Back in Newport Beach, CA...

Ryan sighed heavily as he slammed his hand down on his horn again, letting the loud buzzing continue on and on until he saw the tall, lanky pale man emerge from the front door. Seth's house was relatively small; more of a condo you could call it. He liked to refer to it as his bachelor pad. Yeah right; the place was surrounded by young families and retired old people, all of whom would call the land lord in an instant if they even heard a note of music play above a whisper from his house. Ryan shook his head and laughed slightly as Seth ran and his curly fro flopped on his head.

"Geez man whats the rush?" Seth asked annoyed and out of breath as he hopped into the front seat of Ryan's jeep. Ryan laughed at him and shrugged his shoulders before flipping the car into reverse and pulling out of Seth's driveway in the direction of the Cohen's. "I see someone's in a good mood, even though you're alone.." Seth observed as he jokingly stretched his neck around the car and under the seat in search of Ryan's girlfriend who was supposed to be coming to dinner with them.

"Katie's shoot was running long so she's not coming," Ryan explained plainly as he kept his eyes on the road.

"Well that still doesnt explain the smile."

"Did I mention Katie's not coming?" Ryan shot back with a bitter laugh.

A wide grin spread across Seth's face as he shook his head, "I dont get you sometimes man. Dont you break up with a girl when you think shes a heartless bitch?"

"Have you seen Katie?" Ryan asked in mock awe as he looked over at Seth and saw him nodding in mock agreement. Katie was hot in that bimbo sorta way; big boobs, big lips, blond hair. She was a struggling model; struggling because if you looked past the lust factor, there wasnt any true beauty, and Ryan knew this. But after highschool, he needed a change, and thus began the huge orgy that was Ryan's college life. He wasnt looking for love anymore, he had found it long ago, and it had burned him. Burned him and moved clear across the country.

God did he miss her; but missing her wasnt going to help anything. Last he had heard she had a kid. He didnt know the kids name or what her boyfriend or maybe even husbands name was, just that she had a kid. And that was definitely enough to let him know they could never get back what they had; she had moved on, and he should too. It became kind of an unwritten rule: dont talk to Ryan about her, and no one did, not even Julie. And so he hooked up with lots and lots of girls. Hot girls. Girls guys would kill to even have look at them. But none of it mattered, because none of them were anywhere near as beautiful. None of them were Marissa.

"Never thought I'd see the chivalrous Ryan Atwood out right using a girl," Seth shot back sarcastically.

"Hey I'm not using her. She knows what it is, I know what it is," Ryan explained as he started to slow down as he approached the guard stand of the Cohen's gated community. The guard immediately recognized him and opened the gate and Ryan waved at him in thanks as they sped up the winding roads of McMansions. "I wonder if the girl even knows my last name," Ryan added in with a chuckle even though it was a completely serious comment.

"Shit," Seth muttered as they pulled up to his parents driveway and saw that everyone was already there and looked down at his watch to see the time. "Mom and Dad are gonna be pissed, we are so late." Ryan sighed heavily and nodded in agreement as he flipped the car into park. They both dreadfully climbed out of the car and headed up the driveway slowly, handing off their keys to the valet.

As they entered the lavish dinner party that had consumed their former home, both boys smiled at the familiar scene; caterers running all over, bartenders mixing drinks, tipsy Newpsies gossiping around the room. It was something they both acted like they hated, but the odd familiarity felt eerily good to them. Usually they would skip out on these things, but this was for the Newport Group, and since Ryan was now an independent architect, he had been selling his designs to the company since he graduated college. He needed to put in some serious schmuzing time, and since Seth had an ever present amount of free time, he came along with.

"Atwood!" An older looking gentlemen holding a scotch called out as soon as they entered the door, waving Ryan over to the group of businessmen. He shot Seth an apologetic look before leaving him to fend for himself right off the bat. Seth shook his head as he watched his brother's retreating form from his position near the door. Ryan had changed alot since highschool, hell, even since college. Seth could tell that he was unhappy, but Ryan would never admit it. He just didnt have his usual caring attitude. Ryan used to be the good guy, the one who always did the right thing and looked out for everyone. Now he didnt even look out for himself. Seth sighed heavily to himself as he saw Ryan grab a drink off a waitresses tray. Guess he was going to have to be the designated driver yet again.

Pulling his eyes away from Ryan he scanned across the crowded living area and was relieved when he spotted the only group of people he really knew standing near the back doors. He politely and anxiously made his way through the crowd, trying his best not to push or bump into anyone. He had also changed alot since highschool. By senior year of highschool he had gotten over his mumbling and nervous behavior and attitude. But by senior year of college it was back and worse than ever. He never ended up going to RISD to be with Summer. He didnt have the heart to hold her back with him after he decided to stay back and help out his mom after his dad's heart attack. It didnt seem fair. So he graduated with an art degree from the University of California, Irvine, and had been pitching new comics and helping Zach out with Atomic County ever since.

"Seth!" Kirstin called out with a smile as she reached her arms up and pulled her son into a hug.

"Hey mom," he cooed as he hugged her back. She abruptly pulled back, a slight scowl on her face as her mood suddenly swung into anger.

"You're a half hour late!" She scolded with an outstretched finger pointed at him accusingly. He went to argue and blame it all on Ryan, but caught sight of his father's face over her shoulder. Sandy was waving him down and furiously mouthing 'No!' and he vigorously shook his head. Kirstin had been having a pretty tough time lately, which Sandy had blamed on lady problems, i.e. menopause. Seth instantly plastered a fake smile on his face and appologized for his tardiness. Her gaze immediately softened and she patted his back affectionately.

