I Can't Stand the Way the World Feels

Takes place right after Zach returns from Italy. This is Seth dealing with his insecurities about his relationship with Summer. Slightly AU. Seth/Summer. The title of this story is taken from the Armor for Sleep song Walking at Night, Alone.

Disclaimer: I do not own or mean any infringement on the O.C. and its characters. It does not belong to me.
Seth ambled down the busy hallway of Harbor it was early still and he was still feeling the late night effects of playing that one last Playstation2 game with Ryan. Frankly, he was feeling quite tired and was ready to go home and chill. Then the Zachbot appeared. Seth felt the cold feeling in his stomach suddenly grip him and showed no signs of letting go.

"Um…Hey Zach," Seth managed to choke out. Great this is not awkward at all. I mean why should it be, I mean Summer only left him at the airport in front of his family for me.

"Hey man," The Zachbot managed to sound very enthused as his slapped Seth's hand in a friendly greeting.

"How was Italy? I never thought you were gonna come back man." A smiled lingered on his lips as he thought how amusing it was that unlike Anna, Luke and Lindsey, the Zachbot was returning to Newport after leaving.

After he actually listened to all the details of Zach's great trip and his hot new girlfriend Francesca, Seth escaped to class. Whew that was weird...something is defintely odd about the Zachbot, he seemed almost too happy. Oh well.Seth sighed as he headed out to lunch. He wondered if Summer knew that Zach was back. A silent fear crept inside him that she might leave him. He tried despartely to push this negavtive thoughts away. I mean it was hard to compete with the guy, he was the WASP version of himself, only more secure, confident and did he mention perfect. As far as he knew the Zachbot never messed up. He always said the right thing. It did not make sense how a guy could be so perfect.

"Earth to Cohen!" The sharpness of the words cut him out of his daydream as he was brought back to reality. "Is theres something in my teeth than why are you staring?"

"Um...hey my dearest Summer," he replied in greeting. "Hey Ryan...Marissa."

"What's up?" Ryan said in his typical what is best said is said in the fewest words act.

"Not too much, except I just ran into Zach in the hallway. He was looking very robust, he hair even looked shiner and even more floppy if that was possible..." Seth rambled on, all the while nervously wringing his hands. He glanced over to Summer to see her reaction to the news. She wasn't looking at him and he did not know if that was a good sign or a bad sign.

"So...Zach is back, did he say anything about how his trip was Cohen?" Summer looked at him finally and he was not sure what she was fishing for or how he should answer.

"He said that it was great. The best vacation of his life, in fact he said that he had an incredible awesome good time, " Seth replied cautiously.

"Oh," was all Summer said and a Seth was not sure but he could swear that he saw a small frown cross her face. He felt that feeling in his stomach become stronger. Seth gulped nervously as he attempted a weak smile. No one seemed to notice the awkwardness let alone his rather quiet demeanor.

"Coop, you want to come to the bathroom with me?" Summer asked but proceeded to grab Marissa's elbow and drag her from the table and from staring into Ryan's eyes. "Um...sure Sum." Marissa said slowly, but shrugged her shoulders at Seth's and Ryan's questioning looks.

"Soo...Summer, what is up with you, dragging me to the bathroom," Marissa questioned as she tucked her hair behind her ear. "I mean you have been acting kinda weird ever since...well like now."

"I know Coop," Summer sighed as she gave Marissa her best forgive me smile. "It is just now that Zach is back, things are gonna be like 10 times the degrees of awkwardness than it was before I left him at the airport with his family. I...don't like know what to do. I think I am gonna have one of those...panic attacks. OH MY GOSH I can't breathe. I CAN'T BREATHE!.

"Summer, SUMMER! Calm down. Deep breathes. I am sure it is gonna be fine," Marissa said, as she tried her best to console her antsy best friend. "I mean you might not even have to talk to him. Harbor is a big enough school, maybe you won't run into him until tomorrow or something, you know then you can be prepared to talk to him."

"Hm...I like that way of thinking Cooper." Summer pursed her lips together, and grinned. "Okay, let's go find those boys. I am starving, I didn't finish my lunch yet."

Meanwhile...

"I wonder what is taking them so long...I mean seriously, how long does it take a girl to pee," Seth wondered as he tried to act nonchalant about the wearabouts of his girlfriend and his brother's sorta girlfriend.

"Dude, I am sure it is gonna be fine," Ryan finally replied.

"What do you mean it is gonna be fine, there is no problem here, I mean why would there be a problem. Summer's perfect non-Jewish, son of a congresssman, captain of the water polo team ex-boyfriend," Seth droned on.." Did I mention that he is into comic books!"

"Bro, you're doing it again..."Ryan warningly.

"Doing what?" Seth said in his best innocent voice.

"Hey Cohen, Ryan." An all too familiar and excited voice suddenly announced.

"Um...hey Zach," squeaked out Seth. As Ryan just nodded his head in lieu of proper greeting. Seth squirmed in his chair, knowing all too well that the girls were due back any second.

AN: Okay so that was pretty short, sorry. I've never written anything like this before, so sorry if it is just really bland and boring. But hey, I was looking for a story like this and since I could not find one, I decided to write one on my own. But if you guys do not think the idea is worth continuing then hey no hard feelings. So leave a review that would be just neat. Um...okay that's all. I apologize for any errors in spelling or any typos, I tried to catch them all.