Hey everyone, here's a shortish post – nothing big, but I'm trying to get back into the writing thing. Let me know what you think!
----
"I'd like to propose a toast." Sandy announced, lifting his glass of champagne and waiting for the others to quiet down.
The entire Cohen extended family – including Summer, Marissa, Caleb, Julie and Neil – was sitting at a candlelit table overlooking the infinity pool and the ocean below, in order to celebrate Seth and Summer's recent engagement.
"Speech! Speech!" Seth chanted.
"Oh you know it." Sandy retorted. "I've been working on this one for a while."
Everyone groaned.
"Daddy, I thought Mommy said to save your speech for the reception." Sophia reminded him.
"We're letting him talk at the reception?" Seth moaned.
"Soapy we're supposed to stick together, not rat each other out." Sandy said.
"Oops." Sophia turned her attention to her wine glass full of apple juice. "Mommy can I have some bubbles to toast with?"
"Aww what a good little Newpsie, getting an early start on her alcoholism." Seth cooed.
"No Sophia, you can not." Kirsten said, shooting Seth a dirty look.
"Sandy, your toast?" Neil reminded him gently.
"Oh right. I'd like to propose a toast to Seth and Summer." Sandy lifted his glass again. "They've always been an interesting pair to say the least, and I hope that they have many more interesting years together."
Everyone else raised their glasses and clinked them against each other, toasting to the happiness and success of their children, pseudo-siblings, and friends.
"I can't believe you're getting married." Ryan stated as he and Seth cleared the table later that night.
Dinner had long ago finished, and the boys had lost a game of 'rock, paper, scissors' to Marissa and Summer, so they had to clean up while the girls put Sophia to bed. Kirsten had offered to take care of both tasks, but the kids wouldn't hear of it.
"It's pretty crazy." Seth agreed. "I mean I can't even find matching socks half the time, and now I'm going to be responsible for two people."
"Well at least Summer will probably make sure your socks match." Ryan offered.
"That's true. I should put that in my speech for the reception." Seth noted.
"You're already working on that?"
"Ryan, everyone has very high expectations for this speech."
"They do?"
"I'm always supposed to be the witty one, and that's just in day to day life. For a prepared speech I need to pretty much be the funniest guy in history."
"Seth I don't think Summer will appreciate a comedy routine." Ryan winced.
"That's the thing. I need to make some clever jokes, but still be sincere and adorable."
"Ooh, sincere and adorable, that's going to be tough."
"Ha ha." Seth said dryly. "Maybe you should make the speech for me, since you're apparently funny now. Although I guess you should be saving up your public speaking for your own wedding. And on that note, when are you going to pop the question?" Seth grinned with pride at his quick topic change.
"What?" Ryan's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at this.
Seth rolled his eyes. "You haven't thought about it?"
"Not really."
"Dude, you clearly need to ask her before our wedding."
"Why?"
"Because otherwise it looks like you don't want to get married."
"Seth that doesn't make any sense."
"Ok." Seth tried another approach. "Do you really want to deal with every person at the reception saying 'and now that Seth is married off, when do you two plan on sealing the deal?'"
"No one talks like that except you."
"Really though, haven't you thought that maybe all these wedding preparations are getting Marissa in the mood for a wedding of her own?"
"Uhh-"
"And if she wants to get married and thinks you don't, that leads to trouble. Trust me."
"I do want to marry her."
"You do? So why haven't you proposed?"
"What's with the third degree? It took you months to get up the nerve to ask Summer."
"Yes, but Ryan I'm a coward. You on the other hand are the brave little warrior from Chino."
Ryan glared at Seth, totally at a loss for words.
"I'm just saying, now that I've made the first move and gotten the family into wedding mode, it's not going to be long before they turn on you."
"Seth I will propose to Marissa when the time is right."
"Meaning sometime soon?"
"Meaning when we're both ready to take that step."
"So basically when you get over your fear of commitment."
"I am not afraid of commitment." Ryan argued. "I'm dating her, aren't I?"
"Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. Don't get so upset. I mean clearly growing up in Chino would instil said fear in you."
"Seth I am not afraid to get married." Ryan declared.
"So what's the hold up?"
"We haven't been dating that long. We're not ready yet."
"You've been dating since you were sixteen."
"Except that we weren't for most of that time."
Seth waved his hand dismissively. "It was close enough."
"Seth what's this all about? Since when does it matter to you when I get married?"
"I'm just trying to help you out. I've lived with Newpsies long enough to know exactly how things are going to go. As soon as we say 'I do' everyone will turn to you and say 'why don't you?'"
"I don't care."
"But does Marissa?"
Ryan thought about this for a minute, inadvertently giving Seth the chance to think of a new approach.
"So maybe you can propose after the reception? After she catches the bouquet."
"The bouquet?"
"Yeah, the one Summer throws."
"Who said Marissa will catch it?"
"Dude have you met my fiancé? Or your girlfriend? Do you really think they're above fixing that kind of thing?"
"Good point."
"So you'll ask here then?"
"No. I will ask when the time is right." Ryan insisted.
"When the time is right for what?" Marissa asked curiously as she and Summer entered the kitchen.
"To tell you ladies how lovely you look tonight." Seth quickly replied.
"Cohen what are you up to?" Summer questioned suspiciously.
"Ok if you must know," Seth began.
Ryan shot him a desperate look.
"Ryan wants to perform a song at the reception, to showcase his musical theatre skills. So obviously I want a preview, but he isn't quite ready for that."
"What?" Marissa turned to Ryan in confusion. "Seriously what are you two up to?"
"That's for us to know, and you to find out." Seth said cryptically. "Now who's up for a video game face off?"
"Cohen it's our engagement party. We're not playing video games."
"Technically the party is over." Seth rationalized.
"Nope, not until the last guest leaves. Which would be Coop, who is not leaving yet."
"Umm I don't think Marissa ever leaves. She just retreats to the pool house with Ryan." Seth pointed out.
"Summer what do you want to do now?" Marissa interrupted, not wanting to waste half an hour listening to her friends banter.
"Milkshakes at the diner?" Summer suggested.
The others all nodded in agreement, and so they piled into Ryan's car and drove off to their old hangout.
