Chapter 2
A/N: Thanks to all of you who reviewed. I appreciate your comments, thoughts, and willing suspension of disbelief as regards my weird AU. I appreciate any constructive tips or suggestions you might have.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing related to The O.C., the movie 'Gladiator', any BBC productions, etc. etc. (Although I wouldn't mind owning either Atwood, Crowe, or Firth.)
As the days passed, a comfortable pattern developed between Ryan and Summer. Sometime after school let out, Summer would show up at the pool house lugging her backpack and usually complaining about this incursion into her free time. The complaining was half-hearted for, in truth, she began to look forward to these afternoon sessions. Not only was she starting to do better in Algebra but, in her heart of hearts, she enjoyed the company. Now that Seth and Anna were ostensibly joined at the hip and Marissa and Luke were out doing god knows what, she really had no one to spend time with. Summer would never admit to being lonely but she sometimes tired of going home to an empty house. Her step mom was either away on vacation or in rehab somewhere and her dad was always working.
As the study hour progressed that afternoon, Ryan noticed that Summer was even more fidgety than usual. After the tenth time of being distracted by her admittedly cute behind squirming about on the barstool, he looked at her curiously. "Summer, do you need a break or something? If you're getting bored, we could stop for the day."
"Huh, no, I'm fine. Why?"
"Well, you're even twitchier than Seth this afternoon."
"Oh, well, no, it's just that these stools are kinda high. My feet can't touch the foot rail."
Ryan looked down and noticed that Summer's legs were dangling in the air. Even with her ridiculously high platform shoes, she was too short to reach the foot rail.
"Well, I guess we could go sit at the kitchen table."
"And interrupt the love-birds? No, thanks. Actually, I usually study on my bed. I think better when I can stretch out and get comfortable." Grabbing her study materials, she hopped off the stool and headed toward Ryan's bed. "Come on, Chino."
Ryan watched her flop down on his bed and was grateful for once that she was wearing jeans instead of a mini-skirt. He stood hesitantly beside the bed, looking distinctly uncomfortable.
"Oh, come on, Chino, I'm not going to bite you," Summer said while patting the comforter. As Ryan continued to hesitate, while imagining said biting, she lost patience and snapped, "Move it, Chino! I don't have all day."
Ryan gingerly settled down on the bed while Summer adjusted the pillows behind her back. "Ah, much better. Now if only we had a TV in here too."
Ryan gave her that stern 'back-to-work' look and she knew there was no way she'd be watching The Valley today.
The next afternoon, Summer decided she was ready to work some problems on her own, and Ryan agreed. He really had to get some reading done for his English lit class. Since he had started tutoring Summer, he was having to stay up pretty late to try and get his own homework done.
Summer sprawled out on her stomach facing the foot of the bed while Ryan sat up against the head of the bed, propped up on his pillows. After working out the logistics of this head-to-toe arrangement and reminding Summer to quit waving her bare feet in his face, he settled down and tried to focus on the world of early 19th century England.
Summer, meanwhile, worked valiantly on her assigned homework problems, determined to finish them on her own without asking Ryan for help. She had to admit that he was actually a good teacher. He was able to explain things to her in a way that she could understand what the hell he was talking about. Even more importantly, he smelled really good. She had noticed this whenever he leaned over close to her to write something out or show her where the mistake was in her work. She couldn't place the scent but it wasn't any of the usual men's colognes. She decided to snoop a little the next time she went to the bathroom. Summer prided herself on being up-to-date on the latest men's fashion accoutrements and accessories. Yeah, that excuse would do.
Summer was doing well until she got to the last problem. Despite her best efforts, she finally concluded that she was hopelessly stumped. She turned her head back toward Ryan with her cutest 'beseeching look' already in place only to discover Ryan had dozed off with his book lying face down on his chest. Summer twisted over on her side to take advantage of this unexpected opportunity to look at Ryan without being observed in turn.
