Disclaimer: I don't own The OC
Author's Notes: This is tying up to what's happening in the new season. Hope everyone enjoys.
Things had been so out of control. Summer refused to talk to Seth, Ryan was alone, and basically everyone was miserable. Caleb was going to court, and with Sandy defending him all the time, Kirsten spent lonely nights at home watching "North Shore" and wondering why her life couldn't be that exciting. Summer was happily trying to avoid Seth while also trying to make him jealous with her new "boyfriend", Zack. Ryan was trying to keep up with school, and all his new AP classes. He might as well focus on school anyway since there was nothing else to direct his attention on. The Kickoff Carnival had really put things into perspective for Seth and Ryan. Seth was going to grow old reading his comic books and playing Nintendo with Captain Oats and Ryan was going to get so caught up in school and all his classes that he would officially have no life. Neither of them really wanted that to happen but that's where things were looking to these days. At school, Marissa and Ryan didn't even look at each other, let alone talk. Marissa's comment about them never being friends had made him realize that they weren't. Sure, there was that time where they were "broken up" but even then they weren't really "friends" because a few weeks later they were back in each others arms. And then when he left for the summer, they were broken up then too, but then he comes back and automatically expects her to be there. So really, there wasn't ever a time when they were just friends. Marissa was alone, well except for DJ. After the carnival, she had been so miserable that she ran back to him. Even with him there she wasn't happy. He didn't make her happy like Ryan did. He was just basically someone that was there, in other words, her boy toy. Everyone in the Cohen house and outside the Cohen house was miserable.
(That was my little intro; now let's get on with the story)
Seth walked into the kitchen with his "Have you hugged this shirt today?" on. His hair was a mess and he grabbed a blueberry muffin. "Morning," he said to Ryan. Ryan was sitting at the table drinking orange juice and keeping up with the news, not that he was really reading in anyway.
"Hey Seth, ready for school?"
"Ryan, you ask me that everyday, and am I ever "ready" for it? Summer has been ignoring me, and sure, I am used to it, but I don't like it. So no, I'm not "ready" but I am used to it."
"Sorry, it was just a question, why are you getting all philosophical? You sure are snappy these days. Come on, get on a clean shirt, grab you skateboard and let's go, I'm gonna be late for calculus."
"Dude, calm down. Where's the bad boy Ryan who used to ditch a couple classes? I miss that guy, come on Ryan, bring him back, can't we just go to the pier for a bit?"
"Seth, you know we can't. If I ditch and get a bad grade, I won't get the scholarship, and I'm not about to let your parents pay for college."
"Come on, ditching one class isn't going to ruin anything. Besides, you're getting so uptight about school that you're not having any fun. You're not edgy anymore man. It's like on Freaky Friday where they switch roles, only I've become edgy and you're just boring."
"Did you just call yourself boring?" Ryan said with a smile.
"Oh forget it, come on lets just take a day off."
"Ok, fine, but just today."
"Ryan, you have made me a very happy guy."
Ryan and Seth went down to the pier. They got some ice cream and just enjoyed their day off. Unfortunately, they weren't the only ones thinking of having a day off. While Seth was skateboarding and Ryan walking by him, they spotted Summer and Marissa, well actually Seth spotted Summer. These days, it was like he had a Summer radar and he could tell where she was at all times. "Dude, here they come."
"Who?"
"Summer and Marissa," he said pointing.
"That's them?"
"Yea."
"How can you tell?" but sure enough it was them. They had shopping bags in one hand and coffee in the other. "Oh my God it is them."
"I told you."
"What do we do? Me and Marissa aren't exactly on speaking terms." But it was too late, they had already seen them. Marissa didn't really want to talk to Ryan either.
"Sum, that's Ryan and Seth. What do we do, come on turn the other way."
"Coop, calm down. We shouldn't let Cohen and Chino spoil our day out. Just keep walking and pretend they're not there." Summer and Marissa walked past Ryan and Seth just like they said they would and basically left them dumbfounded there on the boardwalk. Marissa did give Ryan a look as if to tell him 'I miss you, and I'd wish you'd talk to me.' Ryan didn't really catch the drift though. He knew he was the one that broke it off. But he had a right to. But she also had a right to move on; after all, he was gone for a long time. But that didn't give her a right to lie, and right now, he couldn't deal with that. At lunch, they decided to go back to school and finish off their classes. Dr. Kim gave them a break and didn't really get down on them. She felt bad for everything the family was going through and didn't really want to rain on their parade. When Seth and Ryan got home, no one was home. They went into the living room and played Playstation. These days there wasn't that much to do.