"Its ok hunny," she smiled at him before letting out a calming breath. "Its good to see you, you've been so busy with the comic lately," she pointed with another hint of annoyance. She really hadnt seen alot of her sons lately, both of the 23 year-olds completely wrapped up in their current lives. She looked around curiously for her other shorter, blonder son with a confused look on her face. "Where's Ryan?"

"Oh, he's over talking to Mr. Jonston," he answered as he absently pointed in his direction. He turned and his eyes fell on the red headed woman that completed all of the people he knew here. "Hey Julie."

"Hi Seth," she smiled back at him genuinely. "How have you been?"

"Good, good," he said with a cheesey half smile and a nod at her. He felt an uneasy silence for a split second and realized he had interrupted their conversation and was immediately sorry as he tried to let their conversation move back on track. "So what are we talking about?"

"Uh.. Nothing.." Julie stutterd out at the curly haired boy in front of her. She knew it wasnt nothing that they were talking about, it was definately something. Something huge. It was just that she had sort of led people on about Marissa's life. It was so easy, since she didnt talk to anyone in Newport anymore. And it was so hard for Julie to admit to everyone she was single mother living in the slums. Not that she was ashamed.. well maybe she was a little bit. It just wasnt the best thing to let the all the Newpsies gossip about your daughter when your finally getting people to forget you used to live in a trailer. But now, there was no more hiding it. In a few short days, Marissa was going to come home and everyone would see her- target wardrobe and everything.

Sandy went to protest, and tell his son the truth, not understanding why this had to be a secret, but Julie put a hand on his shoulder to silently tell him to stop. He obliged and they soon were standing there in complete and total awkward silence. All four of them fidgeted with their fingers or their hair until Seth finally decided that since it was obviously awkward because of his arrival, he should go.

"Well.. wow.." Seth muttered unsure of what to say as he moved his eyes from his parents to look across the room in search of Ryan. He found him, heading towards the kitchen as he tipped back the last of his drink. "I'm gonna go talk to Ryan." Without waiting for a response from his parents, Seth was once again making his way through the older crowd of people. He made it to the kitchen just in time to hear the loud pop of the champagne bottle Ryan was opening.

"You know we have caterers, right?" Ryan just laughed, obviously getting a buzz from the drinks he had already downed in the short time they were there, and shook his head jokingly at Seth as he refilled his own drink before turning back to the cupboard and pulling out a glass for Seth. "What'd Mr. Jonston say?"

"Well buddy," Ryan cooed out excited as he filled Seth's cup up and handed it over to him, "It looks like hes going to buy my design for the new mall he's putting in downtown after all."

"Really?" Seth asked wide eyed before taking a small sip of his drink; this stuff always went straight to his head. Ryan gave him a modest half smile as he nodded, and polished off the drink he had just poured himself. "Thats great man, what'd he offer you for it?"

"900,000"

"What!" Ryan couldnt help but laugh at his friends amazement as he poured himself another glass of the bubbly liquid. Seth immediately walked over to stand next to him, slapping his hand down on his back in congratulations. "Well drink up man, this calls for a celebration!"

"What calls for a celebration?" Ryan's head snapped up in surprise as his girlfriend made her way into the kitchen. Her blonde hair was pulled into tight pony tail and she was wearing a blush pink dress that pushed her boobs together and up, making sure it was the focal point of every guy in the room. She was short, probably around 5' 3", but she wore very high heeled pumps that made her about 5' 7" She walked up to Ryan and leaned against the counter next to him and snaked her arm around his waist.

"Uh, hey Katie," Seth stuttered out at the sight of her. As he watched them inch closer, he took that as his cue to go. "I was just leaving.." he muttered as he turned on his heal and head back out towards the living room.

"Is he always so jumpy?" Katie asked curiously as she ran her index finger across Ryan's jaw line. At first he didnt respond, he was too preoccupied with his thoughts. This was his first major project and if all went as planned, he would definitely make a name for himself. He didnt dare mention that to Katie though, if she knew how much he was going to be making, she would want a ring on her finger like that. She definitely was the gold digger type and definitely not marriage material. She bit her lip as her finger made it way down to his chest, and he finally responded to her with small plastered grin.

"I thought you werent coming," he asked her curiously as she shuffled her body so she was standing right in front of him, her hips pressing into his.

"I know, but I wanted to surprise you," she said with a heavy breath as they inched closer to each other. Ryan was staring at her, he was wanting her now. That was what their relationship was- sexual tension. Suddenly he pushed his lips into Katie's roughly as he ran his hands up and across her back. She may not have made his heart jump, but god did she feel good. Pulling back abruptly, she looked into his eyes, her breathing heavy, matching his exactly. "Maybe we should get out of here?" she offered up with a sly smile. "I'll drive.."

He stared down at her and nodded, his eyes running over her as he bit his lip lustfully. She roughly grabbed his hand in hers and he let himself be pulled through the crowd of people to the front door and out into the cool night air. She told the vallet to bring up her car that she had just had parked and he rolled his eyes tiredly at her before running off to get it. Their hands groped and pulled at each other's clothing restlessly. He wanted to touch her, to feel her. She ran her hand up along the side of his face just before pulling his lips into hers. He was surprised to realize he felt nothing, no butterflies, no anticipation, no excitement. He hadnt felt any of that since Marissa. He scowled into their kiss, but didnt pull away. He did, however, pull away when the loud cough of the valet rung out in the still night air. Neither of them blushed, because neither of them really cared. They quickly hopped inside her brand new black BMW and headed off towards her apartment.