Disclaimer: Is it still Josh's if the show's now cancelled?

A/N: So I watched the last episode of "The OC" yesterday. (I know, I know… I live in the US and I waited two days after the fact? Well, I ended up taping it Thursday night; one – because I had a sorority meeting and two – because I wanted to watch it with friends who were just as sad to see the show go off-air and yesterday was the only time we could coordinate our schedules.) But anyways, I decided to write this after I finished watching and here's the ending result. Sorry if it's not all you guys have hoped for. But the drama's coming up fast! And I also apologize for not writing back to anyone's reviews – I figured putting out a chapter was better than replying. But I swear, all reviews from now on – I'm replying. Cross my heart.

Anyway, this A/N is a little too long so I'll let you all just read the chapter already.

Read, enjoy, and review! And thanks for the uplifting messages!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"It's really beautiful out here," Summer sighed as she leaned into Seth's arm, gripping his right hand in her left one and wrapping her right arm completely around Seth's. They had just left the karaoke bar and were walking along 5th Ave, watching the random passer-bys casually talking or zipping in and out of closing stores.

"With all the car exhausts, crowds of people, and the smell of urine," Seth named them off sarcastically, "I guess I can see where you're coming from."

Summer pulled back and lightly punched Seth's arm, in which he responded with a chuckle.

"I've got padding this time, Summer," Seth indicated to his light-weight jacket. "You just can't hurt me like you used to."

Summer loved the way Seth's smile widen with his dimples growing deeper into his clear skin. She loved that Seth could make her laugh by even the simplest statement, causing her heart to skip a beat or two. She loved the feel of Seth's skin being caressed against her own, and even though direct contact was diverted at this time because of light-weight jackets, she could still feel her skin heating up, as if it had its own natural reaction to having Seth so close to her. Summer just loved Seth – simply, truly, and beyond a doubt loved him. With these thoughts invading her mind, the uneasy tension from the Karaoke Bar and John washed away, leaving her only to admire Seth's confident stance next to her.

"Oh," Summer giggled, "You're a big boy now? Don't need Ryan to fight your battles anymore?"

"I never needed Ryan to fight my battles. I do pretty fantastic on my own."

"Now."

"Now?" Seth stopped, turning towards Summer. "Now? What happened to having a great, strong boyfriend who can mess up anyone's face if they try to mess with his girl?"

Summer laughed out loud at this statement, almost hurling over as laughing pains crept to her stomach. "Who the hell said that?"

"You," Seth sweetly replied as he tapped his pointer finger on his girlfriend's nose.

"No," Summer laughed, trying to gain her composure, "No, I didn't."

Seth nodded his head enthusiastically, pointing his finger towards Summer. "Yes, you did. Remember that night when we were lying in your dorm room and you told me I was your superhero and that you thought I could fight anyone for you?"

"Vaguely," Summer smiled. "Wasn't that the night we got trashed at that girl Macy's St. Patrick's Day party?"

"Yes!" Seth shouted. "I knew you remembered it!"

"Seth, I was drunk! I was saying just about anything so that I could get sex that night!"

Seth grunted loudly, continuing his walking pace unexpectedly as Summer caught up to him. "Right. Cause you weren't gonna get sex that night anyway." Seth returned his arm to around Summer's waist, looking into her eyes lovingly. "Summer, you can always get sex from me. It's like the one thing in life that will remain a constant. Besides the sun, that is."

"You're too cute," Summer laughed, leaning her head back into Seth's arm.

"I'm gonna pretend you didn't say that," Seth smirked, keeping his gaze intently on the walkway in front of them.

Summer let her eyes linger up to Seth's outlined face, noticing the already familiar contours that were often thought about images in her mind. She reached up, bringing his head down slightly with her hand, leaving a soft kiss on his cheek. Summer saw Seth's lips begin to form into a smile and he looked down at her, leaving his own soft kiss on her forehead.

