Disclaimer: I do not own The O.C

A/N: Thanks for the reviews.

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It's funny how you never know how much you like something till you try it. I guess it's logical but sometimes you can feel that you'll like something even before you try it. That was what it was like for me and soccer. When I saw the other neighborhood kids playing it on the sand, in it's rawest form, I knew I'd enjoy it. Kids of different ages, running and kicking, fighting, with no time outs, to get that one ball between those two sticks. It was never like that with football or even basketball. They just didn't seem to have it. Which was the same idea I had about sailing till I tried it. Not that I can actually sail. But I love sitting in the boat and hearing the waves crash against the bottom of it. Or the smell of the ocean as the wind collides with my nose. Plus the air feels much lighter and crisper at sea. And even the chaos, the violent tides, makes sense. It is just great. Plus I like watching Anna steer the wheel.

I picked up the binoculars and searched for Seth's boat. It had been ten days and we still hadn't caught a glimpse of him. I was a little worried because I expected Anna's boat to run much faster and make-up for lost time, but there was also the possibility that he'd taken a different route.

As usual, after spotting nothing, I directed the binoculars to the sky and watched the birds. The guys back home would never believe that Ryan Atwood enjoyed watching the little flying animals. I loved watching how free they seemed, flapping their wings in the wind, traveling in packs, moving from destination to destination, never staying in one spot for long.

I'd googled it and learned that even though they traveled a lot, they always went back to certain locations every year. As free as they seemed, they still had a place they called home. I especially loved that about them.

As I watched a bird I'd learned was a Pacific Swallow, I noticed something hop in front of my screen. I looked closer and saw it hop again. It was a dolphin! I'd sometimes imagined that seeing dolphins at Sea World would be a nice way to waste an afternoon, but seeing one in its habitat was stunning. It was like a jolt reminding me how insignificant my life was in the larger scheme of things, and I found it comforting but disconcerting.

Then I remembered that Anna was missing the show and ran down to get her. I called out her name as I ran down the steps.

She was sitting by the computer, writing something on a pad.

"Hey, Anna, guess what? I just saw a dophin!"

She grinned widely. "For real?"

"Yeah," I beckoned, "come now, you might miss it."

She sent me an understanding smile. "First time, huh?"

"Yes." But she didn't budge from her seat. " Come on... why aren't you coming?"

"I'm scared that if I leave, I'll lose my train of thought and have to start all over again." She waved me away, "Go back and look at the dolphin. Who knows? There might be two of them."

Suddenly, what Anna was writing seemed more interesting than some swimming mammals.

"Your train of thought?"

She grimaced. "Yeah, I have to do some calculus."

"Calculus?" Who did calculus for kicks?

"Yes. My final."

"What?"

She put down her pen and folded her arms across her chest. "I see that you are determined to interrupt me today, Ryan Atwood. Yes, my final. I left before I could take my calculus exam so the professor emailed it to me," she explained.

"Wow? Isn't he scared you're going to cheat?"

"It was an open book exam anyway and I don't think it's the same one he gave them. Besides, I had an A average so he knew I wasn't leaving to avoid his exam… plus my parents explained that it was something I couldn't get out of."

"I see." I walked to her and peered over her shoulder at her work.

"Differential equations?"

"Yep. AP math."

I became aware that my hands on the top of the chair were also touching her shoulders. It's a move I would have done to Seth if he'd been sitting there instead but I was suddenly self conscious. Plus her shampoo smelled a little fruity. However, she didn't seem to notice so I left them there.

"Yeah, I know… I could help you if you wanted...," I said, straightening my back.

She raised her brow. "You want to help me cheat…?"

"Nope, I'm just telling you that I am great at solving differential equations and my services are available to you." I winced. 'My services' sounded a little wrong.

"Oh, Ryan, could you brag a little more?"

I laughed. "Hey, I'm just telling you that I'm good."

"Well, not at everything. I can sail and you can't," she said, playfully sticking her tongue out at me.

