AN: Hey people! Sorry this update is way overdue. But I've been busy. Not to mention I lost everything to a stupid virus on my computer. And by the way, if you're one of those assholes that like to make those things, damn you. Seriously, there is a special place in hell for people just like you. GRRR, anyways here it is. Thanks to those that have reviewed and I hope you continue to do so. And if you haven't yet, you should. I don't bite. Unless you make viruses, then I will bite you.

Walking straight into Summer's room I frown as soon as I see Seth lying on her bed. "Where's Summer?" I ask irritated. Don't get me wrong, Seth has been like a brother to me, and I love the guy, but he always tended to show up exactly when I didn't want him to. His sense of timing was completely off, and sure he could always be counted on for comedic relief, but it was annoying sometimes.

"Why, hello Marissa. Nice to see you too. I've been great, thanks for asking."

"Hello Seth. Where's Summer?"

"Straight to business I see. Well, she went to the video store to rent some chick flicks. She'll be back in a minute." He says playing with Summer's princess sparkle.

"Great, so I'm stuck here… with you… and princess sparkle." I say sitting down on Summer's bed next to Seth. I almost would have rather taken my chances with my mother.

"Don't forget Captain Oats." He says with that nerdy grin of his.

"Yay." I say dejectedly. He was so awkward to be around. Probably the reason we never hung out alone.

After many minutes of uncomfortable silence, I had this feeling he was going to start talking about Ryan and me. It never failed, any time me and Ryan were fighting he would always try to fix it. It was absolutely none of his business, and his intentions were good, but sometimes I'd rather not hear his loud opinion. "So… are you and Ryan still on an out."

Just then Summer walks in, and I've never been happier to see her. Everything Seth lacked, Summer made up for in tenfold, and vice versa. They were perfect together. Anyone could see it. Yeah they had plenty of issues, but at the end of the day they both knew it was worth it. I could only hope I'd have that someday.

"Sum, mono? Really? That was all you could think of." I say as soon as I see her. I was still upset with her about that. Ryan already thought I was a horror, and her telling him things like that was not helping.

"Oh, right. Sorry, my on the spot thinking sucks. But I brought presents!" She says, thinking it made of for it. She went over to put the movie in the dvd player. She throws the bag of popcorn at Seth and says, "Go pop those." Seth obeys, without a word. As dumb as he was sometimes, he knew when to listen to my best friend.

"Did you tell Alex the same thing?" I ask worried about my non-tainted image in Alex's eyes.

"No. She didn't ask what you had. Hell, as soon as I told her you weren't feeling well she was out of there. I mean she was long gone before I got to my car." I try to pretend that news didn't matter to me at all, but Summer saw the small smile on my face, even though I'd never admit it was there.

"Some girl you got there." Summer says with a funny tone.

"Yeah." I say dreamily, before realizing what she got me to admit. "I mean… she's cool."

"I guess I'm not the only one that sucks with on the spot thinking." She says wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "You like her."

"Yeah."

"And you like him."

"Yeah." I shake my head. "What do I do Sum?"

She studies me for a while. "The only thing you can do."

"And what's that? I swear if you feed me some of that follow your heart shit, I'm leaving." I was getting tired of people telling me to do what felt right. Doing what felt right doesn't always mean you're doing the right thing. And sometimes what feels the opposite of right is what's right. You can't just do what feels right. That never works. You have to do what is right if you ever want to get anywhere. That's why doing things take so damn long.

My friend laughs. "That's what I was going to tell you." She says. "But it's what has to happen Coop."

"What if I choose wrong and everyone's life gets messed up. All because I couldn't pick who was right for me."

"I highly doubt your relationship status is going to affect everyone in Newport."

"But it is going to affect some people. The people that I care about. I mean, what if I chose Alex and Ryan gets mad at me and in turn Seth gets mad at me. And then because you, being my best friend, take my side, and you and Seth break up." I was on the verge of hyperventilating. And Summer looked worried about my mental health. But what else is new?

"And… and… What if I choose Ryan and Alex skips town. Seth would be crushed, and I know she won't take it well. And… And… FML."

"Whoa, Coop, you haven't even told Alex you like her yet. One step at a time girl." She raised a good point. I was a complete coward when it came to Alex. Checking her out when she wasn't looking was about as far as I got when it came to telling her how I felt.

I'd never had a problem with that type of thing before. Here I was, Marissa Cooper, afraid of saying what I was thinking. I had a good reason though, I mean what if I told her how I felt and got her hopes up, and then I choose Ryan. That would be a bad call would it not? So I'll keep it to myself until I decide.

"Sum, you're not helping."

"Then how can I help Coop?"

"Who do you think I should choose?" I ask putting my head in my hands.

"RYAN!" I hear Seth yell from behind the door.

"Cohen! Go away!" Summer yells. I hear shuffling from behind the door and I assume he leaves. "Sorry about him. But he is trying to help."

"I know. But what do you think?" I needed her opinion. At the end of the day hers was probably the only one that I would take into account. She was my best friend and in a time like this she was the only one I could count on.

Summer took my question into account for a long time. Like she was really thinking about what would be the best for me. And then she said, "Ryan offers a promising future and with him you would never have to worry about a thing. A future with him would be a great one. However, a future with Alex would offer adventure and something that you've never experienced before. Living off of nothing but love would be your life with her. Either way I know you'd be taken care of. And as your best friend that's all I can ask for Marissa. No matter who it's with."

"You still haven't answered my question."

"I can't answer your question Coop. Only you can." She says before pushing play. "Besides, I refuse to look like an ass if you somehow decide to pick the person I told you not to choose. That'd be awkward." She chuckles.

I think about what she told me that day and tell her thank you. Maybe that day didn't give me the answers I so desperately needed, but time with my best friend gave me a clear head. And maybe I needed that more than anything right then.