A/N: Well this is my first The OC fic, as I normally write Harry Potter ones. Anyway… it is a Summer/Ryan fic and because I live in Australia I have only seen the first the episodes of Season Three. Anyway, here we go!
DISCLAIMER: Only own the plot!
Beautiful DisasterChapter One: The Break Up
Summer stepped up the front steps of the Cohen home with her bestfriend, Marissa. It was a Saturday and really the only day other then Sunday that her, Marissa, Seth and Ryan got to hang out as a group. Marissa now attended the local high school and Ryan had taken up doing his senior year by having a personal tutor.
"So Coop, why didn't your friends come?" asked Summer as she rang the front door bell.
"They are," replied Marissa, "They are just running late."
The door swung open with Ryan standing there fully dressed in jeans and a loose shirt, for once without a white beater on.
"Hey," grinned Marissa hugging him and kissing him on the cheek, "The other's won't be long."
"What others?" replied Ryan standing aside to let Marissa and Summer in.
"Casey, Johnny and Chilly."
"Chilly? Who on earth is Chilly?" asked Summer as Ryan shut the door and led them into the kitchen.
"Oh, his real name is Dennis, but he likes to be called Chilly."
Summer and Ryan shot each other a confused look but looked away in time to have Seth throw them each a muffin Kirsten had cooked.
"The first thing Mum has cooked that tastes nice," said Seth, "It's the truth, right Ryan?"
"Ah, yeah… how come you didn't tell me you invited your friends over for the barbeque?" said Ryan leaning against the island.
"I did. I called and told Seth… didn't you tell Ryan, Seth?" replied Marissa frowning at Seth.
"Oh… yeah, sorry man, I forgot," said Seth, "So, should we get started?"
"Sure," smiled Marissa as the doorbell rang, "Oh, that must be them! You guys get started and I'll get the door."
Marissa walked out of the room, with Ryan watching her in silence. This Summer noticed as Seth grabbed the barbeque utensils.
"You coming Summer?" asked Seth as he reached the door.
"Hmm?" was Summer's reply as she looked away from Ryan, "Sorry Cohen, what was that?"
"I asked if you were coming to help?"
"Me? Cook?" scoffed Summer, "I don't think so."
Seth shrugged his shoulders and walked outside as Marissa entered with her three friends from Newport Union. Summer plastered a smile onto her face and gave a wave, while Ryan just looked at them.
"Ryan, Summer, meet Casey, Johnny and Chilly," introduced Marissa with a smile, "Where's Seth?"
"Outside cooking," said Summer, "You know where to go."
Marissa smiled and led her three friends out, who were looking around the house in slight awe. As soon as they were gone, Summer walked over to Ryan.
"Hey, Ryan, are you okay?"
Ryan looked up at Summer, "I don't know. I wanted to spend today with just the four of us, like old times, but she'll spend the night entertaining her friends and expect me to be happy about it."
Summer nodded understanding him, "Talk to her. Coop will understand."
Seth walked back into kitchen and did a little skip over to where his girlfriend and brother stood.
"Dude, don't tell me your in a moping mood," begged Seth wrapping an arm around Summer's shoulders.
"Cohen!" snapped Summer elbowing him lightly, "I was giving Ryan some advice about Marissa."
"Why? What's going on?"
"Don't worry about it Seth, the steak is burning," sighed Ryan and the three walked out the back.
"Good one Cohen," snapped Summer, "I told you I like my meat medium rare."
OC
Two hours passed with Ryan's prediction coming true. Marissa sat by the pool, laughing and joking around with her new friends. Summer and Seth sat with Ryan eating their food in silence, only after a while Summer couldn't be silent anymore. She stood up and walked over to Marissa, smiled politely at the three people, grabbed Marissa by the arm and dragged her too the Cohen's kitchen.
"Summer, what is going on?" cried Marissa straightening out her singlet top.
"You are ignoring Ryan! As well as Seth and I! I know you have to make your little friend's feel welcome but perhaps you could, oh I don't know, invite us to join you!" cried Summer waving her hands around as she spoke.
"Well, all you have to do is ask to join us. They only know me."
"Yeah, and they'll only know you if you don't pull us into the conversation!"
"Summ-"
"And did it ever occur to you that Ryan might've wanted to spend time alone with you tonight, without your friends. You've spent so much time with them, that you have only seen Ryan once over the past month, not including tonight."
Marissa looked at Summer shocked, who was glaring at her with her hands on her hips, "I-I didn't realise that."
"Yeah, well you do now," snapped Summer walking out of the kitchen and into a silent backyard.
Everyone had heard the argument and looked at Summer expectantly. She ignored their faces and took her seat beside Seth, just as Marissa walked out, looking at Summer with an accusing stare.