They both walked in silence for a few more minutes, just noticing the lights and buildings throughout mid-town Manhattan and every so often Seth would point out something of annoyance or displeasure. Summer would roll her eyes and lean into him further, gasping in Seth's natural scent rather than the city's "gas exhausts" and "smell of urine," as Seth so nicely put it.

At one point during their walk, Summer noticed in a series of buildings' reflections that she and Seth looked so perfect together. Not only were their clothes of matching styles and colors – which, Summer noted, was not planned by either of them -, but they seemed to just fit well into each other's bodies. While Seth continued on his normal rant of impossible prices of street vendor hot dogs in New York, Summer smiled into the reflection as if she was seeing her future life for the first time. She could imagine walking with Seth down these same streets a few years from now, after their college graduation and a hard week at their perspective jobs, just walking to relieve stress, to explore the simple parts of the city she knew Seth would grow to love, and most importantly, to just relish in the time they had to be by themselves. Summer imagined younger high school or college-aged girls walking past them to get into their favorite stores, noticing how in love she and Seth looked and how they wished they had that type of romance that was only read about in fiction novels or seen acted out on the movie screen. Summer could picture the young girls' eyes yearning for the love they did not yet know of but saw clearly with she and Seth walking briskly past, chatting about what to put on their wedding gift registry at Ethan Allen Home Interiors. Summer could see it all happening right here on these streets and in that moment she wanted nothing more than that dream to come true.

"You all right there?" Seth nudged Summer softly out of her thoughts with his elbow.

Summer glanced up at Seth, squeezing his hand. "I'm so glad you're here."

"Me too, Sum," Seth leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Me too."

Summer couldn't help but glance back in the building's glass to see their perfect reflection once again.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The remainder of the time Seth spent in Manhattan with Summer, he split evenly between his girlfriend and his hatred for New York City. Summer continually tried to remind him of the beauty that could be found in the little non-tourist areas of the city – the beauty that was found only beneath the first appearance or impression. At all of these comments, Seth would simply nod and kiss Summer's skin – usually her forehead or cheek – and tell her that she was amazing. Summer would smile back and always reply, "So is this city if you give it a chance, Cohen."

Seth was trying to give New York a shot. He had been trying to give up on his constant reminders that rent was probably cheaper in Newport, that transportation didn't have to smell like bowel movements, and that noise wasn't supposed to only consist of honks from annoyed taxi cab drivers. Seth really did try. He just couldn't grow to love the city that Summer was so desperately falling in love with.

On the last night that Seth was to be staying in New York with Summer, the whole gang – as Summer liked to call her new friends – invited them to a concert performed by a relatively unknown band at the local Knitting Factory. Seth thought it was a great idea after he found out the performers were a band he actually knew and Summer jumped at the chance to do something that would possibly make Seth admit that there was at least one thing great about the city.

The one thing Summer wasn't looking forward to – and neither was Seth – was the fact that John was coming along. Both Seth and Summer had turned down invites by John to go to other clubs, bars, and restaurants for the past week. They hadn't seen him since the night of the Karaoke Bar and ever since they had been happily in love without a care in the world. And although neither Seth nor Summer would admit it, they would a little more than worried that something would arise from their night spent in close quarters with John.

It was clear that Seth and John didn't get along. Seth refused to acknowledge John and John did the same. They merely existed in the same area for the days Seth was in New York, acting like the other didn't exist at all.

"So you guys pumped?" Mark asked the group as they waited in line to get in.

"Cohen's definitely excited," Summer smiled up from her purse search for her strawberry lip gloss. "He actually knows the band and likes them."

"You do, man?" Matt asked surprisingly, holding onto Hannah's waist.

"Yeah," Seth answered. "They're a band from San Francisco. They were the opening act for Death Cab a few years ago."

"You're into the emo stuff?" John probed Seth, teasingly. "A little dark for such a happy, optimistic guy, don't you think?"

"Not really," Seth muttered with an annoyed tone, turning his back towards John to focus on Summer. "You have any gum?"

