Chapter 22
Luke and Ryan leaned against Anna's door, quietly.
Sounds of reminiscence floated under the narrow crack under the door, and with their ears pressed against the wooden frame, they could hear muffled laughter.
Pulling away at the same time, Ryan shot a sideways glance at Luke and as their eye line met, they both grinned, each boy relieved for a different reason. Ryan was just happy Seth Cohen was back, and Luke was just grateful that Anna was laughing again.
However, once both boys realized that they were grinning like idiots at each other, the grins were wiped off their faces, and they stood apart, slightly uncomfortable. Luke recovered quickly by saying the first thing that came to mind.
"Want some coffee?"
"Hell yes." Ryan answered earnestly as they walked down the hallway, away from Anna's room.
Inside, Anna was laughing at one of Seth's corny jokes.
"Oh! I almost forgot…" Seth said, melodramatically slapping a hand to his cheek.
"…Your present."
Anna sat up eagerly, beaming, as Seth reached behind him and revealed a tight bundle of about four gifts all tied together with a green ribbon.
"Ta da!" he elaborately held his hands out for Anna.
"Seth Cohen starter pack!" Her eyes sparkled bright with adoration.
He winked as Anna enthusiastically took the bundle from him. She couldn't wipe the smile off her face.
"Seth…it's…uh… very festive," Anna began, as she saw the cute little Santa's and Hanukkah hats that covered the wrapping paper.
"But I think you're confused sweetie…it's not Christmas." She said, pretending to be concerned for Seth's mental health. But, she couldn't hold it for long, she just had to laugh.
Seth gasped. "You did not just say Christmas! It's Chrismukkah, Anna. God! What were you thinking?"
Anna giggled. "Oh, yeah, right. Silly me." She mimicked Seth and dramatically slapped a hand over her mouth.
"Eww…you made me smear lip gloss all over my palm." She added, sarcastically.
"My bad, Summer." Seth poked his tongue out.
"Anyway, I shouldn't change the subject," Anna said quickly.
"Chrismukkah in July?"
"Uh, yeah," Seth said as if he were stating the obvious.
"Haven't you ever heard of Chrismukkah in July?" he feigned surprise.
"Christmas in July I've heard of…but Chrismukkah in July? Hmm." She bit her lip, pretending to look thoughtful.
"Anna Stern! I'm shocked and appalled! It's a huge Cohen family tradition."
"Since when?"
"Since today." Seth flashed his most famous grin.
Anna hit him playfully on the arm, finding that the little effort it required was painful.
Luckily, Seth turned away at that very moment as something fell out of his pocket, and Anna nursed her arm quickly before Seth could turn back around.
"Hey, what's that? More Chrismukkah pressies for me?" She said cheekily, eyeing a heart-shaped box on the ground.
Seth haphazardly shoved it back into his coat pocket, before Anna could get a proper look.
"Uh, no, it's nothing."
Anna furrowed her eyebrows.
"Nothing hey?" She smiled. She knew that she really should let it go, but curiosity took over as she reached into his pocket and grabbed it unexpectedly, catching Seth unaware.
"Anna! God, I thought I'd be safe…you being injured and all. But no…. you're just tricking everyone aren't you. Bad girl." He tried to joke around with her to cover the embarrassment that was fast staining his cheeks.
Anna carefully lifted the heart shape lid and gasped, as she saw what was inside.
"Oh my god."
Anna flipped over the plain white-gold ring and found where Seth had engraved it. Somehow, she already knew it was engraved, without him even saying a word.
In big curly lettering it read:
I Heart You Summer, Love Cohen
"Aww! Oh my god, it's the cutest thing I've ever seen."
Seth felt his face burning.
"It's lame, I know."
"No! Seth, she'll love it."
Quickly, to hide his embarrassment, he took the ring back off her and shoved it back into his pocket.
"So, yeah…open your presents already." He said, trying his best to keep Anna pre-occupied.
She grinned, knowing exactly what Seth was doing. But instead of pushing the matter, she let it go.
She ripped off the wrapping paper like a little girl at Christmas, excitedly throwing the paper to the side.
"Hey, I spent all night wrapping that! Perfection does not come easy."
Anna looked up and laughed.
"Oh my god! The Goonies!" She squealed happily.
"I thought you'd like that. I was meant to give you that last Chrismukkah."
"I love it! So much! It's like my favourite movie."
"Summer's too. And mine." He added, smiling slightly to himself.
She smiled back.
"I don't care what they say Anna, it's not just for kids!" Seth remembered saying that to Ryan last year, and watched as remarkably, Anna had the same expression he had.
Ripping more layers of paper off, she found three CD's. Bright Eyes, Death Cab and a mixed CD Seth had made for her. The tag on the mixed CD read:
To my Emo StarletAnna looked up at Seth. She didn't know what to say. It was too beautiful.
"I'm just the gift giver today aren't I?"
