The New Beginning

Chapter Six: The Wheelman

Ryan and Marissa woke face to face, and both found that they couldn't help but smile. It was the best way either could imagine waking. Despite the fact that they were sharing a bed, and then some, neither teen felt comfortable falling to sleep unclothed. So Ryan was wearing a pair of basketball shorts and Marissa was in a long tee shirt.

"Hey." Ryan said quietly.

"Hey."

For a long moment they simply lay there, staring into each others eyes. In Newport, it seemed like they had never had time to simply be with one another. There was always some drama going on, not that San Diego had turned out to be much different, and always interruptions. So they savored the moment, drinking in the scent of each other as they lay face to face in the mostly dark room.

"You hungry?" Ryan asked finally.

"Actually, I'm starving."

"I was thinking I could go pick us up some breakfast."

"That depends."

"On what?" Ryan asked, cocking his head to the side.

"On if you can spare a few minutes first." Marissa said, sliding over to lock her lips onto his.

They spent the next ten or so minutes in silence, holding, being held, and locking the weekend away in their memories. Neither wanted to go back to Newport just yet, but they still had school to contend with the next day. Though, had it been up to Ryan, they would have simply shut off Marissa's cell phone and skipped it.

Finally untangling himself from his girlfriend, Ryan clambered out of the bed. Marissa rolled over and watched him as he got dressed, trading his shorts for a pair of clean jeans and a gray shirt. Ryan then stepped over to the bed and kissed Marissa chastely.

"Do you think Seth and Summer will want anything?" Ryan inquired.

"It's only eight in the morning. They're probably still asleep."

"True. We'll make them get drive-thru." Ryan said with a smirk. "I'll be back soon baby."

Ryan turned and walked away, not noticing that Marissa had sat up in her bed, intently watching him leave. She was a little surprised and full of the tumbling rumbling feeling in her stomach. Ryan had never called her by anything but her first or last name. The casual affection from the term "baby" seemed so out of context coming from him. Yet, at the same time, the way he said it just fit. She collapsed back down on the pillow, unable to keep the smile off of her face.

Ryan had remembered seeing a small restaurant not far from the hotel the day before, and he walked through the cool California morning in the direction he remembered it to be. The chilly ocean breeze ruffled his hair and sent goosebumps across his flesh, but he didn't mind it. Even after so long in Newport, he still loved the tart scent of the ocean and ozone.

Ryan was lost in his thoughts, considering all the change that had gone on in his life. His arrival in Newport, which wasn't as well received as he would have liked. The Model Home, Cotillion, Tijuana, Harbour High, The Ferris Wheel, New Years Eve. All the great things that had happened before Oliver had come along. Granted, things had gotten better since he was gone, but it had seriously damaged his relationship with Marissa.

They were finally getting things back together, and here he was again. It almost seemed too much of a coincidence, like fate was conspiring against him. He didn't doubt that, seeing as how bad luck had seemed to follow him all the way from Chino. He didn't want to consider what could happen if Oliver got close to Marissa again.

Then a feeling of dread came over him. He had left his girlfriend in the hotel room, alone, with the door to the Seth's room tightly closed. She had probably gone back to sleep, making her even more vulnerable. Oliver could easily slip in with a card key, and have all the alone time he needed.

Ryan's eyes snapped up from the sidewalk, as he noticed somebody standing in front of him, not five feet away. A twinge of fear convinced him it was Oliver, smiling his sinister smile. He was surprised, but no less wary, to see that it wasn't Oliver at all.

It was the guy Seth had punched the night before.

"Little early for a stroll holmes." The guy said, licking his lips and glaring at Ryan.

"Look man, you don't want to do this."

"Oh, I really think I do." He replied, and Ryan immediately understood why.

Climbing out of a beat up Chevy Nova were three other guys, all looking just as pissed as the Mexican who had tried to assault Summer. Ryan knew he was in a bad way instantly. He had no chance of taking on all four of them. No chance in hell.

Ryan took a step back, his eyes wandering around for a way out. He could run back down the street, but they had wheels. They'd catch up to him in no time, and there weren't exactly alleys he could duck into to escape. He'd have to slow them down before he took off. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his chance.

