Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own a thing.
Note: Here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy it. I will be updating my other story, Lady in Red this weekend as well. Also, I have a new LiveJournal account that is devoted to the OC, username: RockinTheOC, so if anyone wants to check it out, it's got news, music, recaps, pictures, and my encounter with the cast on it, but I'm taking suggestions on what I should put on the site. Thanks…and enjoy.
One
Chapter 14: love taught me to cry
Summer had waited a few days before telling Marissa that she was in town. She had purposely booked a flight that was a week and a half before the engagement party so that she was have time to reacquaint herself with Newport. She would also be staying after for another week and a half to help Marissa with wedding plans. Since her dad wasn't home, Summer was staying at the St. Regis Monarch Bay resort which was far enough from Newport so she could stay hidden. Of course when Marissa found out she was staying in a hotel, she insisted that Summer come stay at the house. Summer didn't want to.
She had already seen Marissa. The two had lunched at Baja Fresh like old times. Summer had missed moments like this in her life. She had lost touch during college, as she was busting her ass out to make the grades at Duke. But she did, and now she was working in a terrific job. She was still demanding and expectant, but for the better. She had changed considerably in Marissa's eyes. She was no longer the party girl that was the first to get drunk and high at parties. Now she was hardworking and serious. She was still confident as hell, but a little more kind with her words. Bitterness still laced her tone though. To anyone else, Summer seemed like a normal businesswoman, but Marissa knew that she was still hurting tremendously inside.
Marissa glowed. Summer was jealous. Marissa always got everything first. She was the first to fall in love and the first to get married. She was really happy for her friend, though envious of something that would probably never happen to her. Sure, she dated tons of guys, but she could never let any of them in. So she just stopped picking up nice guys altogether and started going after guys who only wanted one thing. And she was fine with that, really.
She was incredibly nervous as she picked out an outfit to wear to dinner at the Cohens. This was a pre-engagement party dinner, where Marissa and Ryan would introduce the members of the wedding party to the family. He would be there. The thought made her physically tremble. What would he be like? She wanted everything to be the same, but it wouldn't be. It would never be. She rifled through her garment bag and pulled out a sexy YSL dress designed for her by Tom Ford personally. If tonight was as big as she knew it was going to be, then she wanted to look as great at possible.
***
Sandy walked by as Seth sat in his room, tying a tie while his latest "girlfriend" flipped through his cd collection. She was a brunette, and she made him wonder why they didn't call them dumb brunettes. He didn't know where his son found these girls. They couldn't possibly have too much in common. He wondered where he and Kirsten had gone wrong with their son. He had started out so innocent, but now he was petulant and hostile towards everyone. Of course he had done well in college and gone on to create a successful television show, but in life he was not successful. This was not the way they raised him. Sandy wished Seth could just find a girl who could settle him down and bring him back to the way he used to be. He wanted him to be happy.
***
Seth rolled his eyes as his date said something completely inane. She was going into the reject pile right after this little party his parents were holding for Ryan and Marissa. He didn't even know why he had to come anyway. It would be lame like all of the other functions he had been to in the past 27 years. At least if the party was boring, he had something to do afterwards; his date was good for something. He knew it wouldn't be though. She would be there. He would not have a dull moment, or at least his mind wouldn't. He tried to tell himself that it didn't matter, but it did. He knew it, and everyone else knew it. Even his date, as imperceptive as she was, could probably tell he was acting a little un-Seth like.
Apart from the sighting on the beach, Seth had seen her a few times before at different functions around LA. Each time with a new boyfriend: Eric, the pro baseball player, Simon, the English up and coming actor, Chris, the frat-boy turned model, Jason, the gym/club owner, even that little pop punk-bastard from Simple Plan. Whatever. He had to forget about her because it was perfectly clear that she had forgotten about him. The first time, he physically hid himself from her, shielding himself from the pain that she would inevitably bring. But that had been years ago, and now he really didn't give a shit about her anymore. He rivaled her in dates and was proud of it. At least, that's what he wanted to believe.
Still a little bit of your taste in my mouth
Still a little bit of you laced with my doubt
Still a little hard to say what's going on
Still a little bit of your ghost, your witness
Still a little bit of your face I haven't kissed
You step a little closer each day
Still I can't see what's going on
Stones taught me to fly
Love taught me to lie
Life taught me to die
So it's not hard to fall
When you float like a cannonball
Still a little bit of your song in my ear
Still a little bit of your words I long to hear
You step a little closer to me
So close that I can't see what's going on
Stones taught me to fly
Love taught me to lie
Life taught me to die
So it's not hard to fall
When you float like a cannon
Stones taught me to fly
Love taught me to cry
So come on courage!
