Title: Prom Queen
Summary: A new guy comes to the OC from Australia and he's bound to rock the relationships. So who's going to end up his Prom date? Not for SethSummer lovers. Anna comes in a bit later. SummerNew Guy and a bit of SethAnna and the smallest portion of RyanMarissa.
Pairing: SummerTom, SethAnna, RyanMarissa
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the OC characters. I only own Tom and Tina.
Chapter 7: History Class
"Cohen?" Summer said and wiped away some tears as she looked up at Seth Cohen standing there in all his geeky glory and continued,
"Oh my god. I can't believe…"
"I'm so sorry Summer." Summer then interrupted him,
"No, I should be the one who is sorry. I didn't realise that you…" Seth cut her off with a confused look,
"Wait, didn't Tom tell you…" Seth trailed of as he realised what he'd just potentially revealed to a Summer who didn't know what he was talking about. But knowing Summer she'd soon weasel it out of him. One way or another.
"Tell me what?" Summer looked up at Seth. Tears still stained her cheeks and her eyes were wide. Seth sighed. She may as well find out sooner rather than later and from him rather than Tom. Tom did have the upper hand here anyway.
"That," Seth sighed again, "Uh, Summer? Don't get mad okay?" When Summer didn't reply Seth continued,
"I kissed Anna."
"You what?!? I can't believe this! I-I was crying real tears over you Cohen!" Summer stood up and slapped Seth. Apparently she'd completely forgotten about how she'd kissed Tom earlier and was about to disclose some very hurtful information. Seth looked at Summer and then decided that he deserved this and walked off silently. Summer looked after his retreating figure and sat back down.
Marissa walked over to her and put her arms around her.
"It'll be okay Summer." Then Summer began to cry again.
-------
"Hey." Ryan greeted Tom with a smile and Tom replied,
"Hey. How're things?" Ryan looked at him and knew partially what he was talking about. He just had to make sure.
"Things?" He asked and Tom looked at him for a second before smiling and saying,
"Yeah. Things. Such as you and Marissa." Ryan looked back at him and a ghost of a smile flickered across his features.
"Well, I took your advice. We… We're together again. And I'm…"
"Happier than you've ever been before." Tom interrupted with his observation so as not to make Ryan attempt to explain what had happened to him lately. He knew the feeling of not being able to explain the feelings which were overtaking you. Sometimes they were good and sometimes they were bad but they had the same effect.
"Yeah." Ryan said with a shocked expression on his face. The shock was only mild. Like most of his expressions except for his smiles around Marissa lately.
"I didn't know that anyone could be as happy as you two have been lately." Ryan half smiled and the bell rang.
"What've you got now?" Ryan asked.
"History. Your class." Ryan nodded and they went to the History classroom.
"So do you know where Marissa is anyway?" Ryan shook his head and replied,
"She went off with Summer. Summer was looking pretty upset." Tom went suddenly quiet and Ryan knew that Tom knew why Summer was upset. Ryan also knew that it wasn't something that he should question right now.
"Well I guess we'll be able to catch up with the both of them in History." Tom said in a forced voice and smiled in a forced way at Ryan. Ryan twitched his lips back, something that was more heartfelt than all Tom had done.
The teacher looked at the two boys who'd come in a few minutes late and stared at them with a death glare until they both sat down. It was a substitute and they'd never seen her before. She was young had long brown hair and wore glasses. Tom stared at her and couldn't keep his eyes off her. He knew her. She seemed so familiar to him.
"Today we'll be splitting into partners. You each will study a past American president…" The door opened to reveal Summer and Marissa standing there. Summer looked as if she'd been crying, her eyes were red and her face was covered with her hair which hung around her face. The teacher fixed them with the same look she gave Tom and Seth. Marissa muttered an apology and they sat down in the only available seats left. Across from Tom and Ryan.
Tom tried to catch Summer's eyes but he didn't manage to even get a flicker of recognition. Instead she just looked at the ground, the hair still hanging around her face and she didn't even look up when Marissa muttered something incoherent to her.
The teacher cleared her throat and continued,
"As I was saying. I will pair you up and you will study a past American President. You will then give a 5 minute presentation on the president. Naming such things as what they did in their term. Good or bad. What laws they passed or eradicated. If they helped the economy or condemned it. A full report. None of the stuffing around that most of you are so used to."
Summer didn't even look up once during the whole of the teacher's ramble. No-one bothered to listen but most people scribbled on the table, their books or their hands. Most of them didn't listen from the beginning and the rest dozed off when she started talking about what they had to do, i.e. using words like 'term', 'law' and 'economy'.
The teacher then said,
"You four who came in late. You, person who needs a haircut go with the short darker haired girl. You two blonde brown people go together." Summer finally looked up at the word short. Tom could see something flare up in her eyes but then die back down and she looked back down. Tom looked at her in sadness and wished that he could help.
"Hey, person who needs a haircut. You hear me?" Tom looked at the teacher and nodded,
"Yeah." He said quietly and turned back to look at Summer. He was worried. She usually never let anything get her down. Even after only knowing her for not that long he knew that much. She was the one person who he could count on to break the silence and make a comment. Whether it was funny, an insult or stupid didn't matter. She was the extrovert.
The teacher paired up the rest of the class and then said,
"You can start working now. Brainstorming. Whatever." Marissa got up and Tom got up too and they swapped places. Tom moved his chair so that his body faced Summer and he said,
"Hey. You okay?" He gently put his hand on her shoulder. Summer looked at him and he saw the tears. She looked at his hand and said,
"Please don't." Tom took away his hand and said,
"I'm really sorry. It's all my fault." Summer looked at him and then said,
"Yeah. It is. If you had never come then I would never know you. Seth and I would still be together and happy. And I would never have fallen in love with…" Summer looked in the opposite direction and Tom looked at Summer. He knew he could do nothing. This was her internal problem. She needed help but until she let him in he couldn't do anything externally. Only offer comfort.
"With who?" Summer looked at him again.
"You know who." Summer kept looking at him this time. It seemed she wanted to know how what she'd just said affected the person involved. Tom didn't move away. He didn't flinch. He didn't kiss her. He didn't do anything but look at her. Tom eventually said,
"If you need anyone there for you. I'm always going to be here for you. No matter what." Summer nodded and then looked away again. Tom just sat there, patient. When she looked back to see if he'd disappeared she was shocked to see that he hadn't disappeared. Far from it. He was exactly were she needed him. By
her side.
Tom reached out and put a strand of hair behind her ear. She leaned into his hand and closed her eyes. At peace. When she opened her eyes she saw exactly what she needed. Tom's face. Then she realised that it was true. He would actually be there for her. He would actually be the person who was always there for her.
As she realised this she closed her eyes and smiled peacefully.
(Aww… I just had to picture Tom as the really good, sweet guy. Because he is! Move outta the way here comes Mr Right! Next chapter getting ready for prom. You might think you know who Tom's queen is going to be but someone's going to come and shake it up... Promise! The teacher's got something the do with it. I might end it with a rainy scene…Hm, that just came into my head. That would be so romantic! Okay. That would work. There's not going to be that much SethAnna left except for some dancing and possibly more kissing.)