{Love Song For No One}
{A Sequel To Merry Christmas!}
{Disclaimer} I own the OC and Seth Cohen. Oh, and I'm a pathological liar.
{A/N} OK ANNA IS JUST EVIL IN THIS CHAPTER hope you enjoy it. there's some funny drunkenness, then some maddd drama. .. so you can hate it/love it.. whatever. just review!
{Chapter 9: Traditional}
"Summer, please tell me what activity you're planning for us tonight!" Marissa whined as Summer jumped off her giant king size bed and walked over to her dresser, pulling out one of Seth's novelty tee shirts that she used as pajamas.
The only thing these crappy rags are worth keeping for, she thought, as she pulled it over her tank top, breathing in the scents of Seth Cohen.
"Well," Summer said dramatically, cocking her head at Marissa, "First, we need to get in our pajamas. Then, we need to get lots of junk food. Lastly," Summer grinned as she ducked underneath the bed and came back out with one of those plastic storage boxes.
"You mean?" Marissa exclaimed as she jumped off the bed, kneeling down by Summer, who had opened the box, revealing it's treasure within.
The contents of the box practically glowed in front of Marissa's eyes.
"It's the perfect time for *the* box." Summer said, standing up again as Marissa sifted through it's items, mesmerized.
"I can't believe you still have," Marissa grinned up at Summer, "*the* box!"
Summer changed into Seth's pajama pants as well, brushing her hair up into a ponytail.
"Go change and I'll go set up," Summer said as she put the lid back on the box and picked it up, heading towards the bedroom door, "*the* box." Summer jumped up and down enthusiastically, grinning all the way down the staircase.
Marissa ran towards Charlotte's bedroom to sift through her duffel bag for her pajamas, the cute blue striped ones, and started to change so quickly, she practically tripped over herself.
******
"What is that?" Seth asked, pointing a fork at Summer from the kitchen.
Summer smiled, holding up the box in her hands, before placing it down on the kitchen counter. She began gathering various boxes of cookies and chips and a few beers and placed them all on a tray as Seth answered her own question.
"Is she really that sad that you need," He rolled his eyes at their tradition, "*the* box?"
"*The* box is not only for sad days. It's also for bad days, mad days," Seth hushed her as he opened the box, pulling out the pink piece of paper on the top, continuing her sentence as he read off the paper.
"Sick, tired, and crappy days." He said, placing the paper back in the box.
"You're just pissed because you can't be part of *the* box!" Summer huffed, grabbing the box and motioning for Seth to take the tray of food after her.
"Yeah, Sum, that's it. I really want to sit around on my ass, eating TV, playing video games, watching movies, and doing my nails." He scratched his head as he placed the tray on the coffee table and Summer went to the floor with the box. "Actually, except for the nail painting part, that isn't so bad. Can I play?"
Summer looked up at him with a glare and he got the picture, grabbing a chip and making his way back to his lunch in the kitchen.
Summer glanced at the beers quickly, opening one up for herself, "Seth, the kids will be out with Kirsten all day, right?"
"Yes, dear." Seth said, a clash of plates coming from the kitchen. "Feel free to get wasted." He said as he came into the living room, noticing her beer.
"Ok, I'm ready!" Marissa said as she bounced down the stairs. She fell down on the carpeted floor next to Summer, planting one hand on a beer, the other in a bowl of cookies.
Summer was ready to pop one of the videos into the TV, before she looked up at Seth, who rolled his eyes in return.
"Fine, I'm leaving. You two do your stupid 'box' traditions. Is it a lesbian thing? Is that why I can never stay?"
"You can't stay," Summer pouted, "Wait. You've read the rule sheet. You can't stay because you have a penis and the number one rule is that no one with a member, can be a member!" Summer giggled, sipping down some beer.
"You guys started this in what grade?" Seth asked impatiently, making his way upstairs.
"Third." Marissa announced, ushering Summer to get the party started. "Later, Seth!"
Seth groaned and stomped upstairs as the 'box' festivities went under way.
Marissa went back to the couch, smiling happily.
"Ok, so what movie do you want to watch first?" Summer asked, sifting through the titles in the box. "Say Anything, Heathers, Now and Then, Bring It On. . ." These were some of Marissa and Summer's favorite movies throughout the years.
Back in the true days of 'the' box, Summer and Marissa would annually add things to their collection. New shades of nail polish, new movies, new video games, new magazines. Whatever was appropriate to considered a part of 'the' box.
'The' box all started back in third grade, as Marissa had said earlier.
