Rylor

Rylor is the het ship between Ryan Atwood and Taylor Townsend from The O.C. fandom.

Season 3
Ryan and Taylor attended the same high school for three years, but chances are they never had any interactions. In any case, given that Taylor wanted the post of head of school activities for Marissa, Ryan's girlfriend (who, however, never took the job as seriously as she did) and that taking advantage of the fact that she had been involved in a firefight, she made sure to have her expelled it is almost certain that neither of them had a good opinion of the other.

Ryan is later expelled in turn by disciplinarian Jack Ass who is having an illicit relationship with Taylor. Summer and Seth, however, find out and Sandy (Seth's father and adoptive father of Ryan) then blackmails him forcing him to readmit Ryan and go to work elsewhere. Taylor doesn't seem to resent Ryan, but still forces him to attend a school event organized by her, telling him that he can't afford absences.

Taylor also forces him and Seth to help her prepare the gym for students to spend the night. Ryan is annoyed by this, but doesn't complain unlike Seth and Summer. Even later Ryan seems to tolerate Taylor better than his other friends. Ryan later realizes that Taylor has taken a crush on Seth and the girl even comes to ask him about the relationship with Summer of the latter.

The blond kindly tries to make her understand that she has no chance, but she doesn't seem to care. Though he seems a little uncomfortable with the situation, Ryan doesn't seem overly concerned.

Following Seth's statement, Ryan comes to consider Taylor a friend, but it is unknown how true this is. However, it's likely that after Taylor helps him, Summer, and Seth readmit Marissa, he really starts to feel that way. At least Taylor got close enough to go get her prom picture at Seth and Ryan's house. Taylor says she's happy that Ryan and Seth found a girl to take to prom (they broke up with Marissa and Summer). Marissa's date Kevin steals the money Taylor raised for the after party. Ryan when he hears her screaming worries about her and runs to her to ask her what's going on and when he finds out what happened to her he immediately suspects Kevin and tells her not to call the police because he will recover her money. Taylor asks him how he plans to do it, but he doesn't answer. However, in the end he succeeds in the enterprise and it is likely that Taylor is very grateful to him.

Season 4
The night after graduation, Ryan and Marissa are involved in a car accident caused by Kevin and while Ryan is saved, Marissa dies. This upsets him so much that he gives up going to college and stays to live in Orange County. Taylor instead goes to the Sorbonne, but being so far from her only friends she can't fight her emotional addiction and is seduced by a Frenchman, named Henri-Michel and after just two weeks of knowing him, she gets to marry him. After a while, the girl realizes that she has committed a stupid thing and returns to Orange County to then file for divorce. Knowing that her mother won't be supportive in the slightest, Taylor doesn't go back to her house, but hangs around Newport. Taylor at one point hides from the Cohens (Seth's parents and Ryan's adoptive parents), but when he finds out, Ryan pays no attention to having other things on his mind (Sandy took over the defense of Kevin that caused the accident that killed Marissa).

Taylor proves to be a good prophet: her mother becomes enraged when she discovers that her daughter has a divorce in progress at that age and fills her with abuse, ordering her not to come home anymore, so the girl can do nothing but go back to the Cohen. Kirsten Cohen doesn't have the heart to send her out onto the street, so she offers to put her up for a while, and find her accommodation.

"It' just that ... I'don't have anyone else. That's kind of why I married a Frenchman in the first place. My mom hates, I don't know my dad, and last year was the first I have friends. All of a sudden, I'm by myself in a foreign country and I meet this guy who says he loves me.  He wants take care of me. And one too many bottles of Chateau Margaux and a view from the Eiffel Tower and ... Why not? It's how Tom wooed Katie, why not me?"