"Look, I'd really like to stick around and talk this out," Ryan said, leaning to the left. "But I've got other plans."

He then jumped to the left, to the tables outside of the small café they were in front of. Snatching up a chair even as they rushed him, Ryan hurled it as hard as he could at the group. Two of them had the presence of mind to jump aside, and the chair hit the other two before they could jump him.

Then Ryan ran. He took off back the way he came, dodging and weaving around the few people that had gathered on the sidewalk. A backward glance revealed that all four ran after him, not realizing they could have jumped in their car and chased him that way. His plan had worked, he had pissed them off enough to cloud their judgement.

Ryan ran hard, but it seemed like they were gaining on him. Vaulting over a bench, Ryan took off into a crosswalk, praying that the don't walk sign wouldn't be the last thing he ever saw. Luckily he ran into the black sedan, instead of the other way around.

His knees struck the side of the car, just in front of the front wheel well, both hands instinctively slapping down on the hood. Behind him, his pursuers gained on him. Ryan was about to simply run around the car and keep going, but something made him look at the driver.

There, staring at Ryan from the inside of the Lexus, was Oliver.

Thoughts raced through Ryan's head. Something like this didn't seem to be Oliver's style, getting a bunch of thugs to pound on his rival. Yet here he was, watching on from the driver's seat of an expensive car. Ryan was about to go back to running, when he was surprised for the third time that morning.

"Get in." Oliver said, his window rolled down.

Ryan didn't have time to consider his options. It was either jump in the car with Oliver, or be beaten to within inches of his life. It was a simple choice, in retrospect. Sprinting in front and around the Lexus, Ryan jerked the door open and jumped in the passenger seat. Even as he closed the door Oliver took off, tires screeching as he turned and sped off.

Ryan spun in the seat, watching as the four thugs ran back toward their car. There was no way they'd make it in time to chase after him. For now, Ryan was safe. He could turn his attention to the issue at hand: Oliver.

"That was a close one." Oliver said, looking over at Ryan and smiling.

"Yeah." Was all Ryan could muster.

"What were they chasing you for?" Oliver asked, slowing the sedan and turning again.

"Seth hit one of them at this party last night. Apparently he's still pissed."

"Seth hit somebody? You're joking, right?"

Ryan almost laughed, until he realized who he was sitting next to. His face visibly hardened, and he narrowed his eyes at Oliver as he drove.

"How did you find me?"

"Actually, I saw you running from them as I was driving the other way. So I circled the block and came back."

"Why did you help me?"

"You needed help." Oliver said, shrugging as though it was no big deal.

Ryan glanced back again to ensure they weren't being followed. The two teens sat in silence for a moment, before Ryan thought of another issue that needed addressing.

"Aren't you on suicide watch?"

"I graduated to pills and therapy only." Oliver said, and Ryan sensed a very unfunny joke. "I snuck away from him. It's impossible to live with somebody watching you twenty-four-seven, you know what I mean?"

Ryan didn't, but he could imagine. He stared over at Oliver for awhile longer, as the black haired boy weaved through the area. He seemed to be quite skilled at avoiding a tail.

"Thanks." Ryan said finally, turning to look out the window.

"I have a little time before I have to be at therapy." Oliver said, glancing at his watch. "Want a ride to wherever you were headed?"

Ryan looked back over at Oliver, debating his offer. He didn't trust Oliver by any means, but the kid had just saved his neck. Nothing bad could happen from Ryan getting a ride to and from the restaurant. Besides, if Oliver was with him, there was no possible way he could be sneaking into Ryan's hotel room, with Marissa. Now that he knew Ryan wasn't there with her, it would be a much better idea to stick with Oliver, for now.

"Sure."

Ryan walked casually back into the hotel lobby, chancing a glance back as Oliver pulled away. They had hardly spoken on the ride to the restaurant, and had exchanged only a sparse few more words enroute to the hotel. Ryan thanked Oliver again, even though it left a bad taste in his mouth, and carried the food into the hotel.

He considered all of this as he walked down the hallway to his room, thankful that meeting Oliver meant the boy hadn't a chance to slip in on Marissa. Ryan had been inattentive, and he'd left her alone. If anything had happened to Marissa, he would have never forgiven himself.

