After a few days, Seth and I were once again playing video games. I wasn't sure if he did much else. I still find it hard to believe that my crying worked. Apparently, my mom even agreed that I was better off with them. Sandy and Kirsten walked in, all dressed up. I guess it wasn't too weird considering that they were both working adults.

"Who died?" Seth asked. Now that is not funny.

"Seth, we need to talk to Samantha." Sandy replied.

"Okay, but if this has to do with the rug…" Seth started. I don't think it had to do with the rug.

"What's this about the rug?" Kirsten asked. Yeah, it wasn't about the rug.

"You know what, never mind." Seth replied before making a hasty exit. After that the two of them took a seat on the couch.

"So, Kirsten and I went to Child Services and we told them that we want you to stay with us." Sandy replied. I couldn't help but grin. "But there's a catch. Because you're a minor, the only way that can happen is if we assume all legal responsibility for you. So we'd appreciate it if you stay out of trouble."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" I asked. I didn't want them to get in trouble for something I did.

"Are you?" Sandy replied. "It's your choice."

"We've all talked about this and we want you to be part of our family." Kirsten said. "If you want to be."

"It would probably be a good idea for you to avoid fighting with the head cheerleader." Sandy quipped.

"Okay, no more fights and no more trouble." I promised.

"Welcome to the family." Sandy replied as he gave me a hug and then Kirsten gave me one too. "Seth, you can come in now."

They walked away and Seth walked back in.

"You knew about this, didn't you?" I asked him.

"I didn't want to jinx anything." Seth responded with a smile. "But you are a Cohen now. We're practically brother and sister."

"Well now all I need to do is stay out of trouble." I responded. "I need your help with that. If you ever think I'm about to do something stupid, I give you the right to drag me away."

Kirsten then took the two of us to the pool house. I was pretty sure that she wanted me to redecorate.

"You'll need bedding and towels and how's the bed, Samantha, it is comfortable?" She asked before Seth flopped on it.

"It's comfortable." Seth replied.

"Thanks, Samantha." I deadpanned.

"We really want you to have privacy, but this a pool house. It needs some warmth." She explained. "You need chairs, a desk, and a bookshelf."

"Plus a flatscreen, turntables, minibar." Seth quipped.

"And we need to clean all of this out so you can room for some of your stuff." She added. I looked at her. "Right, you don't have any stuff, which means you have to go shopping, for clothes, and shoes, other things."

"I'll get everything." I told her.

"And you'll need a white dress for cotillion." She added.

"What?" I asked, not knowing what that was.

"It's the annual debutante ball. It's Newport's biggest event." Kirsten explained after we drove to this place.

"Until whatever comes up next week." Seth quipped.

"It's the day that Newport's most accomplished young women make their debut into society." She added.

"And how does that apply to me?" I asked. I had not accomplished anything.

"Or another excuse for them to get wasted and throw up on everything." Seth stated.

"Hey, I was a deb." Kirsten replied. "I made my debut at this very country club not so many years ago."

"The year was…" Seth started.

"Hey." She cut him off. "Watch it."

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" I asked.

"You have to go. It's a family tradition." She told me.

"Hello, dear." A red-haired woman greeted her and they kissed each other's cheeks. I don't think I'll ever understand that part.

"Hi, Peggy." Kirsten declared. "How's it going?"

"Oh, it will be fine." Peggy replied. "The fitting area is back there."

"Come on, you two. It'll be fun." Kirsten replied as she led us. Usually when someone says that, it's not fun.

"Okay, pick whatever you want." A woman instructed me. "We have Gucci, Armani, Versace is over there."

I was way out of my depth.

"Hi, I'm picking up for Marissa Cooper." A voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Hey." I greeted her.

"Hey." She reciprocated. "What are you doing here?"

"I am a deb, I guess." I answered. "I'm kind of living with the Cohens."

"Well you probably need someone to help you." Kaitlin said as she appeared suddenly. "I'm guessing that you have no idea how to pick out a dress."

"Hey, Coop, Mini-Coop." Summer greeted us as she and Holly appeared. Kaitlin rolled her eyes. "These gloves are giving me serious sausage arms."

"What are you doing here?" Holly asked as she put her hand on Marissa's shoulder. "I thought you were going back to Chino."

"So, Kaitlin, you wanted to help me find a dress…" I said hastily as I grabbed her arm.

"Is everything alright?" Kirsten interrupted.

"I'll be in the Jeep." Holly stated as she walked off.

"Marissa, I was going to call you." Kirsten stated. "Since you're lead deb, I wanted to introduce you to a white knight and a last minute deb."