- Taylor explains to Ryan how she ended up getting married. Ryan finds work in a bar and decides that he will go to university the following year, while Taylor, since Summer's father Neil moves to Seattle, moves into her friend's old room. Given that Henri-Michel refuses to grant her a divorce and wants to convince her to return to France with him, Taylor wants someone to be close to her for fear of giving in and since Seth went to Providence to find Summer, she falls back on Ryan. The young Atwood initially does not want to get in the middle of that story, but in the end he is convinced. Taylor's husband doesn't show up, but sends a lawyer who tells her that Henri-Michel won't grant her a divorce unless Taylor's infidelity is proven, so Taylor invents that Ryan is her lover (as the conversation takes place in French, he doesn't understand a word of what his former classmate and the lawyer are saying). Taylor then tries to get Ryan to sign a document written in French in which he declares that her claims are true, but he decides to make sure what the girl wants him to sign and she explains the situation, but he refuses to sign (probably not wanting to do something illegal). Taylor doesn't mind, but she complains of her loneliness and Ryan is affected. After talking with Sandy, the blond decides to help Taylor, joins her and gives her a kiss, so the lawyer is convinced that she was telling the truth and walks away. That night Taylor makes Ryan a dessert to thank him. The two then chat. This is how Taylor falls in love with Ryan, and invents an excuse to visit him. Seeing him shirtless she is enchanted by him and she again expresses her gratitude to him. The girl then asks Seth to arrange a date with his adoptive brother. The boy is not too convinced of her, and tries to dissuade her by telling her that Ryan has problems with insomnia, but Taylor sees it as an opportunity to hook him up. Young Townsend poses as an expert in sleep disorders, and Ryan welcomes her help (mostly because she doesn't take no for an answer). In the end he seems to appreciate her help and she is thrilled. Seth realizes what her friend is trying to do and forces her to stop, but she refuses. He later she prepares the room for him in a clear attempt to seduce him. Ryan begins to suspect Taylor's true intentions and she manages to dissuade him. Finally Ryan thanks Taylor and says he may be right about the cause of her insomnia (no more revenge on Kevin Volchok), but tells her he thinks he has to fix it himself. The girl feels bad about it, and she, depressed, complains about it with an acquaintance who suggests she sticks to Ryan as much as possible and take advantage of her beauty.

The young Townsend decides to follow this advice and shows up at a fundraiser organized by the Cohens with a very beautiful dress and Ryan seems struck by her charm. The two then dance and reminisce about high school, joking that they were enemies at first. Seth sees them and goes to talk to Ryan, and during the talk he says that there will never be anything between him and Taylor; she hears it, feels bad and she goes away.

Ryan: Taylor, Taylor. ''Hold on. Let me explain.''

Taylor: ''I think you were pretty clear, Ryan. And yes, I lied when you asked me if I liked you but... What was I thinking? I mean, you and me? It's just-- I must be totally crazy.''

Ryan: You're not crazy, okay?

Taylor: Ryan, I pretend to be a sleep therapist to seduce you.

Ryan: That was crazy.

Taylor: Don't worry. Next week, I'll be obsessed with a guy who gives me change for parking.

Ryan: ''What I said has absolutely nothing to do with you, okay? It's just...''

Taylor: ''What? For the longest time all you could feel was your desire to kill Volchok? Now that's gone, so you feel empty? Can't fell anything? Least of all for me?''

Ryan: How do you keep doing that?

Taylor: Doing what?

Ryan: That. You keep telling me what I'm thinking before I feel it.

Taylor: ''Beacause I think about you. You know, I want you to be happy. And I think that, if you gave it a chance, you might feel something too.''

Ryan: Taylor...

Taylor: Are you gonna tell me that you really lime me as a friend?

Ryan: ''Maybe. [Taylor leaves] How does she do that?'' - Ryan and Taylor argue.

Ryan then follows her and tries to explain, but she already knows everything he intends to tell her and says she would like to see him happy and that she is sure he has a lot to offer a woman, but when she realizes that he fears ruining their friendship goes away.

Ryan: ''Hold on. Look, I gotta say something. I think you've got this idea that you're this strange person that has to trick people into liking her. It's not true. You're amazing.''

Taylor: Oh, my God, you just did it to me.

Ryan: Did what?

Taylor: ''Said exactly what I was feeling. Well, except for the "amazing" part.''

Ryan: ''Well, it's true. And honestly, you know, I wish I did feel something.''

Taylor: Kiss me.

Ryan: What?

Taylor: ''I think there's something there. And I think that, if you, kiss me, you feel it too.''

Ryan: I think we already did that.

Taylor: No. ''You kissed me. I didn't kiss you. Come on, just... If you don't feel anything, I will never mention it again. That's the best deal you'll ever get. Asks Seth. Just one kiss.''

Ryan'': One kiss. One kiss.''

Taylor: Okay.

Ryan: Okay.

