Rating: PG-13 for strong language

Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

Author's Note: Here is the next chapter, and since I have a lot of time this weekend, you'll probably see another chapter of this story and my other current story, One, up as soon as today, but I'm not making any promises. I'll try to get them up asap, and I was thinking about writing another one parter, so maybe that will be up soon. The title of this chapter is from Something Corporate's song, Only Ashes--I saw them in concert a few days ago (check the LJ for pics), so they are my muse for this chapter, I hope you enjoy…

Lady in Red

Chapter 5: torch the part of me that's you

Summer sat at the front desk, bored out of her mind. It was a Friday afternoon and surprisingly the club was almost empty. All the Newport socialites were probably out getting their hair or nails done. It was the day before Valentine's Day, only two weeks after the Winter Ball. Usually she spent the Hallmark holiday by herself, on her couch watching a movie and eating copious amounts of food. Her parents were always in Las Vegas, so she had the house and the remote to herself.

But not this year.

She was working; Valentine's was one of the busiest nights of the year for the Balboa's restaurant. She flipped through her AP Biology book as she waited for something to happen. She looked outside at some Harbor boys messing around on the putting green. He wasn't amongst them.

She couldn't get Seth Cohen out of her head. The kiss replayed over and over again; she could still feel his breath mixing with hers. She shouldn't have let it happen. She knew he was looking for her. He had asked Marissa about her, but Marissa wisely told him that his "lady in red" wasn't someone she knew too well. A friend of a friend of a friend. The mysterious "lady" was getting quite a reputation around the club. Seth's friends hadn't noticed her at the party, they all thought he was making the whole scenario up. And Seth, in their opinion, was getting a little pathetic. He talked about this girl all the time, asking different people from different high schools if they knew any girls with long brown hair with gold and auburn streaks in it. Not likely, since Summer had washed the temporary dye out the day after the party. All Seth could do was ask around some more and wait to see if she would appear again. That was all he could hope for.

But the good thing that came out of this whole situation was that Seth acknowledged her presence whenever he came to the club. He asked her how she was, and then asked her about Marissa's friend, the one he was so fervently seeking. He'd strike up a conversation and she would sit there and marvel how every hair on his head was so perfect. This became an everyday occurrence, and the time Seth spent talking to Summer grew and grew. She liked their sarcastic filled banter sessions. Their talks were the only time she felt at ease while at the club.

***

Again, Summer sat idly at the desk, this time rubbing her feet. She had been on her feet all day acting as the hostess in the restaurant. They were short-handed, so of course she was the one assigned to help out. The last of the reservations of the nights had just been seated, so she was relieved of her duties. She only had about 30 more minutes on her shift, then she could go home and take a nice long bubble bath. When did she become like 50?

"Hey, Summer." She looked up.

"Hi, Seth, how are you?"

"Fine. Hard day at work?" he nodded at her feet.

"Yeah, but it's almost over thank god." She quickly shoved her feet back under the desk.

"So, if you don't mind me asking, what are you doing here alone on Valentine's Day."

"I'd like to ask you the same question."

"I asked you first," he smiled at her.

"Well, I had to work, what's your excuse?"

"I didn't have anyone special to spend it with."

She ran a finger from her eye down her cheek. "Tear. Please, you're Seth Cohen, you could get like any girl."

"I wish," he looked thoughtful for a moment, and Summer knew exactly who he was thinking about, "so are you doing anything after work?"

"Well, not likely, it's almost 11:00."

"What are you like, 50? The night is still young. My friend Holly is having a party at her house, you wanna go with me?"

"With you?" she smirked at him, wondering what exactly was transpiring.

"Sure, as friends."

"We're not friends, really."

"OH, ok, if that's the way it's gonna be." He feigned disgust.

"I didn't mean it that way. It's just that I don't really know you or any of your friends."

"You know Marissa, don't you? She'll be there. And I dunno, I thought I would ask because I always see you around here, but you're never at any parties or anything."

"Well, I don't go to your school."

"Neither does like half of the people at any of these parties. Come on, it'll be fun."

"I really shouldn't. My parents…"

"You won't get into that much trouble. I promise. Trust me."

"And why should I do that?" the words left her mouth before she could think twice. Crap.

He looked at her for a moment longer. What was it about her statement that made him stop in his tracks like that. "You just should."

"Well, I don't know. Maybe I could drop in for a little bit."

"Alright, score one for Seth." She shook her head and he laughed. This should be interesting.

***

By the time the two got to the beach house, the party had already died a bit. Most of the couples and triples had gone off to the bedrooms to do whatever it is that they did. Some party guests were passed out on couches, poolside loungers, and on top of the kitchen counters. But, the music was still blaring and there were still people drinking and playing poker. Summer knew why she didn't go to parties like this. It wasn't her style. And plus she was never really invited to any of these functions. She distanced herself from most of the kids at school and she worked three jobs a week. She barely had time for homework; she definitely had no time for ragers like this every night. If she did have free time, she would have much rather sat at home watching some artsy movie or reading a graphic novel or something. Never in a million years would she want to spend it with the trash of Newport.

