AUTHORS NOTE:

Hello all! Now, while I've decided to continue this story, I've come to the conclusion that I want to make it a separate story. After all, what happens in Chino, stays in 'Chino'. Wow. That was just a horrid joke, wasn't it? Anyway, tune in for the sequel, 'Newport Living Anyone want a preview? Oh well, I'm giving you one anyway.

He was just about to throw her onto his bed when the pool house door opened.

"Whoa. I do not need to see that," Seth made an exaggerated point of looking away and gagging. Ryan broke the kiss, and turned angrily to his friend.

"What do you want Seth," he said through clenched teeth, making it painfully obvious that he wanted to be alone with Taylor.

"Oh, the rents want to know if you're ok. They're all afraid that inviting your girlfriend over this soon was 'encroaching on your life' too much." He made air quotes, something he seemed to have picked up from Summer

"I thought you invited me over?" Taylor's arms fell away from him, and she stepped back to get a better angle on his face.

"Sorry, dude, didn't know it was a secret," Seth muttered, backing out of the door. "I'll just leave you two alone…"

When he was gone, Ryan stopped glaring, and looked back at Taylor. "I did invite you. Sandy and Kirsten just… gave me the idea."She folded her arms over her stomach and lifted one eyebrow. "I wasn't sure if you wanted to meet the people who adopted me." She continued her stare. "I… thought you'd be overwhelmed?" He just wanted her to stop that look.

"No, you were afraid, because that's what you do. I lived with you for a month and a half, and you kicked me out when you thought I might stay." She rolled her eyes, and spun to sit on his bed wearily. "I swear, Ryan, you're going to have to get over the whole 'fear of commitment' thing sometime. Because I don't know how many times I'm going to keep letting it slide."

Ryan had no idea how to stop this train wreck. This happened all the time. Girls in Newport were so dramatic. They got upset over everything. He flashed back to the time right before school when Marissa would suddenly get angry for no apparent reason. He just needed to know what to say to make her feel better. Maybe he should buy her flowers. Did girls in Newport consider flowers romantic, or would he have to spring for a diamond or something?

sigh, I'm so dramatic…

Anyway, I'd like to thank everyone who read, especially those who stayed with it the whole time. It was so much fun writing a non-one-shot (I guess it would just be easier to call it a chapter story). Oh well. I hope you enjoyed, and I hope you enjoy 'Newport Living' too, if I ever get around to writing it…

-xVenus