Twists and Turns
Marissa was speaking in gritted teeth again, as she usually did for the past weeks whenever she talked to Ryan over the phone. It had been tough for them ever since Matty came. If they weren't fighting, they were arguing about something, or they were not saying anything at all. It also didn't help that Ryan wasn't able to go to a party in Brown which Marissa invited him to. Marissa felt robbed of the only time he could have with him.
"Do you actually know how hard it is to try to balance college, our relationship and going back to Newport everytime I could for my son?" Ryan told her. "Marissa, it's no joke."
"I'm not saying it is," She said, "But exactly how hard it is to try and come here and attend a party with me?"
"Marissa, it's not easy."
"You're taking me for granted."
"Look, I thought you understood," He said, "I'm not dealing with something trivial here, you know? I'm dealing with a little boy who's actually my son."
"Fine," Marissa said, "But just so you know, me, your girlfriend also still exists in your so-called life." She then shut her phone down and took a deep breath, put some books back inside her locker and shut the locker so hard, some people looked at her.
"Fighting again?" Joey, the boy she had been hanging out with for some weeks now asked her. Joey is a Management major and he looks like Taylor Kitsch, only much more rugged.
"We just couldn't understand each other anymore."
"Then break up with him."
"What?" Marissa said as they started walking, "That's just…I love him, okay?"
"But we hang out…"
"Joey, I'm just…I thought you understood?"
"So, I'm just your third wheel."
She sighed, "Maybe I'm just sad." She said, "Besides, we cannot be anything more than what we are now. Summer would know, she's my bestfriend and she's Ryan's friend."
"Face it, Marissa, you're not exactly happy anymore."
She took a deep breath, "Fine," She said, "But it's not like it's that easy, you know? Give me time, will you?"
"I'm sorry."
"Let's just go to class." She shrugged.
XXXXXX
"You were fighting again?" Seth asked Ryan when he called him later that day.
"She hates me for not going to that party."
"Oh, man…"
"How's Matty?"
"Good," Seth said, "Mom's really taking care of him, I think she wanted a new baby, Matty's perfect…"
Ryan laughed, "See you over the weekend."
"Hey, Atwood," Seth told him, "You know, maybe you could skip one weekend, try to see Marissa first, you know? Maybe that will stop the fighting…"
"But my son needs me."
"It's just one weekend, Ryan, it's okay."
"You think?"
"Cohen knows best…"
Ryan laughed, "Okay…thanks, man."
"Anytime, Atwood…"
XXXXXX
Summer went inside her and Marissa's dorm room and was surprised to see Marissa in bed, making out with Joey.
"Oh my God." Summer exclaimed.
Marissa hurriedly backed away from Joey, "Oh my God…" She said, as well. Joey got up from bed and made his way out of the room through the back window.
"Oh my God…" Summer said again, "Coop…"
"That was just ah..Uhm…"
"Coop…."
"I'm sorry." Marissa said, "I was just…Summ, Ryan and I have been fighting like crazy…and…And Joey was there…He helps me get over my sadness a bit…"
"But Coop, Ryan would never ever do that to you…And that guy? I don't think he cares for you as much as Ryan does…" Summer said, "Coop, this would hurt him."
"Then you're not gonna tell him." Marissa said, "Summ, don't you think this doesn't hurt me? It does. And it hurts that Ryan doesn't seem to care about me that much anymore."
"That's not true," Summer said, "This whole Matty situation is just being hard right now since it's new…"
Marissa sighed, "Sorry, Summ," She cried, "Excuse me…" She then got up from bed and made her way out of the room. Summer picked up her phone and called up Seth.
"Hey beautiful…" Seth greeted. He then heard Summer crying. "Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong?"
"Cohen, I have to tell you something, but promise me you won't tell Ryan unless you want him to go old-skool Atwood…"
"Okay…What's up?"
Summer cried.
"Summ?"
"It's Marissa," She said, "She's…I saw her make-out with someone."
"What?"
"She's been hanging out with someone…She and Ryan have been fighting so much and so this happened…I'm sorry…I wanna tell Ryan but she's my bestfriend and…I'm just…Cohen…"
"Relax…" He told her, "It's gonna be okay…I mean..maybe not but…" He said, "My God, this would kill Ryan."
"I know, that's why it kills me too…" Summer said, "It's too upsetting…"
"Don't worry, I won't say a word…"
"We're lying to Ryan…God it's insane…"
"I know, but…We can't let him go old skool Atwood…But listen, Summ, he'll be there over the weekend, keep Marissa in your sight, okay?"
"I will."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
XXXXX
Ryan went to Brown that weekend and found Marissa with this guy he doesn't know kissing by the gates.
"What the hell…" He said as he ran up to them and punched the guy.
"Ryan…" Marissa said. The people around tried to stop Ryan from punching Joey even more. Summer then arrived and was surprised.
"Ryan," She said as she came up to him and held him.
"Who's this guy?" Ryan said.
"Ryan, he's…" Marissa said.
"He's what?"
"I'm sorry…" Marissa cried, "I was just…I was just sad, we were fighting and it…Ryan."
"Damn." Ryan said, "Why am I even surprised?"
"Ryan…" Marissa tried to hold Ryan but he pulled back.
Ryan looked at Summer, "You knew about this, didn't you?"
"Ryan, I…" Summer said, "She's my bestfriend…"
"And am I not your friend?"
Summer was crying too, "Ryan, I'm sorry…I wanted to tell you but…"
"But she's your bestfriend." He finished, "And I'm the guy with the son who doesn't understand his girlfriend."
"Ryan," Marissa said.
"I love you, you know?" Ryan told her.
"I'm sorry."
He then took a deep breath and was about to walk away when he looked back, "Have fun, Marissa." He said sarcastically and went away.
XXXXX
