Disclaimer: I don't own anything regarding "The O.C." nor am I affiliated with any of the cast and characters used in the story. Anyone or anything that you don't recognize is mine, and anyone and anything else that you do recognize is not mine.

Note: I'm so sorry for not updating as quickly as before. I haven't been feeling well for the past couple of days. Anyway, I'm glad you all are enjoying the story. Thanks for reading!

Against All Odds
Chapter 4 – New York Highs and Lows

"Remind me again why I came here?"

"Um, I don't know Mr. Cohen," said the secretary. "I just started here a month ago."

"What a coincidence! So did I."

"Can I help you with anything else?"

"I'm good, thanks," Seth told her. "I'm just going to head out now."

"Have a good night, Mr. Cohen."

"You too."

Seth has been in New York for a month, and despite his best efforts, his situation was definitely not improving. While he kept his promise to his grandfather that he would take it easy, out and about in the city with nothing to do was taking a toll on his patience. He might as well put on a coat and a tie and be working than wasting his time away. He already paid his grandmother a visit, impressed at how nice and neat her place was looking. It was definitely an upgrade from her home in the Bronx, but certainly wasn't as homey as the original Cohen home.

As for spending time with Summer, well, that plan never even came close to materializing. Every time the phone rang, a part of him was always hoping to hear her voice. He was not about to call her again though. It was quite obvious that she wants nothing to do with him. Still, he couldn't help but hope that there was still a chance that she would reconsider.

The more time he spent walking and touring the city by himself, the more his hatred for it magnified.

"How could anybody live in the place?" he thought.

It was always a mystery to him every time he came to New York for a visit. For one thing, it's very expensive, and heaven forbid, during this time of high inflation, if you are stuck here, surviving can be tough. He had to admit that it was in a way like Newport Beach, minus the noise, the crowd, the pollution, the dreary weather at this time of the year…

"Alright. Just give me your wallet and there won't be a problem here."

"Crime," Seth thought as he turned around slowly. "How could I forget the crime?"

"Give me your wallet! Now!"

In front of him was a man about his height. Aside from being male and having the same stature, that's pretty much the only thing they had in common. For one thing, the man in front of him was huge and muscular, wore a mask to conceal his face, and Seth's favorite distinction: he was carrying a gun.

"This is so cliché, man…"

"I said give me your wallet," the mugger yelled, pointing the gun at him.

"I guess you like clichés then."

Seth looked around, and as expected, he was standing in an isolated alley with minimal lighting and no solitary person in sight, except for the mugger, of course. Where was the crowd when he needed them?

"Can I make a proposal?"

"You've got to be kidding me," the man said. "Hand me your wallet, or you're a dead man."

"Can I at least keep my license and credit cards?" Seth asked, knowing that he was testing the man's patience. "And my pictures?"

"The wallet, kid," the mugger said. "Now!"

"I have five hundred dollars in cash," Seth told him. "I'll give them to you, but as long as I keep the wallet and…"

Before he could go on speaking, the guy launched himself at Seth, sending both of them spiraling to the ground. He tried to fight him off, but the mugger eventually overpowered him, hitting him in the gut several times, and for the finishing touch, threw a mean punch to the right side of his face. He didn't really know what happened after or how long he was unconscious. When he did regain his consciousness, all that was left was a throbbing headache and his somewhat broken glasses. The man had taken his wallet and his cell phone. Oddly enough, however, he saw his driver's license, credit cards, and pictures scattered on the ground not too far from where he was standing.

Overwhelmed by what just happened to him, he picked up his belongings and continued to walk. He caught a reflection of himself outside of a store. It was a sorry sight. His hair was messed up. His glasses needed repair. He saw a couple of tears on his suit. His tie hung loose on his neck. There was really only one way to describe his appearance.

"Man, I look like shit," he said to himself.

With a sigh, he continued on his way. Out of nowhere, people started reappearing, most of them doing nothing else but stare at him. Did God really hate him that much that he removed every single human being in the city just so he can get mugged? It was probably not a new sight to them. He was certain that he wasn't the first victim of such a crime. It was during times like this one that he wished Ryan was by his side. He would have taken that guy, or at least put up a decent fight. Heck, even Captain Oats would have done some damage.