That was the year Summer's mom had left, and on one of those sneak overs, a sleep over in which neither of their parents knew about it, Marissa grabbed that plastic box and declared it 'the' box to stop Summer from breaking down. It had worked. They put in their favorite movies at the time, Beauty and The Beast and other Disney classics, some American Girl Magazines, obnoxiously pink nail polish, and classic Mario video games. Their favorite things all in one place. Ever since that night, whenever Marissa had a fight with her parents, Summer was missing her mother, or either had boy problems, they'd pull out 'the' box. They even created a set of rules for 'the' box and one day, Summer planned on giving Charlotte sole procession of 'the' box. It was tradition and a symbol of how much Summer and Marissa loved each other. In a platonic way, contrary to Seth's beliefs.
Seth and Ryan were always dying to know what was in 'the' box as if it were some sort of holder to the secret of life; or women. But no, it was just a collection of fun things to do, to forget about your present day drama and relax.
Summer decided upon Bring It On, popping in the tape, shoving a handful of chips in her mouth, and sitting down comfortably next to Marissa.
"You do realize it's three o'clock in the afternoon and were chugging beer in our pajamas." Summer said whimsically, taking a sip.
Marissa nodded, shrugging, watching the opening sequence of the movie.
Marissa smiled at her friend, who in the end, was still the Summer Roberts she knew and loved.
*************
Why did he have this huge pit in his stomach?
Why did he feel like going to Boston was so *not* the right thing to do, even though countless minutes of persuasion from Seth and Kirsten seemed to make it feel right.
Why did Kirsten let him get off work so easily?
She practically insisted he get down to Boston.
"Sir, do you need anything?" A flight attendant asked sweetly, noticing his grip on the seat.
"I hate flying." Ryan muttered and she nodded, leaving him be.
Ok, that would explain the huge pit in his stomach. The fact that he was hundreds of feet up in the air. According to the captain, they were a good 30 minutes away from the Boston Airport, and his knees were shaking incessantly. He couldn't wait to relax his feet on the ground again.
************
"God, I love that movie!" Summer squealed, practically tripping as she shoved a cookie deep into her throat and dropped her second bottle of beer onto the table. Thank god, it was bone dry, she thought as it clinked against the wood. She got up, pretending to sway imaginery pom poms in the air, imitating Bring It On.
"I always wanted to be a cheerleader!" Marissa said, taking the last sip from her fourth bottle. Summer, before she had begun to get a little tipsy, was going to apologize to Marissa for bringing out beer when she knew she had quit, but soon realized that Marissa was in full swing when it came to alcohol consumption, and quickly joined that party.
Marissa and Summer pranced around the room as the credits rolled down the screen.
"Oops!" Summer screamed as she knocked her head against the wall unit, then fell down onto the floor, like a child.
"Sum, are you okay?" Marissa asked, falling down to her side.
"What the hell was that noise? Are you two having crazy sex again?" Seth called from upstairs, not wanting to interrupt their little girl's night in.
"Seth!" Summer bounced back up, leaving Marissa to tumble over and sigh, and ran to the staircase.
Seth watched Summer, who was swaying gently, and upon smelling the stench, he couldn't help but let out a smile.
"Seth, I love you!" Summer screamed up to him. "I don't say it, but I do!"
"I know." Seth came down the stairs slowly, grabbing her waist before she fell back down. "How many beers did you drink sweetie?"
Summer held up her hand, flashing her fingers up and deciding upon 5.
Seth watched her cautiously, dragging her to the couch and letting her collapse there, making sure he didn't trip over Marissa's long, slender leg that were sprawled on the floor.
Marissa sat up and burped, causing Summer to erupt in giggles.
Seth gave her a weary look, turning towards the coffee table, searching the mess.
Six empty bottles. One by Marissa's arm.
"Marissa, now I know you didn't just have one beer. Summer, how many beers did you drink?" He turned back to his wife, who threw her head into his shoulder.
"You smell good!" She smiled, melting his heart. "This shirt," She pointed to the shirt she was wearing, which happened to be his, "I love this shirt!"
"You hate that shirt." Seth said point blank, smiling at Summer's confused expression.
"Cohen, when are you going to learn? Everything I say is backwards. So when I say hate, I mean love. And when I say no, I mean yes!"
Seth kissed her forehead gently. "I love you, I really do, but I just want to know how many beers you drank."
"Wait." Summer paused, scratching her head for an answer. "When you say love, do you mean hate? Do you hate me, Seth?" She grabbed his arms, draping them around her waist so he could feel the slightest bit of her skin by her midriff. She threw him a drunken, seductive look.
