FOLLOWING WEEK MONDAY MORNING, SUMMER'S OFFICE

Summer's mobile phone rang. Again.

She pulled it out her bag and flipped it open only to see it was the same person calling for the second time that morning, and probably the millionth time that weekend, or so it seemed to her.

"God, can he not take a hint?" Summer moaned as she rejected the call.

A minute later her message alert tone brought her attention to yet another voice mail.

It's not that she didn't want to speak to him; it's just that she didn't know what to say… how to express what she was feeling. She knew she couldn't go through with it, and needed to suppress those feelings, but Ryan calling all the time wasn't helping.

SETH & RYAN'S PLACE

Ryan closed his phone for the second time that morning, and probably the millionth time that weekend, or so it seemed to him.

"Why won't she answer?" He thought to himself.

He knew he had to speak to her about what happened the other day. Their near kiss had left him confused. He cannot love Summer… He knew that it would not be possible for him and her to get together, but he needed to talk about it.

Ryan Atwood talk? Normally one would say he was the strong, silent type, but this was something that would not go away with the silent treatment. He was angry with himself for feeling this way. How could he even entertain the idea; the hurt it would cause Seth would be immeasurable. He sat back on the couch wondering what to do next.

Just then the doorbell rang.

He put the phone down on the side table, got up and opened the door.

"Hey Ryan."

"Kirsten… hey." Ryan was surprised to see her, as he stood aside to let her in.

"Like some coffee?" Ryan offered politely.

"No thanks, I can't stay long…"

Ryan and Kirsten sat down in the living room.

"So I went around to your office, but it was shut."

"Well, ACT is pretty much seen its days… no point in going in really."

Kirsten handed him an envelope.

"What's this?" Ryan accepted the envelope and began to open it. He took the contents out, unfolded it, and started reading.

"What… what's this all about?" Ryan asked again, this time in unbelief.

"It's an investment offer."

"I see that," Ryan said actually not quite believing his eyes. "But… I don't know if I can…"

"Sure you can. The Newport Group would be proud to put their name on your legal papers." Kirsten smiled.

Ryan frowned. "I… Can I think about this?"

Kirsten was a bit surprised that Ryan was not more excited about it. She almost expected him to want to sign it immediately.

"Is there something wrong?"

"No! No. It's just… I'd like to read it over, you know?" Ryan was hunting for excuses.

"Oh, yeah, sure. It would be irresponsible of you to do otherwise." Kirsten replied, but could tell there was something more in this than he was letting on.

They just sat there for a while almost in awkward silence.

Eventually Kirsten stood up, Ryan stood up too.

"Ok, so I have to be going, but I hope to be able to file the signed copy of that agreement by the end of the week." Kirsten said half smiling.

Ryan walked to the door and opened it for her.

Kirsten left, and Ryan closed the door behind her. He turned and leant up against it.

It wasn't that he didn't want to accept the offer, in fact he was pretty excited about it, but that excitement was short-lived as he remembered his brother. It would be strange running the company by himself, not having Trey around to bounce ideas off of, walking in to the office each day knowing that Trey's office would be vacant. He wasn't sure if he could handle that at this stage.

MARISSA'S OFFICE

Marissa was sitting at her desk looking through some papers of up coming events that she would be organizing.

"Oh man, I gotta go to Chicago week after next." Marissa thought out aloud.

"Well, its not all that bad… doesn't Oprah live there?"

Marissa looked up to see a tall, thin, curly haired guy standing in her doorway.

"Seth. You're in my office…" Marissa was a little shocked. "Who's trying to sue me?"

"Actually, I'm here in my social capacity…"

"Go on…" Marissa gestured for Seth to take a seat.

"You know Ryan and Summer have been through a lot lately and I was wondering… we should do something for them…"

"That's a good idea… what you got in mind?"

"Nothing! That's why I'm here! I just instigate... provide platform from which ideas can flow… creativity can be birthed… you're the events organizer… organize!"

Marissa mused for a moment. "So when do you want to do this?"

"Tonight."

"Tonight! I can't pull off anything that quick!"

"Doesn't have to be anything big… I was thinking of something more… small and effective."

Marissa sat back in her chair thinking. So did Seth. They just sat like that for a while.

"Ok, got it!" Marissa said snapping her fingers.

"You do? What?"

"You just make sure that they are free tonight, and I'll do the rest... Oh, and do you still know how to work a grille?"

"Uh, yeah!"

"Ok good, bring those skills with you."

