Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Note: Sorry it took so long for an update, I have finals and I'm way busy, so I will most likely not be able to update for another few weeks. Hopefully I will be able to get another chapter of my other story, One, up this week also--we'll see how it goes. This chapter is pretty eventful though, I really liked writing it, so I hope you will like reading it. Thanks for all the great reviews too--they really encourage me to write more, so keep leaving them! Thanks and enjoy…
Lady in Red
Chapter 7: holding on to feel the same
Summer squeezed out the excess water from the sponge. She reached over to the stereo and turned it up, singing along with the lyrics. She continued spraying down her car, taking a great deal of care to clean it thoroughly. It was a rare weekend off, when she didn't have to give swimming lessons at the pool, so she was taking advantage of it and cleaning up the house and doing the odd errand. She was in a great mood. She had just found out that she'd been accepted for the summer program at UCSD in marine biology, so she'd get to spend 8 weeks down in San Diego doing research. She was glad to go. It was away from here and that's all she really needed.
"With you, I can let my hair down, I can say anything crazy, I know you'll catch me right before I hit the ground. With nothing but a t-shirt on, I've never felt so beautiful, baby when I'm with you. Uhh, uhh, uhh…"
She heard clapping and she whipped around, her face flushed from embarrassment. "Very good. I had no idea you were such a big Jessica Simpson fan." Seth mocked her gently. He didn't want to overdo it, he was still on shaky ground with her.
"I'm not. Sometimes I just appreciate a good song to sing along to."
"I'm sure," he lifted his hand, which clutched an In-n-out bag, "peace offering. Are you willing to negotiate?"
"I don't know. Depends on what's in the bag."
"Double Double with fries and a strawberry milkshake," he waved the bag in front of her face, "My milkshake brings all the girls to the yard, so I've heard."
She rolled her eyes at him, "You are so lucky that I'm hungry." She grabbed the bag and sat down on a towel that was laid out on the lawn. She patted the mound of grass next to her and motioned for him to sit.
"Your house is cute, Roberts."
"Cute? Why don't you just say it's like the smallest house you've ever seen, that would sound less condescending," she huffed slightly. She wasn't willing to forgive everything that easily. But he was making it so hard with his hair, and dimples, and lips…
"Sorry. Geez, I just might be taking that food back."
"Not if it's already in my stomach. Why are you here?"
"Well, I wanted to apologize in person. Look, Summer, Anna was lying about all that stuff. She just is a bitter person who gets jealous of anyone who isn't her."
"So, you weren't just using me to get laid."
"No, definitely not. I wouldn't do that to you, I really respect you. I just want to be friends." Inside, Summer was hoping for something more, but she could respect his decision. They could be friends.
"Okay. Friends." Seth stuck out his hand and she shook it forcefully.
"So, friend, do you want to maybe get some ice cream and hang out with me tonight? On a friendly non-date?"
"Umm, I guess so. What will we do on this non-date?"
"Well, we were interrupted while getting to know each other at the party last time, so we could just talk. I could tell you more about my exciting life, and you can tell me more about yours."
"Hmm, sounds pretty interesting. I might have to take you up on this offer." She smiled, being friends with Seth Cohen wouldn't be such a bad idea.
"Well, I don't know how you could refuse. An evening with me, in which you get to hear me talk about myself and pay for your own cone? That is choice, my friend."
"Now that you make it sound so appealing…"
"I'm just kidding…I really want to show you that I'm a good friend and not some asshole who's only got sex on my mind."
"Well, ok, I guess it's a non-date then."
"Okay, I'll pick you up at 9 then."
"Alright, see ya."
***
Summer stepped out of the shower and got dressed for her non-date. She tied her hair up in a ponytail and put some makeup on. She slipped on her flip-flops and a loose cardigan over her dress. She had picked a summer dress because it was balmy outside and she didn't want to feel too hot. Certainly not because she wanted to impress Seth or anything. No, of course not.
He rang the doorbell and waited for her to come out. It was strange, but Seth felt very nervous. Much too nervous for just hanging out with a friend. He wore a white linen button down shirt with some khaki cargo shorts, he was the picture of casualness. His friends had protested when he told them that wasn't going on the party circuit with them tonight, but he really wanted to get to know Summer. For whatever reason, he was drawn to her. He couldn't figure out why.
"Hi." She smiled shyly, as his eyes widened at the sight of her standing there in the doorway, looking so beautiful, yet simple.
"Hi Summer, you're looking very nice tonight." She blushed, believe it or not, she didn't really get that many chances to dress up and go hang out with guy friends. Or girl friends for that matter. She was very much a homebody, but this was a very welcome change from the norm.
"Thanks. You look very nice as well."
"So, where do you want to go?"
"I thought you said we were going to get ice cream."
"Well, I don't really know any places down here, I was thinking you could show me around Huntington a bit, so I can see the sites."