Teach me to be shy
'Cause it's not hard to fall
And I don't want to scare her…
It's not hard to fall
And I don't wanna lose
It's not hard to grow
When you know that you just don't know
***
Summer fidgeted in front of the door, checking her reflection in the mirror once more before ringing the doorbell. It was now or never. Who cared, anyway? Not her, not Summer. Summer Roberts did not care about anyone but herself. Everyone knew that. Well, everyone except for her heart. It throbbed. She didn't know if she would be ready for this. There was no turning back now.
Ryan opened the door and greeted her with a warm hug. Although, he wasn't that fond of her, she was still Marissa's best friend, and he had to be courteous.
"Wow, Summer, you look great! Come on in."
This was different, Chino was actually being hospitable and semi-charming. Again, how did Marissa get so lucky. "You look so great too Ryan. Really, you do. I'm so happy for you both."
"Thanks, Kirsten and Sandy and Marissa are in the kitchen. But don't worry, they're not trying to cook or anything." He smiled, and Summer was set at ease. It was as if nothing had ever happened and she was back in the 11th grade, coming over for dinner at the Cohen's home. Like old times.
"Hey Sum, you look gorgeous. That dress is killer!"
"Thanks Coop, you look so beautiful too."
Marissa kissed Ryan and squeezed him. "That's what love does." Gag me. It was sickeningly sweet, but yet really nice. She smiled and greeted the Cohens who looked a little older, but as good as ever.
"Hello, Summer. How are you?" Sandy hugged her and gave her a reassuring pat on the back, as if he was saying that everything was alright. No hard feelings.
"I'm fine, thank you. Do you need any help with anything?"
"We're fine, hon. Sit down in the living room, I'm sure Julie and Caleb and Jimmy will be here soon." Kirsten smiled tiredly. She knew Seth had changed because of something that happened with Summer, but she didn't want to hold it against the girl. It was hard not to, since Summer seemed to have changed for the better, but Seth was just as apathetic as ever. It wasn't fair. But Kirsten had lived in Newport to know that nothing was fair and she could only hope that things would turn out the way they were meant to.
"Come on Sum, we can look at some of the things we're thinking about for the wedding." Marissa dragged her outside to the living room, leaving the Cohens behind.
***
He heard her laugh. It struck him like a bullet from the sky. For all the years he had tried to forget everything, it all came barreling back to him. He felt a sharp, twisting pain at the base of his chest. This was not supposed to be the way it panned out. He was stronger than her memory was. She could not have this effect on him after all the things she had done to him. "Come on, let's go," he growled at his date.
By the time he had reached the top of the steps, he had heard his grandfather come in with Julie Cooper and thanked them for picking a good time to come. He saw her, sitting there in her designer dress all made up. She was still so beautiful. But her beauty was not kind. It was the beauty that hurt and stung you. It was beauty that was too good for anyone. And now, it was show time. He didn't just write tv shows, he could act pretty damn well too. This was going to be the greatest performance ever.
***
She saw him walk down the stairs with a beautiful model looking girl attached to his side. She tried to avert the gaze, but the force field was too strong. For the first time since their graduation, she saw Seth Cohen. He looked the same, but more rugged and disheveled. She found it difficult to breathe. The whole house, all the people, everything was suffocating her. She needed a drink. "Marissa, I think I'm going to get something to drink."
"Okay." Marissa looked at her quizzically. Summer looked like she was going to pass out.
Then she saw Seth walking down the stairs. No wonder. Marissa was not a fan of the new Seth Cohen. Truthfully, she thought he was a spoiled asshole that everyone bent over backwards to do things for while he spat in their faces and insulted them. She was definitely not a fan of all of his girlfriends who were vapid and self-absorbed. For the Cohens' sake Marissa had tried to fix him up with girls she knew from work, but he rejected them all. They weren't good enough for him. She thought he deserved everything he got.
Well, actually she thought he needed someone to balance him out; someone who was enough like him that she would put him in his place. Marissa knew who that person was. Everyone knew. It was just a matter of fate taking over, and if fate had a helping hand, then good. The process would just move along quicker.
***
Summer walked to the kitchen to pour herself something very strong. Seth saw it. Pathetic. She still ran away from everything that scared her. He wouldn't give her the chance this time. His heart was broken. By the time he was done, hers would be too.
Cannonball by Damien Rice