Usual disclaimer applies: I don't own the show

A/N: Wow! Thanks for all the great reviews you guys! I really appreciated them!

Apparently, I misunderstood orangetide's review at first, but everything's good now. :)

The four teenagers sat on Seth's bed, talking and joking. It was just the four of them. Four very different personalities but they were very close. One leaving created a domino effect and instantly affected the others. That was how much they depended on one another.

Summer could not imagine what would happen if Coop lost Chino for good. She knew that it would have a devastating result on Coop. Summer certainly did not want a repeat of the Tijuana incident. She was going all out to keep the four together.

Summer dragged Seth out of the room to leave the two alone. She knew that Chino and Coop still had some issues to settle.

Ryan and Marissa sat beside each other on the bed, with a small gap in between them. Both did not say anything for a while, they were just enjoying each other's presence in the comfortable silence. Finally, Ryan drew a deep breath and spoke up.

"Marissa? I shouldn't have left."

Marissa turned to look at Ryan, slightly bewildered.

"I shouldn't have been selfish. Just doing what was morally right. I didn't consider your feelings or Seth's or the Cohen's. I should have found a way to comprise the whole situation, something like this. You have every right to be mad at me-"

"But I'm not." Marissa interrupted. "Don't go blaming yourself. It was my fault too."

Ryan smiled slightly and shook his head. "Still...So... are we okay?"

Meanwhile, Seth and Summer are sitting on the couch downstairs.

"Right, Cohen. So, next to or opposite?"

"What?"

"Should Coop be sitting beside Chino or opposite him? If they are opposite each other, they have eye contact with each other but if they're next to each other, it closes the distance between them-"

"I think you're spending too much time with me. You're rambling. I guess you learn from the best." Seth finished proudly.

"Shut up, Cohen. Can we like concentrate here?"

"Concentrate? There's nothing to concentrate on!"

"Oh yes there is!" This!" Summer jabbed her finger at the piece of white paper in front of her.

Seth bent down to pick it up and glanced at in. "What exactly is this? Oh, wait. Don't tell me. You're..."

"This is the sitting plan for dinner!" Summer snapped, snatching back the paper from Seth.

Seth leaned over her shoulder, trying to get a better look at it. "Okay, you lost me here. What exactly are you doing?"

Summer turned back to look at Seth and simply said, "The sitting plan for tonight's dinner and maybe for a few meals to come."

Seth was still puzzled and Summer plainly gave him an exasperated look before returning to the planning.

"So, if Ryan sits here. Then you can sit over there. I'll be beside you. Your mom and dad can be at-"Summer murmured while using her pencil to tap the positions on the piece of paper.

"Wait. Is this part of your anti-Theresa plan?"

"Duh. Now can you help me here? Theresa can't be sitting too close to Ryan and Marissa has to be next or opposite Ryan. Preferably next. You and I obviously have to sit together and I don't want to sit next to that bitch either."

"So this is like one of the math problems we used to have in school?"

"You could put it that way."

"Okay, so- Summer, what are you doing?" Seth asked as Summer spun around wildly.

"I could have sworn that bitch sneakily went behind us heading towards the stairs." Summer's eyes widened upon realization. "Shit, Chino and Coop!"

Without another word, she sped off for the staircase and Seth went after her.

Summer only managed to catch up with Theresa only a few feet away from Seth's bedroom door and skidded in front of her, shielding the door with her tiny frame.

"Whoa. What are you trying to do?" Summer asked, her tone icy.

"I'm looking for Ryan." Theresa snapped back.

"Well, this is Seth's room and since you are a guest, shouldn't you have the manners to ask whether it's alright to enter the room?"

"Since I'm the guest, shouldn't you have shown more hospitality when I arrived?"

Summer glared at her and crossed her arms.

"Fine. I get it. I'm going." Theresa raised both her arms in frustration and started to turn around.

Summer shared a glance with Seth who had been standing at the side throughout the whole exchange.

Just as Summer started to move away from the door, Theresa spun around and dashed back in front of the door. This time, both Seth and Summer did not have time to react and they watched in vain as Theresa flung open the door.

There, sitting on the bed were Ryan and Marissa, only not in the positions Seth and Summer had left them. Marissa had her hand around Ryan's neck while their faces were barely an inch apart. Both turned upon hearing the door open and Theresa just stood there, gaping at the couple.

This time, Summer managed to come to her senses and literally pushed Theresa out of the door before she could actually say anything. Summer couldn't help but feel slightly pleased at the state of shock that Theresa was in, at seeing Chino and Coop at such a compromising position.

"Uh, carry on you guys. I'll catch ya later." Seth waved, feeling kind of awkward and closed the door behind him.

Ryan and Marissa laughed lightly and Marissa reluctantly removed her arm from Ryan's neck. Noticing this, Ryan did likewise.

"You think we should head down?" Marissa asked, slightly disappointed.

"Yeah, I guess we should."

There was nothing they could do, the moment had been ruined.

Sorry, this is a rather short chapter. Nevertheless, I hope you guys liked it! :)