"Do you want me to get you something to drink?"

"Sure, some beer is alright I guess."

"Alright." Seth faded into the crowd and Summer wandered around a bit, taking in her surroundings. Girls and boys clad in bikinis and board shorts filled every corner of the room. A smoky haze wafted throughout the whole house. It was like some weird other dimension or something.

"Here, you go."

"Thanks." The noise was deafening, Seth mouthed something to her, but she couldn't really understand.

"You wanna go outside?!" She nodded yes in reply.

"Wow, it's really loud in there." Seth pulled two lawn chairs close to each other.

"Yeah, are these parties always this wild?"

"I guess, but this one isn't too out of control. Usually the mark of a good party is when the cops are called."

"Oh, that's good I guess."

The conversation dropped off a little bit, but he wanted to learn more about his new friend. She talked about her life, her family, her jobs, and interests. Then it was his turn; they took turns telling each other about their goals and dreams. It was a fairly in depth conversation; the first one they had ever had.

"I'm glad you came here tonight, Summer. It was really nice having this conversation with you. I mean, sometimes I feel like some of my friends really don't know me. They think I'm whack, or crazy. I spend most of my time with them in school or out of it, which is why it's good to have someone who isn't around 24/7 to talk to."

"Yeah, I feel you." All of her answers were brief, she would much listen to him ramble on about himself than accidentally say anything that would clue him off to her being the girl for whom he had searched.

"I mean, a few weeks ago, I met this girl and she was amazing. She was beautiful and perfect and we shared this intense moment. But then she was gone. I couldn't find her and when I asked Luke and Jason to help me, they did, but not without giving me shit for it."

"Right, the lady in red. You still can't find her?"

"It was at the masquerade ball. I didn't know who she was. But, I guess it doesn't matter, she gone anyway. If she wanted to be found, she would've come back by now."

"Well, don't give up. Maybe she's scared and she doesn't want to be found now, but give her time, she could end up realizing that she was an idiot and come back."

"You think so?"

"Oh yeah, for sure. I definitely think it's a possibility. Girls can be fickle."

"You said it. Thanks, I guess I'll try to keep looking, but I don't know how much good that's going to do."

"Well, well, look what Seth dragged in, girls." Seth looked behind him to see his ex-girlfriend standing with a smug grin on her face. Her group of cronies stood behind her trying to look menacing, but just ending up looking like losers.

"Anna, don't you have some loser jock to blow?"

"I already broke up with you, honey."

"Whatever, what are you doing here."

"I was invited. I belong here, which is not to say for your little date here. I can't believe you've become so pathetic. Dipping into the hired help pool."

"At least she's a decent person, which is not to say for any of you bitches."

"Please, don't even try it. Just because you need an ego boost and a BJ from some chick who cleans our tables and takes our messages at the club. Don't fall for the sympathy and sweetness act, sweetie, all he wants is a quick fuck. Isn't that what happened with Jamie Morrison last week, Seth?" Anna smirked as the other girls snickered, "have fun kids." Anna sauntered off looking for her next victim. Her posse flipped their hair and huffed at Seth.

"Sorry about that. She's a real bitch."

"It's not a big deal. I understand that all you want me for is some tail. Thanks a lot, I actually thought you were decent." She stood up and marched off towards the beach.

"Summer! Wait! It's not true!" And then for the second time in two weeks, he was left alone and without a clue.

Summer stumbled onto the beach, tears running down her cheeks. Was she so stupid as to believe that Seth Cohen had feelings for her? And that he didn't want to be her friend except to get into her pants? Why would he want her anyway? She wasn't that pretty, she wasn't that funny, and she wasn't that rich. All of those guys were the same. Those Newport Bitches could have them, Summer was done with Seth. She walked up to a bonfire that still flickered softly at the ignorance of the party guests who had left it burning. Her face was illuminated by the glow of the fire. She felt the heat creep into her face but couldn't tell if it was from the pit or from her embarrassment. She kicked up some sand, letting it fall violently around her. She kicked some into the pit and watches as the fire sizzled violently. It slowly extinguished and the smell of the ashes that were left filled the air. Only ashes. They were only ashes, remnants of a flickering moment. Those girls were right, he was better off with them. She could be nothing to him.

Anna watched her from the beach house. A slow smirk spread across her face. This girl was in love with her ex-boyfriend. Something clicked in Anna's brain and suddenly a plan was hatched in her head. Two and two were put together, brown hair, short, country club. The unknown girl. This was easier than Anna could have imagined. Even though she had dumped Seth, it didn't mean that he could move onto the next whore that quickly. If he wasn't happy with her, then he would be happy with no one.