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.
Against All Odds
Chapter 6 – Apology Accepted
Work. It can be a pain, but it certainly works in keeping your mind off certain things. For the past week, Seth has been working nonstop at the office, taking and making phone calls from several clients, as well as meeting with the company's executive board. He was taking a much bigger role than his grandfather had anticipated, but he needed to keep his mind off Summer, even if it meant high anxiety and stress.
"Jerry, for the last time, the Conseco job is a go," Seth yelled at the receiver. "How many times do we have to discuss this?"
Seth sighed as his frustration kept rising, and it wasn't even noon yet. He slammed the phone, lifting his hand to his forehead. He really needed to take a break. It was probably the tenth phone call within the last two hours. If the phone rings one more time…
"Seth Cohen speaking," he said, keeping his aggravation in check. "No, Craig, we don't have a month to prepare. The project is set in a week, and if we don't begin by then, we are going to lose the Stanley-Myers Corporation, and Caleb is not going to be a happy camper… No, I don't care what Martinez said… Call him and tell him that we need to get moving in a week, and if he still doesn't get it, tell him that his job is at stake."
Seth paused when Craig told him that Martinez wants a word with him. He knew that he was about to get an earful, but it was his job and as Caleb had told him many times before, "It comes with the territory."
"Yes, that was a threat… You should be lucky that I'm not Caleb, because you're ass would surely have been fired right now… I'll go to hell later, but right now, we need to get this job done… Yes, I said we, as in we work as a team… Do we have an understanding…? I don't think Caleb would appreciate those words… I'll talk to you later."
He let out a huge sigh once again, but this time, he slowly put the phone down and sank into his chair. He leaned on the table, his hands now digging into his hair. As he looked up, about three stacks of paper were waiting for him: one for new projects and developments, one for media related affairs, and one for charity work. As he reached for a stack, the phone rang once again.
"Seth Cohen speaking… Hey grandpa… Yes, I had that taken care of… What about Harrison…? Two months…? We already have three right now… I know I said… This is my fault now…? Okay, okay, I won't argue… I understand… Take care."
He couldn't hold in his frustration anymore, slamming the phone down and throwing it off his desk.
"Dammit!" Seth cursed, taking whatever he could grab and throwing them across the room. "Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!"
He loosened his tie and threw it with vigor on the desk. He hadn't had a temper tantrum in a while, but on this particular occasion, it was probably long overdue. He took a moment to gather himself, but only after he looked up did he find out that he had an audience.
"This is a bad time. I shouldn't have come."
"No, Summer, wait," he called out as she proceeded to leave. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you there."
"The woman at the front desk told me that I could come in."
"Well, you can come in," Seth managed to say. "I just didn't know that you were coming, that's all."
Seth looked around, fumbling around with whatever he could get his hands on. He was completely embarrassed at the outburst that he just had, and more so that she of all people witnessed it. He looked up to see her watching him, waiting for some sort of explanation or maybe waiting for him to excuse her.
"I'm really sorry you had to witness that," Seth tried to explain. "I was just, um, really frustrated, and I… I didn't know what got over me. I really wish you hadn't seen it, but unfortunately, you did."
Before she had a chance to respond, Seth bent down to get the phone and replaced it on the desk. He gave Summer a glance before bending down once more to pick up the pieces of paper and pencils on the floor. It was truly an uncomfortable situation.
"Here you go."
Seth got up, wondering how she got from thirty to five feet from him. He looked at the picture frame in her hand. It was the one with his parents. He didn't know if he was the one who threw it or if it was just a victim of him outburst. He grabbed the frame from her without saying a word.
"You should really take a seat," Summer told him. "You don't look too good."
Seth let out a chuckle. She had only been there for a couple of minutes, and yet she was already trying to take care of him. He gave her a weak smile and sat down on his chair, while Summer propped herself up on his desk. Neither of them really said anything. He was actually grateful for it as it gave him a chance to settle down. He looked at the picture of his parents. If only they could see him now.
"My parents must be really proud of me right now."
"To be perfectly honest, that wasn't one of your proudest moments."
"I didn't think so either."
"Are you okay, Cohen?"
"I don't know," Seth told her. "My life is just so messed up right now."
"Your eye is looking better though," Summer said, waiting for some kind of reaction from him. "I guess you're wondering what I'm doing here."
"Actually, I think I know why you're here," he said, finally putting the frame back in its place.
"You do?"
"Our last meeting didn't actually end on a high note," Seth explained. "Anyway, I don't know what got to me that night. I guess I was hit a lot harder than I thought. I really just want to apologize for all the stuff that I said to you. I mean, of course you were… are my friend. I was just being a total jerk. I don't know. Maybe deep down I wanted to hurt you as much as…"
"I hurt you," Summer finished for him. "Well, mission accomplished. It worked."