[They kiss, Ryan says nothing, Taylor leaves]

- Ryan and Taylor's test kiss Taylor tries to give Ryan some herbal tea to sleep through Seth, but after talking to Sandy he urges her not to give up and she gives it to him in person. The two then clarify and this time it is Ryan who immediately understands what Taylor thinks and says that he considers her a beautiful person and that he is sorry for not feeling anything for her. At that point Taylor asks him for a kiss, telling him that if he doesn't feel anything he will let it go, but after the kiss he says nothing and Taylor goes away sad. Once she's gone Ryan realizes he likes her. Later, thanks to the herbal tea, Ryan falls asleep. Soon Ryan becomes obsessed with the thought of Taylor and begins to go dazed, imagining her in sexy and provocative attitudes in the most disparate moments. Since Seth has gone to see Summer, Ryan talks about it with Kirsten who realizes that her son can't stop thinking about her. Ryan is hesitant to start a relationship with someone like Taylor, but Kirsten urges him to at least give it a try. When she bumps into Taylor shortly afterwards they both seem uncomfortable and when he asks her out on a date, Taylor is surprised, but happily accepts. In the evening the two come close to kissing, but Ryan pulls back at the last minute and tries to justify himself by saying that the situation is strange, but the girl feels bad. At that point Ryan talks to Sandy and he advises him to tell Taylor the truth, which is that perhaps he has not yet recovered from Marissa's death and that for now he only wants to be friends with her, advice that Ryan chooses to follow.

To make the boy jealous, Taylor bribes a homosexual and in fact he seems annoyed to see them together. Taylor's sexy visions continue and taking advantage of Seth's return who wants to talk to Summer, she rushes to her house where Kaitlin (Marissa's sister, also a guest at the Roberts house, has organized a party), where Ryan discovers the cheating of Taylor.

Ryan: What are you doing paying your gay friend to pretend he's in love with you?

Taylor: ''Well, what if I did? What if I did rent a homosexual for the evening? And pay him with rare collectibles from Asian cinema? What difference does it make to you?''

Ryan: It's a little strange.

Taylor: Well, so am I. Which is why you ran away from me last night.

Ryan: No, it wasn't because you're strange.

Taylor: You don't find me strange?

Ryan: ''No, I do, but it's not why I took off. Look, I'm not really ready for a relationship right now. Or a girlfriend''.

Taylor: ''Girlfriend? Cart, horse. Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself there? Well, I mean, just because I wanna use yout body as a jungle gym doesn't mean that we have get married.''

Ryan: I see.

Taylor: ''My divorce papers aren't even dry yet. Look, you're a sweet, smart, great guy, Ryan Atwood. And hot. Did I mention hot? So whatever happens, happens.''

Ryan: Taylor, that's --

Taylor: ''Normal? Yeah. I have my moments.''

- Ryan and Taylor make up their minds. Finding Taylor, Ryan asks her for an explanation and later tells her that he is not ready to have an affair and Taylor replies that she does not intend to try to make him her second husband, so the two decide to try to have a simple relationship without commitment and later they play Seven Minutes in Heaven. The two end up kissing for longer. When Chrismukkah (the Cohens' hybrid version of Christmas and Hannukah) arrives, Ryan isn't sure whether to invite Taylor. The girl is very happy when the holidays arrive because she is sure that Ryan will invite her and she buys a present for him. When he goes to bring it to her, the boy is decorating the roof and acts cold with her and tells her that he is not sure if it is the time to invite her since they have been together for a short time and then a fight ensues in which they fall from the ladder and end up in a coma. The two dream of being in an alternate reality and when they find each other, Taylor is relieved and embraces the blond then devising a plan on how to return to their world. When Taylor speculates that Marissa is still alive in that world, she realizes that Ryan might want to stay there, and while it saddens her, she doesn't hold him back. In short Ryan discovers the opposite: in that world Marissa died three years earlier and Taylor who followed him tries to comfort him. The two eventually wake up and return to their own world.. Eventually the two celebrate together with the Cohens and Coopers in the hospital. The experience brings them closer, so for New Years, Ryan decides to take Taylor to Las Vegas without saying anything to surprise her and she buys herself a sexy outfit to surprise him. Taylor fears making a bad impression, but it doesn't happen. On the way Ryan apologizes and explains how and why Seth crashed and promised to disappear as soon as they arrive in Las Vegas and pay them a luxury room. Taylor however says that she wants their first time together to be special and therefore it is better not to have sex that night because she does not feel like it. Seth sees the pregnancy test but Taylor claims it as her own, wanting Summer to face the conversation face-to-face when she feels ready. Seth overhears the conversation between Ryan and Taylor and then informs Ryan of the test, which Summer does in the meantime, but doesn't have the courage to look and puts it back in the bag that is stolen from her. The four then give chase and catch up with the thief at an alien-themed costume party, where the two couples split up. When Taylor realizes that Ryan thinks the pregnant one is her and gets angry because she thinks he thinks she's a slut, so she starts drinking and flirting with a random guy, but Ryan finds her and later Summer tells him that the test was hers. The two girls then leave, but regret having left their boyfriends there who in the meantime retrieve the bag. Back in Newport, Ryan visits Taylor and finds her in her underwear and they have sex. Frank, Ryan's father gets out of jail and goes looking for his son, and when he finds out, Ryan decides not to meet him for the moment. The boy talks about it with Taylor and the girl gives him her opinion of her, trying to convince him to meet him.

