Bittersweet Homecoming

Engaging in Battle

A/N: carpanthers21, I see where you're going with the whole Seth can't - get - a - girl - thing, but I'll each girl is attracted to him for different reasons. Because this story is not AU, obviously, Summer is infatuated with him. Marissa slept with him because they both bonded over Ryan AND Summer's departure and something else happened between Ryan and Marissa. So she and Seth just both found comfort in each other. They don't really love each other, but are really good friends. Samantha liked him because he's good-looking, funny, smart, and from the same class as her. And he's rich. Anna, just because they are so alike. Plus, many people find Adam Brody attracted. Other people will attest to that. Hear, Hear. . . Anyways. Here is the end to the ridiculously long Author's Note. On to the story.

Seth drove his BMW SUV up the Cooper's driveway. He parked his car right in front of the door, got out and ran towards the front door. He impatiently ran the doorbell three times. A very disturbed Hailey opened the door.

"Hey Aunt Hailey. Is Marissa home?" Seth asked his stone-faced aunt.

Hailey just gave him a cold stare. She didn't move.

"Hailey?" Seth gestured to her body which was blocking the front door.

"What do you think you can come here for? Sex? Believe me, I think you've had enough of that. Asking Marissa to abort your baby?" Hailey screamed at him. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Seth flinched. "Look . . . It's just that Summer was back and I. . ."

Hailey slapped him. "And what? You would rather go for a girl who left you with your baby, than a girl who has been here for you?"

"I get it Aunt Hailey." Seth yelled at his aunt. "I'm a big fucking screw-up. Now let me just talk to Marissa."

"Fine." Hailey moved aside. After Seth walked in, she slammed the front door shut. The vases and sculptures in the house rattled. "She's in her room." She told Seth.

Seth sprinted up the stairs. Getting to Marissa's door way, he hesitantly knocked. "Maris?"

He didn't receive an answer. Seth knocked again, waiting in the white carpeted hallway.

The door opened. Marissa looked miserable. Her hair was in a messy ponytail and she was wearing a pink velour suit. She looked like she was going to puke anytime soon. "Seth?" She whispered.

Seth shuffled his Vans nervously on the ground. "I'm sorry, Marissa."

()

Summer had followed Seth's car to the Cooper's house. She parked her Mercedes right behind the gleaming BMW. Using the spare key Marissa gave her, she opened the door. The door creaked silently opened. She assumed Hailey was in the back of the house. She crept up the stairs. As she went up, she heard Seth and Marissa's voices. She peeked up and the door was silently open. She could make out Seth and Marissa's figures. She silently went up to the landing and flattened herself against the wall so she could hear everything undetected.

()

"Marissa, I'm so dumb. I'm a jerk. I'm a selfish jerk. I don't want you to abort the baby." Seth said as he cupped Marissa's face in his hands.

Marissa lifted her head up and look through her tears. "Really?"

Seth nodded. "You, Me, Savannah, and our baby. We can be a family."

"What about Summer?" Marissa asked.

Seth looked away. "My mom made me realize something. Summer left me. You've been there for me, always. That's what counts."

Marissa blushed. "I love you."

Seth seemed a bit taken back by the words. Marissa was afraid that he would do a Ryan and say thank you.

"I love you, too."

Summer heard Marissa kiss Seth. She couldn't take it anymore. She burst into Marissa's room.

Seth and Marissa broke away when they saw Summer. They were both extremely surprised.

"Summer?" Seth managed to spit out.

Summer went up to him and slapped him.

"Summer!" Seth yelled.

Summer ignored him and marched up to Marissa. "Look, I thought you were my best friend, but I guess you aren't."

"Summer. . ." Marissa pleaded with her.

"Coop, you're just a whore who went behind my back with my ex-boyfriend. He's the father of my child." Summer screamed at her.

Marissa was about to cry. "Summer, it's not what it looks like. . ."

Summer scoffed. "I think the picture is pretty clear here. You're pregnant with Seth's kid. Which means you slept with him. It is what it looks like."

"Summer. You're the reason he sleeps with me. If you hadn't left like the cowardly bitch you are, he would still be with you. And Savannah would have a real mom. But no, you just did exactly what your mom did to you. Just this time you were going to do it faster." Marissa yelled back at her as she defended yourself.

Summer's anger was just fueled even more. "Yeah, and you're stable? Right? You never OD'd on anything. You're perfect. Look at you Marissa, you've had every pain killer and a bottle of vodka every night. Maybe you should just abort the baby to save it some trouble."

Seth stepped in, thinking this went too far. "Summer, she doesn't have to abort the baby! It's ours not yours."

"We have a kid too? Did you forget her?"

"No, Summer. I didn't forget her. I don't think anyone could forget their child. Oh wait, Summer Roberts can."

"What did you do with Savannah when you were out partying, taking classes, sleeping with that whore?" Summer nodded towards Marissa. "Admit it Seth, you barely spent anytime with her. She was either with your parents, the nanny, or Samantha."

"Well at least I didn't run out on her." Seth retorted.

"Seth! Summer! Cut it out." Marissa screamed.

"What?!?" They both simultaneously yelled at her.

Marissa took a deep breath. "I can't take this anymore. I can't stand to be the girl on the side or the back-stabbing bitch. Tomorrow, I'm going to schedule an appointment for an abortion."

A/N: REVIEW OR DIE. JK!