"Summer, unlike you, I don't complicate things by using opposites. I say only the truth."
Summer sighed, seemingly bored with this reply and dropped his hands. "Two."
"Huh?" Seth looked back at her.
"Two beers." She grinned and Seth leaned in to kiss her, but she let out an enormous burp, then quickly covered it with giggles.
Marissa jolted up again, laughing.
"That means you had five." Seth said to Marissa and she shrugged it off, falling back to the floor.
"Great, so I get to play Ryan's role tonight." Seth said, which meant keeping after a drunken Marissa.
The doorbell rang and Seth shot to his feet, making sure Summer landed on the pillow of the couch, not the floor and ran to the door, thinking it might be Ms. Stern.
He opened the door instead, to see an unfamiliar woman, yet very familiar at the same time. Something about her eyes, and nose, reminded him of something so close to him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Hi, I'm," The strange woman started, interrupted by a drunk Marissa who came up behind Seth, hugging him.
"Why are you here?" Marissa asked loudly, which caused Summer to giggle and ask who it was.
"I'm sorry, their a little," Seth started, stumbling slightly.
"Drunk?" The woman laughed. "I'll come back later."
Marissa slammed the door in her face before Seth could say anything.
"That's the bad lady. Don't talk to her." Marissa said firmly, making her way back to Summer, bumping into walls on her way.
Seth ignored this as the doorbell rang again and his mother appeared, with the kids in tow.
"Mom, this is so not a good time for you to be coming home!" Seth screeched as Charlotte and Dylan ran to their mother.
"Mommy!" Charlotte screamed and Summer screamed back.
"Dylan!" She hugged Charlotte tight, confusing the tiny girl. She let go and hugged Dyaln, "I love you Charlotte!"
"You smell funny, Mommy." Dylan said gently, Charlotte giving her mother a strange look.
Summer and Marissa fell over in laughter.
"Mommy doesn't feel too good right now." Seth said, hugging his children and watching Kirsten's glare break into laughter.
"Kids, why don't we go get some ice cream? I don't want you guys to catch whatever your mommy has."
"Yeah, cause what Mommy has is *real* contagious." Charlotte said knowingly, buttoning her coat up again.
"What does Mommy have?" Dylan asked, pulling on Charlotte's arm.
"You're too young to understand." Charlotte said, swaying past him.
"No, *you're* too young to understand!" This was Dylan's way of a 'comeback'. Anything Charlotte said to him that was slightly demoralizing, he would reply, 'no, you. . .' It was cute, pathetic, and so much like his father.
"Come on, kids." Kirsten grabbed the children and rushed them out the door. "Seth, sober them up."
"I'll do my best." He said, shutting the door again.
*************
"Uncle Ryan!" Charlotte screamed, jumping into the arms of Ryan as he stepped out of the cab and onto the Cohen's pavement.
Kirsten glanced at Ryan, smiling with slight dismay, "Perfect timing." She whispered and Ryan threw her a dubious look as they hugged.
"Go on inside." Kirsten said, thinking that it was too bad she would miss out on all the drama about to take place.
Ryan cast this aside and rang the doorbell.
***********
"What?" Seth said furiously as he opened the door for the third time in the past ten minutes. "Ryan!"
He shoved Ryan into a man hug, ushering him inside, but then smacked himself.
He wanted Ryan and Marissa to reunite. But not when she was drunk. And burping.
"Hey, where's the wife?" Ryan asked, and Summer shot up in the air from the couch, Marissa was lying on the floor once again, and her long legs were barely visible from where Seth and Ryan were standing.
"Atwood, Ryan!" Summer screamed and threw her arms around him, making him stagger slightly.
Ryan looked at her, surprised and quickly smelled the alcohol behind it.
"Wow, Sum, I never realized you liked Ryan so much." Seth said, picking her up off of him.
"Opposites, Cohen, remember?" She rolled her eyes and then quickly changed to batting her eyelashes at him, frantically spinning around the room as she did so. "Oh no!" She looked back at the couch and then gave Seth a frantic look. "He's here! And so is. . ." Her eyes led back to the couch.
Seth laughed nervously, "Summer has a low tolerance for alchol and well, um, she talks crazy when she's wasted." He picked Summer up off her feet. "Let's get you up to bed, my little mental patient."
"Ohhhh!" Summer giggled, swatting her arms, practically smacking Ryan. "Can we play doctor?"
Ryan grimaced at this, with more of Seth's nervous laughing, and he ran her upstairs.
Ryan placed his bag down on the couch, rubbing his eyes gently.
