This is my first but certainly not last piece of O.C. fiction. The show has enthralled me since the very beginning, but I just wanted to wait until I thought I knew the show inside and out. Like the millions of you out there that watched the season finale, I too cried and yelled at my television when Ryan drove away with his childhood girlfriend in her ugly, banana yellow Chevy Chevette, and Marissa just decided to stand there surrounded by her Louis Vuitton luggage and frown. I was angry at Seth for running away and leaving a note to his loving parents and dream girl. Anyway, I wanted to start my take on the premiere in October. This begins only a few months after we last saw the Newpsies in their natural habitat. I hope you enjoy reading as I did writing. I had to read the June issue of Vogue cover to cover while writing. If you catch a name you don't recognize, it's a designer. However, I feel I used prominent names like Fendi, Prada, and Dolce and Gabbana. Ooh, Dr. Suess moment. Anyway, I wanted to capture the chic wardrobe of the cast even in my story. As you can see, I'm a fashion and label freak! I realize this A/N is extremely long. Now, we've been acquainted. The other's won't be. I assure you.
I also assure you that I don't own anything that has to due with the O.C or Fox or any of the infamous clothing lines I've name-dropped. Copyright infringement is not necessary.
On with the story . . . .
"Wasting away again in Margaritaville. Searching for my last shaker of salt. Some people say that there's a woman to blame, but I know that it's my own damn fault."
The island steal drums finished the infamous Jimmy Buffet song as Seth Cohen sat in the small café in the city of Ocho Rios, Jamaica. He had been to Tahiti and loved it along with the people. However, he had set sail for the Carribean a few weeks earlier. He had followed the advice of Brian Wilson and Co. And went to Aruba, Bermuda, Key Largo, and Montego Bay. His last trip was to Jamaica.
He was having a grand time on his tropical vacation; however, he missed his friends, family, and yes — Summer Roberts. Everything about her was extremely missed. The familiar clip-clop of her Manolo Blaneks, the ringing of her cell phone playing the theme to Sex and the City, her soft skin moisturized with La Prairie body creme, and especially her exquisite hair in which he could only touch except for Raphael at the Bumble & Bumble salon. Seth had almost found himself in a daydream until he heard a voice knock him out of his daylight siesta . . .
"I don't know what your name is, but if you destroy my Louis Vuitton carry-on, I will personally get my boyfriend's father to sue you until you'll be paying for the whole set, including my Chanel baguette, Pucci mini, and my new, Manolo mary janes!"
"Miss . . ."
Seth felt sorry for the scum messing with her.
" I swear . . . Don't touch me. These are Christian Dior. Are you out of your mind?"
Seth walked over to the dock to where the guy was obviously trying to help Summer carry her luggage.
"Sir, I got it covered. You certainly wouldn't wanna hurt the ladies designer things. God knows I know from experience."
"Go for it, Curly!" He said as he went back to his job of unloading cargo.
The California beauty smiled as tears streamed down her tanned cheeks, some even dripping into her Pallegrino bottled water, no matter how much she tried to remain stoic. She then wrapped her thin arms around his chest and he followed suit with his own enfolding her tiny torso. Letting loose from their passionate grip, she clenched her small fist and punched him hard in the stomach.
With tears still fogging her thought process she spoke, " Don't you EVER do that to me again! You won't get a surprise visit next time. Besides, don't expect Sandy and Kirsten to throw down the red carpet when we get back. Kirsten is so mad! Also, you better be glad that Daddy has connections at the Sun-Spree Resort, Hotel, and Casino because I wouldn't be sleeping on your decrepit catamaran even if it is my namesake!"
He looked at her and smiled; taking her cheeks in his hands, he kissed her softly. She released herself from his pouty lips.
"Cohen, don't just think that every time you take off for some tropi . . ."
He interrupted her by capturing her mouth again.
"I love being able to do that." Seth finally got a word in edgewise.
"Cohen, help me get my bags. We have to check-in. Our dinner reservations are at 8:30 and I have airplane hair. You better hope that my straightening iron plug fits in these island outlets."
