A/N So I promised this chapter would be up soon after the last and here it is. Thank you so much to everyone who continues to read and/or review this. There's nothing great about this chapter but this in particular was enjoyable for me to write so I hope you like it.

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The clear skies of the previous day were washed over with sullen patches of cloud, erasing the blue hues. Light rain would drop lightly onto the clear glass window, making small polka-dotted patterns. Marissa lay wrapped in her quilt like a package, never letting the light of the morning disrupt her plans to sleep a tad longer. She heard ringing, the repetitive alarms of a telephone. She hoped she was imagining it, figuring if she kept pretending it weren't there, it would disappear. After a few more rounds, it stopped which she was grateful for. Moments after the disturbance had ceased, Kyle sleepily walked into her room with the cordless phone in her hand.

"It's Summer." She said with her eyes half open and tossed the phone on Marissa's bed within her reach, and tiredly walked back out.

Marissa groaned as she let one arm escape from out of the covers and fumbled around trying to grab the handset.

"Hello?" She yawned.

"Your cell was switched off." Summer stated, clearly sounding like she had been up for hours.

"There's a reason for that." Marissa replied, unenthused.

Summer just shook her head on the other end, "Coop, we're having breakfast."

"It's too early, plus I have work later at midday."

"That's plenty of time. Get up, we'll got to Jacobs, I'll be there in twenty." She demanded and hung up the phone so Marissa wouldn't have time to refuse her once more.

Marissa took a moment then willed herself to get up out of her warm bed. She quickly got herself ready, then grabbed her work shirt and her apron, picked up her keys and drove out to meet Summer at the cafe.

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"Marissa, you're early. You're not due to start for another few hours." A co-worker of Marissa said as she walked past with a tray in hand.

Marissa yawned once again, "Oh, I know, I'm just meeting a friend here for breakfast first." She said as she grabbed one of the booths out towards the far end.

Shortly after, Summer arrived cheerfully in her Juicy Couture velour ensemble with her large sunglasses sitting on the top of her head, and her Paddington dangling off her forearm. Summer strode towards her with bounce in her step and quickly took the seat across her.

"Spill…" Summer said, cutting to the chase.

"Nice to see you too", Marissa said sarcastically.

"Come on, tell me everything!" Said the excitable brunette. "Ethan…how you met…everything."

"This is what I got up early for? We could've done this over the phone."

"Yeah but this way you get to have breakfast with me too. Come on Coop, I've been dying to know since last night." She said desperately.

Marissa looked aimlessly around the table trying to think of where she should start, "We just met yesterday, early in the afternoon."

"How?"

Marissa grabbed the menus and handed one over to Summer, and proceeded to speak as she scrolled down the list of choices. "I was out for a walk yesterday on the Golden Gate Bridge…" She smiled to herself at the memory of Ethan having run at her, crazily. "…actually he thought I was going to jump off it and he ran towards me trying to stop me."

"Marissa Cooper, were you going to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge?" She asked sternly.

"No, Summer. Why would I do that?" Marissa replied rhetorically. "I was walking across it, and out of nowhere a thought of Ryan entered my mind and I don't know…I just got emotional and started…crying I guess." She continued a little embarrassed.

"Then what happened?"

"Then, I guess he saw me from afar, saw me crying and looking out from the bridge, and came to the conclusion I was a like a jumper and tried to stop me."

Summer thought for a moment with a quizzical look on her face a little dumbfounded, "Wow, that's uh…actually no that's kind of romantic, in its own…way, I think. So then what happened?"

"Nothing, we just came back here for lunch, and just talked for the afternoon."

"Are you going to see him again?" Summer pressed further.

Marissa shrugged her shoulders, "Maybe, we've exchanged numbers, so we'll see…"

"You should – he's hot." She said frankly.

Marissa rolled her eyes, "Summer, there are other reasons to see someone other than because they're hot."

"I know that…If you guys were to procreate, you guys would have hot babies." She stated in addition to her last comment in a sudden bit of randomness.

"Summer, I've known the guy for like 24 hours, if anything we're just friends, if that. Its way too soon to start saying we'd have hot babies." She said as she playfully used her cardboard menu to tap her on the top of her head, and they just laughed together.

Summer paused a moment and spoke a little more serious, "Are you going to tell Ryan?"

"What's there really to say? Like I said, Ethan and I aren't even anything. I don't know…should I need to?" Marissa asked a little unsure.

"I don't think you need to, but I'm just asking if you're going to."

"When there's something to tell him, I'll tell him."

Summer gave a slight half smile, "How are you two anyway? Doesn't seem like you two are all that close anymore."

