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Autor: Meself | Publicado: 2012-01-08T02:19:00-03:00

A/N: Hi all, I know you’ve been reading around and stuff, however, I haven’t got a clue if you guys are enjoying the turns the story is taking, so, if you would be so kind, I’d love some reviewing and I consider welcome any type of criticism. So thanks in advance. =)

Chapter 19

The afternoon went by lazily at Newport Beach, the warm weather keeping people at the beach until nearly 4 p.m. and it kept them from going back home.
Summer felt peaceful. She could hardly believe there had been, actually, one way out of the drama she had predicted for them. It wasn’t a easy one but they were willing to make it work long distance so it would. They would mostly communicate through e-mails while she was at the ship but then she went to college, they’d do the flying back and forth routine as often as they could. And she was engaged! She kept waving her ring in front of herself as if she couldn’t really believe it. 
“I can hardly believe this... This feels, as you would say, awesome. The fab four!” Summer said, stretching at her beach chair. “It’s too good to be true.”
“Actually, it’s too weird to be true. Did you manage to make her confess yet?” 
“Cohen! The way you put it makes it sound as if they’re committing a felony!” 
“They kinda are…” 
“Sure, there’s something going on between them but they won’t tell us, so we can’t know for real, Seth.”
“They are glowing near each other, Summer. Especially Marissa. We can’t be wrong about this.” 
“Look at them, they look sooo happy together. I just wish they would stay that way.” 
A few steps ahead of them, closer to the water, Ryan and Marissa were tossing a volley ball around, laughing outloud and taking a dip once in a while, laughing and exchanging complice looks. 
“We are sooo happy together, too.” Seth said, smiling to her.
“Yes, we are.” 
“And we are to be married after college, too.” He said, grinning.
“I still don’t know how you tricked me into this.” She said, grinning back and staring at the diamond in her hand. 
“Because I’m a very smart man and you couldn’t miss the opportunity of keeping me promised to you until you come back from your round the world trip. I’m such a catch; you couldn’t afford the risk of losing me…” 
“You have no idea how much I’m gonna miss you, Cohen…” She said, looking deeply into his eyes.
“No, no, no, don’t do this. Every time you look at me that way next thing I know you are going to start crying.” 
She started laughing, instead.
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“They are definitely staring.” He said.
“They are taking turns watching us. It’s actually kinda fun to watch…” Marissa replied.
“It’s driving me crazy.” He said, looking into her eyes with a serious expression.
“What is driving you crazy?” 
“Having you here, not being allowed to hold you and kiss you and…” He took a deep breath and kept staring.
“Don’t look at me like this because that look is gonna drive me crazy…” 
“Please, just, make an excuse and come see me tonight.” He said, closing the distance between them, his voice hoarse. “I miss you already…”
She felt a chill run down her spine. And it was one of excitement. 
“But it’s been only two days since…” 
“Too long…” 
“Now you are driving me crazy, you know that, right?” As he kept looking at her as if he were gonna kiss her and lay with her right there and then, in the sand, she complied. “Ok, ok. I’ll find a way out tonight and call you. Can we please get back to playing? They are really staring now.” She smiled. 
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“So, Dad went crazy in love and flew back to Greece with my nem stepmom!” Marissa said, ending the story she’d been telling Summer. 
“Hailey and your Dad. Again. How come we’ve never really found out about the first time?” 
“We were too busy with our own dramas, I guess.” 
“Speaking of which, I do have my own drama to talk about. It’s about time I came clean about this with you”. 
By the time she finished telling Marissa, her friend was agape. 
“You? Saving the world? Is there a hot guy involved? Because if there’s, you’ve gone down that road before and you didn’t manage to make yourself love Zach, remember? You love Seth, Summer, stop trying to run away from that, for crying out loud…” 
“And that coming from Ryan’s run away girlfriend…” 
“Give it a rest, Sum…” She couldn’t help the smile when she heard the world girlfriend. Summer didn’t know it yet but she did like to hear it again. She was Ryan’s girlfriend. Not running away anymore, actually.
“You know, I do get the feeling that there’s something going on about you and him Seth and I are not aware of. Rest assured, Marissa, I’m gonna be royally pissed off if you guys screw the holidays again!” 
