chapter 2.

Ryan shuffled back into the hotel room after his talk with Taylor. He quickly reached for his cell phone to call his brother. "Ryan, how's Newport?" Seth quickly answered. Ryan knew his brother would want details about him seeing Taylor so he wasn't even sure he wanted to tell Seth.

"Guess who I ran into today at the beach." Ryan figured that Seth would find out anyway, because Taylor and Summer still talked. Taylor would most likely tell Summer right away. "No idea, who'd you see?" Seth sounded preoccupied, but he wouldn't give up a chance to talk to his brother.

"Taylor." Her name just rolled off of Ryan's tongue, somehow it just felt right to say it.

Seth didn't say a word for a minute and then "so how was that? Figure out you two were still madly in love with each other?" Seth always had to make a comment out of any situation.

"It's not like that Seth. I don't love her anymore. We just talked about my plans, you know for moving back here." Ryan decided against telling Seth about them maybe living together if he did end up coming back. "So, did seeing Taylor make up your mind?"

"Seth, if I end up here she is not going to be part of my reasoning. Why are you so adamant on my relationship with Taylor? We haven't seen each other in years, nothing is ever going to happen between us again." He sure hoped he got that through Seth head, even if he wasn't sure if he believed it himself.

"Sure, whatever. Well Summer is calling me from the other room. She sounds excited, I have a feeling she's already talked to Taylor." Ryan heard his brother laugh before he was no longer on the other end of the phone.

Ryan walked over to the bed and plopped back onto it. He had so much to think about, and he felt like he had far too little time to think about it in.

Kirsten had promised him she'd help him get employee's and set everything up. She even offered to work from her home in Berkeley, helping him with books or whatever he needed. Ryan knew he'd probably take her up on that offer since he knew how bored Kirsten had been since Sophie started Kindergarten.

Everything seemed to be pointing in the direction of Newport Beach, and he knew he'd never get another chance like this. He knew that if he didn't take this now he'd be sorry for it in the future. But somehow he still wasn't sure. Moving here would mean all of his memories would flood back to him. The nights he spent with Seth, Summer and Marissa. The diner where they shared a lot of their meals. He wondered if the model home had been sold, or if it was still as amazing as it had been those years ago. It was all in his past, plus he figured one day he'd have to deal with it all again. Maybe now was the best time for that.

"Ryan." Ryan knew Julie Cooper-Atwood wasn't expecting a visit from her now Step-Son, but he saw the smile spread across her face and figured she was happy he was there.

"Julie, I came to see my little brother" He walked into her home. Julie was still living in Neil Robert's home, but she and his dad had managed to buy it from him and now owned it. Julie quickly gave Ryan a hug before she yelled "Nicky!"

Suddenly a little dark haired boy ran down the stairs. Ryan hadn't seen his little brother in six months, and he actually missed the little boy. "RYAN!" Nicky screamed running into his big brothers arms. "Nicky. I've missed you" Ryan picked the five year old up in his arms. "I missed you too, I made you a picture in school. I was going to mail it to you but mommy said that we would go visit you in a few weeks." The little boy talked. "Well, what if I tell you I might be moving here." The little boy gasped as he hugged Ryan's neck. Ryan knew he didn't know Nicky as much as he knew the Cohen's daughter, Sophie. So if he did end up moving back to Newport he'd make a point to get to know the boy.

"Nicky, why don't you run and get that picture I want to talk to Ryan." Julie had a smile planted on her face, Ryan hoped it wasn't just an act. "Ryan, so you're moving back?" Julie asked him. They walked into her kitchen as she prepared coffee. "I talked to Kirsten, and she said that since the Newport Group has been shut down that I could take it over. It's a really good opportunity and I came over to ask you a question." He was a little nervous. What if Julie said no to his idea? He thought it was a good idea.

"Ask me anything." She told him. "Well, I know you've got a job that you love. But I was wondering if you would be my partner. I've decided to do get it back. I'll treat it a lot better than Caleb. So what do you say? You have really good experience in designing and I thought you could help me out with that part." He hoped that she would say yes, he really wanted her to say yes. "Ryan, really?" She beamed. She couldn't believe what he was asking of her. "YES! To be honest I hate my job with my current company and I've been looking for a way to get out of it but now I have my way! Thank you Ryan, I know we have past and I know you weren't very fond of me back then and I didn't know you enough to know you really helped my daughter, she was at her best when she was with you." Ryan wished she hadn't brought up Marissa, but he knew that it was inevitable. He knew that working with Julie meant he'd be reminded of Marissa a lot more than he had living in Berkeley. "Great, well I'm really nervous about starting it back up. I'm up for the challenge. Kirsten promised to help out, so I'm pretty sure with her help it will all turn out okay?" He questioned. Was Ryan making the right decision? Only time would tell.

"Hello?" It was Thursday night before Taylor called Ryan, and he had been expecting her call all week long. He wondered why it had taken her so long to contact him.

"Hey, Ry. I was just wondering if you wanted to meet me at the diner." He glanced at the clock sitting next to his bed. He was in bed and it was only 8:30, he couldn't believe himself. He was the same way back in Berkeley but tonight he had a reason to leave the house.

He walked into the diner. He watched as she studied the menu so intently, as she sipped her water. Just seeing her doing that made his heart drop. She looked up and noticed him walked towards her. She quickly pulled a smile on her face.

"Hey" He whispered sliding into the comfortable booth that he had spent many of his years in Newport at. "So, would you like to tell me what your decision is about staying here?" The girl sure cut to the chase, she looked eager to know.

"Well, I decided to give it a try" He flashed her a shy smile. Suddenly she let out a huge breath, Ryan hadn't even noticed she was holding. "Awesome! Now we can start looking for a house. I took the liberty in picking up a few things on it. I think we should go for a town home. Three bedrooms two baths." She was totally taking over this moving in together thing. It was one less thing Ryan had to deal with so he didn't mind if she took over.

"Just as long as I have a place to lay my head I don't care. Tomorrow I'm leaving to pack up in Berkeley so I'll be back Monday." He told her. "Great, that gives me the weekend to look around and see if I can find us a place!" She was more than excited, Ryan could see it in her eyes. Her hazel eyes spoke everything she couldn't say and Taylor could say a lot.