Bittersweet Homecoming
A/N: I hope I left some suspense for you from the last chapter. Thank you for the amazing feedback!
Breaking the Habit
Seth flipped the phone shut. "She hung up on me." He muttered.
Marissa walked over to Seth with a questioning look. "Who was that?"
"Summer." Seth mumbled.
Marissa's eyes widened. She stared at Seth who looked like he was trying to ward off some tears. Marissa pulled Seth into a comforting hug and they both sank in the couch. "I'm so sorry." She whispered in his hair.
Seth just waved her off in response. "It's just so out of the blue. I'm trying to get over her I really am."
Seth raised his head to look up into Marissa's eyes. "I proposed to Samantha."
"Seth, that's not the way to do it. You don't have to do that, you know. . ."
Seth shook his head. "I wanted to." Seth stood up defiantly. "I can't stand this anymore, maybe it's just time to get over her."
Marissa nodded, encouragingly. "So, a shower isn't out of the question?"
Seth smiled. "Maris, you always say shower, it's bathe."
She smiled and chuckled good-naturedly. "Whatever. You know what I mean, let's go bathe in the hot tub."
Seth nodded.
"No bubbles, please." Seth begged as he followed Marissa outside. "They tickle."
The ride to Marissa's house had been pretty silent. Ryan wasn't to talk much anyways. Just because he never talked much didn't mean he didn't think much. Ryan had always thought his torrent of thoughts made up for his lack of speech. The whole ride, he had been figuring out what had triggered Summer to have a panic attack and force her to suddenly see Marissa. He could only guess that it had something to do with Marissa which as much as he tried to deny it, he thought there was a possibility of Seth and Marissa having a torrent love affair behind his back. Granted, Marissa and him had a nasty breakup senior year, and Ryan still couldn't trust her. He was aching to ask Summer what she heard on the phone, but Ryan was afraid of Summer's deathly nails. The question might make her use those death claws against him. And Ryan wanted to live longer than 18 years.
Actually, besides the nagging feeling of uncertainty, the ride had been quite pleasant. Ryan was glad that Summer wasn't in a mood to bitch about his driving. Ryan knew he drove too fast, but Chino still hadn't completely worn off of him. Ryan remembered the ride to Tijuana. God that trip was hell, listening to Summer yell at Seth because of his granny-like driving caused a major headache. Seth had also told of Summer's gentle heart.
When Ryan had passed dead roadkill, he was praying. Seriously, praying, that Summer wouldn't demand him to pull over and give the animal a proper burial. That was really not his thing. Not like she didn't actually try to make an attempt. Plus, he didn't have a shovel. Once, there was a dead raccoon up ahead and Summer had startled and craned to get a better look at the deceased animal. But Ryan had shot her his signature look which made Summer lean back into her seat and sulk.
Summer was quiet now though. She looked at the scenery. Ryan had ridden on this high way a lot, it was the same route to Chino. He remembered when he was the passenger and he gazed out at the coastline full of uncertainty. He had a feeling that Summer felt the same way at the moment.
"Do you think Seth loves that Samantha girl?" Summer blurted out.
Ryan was silent for a minute.
"I-I- d-don't . . . know." Ryan spoke carefully and slowly, keeping Summer's feelings in consideration.
"Did I ever tell you that Seth proposed to me?" Summer asked, while musing on the memory.
Ryan raised his head. "You mean, another ring, in addition to . . . that?" He gestured to the ruby ring that Summer had on.
Summer blushed and nodded, before subconsciously rubbing the band.
"Well, what did you say?" Ryan asked, surprised at the confession.
Summer was silent and turned away from him.
Ryan didn't press it.
Samantha was sitting at the coffee table sipping coffee.
"So, where do you want to have your wedding?" Grace, the wedding planner, asked.
Samantha paused for a second, "I want to have the biggest, most beautiful wedding ever."
"So where, exactly?"
"Anywhere pretty!" Samantha snapped. Seriously the woman had been asking her that question for the past hour. At first, Samantha had tried to explain that she didn't really know yet. Then she resorted to telling Grace that she wanted it to be somewhere pretty, hoping that she could present some names. That's what planners do right?
"Um. . . you could have it at the W hotel in Beverly Hills."
Finally!
Samantha smiled. "That would be wonderful. I hope to have the wedding in August."
"Isn't that a bit too early?" Anna asked. She had been granted with the wonderful task of being maid of honor. This was extremely painful, she didn't want to see Seth marry someone else. She wanted to be the one at the altar, not the one standing ten feet away. But, she didn't want Samantha to be suspicious. Best friends were there for everything. Still, that didn't mean she couldn't prolong the ceremony.
"I mean it's only in, like, 3 months." Anna reasoned.
Sam smiled. "Anna, sweetie, it's my wedding."
'Since when did Sam call her sweetie?' Okay, so Anna could try to prolong the wedding. .
Samantha suddenly stood up. "Well, ladies, I have to jet. Haha, get it, because I'm going on a jet?"
Grace and Anna stared at her with blank faces.
"Okay . . . I'm on my way." Samantha picked up her light jean jacket and slipped it on.
The wedding planner hastily put away her agenda and all the files concerning the details of the wedding. She grabbed all of them and let herself out of the door. Only Anna remained in the room with Samantha who was about the hurriedly leave the room.
"Sam, wait!" Anna called after her.
Sam turned with slight irritation in her face. "Yes?"
"Where are you going?" Anna asked.
"I'm flying a jet to Stanford, Ca. Seth said he was at some girl's house. I think her name was Marissa. I'm sure he won't mind if I dropped by to tell him some details about the wedding." Sam smiled to herself. Then she looked at Anna's surprised face.