He slipped quietly inside, fear tugging at him. Perhaps Oliver still had time to drop in on Marissa before running into Ryan. He almost expected not to see his girlfriend when he walked in; Just an empty hotel room.

He was pleasantly disappointed. Marissa was sitting on the bed, wearing a pair of cotton shorts and one of his wife beaters. Next to her, having relinquished control of the remote, was Summer. Ryan nodded absently to the girls, which was returned with a wave from Summer and a worried look from Marissa. She could read his face like an open book.

"What's wrong?" She said, the concern evident in her voice.

It was at that moment that Seth arrived, looking disheveled like he always did in the morning. He definitely was more of a mid-day type of person. Ryan just shook his head at his girlfriend as though it was nothing, as Seth yawned and stretched.

"Ryan, you brought me breakfast, how thoughtful of you." Seth said, nodding his head.

"Actually, it's for Marissa."

Where Marissa could read Ryan's face, Seth could pick up on the slightest change in the inflection of his voice. Apparently what he heard made him curious enough to drop the subject of his lost breakfast and frown at Ryan.

"What's wrong man?"

Only Summer seemed oblivious to Ryan's tells, which was to be expected. They hadn't exactly been friends, and Summer didn't take the time to stop paying attention to herself and look at others.

"Oliver." Ryan said simply, as though that explained everything.

"Well, yeah, we know that. He's a first class psycho."

"No, I mean I ran into him."

"Where?" Marissa said, jumping up from the bed in an instant.

"You didn't pound him, did you?" Seth asked, before glancing down at Summer. "Because, you know, I wanted to get a few licks in."

"You've been in one fight, Cohen. You're not Rocky Balboa."

"Actually, Summer, I've been in several fights."

"Fighting to get the urine out of your shoes, maybe."

"No." Ryan said, placing the bag of food on the small table near the bed. "He actually kept me from getting pounded."

"What?" All three of his friends spoke in unison, their disbelief becoming a common interest.

"I ran into that guy from last night, on the street. Only he wasn't alone. Oliver saw me from his car, and told me to get in."

"You got in a car with that nut job?" Seth said, appalled.

"It was either that or get my ass kicked."

"Still…" Seth retorted. "…he's a wack job. No offense, Marissa."

"None taken."

"It doesn't matter anyway." Ryan said dismissively. "So, have you guys planned out the day yet?"

Summer and Marissa looked at each other, as Marissa settled back down onto the bed. They smirked in devilish delight, before replying in unison.

"The beach!"

"You're kidding, right? We have beaches in Newport." Seth groaned.

"Yeah, but not San Diego beaches." Summer said, tossing her hair. "Besides, it's nice outside."

Ryan had to concede that point to her, even if he was inclined to agree with Seth.

"I'm not too fond of beaches either."

"You've gone to beach with me before." Marissa said pointedly.

"Balboa Bars on the pier aren't the beach." Ryan replied. "Besides, I've… never been in the ocean."

"Wait, are you joking?" Seth inquired. "Even I'm not that much of a square."

"Yes you are." Summer chided in.

"I prefer to think of myself as more of a cube. I have depth, unlike some people I know."

"Geometry, ew. You're not afraid of water too, are you Chino?"

"Of course not." Ryan said defensively.

"Well then we're definitely going." Marissa said with finality.

It was then that Seth realized he had only fueled their resolve to get them to the beach, and kicked himself inwardly. Ryan just shrugged, his thoughts wandering back to Oliver, no matter how hard he tried to deny them. What the boy had done was almost decent, and it became much harder to hate him. He could distrust him, easy, but hating him was becoming a battle.

"Okay." Ryan said after a brief pause and a sigh. "The beach?"

"Can we at least stop for some breakfast?" Seth cut in. "I'm starving."

Author's Note: This chapter felt short when I wrote it, but it turned to be a bit longer than some of my previous ones. Odd. Well, what's up with Oliver? He seems to have changed, but then why had he followed them to the party? Is Ryan afraid of water? Questions with no answers, yet. Next chapter will be at the beach.