"Every girl needs a white knight." Summer remarked.

"Seth Cohen, white knight." Seth said to her. He's talking to her. He's making progress!

"So you'll be at the rehearsal?" Summer asked.

"Yes, absolutely." Seth declared.

"See you there." Summer purred, probably at me. "Come on, let's go."

"I actually wanted to ride back with them." Kaitlin stated before looking at Kirsten. "If that's all right with you."

"Sure." Kirsten replied.

"Cotillion rocks." Seth commented before Kaitlin dragged me away over to where the dresses were.

"So do you know what kind of dress you want?" Kaitlin asked.

"No." I responded. "What are you getting?"

"Oh, I'm not a deb." She replied. "I'm not old enough."

"And yet you know what kind of dress I should get." I remarked as I looked through the racks. They all looked the same to me.

"That's benefit of years of Newport parties." Kaitlin declared. "Try this one."

Later, Seth and I walked into the house with Kirsten. I had selected a dress with these black gemstones on it that I was not sure if they were real or not. Sandy was in the kitchen with some wine.

"Hey, what are you doing home?" Kirsten asked.

"Do you two mind?" Sandy replied. That was code for 'Please leave.'

"If this is about the vase…" Seth started.

"What vase?" Sandy asked. Seth needs to stop ruining things. Seth said nothing and dragged me away.

Now, I needed to go to the mall to get those things.

"So I don't think that you should go to cotillion." I remarked.

"Yes you are." Seth replied.

"I told your parents that I would stay out of trouble and if Holly is going to be there, I don't know if I can do that." I explained.

"Holly is not going to start a fight at a debutante ball." Seth countered. "Sammie, my mom has always wanted a daughter. She really wants you to be there."

Yeah, I don't think I can back out now. I still needed someone to go shopping with and as fun as Seth was to talk to, I don't think he'd be able to help with girls' clothes. I knocked on the door next door. It was answered by Marissa who was in her dress. She looked very beautiful in that dress.

"Oh, you're at my house." She stated.

"I kind of needed someone to go shopping with." I responded.

"Okay, I was just trying this on, but I can't seem to reach the zipper.

"I could." I volunteered. She turned around and I saw her perfect bare back. I then realized I was staring and zipped her up.

"Thanks." She told me. "So you were going shopping?"

"Yeah." I responded quickly.

"I could go with you." Kaitlin replied as she came to the door. "I need to get some shoes and I really don't want to go with my mom."

"Okay, sure." I agreed. I liked Kaitlin, not in the same way that I liked Marissa, but it was nice to have a female friend.

That evening, I went to the rehearsal with Seth.

"So what do we do at this rehearsal?" I asked Seth.

"Just stupid cotillion stuff." Seth answered. "Bowing and curtsying…"

I grabbed him as soon as I noticed dancing.

"D…dancing." I stuttered. "You didn't say that there was dancing."

"That's because you wouldn't have come if I had."

"I c…can't dance." I stammered.

"I can't dance either, but you let your partner lead you." Seth explained. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't work for him.

We walked in and shortly, Marissa walked over to us.

"So it looks like you two need to be paired." She stated as a guy with long brown hair stepped out. "Samantha, this is Zach Stevens."

"Who am I with?" Summer asked.

"Well…I was going to put you with Seth, but I found someone else for him." Marissa remarked as a girl with short blonde hair walked over. "Seth, this is Anna Stern. She just moved her from Pittsburgh."

"So what am about me?" Summer asked. I felt kind of bad because it seemed like she didn't have a date because they weren't enough guys. I looked at Zach, who didn't look particularly thrilled.

"So I don't know how to dance." I whispered to Marissa.

"I can help." She offered before she led me and Zach. "So you guys are over here. You can get into waltz position."

I looked at Zach. He didn't seem to know what that was either. I did notice that he really towered me.

"Samantha, you put your hand on Zach's shoulder." Marissa instructed as I did so awkwardly. "No, let me show you."

Marissa put my hand in place.

"Now, Zach you'll put your right hand on her back like this." Marissa explained as she showed him. Her touch felt great. This was kind of awkward, though. "Do you remember that?"

"Should I be jealous?" Holly interrupted. She was with Luke and some other guy.

"We can take it from here." I told Marissa as I got into the same position with Zach. It didn't feel as good though.

"It looks like you're really into her." He commented. "You're in a lot of trouble."

"I know." I replied before Peggy came to instruct us on how to move. I would definitely have to wear heels because Zach towered over me.

"So you're the girl from Chino that stole a car." Zach replied. "Word spreads pretty quickly."

"Is that a problem?" I asked.

