JUNIOR YEAR

It was the beginning of Junior Year. Seth and Summer went back to Brown and Ryan and Marissa went back to living in their dorms in Berkely. Ever since the welcome dinner, their relationship has been very awkward. Awkward hugs, smiles, eye contact, conversations. It was all awkward. They both were jealous of the same thing, but kept postponing confronting each other and talking about the mysterious someone in each of their lives. Little did they know, that Anotonio was Caitlin's boyfriend from Italy, and Lily was a friend of Ryan's mom. If only they could just talk about it.

The first day of classes, Ryan did the routine stop by Marissa's dorm and they would walk to the main building together.

"Ryan, hey! I wasn't expecting you today." Marissa greeted him. She thought with all the awkwardness going on, why would he even bother swinging by like usual.

"I've done it everyday since the beginning of college, I don't plan on stopping now." He replied with his famous crooked smile. She returned it with a genuine one. Slowly getting lost in each other's eyes, Ryan realized, and soon snapped out of it looking down. "Um, so you ready?"

"Yeah. Right. Let me just get my books" And as she went to go get them, Ryan's phone rang.

"Hey mom, how're you doing?" Marissa heard Ryan say. "Yeah, first day...I'm with Marissa and we're gonna walk together...Oh yes, I forgot to thank you about that! Lily is really nice" Lily? Did Dawn set Ryan and her up? Was she behind all of it? I thought they weren't together. Summer said, Marissa thought. "I'm looking forward..." for a date? Marissa wondered. "Anyways I have to go... I love you too, bye." And his phone was shut. "Riss you have everything?" He called out.

Marissa grabbed everything quickly so he wouldn't wonder what took her so long. "Yeah have it all! You know me, forgetting where I put everything." She nervously lied.

Ryan smiled and they both left for their first day.

/

"Wanna have lunch together?" Ryan texted Marissa

"Sure! Meet at JJ's Place"? Marissa texted back.

"Sounds like a plan J "

/

Ryan was patiently waiting for Marissa. Soon, he saw the beautiful figure approach his table and he smiled over at her.

"Sorry for being late. I got held up at my class. Then some girl didn't know where to go, I felt bad so I stopped to give her directions. Then Caitlin called me and then Antonio started talking as well, Italian guys always have a lot to enthuse about..." Marissa rambled on. Still talking to this Antonio guy? They're still together? Ryan thought. Soon he kept thinking about it, getting jealous and realizing he tuned Marissa out. "...Ryan? Sorry, I didn't mean to ramble"

"Pfft, it's totally cool. Don't worry about it" He nervously laughed, hoping she didn't sense the fact that he wasn't really listening to her after she mention Antonio.

"So how's your day going so far?" Marissa asked.

"Pretty good, just the usual first day: Professors introducing themselves, give you some inspiring introduction, yeah know... and yours? Other than what you've already briefly rambled on about." Ryan teased.

"Well, pretty boring. Sarah's in my Lit class. At least one of my 4 classes this semester, I won't be entirely alone."

"It's too bad we don't have classes. I'm usually the party in the class." He joked.

Marissa laughed, "Right. Because back in Harbour, that's exactly what you were known for." They both continued to joke around, then the waiter came to take their order.

"2 cheeseburgers, 2 fries, and 2 cokes, please" Ryan ordered for them. They've always had that everytime they go together. Marissa smiled at him. Happy that Ryan was able to order for her like the usual. Maybe his strange behaviour is slowly wearing off on him, Marissa thought. Ryan gave the menus back and looked over at Marissa.

"So tell me more about Italy. What is one thing you miss?" Ryan asked, hopefully soon he can bring up Antonio. He really did want to take Seth's advice and talk to her, every conversation he's had with her he's wanted to, but always chickened out in the end.

"I'm not sure." Marissa thought for a while. "I guess, walking down the streets and hearing people sing and play their instruments, I mean, it was different than what you hear in Newport. People busking for money here cannot compare to the music there. The people there, I don't know, they were so immersed in their songs about love or sadness, it's like I felt it also. It felt like I was in a movie or a dream." Marissa looked up from her food and saw Ryan, who was staring right into her eyes, as if he was trying to read her. "It sounds stupid I know"

"No, not at all." He said, honestly. And she saw that in his eyes. She smiled at him.

"I'm going to take you there someday. Not just to prove to you what I'm saying right now, but the architecture there too, you would have loved it. I told Summer you would and-" Marissa immediately stopped talking. Oh God, did I really just say that out loud? she mentally slapped herself.

Told Summer? Was she talking to Summer about... nah, I probably didn't hear right. Ryan brushed off what he thought he just heard, "Well first of all, there's nothing to prove. I believe what you said, about the music in the streets there compared to here." She blushed. "And as for the architecture there," Oh God, he did hear what I said, Marissa thought as she looked away. "I was looking through my architecture textbook today in class and it showed some buildings in Florence. You're right; I loved it when I saw them in pictures. I can't wait to see them in real life. I mean, this trip better happen." Ryan said. This was it. He tried his best to avoid another awkward situation with Marissa, it's time to talk about Antonio. Clear things up. Worst case scenario, they're seeing each other. He thought. However, what if they're not? Best case scenario, he's just a tourist who followed her home. And finally, after months of waiting, you can finally take a shot again with Marissa. Another shot at love. I mean, it should all be worth it in the end right? Love is worth it? Ryan contemplated.

"So.." Marissa broke Ryan out of his thought.

"So.." They both sat there in awkward silence. They were now finished with their food. "Look, Marissa.." Ryan began. Marissa looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"Ryan what is it? I know it's been kind of awkward lately and.."

"So you've noticed that too?" he sighed in relief.

"Yeah," She agreed. "I don't know why. Was it something I said when I came back? Did I do something?"

"No, not at all. It's just I was wondering..." But Marissa's phone interrupted.

"Hi, mom. Look can I call you back?...What?...Oh my God...Yeah, I'll get there as soon as possible...I love you too. Bye!" She shut her phone. "Caitlin's been in an accident. I'm sorry, I have to go." And Marissa rushed out of the restaurant.