When they really looked back and thought about it, Summer and Marissa should've said something to the two of them, but didn't. Summer was trying to make it seem like she didn't need Seth in her life, when really, she did. Zack was great, but she knew that he was really just the water polo playing version of Seth. He loved comic books and had Seth's witty charm too. Marissa wanted Ryan back, but what could she do? This was the third time she had lost him in a year. And really, how much more of it could both of them take? And what about DJ? Sure, he was fun to be with, and he cared about her, but in her heart she knew that she needed Ryan, not DJ. She couldn't make Ryan realize this though. He wanted to be friends, but they were never really and they both knew it. But she didn't have to push him away. She could've at least tried, but again, her stupid ness took over, and everyone was miserable because of it, or at least in her mind they were.
Back at the Cohen's it was dinner time. They were having Jimmy over. Kirsten thought he could use some company since Hailey left for Japan. "This is great turkey Kirsten." Jimmy said.
"Thanks. I didn't cook it though. I tried but I burned it so, I just called a restaurant and they sent me some. It's quite handy though."
"Yea this is great mom, I'm glad that you didn't serve us the burned one though. It would've been 'Chrismuka, the sequel.'" Seth said.
"Don't worry, I've learned over the years that it's easier to just pick up a phone and call rather than to burn half the house. Especially since the contractors aren't even done with the new room."
"Ya know Kirsten," Ryan said, "if you want, I could draw up a new plan and you could just call up new contractors and they could follow that one. And I could monitor what their doing and if they get it wrong, I'll adjust the plan."
"That'd be great Ryan. I'll show you what I had in mind and we can start tomorrow ok?"
"Sure."
The next day was Saturday. Now normally there would be some fancy party going on or some fashion show. But with Caleb at court and Sandy always with him, Kirsten and Julie weren't really in the mood to throw any parties. Sure, Kirsten went to work and took care of all the meetings, but having a party right now, with all the commotion, really didn't seem like that good of a plan. Ryan and Seth wouldn't have been too happy about it either. Usually when Ryan went to these things, something or someone always got broken. And with both of them having to go dateless if there was one, just made the whole concept of going to one of these even more depressing. That didn't stop Marissa and Summer from wanting to throw one though. And even if they weren't old enough yet, Marissa figured if she spent some "quality time" with her mom that she would eventually agree. She brought the idea up at dinner. (She had agreed to have dinner with her mom too)
"Uh, Mom," Marissa started as she was trying to chew some pork chop, "why haven't we had one of those classy parties in a while?"
"What do you mean?"
"Ya know like the Gala Fashion Show that you were in charge of last year?"
"Oh that. They wanted me to organize another but with Cal at court and your sister at boarding school I haven't really found the time."
"Oh come on mom, lets me and you plan one. I loved last years fashion show. I got to wear all those cute clothes and stuff." Julie Cooper stared at her daughter in disbelief.
"You actually want to plan one? Last year you didn't even want to be part of it."
"Yes I did, I didn't show it, but after I really had fun."
"That's because after you met that delinquent."
"No I didn't. And don't bring Ryan into this mom. Come on, it'll be fun." Julie thought it over. Her daughter was making an attempt to bond, so she might as well take it. Besides, Marissa hadn't exactly been happy this past summer and if this would make her happy she might as well do it.
"Ok honey, I'll do it."
"Thanks Mom! You're the greatest. I'll go call Summer." She went upstairs to tell Summer the good news.
"Sum, my mom bought it. We're going to have another fashion show."
"Really Coop? That's great. I'll see you tomorrow and lunch and we can start planning."
"Ok, see ya then." Marissa hung up. This was going to be great. The main reason she wanted to do this was because she had met Ryan at last year's show, well she talked to him then anyway. And she thought if he went to this one and he saw her, it might bring him to realize that they should be together. There was only one thing standing in her way. There was a new girl at school that Ryan was getting pretty flirty with. Marissa didn't know her name. She had seen them in the lounge area at school. Hopefully when Ryan heard about the fashion show, he wouldn't decide to bring her. If he did, her whole plan would be ruined.
