Okay so I promised a big update and I thinkI was generous with these few chapters. So I hope everyone's having a nice fourth of July and I will be updating this shortly as well as the sequel to What College may bring. I'm almost ready with my first post to the story so look out for that very soon! Happy reading everyone!

This can't be happening

She stood frozen in her spot and turned to the person who had spoke. Ryan noticed the change in her and knew trouble was about to go down. The man got out of a green pick up parked just outside of her house.

He walked towards them. "We need to talk" He said. "No we don't so just leave me alone" She said walking up her front steps. He looked at Ryan.

"You should go home we have to talk" He said to Ryan. Ryan got defensive. "I think she clearly said she doesn't want to talk to you" Ryan said. "Who the hell is this kid?" He said to Marissa.

"Leave him alone. Ryan just go home" She warned looking at him. "Oh is this your boyfriend? Well here's a clue you should go because Marissa is going back home where she belongs" He said.

"No I'm not dad" She said. "Yes you are" He said. "She's not going anywhere with you" Ryan said. "Ryan just please stay out of it just please go home" She said trying to protect him.

"Your not smart kid" He said grabbing Ryan by the collar. Marissa ran down the steps scared that he was going to hurt Ryan. "Leave him alone" She said.

Just then her uncles black bmw pulled up in front of the house and a frazzled angry Pacey emerged from it with Joey behind him. He rushed up to the porch. "Let him go Jimmy or do you want to go to jail for beating the crap out of another kid?" He said.

Marissa looked at Pacey shocked that he knew the truth. Jimmy let go of Ryan but started going towards Pacey. "You know I had enough of you. You think your such a great person. You're just a screw up the sooner you realize that the better" He said.

Joey looked knowing that this was exactly the way to get to Pacey. She could already saw him balling his fists.

"A screw up like you huh? A guy who drinks his way into oblivion and doesn't give a damn what that does to his family. Let me tell you something Jimmy you hurt her for the last time it's not happening any more. You're not going to get another chance at destroying her life anymore then you already have" Pacey said yelling at him.

Marissa looked on scared. Ryan looked on at what was going on basically because he was really close to the argument. All of a sudden Jimmy punched Pacey squarely in the face. He got up and fought back. It was an all out war on the front lawn.

Joey yelled to Marissa to call the police while Ryan tried to pull Jimmy off of Pacey. Within a few minutes sirens could be heard in the distance. He looked at Pacey.

"Get the hell out of here the next time you try to come back here you won't be walking out alive and you can trust me on that one" Pacey said darkly. Jimmy left and jumped in his pick up and ran away.

Pacey looked on as his he drove off and then turned and looked at Marissa. She looked at him tears where streaming down her face and she took off.

"Marissa" Pacey yelled. "Don't worry I'll get her" Ryan said going after her. Joey grabbed his hand "Come on we gotta get ice on that eye" She said leading him to the house.

Ryan was searching for an hour already and he couldn't find her. Seth had called a little while ago saying that him and Summer where waiting by the house to see if she came back.

There was only one more place he could think of so he got in the car and drove toward the beach. He parked and got out. He spotted her silhouette sitting on the lifeguard stand.

He walked up the ramp his tie hang loosely from his neck and she looked up. He sat next to her. She had her arms folded signaling she was cold after all she was wearing a thin dress not exactly a beach outfit.

Tears where streaming down her face. He looked at her. "Marissa everything's gonna be okay" He said trying to comfort her. She stared at him hoping he was right. She leaned into him and cried on his shoulder.

Joey put an ice pack on his cheekbone. "Ouch" He said. "It's for your own good" She said sitting next to him in the kitchen. "I should be looking for her not sitting here" He said.

"Trust me Ryan will find her" She said looking at him. "Yeah I know but she's probably scared and angry" He said. "Yeah she is but those feelings aren't towards you there meant for her father" She said. He let out a small laugh.

"Where you always this wise?" He said. "Yeah" She said joking. "Right sorry my mistake" He said. She laughed. "So thanks for being there tonight" He said dropping the ice pack on the table. She shrugged. "You've done it for me plenty of times" She reminded him.

He nodded. "Well regardless my rap sheet thanks you. I don't think my record could handle another arrest" He said joking. "Pacey that was junior year and you were in the drunk tank you don't have a record for that" She said with a smile.

"Yeah I know" he said. She looked at him. "You know you really should put that on your eye otherwise you going to have one nasty bruise" she said grabbing and placing it there.

This made her eyes on the same level as his and it made her freeze. It was definitely an awkward moment that wasn't missed by him. She looked down and coughed breaking the silence.

"So now that everything's okay I should get going" she said going to grab her coat. He tugged on her arm and she didn't expect it. She turned and looked at him.

"Thank you" He said and he leaned in and kissed her. She kissed him back. She smiled and rested her forehead against his.

"So you'll call me let me know Marissa's okay?" She said. He laughed at her nervousness.

"Yeah I will and you know for what ever other reason I can think of to call you." He said joking. She smiled. "Okay" She said and she kissed him on the cheek and left.

Pacey thought about her with a smile. Now all he could do was wait for Marissa to come home.

In the next chapter: More Ryan/Marissa interaction and Marissa goes home toface up to her past.