The flight was hell; but he was still in one piece.
The doorbell rang at once, and Ryan, noticing that Seth was still upstairs, probably 'playing doctor', answered it.
"Ryan?" Anna blinked, wrapping her arms around him, but sulked back into her position when he didn't return the greeting.
"Seth and Summer are having sex. Upstairs. Come back, later." Ryan glared down at her. "Much later."
"I came to see Marissa, actually." Anna said, ignoring his comment and Ryan threw her snide filled glance.
Anna stretched her arm up, pleased to see Marissa pop up from underneath the couch at the mention of her name.
She walked over, but Ryan didn't notice and stared at Anna, tempting her to try to come in.
"Marissa went home. So should you." Ryan crossed his arms in front of him.
"Anna?" A voice mumbled behind him.
He didn't need to turn around to know that voice.
He knew that voice, oh so well.
She came close next to him, breathing gently, lying her hand on his shoulder to steady herself. "Didn't I tell you off already? Leave. No one wants you here."
"You're right." Anna grinned, happy that she had accomplished some sort of damage. "I'll go now." She felt the door slam in her face, due to Marissa, and walked up the street towards the ice cream shoppe, happy as a kid.
*************
Was she really standing right next to him?
Was that really her breath against his?
Was that really her arm lying lifelessly on his?
Marissa blanked out for a second, then lifted her head up and stared into Ryan's eyes for what seemed like forever.
"You're here." She said quietly, tears welling up in her eyes. "I wished for this." She quickly passed out in Ryan's arms, and he stroked her hair, not sure what to think or do.
He laid Marissa down on the couch, carefully and went to the staircase.
"Seth Cohen, get your ass down here!" Ryan roared.
************
Was that Kirsten Cohen?
Yes, it was.
But she hadn't seen her just yet.
Anna walked right past the table where Kirsten was sitting with her two grandchildren, as they licked their sundaes. She went up to the counter, ready to place her order when she heard the girl announce that she was going to the bathroom. Kirsten offered to come, but she refused saying she was a big girl now.
Anna watched with glee as Summer's mini me trailed off into the bathroom and followed her inside.
Charlotte went to one of the stalls, did her business, and saw a slightly eerie, slightly pretty blonde looking at her, by the sinks and mirrors.
"Sweetie, are you by any chance related to Summer Cohen?" The blonde asked.
"That's my Mommy." Charlotte said with pride, washing her hands.
"I knew you had to be Summer's little girl. You look just like her. I was a good friend of your mother's back in high school." Anna hugged the tiny girl, uncomfortably.
"I thought that Mommy's only friends were Aunt Marissa, Uncle Ryan, and my daddy." Charlotte said, noticing that Anna still had her arm around her.
"I'm Anna. What's your name?"
"Charlotte."
"What a pretty name!" Anna squealed, smiling gently. "You were the one who was a mistake, right?"
Charlotte's jaw dropped and she stared at Anna, dumbfounded.
"That's right. Summer found out she had you and left your daddy. She caused your daddy so much pain. Good thing I was there to help him." Anna smiled to herself, giggling at Charlotte, who started to pull away, still in shock of these words.
"I have to go back to my grandmother now." Charlotte said, but Anna kept her gaze locked on her, not letting go.
"You must feel really guilty. Because of you, your mother lost everything. I mean, she had to drop out of school, lose her boyfriend, and live like a poor person. Good thing that you guys have lots of money now."
"I have to go. . ." Charlotte said again, tears welling up inside of her. She pushed again, but Anna kept her grip on the girl.
"I wonder why your mommy has so much money now?" Anna said maliciously. "I guess it's all those men she's been seeing."
"My daddy has a good job." Charlotte said, defensively, hoping that Kirsten would realize it really didn't take her that long to go to the bathroom.
"Sure he does. Your father's amazing. Especially in the bedroom." Anna hissed, dropping Charlotte's arm finally, as the girl broke into tears. "Is that your brother, sitting with you at the table?"
Charlotte nodded, not being able to move.
"They must love him so much more then you. *He* didn't ruin *their* lives."
Charlotte sniffled and glared up at this girl, not sure of what to say.
"My parents love me." Charlotte said violently and ran into one of the stalls, praying that Anna would leave her alone.
"If you say so." Anna smiled to herself and opened the door to the bathrooms, "Say hi to your dad for me!"
Charlotte couldn't hear this though, as the sounds of her own tears were muffled.
Kirsten came in a few minutes afterwards, demanding to know why Charlotte was crying, but Charlotte just sniffled, saying that she missed her mother, and silently wondered if her mother even missed her.
