"Ryan, what would you like for breakfast?" Kirsten asked. He'd been just sitting at the breakfast nook, obviously deep in thought. "How was the carnival last night, did you and Seth have fun?"
At that, Seth walked into the kitchen glancing sideways at Ryan. "Hey mom, the carnival was pretty good, not much different from every other year in Newport." He sat down next to Ryan, searching his face for any sort of emotion. As if Ryan ever showed any emotion.
"I think I'll just take a bagel to go, Mrs. Cohen, I gotta get to work." With that, Ryan got up, grabbed a bagel and walked out towards the pool house.
Catching up to Ryan, Seth said, "Hey man, I'm so sorry about last night, I had no idea Marissa was with you, I thought you took her home."
"Naw man, don't worry about it, everything's okay." Ryan smiled and looked at Seth. Poor kid, he looked so freaked out at the prospect of Ryan being mad at him. So much like how he and Trey were; Ryan was always trying to make sure that he was cool enough to hang out with his older brother. He would cut Seth some slack and not be an asshole like Trey. He never wanted to be like Trey; well, not anymore.
Seeing Ryan glowing, despite having walked in and interrupted something between he and Marissa last night, Seth asked, "So what's going on? I mean, with you and Marissa, are you a couple now?"
Ryan grabbed his work clothes and turned to leave. "Yeah, you could say that."
*
"Daddy, I swear, I'm perfectly fine, the bruise will heal before school on Monday, and it was a total accident. Luke started it by hitting Ryan." Marissa was sitting at the table with a bowl of cereal. Her father had freaked out that morning, but was much better now. That was one thing she loved about her dad, he trusted her, listened to her, and treated her like a grown up. Her mother would've been in hysterics and not listening to her right now.
The door bell rang; Jimmy got up to see who it was. If it was Luke, he was ready to punch him out himself. After the incident in TJ, Luke had it coming. But it was Summer. "Is Coop here?" she asked. Jimmy looked at her questioningly. "Yeah, if she wasn't still with you, where else would she be?"
Ignoring the question, Summer brushed past him and headed for Marissa. "Oh, Coop, are you okay? Your face looks so much better." Summer went into the kitchen and got a bowl out of the cabinet and sat down, grabbing the cereal box.
"Help yourself to some breakfast," Marissa said winking at Summer.
"Well, you know how it is, my step mother's too busy with her little Newport fundraisers to go grocery shopping." Jimmy left the girls to talk about whatever it was that teenage girls talk about. Sometimes it was better not to know.
After Jimmy was clearly out of earshot, Summer turned to Marissa. "So what happened Coop, come on, spill it!"
Marissa smiled at her friend. Summer truly just wanted Marissa to be happy. It seemed like just yesterday she was asking the same question, with the same glee, when she was referring to Marissa's relationship with Luke.
"Well not much to report, but I guess you could say we're a couple." Marissa laughed as she saw Summer's pout. Changing the subject away from herself, she asked, "So Summer, what did you do last night?"
Summer turned bright red. Marissa had an idea that whatever the news Seth was busting at the seams with last night involved Summer.
"Oh, nothing, it was pretty boring. Mr. Lewis saw the whole episode with Luke and Ryan and caught up with Luke as he was trying to leave the carnival. I think he's getting suspended or something."
Marissa looked at Summer and gave her a smile. "So, nothing special happened with you last night?"
Okay, Seth must've told Ryan, who… "Okay, yes. Something did happen. I kissed Seth Cohen okay? Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"Well, did you tell him you liked him?"
"Um, eew!" Summer looked at Marissa. Okay, that wasn't going to work here. Coop knew the truth. "Okay, yes, I like him, no I didn't tell him, and yes I kissed him, okay? Then he asked me for a ride home because he said that you and Ryan took the Range Rover."
"Wow! I can't believe you were going to withhold that information from me," Marissa said, laughing. Summer had turned the same color red as her shirt. "So, what's the next step? Are you a couple?"
Summer was looking more and more uncomfortable by the second. "Not so fast, Coop, it wasn't that big of a deal, really. Can we change the subject? Like, how about shopping?"
Marissa gave her a sideways look. "This topic isn't over. Just think, we could go on a double date."
"Fine." Summer mumbled. "But for now, let's go to the beach."
*
"So, Seth, what was it you were going to tell me last night in the pool house? Something about a kiss?" Ryan asked as they were sitting in the pool house, playing video games.
"What? Oh, uh, yeah. Again, I'm so sorry about that. Do you want me to talk to Marissa? Is she pissed?"
"No, everything's okay. So, what were you going to tell me?"
Seth hit the pause button. "Well, it was the strangest thing, Summer came up from behind me, and she and I started talking, only it was different. She was acting all shy and stuff. Then she kissed me; can you believe it? I thought maybe she was trying to get revenge on Anna or something, but I don't think so, man, I think she finally digs me." Trying to act casual and returning to the game, Seth continued, "So then, are we all going to go on a double date at some point?"