A/N: Thanks for the supportive reviews. Since this is the first fic I've ever had the nerve to post, it feels good to know that people like it. Even if you don't, I'd love to hear from you. Also, I realized that I haven't put a disclaimer on this story, so in case y'all were under the delusion that I own The OC or any of it's characters, i.e. Ryan, Marissa, Seth, Summer, Luke, Julie, anyone else I might mention in later chapters, let me assure you that I could not even afford to rent them for an afternoon.
The nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach wouldn't go away. This was what he wanted, to take Macy out in public, to let the world know that she was his girlfriend. This was the night he had been waiting for – so why did he feel like he was going to throw up?
Oh, that's right – because Seth had warned him that Summer was on the war path and that this week's battle was going under the code name "Reunite the Fantastic Four." Dammit – why couldn't they leave it alone? He was happy now. Not that he hadn't been happy with Marissa - she was his first love, but he had Macy now, and there was no drama to speak of. She didn't need to be saved or coddled. She just needed him to be who he was and for him to let her be who she was. There was nothing complicated about Macy Campbell.
He didn't even bother knocking on the door when he got to her house, just let himself in with an "I'm late. I'm sorry."
She appeared in the doorway with a sly smile. "Hey, you."
As she sauntered toward him, Ryan tried frantically to scan his brain for the right word. "You look," he stopped and looked her over again. He had never seen her in a dress, let alone one that looked so expensive and sparkley. Her hair was all done up and curled, and she was wearing make up. His girlfriend never wore make up. "Wow."
She rolled her eyes, kissed him quickly and then turned to the kitchen table to retrieve her purse. "Wow, huh?" She turned back to him and leaned against one of the bar stools against the counter. "So when my father asks me tonight what it is I see in this boy from Chino, I think I'm going to have to go with your mastery of the English language."
He smiled sheepishly and lowered his head for a second. "I've just never seen you so," he still couldn't find the right word. "I don't know, Macy. Give me a second."
Grinning, she ran her hand over the silky fabric. "My mom bought it for me in Milan. I told her I would never wear something so fucking elaborate, but she insisted that I keep it."
"I'm glad you did," Ryan said finally, his confidence returning as he moved toward her and wrapped his arm around her waist. "You look really great."
She nodded and straightened his tie. "So do you, by the way. Really," she stopped and thought for a second, "I was gonna say "dapper," but "wow" seems more appropriate."
He kissed her as she smirked. "You ready to go?"
Nodding, Macy gripped her purse and followed him to the door. She was fiddling with the lock when she spoke again. "Can I ask you something?" He nodded. "Do you feel like you're gonna throw up right now? Because at first I was sure this feeling in my stomach was just guilt over the little sweat shop kid who had to poke himself countless times in the fingers while hand-beading this dress," she looked over herself as she secured the lock finally. "But if you've got it too, maybe it's just the thought of a Newport party."
He smirked as he opened her door. "I'd hate for you to be all riddled with sweat shop guilt," he slammed the door shut and ran around to the driver's side, taking her hand as he backed out of the drive. "But, yeah, I've had it, too."
The thought of warning her about the whole Seth/Summer situation passed through his mind, but she had already started talking about the prospect of getting Dashboard to play the Bait Shop, so he let it pass. Hopefully, Seth would be true to his word and talk Summer out of whatever plan she had concocted.
Who was he kidding? Someone was definitely gonna end up humiliated, devastated, bruised, or bloody by the end of the night.