{A Sequel To Merry Christmas!}
{Disclaimer} I own the OC and Seth Cohen. Oh, and I'm a pathological liar.
{A/N} OK ANNA IS JUST EVIL IN THIS CHAPTER hope you enjoy it. there's some funny drunkenness, then some maddd drama. .. so you can hate it/love it.. whatever. just review!
{Chapter 9: Traditional}
"Summer, please tell me what activity you're planning for us tonight!" Marissa whined as Summer jumped off her giant king size bed and walked over to her dresser, pulling out one of Seth's novelty tee shirts that she used as pajamas.
The only thing these crappy rags are worth keeping for, she thought, as she pulled it over her tank top, breathing in the scents of Seth Cohen.
"Well," Summer said dramatically, cocking her head at Marissa, "First, we need to get in our pajamas. Then, we need to get lots of junk food. Lastly," Summer grinned as she ducked underneath the bed and came back out with one of those plastic storage boxes.
"You mean?" Marissa exclaimed as she jumped off the bed, kneeling down by Summer, who had opened the box, revealing it's treasure within.
The contents of the box practically glowed in front of Marissa's eyes.
"It's the perfect time for *the* box." Summer said, standing up again as Marissa sifted through it's items, mesmerized.
"I can't believe you still have," Marissa grinned up at Summer, "*the* box!"
Summer changed into Seth's pajama pants as well, brushing her hair up into a ponytail.
"Go change and I'll go set up," Summer said as she put the lid back on the box and picked it up, heading towards the bedroom door, "*the* box." Summer jumped up and down enthusiastically, grinning all the way down the staircase.
Marissa ran towards Charlotte's bedroom to sift through her duffel bag for her pajamas, the cute blue striped ones, and started to change so quickly, she practically tripped over herself.
******
"What is that?" Seth asked, pointing a fork at Summer from the kitchen.
Summer smiled, holding up the box in her hands, before placing it down on the kitchen counter. She began gathering various boxes of cookies and chips and a few beers and placed them all on a tray as Seth answered her own question.
"Is she really that sad that you need," He rolled his eyes at their tradition, "*the* box?"
"*The* box is not only for sad days. It's also for bad days, mad days," Seth hushed her as he opened the box, pulling out the pink piece of paper on the top, continuing her sentence as he read off the paper.
"Sick, tired, and crappy days." He said, placing the paper back in the box.
"You're just pissed because you can't be part of *the* box!" Summer huffed, grabbing the box and motioning for Seth to take the tray of food after her.
"Yeah, Sum, that's it. I really want to sit around on my ass, eating TV, playing video games, watching movies, and doing my nails." He scratched his head as he placed the tray on the coffee table and Summer went to the floor with the box. "Actually, except for the nail painting part, that isn't so bad. Can I play?"
Summer looked up at him with a glare and he got the picture, grabbing a chip and making his way back to his lunch in the kitchen.
Summer glanced at the beers quickly, opening one up for herself, "Seth, the kids will be out with Kirsten all day, right?"
"Yes, dear." Seth said, a clash of plates coming from the kitchen. "Feel free to get wasted." He said as he came into the living room, noticing her beer.
"Ok, I'm ready!" Marissa said as she bounced down the stairs. She fell down on the carpeted floor next to Summer, planting one hand on a beer, the other in a bowl of cookies.
Summer was ready to pop one of the videos into the TV, before she looked up at Seth, who rolled his eyes in return.
"Fine, I'm leaving. You two do your stupid 'box' traditions. Is it a lesbian thing? Is that why I can never stay?"
"You can't stay," Summer pouted, "Wait. You've read the rule sheet. You can't stay because you have a penis and the number one rule is that no one with a member, can be a member!" Summer giggled, sipping down some beer.
"You guys started this in what grade?" Seth asked impatiently, making his way upstairs.
"Third." Marissa announced, ushering Summer to get the party started. "Later, Seth!"
Seth groaned and stomped upstairs as the 'box' festivities went under way.
Marissa went back to the couch, smiling happily.
"Ok, so what movie do you want to watch first?" Summer asked, sifting through the titles in the box. "Say Anything, Heathers, Now and Then, Bring It On. . ." These were some of Marissa and Summer's favorite movies throughout the years.
Back in the true days of 'the' box, Summer and Marissa would annually add things to their collection. New shades of nail polish, new movies, new video games, new magazines. Whatever was appropriate to considered a part of 'the' box.
'The' box all started back in third grade, as Marissa had said earlier.