Across the street, he spotted a comic book store. Comic books. When was the last time he read one of those? He didn't throw any of his collection away. They were just stashed in his house somewhere. Letting nostalgia get the best of him, Seth crossed the street, but not before looking both ways to see that no car was coming towards him. He wouldn't be surprised if one came out of nowhere and just went straight at him. Anything was possible tonight. He received a couple of glares from the storekeeper once he arrived, probably fearing that he might drive the other customers away. With the night he just had, it was the least of his worries.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Summer sighed in relief when she finally got out of the restaurant. She was having a meeting with potential clients. Very important and high profile potential clients to be exact. Her boss was adamant that she made a good impression on them. If they hire the company, it could boost their popularity, and hopefully lead to more business opportunities. Summer didn't disappoint, even if it cost her most of her evening. With her low V-neck velvet dress wrapped in the front with a rhinestone mesh scarf and her hair cascading down her shoulders, Summer embodied the perfect combination of professionalism, beauty, and poise. The clients were pleased indeed, and they practically told her that the job was theirs for the taking.

She looked around her. The New York nightlife. There were so many things going on at the exact same time that made it exciting. The lights were gleaming. The moon was shining. Fancy cars going up and down the street. Couples holding hands and drinking hot chocolate. Seth Cohen crossing the street…

"Seth Cohen?" Summer uttered in shock.

Her gaze followed his figure as he made his way towards the comic book store. Now, the comic book part did not faze her as much as his disheveled clothing and the fact that he was limping a bit. He seemed like he was in pain, but it was too dark for her to make out his facial expression. Nevertheless, she was certain that it was him. Something inside her prevented Summer from walking away. She was actually feeling guilty for not getting in touch with him for the past month. Most of all, she was actually worried about him. Hesitantly, she made her way across to the store.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Seth continued to browse through the comic books, having short flashbacks of each story after every title that he encountered. It surprised him how much he still remembered.

"Hey."

Seth turned around to see where the voice came from, or actually, who it came from. To his shock, it was from Summer Roberts, and for that fact alone, he was speechless. She looked better than the last time she saw her. He was no expert in shoes and dresses, but Summer looked incredibly stunning. As his mind went on and on about how great Summer looked, he finally noticed the concerned look on her face. For a minute there, he almost forgot that he looked like crap.

"Oh my God!" Summer's hand came to her mouth. "What happened to you?"

"Oh these," Seth said, removing his glasses. "I kind of broke it. Sorry. I knew how much you liked them."

"Your face…"

"Well, I got a first hand experience of what mugging was like," Seth tried to lighten the situation. "I guess you can't really experience the New York lifestyle without getting assaulted by a complete stranger in a dark alley."

Summer reached up to touch his bruise when Seth winced, causing her to retract her hand immediately.

"I assure you, Summer, it's not make-up. It's one hundred percent real, and it hurts like hell."

"You look like hell, Cohen," Summer said, pity evident in her eyes.

"I'm glad you noticed," Seth joked, although the look she gave him went unnoticed. "I was totally going for that look"

"Seth, it's not funny."

"Come on, Summer, lighten up," Seth said. "What could be more funny that a guy taking all of my money and my super expensive cell phone? To top it all off, he beat me up and knocked me out, but at least he had the decency to leave me my driver's license, credit cards, and pictures. It's actually quite humorous."

"How do you do that?" Summer shook her head. "Make light of the situation when it obviously was a traumatic experience."

"That's what we Cohens do: make jokes inappropriately soon after a traumatic event."

Summer just sighed and look at him with her arms crossed.

"What am I going to do with you, Cohen?"

"I'm fine, Summer, really," Seth told her. "I can take care of myself."

"How many times have I heard that one from you before?"

"I'm older now, and I'm much more wiser. I know how to take care of myself contrary to popular belief."

"Come on," Summer said, grabbing his hand without a thought. "You are coming with me."

"Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you home."

"You're what now?"

"You need to have that bruise taken care of right away," Summer informed him as she let go of his hand. "It's really not looking good."

"So before this bruise, are you saying that I looked good?"

"Seth…"

"Okay, I'll stop talking now."

"That's a good one."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, a silent Seth Cohen is a walking contradiction."

"Ha… you're funny."

"Not as funny as you."

"So you admit that I'm funny."

"Funny looking."

They both looked at each other and just laughed. Maybe it was because it reminded them of the olden days when things were much simpler. Or maybe it was because for the first time in years, the ice between them was finally starting to melt.