Summer, who tried to ignore Seth and John's small dispute, opened her purse once again. "I've got Cinnamon. I know it's not any Wintergreen but still…"

Seth smiled, taking the gum from her hand, "Thanks, Sum."

"You're a Wintergreen fan?" John tried to re-enter conversation with Seth. "Cool, me too."

"How awesome," Seth replied sarcastically as he popped the piece of gum into his mouth. "Guess we're meant to be best friends for life."

John chuckled a bit, slapping Seth's back a little harder than a friendly tap. "If you say so, man!"

Seth winced under John's slap and Summer rubbed Seth's arm comfortingly as John walked in front of them to give the bouncer his ticket. Seth looked down at Summer with anxious eyes.

Summer reached up on her tip-toes, whispering close to Seth's ear. "We're gonna have fun tonight. Just me and you and the soothing music of…" Summer searched for the name of the band.

"Green Cup Paddle," Seth told her helpfully.

"Right," Summer continued whispering. "You, me, and Green Cup Paddle."

"Should be a night to remember," Seth whispered back, leaning in to give Summer a kiss on her nose. Summer scrunched up her face happily, opening her eyes to see the bouncer asking for the tickets. Seth gave him both of theirs as they continued their way into the crowded, lightly-lit hallway leading to the concert floor.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

It didn't take long for Seth to get himself completely immersed in the music of Green Cup Paddle. It didn't take Summer long to find herself completely bored of the same emo-sounding music flooding her already jaded ears.

And it certainly didn't take John long to try and take advantage of these two obvious facts.

"Why the sad face?" John sneaked up to Summer at the bar, taking the seat next to her.

Summer put her mixed drink down and turned to John. "Oh, hey, John."

"Hey," John smiled back. "Now why aren't you having a good time? It looks like Seth sure is."

John pointed over at Seth causing both Summer and him to turn to look at him. Seth was nearly five feet away from the speakers, screaming lyrics from his mouth and holding a beer in both hands, rocking his head to the loud music with his sweaty curls sticking to his forehead.

"Yeah, he really likes the band," Summer turned back, taking another sip from her drink.

"Not what you had in mind for the night?"

Summer shook her head. "Not really. In fact, not at all."

"Hey," John put his hand on Summer's shoulder, "There's still the rest of the night."

Summer grunted. "Not when he's drunk off his ass and can't stay awake more than fifteen minutes after we leave this place."

"He really doesn't handle his liquor well, does he?"

"Do you see him right now?" Summer retorted, gulping the rest of her drink and then asking the bartender for another.

John chuckled a bit. "And what are you doing? Drowning your sorrows?"

Summer laughed a bit at this, forgetting that she was trying to stay away from John for the night, "Something like that."

Summer held a smile on her face for a few more moments as John continued staring at her, appearing to come closer. When she realized John was getting too close for comfort, she stood up from her seat abruptly. "I should go over there with him. I don't need him puking on the stage or something gross like that."

"Summer…" John began as Summer started walking away. John followed closely, reaching up for Summer's arm and holding his hand around it to halt her for a moment. "Summer, I wasn't going to do anything."

"Uh… I know," Summer avoided making eye contact. "I need to check on Seth."

"We're friends, Summer. Right?"

"Ah, yeah," Summer fumbled with her words, trying to get out of John's grasp. "Right, we're friends."

"Then look at me," John instructed her.

In that moment, Summer wanted to be anywhere but at this stupid concert venue listening to this annoying whiny music. She wanted to be in Providence, at her home, watching some chick flick movie on the couch with Seth's body curled around hers. Summer didn't want this and she didn't want Seth to suddenly look over and see John and her together thinking they were having some type of lover's affair quarrel and then cause a drunken scene in front of the many people in the venue. And with Summer's luck wearing thin these days with close encounters that might possibly not be resolved so easily as they had been, she was desperately afraid that exactly that would happen.

"What, John?" Summer looked up at him with an annoyed look.

