Title: Give it up
Author: Emily
Rating: PG 13
Summary: "Can I sue the music companies for that?"
"Tell me about it. Summer just listens to whatever funky song is on the radio"
Marissa says "funky" in the derogatory tone used by girls who know that music is not about "funky".
Seth replies in the exasperated tone of a boy who really does get music.
"I know. And Ry...I've tried to initiate him into Death Cab and help him distinguish the music that doesn't suck from all the music out there that does suck but he doesn't get it. He's all "Dude, I'll listen to it" and he listens but he doesn't listen. I set his radio to the right stations, because you know the wrong radio stations could ruin him. But it's hard. I just want the boy to be cultured, and by culture I don't mean the Chino version of culture, which would be sex outside the car."
"But sex in the car would be awkward." Marissa says, frowning. She pauses a second or two.
"I...does Ryan want sex in cars?" She asks.
"It's a Chino thing, it's lost on us. You're just gonna have to ask him, Marissa."
"Seth! I am not asking Ryan if he wants to have sex in a car. How would I say that? I think I would just have to initiate it. But I wouldn't. Because it would be awkward and there wouldn't be much room and it just wouldn't work. Although, cars do have great stereos…"
"My point exactly."
She narrows her eyes in his direction.
"Anyway." Marissa continues. "I made him a mix CD but he just lazes around the poolhouse in his wife beater..."
"Sometimes without his wifebeater." Seth chips in.
Marissa quirks an eyebrow at him.
"Like, shirtless? Cool. But you know that whatever he's wearing he's so not listening to good music. Or even music at all! I swear whenever I go in there he's just lying on his bed with the wifebeater like he's been doing nothing for hours. He is not listening to the CD I made him."
"He's totally not. Oh! I always make a point to play music with Summer when we have sex - I think it adds a little something to the atmosphere. It's like some kind of montage from one of those teenage melodramas. But then she tells me that my music is depressing and it doesn't have a beat."
"And it's like, that's not what music is about. That's not the point. Depressing music is the best music anyway."
"And that, Marissa, is why you overdosed in TJ. That is why you shoplifted, that is why you carried a bottle of vodka around with you and why you became best friends with a psycho."
"Can I sue the music companies for that?"
"After they have sued you for downloading music, yes."
"Okay. You know what? I'm gonna make another mix CD for Ryan tonight. I will crack him."
"Sure you will" Seth says. "And when I say that, I'm humouring you. We should just give it up."