Disclaimer: I do not own "The OC."
A/N: What…? What is this? I'm writing again?? This world is a crazy place, people. I know it. I've seen it.
You'll probably have to reread the first part of this because it's been so long and I do apologize for that. But I did promise that I would never not finish a story I posted on here and I don't break promises.
Read, enjoy, and review – because reviews are awesome.
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Seth woke up the next morning with a dizzy feeling and an unfamiliar sense of his surroundings. He squinted his eyes, trying to get a clear picture of the room but instead only getting a glimpse of Summer, sleeping soundly in the spot next to him in the strange bed. He took a few minutes of adjusting to the light and the soft pounding that was rushing through his head, while trying to remember how he ended up in this room. It only took a few more moments until he noticed the painting on the wall opposite of the bed, seeing that it was clearly an original Monet painting, figuring out that he was probably in Ada's apartment. (Because who else did he know that could afford an original Monet painting?)
Seth soon climbed out of bed, afraid to disturb Summer and stumbled out of the room and into the long hallway in search of some coffee. He finally reached what appeared to be the kitchen, also noticing Ada sitting at her table having a bowl of cereal.
"Oh," Ada looked up after hearing Seth wander into the kitchen and was pleasantly surprised when she found he was only dressed in boxers and socks, "hey, Seth. Good morning."
Seth merely smiled, holding up a hand to signal a wave, before making his way fully into the kitchen. He tried searching for some coffee but Ada had already beaten him to it, grasping a cup in one hand and handing it to him. "Thanks."
"No problem," she smiled back at him, letting her fingers graze his a moment longer than was necessary.
Seth cleared his throat, lifting the cup up to his lips. "So, umm, how did Summer and I end up here last night and not at our apartment?"
"You don't remember?" Ada settled back into her seat at the table.
Seth followed her motion, sitting across from her. "No – well, I remember bits actually."
"Summer fell asleep a few hours in and just slept in one of the booths while you, Ben, and I continued drinking for a few more hours. Ben ended up leaving and then you were gonna leave too but you didn't want to wake Summer – and I knew you nor Ben would be able to carry her to and from a taxi. So I just suggested you come stay at my place last night and my driver helped carry her in," Ada informed him.
Seth nodded his head, taking it all in. "So I didn't do anything stupid, did I?"
"What do you mean by stupid?" Ada gave him a flirtatious smirk.
Seth struggled not to let his eyes roll. Of course she would think he was talking about doing something of the sexual nature with her. Like she knew deep down in Seth's heart of hearts that he was madly in love with her and not Summer. Like she just couldn't fathom the idea of a normal, career-oriented guy choosing a normal, career-oriented woman like Summer over an A-list movie star. "I mean like screaming outside of the top of your limo or vomiting in public."
Ada smiled, regardless of Seth's answer. "Nope. Just the normal drunk."
"That's good to hear," Seth took another sip of his coffee. God, he thought, this coffee tasted way too dark for his liking. Or maybe that was because he was hung-over.
Silence ensued for a few moments longer before Ada broke it. "Do you mind going downstairs and grabbing me the newspaper and the Wall Street Journal?"
"Wall Street Journal?" Seth eyed her in surprise. "You actually read that?"
"I skim it every now and again. I like to know what I'm investing in sometimes."
"You know what you're investing in?"
"Benjamin mentions it from time to time. I just like to keep tabs on it. Even though, to tell you the truth, I don't know what it means half of the time," Ada giggled. "There's a robe and slippers right next to the door you can use. And the newspaper stand is right outside of the apartment building to the left. You won't miss it."
Seth always found it so unbelievable that Ada was able to ask someone politely to do something and then, without receiving an actual answer, pointing them in the direction of how to complete the task she asked of them.
It was baffling really.
He stood up from the table, walking towards the door finding the items Ada mentioned exactly as she told him they would be. He slipped on the robe, finally noticing his lack of clothing and slipped his feet into the beyond comfy slippers, making the trek outside and down the building.
--
Summer woke up in a way too soft and unbelievably comfy bed. She immediately opened her eyes, surveying her surroundings.
