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"...I mean have you seen her? She looks freakier than Catherine Zeta Jones. Like there's a zone diet gone wrong. But what would Coop diet for? She's got a perfect figure. If this is about her and Chino then seriously that kid is gonna be on the receiving end of a rage blackout. I am gonna break his ass. What do you think? Seth? Seth!"
Seth followed Summer into his home trying to block out her voice. And she thinks I talk too much he thought walking into the kitchen.
"SETH!"
"Here Summer. I'm here and yes you'd be surprised but I was listening and no I don't want to be involved in a scheme to set Ryan and Marissa back up. It should stay between them because they are the only two people that this situation concerns," Seth took a sip of his drink and waited for Summer to answer. She glared at him and took the glass out of his hand. He cringed when she slammed the tumbler down on the countertop.
"Seth Cohen grow a heart!" She shrieked, "Coop's 'situation' does affect us. Last time I checked we were her friends. And have you even looked at her lately? She's lost it! Officially! Like the Marissa Cooper I know would never come to school without covering up her bags first," Summer folded her arms and glared ate Seth triumphantly.
Seth glanced at her warily then cleared his throat. He wasn't scared of her. This was his girlfriend. Come on Cohen. Use your manly powers of attraction. He opened up his mouth to speak then closed it. Yeah right.
"Well I never said that we shouldn't help her. Just the stuff with her and Ryan. Like Ryan probably had a reason for what he's doing now and-" He was cut off by the crashing of Summer's mouth against his. He felt the cool metal of the fridge against his back, all thoughts of their argument completely forgotten. Summer sucked gently on his lower lip then pulled away a victorious smile spreading across her face. Seth dropped his head onto her shoulder and inhaled her perfume.
"Hey that's not fair," Seth mumbled against her bare skin. She smiled again letting her hand come up and rest in his soft curly hair. She pulled his head back and used both of her hands to cup his face.
"Come on. Do it for me please? We won't interfere too much. Just find out what's going on. Cause we have the right to know. We are their friends and we'll just give them a little push. I just want Coop to be happy and-"
"Alright, alright. Stop rambling. You have been spending way too much time with me" Seth grumbled resting his head back on her shoulder. It was so unfair. She always won. That's pathetic Cohen he thought sorrowfully.
Ryan woke up to shrieking in the kitchen. Shifting slightly he realised he had fallen asleep on the couch again. Seth and Summer were having an argument again. Shaking his head he got off the couch and waited till the voices had quieted before he got a drink of water from the kitchen. Seth and Summer were both silent as he walked in to fill his glass. Ok this was weird. He glanced at both of them out of the corner of his eye. Summer was eyeing Seth. Seth looked like he wanted to say something.
"So who won?" Ryan set down his glass and looked at Seth. This was too weird. Nether of them were talking.
"What?" Seth jumped out of his dreamlike state
"The fight"
"Me," Summer answered fixing her stare on Ryan.
Ryan tensed, feeling uncomfortable beneath her gaze. Honestly the woman was dangerous. Seth however saw this as an opportunity to get away. Slinking away he was almost behind Summer when he caught Ryan's eye. Oh no thought Ryan. You're not leaving me alone with her.
"Where are you going Seth?"
Seth stopped. Oh he so did not just do that.
"Dude. I need to pee. You expect me to ignore the call of nature? Come on."
Summer ignored both of them. "So how come you weren't in school Ryan?"
Seth sprinted out of the kitchen leaving much to Ryan's dismay.
"Are you feeling alright?" Summer asked him sweetly. Ryan sighed. Here we go
He straightened. "I wasn't feeling well today. Must have been something I ate"
"Oh really? Well I hope you're feeling well now because I'm having a party next week. It's gonna be like a pre birthday bash for Coop cause I know that she wants to spend her birthday with her dad. You should come", she stared at him pointedly, and "All of her friends should be there. She's been through a lot lately and I think she deserves this. Yeah?"
Ryan swallowed. What the hell was she up to? "I don't know Summer. This stomach thing might not clear up too soon"
Summer restrained from rolling her eyes and put on a smile.
"Well I hope you come. Let me know ok?" She smiled once again and turned to leave then another thought occurred. "Don't tell Coop. I want this to be a surprise"
Ryan stared after her. Whatever he thought let her have this party. Let all the spoiled brats of Newport get together and get drunk while apparently celebrating someone's birthday.
