The Anniversary

(6 months later…)

Ryan woke up to the sound of his cellphone ringing that September morning as he was in his dorm room in Berkely.

"Hello?" He answered the call, eyes still half-closed.

"Hey Ryan…" Julie said.

Julie's voice was enough to make Ryan get up from bed, "Julie?" He said and looked at his bedside clock. It was just 7:30 am. "Hey, what's up? What a surprise…"

"I know…" Julie said, "There's just something I wanna tell you…"

"What is it?"

"Well, it's Kirsten and Sandy's anniversary this weekend…"

"Oh," Ryan said, "Wow, Sandy didn't tell me anything about a celebration…" He told her. Sandy was now working in Berkely as a teacher.

"That's the point," Julie said, "I've been talking to Kiki the other day and it seemed like she was sad that Sandy is kinda so busy, and that it's like no one wants to celebrate the anniversary anymore…"

"Oh. That's ugh..that's sad…" Ryan said, "Should I tell Sandy that?"

"No, don't!" Julie said, "What I wanna do is…give them a surprise…"

"Oh."

"I know you're not so good at parties, Ryan, but I hope you guys could plan a little celebration for Newport's golden couple…Can you guys be home by Friday night? At least, you and Sandy…then those three could follow by Saturday…I already asked Kaitlin to make the reservations for the Bait shop…You guys just need to plan this out…"

"Oh, okay…I'll ugh…I'll tell them…"

"Great!"

"Okay, bye, Julie…"

"See you, Ryan…"

XXXXXXX

"It's a surprise it's you my mom called!" Marissa told Ryan as he called her up later that day. They were trying to be in the "just friends" route for a few months, but two months ago, they became a couple again.

"We're a team now, you know!" Ryan joked. Marissa laughed. "So, just tell Seth and Summer?"

"Aye aye, captain!"

Ryan laughed. It was good for things to be well again. "I'm wondering what you guys will have in mind…I'm not good at these stuff, you know."

"That I know, Ryan…"

"Okay, gotta run to class…I'll call you."

"Okay…Bye…"

XXXXXXX

"We should let Dad sing again…" Seth told Marissa and Summer while they were having lunch that day. Seth's also studying in Brown now, leaving the other guys in Newport to take care of his comic book shop.

"But he already did that," Marissa said, after eating some fries, "We should do something else…"

"A collage of their pictures, perhaps?" Summer quipped.

"That would be good…and…" Seth said.

"And we could like, read notes to them, like, what they mean to us or something…" Marissa added.

"Oh that's so sweet!" Summer exclaimed, "I like that…"

"And then we could add great music…A good band shall be there…" Seth said.

"Definitely," Marissa said, "I have Phantom Planet's number…" She winked.

"I love them!" Summer said, "California is perfect for Mr and Mrs C!"

Seth smiled, "It's gonna be a great celebration…"

"That's for sure…" Marissa smiled.

XXXXXXX

"So, could you ask Kirsten to stay free for the weekend?" Ryan asked Sandy as they were walking along the corridors of Berkely.

"But she and I already planning not to do anything for the anniversary…"

"Oh, no, no, no," Ryan said, "That's not the Sandy Cohen I know…You probably just didn't have enough time to plan, but don't worry…It's all set…"

"What?"

"Don't tell Kirsten I said anything," Ryan smiled, "Just go buy her a bouquet of Roses and we'll do the rest."

"What even made you think of doing this?"

"Julie Cooper?"

"What?"

"Well, I can't really tell you what she told me, but let's just say Julie's been such a fairy recently…"

"It's a miracle."

Ryan laughed, "Well, miracles do happen…"

Sandy smiled, as well.

XXXXXXX

By Saturday night, everything was all set in the Bait Shop. Phantom Planet sang an acoustic version of California while Sandy and Kirsten were watching in the audience area. A video montage of Sandy and Kirsten's pictures were playing in the background.

"I'm surprised…" Kirsten told him, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Ryan said this was Julie's idea…" Sandy told her.

"Wow." She said, "Now, that surprises me even more…"

Seth went onstage after Phantom Planet's performance. "Hey," He said, "That was a great song, wasn't it? Thanks to Phantom Planet…" He went on, "But tonight is made for my parents, Sandy and Kirsten…And we have some messages for them…Here are my friends, Ryan, Marissa, my princess Summer, and well…Julie Cooper-Nichol-Roberts…"

Everyone laughed.

Summer took the mic from Seth, "Hi," She smiled, "Well…Mr and Mrs C are like, really precious to me. And believe me, it's a blessing knowing them…"

Marissa smiled and spoke after her, "Actually, Sandy and Kirsten mean a lot to me because they're like my second parents…And…and everytime I need someone to lean on, they're there. So, I'm really thankful I have them." She then gave the mic to Ryan.

"Hi," Ryan said, carrying Matty, "I actually have a lot to be thankful for…Sandy and Kirsten both changed my life and I owe them a lot. They changed my life and are also taking care of my son now… I have no idea how to repay them, and I know I really couldn't…But I'm trying…And I guess, this is a start…" He passed on the mic to Julie.

"Well, hello," Julie said, "I know I've done a lot of wrong things to our golden couple here…But…Okay, I know this wouldn't really make up for it…But I hope this kind of makes them happy…" She smiled at Kirsten, "I just wanna say thank you both for everything…especially for being there for me when I'm down…Especially when my Marissa almost died…I love you both, Sandy and Kirsten…And one day, I hope, Neil and I could actually be like you, too…"

Sandy smiled. Seth took the stage once more.

"So, of course, I'm last…" He said, "Doesn't mean what I'll say would be the least, okay?" They laughed. He went on, "Okay…I just wanna say…that…Well, I know I really haven't been the best son. I know I've let you down like, millions of times…But I just wanna say that…I love you, both of you, and I'm willing to make it up to you…And…" He paused and then, "And I'm blessed you are my parents."

Kirsten was crying then. Sandy squeezed her hand and went up the stage.

"Thank you, everyone," He said as he spoke, "First up, Julie, I heard this was your idea, and as much as it surprises me, I wanna thank you. Marissa and Summer, you girls are both wonderful and Kirsten and I love you dearly." He continued, "And Ryan, you owe us nothing. Just seeing how much has changed in your life for the past years makes us really, really proud. Seth…well…Son, we all have our mistakes, we love you no matter what." He took a deep breath, "And for my wife…Kirsten, I love you, and I am so sorry for not being my usual self recently, but know that nothing's changed…I love you still. Maybe, even more. And I just…Can I have a dance with you?" He then went down the stage and went up to Kirsten.

"Could I dance with you?"

Kirsten smiled as he gave him her hand, "I thought you'd never ask." She said. Phantom Planet started playing a mellow song and Kirsten and Sandy led the dance. Neil and Julie followed suit and so did Seth and Summer. Ryan and Marissa were the last ones to get up and dance.

"It was a good night, huh?" Ryan said.

Marissa smiled, "It definitely was." She told him and continued dancing.

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