NEWPORT BEACH, 6:30PM

The sun was just beginning to set over Newport, coloring the sky with awesome shades or white, pink and blue. The excited shouts of Harbor High's football team practicing on the beach could be heard in the distance to the backdrop of waves crashing along the shore.

"So, what is this all about, Seth?" Ryan asked as Seth's BMW pulled up to the parking lot in front of the beach. Ryan really wasn't feeling up to any surprises.

"Honestly bro, I have no idea. Marissa just told me to get here and bring you with… Which, thinking about it, kinda makes you sound like my date… but you aren't, so you don't have to worry about THAT… not that you'd make a bad date… or a good one… well, for me, or…"

"Seth! Shut up!"

"Ok, choc full of quite…"

Ryan just gave Seth a sideways look.

Just then Marissa and Summer pulled up in a Summer's new Mustang that she had bought after pawning off the engagement ring. Actually, it was a kinda old, second hand Mustang, but a Mustang still the same.

"So what is this all about, Coop, because I'm not really up for surprises…"

"You'll see…"

"GOD! Do you not listen to me…? I said NO surprises!"

Summer and Marissa climbed out the car and walked over to Ryan and Seth. Summer and Ryan shared awkward greetings and then the foursome walked down the walkway to a paved area with a built-in grille.

"Ta-da!" Seth triumphantly raised his hands and motioned them towards the grilling area.

"Seth, it's a grille." Ryan said apathetically.

"Ah, to some, but to me, it is an opportunity for a gourmet meal." And with that Seth opened the cooler box he had been carrying with him.

"Ok you guys, what's this all about?" Summer enquired.

"Well… We got thinking that you guys have had a lot happen lately, and it would be nice to just get out and enjoy the evening…" Marissa explained. She put her hand in the cooler, and pulled out a bottle of wine. "And what's a picnic without a little of this?"

Marissa poured for everyone as they sat down on chairs supplied and just enjoyed the evening as the sun was setting.

As the evening wore on, the surrounding lights started to slowly light up. Seth was grilling away, and Marissa was happily assisting him with spicing and marinating the meat. Summer and Ryan were sitting on a bench just a bit off.

"So… how was your day?" Ryan asked Summer.

"Good." Summer responded back. It was pretty much the most they had said to each other the entire day.

"Ok, glad we had this chance to catch up." Ryan replied sarcastically.

"OK YOU GUYS! DINNER'S READY!" Seth yelled from the grille.

The four friends grabbed some hamburgers and hotdogs and sat down to eat. Summer and Ryan were particularly quiet as they ate.

"Hey, why don't we take a walk along the beach?" Marissa suggested.

"Actually… I'm a little tired…" Summer replied.

"Yeah, I think…"

"Ah, come on you guys, it'll be fun."

Reluctantly they gave in, and the foursome headed down the beach. It was a darkish night, and the beach was lit only by surround far-off street lights, and the half-moon.

"Hey isn't this… um… can't quite put my finger on it… conniving b1tch who banged Luke while you two were still going out?" Summer said to Marissa pointing towards a beach house.

"You mean Holly…" Marissa replied laughing. "Yeah, I think this is her place."

"Hey dude… this is the same stretch of beach that you got in your first OC fight!" Seth indicated.

"Yeah. I remember." Ryan replied. "I think it was also the first place I met you Summer, wasn't it?"

"Uh.. no… I don't remember…"

"Yeah, you still spilt your drink all over him!" Seth offered.

Summer half smiled sarcastically. "Oh… yeah… tripped over that damn fat guy lying on the floor!"

"Actually, Sum, weren't you flirting?" Marissa said laughing.

"Yeah, I was so upset about that!" Seth added remembering.

"Imagine how different things would have been had the two of you got together." Marissa said pondering.

"Yeah, the four of us probably would never have become such good friends…" Seth added to the thought.

"Okaaayyy… hey… isn't it getting a little cold out here!" Summer said nervously trying to change the subject as she looked over at Ryan.

"I actually am feeling a little chilled." Marissa agreed. "Wanna head back?"

"Would like nothing better." Summer was all too enthusiastic.

Summer quickly ran up to Seth and grabbed hold of his arm and pulled herself close to him.

"Hold me, I'm freezing!" She said to Seth as she shot a glace back at Ryan, who was now walking alongside Marissa. Seth was taken by surprise, but clearly happy as he also looked back at Ryan and with one hand behind his back, gave Ryan a thumbs-up. Ryan just half-smiled at Seth and returned his thumbs up.