Thanks for the reviews! Keep reviewing please! This will be a couple of chapters more, not a long long story so enjoy!
Chapter 2
The last couple of days had been rough. His plan was to just avoid her as much as possible, even though it was hard because her and Brett were attached at the hip. He was becoming angrier with himself for allowing himself to fall right back into her trap. He was fine the whole entire year, then within 3 days he is back to where he was; it was pathetic. He hated how he felt, he hated how he acted, he hated himself. He didn't want to seem so obsessed, it was weird. So, he had to distance himself and get over this thing once and for all. He didn't want to think about her, to pine after her like some lame dude from some corny movie.
Brett and Ryan were sitting down for lunch, thankfully without Marissa in tow.
"So me and Marissa will both be there"
Ryan groaned. This distancing thing was difficult with his insistence on bringing her everywhere. He had to do something about it; he wanted this whole thing to end.
"About that dude…..why does she have to….follow you everywhere?" Ryan asked, trying not to start a huge thing
Brett snapped his head to look at him, "What do you mean? She's my girlfriend"
Ryan sighed, "Yeah, exactly. I mean, do we always have to hang with her?"
Brett looked at him confused "We are hanging without her now" he said, "and what the fuck is this about? You like Marissa"
This is where it got tricky. He acted chummy with Marissa every time he was with her. He never acted flirty, making sure he didn't. He knew she was with Brett and he didn't want to break any bro-code. It was so hard not to flirt but he managed to keep things pretty platonic around her and witnesses would probably think they are friends. However, being friends with her was so fucking hard he wished they acted enemies instead.
"I do, I mean, she is nice but….I donno she's just always there"
"It sounds like you have a problem with her," Brett said, sounding offended
Ryan massaged the bridge of his nose, "It's just overbearing is all. Chicks can be like that, ya know?"
"Look, Marissa and I are a couple. We live together, albeit right now at my parents, but we do. So, naturally we are going to be together a lot. I mean I definitely will hang with you solo but you also have to expect her to be there half the time"
"It's just a bit much, don't you think?"
Brett was getting kind of mad now, "What the fuck dude. This is out of the fucking blue it seems. You guys always seem to be friends and now you don't want her to be around"
"I didn't say-"
"Just because you have never had a long-term girlfriend dude, you just don't get it. Any other normal dude has had a long-term girlfriend and gets what it is like when you do. You are with them a lot. Maybe if you fuckin hung onto a girl longer than a minute you'd see that"
"Oh so now it's just my inability to date?" Ryan asked, annoyed. "Dude I know guys with girlfriends and you two are so fucking clung to each others asses it's like you are fuckin Siamese twins"
Brett stood up, "Dude if you are gonna be like this I'm going to go. We were having a nice lunch without my girlfriend and then you have to shit on her"
"Dude sit down. It's not about me not liking her," he said
Brett looked down at him, "Look man we can hang together without her but just get the fuck over it when she is around otherwise. She likes you too man, she considers you a good friend. She'd be upset to hear this"
A good friend? The words sucked, and were quite frankly bullshit. He hadn't even spoken to her the whole year they were gone. Good friend? Bullshit.
"Fine," Ryan said simply, not knowing what else to say at this point. He was hoping Brett would understand and that he'd not bring Marissa with him all the time. He was hoping he would have some space from her. When he didn't see her for a while he was fine. He was just hoping the space would allow him to get over this stupid thing.
"You gonna act like a little bitch now when she is around?"
Ryan clenched his jaw, wanting to flip but he kept his cool. "No"
Brett looked at him and hesitantly took his seat again, "Good, because I was going to bring her to your fight on Friday. We wanted to support you. If that's okay with you" he said, sarcastically.
Ryan did feel bad. He did look like an asshole that didn't want her around. Which was true, but not for the reasoning he said.
"Cool, man. Yeah, it'd be good to see you guys there," he lied.
The rest of the lunch left their conversation behind. It was as if it never happened, which didn't really help Ryan out because nothing had come of it.