Marissa thought about this for a moment, considering what she and Ryan had become, partly because it was her that purposely had been keeping her distance. "We're, just taking some time off, away from each other, getting some distance…I guess."

"Are you avoiding him?"

"You know I was at first…but I don't think I am anymore. This is nothing to do with Ethan, but I guess I'm getting used to the idea of us being apart. If he meets someone or starts seeing someone else, or if I do, then I think I'm okay with that. He wanted this. I just don't feel like I need to fight it anymore."

"Well, that's good" Summer replied optimistically, knowing that this was a good sign for her best friend. "Do you still love him? Like, do you still have feelings for him" Summer asked softly, not too sure of what answer she was going to get.

Marissa sighed and let out a long breath, "…I do still love him, but right now, I just don't think its our time. It's not what he wants. It's not what I want." Marissa spoke the last five words without clarity, trying to convince herself she had just spoken the truth.

"Do you know what you want?" The waitress had come by, posing an innocent question in reference to taking their order. Marissa quickly looked up at her co-worker taken aback. Confronted with simple words that just so happened coincided with her discussion with Summer, as if it were a sign to think twice about what she had just said.

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"Marethan, Marthan, Marissan, Ethissa, Ethrissa…"

"Seth, can we stop with this Siamese name game."

Seth had taken the liberty of dropping in on Ryan that afternoon. The events of last night had no chance of being concealed or become a subject that could easily roll off everyone's backs as if it were an everyday occurrence. He sat at the breakfast table as Ryan grabbed a carton of juice from the refrigerator, and poured himself a glass, as Seth became more and more unyielding.

"I will if you stop avoiding the issue."

"What issue?" Ryan said slightly irritated and clearly in denial.

Seth joined his hands together, reverently, taking a long breath, "I don't know. Say…Marissa and this new guy Ethan."

"That's not an issue…" Ryan said as he set down his glass of juice and headed out of the kitchen in direction of his bedroom, with Seth now getting up to follow.

"Oh really, you're not the least bit curious as to why they were together last night?" Seth said standing by the doorway as Ryan went towards his closet to grab a pair of jeans and a new shirt to change into and setting the fresh items on his bed.

"No. Marissa's free to do what she wants, she's a big girl." Ryan said indifferently

"So she's free to do…this Ethan guy? Seth answering with a smart ass return.

Ryan gave him an unappreciative glare as he began to pull at his wife-beater in order to take it off, but pausing as he realized Seth, who was oddly unfazed by this, was still standing by the door. "Seth!" Ryan called out and gave him a stern look to signal for him to get out.

"Oh uh…yeah of course." Seth only now realizing, got out of the way and shut the door. Now on the other side of the wooden panel, "As I was saying, you cannot tell me you're not the least bit interested in finding out who he is, or at least what the deal is with those two."

"What's the big deal they're not even dating", Ryan said in hopes that he was correct, with a muffled voice from the inside.

"No, you don't know that." Seth replied just stating the clear truth as Ryan stepped out of the room having changed. They both walked over to the lounge and sat at opposite ends, with Ryan tossing a game controller over to him getting ready to play and avoid the subject at hand. "Doesn't this bother you, at all? You haven't seen her in a while and one day, she's with some guy", Seth's tone now slowly shifting, becoming more serious.

Ryan looked around the room speechless, letting all Seth's sentences and questions absorb, and replaying out the scenes from the previous day. He wanted to know, he was desperate to know who this guy was that Marissa was with, as much as he tried to hide it. "Well what am I suppose to do?"

"You could talk to her." Seth said sincerely, offering up the perfect suggestion.

"Then say what? It's none of my business. We're not together." Ryan just shrugged as he looked down at his hands that started fiddling with the button, letting his posture fall in his last few words. It was at those words that images of he and Marissa together began to project itself in his mind; quick flashes of the moments that made solidified their relationship.

Seth observantly noticed his reaction as he could see the look on his brother's face suddenly become lost, "Is that the problem? Do you want to get back together?" He asked, trying to get to the bottom of it.

"I don't know…maybe." Ryan replied honestly.

"Well, what if by the time you do know, its too late, and then what?" Seth answered, feeling he should point that out to him. "My advice, like I said, at least talk to her, no matter what you guys end up saying, at least one thing you'll know is what you're up against in the event you do decide that she's what you want."

"I don't know what to say. I use to know. Plus, I don't know where she is, I haven't been successful in getting a hold of her in while."

"Well…just so happens, Summer had lunch with her this morning, and she said she'd be working this afternoon." Seth said, hoping Ryan would take this bit of information and put it to use.

Ryan sat there, contemplating if he should use this time to go try and talk to her. Despite still having no idea as to what he would ask or say, he got up and made his way to grab his keys and stopped for a moment to look at Seth.