Like that was different from his birthdays. Recalling back a couple of weeks ago Ryan and Marissa had discussed her birthday. He had already started planning. Her present had already been bought and stashed away in his bathroom. What am I going to do with it now? Sighing Ryan walked back into the living room and caught Summer and Seth in an embrace. He watched as Seth leaned forward and kissed Summer, hugged her then walked her to her car. Ryan felt his stomach move again. Somehow he knew that it just wasn't his sickness. He missed Marissa.
"Dude are you okay? You look kinda lost just standing there" Seth walked back in and closed the door.
"Yeah man. She's gone?"
"Yeah. Have a nice chat?"
Ryan didn't answer. He watched as Seth plugged in his controller. Ryan moved forward and picked up the spare controller. Seth glanced at him then back at the screen where the words Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 appeared. Both boys sat back against the couch and started playing.
"Did she tell you about the party?"
Seth looked away from the screen for a few moments then snapped his head back.
"Party? What party?
Ryan shook his head as Seth's player scored 200 pints for a grind. He should have known. Summer was just trying to interfere. Again.
"For Marissa. Her birthday?"
Seth nodded, "Oh right. Yeah. I was invited to her like eleventh birthday party and man her parents went all out. Why is she having a party now? She wasn't exactly sending her birthday vibes out to everyone."
"It's a surprise," Ryan muttered dryly trying to ignore Seth's shout of victory as the words YOU LOSE flashed across his side of the screen.
Seth nodded again as he started the game again. Ryan dropped his controller and sat back with his head against the couch as Seth launched into a recount of his 13th birthday and how his parents had surprised him with a mobile petting zoo.
Birthdays. The word meant nothing to him.
(FLASHBACK)
Dawn Atwood looked up, her vision blurry as her sons ran into the living room.
"Mom! MOM! I got a gold star in class today just because it was my birthday and –
"Shut up Ry. She's drunk," Trey's anger was visible. He had listened to Ryan chatter about nothing but his birthday all day. And now here she was pissed out of her mind. They shouldn't even have had any expectations. Ryan looked up at his big brother not wanting to believe it. No.
"No she's not Trey," his voice was breathless and full of hope. He waited watching his mother for a reply. For at least a small indication that he was right.
Dawn shook her head and laughed.
"It's your birthday kiddo?" Dawn laughed and reached for her pack of cigarettes. Trey looked in disgust at the fall of Ryan's face.
"Well yeah mom. I'm twelve today.
"Well of course you are. But what did you expect? Balloons? A clown? A band? A party?" she leaned over and ruffled his hair and Ryan backed away smelling the sour liquid on her breath. Tears threatened to spill from his eyes.
"YOU PROMISED!" he shouted unable to hold the cascade of tears falling down his face, "Not on our birthdays. You said. You promised that you wouldn't do this on our birthdays. Not on our birthdays."
"So what? I have problems in this life Ryan! You expect me to care for you and your brother while your father is probably out on his ass drunk somewhere?"
"And how is that so different from you?" Trey spoke up his eyes unusually glassy.
"That's all I get huh? Two ungrateful little bastards who just can't accept that life's not perfect" she leaned close to both of them and whispered, "well let me tell ya now. Life's not perfect. It never will be. You're gonna be stuck in this hell hole for the rest of your life"
"DAWN!"
Her head whipped around causing her vision to once again blur. Nick Atwood stepped into the house his eyes wide with fury.
"What the hell is this? You take all our money for the week and spend it on booze?"
Dawn sniffed. "Well what else is money for?"
Nick stepped closer, "I'll tell you woman. This money was for food on the table for this family," he gestured at the two boys who still stood on the corner of the living room too afraid to move.
"A FAMILY DAWN. It wasn't my choice to do this but now what do you want me to do? Steal? Rob a bank?"
Dawn lit another cigarette. "Isn't that what you were doing before?"
"You little bi-" He raised his hand to slap her as Ryan unfroze and ran to his mother.
"MOMMY!"
"Get outta the way you little piece of shit" His father pushed him into the dining table leaving him with a sore bruised hip. He slapped Dawn and turned to look at the miserable scene in front of me.
"What kinda family I got huh?" Ignoring Ryan's screams of pain he walked towards the door.
"No daddy. Don't leave!" Trey ran to the door and grabbed hold of his father's arm. Nick shook him off and Trey fell to the floor with a cry of hurt.
(END OF FLASHBACK)
Birthdays. Same as Christmas. He looked at Seth who was still mumbling to himself and fiddling with the controller. They had no idea just how good they had it. No idea at all.
