GOODBYE 2008
Sandy walked into the kitchen to find Ryan half awake eating dry cereal and Seth ramble on to him. "What's it about now, Seth?"
"Dad, would you please help me convince Ryan to help me with something?"
"Depends, what is this 'something'?"
"Sandy... it's Seth, what else would it be about other than–"
"Summer." Sandy guessed, "Seth, your an engaged man, sooner or later you're going to just have to figure your problems out yourself."
"Maybe I should ask Marissa. She's really good at helping me out.." Ryan glared at him.
"What? Did I miss something?" Sandy said in confusion.
"Nothing." Ryan said. Seth was just teasing him and Marissa did say it meant nothing to her so he just let it go.
"So it's the last day of 2008!" Sandy said, changing the topic. "I can't believe how far we've gone... and even, how much has happened in the last year!"
"Dad, if you think about it, more has happened in the past week than the past year. I'm engaged to Summer, Ryan and Marissa are going to be living together, and Mom's pregnant... we should have worked on better timing than to pack it all in last minute."
"It was perfect timing for all those things to happen." Kirsten said as she walked into the kitchen. She went up to Sandy to kiss him on the cheek, "Good morning. So any plans for the New Year's?"
"I thought that was your job, to plan something." Seth said.
"Well, Me, Sandy, Julie and Neil are all going to have dinner together. I figured you kids wanted to do something yourselves?"
"Mom, do not say 'kids'. I'm engaged." Seth boasted.
"Seth, you still talk to a toy plastic horse.." Ryan pointed out.
"Captain Oats is more than that. He's my friend. I can't just chuck him out because I hit puberty."
"When? I must have missed that." Ryan joked, getting a laugh out of Sandy and Kirsten.
"AH AH AH" Seth sarcastically laughed, "Anyways, Ryan wanna do something with Summer and Marissa?"
"Sure, let's just go over there."
"Good idea, goodbye mother, father."
"Just call us and let us know what you're doing!" Kirsten called out from the kitchen, but Ryan and Seth were already out the door before they heard her.
"So... dinner with Julie and Neil isn't till later tonight... what do you have in mind we do till then?" Sandy asked.
Kirsten wrapped her arms around her husband and kissed him.
"Okay, I like where this is going..."
/
"So any steamy plans with Marissa tonight?" Seth asked Ryan who was driving.
"What? No, I think we're just going to hang out."
"Well, that's... boring. Me and Summer are going to have quite a romantic night. I'm–"
"Seth, no details."
"Don't worry, I'll keep this short and clean. I'm thinking of just getting a few things together and decorate her room. Make it all sexy and–"
"SETH. NO DETAILS."
"Kay, I'll stop... but seriously man, you don't have anything planned with Marissa?"
Ryan didn't answer. Instead, they just arrived at Summer's and he quickly changed the subject, "C'mon, let's go."
"Just saying man, it's a New Year's. How you spend it now will be how it is for the next 365 days... Make it count!"
Before Ryan got out the door, he looked back at Seth. He tried ignoring him but he knew he should plan something special for Marissa. "I don't know what to do..."
"Just think of something awesome, special, something she won't forget for the next 2 months!"
"I.." Ryan was about to speak and Seth looked at him, "Forget it."
"No man! You had something, tell me."
"It's... Remember the tiki hut you helped me with? When Marissa was about to leave for Hawaii we spent the night at the beach..."
"That's perfect dude! Do you have it all planned out?"
"No! It was just a thought... I don't how I'll possibly ditch Marissa to go do this."
Seth sat there for a moment, then his eyes grew big, "I have an idea. I'll leave you guys early to set up my romantic night with Summer, and I'll do the same for you. Just distract them and give me 2 hours."
"Seth, what am I suppose to do for 2 hours with Summer and Marissa?"
"Well, I have an idea what you can do with Marissa..." Ryan punched him in the arm, "OW! Okay, no more jokes... I don't know, just do whatever for 2 hours. Just don't go back to Summer's or go to the beach."
Seth went out the car and started to walk to the front door.
