Even Only
"The O.C."
Ryan Atwood & Summer Roberts
Fan Fiction
Written by
Kae / "The O.C." is non mine.
Chapter Two: Just fine
It's been two months and eight days since Marissa Cooper died. It's been a week since Ryan Atwood left the Cohen's pool house. He had quickly taken the Cohen's offer to rent him an apartment at Berkeley. Ryan stepped out on the balcony and lit a cigarette. He leaned forward and rested his arms on the railing.
"Who are you?"
"Whoever you want me to be."
"Okay. Can I bum a cigarette?"
Summer Roberts kept her focus on the television set.
"Maybe that's what we'll do. What do you think?" Seth Cohen asked. He turned her to face him. "Summer?"
"Yeah? What? Yeah. Sure," Summer nodded.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Of course," Summer smiled.
"So… you'll ask your dad if it'll be okay if we lived together in an apartment," Seth repeated his thoughts.
"Will do," Summer got up.
"I'll see you tonight?" Seth said getting up.
"Yeah."
"Okay," Seth leaned forward and kissed her.
"Okay. I'll see you later," Summer had quickly pulled away.
Once she left, Seth grabbed the remote and turned on the television.
Ryan continued to throw the bouncy ball on the wall, Journey playing in the background. A knock on the door got him off the couch.
"Hey!" Ryan greeted.
"Hi… you okay?" Summer asked. She stepped in to find empty beer bottles lying around the living room. Before she said anything, she quickly hesitated and simply lowered the volume of the CD player down.
"So… how have you been?" Summer asked, sitting down.
"Good. Actually, yeah… great," Ryan sat back down.
"Sure you are," Summer forced a smile.
"You want?" he handed her an empty bottle.
"Thanks, but not tonight," Summer grabbed the bottle and placed it down on the table.
He got up and took Summer's hand. They walked outside on the balcony.
"Ryan…"
"Just watch," Ryan smiled, pointing his bottle at the sky.
"What?"
"The sunset," Ryan let go of her hand. They both rested their arms on the railing. They stood there for a couple of minutes and sat down.
"It's different," Summer smiled at Ryan.
Seth dialed Summer's cell phone but it directed him to her voicemail.
"Seth?" Sandy Cohen knocked on the door and stepped in. "Summer's still not back yet?"
"It's been two hours. I haven't heard from her either," Seth sat up. "We're leaving for Rhode Island in a couple of days and we haven't even finished talking about our living arrangement."
"You're gonna have to give her time, son." Sandy said.
"For what?" Seth asked.
"She just lost her best friend, Seth." Sandy reminded him.
"It's been like two months. I'm sorry. I can't feel the way she's feeling. I'm trying here, but she's got this wall… I can't get through and I just don't want to…"
"Don't want to what?" Sandy quickly questioned his son.
Summer sat beside Ryan, who was lying back down on his bed.
"You're always here," Ryan pointed out.
"Don't worry, I'll be gone in a couple of days," Summer smiled taking the beer bottle from his hand.
"Don't say that. That that's really not funny," Ryan's words slurred a bit.
"I'm leaving for Rhode Island, Ryan. You know that."
"No…"
"I have to go. Just promise me that you'll stop drinking," Summer touched his hand.
"If that'll make you stay," Ryan closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Sandy repeated his question.
"I love her. I do. But I just can't deal with this. I know you think I'm selfish and maybe I am…"
Sandy stood up and looked down on his son. "Just make sure you're fair to her. You let her know before you guys even step inside that airport," Sandy told his son and walked out of his bedroom.
Summer began to pack her suitcases, while Seth had already finished up packing up his own.
"Do you need any help?" Seth spoke from the other end of the phone line.
"No. I'm good. Kaitlin will gladly help me out. I'll see you at… two?" Summer asked.
"Okay. I love you," Seth said.
"Love you. Bye," Summer hung up the phone.
Seth walked over to Ryan.
"I haven't seen you. You've been doing okay?" Seth asked Ryan.
"Yeah. In control," Ryan smiled.
"Sorry I haven't checked up," Seth sat down.
"Not your job, man."
"Yeah. I know."
Summer made her way over to Kaitlin Cooper's room.
"Hey!" Kaitlin got up off her bed.
"What the fuck have you been smoking now?" Summer sat on her bed.
"Nothing. Nothing," Kaitlin sat beside her. "So, you're leaving today?"
"Yeah. I am."
"I thought so," Kaitlin scoffed.
"What is that suppose to mean?" Summer stood up.
"Nothing. Just go. I'm used to it. Everyone leaves."
"It's college, Kaitlin. As much as I don't want to leave…" Summer tried to explain.
"Whatever," Kaitlin lied down.
Summer lied down next to her and they both looked up at the ceiling.