By; Exchanged
Fandom; The O.C.
Pairing; Ryan/Summer
Rating; PG13
Summary; When Ryan comes to visit Summer in 2x02, things don't go exactly as he had planned.
"He's not going to give up, you know," Ryan said.
Summer peered up at him from her textbook. "Who?"
"Seth."
A look of surprise flashed across her features. "You're going to have to help me out here, Ryan. He's not going to give up on what?"
"On you," he said, looking at her intently. "Not that I can blame him."
Summer smiled across the table at him.
"I don't know what to do about Cohen. I told him it was over. He knows how much he hurt me when he took off. Why can't he just leave it alone?" She cried.
"Because he loves you."
Summer sighed. "I loved him, too. I don't want to hurt him, but he has to move on." She glances over at Ryan. "Like I have."
Ryan looks at her for a second, then shifts in his seat, clearly uncomfortable.
"Relax, Chino," she teases him. "I know that we can't be together. It would hurt too many people. I'm just glad we're friends now."
Ryan opens his mouth to say something but slams it shut when he notices Seth crossing the cafeteria, heading towards their table.
'Seth' he mouths to Summer. She nods and quickly stands up to gather her books, just as Seth reaches their table.
"Hey Ryan! Summer!"
"Cohen," she says coolly, slipping by him and out the door.
Seth looks hurt, but he quickly hides it and sits down in the seat Summer just vacated.
"So, what'd she say about me?" he asks.
Ryan just raises his eyebrows.
"Come on, Man! Summer! What'd she say about me?"
"Oh. Nothing," Ryan replies, looking back down at his textbook.
"I thought that's why the two of you were hanging out so much, so you could find out if she's ready to forgive me yet."
"Well, yeah, at first. I like spending time with her. She's a good person."
Seth looked taken aback. "Ryan, do you like her or something?"
"Uh, no. No!" He replied quickly.
"Alright. Good," Seth replies, leaning back in his chair. "Sorry, man, I know you'd never do that to me. But hey! Next time you guys are hanging out together try to find out if she's any closer to forgiving me about.. everything."
Ryan tried to hide the guilt that was rising up inside of him. "Right."