A/N This will be kind of like my diary story, except it'll be letters that Ryan and Marissa write to each other. The story came to my mind and it just won't go away so I'm writing it. I'll still write for my other story, and eventually all my other stories, but this is something I can write anywhere I am. So the storyline is that Ryan and Marissa are basically pen pals, Ryan living in Chino, Marissa living in Newport. It'll all be explained. Enjoy, and review to tell me what you think.

May 1, 1999

Dear Marissa Cooper,

Just to start things off, this is probably the stupidest project in the history of projects. Seriously...writing each other over summer? It's dumb and I don't like it. I hate to write, hate to talk, hate to read...so this is just wrong. And why couldn't we have waited until the summer actually started, not a month before? It means we have to write for longer. You got stuck with a really unhappy guy. Blame it on our retarded teachers, it was their idea. I don't get the point of this project anyways. I mean, you live in Newport, in Orange County, and I live in Chino. We're from two totally different worlds, can't they see?

Well, I guess I should stop getting mad at you now. It's not your fault. Um, I don't really know what to write about. Do I tell you about myself? I guess that would make sense. We'll be writing to each other for the next couple of months after all. Well, there's really not much to tell. I have an older brother Trey who is fifteen. I'm eleven. My birthday is March 18. I like the color black. I've never had a pet.

What about you? Who are you? Do you think this whole letter thing is a good idea? If so, can you explain it to me? Please?

Until next time,

Ryan Atwood

P.S. Trey says that in Newport you guys have a sport called Water Polo and that it's gay.