Summer had to admit that Chino was definitely hot. She remembered her first impression of him last summer. Hot, sexy, brooding, and wounded. She smiled to herself as she remembered her plan to save him. Turned out, he was more than capable of taking care of himself and taking care of the rest of their group of misfits as well. Summer continued to eye him appraisingly. His sandy blond hair could use a trim, she decided, resolving to take him to her hairdresser at the first opportunity. Her gaze wandered over his face, taking in his strong nose and clean-cut jaw. Too bad his eyes were closed. She thought Ryan had the most beautiful eyes, a soft bluish gray when he was relaxed, but turning a more electric blue when he was pissed off. She noticed that he had really long eyelashes. Damn, I never noticed that before, she thought with a touch of envy. And he doesn't even need volumizing mascara to get them. Guys like him could look great without having to spend an hour in the bathroom. It really was so unfair.
Summer's eyes traveled down his strong neck taking in his broad shoulders. His arms were unfortunately covered up with a blue denim shirt but at least it was unbuttoned to display the ubiquitous wife-beater underneath. Summer could make out his abs under the clinging white material of his undershirt. She had to admit that this boy was definitely ripped. Looking him over from head to toe, she realized he reminded her of someone. Now who is it? she mused. Oh, migosh, he looks just like that actor, the Australian one, what's his name? Oh, yeah, Russell Crowe. Ryan looked just like a younger Russell except with blond hair instead of brown. Okay, that's just freaky, she thought to herself. She loved Russell; had even watched that movie about the boats just to look at his face and totally loved that film about the crazy math genius. She blushed as she remembered some of her late night fantasies after watching Gladiator. I bet Ryan would look good in that cute little leather skirt, she thought with a wicked grin. Okay, stop it! she told herself sternly. This is just wrong on so many levels. Look at him, she thought. He looks so sweet and innocent and frankly adorable lying there and here I am having lewd thoughts about the poor guy. Time to put an end to this slumber party right now!
Ryan was awakened suddenly by the sound of Summer's voice blaring uncomfortably close to his ear. "Hey Chino, rise and shine! Your snoring is really starting to get on my nerves."
Ryan peered at her through heavy-lidded eyes. "Summer, I don't snore."
"Well, how do you know? You're asleep."
"Trust me, no one else has ever mentioned it."
"Well, who would …..Oh," she said with embarrassment as he quirked an eyebrow at her. "That's right, I forgot. You were a slut in Chino."
"Summer, did you finish your problems?" Ryan asked, ignoring her taunt.
Ignoring him in turn, Summer asked, "So what are you reading?" and plucked the book from his hand. "Omigosh, Pride and Prejudice! This is, like, my favorite book of all time. Isn't it great?"
"Well, it's not really my thing."
"Oh, stop it. It's wonderful. So romantic. Darcy and Elizabeth are really hot together."
"Yeah, I'm not really getting that."
"You just have to read between the lines, Chino. See, Darcy's like the strong, silent, brooding type and Elizabeth's all fiery and feisty. It's so sexy."
"I just need to…."
"Oh, I've got a great idea," Summer interrupted. "The BBC did this whole miniseries on the book and I happen to have it on tape. Colin Firth is really hot. You'll love it. Snug breeches, yumm."
"Once again, not really my thing, Summer."
"Oh, hush. There's lots of cleavage in it, too. Okay, tomorrow's Saturday. I'll bring it over tomorrow night and we can watch it together. Trust me, it'll really bring the book alive for you. No arguing, Chino, it's a date. I'll see you tomorrow. Trust me, it'll be the best six hours you ever spent."
"Six hours?!!? What? Wait a…," but it was too late. Summer had already flounced out the door. That's just great - a six-hour date with Summer watching a regency romance. Ryan could think of other things he'd rather do for six hours on a Saturday night, especially with Summer. Okay, stop it, he said to himself. That's just wrong on so many levels.