As a new door opens we close the ones behind
Delta Goodrem – Not me Not I
"...I mean have you seen her? She looks freakier than Catherine Zeta Jones. Like there's a zone diet gone wrong. But what would Coop diet for? She's got a perfect figure. If this is about her and Chino then seriously that kid is gonna be on the receiving end of a rage blackout. I am gonna break his ass. What do you think? Seth? Seth!"
Seth followed Summer into his home trying to block out her voice. And she thinks I talk too much he thought walking into the kitchen.
"SETH!"
"Here Summer. I'm here and yes you'd be surprised but I was listening and no I don't want to be involved in a scheme to set Ryan and Marissa back up. It should stay between them because they are the only two people that this situation concerns," Seth took a sip of his drink and waited for Summer to answer. She glared at him and took the glass out of his hand. He cringed when she slammed the tumbler down on the countertop.
"Seth Cohen grow a heart!" She shrieked, "Coop's 'situation' does affect us. Last time I checked we were her friends. And have you even looked at her lately? She's lost it! Officially! Like the Marissa Cooper I know would never come to school without covering up her bags first," Summer folded her arms and glared ate Seth triumphantly.
Seth glanced at her warily then cleared his throat. He wasn't scared of her. This was his girlfriend. Come on Cohen. Use your manly powers of attraction. He opened up his mouth to speak then closed it. Yeah right.
"Well I never said that we shouldn't help her. Just the stuff with her and Ryan. Like Ryan probably had a reason for what he's doing now and-" He was cut off by the crashing of Summer's mouth against his. He felt the cool metal of the fridge against his back, all thoughts of their argument completely forgotten. Summer sucked gently on his lower lip then pulled away a victorious smile spreading across her face. Seth dropped his head onto her shoulder and inhaled her perfume.
"Hey that's not fair," Seth mumbled against her bare skin. She smiled again letting her hand come up and rest in his soft curly hair. She pulled his head back and used both of her hands to cup his face.
"Come on. Do it for me please? We won't interfere too much. Just find out what's going on. Cause we have the right to know. We are their friends and we'll just give them a little push. I just want Coop to be happy and-"
"Alright, alright. Stop rambling. You have been spending way too much time with me" Seth grumbled resting his head back on her shoulder. It was so unfair. She always won. That's pathetic Cohen he thought sorrowfully.
Ryan woke up to shrieking in the kitchen. Shifting slightly he realised he had fallen asleep on the couch again. Seth and Summer were having an argument again. Shaking his head he got off the couch and waited till the voices had quieted before he got a drink of water from the kitchen. Seth and Summer were both silent as he walked in to fill his glass. Ok this was weird. He glanced at both of them out of the corner of his eye. Summer was eyeing Seth. Seth looked like he wanted to say something.
"So who won?" Ryan set down his glass and looked at Seth. This was too weird. Nether of them were talking.
"What?" Seth jumped out of his dreamlike state
"The fight"
"Me," Summer answered fixing her stare on Ryan.
Ryan tensed, feeling uncomfortable beneath her gaze. Honestly the woman was dangerous. Seth however saw this as an opportunity to get away. Slinking away he was almost behind Summer when he caught Ryan's eye. Oh no thought Ryan. You're not leaving me alone with her.
"Where are you going Seth?"
Seth stopped. Oh he so did not just do that.
"Dude. I need to pee. You expect me to ignore the call of nature? Come on."
Summer ignored both of them. "So how come you weren't in school Ryan?"
Seth sprinted out of the kitchen leaving much to Ryan's dismay.
"Are you feeling alright?" Summer asked him sweetly. Ryan sighed. Here we go
He straightened. "I wasn't feeling well today. Must have been something I ate"
"Oh really? Well I hope you're feeling well now because I'm having a party next week. It's gonna be like a pre birthday bash for Coop cause I know that she wants to spend her birthday with her dad. You should come", she stared at him pointedly, and "All of her friends should be there. She's been through a lot lately and I think she deserves this. Yeah?"
Ryan swallowed. What the hell was she up to? "I don't know Summer. This stomach thing might not clear up too soon"
Summer restrained from rolling her eyes and put on a smile.
"Well I hope you come. Let me know ok?" She smiled once again and turned to leave then another thought occurred. "Don't tell Coop. I want this to be a surprise"
Ryan stared after her. Whatever he thought let her have this party. Let all the spoiled brats of Newport get together and get drunk while apparently celebrating someone's birthday.