"Well, I guess I can take you down Ocean Avenue, there's a Coldstone off Main there."
"Okay, vamanos, Roberts." Summer handed him a CD. "What's this?"
"Well, you made me a CD, so I decided to make you one. It's time to broaden your musical horizons, Seth." He rolled his eyes and she smacked him playfully. She tried to not blush too hard at the prospect of touching him again. And being close to him.
The two sat in the car as Seth maneuvered through the streets of Huntington Beach. He wrinkled his brow. "What is this, it's like really whiny."
"Do not insult the Shins."
"It's like weird."
"You know what else is weird? You."
"Oh, well maybe I should pull over then and let you out, Miss Summer." Seth mocked, he enjoyed bickering with her.
"Well, maybe you should because we're in front of the ice cream shop. Doofus." He rolled his eyes at her and she squinted her eyes at him. It was going to be an interesting night.
The pair walked along the pier after getting their ice cream. To any random observer, they would look like a cute high school couple on a date. Seth stole bites of her Strawberry Blonde cone and let her sample his Berry Berry Good. They talked about everything, about school, friends, family, their college plans. Then long after the cones were gone, they strolled down the pier and back, heading down the beach, walking until they were probably closer to Seth's house than hers. It was semi-dark (this was summer, when the days lasted forever) and they were alone, but neither was scared. Seth kicked off his flip-flops and walked into the water, kicking the waves about, splashing her. She tried to run away from him, but he followed closely behind. She ran back up onto the sand, and he followed, tackling her from behind and pulling her down to the sand with him. He lay on top of her, with his arms wrapped around her waist. There was sand everywhere, on her face, neck, clothes, legs, in his hair. He pushed some grains off her face and she shivered at his soft touch.
"I've got you." She lay there, not breathing, not sure what to do. They were just friends right? He didn't want anything more, so she would have to pretend that she didn't want any either. Unless he made the first move. Because then it was alright with her. Definitely alright with her.
Seth's breathing got a lot more shallow as he felt her shift underneath him. She brushed some sand out of his hair, but made no move to get out from under his body. She was so beautiful. The moon shone against her skin, giving her this unearthly glow. He wanted to kiss her, friend or not. Friendship rules were made to be broken. He leaned in and almost made it, if not for the damn incessant ringing and vibration in his pocket. He sighed and rolled off her, onto the damp sand. Reaching into his pocket, he cursed whoever it was that had ruined their moment. Luke! Damn the bastard.
"Hello?" Seth tried his hardest to sound menacing, but couldn't.
"Man, you will never guess who I've just met."
"Who?" This had better not be a phone call telling him that there was a hot girl at some party.
"Your girl!"
"My who?"
"The girl from the Fire Ball. She's here! I mean, I think it's her. She's short, she has dark brown hair, but she said she used to have streaks in it. She's fine, man. I really think it's her. And she says she's been to a few events this year at the Balboa."
"Are you serious? Okay, Luke, keep her there. I'm coming over right away." Seth happily chirped away on the phone, not noting the look of disappointment on Summer's face. He flipped his phone shut and looked at Summer, who was already standing and wiping the dirt off her dress.
"Oh, hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tackle you that hard."
"No problem. So, you gotta go?"
"Yeah, I'm really sorry. But guess what, Luke says that the girl I've been looking for from the Ball is at this party he's at. And I'm going to try to find her. You understand, right friend?" He smiled at her and she weakly smiled back. She didn't think the word friend could be so vitriolic and painful.
"Of course, you've been looking for her for so long, you should go." Little do you know, you're chasing a girl that you're never going to find unless you open your eyes. Summer wondered who the imposter was. She stayed silent for the ride back. She had nothing more to say.
He smiled so widely throughout the car ride home. "See, I like this song, it's a lot better." Whatever. She didn't care. All she wanted to do was go home and get away from him. Because it hurt. She wasn't apart of his present or future, she was just a memory.
This may never start
We could fall apart
And I'd be your memory
Lost your sense of fear
Feelings insincere
Can I be your memory?
So get back, back, back to where we last stand
Just like I imagine
I could never feel this way
So get back, back, back to the disaster
My heart's beating faster
Holding on to feel the same
This may never start
I'll tear us apart
Cannot be your enemy
Losing half a year
Waiting for you here
I'd be your anything
So get back, back, back to where we last stand
Just like I imagine
I could never feel this way
So get back, back, back to the disaster
My heart's beating faster
Holding on to feel the same
This may never start
Tearing out my heart
I'd be your memory
Lost your sense of fear
I'd be your memory
Feelings disappear
Can I be your memory?
So get back, back, back to where we last stand
Just like I imagine
I could never feel this way
So get back, back, back to the disaster
My heart's beating faster
Holding on to feel the same
This could never start
We could fall apart
And I'd be your memory
Lost your sense of fear
Feelings insincere
Can I be your memory?
Can I be your memory?
Memory (acoustic version) by Sugarcult