Eventually Ryan agrees to invite him to dinner at the Cohens' and asks Taylor to come as well, who is nervous about having to be his girlfriend for the first time on an important occasion for him. The dinner goes well and Frank seems to like Taylor, but when it turns out that in order to get Ryan to talk to him, Frank had been faking cancer. Sandy finds out and ends up punching him. Taylor then asks Ryan how he's doing and he says he's sorry she had to go through this, but she replies that she was happy and that it was their first big moment as a couple.

The triangle
Taylor creates a scrapbook for her and Ryan, but after she brings it to her she realizes that her ex-husband has written an erotic novel based on their relationship and is obviously upset. At first she plans not to tell Ryan but then she tells him and begs him not to read it and he promises to. However, the book has an extraordinary success and in the end Ryan decides to read it and worse still he runs into Henri-Michel who has gone to America for a copy-signing tour. Taylor discovers that Ryan has read the novel and he apologizes, but also tells her that he met the author; Ryan knows that many events in the book are pure fabrication, but Taylor comes to fear that he wants to leave her and he says nothing.

Ryan: Why you tell him I was writing a book?

Taylor: What?

Ryan: You couldn't tell him the truth, that I work at a Mexican restaurant?

Taylor: ''Okay, Ryan, what did you expect me to do? Because you said about three words all night, then you just run away. Henri asked if you were on medication.''

Ryan: You care about his opinion?

Taylor: ''Yes! Yes, I do, because I could see him sitting there judging you an I hated it. I wanted him to know how smart you were. Maybe it was wrong. But this story just came spilling out of me.''

Ryan: ''You lied to make me look good, I get that. But the thing is, I think part of you wishes it were true.''

Taylor: ''No, Ryan, please. I just want you to be yourself.''

Ryan: ''I don't know. I think this is what we 've know from the beginning.''

Taylor: ''What? What's that?''

Ryan: We're different.

Taylor: ''So what? Everyone's different. It's what makes the world beatiful, right? Okay, Ryan, I'm sorry. What do you want me to do to make it better?''

Ryan: I think I should go.

- Ryan and Taylor fight over her lies. Eventually Taylor goes to talk to her ex, but he says he understands she doesn't want him anymore. Henri-Michel says he's ready to help her fix it by talking to Ryan. The boy agrees to go out to dinner with both of them, but feels uncomfortable, and understands that he has nothing in common with Taylor unlike the French. In the end Ryan walks away and Taylor is pissed off, thinking she can't get over the story in the book. Ryan then sets about studying the stuff that Taylor likes. Sandy finds out and goads his son to tell his girlfriend about this. Ryan then explains the truth to Taylor who tells him she likes him the way he is and regrets agreeing to go on a talk show with her ex-husband, but Ryan tells her he's okay with it, but when he discovers that Taylor has said that he too is interested in topics similar to theirs, he is offended and when she says that she did it to make him look good. The girl apologizes, but Ryan walks away. Ryan vents again with Sandy who gives him good advice, but in the meantime the Frenchman tries to hang up Taylor. Ryan then takes to avoiding Taylor, determined not to see her until her ex-husband leaves. However, he has decided to take a house in Newport and asks Taylor to move in with him and the desperate girl thinks she will accept, thinking that Ryan no longer wants her and therefore could try to mend with the writer. Summer meets Ryan and asks him about Seth, and the two also talk about Taylor and it is the girl who tells him that the Frenchman is looking for a house in Newport. Knowing that Taylor's ex-husband tries to win her back, Ryan buys her a present on Kaitlin's advice, but when he goes to the hotel he doesn't find her, however Henri-Michel promises to deliver the gift and does so. Taylor isn't particularly impressed, but Ryan enlists Summer's help, and she lures Taylor into her home with a trick. When the girl arrives, she finds Ryan apologizing to her, but he is unable to say "I love you" and the girl leaves saying that tomorrow Henri-Michel will read in public a poem that he dedicated to her. However, Summer makes her understand that by her standards Ryan has done a lot (he's never been good at expressing his feelings).