"Hey!" Summer kissed her fiancée, then greeted Ryan who wasn't far behind.
Marissa then came to the front door to find Ryan standing there awkwardly with a kissing Seth and Summer, "Hey!" she kissed him. He was relieved of the awkwardness.
"So do you boys have anything planned for today? We've got nothing.." Summer said.
"As a matter of fact, yes we do. Ryan and I planned that we would all just hang out, go to the mall or diner? Doesn't matter..."
"Actually, I have an idea." Marissa said, "My dad still has his old boat here. We took it out once before and it was pretty fun..."
"I like it!" Seth said excitedly.
/
The four were at the beach, sailing. Seth was at the steering wheel with Summer and Ryan and Marissa were sitting down enjoying a picnic on the bow of the boat. It was like a flashback to the past, to the one time they took Jimmy's boat out. That day was used to escape their problems, but today was just out of pure joy.
"Last time we were here, it was after the whole Trey thing..." Marissa said
At first, Ryan didn't know how to answer. It took him a while to finally come up with words to say, "I don't think I ever formally apologized, for what he did and for being an ass when it came to talking about it; being there for you."
"Ryan you don't have to apologize. I was just saying, back then we were trying so hard to get past that whole incident. But right now, we're here enjoying each other's company and... I'm happy. I'm happy we've come a long way and I'm still with you." She leaned in and kissed him.
After a few kisses, Ryan couldn't help himself but he broke apart from her, "I love you."
"Thank you..." She teased.
It was 5 years ago when Marissa first told Ryan she loved him and he replied with only a thank you. She continued to tease him about that night, meanwhile Seth and Summer were busy talking about the wedding. "So I was thinking, my favourite colour is purple, so we would somehow add that to the theme," Summer went on.
Seth patiently listened to every word she was saying, until he cut her off, "Summer, no matter what the wedding is like, we could be getting married at a farm for all I care, as long as you're there I'm happy. As long as we get married, I don't care how or where we do it."
Summer smiled at how sweet Seth was being, but she kept going about the wedding. She couldn't help herself. She was so excited.
/
The four went back to the Diner for some lunch. Seth looked at Ryan cover me man. He looked over at Marissa and Summer who were busy eating, "Oh crap! It's 4 already? Look I have to go, I promised my mom I'd help her with something..." Seth excused himself.
"Wait, what? You're ditching me on New Year's?" Summer pouted.
"No, I'll just meet you back at your place? Sorry." He kissed Summer's cheek and hurried off.
"Wow, he better not ditch me later... It's New Years!" she whined.
"So what do you want to do now?" Marissa asked.
"Well, I guess I'll just go back to the house and wait for Seth there–"
"NO!" Ryan butted in. Summer and Marissa looked at him confused. "I mean, we should do something... something fun."
"Atwood and fun?" Summer questioned.
"Yeah, it's usually me or Seth or Summer and you just go along with it. You never think anything's fun."
"Well, it's a new year, I just figured we should all enjoy it... and I can think of some things I can consider 'fun'" he smiled at Marissa seductively.
"Okay, ew. Third wheel here." Summer interjected.
"Well, I ran out of good ideas..." Marissa said.
"The beach?" Summer suggested.
"No we're always there." Ryan tried to lie. "How about... the mall?
"Ryan, are you high?" Marissa wasn't buying it.
"What? No. I'm just suggesting things here."
"But you're suggesting the mall... unless there's a wifebeater sale, you hate the mall." Marissa said skeptically.
"Marissa, if Ryan wants to go to the mall, let's go to the mall. Take advantage here." Summer said.
/
After 2 hours of shopping, the girls couldn't be any more happy. Ryan on the other hand, was extremely bored out of his mind. He knew it would pay off in the end but he really just wanted to be alone with Marissa and spend the rest of New Year's together.
He checked his watch and figured it's time, "C'mon. I'm sure Seth is done helping Kirsten out so let's go back to your place to meet him."
"Aww, Atwood's tired of shopping." Summer teased.
Marissa laughed at her best friend's comment, which made Ryan roll his eyes. "Did you regret your suggestion?" she wrapped her arms around him.
"Hmmm," He thought. Then he leaned in to kiss her, "Yes."
She kissed him back, "How about now?"
"Much better."
"Okay guys, stop with the kissing. It's not fair when Seth's not here you guys do that. Let's go back."
Ryan smiled, finally! They all made their way back to the car and Ryan couldn't help but start to feel excited.
/
Before arriving at Summer's place, Summer insisted they stop by one more store because she wanted to 'check out the wedding dresses'. So it wasn't till around 7 where the three finally pulled up into Summer's driveway.
As the two girls were about to get out of the car, Ryan reached for Marissa's hand. "Summer, can I have Marissa for the rest of the night? I'm pretty sure Seth wants to be selfish as well and only have you."
"Uhh, yeah sure! Have fun guys." Summer exited the car and went back into the house.
Marissa turned over to Ryan, "What are you up to?"
"The New Year is coming up, I thought we would just do something special. One last time before we'd have to go back to school–"
"And we move in together," Marissa cut him off smiling.
"Yes, that too..." He grabbed a piece of cloth and wrapped it around Marissa's head.
"Ryan..?"
"I want it to be a surprise. Do you trust me?"
"Of course."
"Then just go with it. I promise, nothing will happen when you're blindfolded." He started the car and started heading towards the beach.
/
Meanwhile, Summer unlocked her front door and entered her house. "Seth? You here?" There was no response. She dropped off her shopping bags and looked around the house. "Seth?" Still no response. She then went to her bedroom to see if he was there.
When she opened the door, she saw a bunch of candles lit everywhere and rose pedals spread across the room. Sitting on her bed, she found her fiancée looking at her with a big smile, "Surprise!" He made his way over to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Are you surprised? Do you like it?"
"Oh my God, Yeah! I love you." She kissed him, "But wait, how'd you do this?"
"Ryan and I had a deal, he'd distract you guys while I do this."
"No wonder he suggested the mall."
"Ryan suggested to go to the mall? Wow." Seth laughed.
"Don't laugh at your best friend! Besides, he succeeded. We went shopping for 2 hours and you were able to pull this off!"
"Yeah... So now, what do you wanna do?" She smiled at him and they started to kiss. They made their way over to the bed and Seth fell onto it taking Summer with him, but never breaking contact.
/
"Ryan where are we?" Marissa said as she heard him pull over.
"Now why would I tell you that? Here," He put headphones over her ears.
"Wait, what is that?" she stopped him.
"I don't want you to hear anything that will give it away..." he continued to put it on her. Once they were ready to go, Ryan got out of the car and helped Marissa do the same. He led them both to the beach until he found a Tiki hut. Wow, even better than last time. Thanks Seth, Ryan thought to himself.
He stopped them in his tracks and took the headphones out of Marissa's ears. "We're here!"
"We're at the beach?" She heard the waves crash. "Can I take this off now?"
Ryan slowly unwrapped the cloth away from Marissa's eyes and the first thing she spots is the Tiki hut before her. "Oh my God."
"Do you like it?"
"How did you pull this off... again?"
"As usual, I got some help from Seth. We made a deal. Do you really think I enjoy shopping?"
"So that's why you suggested it in the first place."
"Yeah.." he muttered.
"Well," Marissa started to make her way inside the hut, "You sacrificed a lot today and I'm proud of you. So I'll return the favour." She vanished into the hut. Ryan smiled and then followed Marissa into the hut.
Once he entered, he saw her lying on the little bed. He slowly made his way down and hovered over her. After getting lost in each other's eyes, Marissa wrapped her arms around his head and brought it down so she could close the gap between them. Each kiss was punctured with passion and love. She loved him and he loved her. There was nothing that could get in between them now. She started to undo his buttons, throwing away his shirt onto the ground. She lifted his wifebeater and he pulled away only to take it off. He started to take the lead, lifting her shirt up a little bit so she could take it off.
Once clothes were spread across the beach floor, Ryan stopped for a second to look at Marissa. "You want to do this?"
