"Collide"

The Carolina sun beat down on the group of teens as they stood outside, loading their suitcases back into their rented minivan. After 10 days of being stuck in Tree Hill, the Newport natives we're finally on their way back to California, some better off and others worse.

"We almost ready?" Zach asked as he stuffed one of Marissa's many bags into the trunk. Between Summer and Marissa's luggage, it was a surprise that they could even fit that many bags in one car.

"Think so," Lindsay nodded with a smile as she pushed on a pair of sunglasses, and turned back to Haley and Nathan who were seeing the group off, along with Lucas. "Thanks so much for everything you guys."

"No problem," Haley smiled, unlacing her fingers from Nathan's as she stepped out to give Lindsay a hug, "Don't forget to write, we have to arrange a reunion or something sometime."

"Definitly," Lindsay nodded, as Marissa and Lucas said their own goodbyes.

"It was fun…getting to know you," Lucas laughed, as he looked at Marissa. It was funny, they had had such a heated affair, yet he didn't see anything but a friend when he looked into her eyes.

"You too," Marissa laughed, giving him a huge hug, "Take care of yourself." As they parted Ryan wandered over, a polite smile on his face. Now that they we're leaving, he figured he and Lucas might as well put aside their difference.

"Look man, I'm sor-" Ryan began, as he stood in front of Marissa and Lucas.

"Don't sweat it," Lucas interrupted him as they shook hands, "It was great having you guys down here, made things a little more interesting. Maybe a little too interesting, so you guys gotta go." The three of them laughed, before saying a final goodbye. Summer on the other hand was near tears as she tried to say goodbye to Jake, Peyton, and Jenny.

"It was great meeting you guys," Summer took a deep breath to push away the sobs that threanted, from a mixture of a thousand sad emotions. She couldn't believe it, but she was going to miss this place, and the people whom she'd gotten to know in such a short time, "Watch out for squirrels. If you're, you know, ever in California..."

"it was great getting to know you Summer. We'll look you up if you're ever in California," Peyton stepped forward and hugged Summer tightly, knowing she'd miss the feisty brunette. After Peyton pulled away from Summer, Marissa stepped forward and wrapped an arm Summer's shoulder, gently leading her to front passenger seat of the car.

"Bye guys," Marissa called over her should before they disappeared into the van.

"So, uh," Seth kicked at the grass at his feet, "Have you talked to Brooke, Peyton?" Peyton bit her lip, "I'm sorry Seth, she's not coming. She said she couldn't come and say good-bye and act like you'll call and write each other, when you both know it won't happen. I'm sorry Seth."

"Well maybe she'll change her mind."

Peyton shook her head, "I'm sorry, Seth, she's really not coming."

"Well, maybe we can just hang out for a little while, to see if she shows?" Seth suggested, his brown eyes full of regret and uneasiness. It was obvious to everyone that he had fallen hard; this wasn't just a fling.

"Seth, did you call her and tell her what time we were leaving?" Ryan spoke up, feeling terrible for his best friend and virtual brother.

"Well, yeah..."

"It was great getting to know all of you," Ryan stated before he placed a hand on Seth's shoulder and directed him toward the van. It was hard on all of them to say goodbye, but it was long past time to go home. Back to California where they truly belonged.


"Are we in Newport yet?" Summer's question startled Seth in the van full of sleeping passengers. It had been a long final day of driving, and everyone was exhausted and restless. The only thing keeping Seth going was focusing on the open road, it was hard not to turn the car around and head back for Tree Hill.

"Yeah, we are," Seth yawned in response, as he navigated the familiar streets so far from where he wanted to be. The palm trees and coastline were less of a homely comfort and more of a rude awakening. Even Summer was a tad disappointed to be back home, because frankly, she didn't know where to go next.

"Thank God," Summer whispered into the darkness but she immediately apologized, "I'm sorry Seth."

"It just sucks, you know?" Seth asked, "I can't explain it. She's just amazing and I know it's crazy to have such strong feelings for someone I knew for less then two weeks...It's just..."

"Sometimes you just fall for people?" Summer suggested, her heart sinking a little. She was sure she didn't have feelings for Seth…at least she didn't want to admit it.

Seth nodded, "Yeah. And I fell for her and now she's across the country."

"Well maybe you guys can work something out," Summer bit her lip, not wanting to make the suggestion, but did anyways.

