I do not own any original characters from the OC
A/N Hey Me, I can always count on you LOL So you noticed they are really nice to each other.. golly do you suppose this just might create some "awkward" in the future?
Anna, thank you, I really appreciate your review.
Chapter 27
Geez, Atwood.. you're worse than a girl. If you don't get the lead out we're gonna be late.
Emily stood impatiently waiting at the pool house door.
Ryan: Ok..Ok I'm ready.
Grabbing his pack he led the way out of the pool house. They rounded the house to find Seth waiting by the truck.
Seth: Hey, can I get a ride with your guys? Mom left early and Summer isn't speaking to me. It seems I can take her from bliss to bitch is less than .02 seconds. Don't you think that might be some kind of world record?
Ryan: Don't let her hurt you until we get all of Marissa's stuff moved. I'm not doing all of that by myself.
Seth: No worries. She won't even share air with me so she won't be close enough to hurt me. I have no idea what she's pissed about.
Tossing their packs in the back of the truck they all piled in.
Emily: What are we moving?
Ryan: A shit load of clothes and I'm not sure what else... but you aren't moving anything.
Emily: Excuse me?
Ryan: You still have a couple of broken ribs remember. We've got it covered.
Emily: Well, I can tell when I'm not wanted...
Ryan chuckled as he slipped his arm around her shoulder and nuzzled her neck.
Ryan: You're wanted.. but not for moving
Emily: Mmmm.. now that sounds promising.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Julie almost didn't answer the phone when she saw who the caller was.
Julie: Yes Jimmy.
Jimmy: I just wanted to remind you the kids will be over after school to get Marissa's things, so be home.
Julie bit back the stinging remarks that struggled to get out of her mouth. Who the hell did he think he was talking to?
Julie: I remember and I'll be here. Are you coming with them?
Jimmy: No, I'm stuck here. I'm sure they can handle it.
Julie was positive she could hear the smirk on his face through the tone of his voice. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of showing her feelings.
Julie: Yes, I'm sure they'll do fine. Thanks for calling.
Jimmy: Sure thing.
She stood there holding the phone long after the line went dead. She felt strong arms encircle her waist and a soft tickle on her neck. Turning in his arms, she snuggled close.
Julie: I thought you had already gone.
Caleb: I decided I would stay home and spend the day with you. Maybe you could use the company.
Sobs shook her shoulders and she rested her head on his shoulder.
Julie: Why is this happening? All I want is for my family to be together.
Caleb: Shhh.. Things will calm down and we can try again. We just need to hang on.
Julie: I am so thankful I have you.
Caleb: How about some lunch. We could go down to that little sidewalk place by the dock. It will be good to get out and we'll be back in plenty of time.
She looked deeply into his eyes.
Julie: I love you.
Caleb: I love you. You have the most indomitable spirit of any woman I have ever known. I can't .. no won't even try to image life without you and I'll do whatever I have to do to take care of you and make you happy.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Seth spotted Summer sitting alone at a table, her lunch untouched.
Seth: Is this seat taken?
Summer looked up, wrinkled her nose then resumed arranging the uneaten food on her plate.
Seth: Although that answer is somewhat noncommittal, I'm going to assume that it's a "no" .
Gracelessly he plopped into the empty chair.
Seth: Are you gonna tell me why you are not speaking to me?
Summer: No.. I'm not speaking to you.
Seth: You just did.
Summer looked questioningly at him.
Seth: Spoke to me.. you just spoke to me so since you spoke to me you can tell me how I pissed you off so I can fix it.
Summer continued moving the food on her plate, refusing to meet his eyes.
Seth: Summer. .please tell me what I did. This hot and cold thing you're doing is driving me crazy.
Summer looked up, a single tear tracking down her face.
Summer: I know
Seth: You know?
Summer: "I know it drives you crazy because that is how you've been treating me since you got back and it makes me crazy," she whispered.
Seth was stunned into silence. He knew he felt and acted a little differently since his return but was he really being this bad? Inching his fingers across the table he took her hand in his.
Seth: Summer, I'm sorry. This has been a really really bad year and I guess it is making me an even bigger ass than I was before. Tell ya what.. tonight after we get Marissa's stuff moved we'll sit down and talk.. really talk. Ok?
Summer rapidly nodded her head and squeezed his hand. He wiped the tear away and gently kissed her cheek.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
School was finally over for the day. The student body breathed a collective sigh of relief and then descending in mass formation fled the building. Shouting greetings, laughing and yelling to one another, they piled in cars and trucks abandoning the campus.
Ryan and Seth stood waiting for Emily.