What was clear now was that Marissa was inescapable, so it was best to trudge forward and move on as best he could.
It was Friday, and Ryan was doing well. He had met this girl the other night at the bar, Amber, and he decided to ask her out. Brett's words had gotten to him about being the only dude to not have a relationship ever. And yeah, Amber may not be long-term, but he was willing to give her more than one night, which was something. He even asked her to his fight. This Amber thing could change everything; She was pretty, she was fun, and she was slutty.
He was feeling like the clouds were dissipating and he could see clear skies. This intense crush of his felt like it could be on its way out, and could be replaced by someone else.
He was amping up for his fights, the buzz of the fight energizing him as he jogged in place and punched the air. His trainer was coaching him on the big fight, even though the venue was relatively small. Ryan heard his name called in the stadium and he jogged out.
It was a dingy kind of place, almost underground, but the crowd was yelling for him, and it energized him more. When he was about to fight he got tunnel vision, and nothing else appeared to him other then the person he was to fight. The crowd, the people, the sounds all disappeared. This was his therapy.
He heard his name being called loudly and turned his head to see Brett and Amber cheering loudly for him. The person he didn't see was Marissa. He furrowed his brow, not sure why she didn't show. He felt a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach and then heard his name being shouted at him and he snapped back to the fight. He couldn't let anything get into his head right now. He couldn't think about the fact that Marissa was a no-show. After all, it didn't matter; Amber and his best friend were there. He eyed his opponent and zoned in on him, forgetting everything else.
He won the fight in the 2nd round. The only marks he got were a bruised cheek and a small cut on his eyebrow, so he left virtually unscathed. He exited the ring and walked to the locker room to wash up and get his cut cleaned. He showered and threw on the clothes he had in his bag and went outside to meet with Brett and Amber.
"Congrats, bro!" He saw Brett and they shook and hugged
Amber wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, much to his surprise. That felt like a very heavy move for their 2nd real date, but it was nice.
"Congratulations, you were great!" She smiled
He smiled back at her. He looked at this girl and thought this could really work.
"Hey, Marissa wanted me to tell you she is so sorry she couldn't make it. She had this impromptu shoot for this ad and she didn't want to miss it"
"Oh, cool. That's awesome for her," he said. And it was. He knew she did some low-budget modeling stuff and she was so gorgeous she deserved to do so much more.
"Yeah it is. But she was bummed she couldn't see you kick ass"
He smiled, wondering if she really was bummed not to be here. He then thought about it, and decided it didn't matter. He couldn't dwell. So, he looked at Amber and threw his bag over his shoulder,
"So?"
She smiled, "Let's get some fuckin drinks!" she shouted
They all agreed and went to the nearest bar to celebrate. Ryan was pounding ginger ale and whiskeys and was getting pretty drunk. Every time he got drunk he got flirty and extra handsy so he was definitely into Amber. Amber was easy to get along with and she was incredibly hot. He had his arm around her when he heard a familiar voice.
"Hey! I am so sorry I missed the fight!"
He looked up to see her, looking so hot. It was as if she knew his mind hadn't thought of her in hours and was wrapped up in another girl, and she wanted to come remind him. Her hair was all done and her makeup was all smokey and she just looked so insanely good. Although, she always looked good.
"Hey!" Brett smiled and turned to Ryan, "I texted her where we were at"
Ryan, in his glazed drunkenness, smiled at her, "Awesome! Glad you could make it"
She smiled her really nice smile, "I am so upset I didn't see you! I heard you won though, that is awesome!" she held up her hand for a high five and he connected his hand with hers.
He went back to playing it cool around her, but at least he had Amber by his side.
"Hey I'm Amber," Amber jumped in, realizing Ryan wasn't introducing himself
"Hey!" Marissa smiled at her, "Marissa"
"I heard about you from Brett. You really missed a hell of a fight, Ryan kicked so much ass," she said, leaning in to him and rubbing his arm. He smiled sheepishly, not liking being the center of attention when it wasn't in the ring.