That was the year Summer's mom had left, and on one of those sneak overs, a sleep over in which neither of their parents knew about it, Marissa grabbed that plastic box and declared it 'the' box to stop Summer from breaking down. It had worked. They put in their favorite movies at the time, Beauty and The Beast and other Disney classics, some American Girl Magazines, obnoxiously pink nail polish, and classic Mario video games. Their favorite things all in one place. Ever since that night, whenever Marissa had a fight with her parents, Summer was missing her mother, or either had boy problems, they'd pull out 'the' box. They even created a set of rules for 'the' box and one day, Summer planned on giving Charlotte sole procession of 'the' box. It was tradition and a symbol of how much Summer and Marissa loved each other. In a platonic way, contrary to Seth's beliefs.
Seth and Ryan were always dying to know what was in 'the' box as if it were some sort of holder to the secret of life; or women. But no, it was just a collection of fun things to do, to forget about your present day drama and relax.
Summer decided upon Bring It On, popping in the tape, shoving a handful of chips in her mouth, and sitting down comfortably next to Marissa.
"You do realize it's three o'clock in the afternoon and were chugging beer in our pajamas." Summer said whimsically, taking a sip.
Marissa nodded, shrugging, watching the opening sequence of the movie.
Marissa smiled at her friend, who in the end, was still the Summer Roberts she knew and loved.
*************
Why did he have this huge pit in his stomach?
Why did he feel like going to Boston was so *not* the right thing to do, even though countless minutes of persuasion from Seth and Kirsten seemed to make it feel right.
Why did Kirsten let him get off work so easily?
She practically insisted he get down to Boston.
"Sir, do you need anything?" A flight attendant asked sweetly, noticing his grip on the seat.
"I hate flying." Ryan muttered and she nodded, leaving him be.
Ok, that would explain the huge pit in his stomach. The fact that he was hundreds of feet up in the air. According to the captain, they were a good 30 minutes away from the Boston Airport, and his knees were shaking incessantly. He couldn't wait to relax his feet on the ground again.
************
"God, I love that movie!" Summer squealed, practically tripping as she shoved a cookie deep into her throat and dropped her second bottle of beer onto the table. Thank god, it was bone dry, she thought as it clinked against the wood. She got up, pretending to sway imaginery pom poms in the air, imitating Bring It On.
"I always wanted to be a cheerleader!" Marissa said, taking the last sip from her fourth bottle. Summer, before she had begun to get a little tipsy, was going to apologize to Marissa for bringing out beer when she knew she had quit, but soon realized that Marissa was in full swing when it came to alcohol consumption, and quickly joined that party.
Marissa and Summer pranced around the room as the credits rolled down the screen.
"Oops!" Summer screamed as she knocked her head against the wall unit, then fell down onto the floor, like a child.
"Sum, are you okay?" Marissa asked, falling down to her side.
"What the hell was that noise? Are you two having crazy sex again?" Seth called from upstairs, not wanting to interrupt their little girl's night in.
"Seth!" Summer bounced back up, leaving Marissa to tumble over and sigh, and ran to the staircase.
Seth watched Summer, who was swaying gently, and upon smelling the stench, he couldn't help but let out a smile.
"Seth, I love you!" Summer screamed up to him. "I don't say it, but I do!"
"I know." Seth came down the stairs slowly, grabbing her waist before she fell back down. "How many beers did you drink sweetie?"
Summer held up her hand, flashing her fingers up and deciding upon 5.
Seth watched her cautiously, dragging her to the couch and letting her collapse there, making sure he didn't trip over Marissa's long, slender leg that were sprawled on the floor.
Marissa sat up and burped, causing Summer to erupt in giggles.
Seth gave her a weary look, turning towards the coffee table, searching the mess.
Six empty bottles. One by Marissa's arm.
"Marissa, now I know you didn't just have one beer. Summer, how many beers did you drink?" He turned back to his wife, who threw her head into his shoulder.
"You smell good!" She smiled, melting his heart. "This shirt," She pointed to the shirt she was wearing, which happened to be his, "I love this shirt!"
"You hate that shirt." Seth said point blank, smiling at Summer's confused expression.
"Cohen, when are you going to learn? Everything I say is backwards. So when I say hate, I mean love. And when I say no, I mean yes!"
Seth kissed her forehead gently. "I love you, I really do, but I just want to know how many beers you drank."
"Wait." Summer paused, scratching her head for an answer. "When you say love, do you mean hate? Do you hate me, Seth?" She grabbed his arms, draping them around her waist so he could feel the slightest bit of her skin by her midriff. She threw him a drunken, seductive look.
