Disclaimer: Fox and Josh Schwartz own The O.C. not me.
"Hey," Seth smiled as Summer approached him.
"Hey yourself," Summer grinned shyly.
"Wanna cut a rug?"
"Cut a-who talks like that?" Summer teased.
"I don't know," he laughed.
"Well are you just going to stand there contemplating your stupid phrases, or are we going to dance?"
"Dance."
Seth led her back on to the dance floor. An old song from high school came on. Seth smiled knowing exactly what the song was. They put their arms around each other and started swaying with the music.
Where did I go wrong?
I can't look you in the eye
Feeling so ashamed
It feels like I could die
Hold me up, don't let go
I've had enough
"What?" Summer asked noticing his grin.
"Nothing…this is just a really good song."
"What it is? I don't think I've ever heard it before."
I'm tired of breathing
I'm tired of feeling
Tired of looking at the past for meaning
Tired of running
Tired of searching
Tired of trying
But I'm not tired of you
"It's an old song by The Exies," Seth answered.
"The who?"
"Just some band from high school."
Losing everything
It's something I can't face
Hope is on the run
It's something I can't fake
Hold me up and don't let go
I've had enough
"This is from high school?" Summer asked.
"Well it wasn't exactly a huge hit," Seth laughed.
I'm tired of breathing
Tired of feeling
Tired of looking at the past for meaning
Tired of running
Tired of searching
Tired of trying
But I'm not tired of you
"I like it."
"Yeah me too…it reminds me of you."
Summer lowered her eyes.
"Sorry," Seth said quietly.
"No, don't be. It reminds me of you, too," Summer whispered before laying her head against his chest.
I want to feel a change
I don't mind if it hurts
You take away the pain
You're the only thing that's pure
Seth breathed in her scent and closed his eyes just as Summer took a deep breath to take in the smell of his cologne. No matter who wore the same cologne as him, to Summer, no one smelled as good as Seth. Seth smelled her strawberry shampoo mixed with her light perfume. It was almost intoxicating. He knew that smell was perhaps the most powerful sense, but he never realized until now just how powerful it was. Nobody smelled quite as wonderful as Summer. It was one of the many reasons that he knew he couldn't live without her. If he had to spend the rest of his life never being able to smell something so sweet and so intoxicating, then he'd probably go insane.
I'm tired of breathing
Tired of feeling
Tired of looking at the past for meaning
Tired of running
Tired of searching
Tired of trying
But I'm not tired of you
Seth and Summer both felt disappointed as the song ended and they had to pull away from each other.
"May I take my turn with the lovely lady?" Billy asked coming up to them.
Seth smiled and backed away. Billy danced with Summer for a few songs while Seth mingled with the guests.
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Suddenly as if the DJ realized that wedding receptions don't play only slow songs, a fast song came on.
Billy went back to socializing around the tables and such, leaving Summer stranded on the dance floor. Marissa and Ryan approached Summer as they danced in a group Ryan and Marissa's friends from college and Caitlin and Peter. Seth watched all of his relatives for a few minutes. His parents were dancing together doing some crazy dance move they must have learned "back in the day." Seth would have been embarrassed except he knew he didn't dance much better. His Uncle Steve was definitely 'cutting a rug' with Katie. Emma bounded her way over to Ryan and everyone else and joined their group. After all, a sophisticated 13 year old like herself wouldn't be caught dead dancing with her parents. Besides, Steve and Katie were dancing like old people dance…you know doing the bump and other dances like that. Meanwhile, Shelly had her kids, Braden and Meg, along with Michael and Gabe out on the dance floor bouncing around doing what Seth could only assume was some strange type of dance…or having convulsions. Tom was watching Brie while Shelly danced with the other kids. Of course, Thomas Jr. was too cool to dance with his mom, so he sat in a chair by himself. Jimmy and Hailey were sitting at a table with some of the other guests laughing and appearing to be having a great time. Caleb and Julie were sitting at a table alone watching all of the mayhem, because we all know that Caleb wouldn't 'cut a rug' because it would make him seem less terrifying. (AN: lol)
The song changed to an old school reception favorite, YMCA. Practically everyone jumped on the floor now. It's like all of the old people wait for this particular song and then they just go for it.
