Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Note: Thanks for the great reviews! I guess I'll continue this story, then--keep them coming!
Lady in Red
Chapter 1: Trying to get through today…
She walked into the club, and was ignored by all the staff. After all, she was one of them. Another long day catering to the needs of the rich and famous. She straightened her khaki skirt and navy polo. She did a quick makeup check in the employee lounge because they had strict standards for their employees. No one who worked at Balboa could have one hair out of place. Their patrons expected the best, and they got it. She plastered on her work smile and took her rightful place at the reception desk. Immediately, the phones started ringing and the work day began. She shared a look with her co-worker and got started, "Hello, Balboa Country Club, this is Summer, how may I help you?"
Summer wasn't very thrilled to be working at the country club. There were a million things she'd rather be doing, but the job paid really well. She had started at the club as a lifeguard in the children's pool, but was promoted to a front desk job within a few months. The mangers approved of her "look" and so would the club members. Whatever that meant. So here she was, fielding calls and reserving banquet halls and planning catering menus. That wasn't the bad part of the job. What she hated the most was bending over backwards to help these, poor snot faced kids plan their thousand dollar birthday parties and cater to their every beck and call. It was not the ideal way she wanted to spend her time, but it was her job. She hated them, with their money and lack of responsibility. They waved around their platinum cards with no respect for anyone. They just wanted to buy everyone off. It was disgusting.
***
She strolled over to the tennis courts that overlooked Newport Beach. Dozens of Newpsies filled the courts in their perfect tennis skirts and tanks that showed off their toned and surgically enhanced bodies. Life was so different here. Beautiful people, fancy cars, enormous yachts. She didn't really belong in their world. Everything was fake, and everyone would do anything to keep up appearances. She watched it day in and day out. She heard the gossip while she stood in the lobby: Cammie got another chin job, David cheated on his wife again. It was so strange. She was apart of it, yet she wasn't at all. She was an outsider looking into their deceptively perfect world. She came from somewhere else, she knew different lives than these people. Huntington Beach was not very different in terms of the plethora of wealthy people who lived on PCH, but at the same time, there was a more down to earth feel about Surf City. It was right next to Newport, but it could be completely different. I mean, they actually had split level houses in Huntington. Okay, they had split level houses in Newport too, but not many that were affordable. Maybe it was what she knew of it. The hardworking families who found pleasure relaxing on the weekends, barbequing and playing Frisbee on the beach. It was the people who didn't care about the difference between Cristal and Dom. She liked it that way.
But sometimes, once in a long while, one stray thought would enter her mind. What would it be like to be one of them? To live one day in a rich social girl's shoes. To be loved and hated by so many people. But she would chide herself every time she thought things like that. She didn't want their life. Her own life was screwed up enough already.
The waves crashed into the seaside bluffs violently, throwing their weight onto everything. She craved to be down at the beach, surfing the waves, letting them run their arms over her body. Summer loved the sea. She could never imagine living anywhere else. She loved waking up at 4 AM to catch the sets before school started. That was the mark of a true beach bum. She had be doing this since she was about 15; it was a ritual that often comforted her in her pain. She could never let go of this tradition and she knew wherever she ended up in life, wherever she went, her heart would always take her back to the sea.
***
Seth walked out onto the veranda of the Balboa's restaurant. Businessmen surrounded him, all eagerly wheeling and dealing so they could make another million or two that day. It was the same thing everyday. Seth spent a lot of time at the club; after all, he'd been playing golf and tennis for years. He rarely went into the restaurant though. It reminded him too much of what he hated about Newport. For 18 years, he had been living in this sham of a world. He walked around on the balcony until he was facing the tennis courts. He could see the ocean in all its beauty faded in the background. Who was he kidding. He was depressed. His girlfriend of two years, Anna, had dumped him. Her exact words were "Seth, this, is not working for me." Then she had proceeded to hook up with another guy from Santa Margarita or Mater Dei at the same party. He had really believed that he loved her. But he guess he knew that he never really cared for her. She certain did fine without him. They were together just for title of being Harbor High School's resident power couple. Seth wasn't like other boys who could just go and hook up with some other girl. He was cursed with a conscience that would not let him forget things. He believed in love and he wanted to feel it. He was a romantic.
