Bittersweet Homecoming

A/N: Thank you for the reviews! I know that many of you didn't like the SethMarissa thing, but don't worry I'm a total SS shipper. They are just too cute-onscreen and off.

Gone In an Instant

Anna gaped with her mouth open.

"What the hell is going on, Seth?" A furious Samantha screamed. "I swear, you better expl-."

"Wait, so that kiss didn't mean anything to you?" Anna interrupted, her eyes shooting daggers at Seth.

All three other girls turned and stared at Seth.

Seth just buried his head further in his arms, not daring to look up.

Ryan laughed lightly to himself. He shouldn't have found this situation humorous, but strangely, he did. He knew that he should be mad at Marissa, but they were broken up and he had messed up with Theresa. Plus, how could someone not find it funny that Seth had played four women at the same time. That was a skill. Seth could officially be called a "playa" or a "P-I-M-P". Ryan imagined him with a big bowler hat, a big platinum chain hanging around his neck, and a diamond chalice filled with Cristal. Ryan laughed really hard after that thought.

Then he looked up. The laughter died down in his throat as he saw four women look at him like he was a serial murderer. Even Seth lifted his head and turned slowly with a look of utter confusion.

Seth looked miserable. But anyone in his position would've. His time had come, he had way too much fun. Both gods had probably mutually agreed that a particular Seth Cohen needed to be punished for his cheating. Ryan expected a lightening bolt to electrocute Seth at the very instant.

Ryan looked up at the sky. The sun was still shining ever so gloriously and the world had a beautiful glow that only California possessed.

Seth moaned a indecipherable phrase which was muffled by his arms. Ryan assumed that those words wouldn't help his case with the gods at all. Ryan felt pity for Seth, a lot. Ryan was upset that Marissa did sleep with Seth, it close to home, but it wasn't like he was the perfect virginal saint after they broke up. When Ryan called Marissa, they had decided to be mutual friends. They both agreed that too much drama had happened for them to both be together so soon again. Plus, Ryan had a feeling that Marissa and Seth were probably drunk every time.

The four girls, each glaring at each other, knew they weren't going to get an explanation soon stalked in different directions.

Ryan sat next to Seth. "Karma's a bitch, man."

"Karma screwed me over." Seth moaned.

Ryan assented. "Yeah, man, it did."

Seth lifted his head and shook it so that his unruly curls bounced around. "Oh. . . and I'm sorry about Marissa."

Ryan shrugged. "I did a lot of things in the past. Not in that way, but still. There was Theresa, Laci, Katie . . ."

"Wait there was a Katie?" Seth racked his brain, trying to find a possible search result.

"Yeah." Ryan tried to clarify for him. "Brunette cheerleader, really pretty."

Seth looked at him, still with a puzzled look.

Ryan stared at him. "Captain of the squad?"

Seth looked like he just had an epiphany. "Oh, Katie, Katie."

Ryan rolled his eyes. "Who else?" He muttered.

"I think that was the perfect time to say Eureka." Seth said. "I always try to find a way to say it, but I miss the opportunity."

'He shouldn't be hung up on that.' Ryan thought.

Seth got up and dusted the back of his pants. "I'm checking on Savannah."

"So you're not mad at me?" Marissa asked as she snuggled in Ryan's arms.

"I am." Ryan affirmed. "But I'm trying not to show it."

Marissa bopped Ryan's head with a blue pillow. "At least I didn't get anyone to make a claim that that I impregnated them."

Ryan raised his eyebrows.

Marissa giggled. "Ew. That's gross." She snuggled even further as Ryan kissed her on her forehead.

Seth felt like he was going to puke. Ryrissa was all too unbearable. He didn't know why he dealt with it. Seth got up. He turned around and was prepared to say good bye when he realized neither Ryan and Marissa would care. They were too wrapped up in their world. Seth took Savannah from her play pen and placed her in the blue stroller she loved. It had two different seats, one where the baby could sit, and the other where he/she could sleep. Seth put her in the sleeping compartment. Seth exited Marissa's house.