"Why are you so worried about Ryan's wellbeing?" demanded Marissa "Is there something going on that I don't know about?"
Summer looked at Marissa in disgust, "Ryan is a friend Marissa. As a friend I worry about him, like I worry about you! But you don't seem to work the same way. If it isn't all about you and your issues, no one else matters!"
Marissa's mouth fell open and she looked at Ryan who was sitting in his seat in silence not saying a word or looking at her. Casey, Johnny and Chilly stood and ran after Marissa as she bolted out of the Cohen residence.
"I hope you're happy!" snapped Casey as she ran.
Once they were gone Seth stood up and walked over to the barbeque to turn the grill off, "Well, that was awkward. You okay Ryan?"
Ryan nodded, "Summer just said what I have been thinking about for the past month. I only really hear from Marissa when she has something bad going on in her life."
Summer stood up and groaned, "I'd better get home or I will most likely find my room trashed. See ya Ryan."
Summer kissed Seth goodbye and left Seth and Ryan to do the cleaning up.
OC
Summer walked into her bedroom to find Marissa pacing around it in a small circle. She looked up at Summer with a tear-streaked face and began babbling away, not letting Summer get a word in.
"I love him and you go and do that to me. You must love seeing me in pain! Can't you see I'm going through hell as it is? I got kicked out of school for saving Ryan's life, I'm poor, and my father has run off… I need Ryan more then ever!" sobbed Marissa, "And now because of you he won't speak to me."
"Coop," replied Summer coolly, "You did that on your own terms. I only opened your eyes to the truth. Now I am tired so could you leave?"
Marissa glared at Summer and left her room, slamming the door behind her. Summer sighed and sat on her bed and flicking her television on. Her favourite show was on, The Valley. Summer rolled onto her stomach but found she wasn't interested in the re run episode. She turned the television off and changed into her pyjamas. Had she done the right thing tonight or was their more too it that she hadn't realized? She couldn't think of any reasons.
With another sigh, Summer climbed under the bed covers and flicked off her lamp before closing her eyes and hoping tomorrow brought better day.
OC
Ryan walked across the path and into the kitchen of the Cohen house. Sandy and Kirsten were chatting over bagels and coffee and Seth was reading an article in the paper.
"Morning," mumbled Ryan before yawning as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Bad night?" replied Sandy with a curious look.
"Bad night would be an understatement," replied Seth, "More like a verbal cat fight."
"What happened?" asked Kirsten leaning on the bench beside the fridge, "Are Summer and Marissa fighting?"
"Over Ryan's wellbeing."
"I thought you were dating Summer?" asked Sandy confused.
"I am, but she is worried about Ryan as a friend. Basically, Marissa got told by Summer and didn't like it one bit."
"Oh Ryan, that's awful," sympathised Kirsten.
"I'm not worried about it," replied Ryan, "Sandy, you are right. I need to stop worrying about Marissa Cooper and focus on myself for a change."
"Are you breaking up with Marissa?" asked Seth surprised.
Ryan nodded, "I'm doing it today."
With that Ryan left the three shocked Cohen's standing in the kitchen as he walked back to his pool house to shower and dress for the day.
"That… I never expected," said Seth pulling out his mobile phone.
"Who are you calling?" asked Sandy frowning.
"Summer."
"Why?"
"So she knows."
"No," said Sandy taking Seth's phone off him, "You stay out of this. Ryan is doing what he knows is right."
OC
Summer bounded down the staircase and into the kitchen. She kissed her father on the cheek and cooked herself some toast, buttered it with jam and headed back up to her room. She had a Science assignment to complete before Wednesday and hadn't done much to it.
She worked silently for two hours before she heard the front door bell ring. She knew her step mother would probably be asleep in her room and Marissa was sulking by the pool. Summer sighed and ran down stairs and opened the door to a grim faced Ryan.
"Hey Ryan," smiled Summer, "Are you here to see Marissa?"
"Yes. Is she here?" replied Ryan walking in.
"Out the back by the pool. I'll leave you two alone," said Summer as Ryan walked past. Summer ran back up stairs to her pink room and began typing up her report and went over some other notes to add more here and there.
As she worked she heard Marissa yell out Ryan's name in desperation, followed by a, "Don't do this!"
Frowning, Summer stood and walked over to her window and saw Ryan walking away from a crying Marissa. Summer left the window and ran down stairs, stopping Ryan in the foyer.
"What is going on?" cried Summer, "Why is she screaming loud enough to wake the dead?"
"I broke up with her," replied Ryan, "I can't handle her anymore. I'm not a push over boyfriend."