"Wha…" She began, as she sat up in the gigantic bed. She then looked down and noticed she was only in her underwear, bra, and socks, seeing her clothes – and what appeared to be Seth's – strewn across the floor of the unknown room.
It didn't take long for Summer to realize where she was. After all, who else would have that ridiculously, hideous Monet painting hanging on the opposite wall?
Summer got out of the bed, putting on her clothes from the previous night – ew – and also placing her fiancé's clothes neatly on the bed. At this, she immediately looked around the room again, searching for said fiancé. She checked out the adjoining bathroom and huge walk-in closet before realizing he wasn't anywhere in the vicinity.
So, as much as Summer was dreading the idea of walking out of the room and running into Ada Adleid in such disarray, she needed to find Seth and get this whole unfortunate morning over with and get back to their apartment in Brooklyn.
Summer tip-toed out of the room, hoping that maybe Ada was still asleep but as she walked past the living room, a voice rang out, startling Summer.
"Hi, Summer," Ada greeted Summer without lifting her head from her breakfast. Clearly the fact that Summer had spent the night at her apartment hadn't fazed her.
"Hi, Ada," Summer coldly replied, regaining her composure. "Where's Seth?"
Ada finally lifted her eyes to meet Summer's, rolling them before speaking to her. "He's getting my paper."
"Your what?" Summer's face scrunched up in confusion.
"My paper," Ada simply replied, appearing to drop her cold attitude towards Summer and stood up from the table. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," Summer answered, swallowing her pride to be cordial to the only person she hated. "Thank you."
"No problem. You both were pretty out of it," Ada laughed.
"I wasn't drunk," Summer told her, deadpanned. "I was tired."
"I didn't say you were drunk. I said you were out of it," Ada replied, eyeing Summer a moment. "Actually, I don't think I saw you drinking anything but water all night. Why weren't you drinking? It was your boyfriend's birthday."
Summer clenched her teeth. "Fiancé."
Ada rolled her eyes. "Whatever – why weren't you?"
"Didn't feel like it."
"Not even one drink?"
"Nope."
Ada paused, pondering her next question, horror quickly etching across her face. "Oh my God… You're pregnant, aren't you?"
Summer was flabbergasted that Ada would come up with such a drastic notion but tried to hide her shock. "What if I was?"
"You can't be!" Ada shrieked.
"Oh my God, Ada!" Summer shouted, reaching her hands up to her head in disbelief. "Make your feelings for my fiancé a little more obvious, won't you?!"
"You don't deserve him!"
"And somehow you do?" Summer yelled back. "You're not royalty! You memorize meaningless lines for a living! You're superficial and so full of yourself! It's disgusting!"
Ada planted her hands firmly on her hips, letting her eyes glaze over with hatred. "You cannot say things like that about me in my house!"
"It's not like I wanted to wake up here!" Summer screamed. "And the only reason I'm here is because you're sick and somehow thought that you'd get something from Seth if you allowed us to stay here last night!"
"How do you know I didn't?"
Summer snorted, still very angry. "You're unbelievable! Just because half of Hollywood slept with you doesn't mean Seth will!"
"You're such a bitch, Summer!"
"Whore!"
Seth heard yelling coming from the apartment as he trudged from the elevator down the hallway back to Ada's. He opened the door apprehensively ridding himself of the robe and slippers he used to go get Ada's paper. "Hello…?"
"Go find someone else's fiancé to cling onto!" Seth heard Summer yell as he hesitantly walked towards the sound of the loud voices.
"I don't want anyone else!"
"Neither do I!" Summer yelled. "And he's mine! He's been mine for ten years!"
"That means it's time for a change, Summer!"
Seth finally stepped into the kitchen listening to them yell at each other, still grasping the newspaper in his hands. "Umm… hey guys."
Both Summer and Ada stopped their yelling immediately. Ada's face turned into a smile at the sight of Seth and his lack of clothing while Summer's turned into a frown for the exact same reason.
"Why aren't you wearing a shirt? Or pants for that matter?!" Summer pointed at him, letting her shouting resume.