"Ugh, well next fight I am there"
Ryan chugged the rest of his drink, "So how was the photoshoot?"
She smiled at him, glad he asked since Brett hadn't. "Well it was a preshoot, just figuring out my look and hair and stuff. The actual shoot is next week. But it's a really great opportunity for this vitamin drink stuff in the LA area"
He was genuinely happy for her, "That is awesome. Marissa Coop, makin it big!"
She laughed, "Well I wouldn't call an LA based vitamin drink making it big, but it beats modeling aspiring fashion student's projects in New York"
"What do you mean? This is a big deal! First it's vitamin drink next thing it's redbull and then its magazine covers"
She blushed softly, which Ryan noticed and it made him smile, "Wow, big praise Atwood" she said and turned to Brett, "You may chime in anytime by the way" she teased him
Brett laughed and wrapped his arm around her, "You know what I think"
Marissa rolled her eyes softly with a smile and then pulled the waitress aside, "Hey can I get 8 shots of patron?"
She walked away to get them and Brett turned to her, "8? Damn girl"
"It's a celebration!"
They got the shots and everyone got 2.
"To Ryan's win!" She held her glass up
"To your modeling gig" Ryan added and she smiled and they all clinked and took a shot.
It was only an hour later and everyone was pretty drunk, even though Amber and Brett both drove here (Ryan took a cab to the venue so didn't).
Ryan had kept his sights on Amber, going back to being into her. He was drunk so he was pretty horny, and what was the point of wanting Marissa when he had a sure thing with Amber?
"I want another drink," Amber purred at Ryan
He was talking to Brett and looked at her, "Bar is right there" he pointed, not understanding why she was telling him.
She eyed him like he was crazy, "Um"
"Do you not have any money? I thought you had some?"
"Wow" she said before getting off the stool and heading to the bar
"Dude" Brett laughed before sipping his beer
"What?" Ryan asked
Marissa laughed softly, "You should have got her a drink. That is what she was asking"
"Well, than why didn't she ask me?"
Brett laughed and shook his head, "Jesus Christ"
"What?" Ryan asked again.
He was really clueless when it came to actually being with a girl, not just sexually. It was going to take some time.
"I have to pee," Marissa exclaimed after she set down her 3rd drink.
"Same," Ryan said.
He followed Marissa, his vision blurry from the alcohol a bit, so he rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.
"I wouldn't sit on the toilets here," Ryan warned before they parted into their respective lavatories, "Protip" he winked
"You are such a fountain of knowledge," she said
He smiled and went into the boy's bathroom and groaned seeing he had to wait to use the urinal, because he really had to go.
By the time he came out he saw this dude with his arm against the wall, really close to Marissa who looked uncomfortable.
He furrowed his brow and she turned to him, "There he is!"
Ryan was confused and walked towards her
"See? My boyfriend does exist"
He saw her eyes screaming, 'help me' and he immediately jumped in
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, a move that felt so weird to do after envying Brett getting to do it.
"What's going on here?" Ryan asked, eyeing this dude who was obviously intoxicated and quite certain was on something.
The dude smiled cockily at him, "I was just talkin' to your girl here. She said she had a boyfriend but I didn't see him around"
"Well, here I am, so"
He smiled again, a smile that made him want to punch the guy
"Yeah, and by the looks of it the guy can't hold his own" he laughed a little, "You just lose a fight, homie?" he pointed at his bruised cheek and cut on his eyebrow
"No! He just won one. An MMA fight actually" Marissa chimed in, becoming angry
Ryan kept his arm around her, liking the feeling. He was pretty sure if he didn't have his arm around her he would have punched the guy by now.
"MMA huh? I don't do organized fighting"
"I am cool with unorganized fighting" Ryan now let go of her and stepped closer to this guy
"Oh yeah?" the guy asked
"Yeah. I think I got a good chance against a guy who can only get women by hanging out near the bathrooms and cornering them and harassing them. Sounds like a fuckin idiot"
"Ryan, he isn't worth it" Marissa said, resting her hand on his arm and pulling at it
The guy, wary if Ryan actually was a fighter, backed off.