"Thanks…" he said, grateful to have him there. "When'd you get to be so insightful?"

Seth just smiled, "I've always been, I just have an on/off switch, it's off sometimes." He said sarcastically.

Ryan just laughed slightly, "Alright, I'll see you back at your place later." He headed out the door and took out his cell phone from his back pocket, dialing Marissa's number to make sure she'd be there.

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Marissa could feel her cell phone vibrating in her skirt pocket, so she quickly set down the ordered beverages on the customers' tables.

"Hello?" She said as she awaited a response. "Hey, I'm glad you called me…" a smile now appearing on Marissa's face as she made her way to the back of the staff only room. "I finish soon…yeah at 5, come by…"

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Ryan got into his car, hopeful he may get a chance to actually speak to her this time. Pulling out of the resident's car-park, he made his way over to Marissa's workplace. As he drove, he got one step closer to seeing her again, and he felt himself become a little nervous in the stomach; hoping that when he saw her, they could just talk like they use to. Laugh at each others stupid jokes like they once did. Erase any awkward silences and let them be comfortable ones.

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"Hey!" She said as she smiled and waved to the young man who just entered the door as she began removing her apron from her waist having just clocked off.

"Hi." He said giving her a small smile as he walked over to her with both hands behind his back, a little unsure.

Marissa tried to take a look at something that seemed to be sticking out from behind and making a rustling noise. "What's that behind your back?" She asked curiously; intrigued as to what he may have been holding.

"Nothing…" He said with a grin.

"No it's not nothing. Show me." She demanded with a wide smile plastered onto her face.

Ethan gave in and brought his hands out in front of her, revealing what he had been carrying. Upon seeing them she melted, miming an 'Aww', as she brought her hands out to accept his offering. "Okay…I had to go out and do some research for one of my horticulture classes, and in passing, I got these for you. It's called Triteleia laxa, the Itherial Spear, from the Lily family. I know it's kind of lame…"

She brought the bouquet of delicate flowers that hand been wrapped up in soft ivory paper closer to her nose as closed her eyes as inhaled the sweet, subtle scent. In awe of the beautiful violet and lilac hues that blended into each other like watercolors, as the hint of yellows slowly surfaced as the petals had begun to spread out like a midnight star. "It's not lame, they're beautiful. You didn't have to."

"I know I didn't, I want to." Ethan replied, glad that she liked them.

"Well, thank you. Anyway, like I said, I'm glad you called, but what made you want to stop by?"

"I was just going to the library, and I called to see if you were home, but seeing as how you were just here and it's on the way, I wanted to say hi." He answered genuinely, as she gave him a thankful smile. "So are you all done here?" Ethan asked.

She turned her head to make sure she hadn't left anything behind by the register, "Yeah, that's it for me today."

"So, you don't mind if I walk you to your car at least."

Marissa couldn't help but be enamored by his charm, "Not at all", she said as she nodded slowly still smiling. The two of them side by side as they made their way past the people who were lined up at the counter; Ethan's efforts to open the door like a gentleman didn't go unnoticed by Marissa, or by a bystander who was only a short distance away.

Ryan watched from one corner on the opposite side of the glass from the cafe front, as passers by and customers constantly coming and going would camouflage him as he stood there motionless. His mouth soon became dry as he observed the two interact. She would smile as he offered her a bouquet of flowers, clutching at her heart in appreciation, as his own suddenly began to sink at her reaction. They would smile at each other, and she would shyly bite her bottom lip as he made a comment that seemed to make her turn candy floss pink. In that instant, he wanted nothing more at that moment to stand in his place and be the reason for her joy.

Every second he kept watching, made him want to turn away, but it was one of those moments you couldn't help but continue to look, studying every move in case you misread any signs. Ryan raised his forearm against the window pane as he rested his headed toward it, looking more intently, and taking note of every gesture, every expression, seeing if he could make out words that would stem from their lips. Wondering what he had said to make her smile, or to make her blush, to make her playfully hit him on the shoulder, and to finally make her leave with him.

As they approached the exit, Ryan's instincts told him to retreat immediately. As Ethan opened the door for her, she thanked him stepping out first, and they walked side by side on the paved street, noticing no one else around them as they seemed to be too caught up in their personal conversation, he assumed they would be leaving to go on a date. Ryan kept his eyes focused on them from a short distance away, as they finally turned a corner; he now realized why her phone may have been busy as he tried to call her not too long ago. Ryan turned in the opposite direction, walking away, with his head hung low, staring as he took every slow step on his way back to his car. He disappeared amongst the locals, defeated, and like nothing more but just another stranger passing by.

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