according to kristin of e online
I'm told that Marissa is going to leave Harbor early in the season and transfer to the local public school, Newport Union High, hoping to make a fresh start and get away from all the craziness surrounding Trey's shooting. Unfortunately for Coop, word travels fast in the O.C. But not before Marissa makes a few new friends, a skater named Johnny, his girlfriend Casey and their boy Chili, who's definitely into Marissa. I think that may be what Josh Schwartz meant when he told me "the forces of fate" will try to pull Marissa and Ryan apart this season. At the Fox party, Josh also said that the Harbor School's new dean (played by Eric Mabius) feels Ry and Marissa aren't fit for Harbor, but I think Ryan sticks around after Sandy fights for him.