At school the next day Summer and Marissa got some coffee and sat down with the plans. "We should try to get some Gucci and Prada into the wardrobes don't ya think?"
"Yea Sum, that'd be great. But you know what else? We should have male models." Summer stared at her friend in disbelief.
"Yea but the only cute guys we know are on the water polo team, and sure, I could get Zack to do it, but the rest of them, that would take major persuasion and time." Marissa glanced over at Seth and Ryan.
"Well what about Seth and Ryan?"
"Cohen and Chino? Are you joking? Right now I don't want to have anything to do with Cohen. Sure, he might be photogenic and kinda cute... but that's not the point." Summer felt her face getting red.
"Sum, what did you just say?"
"Nothing..."
"You even just admitted that Seth is photogenic. And did I hear the word cute? Sum, you still love him don't you?
"Fine, fine, but keep it on the down low ok? If he finds out that I want him back, he'll come running like a lost puppy and right now, I want so see him chase me a bit more."
"Don't worry, I won't say I word. So, could we get Seth to do it?"
"If I asked, probably. If you asked, I don't know. And right now I don't feel like talking to him. What about Chino though?"
"Ryan, he's, he's way shy and not that photogenic. I know that he hates having his picture taken."
"Come on Coop! I know that Cohen won't do it if Chino doesn't. Remember the whole running away to Portland thing? He did it cuz Chino did and he only dragged his sorry ass back here because Chino did too."
"Well I don't know if he'd do it. Me and him aren't exactly on friendly terms right now."
"How about this: If I ask Cohen to do it will you ask Ryan? I know that Chino acts like he's all tough and puts on the "I'm too tough to talk about feelings" crap but you know him better than anyone here. So just do it ok?"
"Ok, fine, this fashion show is way more important than some dumb fight anyway."
"Good. So go to the Cohen's house after school and ask Chino ok?"
After school Marissa drove to the Cohen's house. She didn't even bother to go to the front door; she just went straight to the pool house. She knocked on the door and Ryan's voice said "come in." she opened the door and saw him sitting on his bed, working on something.
Ryan stared at Marissa for a while until he realized he was being rude. "Oh hey."
"Hey Ryan. How are you?" Ryan was confused.
"I'm good. Is everything ok?"
"Yea, yea, I just wanted to ask you something." He got up.
"Sure, what is it?"
"Well remember that fashion show that was held last summer before school started?"
"Yea I remember."
"Well Summer and I are planning it this year and we were thinking of having male models as well."
"Uh huh." Ryan could tell where this was going.
"And, Um, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind being one of them?" Ryan stared at her. He was shocked that she'd even consider him for it. She knew how conscious he was and that he didn't like being displayed to people like he was some pretty boy.
"Why are you asking me?"
"Well, uh, cause I know you and no one else really came to mind."
"What about that other guy?"
"You mean DJ?"
"Yea him."
"Well he's our yard guy and I don't think my mom would like it if the yard guy was in the Gala fashion show."
"But I thought you were planning this."
"Well no, my mom, but I'm in charge of it too."
"And you think your mother would want to have me in her 'Gala Fashion Show'? Your mom hates me."
"Ok, you're not her favorite person, but she knows how important you were to me, and how important this show is to me, so I don't think she'd care."
"Well then she wouldn't care if he was either."
"Ok, just forget it." Marissa turned to leave. "But I'll just have you know that if you don't do it, Seth won't either and Summer really wants him to be in it."
"Summer wants Seth to be in it?"
"Well we both do, so if you're not, your going to ruin some of our plans, and I hope your happy with that." She almost walked out the door but Ryan grabbed her arm.
"Wait, if it's this important to you, and that guy won't be involved, I'll do it." He wanted to kiss her right then but he didn't have to, cuz she brushed her lips gently across his.
"Thanks, I'll call you with the details later." With that, she left.
Ok, that's chapter one. Wow this is way long compared to the first chapter of my other fic. Wow. I guess I was just on a roll and I didn't want to stop. Lol. Well I hope everyone likes it and please review and be kind. Till next time. O and I know I left it kinda all without drama. But I promise drama is coming up soon.