A/N: I know it's been a long time since I last update but I'm trying to get back into the hang of things so I wanted to get this one up. It's little blah but I promise it gets better from here I just need to refresh my writing a little. Thanks for the comments and mcooper11 thanks for convincing me to update on my stories. As always review comments are always welcome and often inspire me to keep writing so if you want more of the story you know what to do to get it faster.
Preparations
When she got in Marissa checked her messages. "Hey Marissa just wanted to check on you see if you were okay. Well my number's on the fridge if you need anything Joey said and then she heard the next beep.
"Hey Mariss I guess you're out. I just wanted to see how your first day back went. Pacey paused and she listened to the silence. "Everything is alright here so call me if you need anything. I'll talk to you soon" He said hanging up.
She looked at the clock reminding her self to call him in the morning. She looked around shut off the light and went to bed.
The next morning he was busy clearing stuff out of the garage when his mother came out. "It's Marissa" She said passing him the phone. A smile came to his face. "Hey kiddo. How's it going?" He said.
She smiled upon hearing his voice. "It's good but it would be better if you were here" Marissa said needing him to know he was missed. "I wish I was there too" Pacey said. "Joey called to check up on me last night but I was at Ryan's with Summer" Marissa said.
"Right well I'll make sure she knows you checked in with me then" He said. "So is everything coming along there?" She said. "Yeah I'm just cleaning out the shed" Pacey said. "Okay well after school I'm going to the restaurant you want me to take care of anything?" She asked.
"No I already called the guys they got it all under control. You should go before you're late to school" He said. "Yeah okay. I love you" She said. "You too kid" Pacey said. "Talk to you soon" She said smiling.
"Bye Marissa" he said hanging up. She flipped her phone shut reminding herself to call him again later just to check up. Then she heard Summer's car beeping so she grabbed her books and left.
Marissa threw her books into her locker. "Hey" Ryan said coming up behind her. "Hey" She said smiling. "What's wrong?" He said. "Nothing" She said looking at him.
"Come on Marissa What's going on?" he said not exactly buying it. "It's really nothing I guess I'm just worried about Pacey" She said closing her locker as they began walking to class. "You talk to him?" Ryan said. "This morning he just seemed so not together it was actually kind of scary" She explained.
"Well I'm sure you'll think of a way to cheer him up when he gets back" Ryan said. "Yeah I guess It's just I know he has to stay there and to do whatever with the lawyers but I really want him to come home" Marissa said. "Well it shouldn't be long now" Ryan said. She shrugged sadly.
"So about this weekend I was thinking we go out and celebrate" Ryan said. She smiled confused. "Celebrate what?" She asked. "Hello someone's turning sixteen officially and well it's a once in a lifetime moment in a person's life" Ryan said.
She laughed. "That is so not a Ryan Atwood thing to say." She said teasing him. "Okay so actually Summer told me that it's a once in a lifetime moment in a person's life so what do you say.? Can I take you out this weekend?" He asked. "Sure why not" Marissa said. "Alright" Ryan said smiling. The bell rang.
"I gotta go" She said. "See ya after" he said kissing her and walking away from her towards his own class. She looked at him as he walked away she could always depend on Ryan to cheer her up. She smiled going into her own class.
Summer saw Ryan in the halls. "Hey Chino you seen Coop?" She said sitting down next to him in the lounge. "She's in study hall something about a test she's freaking about" he said. "huh? Okay so no Marissa this period which means we could talk about the party then" Summer said excitedly.
Ryan looked up confused. "Party? What Party?" He said. "Hello Marissa's sweet sixteen party. Get with it Atwood" She said. "You never said anything about a party and I'm taking her out for her birthday to dinner" Ryan said. "At the diner?" Summer questioned.
"Okay what's wrong with the diner?" he asked. "Nothing if you want to hang out with your buddy Marissa" She said sarcastically. "Well Summer I can't really afford the arches" Ryan said.
"Exactly which is where I come and we could throw a party we could do it at my house. It's free my dad's away and it's super big so we can invite everyone" Summer said. "Right except Marissa doesn't really have a lot of friends besides us or haven't you noticed?" He said.
"Ryan hate to mention this but the girl in her little time at Harbor has become popular. Seriously joining Social chair has put her up their on the a list" Summer explained. "A list?" he said. "Yes so we pass out a few invitations and we got ourselves a nice big old party" Summer said.
"Right except no Holly she kind of well still hasn't grown on Marissa and she doesn't need any more aggravation she's kind of already had enough to deal with" Ryan said. "Good point. Okay so about Mr. Witter do you think he'll be home?" She said. Ryan shrugged. "I don't know things seem a little busy there and they haven't gone over the estate so I'm not really sure" He said.
"Okay so we have some work to do" Summer said. "Do I hear planning going on?" Seth said walking up to them a coffee in hand. "It's a party for Marissa" Summer said.
"Which she doesn't know about so Seth interrupted Ryan"Got it I won't say a word now I could throw my style into the party help you guys out a little" Seth said. "Yeah what with magic tricks? I'm sorry Seth I don't think Marissa's that crazy about magic and what do you know about girls and what they want at their party" Summer said teasing him.
"Summer there is one area where Marissa and myself connect on similar levels. And I'm talking music she has an eclectic style and we kind of bonded over the whole indie genre so I could totally set up the perfect party music that I know she'd love" Seth said.
"That's great" Ryan added. "Aww..That's really nice of you Cohen" Summer said. "Aww are you going soft on me Summer? "Seth said teasing. She glared at him.
"Okay Ryan decorations, cake, present are all you and I will get the invites and I will get down to the bottom of the whole Mr. Witter situation being here in time. And Cohen you got music but can you handle refreshments? She asked. "Sure thing Summer" he said.
"Great then I'll handle the food" She said. "Summer I can't ask you to do that. You've already given me a lot of help already" Ryan said.
"Oh please it's the at least I can do besides Marissa is like the best friend I've ever had I want to do this for her. She deserves to have a great time on her birthday especially with the year she's just had" She said. Ryan nodded.
"So Summer I want to run past a few band ideas with you" Seth said. She sighed. "Sure Cohen walk me to class and I'll try not to zone out" Summer said teasing him. Ryan laughed. "See ya later buddy" Seth said.
"Bye Ryan" She said. "See ya guys" he said.
"So as I was saying Death cab, The killers, Modest Mouse is a must, Marissa is a huge fan of them" Seth said rather excited. Summer smiled. "Sounds great Cohen" She said
"The walkmen" he said "Oh my god I love the walkmen" Summer said suddenly interested. "I know" Seth said. She looked at him weirdly.
"I mean I kind of figured you would" Seth said. "Oh okay so now I have to go shopping after school for the perfect present you care to join me Cohen I don't like shopping on my own she said walking out of the lounge with him.
"Sure I'm sure I can find something for Marissa too" Seth said. Summer stared at him. "Okay you can help me pick out the perfect present for Marissa" he said. She smiled.
"Okay so south coast plaza after school then?" Summer said. "Sure sounds great" Setjhsaid. "Okay so I'll meet you by your locker and Cohen thanks for your help" Summer said with a smile.
"No problem Summer" he said watching her walk away.