Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the OC.

A/N: So this is my new story. I know it took a lot longer than I said to get it up, but I didn't start writing until last week as I have been extremely busy with school and life in general.

I'm really excited about this story – I feel it could be good once I get into it, and I hope you enjoy too!

PROLOGUE

When Seth Cohen was offered a dream position in Chicago, there was no way he was going to refuse. Even the short amount of time to get ready and leave his Manhattan apartment for a year wasn't going to deter him. He would just have to sign on to a leasing agent and rent the apartment out for a year while he was away. Then he would return, the other person would leave and things would go on as normal.

He wasn't even that worried when he was three days from leaving and still hadn't signed up with anyone. It was only in his most stressed moments that he began to worry about not finding anyone and his apartment going to ruins. It was in these times of most stress that he confessed to his friend Lena, and Lena, with all her wisdom and experience, came up with the perfect solution. Don't go through a stupid agency, instead, Lena would ask her friend Summer if she wanted it, because she was in desperate need of a new apartment. Seth, having enough things to worry about, enthusiastically agreed – after all, anyone who was a friend of Lena's was a friend of Seth's.

Since he had to go to some farewell function that night, he just gave Lena the keys to show her friend around the apartment, and it was no surprise that Summer loved it. After all, it was the best apartment in the city and was in easy walking distance to most places. Lena called Seth and told him the good news, and he had his first conversation with Summer.

They made a loose arrangement – nothing on paper, because at the time, it didn't really seem necessary. Summer wasn't allowed to paint the apartment or make any permanent changes, but apart from that, she could go crazy. She could move in on the Thursday, which was only three days away, and she knew she had exactly one year before she had to hand back the keys. Seth, with a number of functions to attend, didn't even get a chance to meet Summer, but this didn't matter because everything was under control.

On the Wednesday night, when Seth was on his way to the airport, he dropped his keys off at Lena's while he was saying goodbye, and he told her to let him know if there was any problems. Then he went to JFK airport and boarded a plane to the Windy City.

Summer moved in and couldn't believe her luck – she had a great apartment in the middle of the city and wasn't even paying top dollar. She hadn't met this Seth Cohen who apparently owned the apartment, but she loved him for giving her this opportunity.

Seth too was feeling great affection for Summer Roberts, who had saved him from messy contracts with sleazy leasing agents – it was a great deal for both of them.

Then, two weeks later, the company Seth was working for declared bankruptcy, and the architectural contract he was working on was terminated. His dream one year job in Chicago was ruined, and he had to trek back to New York with his tail between his legs. Of course he still had a job with his old work, but now there was the problem of the apartment.

Since there was no formal arrangement signed, Seth was sure he could just apologise to Summer, explain the mix up and she would happily move. Obviously he had never met Summer Roberts. Summer, who was extremely independent, fierce and prone to rage blackouts, was not willing to let this apartment slide. She was already in love. And since there was no formal arrangement signed, he had no right to just kick her out.

Seth arrived at two am, knocking and swearing, and when Summer heard what he wanted, she slammed the door in his face. The nerve of that self-righteous, arrogant bastard, she thought, but he didn't leave that easily.

Lena, the mediator in this situation, was called over at 4 in the morning to resolve the matter, and only one solution seemed plausible. They would both have to share the apartment.

The look of shock on both their faces when this was suggested was unbeatable; shock, mingled with horror, anger and disgust. But since no one else could think of anything, this is what happened.

Seth moved his stuff into the master bedroom, and Summer unwillingly moved into the slightly smaller guest room. They would share the grocery shopping and split the bills down the middle. But they wouldn't like it.

And the second the year was up, Summer was out. Seth would only have to put up with this invasion of his apartment for one year. Then he was free. But in the meantime, their hatred of each other was bound to become an issue.

CHAPTER 1: WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO?

Seth was woken up way too early for the third morning in a row, and lay in bed cursing the world and everyone in it. Summer Roberts, his unbearable new roommate, was blow drying her hair in the next room at a time where no one was supposed to be up, not even the birds. He put his pillow over his head and attempted to block the noise out but it was to no use. His anger was going to keep him awake no matter how quiet the house got.

He stumbled out of bed and checked his appearance in the mirror. Hair was sticking out all over the place; the dark circles under his eyes were getting bigger and his expression was becoming moodier. He should never have listened to Lena, his stupid best friend, or ex-best friend in the mood he was in now, when she offered him the easy solution. This most certainly wasn't the easy solution.

He walked into the bathroom and saw Summer putting the finishing touches on her make-up, her hair now perfectly styled, which was weird considering it was only 7 o'clock in the morning. Who got up that early anyway?

"Oh. Hey Cohen."

"I need to use the bathroom."

"No 'hi Summer, how's it going?'"

"It's too early in the morning for pleasantries."