"Isn't that like against the first amendment, or something like that?" Anna inquired.
Samantha looked at her. 'Well, I know who didn't pay attention in World Studies and Government. Isn't her major law?" She shrugged it off.
"Oh, don't worry. I just looked in his address book. I'm not like a, stalker. I do that all the time for our parties, he just hands me the book when I want to plan a party." Samantha laughed. ". . .Stalker. . ." She muttered while laughing. "Oh, Anna, you are too funny."
Samantha brushed past her.
Anna actually wasn't shocked at the fact that Sam knew where Marissa lived, but why Seth was at Marissa's. 'Marissa was really pretty, was it possible that they. . .'
Once the shock wore off, Anna yelled down the stairs to where Sam was about to leave the house. "Sam! Can I come?"
Samantha smiled. "Sure! Come on!"
Anna smiled. 'Best friends were so easy to manipulate. It was time to do a bit detective work.
Seth finished feeding Savannah. She burped much to the delight of Marissa.
"That is just so cute!" Marissa squealed.
Seth quirked an eyebrow. "Babies vomiting are real cute."
Marissa sighed. "Babies are just so cute!"
She held out her hands for the baby.
Seth handed the baby to her.
Marissa rocked Sav to sleep.
Seth watched with amusement. "You know, you'll make a great mom."
"Really?!?"
"Yea." Seth looked away.
Marissa sighed and put Savannah back into her crib.
The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it." Seth got up and left the room.
Marissa rubbed her stomach. She followed Seth out the door.
Seth opened the door.
"Summer?"
"Cohen."
Summer pushed her way past Seth and entered the house.
"Hey Seth." A very uncomfortable Ryan stood in the doorway.
"Hey man!" Seth pulled him in and did a man-hug.
"Marissa."
"Ryan."
"Okay, I'll leave you two to stare at each other."
Seth left the room and followed Summer who was about to enter Savannah's room.
Seth ran and put his hand on Summer's shoulder. "Summer, stop."
Summer didn't heed his warning. She put her hand on the doorknob.
"Summer! I said stop!" He grabbed her arm and pulled her forcefully back.
"Cohen. Stop! You're hurting me."
Seth dropped her arm. "Look I'm sorry. Let's take this outside."
He walked out to the backyard where the only thing in sight was the Stanford campus. The hot tub, turned off, stood idly by. "Summer-."
"I want Savannah." She stood there, with arms crossed, a stern expression on her face.
"You can't-."
He was cut off by Summer's lips against his. Seth had wanted this so much, but Summer had caused him so much pain before. Disgust built within him. Seth turned his head away and he pushed Summer off of him.
Summer's heart was broken and tears started to come to her eyes.
"Seth. . ."
"Summer! Why do you think you can do this? You can't just waltz back it like nothing happened. Do you even remember what you did?"
Memories consume
Like opening the wound
I'm picking me apart again
You all assume
I'm safe here in my room
Unless I try to start again
"Seth, I'm trying to change."
Seth looked into her eyes. She might have looked sincere, but he couldn't trust her anymore.
I don't want to be the one
The battles always choose
Cuz inside I realize
That I'm the one confused
His head was confused in turmoil. "Summer! You fucking left. You can't change it. I've moved on, you need to go away and let me live my life."
I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don't know why that I instigate
And say what I don't mean
I don't know how I got this way
I know it's not alright
So I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit, tonight
"Seth, I want things to go back to the way it used to be." Summer pleaded. "We can be a real family and have Saturday dinners with Ryan and Marissa. . ."
"Summer I can't. Too much has already happened."
"Too hell it has. I know you love me too much." Summer used her saccharine tone to hopefully sway Seth.
"You don't even know half of it. I've done too much. It's irreversible."
"Nothing you have done can change what has happened between us." Summer put her hands on Seth's chest.
"You don't understand!!!" Seth screamed at her. "I have a fiancé who has taken care of Savannah her whole life. And I have Marissa-." Seth broke off.
"Can Marissa replace me?" Summer asked angrily. Seth was destroying her hopes and dreams.
"Listen, do you know what friends with benefits is?" Seth yelled.
Of course he knew that Summer knew. Hell, everyone knew.
Summer shook her head, tears falling. She knew what he was about to say. And she wanted to be in denial.
"I've been fucking Marissa for 9 months." Seth yelled.
I'll paint it on the walls
Cuz I'm the one at fault
I'll never fight again
And this is how it ends
"Oh my god. Oh my god. . ." Summer sat down on the grass. "I was pregnant."
Seth corrected her. "No, you weren't. That was the night you left. A pity fuck."
Ryan emerged from the shadows. "Seth?" His face twisted in anger.
Marissa followed him. Her face was mixed with guilt, fear, and anger. "Seth. . . why?" She plead with him.
Seth wanted to shoot himself right there.
"What the hell?" Samantha emerged from the front of the house, Anna in tow. "Marissa, you, whore."
Anna stared at him with wide eyes.
"Great, a party." Seth muttered.
A/N: Okay, you might not get why Seth and Marissa are friends with benefits. Seth was really hurting, Marissa was Summer's best friend, in a way, it felt probably felt like screwing Summer over and Marissa being the closest thing to Summer. Marissa, there was a nasty breakup, you'll know why later. But, she was mad at Ryan and she makes stupid mistakes, i.e. Tijuana, Oliver. . . Plus, they are both hot, so they thought of it as just random hookups at a party. Please review. Some ideas would be great.
the song is Breaking the Habit - Linkin Park