"Whatever bro, take your slut away"
"What did you say?" Ryan charged at him now, taking him by the collar of his shirt and lifting him against the wall
"Woah man calm down!"
Marissa watched, too drunk to fully realize the situation and frozen in place
"Apologize! Now!"
He had his arm across his throat keeping him against the wall now. The guy was obviously scared and wasn't prepared to actually fight
"I'm sorry! Just let me down"
Ryan slowly released his grip and rubbed his neck, "you are fuckin crazy man," he said as he quickly walked away
Ryan turned to Marissa, "You ok? What the fuck was he doing before I got out here?"
Marissa was still stunned at what just happened, "I um- I- he was just kind of harassing me and didn't believe I had a boyfriend. Um, thanks for…..that. I am sorry to drag you into it"
He shrugged, "I'd rather me be here then you be here in this hallway with that dude alone"
She smiled, "Well I appreciate it. Thanks" she said, "I still didn't get to pee so I am just gonna-" She pointed
"I'll wait here for you. The dudes in this bar apparently act like vultures around hot girls so"
"Thanks" she smiled and walked into the bathroom.
Ryan leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. What the fuck just happened? It was all such a quick blur. He was acting like her boyfriend for a few seconds, which was surreal, and then he was about to beat the shit out of a guy. All for her.
"Hey! There you are. Me and Brett were wondering what happened," He saw Amber come into the hallway where the bathrooms were
"Oh hey. Uh yeah, some dude was like, cornering Marissa so we had to like, get him away. Now I am just waiting here for her"
She smiled at him and leaned in and kissed him, a kiss that brought him away from everything else and his mind focused back on Amber. She pulled back and smiled
"Wait here for me too, k? I don't want some guy creeping on me," she asked
"Sure" he said as she walked into the bathroom
Marissa walked out a minute later, "Hey bodyguard!" she giggled
He laughed and stood away from the wall, "I require $50 per hour"
"How about I just buy you more drinks?"
"Yeah I take drinks as pay" he agreed and she giggled and followed him back to the bar where Brett was
As Marissa was filling Brett in on what happened Amber came up to Ryan
"What the hell"
He turned to her as he sipped his beer, "Wha-?"
"I asked you to wait for me while I went to the bathroom"
Ryan cringed, totally forgetting that he was supposed to do that.
"Sorry"
"Not cool" she said and sat on the stool in a huff.
He looked to Brett who was smirking shaking his head, "Come on, man"
"What? I didn't mean to" Ryan said, not seeing the big deal
Amber rolled her eyes, annoyed that he could wait for Marissa and not her, and then on top of it not realizing what he did was wrong. It was like before not realizing she wanted him to get her a drink.
"Are you seriously clueless or are you just an asshole?" she asked
Everyone's face kind of fell, feeling a shift in tone. Marissa and Brett looked down at their glasses as Ryan looked confused at Amber
"What?" he asked
She crossed her arms, "I am just wondering what your problem is. You seemed like a nice guy but you are insensitive. Either that or you are just so oblivious to how girls work"
"I know how girls work" He spat back
"I don't think you do. God you are like Forrest gump when it comes to dating"
Brett tried not to laugh into his beer, but ended up giggling into it. Marissa slapped his arm.
"Yeah well it feels like I am dating the Forrest gump of kissing"
Brett had lost it and had to turn away from laughing
"What the fuck does that even mean?"
"Biting does not equal sexy. If you can't kiss I don't even want to know what else you can't do"
That is when she poured her drink on him and walked away, calling him an asshole.
Brett looked at Ryan, laughing but he did feel bad, "duddeeee"
"Ryan" Marissa cringed
Ryan sat there, and wiped his hand over his face from the gross vodka. He could not believe things escalated like that. He thought things were going so well before that.
