Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! Sorry I didn't get this chapter out
sooner. I had a little case of writer's block for the first bit of the chap
and this is my longest chapter.Interesting huh? Wow, a new episode of The
O.C. tomorrow. Can you feel the excitement?! Jp. Just as a head's up,
instead of doing Casino Night like on the show, I'm writing about a
different event. Just pretend Casino Night never happened. Okay? Okay.
Please R&R! Muchas gracias! Oh and one question, I know one friend of
Luke's is Nolan, but who's the other guy?
DISCLAIMER: I don't own The O.C. except for Riley Brooks and the Brooks family.
Chapter 7 "Sail Away"
"I can't believe she did that! Who does she think she is?" Summer was livid. Never has someone talked to her so brazen before. "Coop? Hey Coop! You there?"
Marissa promptly looked at Summer. "Yeah. It-it, was rude." She said distractedly. She took a sip of her drink and her eyes darted around. No one noticed her behavior. 'Since when did Ryan get back? And is he friends with that girl?'
They sat in silence for a while until Luke, Nolan, and Brett started talking about yet another upcoming benefit.
"Hey Coop, what's the theme again? Coop? Hello?" Summer asked. "Really, Coop. What's up with you?"
"Sorry. I'm just a little distracted." Marissa said timidly. 'Little? Hell, a lot.'
"Okay then. Oh Nolan, is Holly gonna have an after party?" Summer directed her attention to the group now.
"As always!" Nolan said.
'Great. The millionth party this week.' Marissa thought. She thought back to the other parties already held and remembered "the night". 'Ryan.' She suddenly had a hundred questions to ask him about what happened, how she ended up in a bed of all places and woke up to see him and Seth on the floor.
"Marissa? You okay?" Luke asked. Concern filled his ocean blue eyes.
"Yeah I am. Thanks Luke." Marissa lied and kissed him on the cheek. Luke bought it and continued talking animatedly with the group.
"Wait, you never told us what the theme was. Isn't it some dorky theme the parentals would like?" Summer asked.
"Yeah. It's 50's night." Marissa said. She was embarrassed now. She was the one that okayed the theme and kind of suggested it in the first place.
"That's right! 50's night." Summer said.
"It's an alright theme. Hey I can wear one of those crazy hats and shoes." Luke said. He knew the theme was Marissa's ideas and tried make her feel better.
"So when's the benefit? Next Saturday right?" Summer asked. She clearly was fine with the theme because Luke said it was "alright".
Marissa shuddered at the thought of how much impact Luke could have. 'But of course, we're the perfect couple. We're like the King and Queen of Newport Kingdom. Then, what's Ryan?' Marissa thought. 'Stop thinking about him. He's not what you want. You love Luke and Luke loves you.' She knew she was lying. She craved for someone different, someone who is nothing like Newport and Ryan is just what the doctor ordered. But her heart still belonged to Luke, the guy who all the girls want to bring home to their parents and show him off. 'Luke Ward, star quarterback, star basketball player, star everything. The All-American Boy.' She thought. 'So what about Ryan?'
Before she could continue, Luke tapped her shoulder. "Hey, you wanna leave?" Luke asked. He finally noticed Marissa in deep thought.
"Um, yeah actually." Marissa said. "It's no problem right?"
"Nah. No worries." Luke said and smiled his million-dollar smile.
Marissa melted a little on the inside. 'That smile still does wonders.'
"Guys, we gotta go. See you later." Luke said and got up. Marissa said bye too and left.
"Is there anything you wanna talk about? Cause you really didn't look like yourself inside." Luke asked. They were a few steps away from his car. Marissa ignored his question and climbed in. Luke quickly got in too, hoping she would answer.
"Nothing really. It's-it's just a lot of things have happened and I was thinking." Marissa said.
"You know I'm here if you ever wanna talk right? I will always be here." Luke said.
'Like the time I was so wasted and you didn't help me at all?' Marissa faked a smile. "Yeah I know. You're always there."
[x]
"How did YOU beat ME?" Seth asked. He stared at the screen in utter disbelief.
Ryan and Riley laughed at Seth. Riley watched Seth wrinkle his nose and purse his lips together, something she found adorable. She liked Seth more every moment. Her crush for Seth was like a snowball rolling down a mountain, slowly gaining momentum and soon getting bigger. Riley never felt such a connection to anyone ever. And that includes Ryan, her best friend in the whole world.
"That's it Riley! REMATCH!" Seth said. Ryan and Riley laughed again. 'Ryan's laughing more.' Seth thought.
"Okay, okay. Bring it on Cohen!" Riley joked. After a few minutes and a few crashed cars, Seth was the winner.
"AWW YEAH! Who's the man? I'M the MAN!" Seth yelled out.
All three of them were now doubled over from laughter. 'I miss this.' Ryan thought.
They soon calmed down and started talking about Riley and Ryan's past and their friendship.