Seth loved walking around the Stanford campus. Julie had wanted to make sure her "baby girl" didn't have to share a stuffy dorm room or go to a sorority, so she begged her latest victim to buy Marissa a house near the campus. The house was one of the biggest, beautiful houses. It had a pool and a beautiful deck with a great location. And the house didn't come cheap.

Seth walked to a park where there weren't many students. Most of the students were either packing to go home, or had already left. Seth reflected on his life as he watched Savannah peacefully sleep, with out a care in the world. Not ever knowing her mother.

Summer had come and gone. She fled the house and took the Range Rover. Then called the house and said it was left at some parking spot near the airport. That was the last trace of Summer.

Seth knew that he had basically pushed Summer out of the door of his life, but he couldn't help it. What she did was inhumane and she couldn't come back and act like nothing ever happened. What bothered Seth the most was the fact that Summer didn't even try harder to see her own daughter. She just fled, not wanting to go through any hardships. Seth doubted Summer would be back in his life for a long time.

So he should just marry Samantha anyways, right? She was sweet, nice, beautiful and clever. She was a trophy wife and Seth knew he was a trophy husband. Samantha had been through everything with him. He couldn't let a girl like that slip away. Not after he let one girl go through his fingers. All it would take was one phone call, to make all the problems disappear.

Seth looked at Savannah.

Seth reached into his back pocket and took out his cell phone. He flipped it open and pressed the 4 button for it to speed dial. It rang. . .

"Seth?"

"Anna?"

Seth quickly flipped his cell phone shut.

The blonde nervously stood near him. She was standing a bit behind him, higher since they were on a hill.

Seth motioned for her to sit next to him, under the shade of the tree he was leaning against.

Anna gathered her loose cotton skirt and sat down. She fiddled a bit with her fingers. "I know this is awkward, but. . ."

Seth waited for her to continue.

"Did that kiss . . . mean . . . anything to you?" Anna hesitantly asked, but practically blurted out the last part.

Seth's face grew into a worried sort of glance. "Oh Anna. . . I'm so . . . sorry." Seth paused, trying to find the words that would make it seem much more subtle. "I was drunk, and I didn't have anybody. You do remember, that after, you introduced me to Samantha."

Seth reminisced about the meeting. He was struck by her beauty and her poise. She was so unlike Summer, someone different, it was like a gulp of fresh air. He was beyond drunk, but somehow Samantha was still somewhat attracted to him. He convinced her to have a few drinks, which turned into a dozen for her. She was so different when she was drunk. Being intoxicated really did that to people. Seth remembered they staggered to a local fancy hotel that was near the bar. Not many people were in the lobby, but those who were turned their heads. They were both rich and the clerk didn't really mind their state, as long as they paid. Samantha paid for a penthouse and on the elevator, they were making out like crazy in their alcohol-induced frenzy with an elderly couple looking on, shocked. But the couple was stuck with Seth and Sam for 13 floors in the glass elevator. Seth could still remember the question that he asked them that night.

"Do you have any condoms on you? I prefer grape but she," Seth gestured to Samantha, "likes Strawberry."

The woman wildly gesticulated no.

That night, Seth and Samantha stayed up until morning doing really some ahem. . . acts. He woke up to a pounding headache and a girlfriend.

Seth hung his head low. He couldn't look Anna in the eye. "No, I'm sorry, it didn't mean anything."

There he said it. Anna's heart crashed. Her worst nightmare was confirmed. She had been hoping-holding out that Seth wouldn't go the next step with Samantha because he still had something with her. Which was wrong. She would just be the friend who was a girl. The girl that lost to Summer Roberts then to Samantha Delvemen. Tears started to sting her eyes.

"I'm sorry." Anna quickly swiped at them as she hurriedly got up and ran away.

"Anna. . ." Seth called out to no avail. She was gone.

A/N: More reviews = faster update. Comments and Criticism! :). Flamers help my writing. . . so don't worry. Wow, and no song in this chapter!