"That was all because I didn't fuckin wait for her?" he asked them
"That and the not getting the drink thing, maybe" Marissa suggested
Ryan rolled his eyes, "Oh my god that is insane! You guys do not see how that's insane? Who cares?"
"Dude girls can be crazy-"
"Hey!"
"I mean, you are fine" Brett saved himself, "But girls can be demanding. You need to know how their minds work"
"I know how their minds work," he defended
"To get them into bed, yeah, but not to date them"
"Well….why can't they just say what they think"
"Oh, Ryan" Marissa said. It was like watching a child not understand the concept of space.
"Well whatever" Ryan said and finished his beer. He looked down at the table, scraping a dime into the wood. This was just great. The one girl he thought he could really see himself dating and helping him get over Marissa, just ended up throwing a drink on him and running. Was he seriously that incapable of maintaining a relationship? Was he that relationship inept?
"Hey, um, why don't we all get more fucked up and get a taxi home?" Marissa offered, seeing Ryan get down and feeling badly for him
Ryan nodded, "Sounds good" he said and peeled off his t-shirt since it was covered in vodka, leaving him in his wifebeater.
They ordered rounds of shots and within 20 minutes they were all feeling it ontop of the alcohol from before.
"Ughhhh tomorrow is going to suck" Marissa said, wasted
"Yeah but at least I durnt work" Ryan stumbled on his words
"Same" Marissa and Brett said in unison
"Lets danceee" Marissa said, hanging onto Brett
"Nooooo way," Brett said, "You know I can't"
"When you are drunk I can usually get you too" She slurred and smiled up at him
He shook his head, "Nope"
She frowned and sighed and looked at Ryan, "Hey Ryan, wanna dance?" She asked
Ryan, despite his inebriation, looked to Brett shocked because his girlfriend asked him to dance. What was that? Did she want to dance on him or with him? Was this okay?
Marissa saw his hesitation, "I mean like, not gross dancing, but just dance!" she suddenly reassured, so Brett wouldn't feel weird
Ryan had to admit he was a little disappointed. The thought of Marissa against him was beyond comprehension. Although, Brett would never allow that kind of dancing, nor would Ryan. That didn't mean, however, he didn't deeply want it.
"Ry pleasssse" she begged with clasped hands
That voice had his mind go wild, picturing her saying those words in different circumstances.
"Ahhhh I donno, I suck at dancing too," He said. He did hate dancing
"He hates dancing, don't make him," Brett defended
Ryan piped up, not wanting the opportunity to be taken away, "Nah it's okay man, Im furked up. I may suck but I don't care right now. Les' go" he pointed to Marissa to go to the dancing area.
She excitedly hopped off her stool, "Yes!" she shouted
Ryan turned to her when they got to the area that everyone was grinding up on one another. He didn't know how he would do this with his best friend's girlfriend, without it being flirty or dirty. How could he do this in a non-sexual way? He couldn't dance! All he knew how to do was stand there as the girl basically dry humped him.
She smiled and took his hand, and he froze feeling her cold little hand in his pulling him closer.
He looked at her and saw the flecks of gold in her eyes, and the freckles on her nose, and her pink lips. He wished so badly that he could just taste her lips. The thought of it even drove him crazy. They looked so soft.
She spun under his arm, starting to dance with him in a silly ballroom-esque way.
He snapped out of his daydreaming and laughed softly as she spun. He then got with it and spun her again, before she got close again to him, this time her hand on his shoulder and her other hand in his as they danced and swayed.
The site was funny, the two of them dancing quickly but like you would on a proper dance floor, as electronic dance music blasted and everyone grinded around them.
Ryan, however, didn't mind it at all. His hand slipped to her waist as they dipped and stepped, Marissa laughing her wonderfully engaging laugh as Ryan enjoyed every touch of hers.
He decided to really make her laugh so he slipped his arm completely around her waist and turned and dipped her. However, there was beer on the floor and Ryan stepped on it, turning the dip into a dive.
They both fell, Ryan landing on top of her, catching himself before he completely crushed her.
