She lay, her head resting on Ryan's chest, rising and falling. They were both breathing hard. He stroked her hair softly. She wished they could stay like this forever, inside his pool house and away from the world, reality. She had always thought of the pool house this way, cut off from everything, all her problems; it was where Ryan was.

She sat up and pulled her shirt back on. Ryan pulled her back down for a kiss. She resisted and slipped on her skirt.

"Ryan, we have to talk,"

"Mmm," he replied, kissing her neck and pushing her back down.

"No, I'm serious," she said, pushing him off her reluctantly. Ryan, recognizing defeat, rolled off her looking slightly hurt. Ryan was like a puppy starved of affection, it was hard not to give into him sometimes…She started to work up the courage to say something, staring up at the ceiling of the pool house, but her thoughts were interrupted…

"So what are you doing back?"

"Ryan, I-"

"Did you decide to go to Berkley?" She could tell he had wanted to ask her this; there was a sort of excitement in his voice that he wasn't going to let himself feel.

"No, I, I can't go to Berkley…"she started but trailed off, unable to continue.

He put his hand over hers and found her eyes,

"Marissa, if you're not ready, I'll understand, but whatever it is that you're dealing with, I'll be there for you…"

The power of those last words sank into her and she knew she'd be okay, but he was getting the wrong idea completely, this wasn't about Berkley, it was about something much, much bigger.

She took a breath and swallowed. "Ryan, I'm, I…I've got to go,"

She ran out of the pool house and all the way to the front steps of her house, where she collapsed crying for a good ten minutes. Knowing that Ryan would be there shortly and Seth was with Summer inside, she wiped her eyes and decided to go down to the beach. Pushing herself up, she noticed Kaitlin leaning against a pillar smoking something that was probably illegal.

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough…so, what's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"C'mon Marissa, you show up out-of-the-blue without telling anyone you're here, Summer's acting all weird and protective, and you're crying for some reason,"

"It's kind of a long story Kaitlin, and I don't really feel like talking about it…"

"Marissa, I'm your sister. I want to know,"

"Alright, but I can't be here, Ryan will look for me,"

"Let's go to my room, Seth and Summer won't notice, they're too busy making out."

"Okay," Marissa sniffled.

As they made there way up to Kaitlin's room, the doorbell rang. Marissa flinched, she knew who it was. He didn't deserve this, she thought, not the way she was acting or why she was acting this way.

"I got it," Kaitlin said.

A second later she heard the door open and Ryan's voice.

"Hey Kaitlin, is Marissa here?"

"No, but I am…" Marissa rolled her eyes at this. She knew Kaitlin was doing this for enjoyment, to watch Ryan be uncomfortable.

"Right, well, when she gets back, can you tell her to call me?"

"Whatever," The door closed and Kaitlin returned.

"So…spill," Kaitlin demanded.

"You can't tell anyone,"

"I promise," Kaitlin said dismissively, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"I'm pregnant."

Kaitlin looked shocked, "Seriously, I mean, are you sure?"

"Yep, and now I have to tell Ryan about it,"

"It's his?"

"Yes," She said quickly. Kaitlin gave her a look.

"I did the math, okay,"

"When did that happen, I thought you were still with Volchok when you left,"

"No, I broke up with him and me and Ryan just sort of…happened,"

Kaitlin smirked,

"And how was that?"

"Amazing," she sighed and then shook her head, "wait, you're my little sister,"

"I'm not so little anymore,"

"Oh yeah, what the hell were you smoking out there?"

"Nothing…guess what? Seth's a pot head."

"No way, does Summer know?"

"No, but Ryan does, he's pretty pissed about it,"

"Yeah, Ryan's never been big on…substances,"

"That's why you guys are so good for each other, you balance each other out,"

Marissa rolled her eyes and then thought of something, "I wonder where Seth would have gotten pot…"

Kaitlin looked down and Marissa realized her guess had been right. "Kaitlin!" she hissed, "You're giving Seth pot?"

"Not giving, he asked me anyway," she said quietly.

"This is so weird, something's wrong with Seth. Summer's going to kick his ass,"

"You can't tell Summer,"

"Yes I can," she answered pulling the door open.

"Well I'm sure Mom would love to find out why you're back…" Marissa froze and took a deep breath.

"Fine," she muttered.

"So what are you gonna do with it?"

"Keep it, I can't…you know, and as much as it would mess up his life, I think Ryan will want me to keep it too,"

"God, don't, like, get married or anything,"

"I know, I want things to be exactly how they would be, I want him to go to Berkley and maybe.., I don't know, I could go to school too, after I have it, you know?"

"Good luck with that, hey, who knows besides Summer?"

"Dad,"

"Dad knows? How'd that go?" Kaitlin grinned.

"Really well, actually, but I don't think him and Ryan will be hanging out anytime soon,"

"I can't wait until you tell Mom, she's gonna flip out,"

"I know," Just then Marissa remembered something, Seth probably knew. Oh shit, she thought.

"Kaitlin, Summer was going to tell Seth today and Seth will tell Ryan, because I was supposed to tell Ryan,"

She ran across the hall to pound on Summer's door,

"Sum, it's Marissa, open up!" There was no answer. She made her way through the house, screaming for Summer. She found her by the pool listening to her ipod and tanning. "Summer," she said desperately, "Where's Seth?"

"He went to go do some last minute stuff for RISD, how'd it go with you and Ryan?"

She knew Ryan already knew and slumped down, her eyes welling up. "It didn't, I got scared."

"Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry," she sat up to wrap her arms around Marissa, who was now crying hysterically. She leaned on Summer's shoulder which was warm from the sun,

"He-he's g-gonna hate me," she whimpered.

"No, he's not," Summer soothed, stroking her hair, "he loves you, he loves you more than anyone else in the world,"

Marissa leaned back to look Summer in the eye, "Really?" she wiped her face. Summer smiled, "Seth tells me, he always talks about you, he's been miserable without you."

………………………………………………………………………………………

Ryan ran his hands through his hair, what was going on with Marissa? Why had she just walked out on him like that, what could he have done? He ran the morning through over and over in his mind and he couldn't come up with anything, so why did she just run away? He needed Seth's advice, but Seth was over at Summer's and he still didn't know about Marissa being back, no one did. She had just appeared out of nowhere and now she was gone, just as fast.

He looked everywhere for her: the diner, the pier, the lifeguard stand, and the beach, where he was now, letting the waves tickle his feet as he walked, thinking.

When he returned to the house, no one was home. He thought Sandy and Kirsten would still be at work and Seth was with Summer. He was all alone once again.

But he was mistaken, he entered the pool house to find Seth, eagle spread on his bed.

"Hey," greeted Ryan.

"Hey man, Summer told me about Marissa, what are you gonna do?"

"I don't really know, I'm not sure if she even still wants to be with me," he said glumly.

"Of course she does, why else would she fly all the way out here to tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Wait, you don't know?"

"Know what?" Ryan asked, annoyed.

"Know…uh, how much Marissa loves you, you know she tells Summer all the time? Speaking of Summer, I'm gonna go find her to, um, give her this comic," he babbled, holding up Superman.

"Summer doesn't even like comics, Seth. Seth, hey Seth, come back!" Ryan chased Seth through the kitchen and tackled him in the living room.

"Help," Seth yelled in vain, then "Dammit, I promise I won't run, now will you get off me?"

"Not until you tell me what I don't know about Marissa," Ryan said, breathing hard.

"Ryan? Ryan, I can't hear you, all I can hear is this ringing," He yelled and started to writhe around under him and roll his eyes back.

"Seth, I'm not even putting any weight on you,"

"Fine, but I can't tell you, it's not my place,"

"That's never stopped you before," said Ryan, getting off Seth, he knew that he could squeeze it out of him somehow, Seth could only keep a secret for so long.

"Seth, I would tell you…"

Seth thought for a second. "Alright, because we're brothers," he agreed, rubbing his shoulder, "You could have been a little gentler with me; Summer is going to kill me later…" He followed Ryan to the pool house and took a spot on the bed, "you might want to sit down for this," he warned, rubbing the spot next to him. Ryan sat down, looking at Seth anxiously. What could this possibly be about?

"Alright," Seth said again, "Remember when you and Marissa got it on before she left?" he asked quickly, forgetting to pause for an answer, "well, I guess when you do something, you really do it, because Marissa's, well she's…"

"Pregnant?" Ryan asked, watching Seth rub an imaginary bump above his stomach. He held his breath, even though he knew the answer…

"Yeah," Seth said, looking at him nervously.

Fuck, was all he thought at first, but then…this wasn't a death sentence, it was sort of the opposite…he loved Marissa more than he loved anyone, way more than Theresa. And having a kid could be…fun. Then he thought about Marissa, how vulnerable and scared she must be feeling and how he wanted to comfort her, protect her.

"How're you feeling, Buddy?"

Ryan was flooded with emotion, he knew he wanted this baby and he wanted Marissa. But what about college, his future? He couldn't live in the pool house forever, and he couldn't support Marissa, let alone a baby. Would she want to get married, did he want to get married? Would she even keep the baby? She would, Ryan thought. Was she going to stay here in Newport, with her mother and Summer? What about the actual baby, Ryan: a dad? He didn't know if he was ready to be a father, to do what Sandy does. He thought it would probably come naturally, guess he would find out…

"Okay, I guess, I don't really know what to think, or what to do,"

"All you can do is be there for her," said Seth sagely and patted Ryan on the back. I'm going to check on dinner.

He picked up the phone, dialed her number, and took a deep breath.

"Hey, Atwood,"

"Marissa?"

"No, it's Summer, Marissa doesn't really want to talk to anyone right now, she's kind of a mess…"

"Well, I'm coming over to see her-"

"ATWOOD! Listen to me, she doesn't want to see you right now, she's had a really rough day. Come over tomorrow, I'll make pancakes."

"Alright," said Ryan reluctantly, "Wait, could you just…could you tell her that I love her?"

Summer's voice softened, "Sure," and then, "can you tell Cohen he's dead?"

"Sure," said Ryan and hung up the phone, frustrated.

Seth opened the door again, "The food has arrived,"

Ryan wasn't very hungry and he just wanted to think things over alone, but Sandy and Kirsten would think something was wrong and he was definitely not ready to tell them. He followed Seth out.

"We're going to Summer's tomorrow for pancakes,"

"Cool, so did you talk to her?"

"Summer said she wasn't ready to talk to anyone, she wanted me to tell you that you're dead."

Sorry; this chapter is a little boring and slightly redundant, but Ryan had to find out. You'll pull through. The next chapter which will be delicious, I promise. Should Kaitlin come into the story more? What about Summer and Seth? I really want the characters to keep their same personalities, are they the same? Ryan and Seth are the hardest. Any suggestions, feedback, or constructive criticism would be awesome. Thanks for reading!