Wow! Thanks for all the love, people! You make me really want to put my best foot forward as far as this writing thing goes. I love you all, and keep up the love! You're the best! Here's the chapter I know has been looming. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter XVIII: My Big, Fat, Greek Misunderstanding

Marissa couldn't help but enjoying herself. After all, it wasn't every day that she got to be escorted around Athens by as charming a man as Paolo. She could sense that he had really put some thought and effort into this excursion, and she hoped that he wouldn't be disappointed in the end. But, trying to block that thought out of her mind for the moment, Marissa decided instead to focus on the breathtaking Greek architecture and scenery. The buildings held such a rich history in them; it was nothing like the homogenized California skyscrapers. Here, everyone relished the imperfections and the embraced the flaws of ancient human design. This was a place that any true architecture buff would enjoy.

Ryan…how could her thoughts not drift to him when she wished he could be here to share this with her? No matter how hard Paolo tried or even how cute he sometimes looked basked in just the moonlight, it was never enough to truly get her thoughts away from Ryan. She knew that eventually she was going to have to talk to him, but it seemed like the longer that they waited, the harder it made it.

"So, what do you think you of Athens?" Paolo posited, grabbing her hand to guide her across the street. He tugged subconsciously with his other hand at a hanging thread on his blue and white print-screen t-shirt. He hadn't told Marissa about how long it had taken him to decide exactly what he wanted to wear for this hopefully momentous evening. Now, looking over at her as she breezed effortlessly, gracefully around this foreign city, he couldn't help but chide himself for choosing too casual of a look for the occasion. Surely all of Athens could see that she was far too magnanimous for him. He couldn't help but feel proud to be walking around this beautiful city with such a beautiful girl. Everything was going perfectly to plan, and, with any luck, he would get her to be his girlfriend by the end of the night.

"I think…this is exactly what I needed. Thank you so much Paolo," she replied as they rounded another corner and made their way into the restaurant. She gave his hand an encouraging squeeze; although she made sure not to squeeze too hard for fear that she may be leading him on.

As they were entering the lobby, Paolo began to speak in Greek to the hostess. Marissa felt the vibration of her cell phone in her favorite green and white Ballenciaga purse that she got two weeks ago on a stop in Rome. She knew from "The Valley" ringbone that it was Summer calling her. But, wasn't it the middle of the night back in the States?

"Hey Sum…isn't it a bit late for a gossip session?" she laughed, nodding for Paolo to go ahead and be seated while she finished the call. He returned the nod in understanding, and gave her a smile as he quietly followed the hostess into the dining room.

"Hey Coop…I know you're probably busy, but I needed to talk to you. It's about Ryan."

At the mention of his name, Marissa felt the butterflies that never fully ceased to exist inside of her stomach return to catch in her throat. It was common knowledge that Marissa and Summer would avoid the topic of Seth and Ryan, unless Summer made a comment about how she wanted to castrate Seth for doing what he did to her. They were both trying to move on with their lives…yet, even at the mention of one of their names, neither girl could help but to feel the pain all over again.

"Is he okay, Sum?"

Summer could tell by the background noise that Marissa was not in the best place to talk about this. But, it really couldn't wait any longer. Marissa turned her back towards the dining hall and took a few steps out towards the front door. Through the crowd, she was having a hard time hearing. She pulled the phone closer to her ear and cupped her other ear to try and hear better.

"No…no he's not. Where are you? Are you at work?"

"No..not really. I'm actually…kinda…taking the night off."

She didn't want to outright admit that she was on a date, her first since she had left Ryan almost 4 months ago. But, she had mentioned Paolo to Summer several times, and Summer knew that there might be some potential there for Marissa to even be mentioning another guy.

"Oh…and, you aren't alone, are you?"

"No," Marissa replied guiltily.

"Look, Coop. You have nothing to feel guilty about. It's been months since you have even talked to Ryan. You have every right to try to move on with your life. But, that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. Listen, I found out why Cohen is staying in California…he finally caved and called me."