"You've been acting really distant ever since Seth came. Did he tell you not to talk to me or something?"

"No, he didn't tell me anything like that! He's not jealous."

"As he shouldn't," John answered defiantly. "There's nothing he should be jealous of. Seeing as I'm just your friend and he's clearly your boyfriend."

"Yes. Clearly," Summer sneered. "Now could you let me go?"

"If you tell me why you won't talk to me anymore. I thought we were becoming good friends, Summer. Really good friends. Now you just treat me like shit. Like I'm not good enough to be around. Summer, I'm hurt. We really hit it off well – both in seventh grade and this summer," John smirked, lightening the mood.

Summer felt a hint of guilt creep into her mind as she heard John's words. Maybe John wasn't trying to do anything to destroy her relationship with Seth. Maybe she was just making up all this melodrama in her head, as if trying to find a way to cause a problem between her and Seth. Not that she wanted any problems. Not at all. She just wasn't used to having no romantic drama with Seth – especially when they were living apart for as long as they already had been. Maybe she had just brought up this whole John issue in her head to cause problems. Maybe John wasn't the one to blame and instead it was her.

"I'm sorry, John," Summer replied earnestly. "I don't know why I've been acting this way. I guess, I'm just trying to sort things out."

John let go of Summer's arm, knowing Summer wouldn't run off this time. "Sort what things out?"

"I don't know. Just… umm… things…" Summer answered unsurely.

"Things. Right. Got it," John chuckled again. "Well, you know, Summer, you can come to me with any of these 'things' you're having trouble sorting out. I'm a good listener when someone needs me to be."

Summer opened up her mouth to reply, but suddenly a heavy arm draped around her shoulder and as she turned to see who its owner was, the stench of beer flooded Summer's senses.

"Ew, Cohen! Have enough beer?"

Seth ignored Summer's outburst and began talking. "This band is awesome! Awesome, Summer. Almost as awesome as you in bed!"

Summer's eyes bulged out of her head, slapping Seth away. "Cohen!"

John snickered a bit, as Seth continued. "I said almost, Summer. Almost. Don't get mad, baby." Seth began shuffling Summer's hair with his empty hand, while the other brought the bottle of beer up to his lips.

Summer angrily ripped the beer away from Seth's lips and handed it to John. "Take this."

"Sure thing," John laughed, taking the bottle.

"What're you doing, Sum?" Seth voiced, hurt.

"I'm taking you back to the apartment," Summer rearranged her position that molded into Seth's body so that she could hold him upright.

"Ooohhh," Seth's face brightened up. "So we can have sex? Summer, I love having sex with you. It's, like, the best thing ever."

Summer groaned, trying to walk him through the crowd at a fast pace as John followed behind. "Seth, let's just work on getting you sober."

"I get sober and then I get sex! Awesome! I went to an awesome concert and then I'm gonna have sex with my awesome girlfriend. This is an awesome night!"

As they reached the door, John held it open for them, and spoke to Summer. "You sure you don't want some help bringing him back?"

Before Summer could reply, Seth shook his head fiercely pointing at John. "Where did you come from? You know, I don't really like you, you… you… ugly, mean, demon water polo player."

"Seth, stop it," Summer held his body up and then looked over at John, "I'll be okay. Thanks though." John smiled and turned around as Summer added, "And I'm sorry. I really am."

"Just get him home safe… and sober," John replied, before turning back around, about to head back into the venue.

"Summer, he's a dick. Don't be friends with dicks. He only wants in your pants and I'm the only person who gets in your pants. Right, baby?" Seth slurred.

"Right, Cohen," Summer humored him. "You really need to sober up."

"Anything for you, baby," Seth leaned in and left a slobbery kiss on the side of her face as they continued down the street.

John continued smirking, laughing and saying to himself, "You're gonna lose her soon, geek. Give me just a few more weeks and that six year relationship will be nothing more than some horrible nightmare to her." John snickered, walking back into the concert, chugging the rest of Seth's unfinished beer.