Marissa, shocked, looked up at him, him hovering above her, and she burst out laughing unable to contain herself. She was laughing harder than she could remember herself ever laughing.
Ryan, despite the closeness of himself ontop of her, couldn't help laugh too. He saw that they were about to get trampled and he quickly stumbled up and pulled her by her hand up.
She had tears streaming down her face from laughing so hard. She put her hand on his shoulder
"That- was- the- best- thing- ever!" she said in between gasps
"Did you hit your head?" he asked, now concerned maybe he hurt her
She laughed more, "I don't think so, I think my ass broke my fall"
"Do you need me to check out your ass?" he found himself asking, unable to stop himself
She laughed more and turned around, "How does it look? Covereedddd in beer?" She slurred
He would be lying if he didn't say he checked her out as she did so, but she was kind of letting it happen, right? Was she flirting? Was he too drunk or was she giving back to what he was putting out?
"Looks perfect as always"
She smirked and bit her lip turning back around and again doing the hands on his shoulders thing.
His heart raced. What was she doing? The biting her lip? Was she trying to drive him insane? Was she flirting? And she kept touching him! Sure some people become touchy when drunk but she had a boyfriend and was usually cautious.
"You are a wondfrul dancer" she slurred a bit and smiled
"Well, besides the fall. But falling on you wasn't so bad" he smirked. His mind was so fuzzy, he didn't have time to think what he was saying. Sometimes his natural flirty-ness slipped, and when he was super drunk it was hard to maintain it.
She looked at him, her eyes so glazed over with alcohol. She couldn't comprehend specifically what was happening but she wasn't oblivious to men hitting on her. Ryan had complimented her many times and she always brushed it aside but right now he was definitely sending her something.
"Ry…." She drifted off, not knowing how to respond.
He felt the room spin, and his face get all hot. He didn't know how to formulate a smart response because he was too fucking drunk. He just kept blurting nonsense
"I didn't know" he said and stepped back from her and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stop the spinning
Her alcohol was as well doing all the talking and action so she grabbed his arm and shook it to make him look at her
"Hey! Look at me!" she slurred
He kept looking down, because he didn't want to look at her and also because staring at the floor was keeping him balanced
"Hey" she said again and pushed his face up to look at her
Her hand on his face felt nice, and he wanted to rest into it. Her hand somehow found its way to his cheek and he looked at her, swaying softly from the drinking.
She looked back at him and saw his eyes, and bit the inside of her lip. They were soft looking at her sadly, and yet at the same time they were equally piercing.
"I wanna kiss you, ya know?" he said it.
The words lingered in the air. He for the first time outwardly expressed himself to her. He had been drunk before but not when he was this close to her, dancing and touching one another. Her hand on his face and her blue eyes looking at him so softly, he said it.
Her lips parted in shock and she let out a soft gasp, immediately saying, "just now or-"
"Always" he finished sadly
She let her hand drop slowly from his face and she looked at his broken yet determined face. Her heart was racing and her head was so fuzzy, on top of the immense amounts of alcohol. She ran her hand through her hair, nervously.
"I uh- I uh-" she stuttered
He knew he fucked up and wished he could reverse time. He, however, was so drunk he didn't realize the gravity of the situation.
"Let's go back to Brett" he slurred, defeated. "I shouldn't have said anything, let's pretend this didn't happen okay?"
She looked at him, knowing this wouldn't go away, but nodding anyway.
"Promise we'll forget this" he asked her, hoping to make this all go away
She nodded again, knowing she wouldn't
He walked ahead of her and they returned to the table Brett was at, as he was occupied talking to another guy about the football game that was playing on the TV.
He turned to them as they returned, "Hey! How was dancing? I saw you guys for like a second, like, fancy dancing" he laughed "Nerds"
Marissa forced a small laugh and Ryan smiled softly as he sat down on the stool.
Marissa sat down too and clasped her glass. She was so inside her head right now she just stared at the glass, and then glanced up at Ryan who was doing the same.
What was to become of them now?