"So where did you guys meet?" Seth asked. He was intrigued by the thought of their friendship. Seth didn't see Ryan as a guy who made friends easily.
"Uh at school. I was supposed to show her around the school cause she was new to the district." Ryan said.
"So where are you from, Riley?" Seth asked.
"I was born in Paris, but I only stayed there for a few months." Riley said.
"Oh so where did you live after?"
"Um, I think London for two years. I'm not really sure though." Riley said. "We moved around a lot."
"Wow, London. How many times have you moved?"
"A couple of times. We never stayed too long in one place."
"Why not?"
"My dad's in the army so we move around a lot."
"Oh, that sucks. I mean the moving around part. So you basically have to change schools every year?"
"Yeah. It's okay I guess. I'm always the new kid but I love to go to different places."
"Really? What kinds of places?"
"I want to go to on a cruise to the Caribbean. I was kind of thinking of going to Tahiti. I've seen pictures and it looks so beautiful."
Seth gawked at Riley. "Ta-Ta-Tahiti?"
"Yeah. I really wanna go next year."
"Wow. I want to go to Tahiti too. I know this might sound stupid, but it's really cool. I wanna sail to Tahiti next summer. I can make it in 45 days, maybe 42." Seth said.
"That's cool. I've always wanted to go sailing." Riley said.
"Well hey, there's the beach just outside." Ryan said cutting in. He felt like a third wheel listening to these two. Seth got the hint and offered Riley and Ryan to go sail.
"Great!" Riley said. They quickly walked down the path to the beach and soon got to their destination. Riley looked at all the boats in amazement. Seth smiled at her and Riley blushed a little. The blush stopped as quickly as it began.
"'Summer Breeze?'" Riley asked quietly. "Let me guess. For Summer right?"
"Yeah. You know that trip to Tahiti? I wanna sail with her by my side." Seth said happily.
"Right. Sounds cool." Riley said slowly. "But I don't think she'd like the water." She whispered to herself.
"What?" Seth asked.
"Oh nothing." Riley said sweetly.
"Um okay. Hey Ryan? Get me that life jacket?" Seth asked. Ryan tossed a life jacket to Seth and one to Riley.
Before long, they were out in the ocean sailing. They were quiet, taking in the scenery.
Riley began to sing softly. "Sail away with me honey, I put my heart in your hands. Sail away with me honey, now, n-"
"Now, now. Sail away with me, what will be will be. I wanna hold you now, now, now." Seth completed. "What? I like that song. You know, you aren't the only one that likes the song."
Riley chuckled. "Mhmm." She looked at Seth and saw warmth and bliss in his eyes. Seth looked at her and she looked away.
Ryan was watching completely rapt. He could sense their attraction. 'Just needs time.'
DISCLAIMER: I don't own The O.C. except for Riley Brooks and the Brooks family.
Chapter 7 "Sail Away"
"I can't believe she did that! Who does she think she is?" Summer was livid. Never has someone talked to her so brazen before. "Coop? Hey Coop! You there?"
Marissa promptly looked at Summer. "Yeah. It-it, was rude." She said distractedly. She took a sip of her drink and her eyes darted around. No one noticed her behavior. 'Since when did Ryan get back? And is he friends with that girl?'
They sat in silence for a while until Luke, Nolan, and Brett started talking about yet another upcoming benefit.
"Hey Coop, what's the theme again? Coop? Hello?" Summer asked. "Really, Coop. What's up with you?"
"Sorry. I'm just a little distracted." Marissa said timidly. 'Little? Hell, a lot.'
"Okay then. Oh Nolan, is Holly gonna have an after party?" Summer directed her attention to the group now.
"As always!" Nolan said.
'Great. The millionth party this week.' Marissa thought. She thought back to the other parties already held and remembered "the night". 'Ryan.' She suddenly had a hundred questions to ask him about what happened, how she ended up in a bed of all places and woke up to see him and Seth on the floor.
"Marissa? You okay?" Luke asked. Concern filled his ocean blue eyes.
"Yeah I am. Thanks Luke." Marissa lied and kissed him on the cheek. Luke bought it and continued talking animatedly with the group.
"Wait, you never told us what the theme was. Isn't it some dorky theme the parentals would like?" Summer asked.
"Yeah. It's 50's night." Marissa said. She was embarrassed now. She was the one that okayed the theme and kind of suggested it in the first place.
"That's right! 50's night." Summer said.
"It's an alright theme. Hey I can wear one of those crazy hats and shoes." Luke said. He knew the theme was Marissa's ideas and tried make her feel better.
"So when's the benefit? Next Saturday right?" Summer asked. She clearly was fine with the theme because Luke said it was "alright".
