Sorry this took so long, but I've been really busy lately. As always, to my despair I own nothing. (Oh, and the QuickEdit is being uncooperative, so I pre-apologize for the paragraph structure.)
CHAPTER 4: Careful
Seth was nervous. He had his apology ready, all wrapped up in somber blue paper and aribbon. He had his speech written down and safely tucked in his pocket. And yet he remained
anxious.
Sitting at his study table, he eyed Anna and Summer across the room. They were
laughing and seemed to be having a spectacular time. Summer caught his eye for a brief moment,
still laughing. Was it just him, or was she now laughing harder? She was definitely louder... and
definitely laughing at him. Maybe this wasn't even worth it, he thought, shifting his gaze to the
gifts in his shoulder bag. He should just forget it. No.
Seth stood up (with an amazing amount of effort) and strode over to the girls. Well,
'strode' wasn't quite the word for it. 'Treaded slowly' would be more fitting. Forcing bile
down his throat, he took the final step to the table.
Neither girl looked up. Apparently, they were quite interested in their textbooks. Seth
opened his mouth to say something, but all that came out was a noise not unlike that of a
strangled fish. Or anything strangled, really.
Despite this odd announcement, both girls continued to immerse themselves in
knowledge. Eventually Seth, realizing he couldn't simply stand there in silence forever, forced his
jaws open. "Um," he began. Four eyes met his, then were gone. "I'm sorry. These are for you."
He placed the gifts on the table. "Both of you." Pause. "I, uh, I wouldn't be surprised if you
threw them out. But at least open them, before you decide to chuck them, please?" His voice
was sounding far more earnest than he had intended. So much for the speech.
Seth turned and returned to his table, pretending to read. In reality, he was peeking
over the edge of his book. Anna and Summer were studying the gifts silently. Then, as if they
had planned it, they both picked up their gift and slid it into their respective bags.
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Anna opened the small flat package later that night. It was.... a CD. A CD? A CD?? A
blank CD.
Opening the jewel case, she noticed writing on the disc. Seth's block lettering in
purple Sharpie. "For Anna: A Sincere Apology from Seth Cohen." Below was the instruction
to be put in the computer.
The CD-ROM drive slid open and Anna placed the disc in, closing the drive with the
hit of a button. Immediately a window popped up on the computer screen - Windows Media
Player. Seth's face appeared onscreen, looking serious. He began to speak; apparently he had
taped himself in his bedroom apologizing.
"I'm sorry," he spoke, a speech bubble surfacing next to his mouth and showing the
words as they were said, comic-style. "I'm a terrible person for doing what I did, and I don't
deserve to be forgiven. I tricked both you and Summer. I don't deserve kisses from either of
you. From now on, I promise to try and keep my mouth as far away from you as physically
possible. My lips will never touch either of you again if that is what you wish." Anna was smiling
now. Typical Seth; he couldn't even apologize without cracking a joke. "And, believe me, I will
even keep my lips away from Captain Oats. Never again, Anna. Never again will I besmirch his
- or your - good name. I promise you that." The screen went black.
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Summer strode up to Seth the next day, waving around an all-too-familiar jewel case. "Very
cute, Cohen." Seth turned around to face Summer, unsure as always as to her meaning. No
hello, nothing. Just a 'very cute, Cohen.' Was that a good thing? He tugged at his lapel,
suddenly feeling claustrophobic.
"Hey," he replied, voice rising squeakily. Summer was looking
particularly tough today. She grinned knowingly. Summer hit him on the arm. "I wanted to say I
accept your apology."
"Ow," he responded, rubbing his arm defensively.
"Well, that's what you get! But I accept," she added, softer, taking a
step closer. Their eyes were now centimeters away, far too close for Seth's liking. Anna's voice
came from behind him. "Hey, I - actually, I'm gonna go."
Seth spun around. "Anna, wait. What's up?" he asked, attempting to appear casual.
"I accept your apology. Hi Summer." Clearly Anna didn't want to disrupt anything, turning
to leave.
"Anna. Stay. I have something else to say to you guys. Or, girls. Both of you."
The two girls looked at Seth intently. "Okay. Here goes." Bobbing his head, he scratched the
back of his neck. "Okay.
"Both of you are wonderful, amazing people, and I don't want to hurt either of you.
But I would like to continue to hang out, because you're both so great. So I think that the three
of us should just be friends. Maybe? Is that cool?" His eyes darted back and forth nervously.
Anna nodded.
"Yeah, cool." That's not cool! her mind cried out. It's fine, Anna told her brain.
I'd rather be just friends with Seth than not know him at all.
"Sure, Cohen," threw in a brazen Summer. Stupid Cohen. Has to always come up
with a reasonable, safe answer, doesn't he? Does he always have to think with his brain
and not his heart? Summer's brain pointed out that was a cliché. I don't care, she mentally
retorted.
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"Silence," Mademoiselle Foncé called. No response. "FERMEZ VOTRE BOUCHE!"
That shut them up quick. "Today we are going to split into paires," she began, satisfied that the
class was watching fearfully. "Vous et votre associ are going to work on pages 72-80 in le
livre until..." Pausing, she snuck a glance at the clock. 10:27. "Until about 11:00. If you finish
early, do whatever." She waved a hand unconcernedly. "Now, to assign your partners...."
Three minutes later Seth plopped in the seat behind Ramona. "Hey," he smiled.
Turning to face him, she grinned back.
"Hi. How are things?"
"Good. How are things with you? How are you faring with all the pillars around
campus?"
"Shut up. Still think Wolverine is better than Storm?"
"The man has foot-long claws! Of course he is!"
"Shouldn't you be working?" The icy tone of Mademoiselle rang shrilly behind them.
"Yes, madame," Seth answered smoothly, shifting to face the teacher and plastering
on a polite smile. "I was simply reacquainting myself with Ramona here." His smile was a brilliant
white. "Now we will officially begin working," he added, nodding resolutely.
Mademoiselle seemed to be wavering. Probably from the smile. "All right," she
spoke slowly. "But get to work."
Watching the teacher stride away, Seth grinned. "Wow," said Ramona, unduly
awed. "Impressive. Very Mr. Smooth."
"Yeah, I like to think of myself that way." What a blatant stinking lie.
Ramona noticed Mademoiselle out of the corner of her eye. "She's watching us,"
she whispered. "I guess we'd better get to work."
"Yeah. So... page 72..."