With that Ryan left slamming the door behind him. Summer slowly walked across the foyer to too the back doors. She looked over at Marissa and saw her friend sitting on the ground crying into her hands.
Summer walked over to her and knelt down beside her placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Coop?" said Summer softly, "Coop, I'm sorry. I never meant for this to happen."
"Yeah well it did," snapped Marissa, pushing her away before standing up with the dignity she had left, "I'm going to stay at Casey's. At least she doesn't back stab her bestfriend!"
Summer looked at Marissa in shock as she walked away. Summer stood and sat in one of the pool chairs. She pulled her mobile phone out of her pocket and hit Seth's number on speed dial. After three rings it was answered.
"Hey Summer," came Seth's voice.
"Hi… he broke up with her," sighed Summer feeling guilty, "I never meant for that to happen."
"It was bound to happen. You know them. They'll be Ryan and Marissa again by the end of the week."
"I don't know about that, Seth. Ryan sounded pretty final and he actually broke up with her… not them have an argument, not talk for a few days then be snogging by the weekend."
"Well… these things happen. We just have to sit back and watch."
"Cohen, it is my fault! I should've just shut up!" cried Summer with tears appearing in her eyes, not that Seth could see or would sense.
"Sum, don't worry about it."
"Easy for you to say. Your not labelled world class bitch, are you?"
Summer snapped her phone shut and walked into the house. She ran up the staircase and to Marissa's room. She pushed the door open, to see Marissa packing her bag. Marissa looked up and saw Summer standing in the door way. She turned her back on her to grab her makeup case.
"Casey and Johnny are coming to get me," said Marissa, "Tell your father thankyou for having me."
Summer stepped into the room shutting the door behind her, "Coop, don't go. You can stay. I swear I will leave you and Ryan alone."
"There is no Ryan and me, Summer. You saw to that!"
Summer bit her lower lip in a very non Summer like fashion. She put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot before saying coldly, "You know what Coop? You think that. If that is what makes you sleep at night than by all means think that. I am so over everything being about Marissa Cooper."
Marissa grabbed her bag and pushed past Summer. Summer turned and followed her down the staircase and into the foyer where Casey and Johnny were waiting.
"One last thing Coop," said Summer by the staircase, "Everything that has happened, you made happen. You just haven't realised it yet."
Marissa glared at Summer and walked out, the slamming of the door echoing around the foyer. Summer stood and watched the car drive away. At that moment, Summer's step mother walked into the foyer looking half asleep.
"What was all the screaming about?" she asked an empty bottle of whiskey in her hand.
"Nothing," snapped Summer standing up, "I'm going out."
OC
Ryan walked back into the Cohen house and into the kitchen. He dropped the car keys on the bench and walked into the lounge room where Seth was playing his latest video game.
"Hey man," said Seth pausing the game, "How'd it go?"
"Like any other time you dump someone," replied Ryan sitting beside his brother, "It hurt but I had to do it."
"But if you knew it was going to hurt, why did you do it?"
Ryan sighed, "What game are you playing?"
"Oh the new Star Wars one and you can't avoid my question forever."
"I dumped her because I am sick of all the crisis' we go through every month."
Seth nodded, "But it wouldn't be a Ryan and Marissa relationship if you didn't face one."
"Exactly. Reset it. I want to play," nudged Ryan plugging in his control as Summer entered the room.
"When did you arrive?" asked Seth looking at his girlfriend in surprise.
"I few seconds ago. I knocked but you didn't hear me even though I could hear you both," replied Summer flopping onto the lounge behind Seth and Ryan, "Marissa has moved out."
"Where too?" asked Ryan glancing at Summer.
"That Casey girls place. I really don't care anymore… so how do you play this game?"
Seth looked at Summer shocked, "Are you okay?"
"Do I look like I'm not? Honestly Cohen, just because I am interested doesn't mean something is wrong."
"Hey Seth, you can play with Summer. I'm going to go and do some homework," spoke up Ryan, handing Summer the control and leaving the room.
"Is he okay?" asked Summer once Ryan was gone.
"He'll brood for a week and then he will be fine."
The sound of the front door opening and slamming shut cut off any response from Summer. Sandy and Kirsten walked in laden with bags of groceries.
"Seth, can you get the last two from the car?" asked Kirsten, "Is Ryan home yet?"
"Yeah," said Seth standing, "He's in the pool house."
"Would you like me to get him Mrs Cohen?" asked Summer standing also as Seth headed out to the car.
"That would be great, thanks Summer."
Summer smiled and ran out to the pool house knocking on the door before entering. Ryan sat up on his bed looking at Summer surprised to see her.