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Ian was sitting again at the porch of his house again. As in most of the times he called, Marissa hadn’t answered and he couldn’t be still, wondering what was happening in her life that kept her away from the phone all the time. He feared that, when he got to Newport it’d be too late. God, had she fallen back in love with Ryan? Had she ever stopped being in love with him, he kept asking himself.
He knew you didn’t forget the love of your life so easily. There was Gillian, whom he had loved so much and who had made his heart skip a beat two days ago. He couldn’t say he didn’t love her anymore. But he couldn’t say that he didn’t love Marissa, either. He missed her. God, he missed her with everything he had. Her easy smiles, the way she would let herself be held in his arms, the way she kissed him, so soft and caressing. He couldn’t stand losing twice.
As if summoned from his thoughts, his phone rang and her name appeared at the caller ID.
“Hi, baby…” He said.
“Hey... How are things?” 
“Missing you.” He said, taking a deep breath. 
“I know. Missing you too.  Wish I was there just to be there…” She knew she didn’t mean it as being there as girlfriend more as a friend.
“Same here...”His voice trailed off.
“Anything new has happened? You sound different…” She asked because she felt like he wanted to say something.
“Yeah. Kind of. I don’t know if I want to talk about it…” 
“If you do… You know who to call…” She said. 
“Gillian’s back. She’s alive and well.” 
“Wow. I mean… Wow. I… I don’t know what to say, actually…” She didn’t know the details but she did know that he had really loved that girl in the past and that the girl had vanished without a trace.
“Well married, too, so, no worrying, okay?” He said, misinterpreting her stuttering of surprise for jealousy.
“Okay.” She let out a sigh that maybe he’d mistake for relief when it was actually disappointment. As soon as he’d mentioned Gillian’s return, she’d imagined it would be their way out… But no, God knew she wanted an easy way of ending this but it wasn’t going to happen, she thought to herself.
“I’ll be there in two days; can you stand being away from me for this long?” 
“I guess I’ll manage. Summer, Seth and Ryan are keeping me busy, so, don’t worry about me.” 
“Ok, then. Love you. Bye.” He said. Not worry with Ryan keeping her busy? He shook his head feeling a pang of jealousy.
“Love you too. Bye.” 
She felt horrible. Each phone call made her feel more awful. She didn’t have the guts to sound distant, to give him any hint that their story wasn’t supposed to be anymore. How was she supposed to tell him the truth when he got here?!
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They were sitting at the Jacuzzi, enjoying the little time they found for each other in their busy routines with two glasses of wine and a cold cuts board. 
“It’s been forever, hasn’t it?” Sandy said, holding her hand.
“Yes, it has. But the break ends tomorrow night, have to start arranging things for the party…” 
“Wasn’t Julie supposed to help you, honey?” 
“You know how she is…”
“What about Hailey? Can’t she come over and help you order the caterers around?” 
“Are you serious, Sandy?” She asked, stifling a laugh. She did know Hailey hadn’t exactly said formal goodbyes but she didn’t know that Jimmy hadn’t either.
“Why, yes…”
“Then I have big news for you… Jimmy is family now. He and Hailey are to be married in Greece. They actually probably have arrived there already…”  
“Really?” 
“Really.” 
“That’s good. Jimmy deserves some happiness of his own. His wedding to Julie was such a disaster… And if he and Hailey didn’t work out the first time, maybe they’ll do it now.” He made a pause. “Speaking of deserving some happiness, guess who’s been singing around the house, not the same brooding person as before…” 
“Who? No, no, no, wait! I have much bigger news!” Kirsten said, anxiously, making a gesture for him to stop.
“ Okay, then. You go first.” 
“Did you happen to notice a huge diamond ring on Summer’s finger when they all came back from the beach? I must confess I don’t know how long it’s been there, I’ve only noticed today! What kind of mother am I?” She said, not managing to hide a huge smile.
“Awww, but that’s too cute to be true. Seth and Summer getting married! I’ve always thought he wouldn’t make it until marriage… Thought she might kill him in one of those rage fits of her…” Sandy said stifling a laugh.