"Summer, unlike you, I don't complicate things by using opposites. I say only the truth."
Summer sighed, seemingly bored with this reply and dropped his hands. "Two."
"Huh?" Seth looked back at her.
"Two beers." She grinned and Seth leaned in to kiss her, but she let out an enormous burp, then quickly covered it with giggles.
Marissa jolted up again, laughing.
"That means you had five." Seth said to Marissa and she shrugged it off, falling back to the floor.
"Great, so I get to play Ryan's role tonight." Seth said, which meant keeping after a drunken Marissa.
The doorbell rang and Seth shot to his feet, making sure Summer landed on the pillow of the couch, not the floor and ran to the door, thinking it might be Ms. Stern.
He opened the door instead, to see an unfamiliar woman, yet very familiar at the same time. Something about her eyes, and nose, reminded him of something so close to him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Hi, I'm," The strange woman started, interrupted by a drunk Marissa who came up behind Seth, hugging him.
"Why are you here?" Marissa asked loudly, which caused Summer to giggle and ask who it was.
"I'm sorry, their a little," Seth started, stumbling slightly.
"Drunk?" The woman laughed. "I'll come back later."
Marissa slammed the door in her face before Seth could say anything.
"That's the bad lady. Don't talk to her." Marissa said firmly, making her way back to Summer, bumping into walls on her way.
Seth ignored this as the doorbell rang again and his mother appeared, with the kids in tow.
"Mom, this is so not a good time for you to be coming home!" Seth screeched as Charlotte and Dylan ran to their mother.
"Mommy!" Charlotte screamed and Summer screamed back.
"Dylan!" She hugged Charlotte tight, confusing the tiny girl. She let go and hugged Dyaln, "I love you Charlotte!"
"You smell funny, Mommy." Dylan said gently, Charlotte giving her mother a strange look.
Summer and Marissa fell over in laughter.
"Mommy doesn't feel too good right now." Seth said, hugging his children and watching Kirsten's glare break into laughter.
"Kids, why don't we go get some ice cream? I don't want you guys to catch whatever your mommy has."
"Yeah, cause what Mommy has is *real* contagious." Charlotte said knowingly, buttoning her coat up again.
"What does Mommy have?" Dylan asked, pulling on Charlotte's arm.
"You're too young to understand." Charlotte said, swaying past him.
"No, *you're* too young to understand!" This was Dylan's way of a 'comeback'. Anything Charlotte said to him that was slightly demoralizing, he would reply, 'no, you. . .' It was cute, pathetic, and so much like his father.
"Come on, kids." Kirsten grabbed the children and rushed them out the door. "Seth, sober them up."
"I'll do my best." He said, shutting the door again.
*************
"Uncle Ryan!" Charlotte screamed, jumping into the arms of Ryan as he stepped out of the cab and onto the Cohen's pavement.
Kirsten glanced at Ryan, smiling with slight dismay, "Perfect timing." She whispered and Ryan threw her a dubious look as they hugged.
"Go on inside." Kirsten said, thinking that it was too bad she would miss out on all the drama about to take place.
Ryan cast this aside and rang the doorbell.
***********
"What?" Seth said furiously as he opened the door for the third time in the past ten minutes. "Ryan!"
He shoved Ryan into a man hug, ushering him inside, but then smacked himself.
He wanted Ryan and Marissa to reunite. But not when she was drunk. And burping.
"Hey, where's the wife?" Ryan asked, and Summer shot up in the air from the couch, Marissa was lying on the floor once again, and her long legs were barely visible from where Seth and Ryan were standing.
"Atwood, Ryan!" Summer screamed and threw her arms around him, making him stagger slightly.
Ryan looked at her, surprised and quickly smelled the alcohol behind it.
"Wow, Sum, I never realized you liked Ryan so much." Seth said, picking her up off of him.
"Opposites, Cohen, remember?" She rolled her eyes and then quickly changed to batting her eyelashes at him, frantically spinning around the room as she did so. "Oh no!" She looked back at the couch and then gave Seth a frantic look. "He's here! And so is. . ." Her eyes led back to the couch.
Seth laughed nervously, "Summer has a low tolerance for alchol and well, um, she talks crazy when she's wasted." He picked Summer up off her feet. "Let's get you up to bed, my little mental patient."
"Ohhhh!" Summer giggled, swatting her arms, practically smacking Ryan. "Can we play doctor?"
Ryan grimaced at this, with more of Seth's nervous laughing, and he ran her upstairs.
Ryan placed his bag down on the couch, rubbing his eyes gently.
The flight was hell; but he was still in one piece.
