Sorry everyone about the lack of updates. School has been chaotic, spending every bit of free time studying. Don't expect another update too soon, but there should be a few in early July COZ ITS HOLIDAYS!

Chapter 6: The Evening

Marissa ended up spending the night at Ryan's. It wasn't like it was planned or anything, it just sort of happened.

They came back from the store, with plenty of food in tow. At the store, they didn't say much, only occasionally when asking if they wanted something. After they put the groceries away, they sat down at the kitchen table. It was an awkward silence at first, neither of them sure what to say after what had happened earlier.

"So…" Marissa finally said, unsure of what to say next, but then she remembered the reason they went shopping on the first place.

"How about I make us something to eat? I can do…Mac and cheese or….Mac and cheese," she offered, even though she doubted he'd turn down the offer. There was something about this guy she couldn't lay her finger on. He didn't seem turned off by her disheveled appearance, or annoyed by the fact that she was in his house.

"Then Mac and cheese it is. While you do that, I'll try and see if I can fix that." He said, pointing to the broken TV. He knew he wouldn't be able to do anything about the cracked screen, but he could probably do something about the electrical parts.

"Sounds like a plan." The rest of the evening soared by. Ryan managed to fix the TV and they ate Marissa's Mac and cheese, which by miracle, she didn't burn for once. They talked through dinner, avoiding talking about their lives or asking questions about the other though they so desperately wanted to, discussing only stuff like school, media and politics. They weren't what either of them normally called interesting topics but for some reason, it was the most fun both of them had had in ages.

Ryan did the washing up, in thanks for Marissa's meal, and then they moved into the other room to watch some TV. Sitting down on the small couch, there wasn't much room, so they sat relatively close to each other.

As they watched the cracked screen, Ryan and Marissa didn't talk much. They were both taking in the feeling of being such a close proximity with one another. They felt every movement, heard every breath, took in every scent. They silently agreed to leave the talking for another time, leaving the evening for relaxation.

It wasn't late, but by the time the Saturday night movie started, Marissa was exhausted. It had been a long day, and she couldn't stay awake any longer. She slowly drifted to sleep, her head sliding down before coming to rest on Ryan's shoulder.

Ryan was contemplating how to ask Marissa what she was doing here, and what she was intending to do in the next few days when he felt her head hit his shoulder. He was startled at first, but then he realised she was asleep. He smiled at how cute she looked. Her hair was sweeping across her face, her body rising and falling with each breath. If they hadn't just met each other, he would have been tempted to kiss her.

He turned off the TV, and sat there watching her for a few minutes, trying to decide what to do with her. They hadn't really talked about her staying here, it was probably to do with fact they didn't talk about their lives, but he always intended to offer for her to stay a few nights, just until she was ready to go back to Newport.

Ryan didn't have the heart to leave her on the couch; it got cold in Chino at night. Finally deciding what to do, he carefully placed his arms underneath her and lifted her up. Trying not to wake her, Ryan carried Marissa down the hallway, into his bedroom, and carefully laid her down on his bed. He covered her with his blanket, and tucked her in. He quietly shut the door behind him as he left the room.

I guess we'll just have to talk in the morning, Ryan thought as he drifted off to sleep on the couch.