"No, I'd love to help you on your path to becoming a good girl." Zach quipped.

Three hours later, my feet hurt as I walked out with Seth.

"Three hours of dancing." I huffed.

"I feel like I could go for three more." Seth commented.

"So how did you two feel about that?" Marissa said as she came out. "Seth did you get along with Anna."

"Surprisingly well." Seth replied. "She likes comics too."

"What about you?" Marissa asked me. "You'll probably want to wear heels."

"I don't need to be reminded that I'm short." I remarked. At that point, Holly came over and hugged and kissed Marissa.

"I'm obligated to invite every deb and white knight over for a cookout." Holly replied. "But I also have the right to ask you to leave if there's any trouble."

"You didn't do it last year." Seth pointed out.

"Yes, I did." Holly replied before walking away.

"Is she planning to kill me?" I asked Marissa.

"No, you should come. I promise I'll get her to be civil." Marissa told me before she also walked away.

"Yeah, I'm not going." I told Seth.

"I don't want to go alone." Seth said.

"Summer's going to be there." I pointed out.

"Yeah, I'm still going, but I don't want to go alone." He remarked. "Listen, you're basically my sister now and that means that we should do stuff for one another. So, if you do this for me, somewhere down the line, I will repay you. I don't know what it's gonna be, but it will be awesome. Please?"

Well now, I had to go.

We ended up going to the party and once again, there were bikinis everywhere. There weren't any visible drugs at least.

"Give me ten minutes to find Summer." He requested.

"Ten minutes." I told him. I took a seat on the couch, hoping to avoid Holly at all costs. Maybe Seth should date Anna if they have so much in common.

I noticed that Marissa was in the kitchen and she seemed to notice me. She waved over, but I shook my head, so instead she came over to me, which was also a bad idea.

"Are you sure you wanna be seen with me?" I asked. "I don't want to cause any trouble."

"I can talk to you." She responded. "Holly hasn't forbid me from being friends with other girls, and even if she did, I wouldn't listen to her. I'm glad you came. How could you possibly miss all this?"

I heard Luke and some of the guys were making fart noises.

"I just lost my appetite." I remarked. At that point, Holly walked over.

"I see you're making yourself at home." She remarked icily. "Can I get you a burger or some ribs?"

"Holly, you said you were going to be civil." Marissa chided her girlfriend.

"I'm being civil." Holly replied in defense. "I'm being a good hostess, but I don't understand why the one person in this house that you want to talk to is my girlfriend."

Well, Seth ditched me and Kaitlin's not here, at least I don't think she is.

"I wanted to talk to her." Marissa argued.

"Babe, you should talk to Summer. She looks kind of lonely since she doesn't have an escort." Holly suggested. I really think I should find Seth so we can leave.

"Or you can and I can finish talking to Samantha." Marissa replied. I'm starting to wonder if Marissa is worth it, even though Holly is a bitch.

"I'm leaving anyway." I stated. Marissa tried to stop me, but I could clearly see that I wasn't wanted.

"She can go if she wants." Holly said. For once, we agreed on something as she grabbed me and guided me toward the door.

"I'm not fighting you." I told her.

"What if I do this?" Holly asked before she kicked me in the gut. I hunched over in pain. Marissa then stepped in to scold her. I then noticed Seth.

"I think you need to fight back." He stated. "But you really are a Cohen. Let's go home."

He was going to owe me big for this.

The next night, I was in the pool house, reading some of Seth's comics. These storylines were crazy. Why did Spiderman think it would be a good idea to reveal his identity to the world? Seth then came in wearing his tux.

"Why are you not dressed?" He asked me.

"I don't want to go. I want to avoid Holly for the rest of my life." I explained.

"No, my mom won't let you do that." Seth replied. "You need to do this. You need to stop being a scaredy-cat and put your dress on. It was very expensive."

"Look, the more Holly pushes me, the more likely I'll be to push back and I could lose everything." I remarked.

"Well Holly's family will be there. She's not gonna do anything." Seth reasoned. "Do you want me to send my mom in here to make you get dressed?"

I sighed. I knew that I would have now. I opened my dress bag and took the white garment out.

"I can't do it with you in here." I told him.

"I am sending my mom just in case." He stated before he left the pool house. I pulled clothes off and began to put it on. I'm glad I could reach the zipper. It was at that moment that Kirsten walked in.

"You look beautiful." She told me. "I got you something to wear."

She presented me with a pair of white heels and some diamond earrings.

"So Seth said that you were having doubts." She remarked as she clipped the earrings on my non-pierced ears.

"I'm not like those other girls." I told her. "I don't fit in and everyone knows it."