"See, Summer?" Ada folded her arms. "Maybe he thinks it's time for a change too. And he doesn't know how to tell you because he doesn't want to hurt you."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Seth held up his hands. "I hate change. Change hates me. It's kind of a mutual hating thing me and change have going on."
"Seth," Ada called out to him, "it's okay. Summer knows you want a change."
"My God!" Summer shouted, walking towards Ada at a swift pace. "Are you psychotic?!"
Seth immediately stepped in, holding Summer's arm before Summer had the chance to swat Ada. "Summer, don't."
"I think you're the one who's psychotic, Summer." Ada crossed her arms over her chest. "Thinking you're gonna slap me and get away with it. I'll have security guards in here taking you away the second you lay a finger on me."
"Yeah," Seth spoke, holding Summer back, "we're just gonna go grab our stuff and get going." Seth began pushing Summer towards the bedroom but Ada grabbed onto Seth's arm, causing him to turn around in question.
"Don't go, Seth," Ada pleaded with him. "You don't have to be with Summer if you don't want to."
Before Summer even had the chance to reply in anger, Seth let out a frustrated groan, releasing Summer from his grip and stared intensely at Ada as he shouted. "Ada, I don't love you!" Ada stood back, shocked that Seth shouted at her – something he never had done before, unlike Summer – and listened as he continued. "I'm in love with Summer. I'm in love with everything about her. Her hair and the way it falls into her eyes when she sleeps. Her nose that looks like a cute little button. Her eyes that are so brown and deep and tense, that barely anyone can read, but I can. Her body the way it fits mine perfectly when I hold her. Her lips that always seem to taste of strawberries, even when she probably hasn't touched any actual strawberries in months. Her personality that shows immediate hostility to everyone she meets but melts away as she lets you into her life. Her passion for saving the environment, for doing something worthwhile with her life. Her mind that is always filled with crazy ridiculous ideas but for some reason, she never thinks they are ridiculous at all. Her rage blackouts – because no matter how bad they get, even if they're aimed at me, she always bounces back and tries to act as if they didn't happen at all. Her laugh. Oh God, I love her laugh," Seth smiled, almost forgetting who he was talking to and who else was in the room listening to him speak, "it's the most gorgeous laugh you'll ever hear. The way she calls me Cohen and not Seth, so I know that she loves me or that I've said or done something to make her smile. Oh, her smile… I could never go a day without seeing her smile. It's so innocent and adorable and if I couldn't see it ever again I think I'd die. In fact, if I could never see or hear Summer again, I'd die. There's a huge part of me that lives in her and if she goes away I don't know what I'd do. It'd be like I'm only half a person. And that sounds ridiculous and neurotic but I can't help it. I'm so completely and utterly in love with her that if she were ever to break up with me I'd for sure crawl up into a ball and die a slow and painful death. I've loved her since I was ten. I gave her my heart – my entire being – when I was sixteen. She's everything to me and there's no chance that I would ever give her up. To me, she's the movie star, the rock star, the … the… the freaking Queen of the entire planet. And that's it. It's a done deal. I'm not breaking up with her and you and me are never going to get together. I'm sorry, Ada. I really am. But you need to understand that once and for all or I don't think I'm ever going to be able to see or talk you again."
Ada and Summer stood shocked – both for completely different reasons.
Seth cleared his throat, ignoring both looks from the two separate women standing in front of him. "Yeah… um… I'm gonna get my things…" Seth made a swift turn towards bedroom to collect his belongings.
Ada began to open her mouth to speak, but Summer held up her hand in effort to stop her, speaking herself. "Save it. It's done." And with that, Summer tried to follow her fiancé into the room but he came out as swiftly as he had gone in, holding all of his and Summer's belongings.
"I've got everything," Seth mumbled, still not making eye contact with either girl. "Um… so… bye." Seth quickly walked over to the door, opening it and almost shutting it before Summer stopped him, maneuvering her way out the door as well and shutting it herself.