"Three little words I'm not able to say,

but Taylor this is what I can tell you today.

Though I can't say those words to you tonight,

please, stick with me, 'cause I feel someday I might".

- The poem written by Ryan for Taylor.

This makes her reevaluate the gift and in the end Ryan decides to make a grand gesture by writing a poem to Taylor in turn and reading it to her in front of everyone in the bookstore, and Henri-Michel wanting to behave with loyalty by letting Taylor choose who to be with allows him to read it. Ryan lacks courage after a while, but Taylor reads the rest for him and, moved, chooses him. Henri-Michel understands this and decides to leave, admitting his defeat with great maturity.

The break
Taylor: ''When Henri-Michel would tell me he loved me it was like the whole world melted away. Those words just have more power over me than anything. It' scary how much I want-- How much I need to hear them.''

Ryan: Well, if that's important to you--

Taylor: ''I would never ask you to be able to say that yet. And even if you could, I don't think I'm ready to hear it.''

Ryan: So, what are you saying?

Taylor: ''Until I can be stronger on my own, I don't think I should be with anyone. Including you. I'm sorry.''

Ryan: ''Okay. Actually, that makes sense.''

- Taylor asks Ryan for a break.

That evening, Taylor goes to see Ryan and he tells her that if she cares so much he can also say "I love you", but the girl refuses, because she wants Ryan to tell her when he feels ready and especially at the moment she is not ready to hear those words. In fact, Taylor understood why she was reduced to marrying someone she had known for two weeks: he had told her that he loved her. The affectionless childhood she lived with her mother led the young Townsend to suffer from emotional dependence, which leads her to develop a morbid attachment to anyone who shows her affection and attention. Even though she doesn't want to, Taylor asks Ryan for a break because she doesn't feel ready for a real relationship yet and fears that she will screw everything up and realizes that she has to solve her problems before she can be with anyone.

Ryan and Taylor don't see each other for a week. The girl suffers a lot from the separation and she gets to spy on the blond for seven consecutive hours while she works using binoculars. Ryan is also ill and constantly thinks of the young Townsend who turns to a psychologist to heal from emotional addiction. The therapist suggests she avoid contact with Ryan for a week, and give him back everything she has related to their relationship. Summer points out that she risks losing Ryan, but she retorts that she will surely lose him if she remains under the thumb of anyone who says a kind word to her. Taylor goes there with the doctor who prevents her from talking to Ryan and through the woman begs him to trust her, when he asks her if she wants to leave him. Ryan tells her he can help her get over her crisis, but she runs away.

Although resisting the plea of the one she loves is a big improvement for Talyor, the girl feels guilty. The next day she sees Ryan from a distance and she steals a groundhog costume to get close to him without being recognized. Ryan talks to Sandy about what happened and admits that even if he finds the situation absurd, he accepts it if it's for Taylor's sake. She the latter not being used to her costume, she trips and falls, losing her head and so the young Atwood recognizes her. After apologizing, the girl runs away again, but that evening Ryan joins her and she kisses him and says that she understood that she can't be without him, but asks him if he isn't afraid to be with someone like her and him he replies no.

Fanon
Rylor is a very popular ship one of The O.C.'s most popular ships. It's the main rival of Marissa x Ryan.

While many fans hated Marissa's death, many thought Marissa was a mess and would never change and got tired of the constant push and pull between her and Ryan and/or realized how much their relationship had always been toxic. Taylor is considered a much better companion for Ryan, because even if she has caused him some problems, this has not been a constant of their relationship as the one with Marissa, on the contrary, in many cases Taylor has proved to be an excellent support for Ryan by giving him that stability he's always needed. There are videos and fanfiction dedicated to this ship.

Fandom
FAN FICTION
 * Ryan/Taylor on Fanfiction.net