Lessons Learned-
Three- A Bumpy Ride
Disclaimer: Me no own The O.C.
A/N: Yes, I know the ending of the chapter is pretty un-Summer, but I can't add in snarky comments while it's a serious and romantic scene! The whole Summer commentary thang should be back in full-force next chapter, but this is the least of the drama. My version of the carnival from "The Heights" is included.
A dull week until Thursday when I got home after going out with Daddy and Coop had left me a ton of messages on my cell and home phone. She was sniffling and everything. She said Ryan and her got in this huge fight and that they weren't together anymore. I ran right over.
So here I am, on the couch at her dad's next to a Weepy Marissa with a pint of Ben & Jerry's and an "Alias" marathon. How a spy with a gazillion wigs makes her feel better about breaking up with her new boyfriend comforts her, I'll never know.
Somehow, I keep thinking about Cohen. That's weird, like mega-weird.
"Sum?" she sniffs.
"Yeah?" I ask.
"Should...Should I call him?" she asks in her little baby voice.
I shrug. "Would it be that awful? You guys are just gonna get back together, you know that," I say.
She sighs and takes another bite of the ice cream. "Is this fat-free?" she asks.
I shake my head. "You're in pain, Coop, it doesn't matter," I reply. It's true.
"I'm gonna call him," she says, "No, I can't. I really can't!"
I grab the phone from the table next to us. "Call or don't," I snap. She's eating all the ice cream, I have reason.
She puts the phone back down. "Don't," she sighs.
School's been pretty uneventful all day, except for when Coop saw Chino and they exchanged sad glances. Aw. I feel bad. Seriously, I do.
Liza pops right in front of me. Wow, how'd she make that outfit, a few napkins? Like seriously, her boobs are about to pop out and say hello. Ew.
"Sum! Take one!" she yelps excitedly, holding out a neon orange flyer.
"Time for the Annual Kick-Off Carnival! Get psyched, Harbor!" Oh, super. I can tell this is the work of Liza.
Marissa does the really business-ish stuff usually. I came to that conclusion after she rambled about it all lunch.
"Can't wait," I mutter.
Liza prances off. This is just what I need. Way to ruin my Friday.
"Look, you guys, I thought you found a new pastime over the summer, you know, not kicking my ass,"
That's unmistakably Cohen's voice.
"Ow...Apparently not,"
That's unmistakably Cohen getting his ass kicked.
I run over and almost trip in my heels. Damn Steve Maddens!
"You guys, get the hell away from him!" I yell.
No, no, no. Am I defending Cohen? Before this summer, I wouldn't have even noticed, and now I'm intervening? What the fuck is going on?
This year is so screwed up.
The two guys, Nick and...Damn it, it's Ben. Ben the evil ex. He was such an ass, dumping me 'cause I had some pride and didn't let him in my pants.
"What the hell are you doing, Robbie?" I hate the dumbass nickname. Robbie? Ugh.
"Don't call me Robbie, cock face!" I say.
"Once we're over you've downgraded to this loser?" he asks.
My face is heating up. Oh God, is my arm tingling. This isn't good, not good, not good.
I lunge forward and start punching the hell out of his stomach. Cohen's just looking on, half in horror and half in happiness for a few seconds but then pulls me off.
"Calm, breathe, calm, breathe," he recites.
He's right. Do it the calm way. I take a few breathes...And give Ben a nice, swift kick in the balls.
Asshole deserves it.
"God, you are such a bitch, no wonder I dumped you for Stacy!" he says, wincing with pain.
My eyes get a little blurry with tears and Cohen notices, along with Ben, who has chuckled a little.
"Don't call her that," Seth says firmly. Oh, all protective. Someone grew balls in ten seconds!
"What are you gonna do, Cohen? Get your boyfriend to come and hurt me?" Ben tempts and Nick laughs along.
"You know what? I think your ass has already been kicked by the girl who was just too good for you, and decided not to sleep with you and get five hundred STDs," Seth retorts.
I guess just about everyone knows why Ben and I are over. It was a little messy. We kind of did break up in the middle of Dana's party after I caught Stacy and Ben making out.
Ben doesn't say anything, so I walk away with Cohen beside me.
"Wow, a girl totally kicked the ass of the guy I couldn't. My ego just inflated one million sizes," he says.
I smile for a second. "I just did that because Ben's an ass and Luke's friend," I snap. It's not a lie; I'm just not finishing the fact that I also did it because I might just have a teensy crush on him. Which I don't.
I said might!
Seth flashes me that look of knowing and I stop walking to face him. "Well, thanks anyways. You're going to the carnival?" he asks.
I shrug. "I don't think if I did or didn't that it'd have any affect on you," I reply.
"Just wondering, Anna and I are gonna be there, so..." he trails off.
"I might just have better things to do," I say.
Seth brushes it off. I guess my bitchiness isn't bitchy enough for big-ass Cohen bitch anymore. Bitch!
