Disclaimer: I own nothing, with the exceptions of a few original characters.
Summary: After pining for Summer for entirely all his life, Seth gets a chance when she asks something of him. But will her proposition be exactly what he wants to hear—or worse? SS.
Author's Note: To clear up a few things, Monica/hebrewhernia, the opening lyrics in the first chapter are from "Run Run Run" by Phoenix. The song Seth listens to when he's changing is "Love of the Loveless" by The Eels. And to everyone else, thank you for your comments and opinions! I certainly value all of them.
"We don't go breaking down
I feel like nothing ever will,
We don't go breaking down
I feel like nothing."
History class was just so boring.
Summer never really understood the whole meaning behind taking History. To her, it was a complete waste of an hour. Why learn about things that happened years and years before? It had happened, time to move on. She groaned as she looked at the clock. 10:32 AM. Twenty-eight more minutes to go.
There was only one thing Summer loved about the class and that was the gorgeous male sitting three seats away from her. She stared at the back of his head, biting on her lower lip. Summer had no idea why Devon was still on the market; he was popular, handsome, and surprisingly, very friendly. He had many friends, was captain of the football team. So, why was he still single?
Summer had spent days trying to come up with the best plan to enrapture Devon. Notes upon notes were scribbled in her binder about her next moves, what she should say and do. So far she had nothing good enough that she wanted to take into consideration. Her time and her patience were wearing thin. But she was now more determined than ever to make him her prize.
"Miss Roberts, will you please answer my question." Ms. Yi's voice reached Summer's ears and she lifted her eyes to the front of the room where the teacher stood. Ms. Yi sat at her desk, her gaze transfixed on Summer as she drummed her fingernails on the table.
"Can you repeat that question please?" asked Summer. She rolled her eyes and sighed before resting her chin on her hand.
Ms. Yi looked Summer straight in the eyes. "What was the Female Moral Reform Society?" she asked through gritted teeth.
Summer bit her lip. "You know what, I have no idea." She leaned back into her chair. "And I find this class to be a complete waste of time. So excuse me while I powder my nose." She reached down into her tote bag and retrieved a miniature compact, all the while laughter arose from the rest of the class.
Ms. Yi did not find anything to be funny. "See me after class, Summer."
The bell that indicated the end of third period rang and hoards of students exited their classes to go to fourth. Seth slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked out of Trigonometry. He had forgotten to retrieve the extra credit assignment from Ms. Yi's history class and pushed and shoved his way through the hallway to make it to her class.
Ms. Yi's booming voice could be heard from outside her door and slowly Seth walked into her classroom. The teacher appeared to be scolding someone and moving his eyes, Seth was shocked to find that person to be none other than Summer.
"I think you should reconsider your attitude, Summer. I--" Ms. Yi was startled to find that a student had entered her classroom and she made a slight nod of her head when she realized it was Seth Cohen. "Yes, Mr. Cohen?" she asked him from behind her desk.
Seth felt two pairs of females' eyes on him and he suddenly felt very uncomfortable. "Um, I just came by to get the extra credit assignment. I forgot to retrieve it this morning." Ms. Yi nodded her head and reached for a stack of papers on her desk.
Seth felt Summer's eyes on him, studying him and he lowered his eyes to the ground. He prayed that she couldn't tell his cheeks were flushing and that his throat was becoming dry.
"Ah, here we are." Ms. Yi handed Seth the papers and then turned to Summer. "Well, I think you got what I was saying. You're dismissed."
Summer reached down, murmuring to herself, and obtained her tote. She made note that Seth was exiting the classroom and for a reason unknown, she quickly gathered all her things and rushed out the room to find him.
"Stanley!" she called out.
Seth halted his walking and turned around. His face was crinkled in confusion. 'Me?' he pointed to himself. Summer felt herself smile and nodded, walking to him.
"Stanley, right?" she asked him. Seth felt his mouth go entirely dry and he nodded his head. A second later, he shook it.
Summer made a face and felt her eyebrows lower in confusion. "Not Stanley?" Seth shook his head no.
"Seth. My name's Seth. Seth Cohen," he squeaked. Summer gave him an embarrassed smile.
"Sorry," she said. Seth shrugged. Silence trudged on and the two stood awkwardly in the hall. Seth couldn't believe Summer Roberts was actually talking to him.
Summer cleared her throat and pointed to the direction of a nearby door. "So, is that your next class?" she asked. Seth nodded.
Summer had to raise her head higher to look Seth in the eyes. She had never realized how tall he was compared to her. "Do you have Devon Rockglen in your class?"
Seth felt a frown adorn his face. "Yeah, he is," he told her. 'Why does it matter if he's in my class?' he thought.
Summer immediately felt like a little girl with an enormous crush. She looked down in small embarrassment. Seth stared at her in a mix of both awe and confusion. For him, it felt like the hallway was moving a mile a minute, but he and Summer were glued to their spots and never moved at all.
"Do you mind doing me a favor…Seth?" asked Summer. Her eyes were horribly hopeful and Seth found himself quickly nodding.
"Anything."
Summer felt overwhelmed by Seth's words and looked at him, her eyes clouded with confusion and silent adoration.
"I need you to help me get with him."
Seth felt his eyes go wide and his heart rip in thousands and thousands of pieces. His head felt light and his palms grew cold and sweaty. His breathing grew haggard, his face white, and he looked at Summer with an ultimately dire blank stare.
'I need you to help me get with him.'
Who knew that nine simple words had the ability to crush his very core? Summer was asking him to help her hook up with some guy! Some macho, captain-of-the-football-team guy in his Physics class. The Summer who was his love ever since the third grade, the Summer whom he dreamed of every other night; she was actually pleading for him to get her a date with this boy!
As he looked into her large, pleading brown eyes, Seth felt his resonance dissolve and defeated, he nodded. He knew that Summer held his life by a string and saying no to her request would only result him in a crushed Summer and an even more disastrous Seth Cohen.
"What do you want me to do?" he whispered. His voice was haggard, but Summer seemed to think less of it.
Summer seemed enthused at his acceptance and she spoke with a brighter tone. Her hands moved animatedly as she tried to come up with an answer to Seth's question. "Um, I don't know. Get to know him. Fill me in on what he likes, what he does when he's bored. Boxers or briefs--I don't know. Just think of something. Report back me to me. You know, all that good stuff." She smiled up at Seth and he felt his broken heart warm, just for a second.
"Thanks so much, Cohen." Another smile. Another warmth. "Well, I gotta go to English. I'll talk to you later then." She waved at him as she left and Seth stood alone in the hallway. The final bell rang and he sighed as he walked a few more steps and into his classroom.