the kitchen" she said and he followed. There he found a kitchen ready to be cooked in.

"You did all of this in one afternoon?" Ryan said shocked. "Yeah but I know you'll love this" She said. He followed her upstairs past the master bedroom to the fourth door on the left. She opened it. "This is the game room" she said walking in. He looked around.

"What do you think?" She said. "I think when Seth sees this he's going to love you" he said going over to sit in the chair that they had picked out the other day. "Comfortable?" she said joking. "It's pretty nice. You know maybe I'll come to Seth's more often" Ryan said.

"Come on there's still the rest of the house to show you" She said. She took him to the master bed room which had everything from dressers to curtains. Ryan loved everything about it. "And the rest of the guest rooms are pretty much the same style just different stuff here and there like comforters and rugs and such" she said going back down stairs.

"Wow seriously you do an awesome job. You know if Caleb saw this he'd hire you right now" he said. She smiled. "Thanks I think" she said with a laugh. "I still can't get over how much you did in one day" he said. "You didn't see the pool house yet" she said. "That too" he said.

She went out back which he saw she had decorated with lawn furniture and lights where put into the pool. She opened the door. "Okay so I know it's a little generic but really what is a pool house supposed to look like anyway. They all look the same to me" she said. He looked around.

"You got talent Marissa" he said She looked at him. "You think so?" Marissa said. "I know so" he said staring at her. She smiled giving thanks. "So how'd you get rid of Seth?" She said. "I told him I had a date" he said quickly. She laughed.

"Some date huh?" she said joking. "Well if anybody asks your Lisa from accounting" Ryan said. She giggled. "I never knew Ryan Atwood went for the smart girls" she said teasing him.

"Well you know I try butthey can't all be like you" he said. She laughed. "So I would like to pay you back somehow. I know it's not equivalent but it's a start I was thinking burgers and fries at the diner" he said. "Sounds like a plan. Let me just grab my stuff and I'll follow you because I have my car" She said. "Okay" he said waiting for her to come back and when she did they left.

Summer walked in her home and closed the door. "Seth? Marissa? Anyone?" She said trying to see if anyone was home. She dropped her purse on the couch and grabbed her phone. Dialing Seth's phone.

"Hello" she heard. "Hi sweetie where are you I just got home" she said. "Oh I was just spending time with my mom I'm on my way back actually" He said. "Have you seen Marissa because she's not here either?" she said. "No, but Ryan said something about her having dinner with Julie" Seth said.

"Huh. So where's Atwood?" She said. "You ready for this Ryan had a date" he said. "A date" she said sounding surprised. "Yeah" Seth said. "So Marissa is having dinner at Julie's and Ryan's on a date" She said making sure she caught everything.

"Yes you want me to pick anything up? You must be hungry" he said. "No that's okay CohenI ate at work." She said. "Alright well I'm almost home" Seth said. "Alright well I'll let you go see you in a few minutes" she said. "I love you" he said. "Love you too" she said hanging up with a smile.

Meanwhile Marissa and Ryan where just leaving the diner. "I forgot how much I missed that place" she said. "Nothing like greasy diner food" he said. She laughed and checked her watch. "Wow its ten thirty all ready" Marissa said not knowing where the time went.

"Yeah" he said. "I should get back soon before they start looking for me" Marissa said. "Yeah about that your cover was you had dinner with Julie tonight" Ryan said. "Why did I have a cover again?" Marissa said sounding confused. "Because Seth was going to track you down and hang out with you so I thought of something quick" he said.

"So I was second on his list of people to hang out with?" she said pretending to be insulted. "Believe me I would trade spots with you in a minute sometimes he drives me crazy" Ryan said. She giggled. "But you love him anyway" She said. He nodded.

"Yeah I guess he has grown on me" He said. She smiled. "Well on that note I'm gonna go I actually have breakfast with my mom tomorrow" she said laughing at the irony.

"Summer's going to think you've gone crazy spending two meals in two days with your mom" he said. "I'll just tell her I couldn't get out of it" she said. "Right" he said. "Yeah" she said. "So thanks for your help" he said. "It's not a problem at all" she said. He nodded. "Right" he said. She kissed his cheek.

"Night Ryan" she said getting in her car. She cracked her window.

"Drive safe" he said. She smiled.

"See ya" she said pulling away he stood until her car had disappeared then walked over to his and headed for home.