With her Pallegrino in one hand and white Gucci bag in the other, she surged off in her matching Prada slides to catch a cab to their luxury hotel with Seth tarrying behind her carrying her luggage.
"Cohen, you're too slow! We have dinner reservations!"
"Yes, Dear."
Ryan noticed that every time he lay on his bed it squeaked. At the Cohens, he slept on a down mattress with matching pillows and 450 thread-count, Egyptian cotton, Ralph Lauren linens not to mention the matching down comforter as well. It was fabulous and even more so with Marissa by his side. However, he was not supposed to be thinking about the Cohens, Newport's finest Chinese take-out, Egyptian cotton sheets, and especially not Marissa.
He closed his eyes and continued to listen to Journey's Greatest Hits on his IPod, trying desperately to get the Newport princess out of his mind.
In the kitchen, Theresa waddled in from the back door. After laying her purse over the barstool, she slumped into the nearest chair. She slowly closed her eyes, extremely tired from a days work of waitressing at the small diner. She was in her second trimester and was gaining eight to ten pounds per week. The doctor had said the baby was fine, and she could soon know the sex. She was hoping for a girl; however, knew the child was already active and also knew that was a sure sign of a boy. After only seconds of silence, the doorbell rang, and she knew she would have to strain to get up and totter to the door. Theresa heard the door creak as she was halfway to her point of destination.
"Hello?" A voice called, as its owner slid quietly through the door.
"Marissa?" Theresa replied, shocked to see her.
"Theresa! How are you? How's the baby?" Marissa Cooper exclaimed pulling her pregnant friend into a bear hug.
"I'm great. The baby's good. How are you?"
"I'm good. I've been getting settled into my new house. You know my mother married Caleb in May; we're adjusting." Marissa's voice faltered, still annoyed at the thought of living with Newport Beach's own personal crook.
"That's good. You missed Ma. She's been visiting a friend whose sick this weekend. She's gonna feel awful when she finds out you came to visit, and she wasn't here to cook you a four course meal!"
"Tell Mrs. Santchez that I feel bad that I missed her. Anyway, where's Ryan? I left him a voice mail and told him I was coming."
Theresa pointed a finger to the back bedroom. She knew he had taken off from the job search today. He had been working at the quarry, but the company had a recent layoff and newbies were the first to go. He had been looking for work for almost three weeks, and there weren't too many job opportunities offered in Chino. Marissa followed her directions to Ryan's room to find a familiar sight: Ryan Atwood fast asleep wearing his infamous wife beater and jeans with his earphones still blaring. She hastily pushed the button on the small machine and perched it on the night stand. She flung her D&G thongs on the floor beside the bed and curled up like a cat beside him. Hearing the creak off the bed from Marissa's weight, his eyes fluttered and slowly crept open.
She looked straight into his baby blues, "Hey."
"Hey." A smile appeared on his lips.
"Did you get my message?"
"I guess not, but I'm glad you're here. Where are the Cohens?" Ryan inquired.
"In Newport, awaiting Seth's return. Kirsten is worried sick."
"Seth's not back yet? Wait a minute, you drove to Chino alone?"
"No, Seth isn't back from Tahiti yet. Yes, I drove to Chino, and Please remind me never to wear a Diesel baby doll dress to this town ever again."
"How are Sandy and Kirsten?"
"Good. Lonely. Busy. Frantic. All the more reason for you to come back home."
Ryan gave her the look, and no one good gave the look like Ryan. He could say it all without uttering a word.
"Don't give me that! You know that only works with Seth. Things at home are terrible. Kirsten is nervous as hell. She's afraid to go to work just in case Seth comes home. Sandy is giving everyone the silent treatment. I haven't seen Summer in three days. Her father is on business in London and her step-mom is so hopped up on Valium that she would probably say, 'Summer who?'. Not top mention that I'm living with the Devil and the Devil's advocate, and I'm not talking about Keanu Reeves!"