Summer couldn't contain the happiness in her voice at the thought that Seth had finally let her in. She turned over in her bed to look at the picture of the two of them that she had gleefully replaced on her nightstand. However, she knew that once Marissa knew the real reason, there was the potential that it could get back to Seth, and then it could start their whole vicious cycle of not trusting each other all over again. But, her best friend deserved to know.

"That's great, Summer. I'm really happy for you. But, I still don't understand what this has to do with Ryan."

At this time, Paolo stuck his head around the corner to check on Marissa. He had waited at the table, ordering two waters for them from the waiter. Marissa quickly mouthed to him "Summer", and he nodded again in understanding. However, this time he chose to linger in the lobby and wait for Marissa to finish. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that tonight was not going to turn out the way he envisioned it would in his head.

Marissa continued waiting for her best friend's response after she saw Paolo leave again. She was beginning to get a little impatient…whatever was up with Ryan, should that really be important enough for her to spoil her previously pleasant evening out with Paolo? She instantly regretted wondering that question once she heard Summer's weak voice.

"It's Volchek, Marissa."

The name that Marissa had surprisingly pushed to the back of her thoughts came racing back through her mind, bringing along with it all of the wounds that had been reopened during their confrontation at the airport. But, if it was about Volchek, then what did Ryan have to….oh…oh God. At that moment, Marissa realized that while she was here enjoying herself in another country, Volchek was surely making good on his promise to pay Ryan back for whatever he thought he was due.

"What about him? Summer, what happened?"

"Listen, Coop, I don't know all the details. But, I do know that one day I went over to Ryan's…right after Seth had told me he was staying in California…and, his face was covered with cuts and bruises. I wasn't sure what had happened, and he didn't exactly offer me any info. But, apparently, Volchek found a way to get to him…and may be planning to do it again. I wanted to tell you…but, then I thought to myself…should I be the reason her new life is brought down? I didn't want….I didn't want to do that to you."

Summer was on the verge of tears, trying desperately to hide them from her best friend. But, there would be no such luck, as Marissa could hear that tone in her voice that gave her away.

"Summ…I'm not mad at you. You didn't know what was going on any more than I did. But, God only knows what Volchek could have done to him. I have to call him…get this whole thing cleared up. Thanks for calling me Summ. You really are my best friend. I love you. Gotta run."

Before Summer got a chance to go into further detail, her best friend had hung up the phone on her. She inwardly sighed in relief that she hadn't had to tell her the one thing that she knew was going to turn Marissa's world upside down, that Caitlyn was living with Volchek and was probably having sex with him. Ugh…even the thought of it grossed her out. Summer shivered in her bed, wondering what it would be like to have a sister that would do something like that to her. Well, she guessed that technically as soon as her father married Julie, she would know what that was like. 'That scandalous bitch better keep her hands off Cohen,' she thought to herself before turning off her lamp and snuggling into her covers to sleep.

Her head began to spin….this explains so much. Why Ryan hadn't called her, why Seth suddenly decided to stay in California. She couldn't rake herself of the guilt that had crept into the pit of her stomach. The whole idea that Volchek was hurting Ryan immediately enraged her. Maybe that was why Ryan hadn't called her…he didn't want her to find out about what had been going down during her absence. He wanted to protect her. Yep…that sounded right up Ryan's alley.

Although she knew that it was still really late on the west coast, Marissa could not put it off any longer. Paolo would just have to understand. She flipped through her phone's address book quickly, hoping that Paolo would not come back again to check on her nonappearance. Maybe he would just order for her….right now, food was the last thing she wanted to think about. Finding the number that she was looking for, Marissa pressed the button automatically before she had any chance to let second thoughts overcome her decision.

When she heard the distinctive ringbone that matched the one of the lover that had haunted her dreams for so many weeks, she subconsciously followed the sound to see a face that she couldn't believe she was seeing. No…no way…it couldn't be. At that moment, he caught her eye, his eyes widened at the realization he wasn't going to have the opportunity to prepare what he was going to say to her. This was it…all these months of hoping, wishing; it was all happening now.

"Ryan?"