Title: The Boy Next Door
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Seth/Marissa
The Boy Next Door
Seth Cohen lay on his bed, totally engrossed in a graphic novel. His cell phone was sitting on his bedside table when it began to ring. He picked it up without taking his eyes off the page.
"Yeah?"
"Seth?" The voice on the other end of the line surprised him.
"That's me...what can I do for you Marissa?" he asked lightly.
"Just wanted to know if you were coming to the charity dinner tonight,"
"Well as much of a philanthropist as I am...I'm sick...I think its typhoid," He pretended to have a coughing fit.
"Must be from all that time you spend in the tropical rainforests of Borneo,"
"Hello? It was Sumatra!"
"Yeah sure...so you're not going then,"
"That's very perceptive...well done," Seth replied, sarcasm dripping off his voice.
"I think I feel a bout of typhoid coming on too" Marissa launched into a similar hacking cough.
"You're not going? Dude your mom organised this whole thing," Seth asked, amazed.
"What? I'm sick," she said innocently.
"You know if you wanted me to ask Ryan if he was going, you could have just said so," Seth said settling back into his pillows.
"What makes you think I wanted to know if Ryan was going?"
"Ooookay...so I'm getting a bit of an anti-Atwood vibe..." Seth knew immediately that he needed to get off that topic which was obviously a sore point.
"That's very perceptive...well done," she replied, throwing his words back at him.
"Okay who are you and what have you done with my usually unfunny neighbour?"
"Whatever...I don't want to get into it...um...I guess I'll see you around," she dodged any further questions.
"I highly doubt it...you live so far away,"
"Later Cohen,"
"Later Cooper," he mimicked her.
Later that night after Sandy and Kirsten had left for the charity dinner Seth decided to go out boarding on the driveway. As he glided up and down the sloping pavement, illuminated by the floodlights, Marissa appeared at the foot of the driveway. Seth stopped in front of her.
"Ryan's out," he said as way of a greeting.
"On a date?" she asked.
"Er...maybe..." Seth looked uncomfortable and tried to avoid her gaze. She gave him a look.
"Okay yeah," he answered, giving in.
"That's okay...what happened between me and him was a long time ago," Marissa tried to put him at ease.
"Yeah I guess...so you didn't end up going to the charity thing?" he quickly changed the subject. He didn't really want to get himself embroiled in whatever was happening or not happening between his brother and his neighbour.
"Nope...looks like you didn't either," she replied lightly.
"I didn't have any intention of going"
"Yeah me neither," she lied.
"Whatever...do you wanna come inside?"
"Okay,"
They walked up the drive together towards the mansion. When they entered the spacious kitchen Seth set his skateboard on the floor and picked up the phone.
"Pizza?" he asked.
"Yeah sure...Hawaiian, extra pineapple?"
"Without a doubt," he grinned at her.
Seth dialled the pizza place's number and spoke into the phone. Marissa wandered into the living room and picked up one of the many PS2 game covers littering the coffee table. Seth walked in and sat down.
"Yu-Gi-Oh? I'm almost surprised," Marissa gave him a look.
"That's not mine I swear...it's um...Ryan's," Seth replied guiltily.
"I'm sure,"
"So anyway...do you want to watch a movie?"
"What do you wanna watch?"
"Anything...as long as it doesn't have Ashton Kutcher in it – I don't think I could stand the comparison," Seth put the back of his hand to his forehead in a damsel-in-distress pose.
Marissa picked up the remote control and flicked through the various movie channels, stopping when she discovered that Amelie was showing
"Marissaaaa...its in French,"
"It has subtitles,"
"But its French,"
"With subtitles,"
Seth sank back into the sofa, sulking. Marissa continued watching with a slight smile upon her lips. As they were watching, with the occasional snide comment or exasperated sight from Seth, the doorbell rang.
"Pizza's here," Marissa said, stating the obvious.
"I'll get it," Seth jumped up, eager for a distraction from the Gallic charms of Amelie. He walked to the door and got the pizza. He placed the pizza on the coffee table and grabbed a couple of sodas from the kitchen.
"Mmm...I haven't had carbs in so long..." Marissa commented while she tucked into her slice. Seth gaped at her.
"Don't tell me you're dieting,"
"I'm not...but mom is so basically carbs are a contraband good in our house,"
"Of course,"
They ate in silence for the rest of the movie. When it ended Seth got up and stretched. He and Marissa cleared the coffee table and stood in the kitchen finishing off their sodas.
"I'm bored," Seth whined.
"Yeah me too,"
"Wanna catch the rest of the charity dinner?" he asked, catching her by surprise.
"Didn't think you were that bored...but yeah okay,"
"Alright so I'll be at your house in 20 minutes,"
"See you then,"
Marissa walked out the door with Seth trailing behind her. He stood on the porch watching her leave. She turned back once and waved. Seth shook himself out of his reverie and walked back inside.
Marissa unlocked the door to her house and slipped inside. She went up to the bathroom and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Marissa get over it. It's not gonna happen. Oh my god! Did I just think that? Did I think that something was going to happen with Seth? Seth Cohen?
"Whatever," she gave herself a slight shake, undressed and jumped in he shower. When she was done she went o her room and slipped on the dress she had planned to wear that night. It was a gorgeous pale pink chiffon, lace and silk layered dress. It had spaghetti straps and came down to her knees. She paired it with a pair of strappy silver diamante shoes and a silver clutch which held her cell phone, keys and some money. She let her hair fall in its natural waves over her shoulders and placed a silver tiara/headband on her head. Marissa applied her make up, put on her jewellery and sprayed herself with perfume.
flashback
Seth and Marissa are sitting on the hood of his car watching the ocean from the Cohen's driveway. They sit in silence but Seth has a peculiar look on his face as he inhales deeply.
"Seth were you just sniffing me?" Marissa asks turning her head towards him.
"No...I was just...breathing..." he replied innocently. He continued breathing.
"You were so sniffing me," she said in an accusatory tone.
"Well you smell," he replied bluntly.
"Should I be offended?"
"No! I meant to say you smell nice," he leapt to rectify his mistake.
"Okay...thanks" she smiled.
They went back to watching the sun set slowly over the Pacific Ocean.
end flashback
There was a knock at the door. Marissa heard the door swing open just as she descended down the stairs. Seth Cohen stood in her foyer wearing a black suit, a burgundy dress shirt and a silk burgundy tie hanging untied around his neck. As Marissa slowly descended the stairs Seth couldn't take his eyes off her. He smiled slightly.
"Hey," he greeted her with a smile as she reached the ground floor.
"Hey," she took a step towards him.
"You look nice," he complimented her.
"Just nice?" Marissa asked in an insecure voice.
"Beautiful. Better?" Seth smiled.
"Much. Your tie?" Marissa looked inquiringly at the length of silk draped around his neck.
"Yeah...could you?" He looked at her with those big brown eyes of his.
"Of course," she grabbed the two ends, effectively pulling him closer, and began to tie his tie. Seth felt his breath catch in his throat.
"Too tight?" she asked.
"No it's perfect," Seth replied softly
They stood there for a moment before Seth noticed how close they were and took a step back. Marissa exhaled and looked at her shoes.
"Um...Shall we go?" Seth offered his arm in a gentlemanly manner.
"Yeah," Marissa clasped the proffered arm. They walked towards the black Porsch that Caleb Nichol had bought his grandson for his 17th birthday. Seth opened Marissa's door and helped her in. He got into the driver's seat, turned on the ignition and they drove off into the night.
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