Like that was different from his birthdays. Recalling back a couple of weeks ago Ryan and Marissa had discussed her birthday. He had already started planning. Her present had already been bought and stashed away in his bathroom. What am I going to do with it now? Sighing Ryan walked back into the living room and caught Summer and Seth in an embrace. He watched as Seth leaned forward and kissed Summer, hugged her then walked her to her car. Ryan felt his stomach move again. Somehow he knew that it just wasn't his sickness. He missed Marissa.
"Dude are you okay? You look kinda lost just standing there" Seth walked back in and closed the door.
"Yeah man. She's gone?"
"Yeah. Have a nice chat?"
Ryan didn't answer. He watched as Seth plugged in his controller. Ryan moved forward and picked up the spare controller. Seth glanced at him then back at the screen where the words Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 appeared. Both boys sat back against the couch and started playing.
"Did she tell you about the party?"
Seth looked away from the screen for a few moments then snapped his head back.
"Party? What party?
Ryan shook his head as Seth's player scored 200 pints for a grind. He should have known. Summer was just trying to interfere. Again.
"For Marissa. Her birthday?"
Seth nodded, "Oh right. Yeah. I was invited to her like eleventh birthday party and man her parents went all out. Why is she having a party now? She wasn't exactly sending her birthday vibes out to everyone."
"It's a surprise," Ryan muttered dryly trying to ignore Seth's shout of victory as the words YOU LOSE flashed across his side of the screen.
Seth nodded again as he started the game again. Ryan dropped his controller and sat back with his head against the couch as Seth launched into a recount of his 13th birthday and how his parents had surprised him with a mobile petting zoo.
Birthdays. The word meant nothing to him.
(FLASHBACK)
Dawn Atwood looked up, her vision blurry as her sons ran into the living room.
"Mom! MOM! I got a gold star in class today just because it was my birthday and –
"Shut up Ry. She's drunk," Trey's anger was visible. He had listened to Ryan chatter about nothing but his birthday all day. And now here she was pissed out of her mind. They shouldn't even have had any expectations. Ryan looked up at his big brother not wanting to believe it. No.
"No she's not Trey," his voice was breathless and full of hope. He waited watching his mother for a reply. For at least a small indication that he was right.
Dawn shook her head and laughed.
"It's your birthday kiddo?" Dawn laughed and reached for her pack of cigarettes. Trey looked in disgust at the fall of Ryan's face.
"Well yeah mom. I'm twelve today.
"Well of course you are. But what did you expect? Balloons? A clown? A band? A party?" she leaned over and ruffled his hair and Ryan backed away smelling the sour liquid on her breath. Tears threatened to spill from his eyes.
"YOU PROMISED!" he shouted unable to hold the cascade of tears falling down his face, "Not on our birthdays. You said. You promised that you wouldn't do this on our birthdays. Not on our birthdays."
"So what? I have problems in this life Ryan! You expect me to care for you and your brother while your father is probably out on his ass drunk somewhere?"
"And how is that so different from you?" Trey spoke up his eyes unusually glassy.
"That's all I get huh? Two ungrateful little bastards who just can't accept that life's not perfect" she leaned close to both of them and whispered, "well let me tell ya now. Life's not perfect. It never will be. You're gonna be stuck in this hell hole for the rest of your life"
"DAWN!"
Her head whipped around causing her vision to once again blur. Nick Atwood stepped into the house his eyes wide with fury.
"What the hell is this? You take all our money for the week and spend it on booze?"
Dawn sniffed. "Well what else is money for?"
Nick stepped closer, "I'll tell you woman. This money was for food on the table for this family," he gestured at the two boys who still stood on the corner of the living room too afraid to move.
"A FAMILY DAWN. It wasn't my choice to do this but now what do you want me to do? Steal? Rob a bank?"
Dawn lit another cigarette. "Isn't that what you were doing before?"
"You little bi-" He raised his hand to slap her as Ryan unfroze and ran to his mother.
"MOMMY!"
"Get outta the way you little piece of shit" His father pushed him into the dining table leaving him with a sore bruised hip. He slapped Dawn and turned to look at the miserable scene in front of me.
"What kinda family I got huh?" Ignoring Ryan's screams of pain he walked towards the door.
"No daddy. Don't leave!" Trey ran to the door and grabbed hold of his father's arm. Nick shook him off and Trey fell to the floor with a cry of hurt.
(END OF FLASHBACK)
Birthdays. Same as Christmas. He looked at Seth who was still mumbling to himself and fiddling with the controller. They had no idea just how good they had it. No idea at all.
As a new door opens we close the ones behind
Delta Goodrem – Not me Not I