The doorbell rang at once, and Ryan, noticing that Seth was still upstairs, probably 'playing doctor', answered it.
"Ryan?" Anna blinked, wrapping her arms around him, but sulked back into her position when he didn't return the greeting.
"Seth and Summer are having sex. Upstairs. Come back, later." Ryan glared down at her. "Much later."
"I came to see Marissa, actually." Anna said, ignoring his comment and Ryan threw her snide filled glance.
Anna stretched her arm up, pleased to see Marissa pop up from underneath the couch at the mention of her name.
She walked over, but Ryan didn't notice and stared at Anna, tempting her to try to come in.
"Marissa went home. So should you." Ryan crossed his arms in front of him.
"Anna?" A voice mumbled behind him.
He didn't need to turn around to know that voice.
He knew that voice, oh so well.
She came close next to him, breathing gently, lying her hand on his shoulder to steady herself. "Didn't I tell you off already? Leave. No one wants you here."
"You're right." Anna grinned, happy that she had accomplished some sort of damage. "I'll go now." She felt the door slam in her face, due to Marissa, and walked up the street towards the ice cream shoppe, happy as a kid.
*************
Was she really standing right next to him?
Was that really her breath against his?
Was that really her arm lying lifelessly on his?
Marissa blanked out for a second, then lifted her head up and stared into Ryan's eyes for what seemed like forever.
"You're here." She said quietly, tears welling up in her eyes. "I wished for this." She quickly passed out in Ryan's arms, and he stroked her hair, not sure what to think or do.
He laid Marissa down on the couch, carefully and went to the staircase.
"Seth Cohen, get your ass down here!" Ryan roared.
************
Was that Kirsten Cohen?
Yes, it was.
But she hadn't seen her just yet.
Anna walked right past the table where Kirsten was sitting with her two grandchildren, as they licked their sundaes. She went up to the counter, ready to place her order when she heard the girl announce that she was going to the bathroom. Kirsten offered to come, but she refused saying she was a big girl now.
Anna watched with glee as Summer's mini me trailed off into the bathroom and followed her inside.
Charlotte went to one of the stalls, did her business, and saw a slightly eerie, slightly pretty blonde looking at her, by the sinks and mirrors.
"Sweetie, are you by any chance related to Summer Cohen?" The blonde asked.
"That's my Mommy." Charlotte said with pride, washing her hands.
"I knew you had to be Summer's little girl. You look just like her. I was a good friend of your mother's back in high school." Anna hugged the tiny girl, uncomfortably.
"I thought that Mommy's only friends were Aunt Marissa, Uncle Ryan, and my daddy." Charlotte said, noticing that Anna still had her arm around her.
"I'm Anna. What's your name?"
"Charlotte."
"What a pretty name!" Anna squealed, smiling gently. "You were the one who was a mistake, right?"
Charlotte's jaw dropped and she stared at Anna, dumbfounded.
"That's right. Summer found out she had you and left your daddy. She caused your daddy so much pain. Good thing I was there to help him." Anna smiled to herself, giggling at Charlotte, who started to pull away, still in shock of these words.
"I have to go back to my grandmother now." Charlotte said, but Anna kept her gaze locked on her, not letting go.
"You must feel really guilty. Because of you, your mother lost everything. I mean, she had to drop out of school, lose her boyfriend, and live like a poor person. Good thing that you guys have lots of money now."
"I have to go. . ." Charlotte said again, tears welling up inside of her. She pushed again, but Anna kept her grip on the girl.
"I wonder why your mommy has so much money now?" Anna said maliciously. "I guess it's all those men she's been seeing."
"My daddy has a good job." Charlotte said, defensively, hoping that Kirsten would realize it really didn't take her that long to go to the bathroom.
"Sure he does. Your father's amazing. Especially in the bedroom." Anna hissed, dropping Charlotte's arm finally, as the girl broke into tears. "Is that your brother, sitting with you at the table?"
Charlotte nodded, not being able to move.
"They must love him so much more then you. *He* didn't ruin *their* lives."
Charlotte sniffled and glared up at this girl, not sure of what to say.
"My parents love me." Charlotte said violently and ran into one of the stalls, praying that Anna would leave her alone.
"If you say so." Anna smiled to herself and opened the door to the bathrooms, "Say hi to your dad for me!"
Charlotte couldn't hear this though, as the sounds of her own tears were muffled.
Kirsten came in a few minutes afterwards, demanding to know why Charlotte was crying, but Charlotte just sniffled, saying that she missed her mother, and silently wondered if her mother even missed her.