"Get over it Cohen. It's 7; half of America's up by now."

"Not me. Or I shouldn't be anyway."

"You're going to have to get used to it – I'm not changing my routine. You haven't seen my hair without a blow dry; no one should have to put up with that."

Despite his intense anger, Seth was able to appreciate this comment and it almost made him liven up. Almost. As Summer left the bathroom, Seth noticed hairs all over the counter top and tubes of cream everywhere. Why anyone needed six different moisturisers was beyond him, and the girliness of his bathroom was enough to continue his foul mood well into the morning.

He got to work, his coat and scarf white from a light morning snow, and made a point of ignoring Lena as he sat down to his desk. His distracted mood showed in his morning's work, and he was sent home at lunch time to relax – his boss was certain his failed job had caused him to go crazy. He didn't know that the job had nothing to do with it – it was all his new roommate.

Similarly, Summer sat at her desk wondering how Seth Cohen could be such a jerk. She wasn't trying to be annoying, she just had her morning routine. If he didn't stay up so late at night watching porn, he wouldn't be so tired in the morning. All she was trying to be was pleasant, but soon she would give up if this was the way he was behaving.

When she looked at the clock she realised she was almost late to meet Lena for lunch, and her building was ten minutes away; she would have to run to make it there on time. She quickly left the office and moved swiftly down the New York City sidewalks.

As she approached the building, she saw a man in a coat with his collar sticking up, shielding him from the wind, and a grey scarf. He was looking the other way, and obviously didn't notice her, so when she was about to walk past him he turned around sharply, nearly knocking Summer right to the ground.

"Wow, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you the-" Seth stopped when he saw who he just bumped, and his hand – which was still clasping her arm tightly – immediately fell. "Summer, what are you doing here?"

Summer, still startled at her close call, found it hard to speak. "Me? What are you doing jerk? Do you make a habit out of hitting poor defenceless women?"

"I was looking the other way!"

"Whatever. I'm meeting Lena – as if I'd come to see you." With that she stormed off into the building and Seth was left wondering what had happened.

If this hot-cold action was going to happen for the whole year, he didn't know if he'd survive.

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"I can't do it Lena."

"Do what?"

"Live there – with Seth. I can't do it."

"And we're back to the only topic you've talked about for the last hour."

"I can't help it – I hate him."

"Has he done anything in particular to make you hate him?"

"For a start, he keeps leaving the toilet seat up. It's gross. And the other day, he ate Chinese on the couch and some of it fell, and it took him like an hour to clean it up. And he keeps hogging the TV with lame Will Ferrell movies. I missed P.S I Love You because of some stupid crap he had on."

Slightly amused, Lena continued, "Anything else?"

"It goes on forever. He used my moisturiser the other day because his skin was dry. And he complains that I wake him up every morning, but I'm just doing my morning routine."

"It sounds to me like you're just looking at things to get angry at Seth for."

"No way. I'm not sure I can live this way for a whole year. I won't do it."

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When Seth and Summer arrived home after work that night, they had both cooled down considerably from their argument that morning – whatever it was about this time. Seth made dinner and offered some to his new roommate, who accepted gladly. They sat on the lounge together and watched the news, before a movie started that they were both interested in. For a while things were going really well and they were even what you would consider friendly towards each other. Then Seth put his feet up on the coffee table, which was apparently a mistake.

"Cohen, what are you doing?"

"What do you mean? I do this all the time."

"It's gross."

"As if. Anyway, it's my furniture."

"I don't want to live in a house that has dirty feet marks everywhere. I put my food on that table."

"On plates."

"Speaking of which, can you stop leaving food scraps everywhere? We'll get rats. It took me ages to clean up your mess yesterday."

"I didn't realise I moved back in with my mother. I'm sick of this, I'm going to bed."

All friendliness was forgotten once again as Seth stormed off to the bedroom and turned his iPod speakers up extra loud to piss her off. What really annoyed him was the way she tried to boss him around in his own apartment, but at the same time, he was oddly turned on. He had never had a girlfriend that actually cared about being clean, and seeing Summer putting so much attention into her appearance and the apartment was a nice change. Now if only she could stop being such a bitch, they could actually grow to like each other.

Over in the other bedroom, Summer was trying to read without much success. Seth had put his music up extra loud to annoy her, and it was working. She banged on his wall again, and she did notice the music quieten down a tiny bit. She sighed and put her arms behind her head, sighing as she resigned to her fate. This was going to be a long year. And if the weird attraction she felt towards Seth – with his corkscrew curls and oddly attractive dimples – continued, it was going to be an interesting one as well.

A/N: Just a very quick note: if you want me to continue this story can you please let me know? I don't want to be writing a story that no one's reading, so if you enjoyed it, please please please review. They would be greatly appreciated and make my day. Also, any suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks!