Smoke
Disclaimer: Well, no legal changes since last chapter, and I still have no rights to The O.C. Oh, that was a good one!
As Summer drives back from the airport to Newport, she and Seth explain what's happened over the summer. Anna learns that Seth's parents got the coast guard to bring him back home, and she isn't surprised. She is surprised, though, when she finds out that Ryan is back in Chino.
She's not sure how to react. She says she's upset, and she doesn't even dare to mention that he's the reason she's visiting. Seth drops Anna and Summer off and Summer's house, where Anna is staying.
Summer introduces Anna to her father and step-mother. They're cold to Anna, and Summer's father even asks if she smokes, because he doesn't want the house to smell like smoke. Anna quickly shakes her head. Nobody here knows.
Days begin to pass quickly. Anna and Summer spend a lot of time at the Cohen home with Seth and his parents, or at the beach with Marissa, or sometimes, but not a lot, at lunch with Seth and Marissa. The two of them seem to be very uncomfortable, and Anna knows there's something that happened that nobody has mentioned. She doesn't bother to ask.
Every once in a while, Summer lets Seth and Anna have their time alone. They talk about their common interests. It's killing Anna to ask Seth about Ryan, but she holds back and just chews on more gum and puts the patches under her clothes so nobody can see.
August fifth is approaching. Anna knows she doesn't have a lot of time. She wants to do what she came to do. She explains to Summer that she's going to visit Ryan in Chino, just to explore it alone. Summer understands and tells her she can use her car. Anna gets Ryan's address and directions from Seth. He wants to come, but she simply says she wants to get some alone time in the car. She's becoming good and weaving lies.
She turns on the car and drives to Chino. She's not sure what to expect. Maybe he'll be with Theresa or Marissa, or maybe not. But that's the element she likes about Ryan.
A/N: This is usually at the top, but everything I have to say involves the contents of the chapter. I know people may think Anna and Summer's closeness is a little iffy, and my explanation of that (You can have your own! It might be my story, but you're the reader and have your rights!) is that they talked over the internet, and that Summer feels like she should be around Anna and be a good hostess. But yeah. Some Anna/Ryan goodies next chapter.