Hey guys, sorry this took so long. Work and real life and other writing obligations have kept me a little busy. But I give you the next chapter in the OC. Enjoy reply and love!

OCOCOCOCOCOC

Taylor frowned at her reflection. When in God's name had she bought this dress and why? Gray was so not her color. She slipped it off and threw it on the bed with all of her other rejects before she put her robe back on and went back into her closet.

"Taylor?"

"Closet," she called as she went through her dresses with a frown. Nothing; there was absolutely nothing she wanted to wear.

"Hey," Ryan said from the doorway of her closet.

She looked up, "Hey."

"You look frustrated."

"I can't find anything to wear tonight."

"Well, see that's a sign that we shouldn't go. You should put on those pajamas you like, I'll pick out a movie, and we can stay up here all night with the lights out and the door shut and locked while Summer goes to the party with Seth and Sandy and Kirsten."

Taylor smiled as she walked over to him, put her arms around his neck, and leaned close as if she was going to kiss him. Just before she got to his mouth she whispered, "Nice try," and pulled away to walk around him and out of the closet.

"Tease."

"You love it," she returned as he came up behind her by the foot of the bed, where she was currently frowning at all of the clothes she had spread out over it. She was a little surprised when his arms slid around her waist but she still relaxed against him. "What's wrong," she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, first you try to get me to stay home tonight, knowing that if we even tried to skip the party, Kirsten would kill and then ground us both."

"I'm still not clear on how she can ground you," Ryan said, releasing her and sitting on her bed in front of her after clearing a small space.

"I practically live in her house and in every way that counts she and Sandy are my parents." She gave him a look, "Stop trying to change the subject. Then you put your arms around me from behind."

"Is touching you a problem?"

"Never," Taylor put her hands on his shoulders. "But you only hold me from behind when one of us is kind of worried or upset about something. "What's up, Ryan?"

"I just don't wanna go to this thing tonight," he said quietly.

"Why?"

"Because everyone in Newport is going to be there."

"And that's a problem because? Well, besides the obvious."

"Everyone in Newport includes Jimmie Cooper and his daughter. I just don't want to deal with her and her crap."

"She can't hurt us if we don't let her."

"It's not 'us' I'm worried about her hurting."

"Ryan, we-"

"Yes, we do. We know it was her. We just can't prove it was her."

Taylor sighed and picked up one of his hands, "We won't stay long, okay? We'll put in an appearance and then disappear for the evening."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Taylor nodded. "I don't really like these parties either."

"See," Ryan slid his arms around her, "this is why we're perfect for each other."

"Is it really?"

"Oh yeah."

"Good to know," Taylor smiled. This time she kissed Ryan.

OCOCOCOCOCOCOCOC

Ryan was bored. Seth had gone to get a drink and Summer had dragged Taylor to the ladies' room. What was it about girls going to the bathroom together? You didn't see guys doing that unless they were planning on do it and there was a road he didn't want to go down. He looked up when he felt someone standing in front of him. He directed his gaze back down immediately after registering who was in front of him.

"Hi Ryan," Marissa smiled at him.

"Hi," Ryan barely looked up but Marissa still sat down across from him.

"You look bored."

"Maybe you're confusing this with one of our dates."

Marissa pouted at him, "Were we really so bad together Ryan? I seem to recall us having some fun."

"It's not fun to be used to piss of your date's mother."

"That's not the only reason I dated you."

"It's not fun to be treated like a performing dog, either."

"Maybe I can return the favor," Marissa smiled at him. "I could perform for you if you'd like."

"Thank you, no."

"It could be fun."

"Fun?" Ryan snorted. "Your kind of fun I don't need."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That I remember more fights than fun," Ryan glared, wishing he had proof about the Rohypnol so he could throw that in her face. "It's not a lot of fun to be dating someone who hates your best friend, and sees you as a way to piss off her mother. Besides boozy skanks just don't do it for me."

"And virginal little prisses who won't give it up do? C'mon Ryan you must be dying," Marissa said with a malicious grin.

"Go away Marissa."

"Did I hit a nerve?"

"No."

"I think I did." Marissa wet her lips and lowered her voice, "I think you're just aching for a little TLC." Marissa got up from the table and walked behind him. She bent down close to his ear, "When you get tired of dating Mary, let me know. We'll have some fun."

"Don't hold your breath," Ryan said. "I'd hate to have you end up in the hospital and be the focus of even more sympathy."

"I knew you liked that candy striper outfit," she said walking away.

"What'd Vampira want," Seth said as he sat down across from Ryan.

"To resurrect something that never should've happened in the first place," Ryan said. "What took you so long?"

"Got trapped by Grandpa," Seth shrugged. "Do you know he's here with Julie Cooper?"

"Hope he's had his shots," Ryan smirked.

"Okay, ew," Summer said as she and Taylor came back to the table. "That's not a very nice thing to say Ryan."

"Sorry," he said as Summer and Taylor sat back down.

"You okay," Taylor asked.

"Yeah. Just had a visit from someone I don't want to think about or talk about or see ever again."

"Fun," his girlfriend said. "So, we've been here an hour and half and Kirsten has seen us. We've eaten and I got you to dance. I think we've fulfilled our obligation if you want to go."

"God, yes, please," Ryan said, taking her hand. "You two coming?"

"No, we're gonna stay," Summer said. "I'm hoping for a floor show from Holly's mom and Jess' dad."

"That'll be fun," Seth said, nodding. "See you two later."

"Bye," Taylor said as she and Ryan got up and made their escape.

Seth looked over at his girlfriend, "So, how long do you think we should give them?"

"Ten minutes. They'll be on their way to your house where they'll go in the pool house. That way we can go to my house. The step monster is in Cabo and Dad's working tonight."

"Great," Seth smiled at Summer kissed him.

OCOCOCOCOCOCOCOC

"So, what'd Marissa say to you," Taylor said as she sat on Ryan's bed while he closed the shades.

He turned around, "How do you know about that?"

"I spotted her as I was leaving the bathroom."

"I'm assuming Summer didn't otherwise Marissa would be nursing something that was slowly turning black and blue right now."

Taylor smiled as she took off her heels and reclined on his bed, head on the pillows and hair spreading around her. She looked at him with a smile, "So?"

"What?"

"What'd she say?"

"Just more of her garbage," Ryan said taking off his jacket and slinging it over the chair as he toed off his shoes and laid down next to her.

"You're not going to tell me?"

"It's not important."

"Okay."

"That's all you're going to say?"

"If you say it's not important, it's not. I trust you."

Ryan felt warm at her words and smiled back at her, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"I don't think anyone's ever said that to me before and meant it the way you do."

"It comes along with the whole 'I love you' thing," Taylor said to him.

Ryan pulled her into his arms, "I love you, too."

OCOCOCOCOCOCOCOC

Marissa backed away from the doors with her teeth clenched. She'd seen Ryan and Taylor leave, figuring Taylor had wanted to go home and sleep, which would leave Ryan all by himself. She'd never thought that they'd be in there together. Maybe she was wrong about Taylor giving it up.

A giggle from inside made her eyes narrow.

Little bitch.