"Hey, I felt the same way at my cotillion." Kirsten pointed out. "Okay, so I was more like them, but I still didn't feel like I belonged. I wish we had time to do your hair. Now if I only I could convince Sandy."

"Do you want me to talk to him?" I asked.

"We don't have time." She replied as I put the shoes on.

"So, I still feel like I'm going to trip wearing these." I replied. "Will people laugh if I do?"

"Yes, but you won't." She told me. At this moment, Kirsten felt more like my mom than my actual mom had in my whole life.

"Do I have enough to walk there, so I can practice?" I asked.

"Yes." She told me. I began to walk past the Cooper house and I saw Kaitlin was walking in a gold dress.

"What are you doing?" She asked me.

"I'm walking to cotillion." I replied. "You?"

"Same." She answered. "My mom is freaking you because Marissa doesn't want to go and neither does my dad, so I'm skipping the drama and walking. Maybe you should talk to Marissa. She might listen to you because she likes you."

Kaitlin let me into her house and I went up the stairs as I tried not to trip over them.

"What are you doing here?" She asked me. She was not wearing a dress.

"Kaitlin told me that you didn't want to go to cotillion." I remarked as Marissa glared at her sister. "Are you not going because of me and Holly?"

"I'm kind of surprised that you're going." Marissa commented.

"Well I realized that I have certain people that I don't want to let down." I responded. "I'm going, so you should come two. I'll fix your dress for you."

I don't think that we had time to walk now. So we all went into the house.

"We need a ride to cotillion." I told Sandy. Minutes later, he was in a tux and we were driving. I still hope that I don't trip.

We went into the green room so Marissa could get dressed.

"You said that you weren't coming." Holly replied angrily. "Now you're here with her?"

"No, I'm not here with her." Marissa argued. It didn't seem to help.

"Leave them alone." Kaitlin replied.

"Fuck this, it's over." Holly said as she walked out. I guess Marissa was single now. Marissa just shrugged and went to get dressed.

I guess I needed to go find Zach. I really need to make sure that I don't trip. You know if I keep thinking that I'll trip, I'll probably trip.

I found that I didn't have time to find him because I had to get in line. I was at the back. I hoped that Zach would be here, but to be honest, I really didn't care if he wasn't. I was here and I don't need a date.

"Samantha Atwood, daughter of Sanford and Kirsten Cohen." Peggy called. That was kind of awkward, hearing it like that. Plus calling me a daughter was a bit of stretch, but it sounded right. I walked out and met Sandy before meeting up with Zach.

We had to dance, which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was just glad that I hadn't tripped. I'd still rather be dancing with Marissa, but apparently they didn't want the debs dancing with each other because they're still a bit traditionalist at least for that sake.

"You son of a bitch!" A man shouted as he suddenly punched Marissa's dad to the ground. He then got on top of him and began to strangle him. "You're a thief. You're a fucking thief."

Sandy went over to help, but he ended getting punched. Now he went too far. I went over and kneed him in the groin. The helped enough for some other guys to subdue him. Both Marissa and Kaitlin looked crushed about what they had just witnessed.

Not long after, the police showed up. I hoped that everything wasn't ruined right now. I went over to Sandy and Kirsten.

"So, I'm sorry. I know I promised not to get in any trouble." I remarked.

"That took a lot of courage and we can make an exception." Sandy told me. "The police are gonna have some questions and as your attorney, guardian, and father I can say you should get the hell out of here."

I began to walk away before Seth cut me off.

"So I was gonna walk Anna home." He stated. "I think that you made a very memorable debut. It's about time that we had a Cohen that can kick ass. You wanna come with?"

"No, I can make it back on my own." I replied. I went outside and I found Marissa, standing by a bench. She was predictably crying. I went and walked over to her.

"You okay?" I asked her.

"What happened in there?" She responded.

"I don't know." I admitted.

"What's gonna happen now?" She whimpered.

"I don't know." I responded. I wished that I did. "Let's just go."

We turned to leave and there was Holly in her dress, even though she had been absent from the cotillion. I think that was her dad that had attacked.

"I'm sorry." Holly replied. "Can I take you home? We can talk about this."

"I just need to be alone right now." Marissa declared as she walked off.

"So you hit my dad." She replied. I was now extremely nervous. "You know what, I don't care. Thank you for stopping him. I just want you to know that I am going to win her back."

She then walked away. I was just confused

So I skipped a few episodes. I really wanted to get to this one. Sammie didn't burn down one of Caleb's houses, but he's still not going to like her. I also have Kaitlin as her best female friend for things that Seth can't help with. Please don't forget to review.