Blasts from the past
"Hello? Atwood?" Summer said as she picked up her phone and saw Ryan calling.
"Summ, she's not picking up."
Summer sighed, "Of course, she wouldn't." She said, "Coop's busy, you know? And you should be, too."
"She's mad, isn't she."
"She's not, Atwood." Summer said, "It's just…seriously, Ryan, will you just please stop worrying? You've been like, so paranoid recently. It won't help you and Coop. Volchok's in jail, We're schoolmates, nothing's gonna go wrong."
Ryan sighed, "Can you just tell her that I called, then?"
"Atwood, you should ask me not to tell her. I think that would be better."
"Fine." Ryan said, "Sorry..just…look after her."
"I am, and I will." Summer said, "I should get going, I have a class to attend to. You, meanwhile, should do the same. Catch up with you later."
Ryan ended the call and put his phone back in his pocket when he bumped into someone. He almost screamed at that someone because he was having a bad day and Marissa wasn't answering his calls when he realized that he actually knew who he bumped into. It was Lindsay Gardner, his ex-girlfriend, Caleb's daughter, Kirsten's sister. What was she doing here?
"Lindsay,"
"Ryan…"
"What are you doing here? I thought you were in Chicago?"
"Oh..yeah, I was…but I switched schools…You know me, all these scholarship stuff and all…"
Ryan just nodded his head and looked at his watch, "I haven't got a class in three hours."
"Uhm…I still have two hours to kill."
XXXXXX
Ryan and Lindsay soon found themselves talking at one of the school benches, drinking some juice.
"So," Lindsay started, "You and Marissa?"
"Are still together. We…we went through a lot…And…well…we're in a rough patch right now…" He said, "You know, I never thought I'd see you again, I mean, after…"
"Yeah, yeah, I just…I needed a real, clean break."
Ryan nodded his head, "Well, it definitely was a clean break…You never answered my calls and letters…"
"I'm sorry, Ryan."
"It's okay, no worries, it's been a while, you know?"
Lindsay took a deep breath, "So, when you said you and Marissa were having a rough patch, what did you mean?"
He took a deep breath, "It's just… I almost lost her, Lindsay, she almost died months back and I cannot let that happen again. But, I know I am being such a paranoid guy, you know, too overprotective, and she probably hates me for it now…But I just love her, a lot."
"I know that," She smiled, "You always belonged together."
"Hey, I didn't mean…Lindsay, what we had years back…It was real."
"I know." She said, "But that's over now. And I am engaged. Well, I'm not gonna get married anytime soon, but this guy and I are engaged… You and Marissa, meanwhile, are not over, and you shouldn't be. You just…You belong together. So you should do something, you know, apologize, those stuff."
"She's in Brown."
"Then go there." Lindsay said, "You're a romantic, Ryan. Well…Not in that traditional way, but you are, in your won right."
"You think?"
"I don't think, I know. I mean, we were together once upon a time, right?" She winked.
He laughed. "Thanks, Lindsay…"
"Anytime, Ryan."
XXXXX
"So, Cohen, your shop is actually very nice…Dream come true, eh?" Anna told Seth while she was at the comic book shop that day.
"Well, thank you, Anna…"
"So," She said as she went to the counter, "How are you and Summer?"
"Good, we're good. It's all fine…"
"But then I came…"
"No, no, it's okay…"
Anna laughed, "She must hate me…I mean, you did choose me over her once upon a time…"
He laughed, "Yeah, I did…She hated you, yeah, but I don't think she still does…"
"She doesn't have anything to worry about…" Anna said, "You and Summer are the functional couple. Not you and me, or you and anyone…"
"Wow, that feels different hearing that from you…"
She smiled, "You've grown, Cohen, no longer needing confidence…" She winked, "So, how's Ryan and Marissa?"
"Oh, they're…Well…It's kinda complicated once again…"
She laughed, "Some things clearly doesn't change…"
XXXXXX
Kaitlin was walking near the Bait shop when she saw someone she thought she knew.
"Luke?"
Luke Ward, Marissa's ex-boyfriend and her mom's former flame turned back to see who called him. "Kaitlin?"
XXXX
Luke and Kaitlin walked together.
"God, look at you, you're all grown-up!" Luke told Kaitlin.
"What do you think, Luke? Of course, I'll grow up, I'm not a doll."
Luke laughed, "How are you?"
Kaitlin just shrugged, "What are you doing here? I thought you wouldn't be back after…" She almost said "After what you did to Marissa and my mom" but she opted not to.
Luke took a deep breath, "I was just visiting…"
"I always liked you, you know. I mean, you were with my sister and my mom…Maybe you could always be with me…"
"Hey, hey, hey, Kaitlin, don't say that."
"Why? I know I'm not Marissa or even Julie Cooper but…"
"Kaitlin, stop," Luke said, "Those things that happened ages back…they're just memories now. And guess what? You, my dear, still have your whole life ahead of you. And don't even think about wanting to grow up, coz believe me, when you do, you'd realize you should've loved your youth more."
"I just wanna be loved, Luke…"
"You will," Luke said as he looked at her, "One day, someone will come along and love you, not just because you're Marissa's sister or that Julie Cooper is your mom, but because you are you. And I know, that would happen. Maybe not now, but it will."
Kaitlin didn't know what to say.
"Don't fret, Kaitlin, its' okay," Luke smiled, "You are beautiful in your own right because you are you. Hey, listen, I have to go, it was nice seeing you again, though."
Kaitlin smiled meekly, "Bye, Luke."
XXXXXX