"Ryan, we've done it before," She smiled, "But yes, I want to do this." She closed the gap between them once again. Of course she wants to do this. She couldn't help but smile as Ryan kissed her, the fact that he always asks shows how much he cares for her and what she wants.
"I don't think I could ever get tired of you." Ryan said, almost out of air.
"You're not so bad yourself, Atwood."
/
Seth and Summer were now cuddled up, tangled in sheets on her bed.
"Seth, I love you." he kissed her forehead after this comment. "And it may be surprising to you right now, but I don't want you to mention anything about the wedding. I don't want to talk about it..."
"But you love to talk–"
"I know, because I'm excited to get married. To marry you. But right now, I want to enjoy the last hour of 2008 with you. Just sitting here."
"I love you too, Summer."
Summer turned on her TV to watch the New Year's celebration in LA. "I can't believe all that's happened. Not just in 2008 but... ever since it all started back in high school."
"Yeah, I know it's weird to think you would marry someone in the 5th grade, but every time I said it, no one would believe me. The beginning of high school was the same. Then Ryan came, Marissa finally noticed my existence, then you too... I mean, here I am, engaged to you."
"Seth..." She looked up to meet his eyes. "I'm really sorry for the way I treated you in grade school and in high school." She started to tear up.
"Hey, I didn't say it to make you cry and feel bad. I was just saying a lot has happened: good and bad, but I'm glad they did. Because in the end, I got the girl." He smiled down at her and gave her an assuring kiss.
"I'm glad all the craziness happened too. Because I got my Prince Charming... my happily ever after."
"Hey so we now agree that I'm 'charming'?"
"Don't push it, Cohen."
"Fine, fine..." They turned their attention to the TV and joined in (from Summer's bedroom) with everyone in LA, to reminisce the past and celebrate the future.
/
Back at the beach, Ryan and Marissa were wrapped up in blankets. Marissa was laying on Ryan's shoulder and drawing circles on his chest.
"So what do you think?" Ryan said.
"Mmm, you're getting better at it..." She teased.
He laughed, "Not about the sex. About... everything. Everything that's happened. Not just in 2008 but everything."
"I'm glad." She looked up at him. "With all that's happened. The bad things that's happened and the good things. We're still here."
He looked at her and smiled into those eyes. Those dreamy, beautiful eyes that he can so easily get lost in. "I'm glad too..." he began to kiss her and things became heated once again. However, they were interrupted this time by a ding coming from Ryan's jean pocket.
She moaned into the kiss, "Do you..."
"Hold on..." He reached over and grabbed his phone. It was a text message from Seth.
"Pull the rope beside you when it's 11:59, have fun buddy!" He read the text.
"What is it?" Marissa said.
Ryan put down his phone and settled back into the position they were previously in. "It was just a text from Seth..."
As they continued to laugh about the past and enjoy each other's company, Ryan checked the time, 11:58. Close enough, he thought. He looked around and saw an end of a rope. He pulled it just like what Seth told him to do and an opening appeared at the top of the tiki hut.
"Ryan, what's this?"
"Wow, Seth really went full out here, didn't he?" He looked up. "But I guess he owes me after the torture I went through at the mall..."
Marissa playfully smacked him, "You enjoyed the mall, admit it." She looked up to see what Ryan was looking at. "It's beautiful." she said, seeing the stars above her through an opening on the roof of the tiki hut.
"You really are." He said, ignoring the scenic view above him and gazing his eyes at Marissa. She laughed and kissed him sweetly.
"Only a minute left in 2008."
"When you said 'I love you' and I could only say 'thank you'... I did love you. It was just a teenage boy who couldn't find any of the words... But look, here we are 5 years later...I still do... Love you, I mean."
"I love you too." They began kissing but eventually broke off at the sound of fireworks. They looked up through the opening and saw the colours explode in the sky.
"Happy New Year, Ryan."
"Happy New Year, Marissa."
/
"Happy New Year" Summer said, as she and Seth watched the fireworks through her TV.
"It is..." Seth smiled, "It is a happy New Year."