"No, what Brook told Peyton, it's true we wouldn't be able to keep it up. Long distance relationships suck and to start a relationship as long distance is just stupid." Seth stopped the conversation abruptly as he swung the car into the Cohen's driveway, "Wake up everyone! We're back." 5 long minutes after Seth's announcement had startled the group of unconscious teenagers into half-consciousness, they struggled through the door with various bags. It was already eleven o'clock, so everyone had decided to crash at the Cohen's, one last night of group antics before life went back to normal.

"You're back!" Kirsten exclaimed the instant Seth and Ryan stepped foot inside the house. In an excited motherly manner, Kirsten collected both boys in her arms, ecstatic that they had made it home safely.

"You wait up?" Seth mused more to himself more then anything else, all he wanted to do was be alone but he knew his parents well enough to know they'd want every detail of the trip.

"Did you guys have a good time?" Sandy asked, "In….where were you again?"

"Tree Hill, North Carolina," Ryan informed in a matter-of-fact tone. He glanced around the house, it sure was good to be home.

"Don't bother looking for it on a map you won't find it." Marissa added with a smirk as she and Lindsay sacked out on the couch.

"But you had a good time?" Sandy asked again as handed out bagels, knowing they'd be hungry from the long ride.

"Yeah, great time," Seth stated shortly, refusing the bagel, "I'm going to bed."

"Your not going to stay up with us Seth?" Lindsay asked from the couch, as she munched on a bagel covered in strawberry jelly. "We were going to watch movies." Before Seth could decline, Sandy once again butt in.

"You met a girl." The group fell silent at the statement, not wanting to say anything in case Seth didn't want to talk about it.

"What?" Seth asked, putting on a fake smile, "Come on Pops, we were there for 10 days."

"You met a girl and you're going to brood," Sandy shook his head, knowing his son well enough to figure the situation out.

"I am not," Seth responded glaring at his father. "I'm just going to go upstairs and have some one on one time with Captain Oats..."

"To brood." Sandy replied with a bushy eyebrow raised. Seth just waved him off as he grabbed his bag and started towards the stairs. The last couple days had been tough, it was hard to leave the one person he wanted to be with. He really hadn't had a choice in the matter, they were from different worlds and maybe that was just how it had to be. Slowly, he climbed the stairs wondering where she was at that very moment. Was she thinking of him? No, Seth thought to himself, she's probably on to the next guy by now. Just as he was about to open the door he realized something odd lying on the floor outside. It was a brown stuffed squirrel with a bushy tail and big black eyes.

"What the hell?" Seth raised an eyebrow as he picked it up. He figured it was something his parents had done as a joke, or maybe Summer and Marissa had left it there. Reaching out, he opened the door to his bedroom, and went inside. It was pretty dark, seeing as it was almost 9:30 at night. The blinds were open though, letting some moonlight spill into the room. Putting his bag down by the door, he made his way further inside, when something caught his eye. In the corner of his room, he swore he could make out the silhouette of a girl. He moved closer, rubbing his eyes, thinking that he was probably just tired from all the driving.

"I didn't think you were actually serious about having a plastic horse," The figure turned, proving that he wasn't crazy. His eyes widened as he looked at the face of the one girl he had never expected to see again. Before either of them knew what they were doing, they were wrapped in each other's arms, sharing a mind-blowing kiss. And in that moment, they could have sworn they were infinite.

The dawn is breaking

A light shining through

You're barely waking

And I'm tangled up in you

Yeah

I'm open, you're closed

Where I follow, you'll go

I worry I won't see your face

Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes

Even the wrong words seem to rhyme

Out of the doubt that fills my mind

I somehow find

You and I collide

Fin


Ali-I can't believe we did it! Steph and I set out to write a kick ass OTH/OC crossover and I think we succeeded...and what do we have from all of that hard work? A beautiful Beth story! Oh that and...ready? A sequel...it's coming...we aren't releasing details yet...but put Steph on your author alert...it'll be under an OC category story! Anyway thanks so much to everyone for sticking with us through OTH withdrawal, writers block and computer malfunctions! And look for our next story!

Steph- Yeah, this is a huge surprise! When we first came up with this idea, I never would have hoped for it to work out this well, but look at it! I'm really proud of our work, and I thank you guys so much for you support and commitment to the story. We wouldn't have made it this far without you. Like Ali mentioned, we're going to do a sequel! YAY! Look for it in the OC section, it will be called "Bless The Broken Road". Thanks again for sticking with us, we love you dearly!