"Hey," said Summer awkwardly, "Look um… I know you probably blame me for you and Marissa breaking up but I-"
"I don't blame you. You said the things that I had been thinking," interrupted Ryan looking at Summer in the eye.
Summer looked away, she found his stare unnerving, "Well umm, Mrs Cohen wants to see you."
Ryan nodded and stood up, following Summer out of the pool house and into the kitchen. Sandy and Kirsten were unpacking the bags of groceries but smiled at Ryan and Summer when they entered.
"How did breaking up with Marissa go?" asked Sandy as he placed a box of his favourite cereal in the cupboard.
"The best it could go," replied Ryan, "What's for dinner?"
"Chicken stir-fry," replied Kirsten, "With some white rice. Would you like to join us Summer? My cooking skills have improved."
"So I noticed when I ate one of your muffins," smiled Summer, "So I would love to stay. Can I call my Dad? I totally forgot to bring my phone with me."
"Sure," said Sandy handing Summer the cordless phone, "Now what is taking Seth so long?"
OC
After Summer got the approval to spend the evening at the Cohen's, she spent the afternoon with Seth and Ryan trying to play the video game. But after two hours of confusions, which soon led to boredom, Summer walked out to the kitchen where Kirsten was cooking that night's dinner.
"Need anything?" asked Kirsten as she chopped up some capsicum.
"No. Video games just get so boring after a while," replied Summer with a smile, "Do you need any help?
"I could do with an assistant to cut the beans in half, if you don't mind."
Summer smiled and began helping her boyfriend's mother cut up the beans before moving onto the carrots, her and Kirsten chatted about random things that any two normal people would chat about, but to Summer it meant a lot, spending time with a female adult who would talk back to her instead of snapping or asking for more pain killers and alcohol.
"Is school going well?" asked Kirsten looking at Summer with interest.
"Yeah. I mean, I totally hate Dean Hass. But my classes are going well, although the senior year just isn't the same without Ryan or… Marissa," said Summer with a sad look on her face as she mentioned Marissa.
"Are you upset with how things are with Marissa?"
Summer shrugged, truly she didn't know. In a way she was happy that Marissa was put straight, but she knew she would miss having some one to sit up late with chatting, joking and pigging out on junk food with.
"I'm sure things will work out. It will take time for things to cool down."
"Maybe your right," beamed Summer, "So, do you want me to set the table?"
"That would be great. I'll just add some chilly powder and we are done."
OC
After a filling meal, which tasted great, after some more hours of talking as a group, Summer knew she had to head home. She looked at Seth, expecting him to offer her a drive home but instead he stood up declaring he had homework to complete before tomorrow. Summer looked down at her plate feeling slightly hurt. She wasn't about to snap angrily at her boyfriend in front of his family. Seth cleared his plate away and stuck it in the dishwasher before running up to his room.
Sandy and Kirsten did the same, before heading off to bed, leaving only Summer and Ryan.
"Do you need a ride home?" asked Ryan as he and Summer placed their dishes in the dishwasher.
"Oh you know, I can walk home," replied Summer grabbing her purse with her house keys.
"No, I'll drive you. It's late and anything could happen while your walking home."
"Okay then."
Summer followed Ryan out to the car in silence. The drive to Summer's house was quiet with the radio on playing The Killer's.
Once at Summer's house, Ryan stopped in front of the doors. Summer undid her seat belt and opened the door to climb out.
"Thanks for the ride," said Summer with a smile.
"Hey, it was no problem. Seth was an idiot not to offer one," replied Ryan smiling back, "So, ah. I guess I'll see you later."
Summer nodded and shut the door after getting out. She waved goodbye and ran up the front steps as Ryan drove off. Once in side, she let out a breath she didn't even know she had been holding. What on earth was going on with her? She was nearly spending more time thinking about Ryan Atwood then her own boyfriend, Seth Cohen!
"Summer, your home," said her dad walking into the foyer, "You do know it is half past ten."
"I know, sorry. I got totally caught up with talking, that the time just flew by!" said Summer with a wave of her hand at the end.
Her father nodded, "Well it's Sunday night. You have school tomorrow."
Summer merely nodded, kissed her father goodnight and headed up to her room. That was one thing she had always envied about her boyfriend. Least his parents had an actual interest in his life. Her father only cared that she was getting good grades, hanging out with the right people or was dating an ideal boyfriend. There were so many times where she wanted to scream at her father that just because she looked like her passed mother, doesn't mean she IS her dead mother.
Summer slammed her bedroom door behind her and sat on her bed, hugging her pillow as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
A/N: Well there you go. The first chapter. What do you think? Reviews with all criticisms are welcome!
Bye for now!
Love yas!
Love Coz!