"We have to have another tutoring session today, why don't we just do it in the library?" I say after he's silent.
Silent Cohen is like an oxymoron, but whatever.
"You'd have to keep your screams silent, you know," Seth jokes.
Oh, ew. He totally ruined that thing I had going for him for a second.
"Shut it, Cohen, let's go," I demand.
Cohen's sitting in the chair next to me, guiding me on how to do the next problem. It's not that hard, there are just a lot of variables. So maybe I understand it.
He's a pretty good teacher.
I finish my calculations. "Did I get it?" I ask.
Seth nods with a smile. He has a really cute grin. "Fourth in a row," he states.
He's just being so...Nice right now. I do owe him a thank-you.
"Cohen...What you did for me, with Ben and all, it was really sweet. Thanks, but, like, don't tell anyone I just got all sentimental. I will kill you," I say.
He nods. "I know,"
I take another piece of my cotton candy and glance at the top of the Ferris Wheel. Coop's talking with Chino, probably working things out.
Well, look at that, now they're full on making out. I didn't need to see that. Cotton candy isn't so appealing anymore.
I look in front of myself instead, and see more kissing.
Oh, God.
Tinkerbell and Cohen.
I didn't know...I mean, I thought they were just, like, friends.
Why does it hurt so much? I mean, I don't like him.
But I do. I know I do. If I didn't I wouldn't be all hurt when he stuck his tongue down some chick's throat.
It wasn't supposed to end up like this. Oh, shit, now he's walking over.
We exchange words about the Tilt-A-Whirl and we head towards it together. Should I mention his make out with Pittsburgh?
"So, had fun swapping spit with Amy or whatever?" I ask as we stand in line.
It just popped out. I know he name's Anna, but I'm going for the nonchalant thing. If I know the name of the female Cohen, that'll let him know I pay attention to his life, letting him know I have some sort of feelings, and that'll just totally screw me over.
So, yeah, I pretend I don't know her name.
"It's Anna," he corrects.
"Whatever," I mumble.
"We're not together or anything," he says.
"Well, you sure acted like it," I snap.
"Why would you care?" he asks.
"I don't!" I reply.
"Well, that's good," he says.
"Great!" I say.
"You know what? I'm getting kind of sick of this little routine, Summer," he says angrily.
"What routine?" I ask. God, he's pissing me off!
"The one where you—" he starts.
The lady at the Tilt-A-Whirl asks for our tickets and we sit down together.
"The one where you pretend that..." he starts again.
"I really don't need to hear this," I interrupt.
The ride starts moving. I shut my eyes and grab on to Cohen's hand. He wraps his around mine tightly. I open my eyes and he's just smiling lightly, holding on like he'll never let go.
Our little fight has been forgotten.
I scream out as the ride moves faster, and we're shifted in different directions but he won't let go. He's holding onto my hand like its life.
It's pretty nice.
Eventually the ride stops and we get off. Oh God, I'm really, really dizzy. I stumble trying to get off the ride, but fall over... On my butt.
Ouch.
"Ow!" I shriek.
Cohen takes my hand and helps me stand, but I really can barely. "Why the hell would you go on a ride that makes you act like a drunk?" he asks.
"I don't know," I whine.
He picks me up and carries me into the parking lot. I close my eyes because everything is getting really, really blurry. I feel like I might...
"Cohen, put me down," I order and he complies, lightly putting me down near the cars.
I lean over the bushes and start puking. I feel my hair being lifted from my shoulders.
Aw, Cohen's holding my hair back.
I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and I feel super-icky. I just barfed in a parking lot.
Seth takes my hand. "Let's get you home," he says.
I wake up and we're pulled into my driveway. I guess I fell asleep in the car.
Cohen walks around the car and opens the door. I get out a little shaky, but I feel better. I open the door to my house. Daddy and the Step-Monster are out for the millionth time this week.
"Where's you room?" Cohen asks after locking the door.
"Upstairs," I say quietly.
He leads me to my room and flicks on the lights. "You'll be able to get into some different clothes and wash up?" he asks.
I nod quickly. There's no way Cohen's gonna see me puke and naked in one night. It just doesn't work that way.
I go into the bathroom and change into some PJ pants and a t-shirt. When I walk out, Cohen's sitting on my bed. He looks up and smiles. I smile back. He's too sweet.
He even tucks me in and everything. He gets up and walks to the door. "Good night, Summer," he whispers.
I sit up. Whoa, rush of blood. "Don't leave...Will you just, stay, tonight?" I ask.
I come back to my senses for a second. I just asked Seth Cohen to spend the night at my house. How desperate have I gotten?
He nods. For once, he's actually being quiet. Too bad it's when I want him to say something the most.
He kicks off his sneakers and lies on top of the sheets next to me after turning off the lights.
"Thanks," I whisper.
It's too easy to fall asleep next to him.