Ryan chuckled. "What about your Dad and Haley?"
"Honeymoon." Marissa stated bluntly.
His mouth went agape.
"How's it going third cousin twice removed?" Marissa mildly joked.
"Wow. So that means that my grandfather is now married to your mother which makes you my aunt. Moreover, your dad is married to my aunt Haley which makes you my cousin. Boy, if we ever had kids, they would be screwed up!"
Marissa giggled but then her face grew serious. "Ryan, everything is just the biggest mess. My mother is even talking about putting me in therapy again. Please come back with me, and if you say no, I will call Kirsten and make you listen to her cry over the phone for a few hours."
"You know that I would want nothing more, but what about Theresa and the baby?"
"Ryan, have you not considered the possibility that the baby isn't yours? That it's Eddy's."
"I have, but what kind of person would I be if I left Theresa here to raise a baby alone?"
"You know if you called Sandy he would fix that whole situation. Kirsten, Summer, and I would be there to help with the baby. We both know how much Summer loves kids!"
Ryan laughed at her joke. "Sweetie, I'm serious. Everyone in Newport Beach knows Sandy Cohen and his philanthropy. If he can bring you out of juvy hall and my dad out of dept, he can sure as hell help Theresa Santchez and you know that!"
"I know." He said softly, pulling a piece of Marissa's hair behind her ear and showing off her gorgeous diamond studs.
"Okay. You tell Theresa you're going to Newport for the weekend. Invite her along. When we get there, we have fun. On Saturday night, we go to the Newpsies Hamptons party. We'll laugh and joke and have as much fun as we can at one of my mother's soirees. Sunday morning she decides whether or not she'll take Sandy up on his offer,"
"Ryan, whether you like it or not, you're apart of this. Newport Beach, along with its California blondes, lush villas, designer clothing, and back stabbers, is your home now. There's only one thing keeping you from your family and that's this baby. If the baby's with your family, Chino can be ancient history. We can go back to where we were. Drama free."
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Newport drama free? Hardly. The Hamptons, huh? That does sound like fun and sounds like Julie Cooper. Excuse me, Julie Nichol."
Marissa huffed with a grin. "It's really Eastern Seaboard formal. You know, linen suits, cashmere sweater sets, and pearls. Nautical chic, as Mom likes to call it. Caleb is wearing this white, Yves Saint Laurent suit with a Ralph Lauren navy vest. Get this, Mom is making him get a pedicure because she wants him to wear these vintage, Fendi brown leather thongs. Imagine Caleb Nichol in sandals!"
He raised his eyebrows. "That's something you don't see every . . ."
He was interrupted by a visitor. "Ryan, I was just going to tell you that I'm meeting Mom at the grocery store."
"Hey, Theresa, Ryan was just going to ask you something." Marissa kicked him in the leg for added emphases.
"Uh, Theresa, I'm going to Newport for the weekend, and I was going to ask you if you wanted to go."
"Please say you'll come. The Newpsies are throwing a Hamptons party. The dress is Nautical chic, and I have this vintage, floral chiffon Koos dress that would look perfect on you. Besides, with Summer's kelly Mui-Mui slides and matching scarf, it would make the outfit and you would be the perfect suitor."
"I don't know. I don't wanna wear your clothes, and I don't have anything appropriate. I have to work. My Mom needs the money."
"Nonsense. I'm planning on wearing another dress anyway. Summer has plenty of shoes, and I won't take no for an answer. If you feel like a burden for the Cohens, don't because you can be a burden at my house. Now, you have no more excuses."
"I guess. I did have a craving for a Balboa Bar the other day."
So, there you have it. Theresa and Ryan are coming to Newport. Summer has found Seth, but no one knows she's gone. Julie is throwing a party for all of the NB aristocracy. Plus, did you catch the part about Julie wanting to put Marissa back in therapy? I didn't tell you why did I (Grins evilly)? I hope you liked it, and hope you stay tuned till the end. Peace and Love — moi.