Marissa shuddered at the thought of how much impact Luke could have. 'But of course, we're the perfect couple. We're like the King and Queen of Newport Kingdom. Then, what's Ryan?' Marissa thought. 'Stop thinking about him. He's not what you want. You love Luke and Luke loves you.' She knew she was lying. She craved for someone different, someone who is nothing like Newport and Ryan is just what the doctor ordered. But her heart still belonged to Luke, the guy who all the girls want to bring home to their parents and show him off. 'Luke Ward, star quarterback, star basketball player, star everything. The All-American Boy.' She thought. 'So what about Ryan?'
Before she could continue, Luke tapped her shoulder. "Hey, you wanna leave?" Luke asked. He finally noticed Marissa in deep thought.
"Um, yeah actually." Marissa said. "It's no problem right?"
"Nah. No worries." Luke said and smiled his million-dollar smile.
Marissa melted a little on the inside. 'That smile still does wonders.'
"Guys, we gotta go. See you later." Luke said and got up. Marissa said bye too and left.
"Is there anything you wanna talk about? Cause you really didn't look like yourself inside." Luke asked. They were a few steps away from his car. Marissa ignored his question and climbed in. Luke quickly got in too, hoping she would answer.
"Nothing really. It's-it's just a lot of things have happened and I was thinking." Marissa said.
"You know I'm here if you ever wanna talk right? I will always be here." Luke said.
'Like the time I was so wasted and you didn't help me at all?' Marissa faked a smile. "Yeah I know. You're always there."
[x]
"How did YOU beat ME?" Seth asked. He stared at the screen in utter disbelief.
Ryan and Riley laughed at Seth. Riley watched Seth wrinkle his nose and purse his lips together, something she found adorable. She liked Seth more every moment. Her crush for Seth was like a snowball rolling down a mountain, slowly gaining momentum and soon getting bigger. Riley never felt such a connection to anyone ever. And that includes Ryan, her best friend in the whole world.
"That's it Riley! REMATCH!" Seth said. Ryan and Riley laughed again. 'Ryan's laughing more.' Seth thought.
"Okay, okay. Bring it on Cohen!" Riley joked. After a few minutes and a few crashed cars, Seth was the winner.
"AWW YEAH! Who's the man? I'M the MAN!" Seth yelled out.
All three of them were now doubled over from laughter. 'I miss this.' Ryan thought.
They soon calmed down and started talking about Riley and Ryan's past and their friendship.
"So where did you guys meet?" Seth asked. He was intrigued by the thought of their friendship. Seth didn't see Ryan as a guy who made friends easily.
"Uh at school. I was supposed to show her around the school cause she was new to the district." Ryan said.
"So where are you from, Riley?" Seth asked.
"I was born in Paris, but I only stayed there for a few months." Riley said.
"Oh so where did you live after?"
"Um, I think London for two years. I'm not really sure though." Riley said. "We moved around a lot."
"Wow, London. How many times have you moved?"
"A couple of times. We never stayed too long in one place."
"Why not?"
"My dad's in the army so we move around a lot."
"Oh, that sucks. I mean the moving around part. So you basically have to change schools every year?"
"Yeah. It's okay I guess. I'm always the new kid but I love to go to different places."
"Really? What kinds of places?"
"I want to go to on a cruise to the Caribbean. I was kind of thinking of going to Tahiti. I've seen pictures and it looks so beautiful."
Seth gawked at Riley. "Ta-Ta-Tahiti?"
"Yeah. I really wanna go next year."
"Wow. I want to go to Tahiti too. I know this might sound stupid, but it's really cool. I wanna sail to Tahiti next summer. I can make it in 45 days, maybe 42." Seth said.
"That's cool. I've always wanted to go sailing." Riley said.
"Well hey, there's the beach just outside." Ryan said cutting in. He felt like a third wheel listening to these two. Seth got the hint and offered Riley and Ryan to go sail.
"Great!" Riley said. They quickly walked down the path to the beach and soon got to their destination. Riley looked at all the boats in amazement. Seth smiled at her and Riley blushed a little. The blush stopped as quickly as it began.
"'Summer Breeze?'" Riley asked quietly. "Let me guess. For Summer right?"
"Yeah. You know that trip to Tahiti? I wanna sail with her by my side." Seth said happily.
"Right. Sounds cool." Riley said slowly. "But I don't think she'd like the water." She whispered to herself.
"What?" Seth asked.
"Oh nothing." Riley said sweetly.
"Um okay. Hey Ryan? Get me that life jacket?" Seth asked. Ryan tossed a life jacket to Seth and one to Riley.
Before long, they were out in the ocean sailing. They were quiet, taking in the scenery.
Riley began to sing softly. "Sail away with me honey, I put my heart in your hands. Sail away with me honey, now, n-"
"Now, now. Sail away with me, what will be will be. I wanna hold you now, now, now." Seth completed. "What? I like that song. You know, you aren't the only one that likes the song."
Riley chuckled. "Mhmm." She looked at Seth and saw warmth and bliss in his eyes. Seth looked at her and she looked away.
Ryan was watching completely rapt. He could sense their attraction. 'Just needs time.'