"Hey Cohen", Summer called from the doorway as she headed their way.
Ryan: I thought you were in the doghouse.
Seth: I was... hey Ryan do you ever feel your head is so far up your ass you'd need surgery to get it out?
Ryan's mouth twisted with a wry grin.
Ryan: Everyday.. Is that new for you?
Seth: No.. I was just wondering if I had company.
Summer bounced up and kissed Seth loudly on the mouth.
Summer: Hey Chino ..Ok guys, what's the plan? Where's Emily?
"I'm here". Emily sidled up next to Ryan.
Ryan: Hey, we were about to send out a search party,
Emily: Sorry. Dr Kim caught me and was inquiring about my injuries. So, how are we gonna do this?
Ryan: Kirsten said she would leave the rover at home so we could use it. With it and your truck maybe we'll just need one trip.
Emily: Cool.. Summer , you riding with us or did you drive?
Summer: I have the car.
Seth: Summer and I will meet you guys at the house.
&&&&&&&&&&
While Seth and Summer haggled over which cd to play, Ryan rummaged in the refrigerator for something to drink. Snagging two bottles of Gatorade he headed toward the commotion. Entering the room he called out.
Ryan: Hey Marissa, want some Gatorade?
The second it was out of his mouth, he knew what he had said. His mouth worked but nothing came out of it. Oh god! Where the fuck did that come from? Marissa? Jesus... he had just called Emily Marissa! He hesitantly looked at Emily.. Seth's face reflected everything that was speeding through Ryan's brain. The room fell dead silent.
Ryan: Emily, I umm I I'm sorry. Geez, I didn't mean..
Emily laughed softly.
Emily: Well at least you got it right the second time. I'd love some Gatorade, thanks. Hadn't we better get going?
All the way over to the Nichol's house Ryan kept waiting for the other shoe to fall, the angry tirade, maybe crying but Emily chattered about school, asked about his day, all normal stuff and gradually he began to relax a little. His monumental verbal blunder would have to be the topic of a long discussion later but right now he was relieved Emily was ignoring it. As they pulled up to the house Emily fell silent.
Emily: Geez, you mean Marissa lived here?
Ryan: Yeah, Caleb is pretty rich.
Emily: He can keep it.. not my taste at all.
Caleb met them at the door. Opening it wide he ushered them in and accompanied them to Marissa's room. Emily hung back by the door to wait. She looked around nervously and wished she had stayed in the truck.
Seth, Ryan and Summer went about their tasks in relative quiet. They hurried ; all of them anxious to get out of this house.
Emily migrated far enough into the house to find a chair and deposited herself there. She felt useless and completely out of place. She fervently wished Ryan would let her help. He had called her Marissa.. it really didn't mean anything, did it? After all he was used to being a couple with Marissa and used to saying her name... it happened all the time, didn't it? She needed to stop thinking about it and put it behind her.. it was an honest mistake.. wasn't it? Enough, just stop it!
A painting caught Emily's eye. Trying to avoid her dark thoughts she wandered over to get a closer look.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Turning Emily came face to face with Caleb. Without realizing it she took a step back.
Emily: Yes, it is stunning.
Caleb wore and easy smile but his eyes were cold. Emily was reminded of a line from a child's story, something about don't look a snake in the eyes or you'll be so scared you'll be unable to run away. Right now she truly understood its meaning.
Caleb: Good to see you again. I trust you are on the mend.
Emily looked around but she and Caleb were alone.
Emily: I'm fine.
Caleb: I took care of all the little things we discussed at my office the other day. If you'd like to drop by I'll show you my arrangement for Jimmy.
Emily: Why would I want to do that?
Caleb: Then you trust me?
Emily: Excuse me? Trust you? I seriously doubt that. I don't need to come to your office.. I have other ways to get information.
Before Emily could make an escape, from out of nowhere Julie arrived.
Caleb: Juju, this is Emily.. a friend of Marissa's. I don't think you've met her.
Julie eyed her coldly.
Julie: No I don't think we have met. You must be a new addition.
This was like tag team wrestling.! She needed a way out!
Suddenly Emily felt a strong hand claim hers. Ryan stood beside her. She was weak with relief.
Ryan: I think we got everything. We'll be going now.
Without another word, they turned and went out the door. At the truck, Emily slipped her arms around Ryan.
Emily: Thank you.
Smiling he pulled her close, stroking her arms.
Ryan: You ok?
Emily: I am as long as we don't have to go back in there.
Ryan chuckled.
Ryan: Sandy calls them the gruesome twosome.
Emily: I think Sandy's right. God I feel sorry for Marissa!