“She wouldn’t bear living without him afterwards. Now it’s your turn. Hand me your piece of gossip!” 
 “We are two old matrons, aren’t we?” 
“Sure we are. Now do tell, I’m curious!” Kirsten said, tickling him.
“Ok, ok.  Ryan’s been extraordinarily smiley. Sighing and all. Didn’t you notice?” 
“I kinda did… But I was kind of trying not to get my hopes up. We both know where that smile probably comes from and we also know how short this kind of happiness usually lasts for him…” 
“I’m worried, to tell you the truth. From what Julie says, Marissa was living with that boyfriend of hers and if she and Ryan are back, things aren’t going to look pretty when he arrives…” 
“I can only hope they’ll do things in a civilized way. I think we are all past Ryan punching Marissa’s boyfriends, aren’t we?” 
Sandy gave a heartily laugh. 
“Like you said, we can only hope. We are parents and when they are this age all we can do is watch and try to help, when they ask.” 
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Summer was taking a nap in her bedroom since they were supposed to have a girls’ night out with Seth (since he’d established he wasn’t missing any second he had left with her) later on the night when she woke up and heard some rustling in Marissa’s room. Wasn’t she supposed to be napping too, she thought to herself as she got up lazily and crossed the bathroom that joined their bedrooms.
When she heard the door creaking she couldn’t disguise her dismay when Summer stepped out of the bedroom. 
“Coop, what are up to? It’s only seven and we are not supposed to leave until around midnight. Why are you changing?” She asked when she saw that Marissa had been struggling to get inside a white dress and was now panting from the effort, having just stopped trying. 
“I… I was just trying it on…” Marissa replied with a frustrated sigh. 
“Come on, Coop, why doing it with the sandals on and all… You’re more of a dress up and go girl and we both know it… Go get some rest because if you don’t, you’ll end up wanting to come home early…” Summer said waving her friend. 
“I can’t! I can’t get in or easily out of this goddamned dress! It either stays stuck in my boobs or in my thighs…” She said, sitting down, looking tired.
“I wasn’t going to say it because you worry too much and all but I did think Ian was treating you good seeing as you put on some weight… Didn’t you notice?” Marissa shrugged. “Let me help you out…” 
When they were done with the dress, Marissa tried her best to dismiss Summer but her friend kept coming up with one new subject after the other and she just wouldn’t leave her bedroom. Her phone buzzed. 
A text from Ryan. She knew it. “It’s cold in here. Won’t you come? Love u. Ryan.” Oh God, she thought, letting out a heavy sigh. They had arranged to meet quickly at the pier so they could hang out alone for a while. She missed him. She just wanted to drop everything and go meet him. 
“What is it? Ian’s texting you?” Summer asked, walking towards Marissa. She knew Marissa was trying to get rid of her so she could go wherever she was planning to go and she did have lots of suspicion about who she was gonna meet wherever she went. This had been going too far and it was time Marissa came out with the truth, she thought to herself. Even if it was for her to help with the cover up story. She couldn’t stand being left out of the loop, she thought to herself.
“No. It was just Dad. Saying he and Hailey have arrived safely.” She said, trying to sound relaxed, as she locked the phone.
“Oh, come on, Coop! I know you weren’t trying on that dress as I also know that this text you just got isn’t from Jimmy! I’m your best friend! Just confess you were sneaking out to meet Ryan! I’m 100% sure of that so don’t you dare trying to lie to me.”
Marissa kept looking at her feet.
“Do I need to spell it out for you every time? I’m your best friend! I’ll help you run away and marry him in Vegas if that’s the plan! Just tell me what’s going on, honey.” 
“I’m so completely in love with him, Sum. We are so in love and so happy together that I’m afraid something terrible will happen and end all of it.” Marissa said, her eyes wide as she looked up to her friend.
“Something terrible will happen, that’s a sure thing. Ian’s coming, right? How do you guys expect it not to turn ugly when he gets here?”
“I’m supposed to break up with him… I’m not going to mention Ryan or anything at first. He’ll probably know, seeing as he knows a little about our past but he’ll have to guess about that, I really don’t need to rub that in his face now or never. He doesn’t deserve this.” 
“It’s gonna be awful.” 