"I didn't mean to hurt you," Seth defended himself, getting up from the chair. "Don't make me out as the bad guy here. I'm trying to apologize, and you're just…"
"Before you say anything that you may regret later, I just want say that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything that I said the other night. I'm sorry for disregarding your feelings. I'm sorry for letting you down. I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry for not being there for you when your parents died. I'm sorry for shutting you out of my life. I'm sorry… I'm just… I'm so sorry…"
By now, Summer was in tears, breaking down right in front of him. Once again, the very feeling that he felt after the incident a week ago started to come back. This time, however, he didn't walk away. Without thinking of the consequences of his actions, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into an embrace, thankful that she did not push him away. He lightly ran his hand on her back, whispering consoling words to calm her down.
"I'm really sorry, Cohen," she finally spoke up.
"Enough with the apologies already," he said. "But if it makes you feel any better, I accept your apology."
Summer smiled as she pulled away from him, wiping off the tears on her face. He always had a calming effect on her. Being in his arms was like a safe place; a special haven that she shared only with him.
"In that case, I accept your apology as well."
"Well, that makes me feel a lot better, considering your apology was so much better than mine."
"I can't believe I just broke down like that."
"Hey, at least you didn't make a mess like I did," Seth said before looking down at his tear-stained shirt. "Except for my shirt though."
"Ew! Cohen, you have like make-up and tears on your shirt."
"Your make-up and tears in case you've forgotten."
"Well, yeah, but still… Did I really do all of that?"
"Don't worry about it," Seth assured her. "That's what friends are for."
"Friends," Summer repeated.
"We are friends, right?"
"Of course," Summer gave him a smile. "Good friends."
"Best friends."
"Don't push it."
"Oh, right, I'm not Marissa," Seth joked. "That would mean that I'd have Julie as my mom, and I'd have to be sleeping with Ryan. Man, that would be disgusting, because Ryan is practically my brother, and then that would be just a nasty picture right there."
"Ew! Cohen, that was so not a cool image to be putting in my head."
"You? What about me?"
"Let's just forget this conversation ever happened."
"Which part? All of it?"
"No, just the disgusting portion that you added in the end."
"Can we forget about my tantrum as well?"
"No, sorry, that you can't take back."
"I had to try."
"So are you really okay?"
"I'll be fine. The stress is just getting to me, you know. I've buried myself in all this work, and I just can't seem to handle all the pressure. Caleb is not so happy with me right now."
"You should really take it easy."
"I know. I mean, that was the reason why I came here in the first place. Actually, I was ordered to leave Newport now that I think about it."
"You did get wasted again."
"What?"
"Well, Marissa didn't tell me, but I know that you get a little drunk on the anniversary of your parents' death."
"Only that day though. I don't need to go to any AA meetings."
"You still need to stop it, and before you get angry, I'm not trying to judge you or anything. It's just that I know it worries the hell out of Ryan, Coop, and well, even me."
"You?"
"Contrary to popular belief, I do think and care and worry about you sometimes. I mean, all of my friends in general."
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"For saying what you just did," he told her, his tone growing serious. "It really means a lot."
"Well, don't get all sentimental on me now."
"I can't help it."
"You're such a girl, Cohen."
"I'm at a moment of vulnerability here, and all you can do is emasculate me."
"It's really weird seeing you in these clothes nowadays," she changed the topic.
"Why is that?"
"It's just not what the Cohen that I used to know would wear. You just look more mature now, that's all."
"Well, like you said, we are not in high school anymore. Wait a minute… Did you just call me immature?"
"You said it," Summer smiled at him. "It's kind of sad, isn't it?"
"What is?"
"That you can't stay in high school forever."
"Well, I wasn't really a big fan of being a complete dork and being picked on by the jocks."
"I know it wasn't perfect, but it was certainly the best time of my life."
"For what it's worth, I echo your sentiments."
Summer looked at her watch and jumped off the desk.
"I have to go," Summer said. "Do I look okay?"
"Stunning, although you might want to fix your make-up."
"I knew that."
"Where are you going?"
"My lunch break is over."
"Oh, did you miss lunch?"
"No, I ate before coming here."
"You had it all planned, I see."
"I can't really afford not to plan ahead these days."
"Can I call you?"
"What?"
"You know, to hang out and stuff."
"Actually, what are you doing tonight?"
"Tonight, let's see… Absolutely nothing."
"Then meet me at Broadway at six o'clock."
"Broadway?" Seth said. "You know I don't sing and dance."
"We're watching a show, you dork."
"I don't have tickets."
"It's my treat."
"So is it like a date?"
"I prefer to call it a rendezvous among friends," Summer said. "I'm going to educate you on the finer side of New York, and your education begins tonight."
"A Broadway show?"
"Hey, if you don't want to come…"
"I'd love to come."
"Be there, and please don't be late."
"I won't be late. In fact, I'll be early."
"I'll see you tonight," Summer flashed him a smile. "And lose the props. You look a lot better without them."
Before he could respond, Summer walked out of his office. He didn't know what just happened, and he certainly couldn't explain it. He lifted his hand, removing the spectacles of his face. Things were certainly getting better, and to think that he thought it could only get worse. Taking a seat again, he tossed his glasses aside.
"I think it's about time to give those contact lenses a try," he smiled, pleased with himself.
