Set During: Season 1 – Episode 22 'The L.A.'
I do not own the O.C.
Seth crashed into Luke as the boy came rushing out of the pool-house, the brunette's eyes flashing across to Ryan who threw himself down on the bed.
"I'm guessing, me being the brains and all, that Luke had something to do with Marissa running out through your house hysterical. Which was bad timing by the way, 'cause Summer and I had just got to this really good part in The Valley where-"
"She knows" Interjected Ryan, sitting back up and running his fingers through his hair.
"Oh!" exclaimed Seth, cottoning on rather slowly as he pulled the door shut behind him, "About Luke and, um um, well you know. Wow" He was gesturing wildly. "Well you know bro, if people will keep things behind other people's backs, when the truth comes out it'll get ugly."
"You're hardly one to talk." Ryan wandered up to the sink and splashed his face with cold water. Disregarding his previous statement, he continued, "I just thought I could make it easier for her, you know. Save her from some of the shit that she has to go through."
"Hey! Hey, it's ok." Seth reassured, sidling up to Ryan and placing his hands on the other boy's waist, ducking his head to look into his eyes. "Things will work out ok, you're a Cohen now – no more of this Atwood pessimism."
"Seth, her mother has been sleeping with her ex-boyfriend. Tell me how this can be ok?" He pushed the hands from him roughly and stormed back down to sit on the edge of the bed. Screwing his face up for a second, Seth came to perch next to him.
"She's not your responsibility anymore." He pointed out.
"If you broke up with Summer would you stop caring about her? Wanting what's best for her?" Seth shrugged, he wasn't sure.
"How can we so easily judge what people do in secret?" Ryan asked, frustrated as he looped his hand into Seth's.
"Hey, dude, at least you're single now. Technically you're not doing anything wrong."
"How about you? You're dating Summer? Isn't something wrong there?"
"I dunno" Seth shook his head violently to get the confusion out. "It's two different things man – like Clark Kent; he lived two lives and was a hero in both of them."
Ryan pulled his hand away, stood up, and wandered over to the window.
"We can't keep doing this Seth."
"O-kay" He responded, not convinced.
"How are we any different to Julie Cooper?"
"That's what you're worried about? Ryan this is so different to Julie Cooper and her sordid affairs – we're just two best friends who...rely...on...each...other...a lot."
"You have no idea how to argue this do you."
"Not a clue." Seth stood up and wrapped his arms around Ryan, watching their reflections in the dark glass.
"So we're stopping," He asked Ryan's mirror image, "'Cause like I would have to rearrange my whole schedule – and do you know how long it took to ensure we could meet up between every period, I mean I don't know if you can just go back to being a brother to me..."
He would have continued, but Ryan spun in his arms and placed a kiss on his mouth.
"So I take it we're breaking up in the morning then?" Seth asked, as he was led back to the bed.
"You gonna stop talking now?" Ryan asked, feigning annoyance, and reached to turn off the lamp.
