CHANGE OF PLANS

It took a while for Ryan to decide to go to Marissa's dorm. She left in such a hurry, he wasn't able to ask if she was okay or say goodbye before she heads back to Newport.

He knocked and Marissa opened the door.

"Ryan, hey. Sorry for leaving like that and not even paying for my food. I had to come back here to pack and..."

"No it's okay. Cheeseburgers and fries, I mean...it's not that expensive." He joked. And in response, Marissa let out a little giggle. Even in the most stressful times, he can always cheer me up, she thought.

"Thanks. Sorry, I'm just so stressed. Looking for a flight to Newport, all the cheapest ones are booked and first class is way too expensive for my budget, and...rambling again, sorry." Marissa apologized.

"I'll drive you." He quickly said. Spur of the moment.

"What?" Marissa wasn't sure she heard right.

"I'll drive you. First class for an hour flight? Not worth it. It's only like, 6 hrs away. 5 hrs with my driving. Besides, you look too stressed to be driving."

"The semester just started, I don't want to bring you down already. We're done with my bringing you down. We left that in high school." Marissa immediately looked sad, thinking back to how she treated Ryan back then with all her drama.

"Hey, no one ever said anything about bringing anyone down. If I remember anything, high school was just a time of stupid teenagers doing stupid things. We've had our share of mistakes, but that was then. Why worry about it? Besides, looking back, I don't really regret anything." She smiled at his last comment. "Look, this semester did just start. But what would I miss? Introductions? Boring! Plus, this is an emergency. Back in high school, I may not have been there for you, so here I am now." Marissa's heart swelled up in joy. She knew ever since Trey, Ryan had always regretted not being there for her. And he's doing the best he can to make it up to her.

"I'll be ready in an hour, meet you back here?" She offered a smile. And with that, Ryan returned to her the biggest smile and left to go get his things.