Summer bounded off the dance floor. Seth thought she was coming to get him because everyone knows you can't sit out YMCA at a wedding reception. Right? But suddenly Summer darted to his right. Seth followed Summer's gaze and smiled at her destination.
"You can't sit this one out. It's like a rule," Summer said to Thomas, grabbing his hand.
Surprisingly, Thomas let her drag him onto the dance floor and actually joined in. Summer looked over at Seth and motioned for him to join everyone. So naturally, Seth went out onto the floor.
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Hours later, Ryan and Marissa set off out the doors for their honeymoon with everyone cheering and waving goodbye. The reception was basically over now. So everyone started clearing out…well except for the family and friends who were staying to clean up.
The reception had been really fun. It was probably the best wedding reception Seth had ever been to….of course the wedding was the best wedding he'd ever been to so the reception had to meet the same standards. It only made sense. The night went very well. Caitlin caught Marissa's bouquet and Michael caught the garter Ryan tossed, Seth hoped that the kid wouldn't be using it for a few years, after all, he is only nine.
"Seth, would it be a horrible inconvenience for you to give up your room tonight?" Kirsten asked as they gathered up cups and things and threw them into trash bags.
"Um, I guess not. Why? Where do I have to sleep?" Seth asked.
"Wherever you want…as long as it's not in your room…or the pool house…or the guest room…or the second guest room….or the couch."
"What?"
"I'm sorry but we've kind of over-booked ourselves. You can have the floor in the living room as long as you don't mind sleeping in the same room with the boys," Kirsten said furrowing her brow.
"Wh-how? I mean I live there," Seth whined.
"Technically you live in New York," Summer said passing by him to throw away a few cups.
"Thanks, Summer," Seth said sarcastically.
"Just telling it how it is."
"Look, Seth, I'm sorry. I don't really know how this happened. I mean I knew that Steve and Katie and the kids were staying with us. Add in Tom and Shelly and their kids…and Gram and the Nana…and now Hailey and Jimmy…I just thought that someone would want to stay in a hotel…but I guess I just assumed they'd all make their own reservations," Kirsten explained.
"So how does this work?" Seth asked.
"Well if we put Steve, Katie, and Gabe in the first guest room and Shelly, Tom, and Brie in the second, then we can put Nana and Gram in the pool house. Then Emma and Meg can have your room. So Thomas, Michael, and Braden will be in the living room, which Michael and Braden already called the couch bed. I'm kind assuming that Thomas won't be happy about that so I figure if you're staying with the boys then you should let him sleep in the recliner and you take the floor."
"Wow….this…sucks."
"Thank you. I'm glad you're so willing to be nice to your family," Kirsten replied sardonically.
"Why don't you just stay with Summer?" Nana asked joining them as she threw away a few napkins. Gram wheeled herself over to them to join in too.
Summer had a fleeting look of panic in her eyes as the Nana said this. But as soon as it appeared it vanished and she said, "Yeah, Cohen, why don't you just stay with me?"
"That would make sense," Seth said slowly.
Summer nodded clenching her jaw and smiling fakely.
"Wait I just got an idea," Gram said happily.
"Yes?" Seth asked almost fearfully.
"You have an extra room right, Summer?"
"Well, Coop's room, but I guess she won't be using it anymore," Summer answered.
"That's what I thought. What if we stored everyone suitcases in that room? Just for tonight. Then everyone would be able to move about Sandy and Kirsten's much easier. And tomorrow before Steve and Katie's flight leaves we call all come get our things. Everyone can just pack an overnight bag for tonight and leave everything else in Marissa's room," Gram suggested.
"Well I guess that works…or you could just store it in my living room."
"Nonsense. Then everything's in your way. If we just put it in Marissa's room then its totally out of the way…besides, I know Seth wouldn't honestly stay in Marissa's room tonight anyway," Gram said with a wink.
Seth and Summer both blushed furiously and looked away from everyone and especially from each other.
"Will that work?" Gram asked.
"Yeah. That's fine," Summer replied quickly.
"Excellent."
(AN: Yeah well this all now leads up to some major Seth and Summer interaction in the next chapter....what will happen at her apartment? What will they say? Stay tuned. Same O.C. author. Same O.C. story.)