Seth tried to ignore that Summer was next to him but she wasn't so keen on letting him do that. "Hey, hey… Cohen," Summer had to break out into a mini-jog to keep up with him, "slow down, will you?"
"I have to drop this stuff off at the apartment and then go," Seth answered, still without looking at her.
"Go where?" Summer questioned, then shouting, "God Seth! Slow down!"
Seth immediately stopped walking, looking down to the ground as Summer caught her breath and stood in front of him. "I don't know. For a walk or something. I just need to go."
"What for?" Summer breathed heavily. Seth didn't reply so Summer brought her hands up Seth's neck, bringing his head closer to hers as she caught his lips in a passionate kiss. Seth instantly reacted, letting their tongues tangle together. Summer slowly let her grip on Seth loose and pulled away, breathing heavily again, but this time for a completely different reason. "What you did back there," Summer told him, making sure they kept eye contact, "was amazing."
"It was embarrassing." Seth groaned. "Really, really embarrassing."
Summer shook her head defiantly. "It wasn't at all. It was sweet, Cohen."
Seth pushed himself out in front of Summer and began walking off again. "You weren't supposed to hear any of that. And I shouldn't have done it at all."
"Why not?" Summer ran to catch up with him.
"Cause I shouldn't have. It was a mistake," Seth stopped again, looking at Summer. "Can we just, like, not talk about it?"
Summer frowned at Seth. "Are you upset you said that stuff?"
"Yes," Seth replied without missing a beat.
Summer's eyes widened and her jaw hung down in shock as she gasped and then crossed her arms, walking off. "Well, that's great, Seth. Why don't you just go tell Ada you didn't mean anything you just said. I'm sure she'll be pleased."
Seth groaned, walking back up to his fiancée. "That's not what I meant and you know it. I just… I shouldn't have done that. Ben's gonna kill me because Ada's gonna freak out on him and blame him. You know that."
"I kind of don't care what freak out Ada has," Summer told him. "Ada needed some kind of validation that I wasn't just forcing you to stay with me."
"Validation?"
"Yes," Summer replied, turning to him. "Do you realize that's the first time you've ever stood up for us?" Off of Seth's look of confusion, she continued. "Ada's always saying these things about how I'm not good enough for you or that you deserve better and I'm always the one to freak out on her while you just try and change the subject. You never tell her that you're in love with me and don't want to break up with me, you just talk about something different with her to avoid discussing it."
"That's not true," Seth held a finger up to Summer. "I tell her I love you all the time."
"Yeah, but then after you say that and she inevitably goes into one of her rants about why we shouldn't be together you don't say anything. You just walk away. I've seen you do that, like, a billion times."
"I just don't want her getting angry with me."
"Why not?"
"Because Ben will get angry with me."
Summer shook her head. "Oh, that is so not why you don't want her getting angry at you."
"What?" Seth's face wore a perplexed look.
"She's famous, Seth. She's beautiful, she's rich, and she likes you. And you love the attention. That's why you don't want to make her angry. Because you like having some other woman being completely obsessed with you. You're like an attention whore when it comes to women."
"Hold up," Seth held up his hand. "Two minutes ago I was amazing and sweet and now I'm an attention whore? That's quite the mood change – even for you."
Summer swatted Seth's arm harder than she intended. "You are such an ass."
"Oh come on, Summer!" Seth groaned. "I'm trying, okay? What else do you want from me?"
Summer looked up at him with tears clouding her eyes. "I just want to be the only woman in your life. The only woman who vies for your attention – and the only one who gets it. I deserve that, Seth," Summer's voice cracked as Seth visibly winced at Summer's use of his first name, "And if you can't give me that and have to spend half your time with Ada Adleid… well, then, a marriage isn't going to work for us."
"Summer…"
Summer wiped away the tears, "You know, a walk does sound good right about now. I'll see you back at the apartment."
And with that, Summer walked off in the opposite direction, never once to turning around to see the saddened and distraught look upon Seth's face.
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A/N: So this was sucky and kind of weird but I'm just getting back into this writing thing. Cut me a little bit of slack, will ya? :)