"Seth, thank you so much. I love it all." Anna spoke graciously, her eyes softening and her face melting into a heart-felt smile.
As she put the presents in a drawer by her bed, and threw the wrappings away in the bin beside her, she sat up as if waiting for something, looking Seth straight in the eye.
After a moment, a confused Seth said, "Uh, Anna? What?"
She motioned him to move his chair forward and as he did the legs skidded and screeched on the floor, causing them both to grimace.
"Well, come on. I'm waiting." She said, drumming her fingers impatiently on her lap.
"For what Anna?" Seth sounded utterly bewildered. He turned his head left and right, searching the room and watching the door incase someone came in.
"Don't play dumb, it's not cute on you." She poked playfully.
As Seth scrunched up his face, confused, Anna sighed.
"Look, I'm so, so incredibly happy that your Seth Cohen again. I mean, god I've missed you a lot and I don't want this conversation to end. But I know we have to talk. Talk about…something else."
"About what?"
"Summer."
That had caught Seth's attention.
"Anna, I'm here for you."
She smiled, pity flashing in her eyes.
"No, Seth. You're here so we can talk about Summer."
Seth looked hurt.
"No, Anna…I…don't think that…'cause I…" his tone was indignant.
"It's okay. I want you to talk about her. I'm here for your listening pleasure," She laughed. "Counselor Anna."
"Hmm, it's got a nice ring to it." She mused.
"Anna…"
"Seth, please."
There was a pause, in which Seth felt incredibly overwhelmed. Overwhelmed that Anna knew him so well.
"Okay," he begun, defeated. "Maybe I do need a little dose of Counselor Anna."
Seth decided to dive straight into it. Why not? What did he have to lose? He trusted Anna with his life.
"God, you're like Yoda. All knowing and full of wisdom."
Before he even knew it, he was spilling out everything to Anna. How he felt he was going to lose Summer, how he didn't deserve her and all the pain he'd put her through.
By the end of it, Seth slumped into his chair awkwardly, relieved to get everything off his chest.
"So what do you prescribe Counselor?"
Anna frowned slightly.
"Hmm…I think you already know what I'm going to say."
"Confidence Cohen." Seth and Anna said together.
"Wow, It's getting through to you!" She beamed, clapping her hands together.
"Yeah, it's like off 'The Simpson's', where Marge keeps repeating something over and over to Bart and it just sticks." He frowned, trying to remember what it was Marge was saying. Funny that. Ironic that he couldn't remember.
"True,"
Anna paused, thinking.
"What are you waiting for?"
Seth cocked his head to the side. "I don't know…but I am waiting."
"Yeah, I noticed. I think you just have to talk to her. I can just see a movie-script ending playing in my head." She laughed.
Seth smiled curiously. "And what's in store for Summer and I in this movie-script ending? Since you've got it all planned out, tell me…I at least have to know if I get the girl."
"Oh, you get the girl." Anna smirked.
"Well, that's a start." Seth grinned.
"I think you know what's going to happen. You know it, but you're just too scared to see it. Or too scared to act on it. Either way, you have to go there and just do it."
"Go where?"
"You know."
"God, you're getting all cryptic on me. I feel like I'm in the Matrix."
He ran a hand through his brown curls, thinking.
"Summer Breeze." He said suddenly.
Anna nodded, knowingly.
"God Anna. You really are a wonder woman."
Anna laughed, and for some reason a vision of last Chrismukkah came to mind. Summer stripping down to her wonder woman outfit for Seth and Anna making the original comic book. "The adventures of Seth Cohen and Captain Oats."
"Go, already," She said, obviously pleased with herself and her words of wisdom.
"Seth. You know it's just the beginning."
He smiled at Anna and stood to leave, suddenly feeling compelled to go to the pier.
But before he left he threw himself at Anna, hugging her a little too tightly.
Even through the pain however, Anna wished Seth wouldn't let go.
"Oh, shit sorry! Did I hurt you?"
"No, Seth," She laughed slightly, beaming at him.
"Go, get your girl."
"Thanks Anna…thank you so much…I don't know what to…"
"It's okay," she cut him off.
Seth leant down and kissed Anna on the cheek, and gently ruffled her hair.
As Anna watched Seth leave, she couldn't help feel a little pleased with herself.
She sat there for a moment, smiling contently, before Summer Roberts breezed through her door.
She watched, completely amused as Summer came forward bearing gifts resembling Seth's.
"Merry Chrismukkah…in July!" Summer announced cheerfully.
All Anna could do was laugh.
So the next Counseling session begins….
A/N hehe yea! So there u go. I finally got Seth and Anna's convo! Wohoo lol. Thank u for all the reviews they r totally awesome : ) I'll take any advice I can get…but plz b gentle! Aww this is nearly coming to an end…sadness! Anyway, plz review, they r much appreciated : ) until next time!