“I know, I know…” She said, shaking her head as if to push the thought away. “The only moments I don’t feel terribly guilty is when I’m with Ryan but as soon as we part, all I can think is about the gravity of what we are doing to Ian, I mean, he’s helped me so much…” 
“Speaking of Ryan, now that the cat’s out of the bag, you should either go meet him or text him to meet up at the Bait Shop…”  
“I don’t know… I don’t know if I want us to go all Fantastic Four so soon… Like I said, I’m afraid everybody will have their hopes up and then something happens and we don’t work out again…” 
“Apart from Ian, what could possibly happen? Aren’t you happy with him? Aren’t you resolved to stay?”
“I’m living in the present, Sum. Yes, I am happy with him. Yes, I’m madly in love with him. But… About staying in Newport I did tell him I was staying when I really don’t know for sure, so… It’s too soon…. Being okay together, not fighting, I want to see how it plays out…”  
“So you’re gonna bail on the Bait Shop and I can’t tell Seth…” Summer said, sounding slightly frustrated.
“Kind of and no. I’m gonna be a little late for the Bait Shop, that’s all. And if you excuse me, I gotta hurry; we were supposed to meet at the pier half an hour ago.” She said as she walked to her wardrobe to pick something to wear. She decided on flats a pair of black leggings, a pink satin cami and a soft black leather jacket.
“Go ahead, I’ll just sit by and chat until you leave.” Summer said. She took a deep breath. “Just… Just don’t go all Thanksgivings on him again, ok? He was in hell after you left…” 
Marissa limited herself to nodding, a guilty look on her face as she also remembered Seth telling her off about the same thing. She could only imagine how Ryan had been. 
As Marissa shimmied out of the pajamas she had put on after she had been rescued from the dress, Summer couldn’t avoid staring. Marissa’s flat belly was gone. As in GONE. She had a small swell at the place where nothing existed before. She had noticed she had put on some weight but that had happened before and it had never migrated to her friend’s belly before which would usually cause her some envy, she thought to herself. However, seeing as her friend was so susceptible to eating disorders she decided not to mention the words weight and gain twice at the same night.
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“I thought you had bailed on me…” he said, rushing forward to embrace her as she walked towards him. 
“I didn’t… There’s been a little problem at home…”
“Julie?” 
“Nope. Sum. She knows. Sorry. She caught me getting ready to leave, I couldn’t make up a story quick enough…” 
“It’s okay. She would find out, sooner or later…” 
“God, I missed you.” He said, still holding her, smelling the sweet scent that came from her hair.
“And I missed you. Look at us. So cute.” She said, looking up to meet his eyes. 
Her loving stare always made his heart skip a beat.
“I love you, you know that, right?” 
“Right.” She said smiling to him.
“No matter what happens, keep that in mind.” 
“I will. I love you too. So much more than I did before, you have no idea how much…” 
They kissed passionately. He felt like he was living a dream, which made him terrified of the necessary waking up that was supposed to happen in two days time, when Ian would arrive. 
They stood at the pier, silently for a while, staring at the sea and the sky and holding hands until he broke the quiet with something that had been stirring in his mind. 
“Has he called you today?” He asked referring to Ian. 
“He does it daily, Ryan…”
“Have you given him any clue?” 
“I can’t, Ryan… I don’t really know how to do this any other way than telling him we’re off… And I can’t do it on the phone, I’m sorry.” 
He fell silent, wondering about the depth of her feelings for this guy. Wondering if her will to stay with him would quaver when Ian arrived, with all his gentleman manners and the obvious love that he too felt for her written all over his eyes.
His silence scared her. She knew he doubted her resolve to be with him. And, due to their old and recent past she couldn’t really blame him for that. She maybe had not figured out all the details about how they were going to be together, but she did believe they could make it work even if it was long distance. She didn’t feel like moving back to Newport because everything and everywhere reminded her of how unhappy she had been here, however, she wanted to be with him, no matter what. She remembered very well the actual pain she felt when she was away from him and all his love, his protection, his care.
“I love you, Ryan. I just want what is best for us both. I swear I’m not stalling. I’m going to tell him everything as soon as he gets here.” She said, looking into his eyes.