I nodded. "Oh, I see. You're going to hold that over my head for this entire trip."

"Yep. As long as you remember who the boss is," she said looking up at me.

"But, I can make coffee and you can't. So there."

"That's why God invented Starbucks."

I looked around the room. "Anna dear, point me to the nearest Starbucks."

She looked around and scrunched her nose. "Whatever!" she shouted and we both laughed.

Still laughing she added, "See, you've succeeded in making me lose my train of thought. And… no, I don't need your help. Anyway, I need to finish this and type it all up by tomorrow. So if you don't mind…"

I can tell when I am not wanted so I went back up to enjoy the sun.

I woke up about four hours later and went back in. Anna was watching something in Spanish.

"Enjoy your nap?" she asked.

I nodded and sat next to her. "What are you watching?" I asked.

"The Valley."

"I didn't think you'd watch that show –in Spanish no less?"

"One of us has to be able to communicate with the locals when we get to Tahiti."

"But, don't they speak French?."

She rolled her eyes and looked at me like I was stupid. "Spanish and French are romance languages so it'll be easier to learn French." She must have known that that was a bit of stretch.

"English and German are from the same language group but that doesn't make me fluent in German," I pointed out.

"Shut up and kiss my ass. Shoot me because I'm such an addict that I am watching a re-run in Spanish."

I laughed and told her about the time I met the cast. She was impressed as I'd hoped she would. Seeing her eyes expand and hearing her laughter explode as I recounted the story made that entire experience seem worth it.

"So… Anna, you missed an exam for Seth?" I asked as she got off the couch. She straightened her shorts then headed for the fridge. That question had nagged me for a few hours. It almost seemed like she dropped everything she was doing for Seth's sake and I need to know what that was all about.

"Of course," she replied as if it was the most reasonable thing anyone could do.

"Why?"

She opened it and reached for a bottle of water. "Do you want something?" she asked.

I shook my head and repeated my question.

"Because he was in danger. And I don't like seeing my friends in danger."

"But you guys aren't together any more."

She took a swig then came back and sat on the chair opposite mine. "So what? It doesn't mean I don't care for him."

Care for him? Is that all?

"Speaking of care. You and Seth…" she asked, pursing her lips and looking slightly nervous.

"Yes?"

"You were friends, right?" She put the bottle next to her foot. I eyed it, making sure the lid was tight. I really wasn't in the mood to clean up spills.

"Ryan, are you listening?"

I looked back at her. "Yes, I am. And yes, Seth and I are friends," I corrected.

"Yes, I'm sorry," she said, emphasizing with her hands. " Of course, I mean 'are.' But what do you mean by 'friends?' Like in Friends or in Will and Grace?"

I burst into a fit of hysterics. I'd wondered if she'd find the guts to ask me that question. I'd already suspected her brain had been going in overdrive when she first showed up in Newport.

"Anna, what are you talking about?"

"It's just that Seth ran all the way to God-knows-where because you were moving an hour away. It seems to be a bit much."

I slouched into the couch and got more comfortable. "He chased after you," I reminded her.

"I know, but that was out of guilt and we actually dated. Seth and I kissed and stuff… you and Seth, did you…?"

"Did we what?"

She put her right hand on her forehead. "I mean, were you like Friends or Will and Grace?" she asked expectantly.

"I take it Seth's Grace."

"Ryan, you know what I'm asking… are you guys like Queer as Folk, Queer Eye for the Straight guy?"

"That silly show? Do you really need someone to show you how to change a cabinet?" I said, stalling.

She stomped her foot. "You're getting off point, here!" she shrieked.

"Sorry, what was your question?"

She sighed. "You're really going to make me say it, aren't you?"

"What?" I said hoping my eyes portrayed the wide-eyed innocence I'd ordered it to.

"Are you and Seth more than friends?"

"You could say that… anyway, I need to go and make us some dinner. I was thinking of some pasta. Is that fine with you?"

She nodded, looking very confused. "Sure."