He watched the petite staff member stand in a corner by the last tennis court by herself, staring at the water. She looked so tiny next to the substantial chain link fence that separated the court from the viewing area. He had never seen her here before, but he didn't really pay any attention most of the time. She looked so peaceful out there, calm and relaxed. He wished he could learn her secret.
***
Summer sat at the front desk, talking with a member on the phone. Well, she was trying to talk, but the woman had put her on hold for the 6th time in 10 minutes. A guy swept into the room, wearing a light blue golf shirt and khaki pants. He looked so Newport. So Abercrombie. He stood before her impatiently tapping his feet. Even though he was annoying her, he looked very attractive. She knew exactly who he was. He was Seth Cohen, the prize of Harbor High School. All the girls were after him, she should know, Marissa told her stories all the time. And Marissa should know, she was on and off with his brother, Ryan all the time, and she lived next door. Summer had seen him around before, at Marissa's parents' parties or around the club, but she never paid much attention to him. He seemed like a total jerk who dated the dumbest girls. He probably had his mind on one thing only. Damn those stupid Newport bastards. Oh, but he was attractive. She could see why so many girls like him. His skin wasn't tan, instead it was boyishly paler than most fake and bake boys around here. His hair looked curly and soft, and she had to fight the urge to pet him. And his eyes. His eyes pierced into hers as he sighed.
"I'll be with you in one moment, sir." Her voiced sounded surprisingly faint. This was a surprise. Summer was always so assertive and strong, but she sounded like a mouse.
"Sure." Seth looked at the girl. She was attractive, tan and well toned. He had never seen her before, and he was pretty sure she didn't go to his school. An open AP Physics book sat on the desk and some weird whiny, soft guitar music floated from the computer. She was sort of the shy type though, totally opposite from what he usually sought out. She was probably some weird emo chick. He read her nametag: Summer. She looked like a Summer. If he wasn't feeling so shitty, he might have asked her out on a date, but the only thing company he felt like having was some food and his cds. And plus, if any of his friends saw him with her, he'd never live it down. Dating the emo geek receptionist from the club? Not too good for his reputation, no matter how cute she was.
"Sorry about that. How can I help you?" she smiled, but her voice was still muted.
"Umm, yeah. There's no one at the valet station. Can you get them to bring out my car? It's the Range Rover." His voice was harsh and quick.
"Of course, sorry about the delay."
Another spoiled rich prick. She wanted him to be the perfect, sweet gentleman. Nope. Figured, the king of them all would be that way also. The phone rang again and Summer's thoughts crawled back to her work. But she couldn't help but take one last peek at Seth Cohen as he drove off into the sunset even though she knew it could never be.
Can you leave me here alone now
I don't wanna hear you say
That you know me
That I should be always doing what you say
Cause I'm trying to get through today
And there's one thing I know
I don't wanna think about you
or think about me
Don't wanna figure this out
I don't wanna think about you
or think about nothing
Don't wanna talk this one out
I won't let you bring me down
'Cause I know, I don't wanna think about you, don't wanna think about you
When I wake up here tomorrow
Things will never be the same
Cause I won't wait
Cause you won't change
And you'll always be this way
Now I'm gonna get through today
And there's one thing I know
I don't wanna think about you
Run away, run away, running as fast as I can
Run away, run away, I'll never come back here again
Run away, run away
I don't wanna think about you
or think about me
Don't wanna figure this out
I don't wanna think about you
or think about nothing
Don't wanna talk this one out
This time I won't let you bring me down
Won't let you shut me out
'Cause I know, I don't wanna think about you,
I don't wanna think about you
Don't Wanna Think About You by Simple Plan