A/N: Sorry it took me a few days to update, guys. I'm sharing a computer with my roommate right now, so my time online is limited. I promise to get a couple more chapters up as soon as I can, though. Thanks for the reviews in the mean time. You know I love a good ego stroke now and then. Oh, and Abby? Sorry I used your name, Chick! I have a really good friend named Kendrick, and he loves to read my stories (I think he loves Seth Cohen more than anyone)- and he has a horrible Mohawk, so I was just trying to get through to him in the most blatantly obvious way possible. No offense intended!

The Bait Shop wasn't known for "dance" bands. It was known for hip, indie bands who were unsigned, and cooler because of it. So Seth couldn't figure out why tonight, of all nights, there was some deejay, dressed as Santa Claus, spinning techno Christmas tunes. Was it only because Summer had a date? Was it so that the two of them could plaster themselves at the groin and make Seth nauseous? Because that's how it felt to him.

"Why are you just sitting here?" Ryan asked finally.

Seth threw a glance to his friend and then returned his stare to the dance floor – to Summer. "Why are you?" he asked, distractedly. And then he nodded and turned his full attention to Ryan, a beaming smile of mischief on his face. That smile always made Ryan's heart sink. "Oh, that's right. Because you don't dance." He pointed in the opposite direction of his former obsession and waited for Ryan's eyes to follow.

Letting his blue gaze fall on Marissa, bumping and grinding with Krista, he smiled. "What?" he shrugged. He knew what Seth was doing, because it was the same thing Seth always did when he didn't want to talk about how immature and childish he was being. He tried to change the subject. "It's kinda hot, right?" Ryan prodded.

But Seth leaned forward and tapped the table, looking towardKendrick and Summer and then forcing his focus back to his current companion. "That is your girlfriend out there, Ryan. Your girlfriend who, if I remember correctly, is not altogether uncomfortable, or unfamiliar, with skinny dips in the Pool of Forbidden Love. And she is dancing with a woman, my friend, who would not hesitate to jam her tongue down the throat of the aforementioned ex-lesbian girlfriend, audience or not." Seth raised and eyebrow and waited for a reaction.

Ryan looked to Krista, who's hand was firmly on Marissa's waist, laughing as a nearby group of hormonal frat boys urged the dancing couple into more sultry movements. "Is Krista. . .?" he let the question dangle in the air.

"No," Seth answered what he hadn't asked. "She is experimental." He turned his attention back to Summer. "That is to say, she will kiss anything with lips," he explained.

At the end of the song, Summer broke away from her dance partner and dragged Marissa toward the bathrooms. Krista and Kendrick both found their ways back to the table and dropped into two empty chairs on either side of the boys. "It's so hot out there," Krista sighed, taking Seth's juice cocktail and chugging half.

"I thought it was just the company," Kendrick laughed, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Listen, I know you guys were all looking forward to this big, group hang tonight," he started, his eyes darting toward the bathroom and then back. "But I was thinking about getting' Summer out of here, ya know?" He winked, and the other three at the table all cringed inwardly. "We haven't seen each other in a couple of weeks, and I got some catching up to do."

It is none of your business, Seth reminded himself as he plastered on a smile and nodded. "That would be great, Ken," he lied through his teeth as Krista pinched his leg under the table. "Hey," he stated loudly and then cleared his throat. "Tell you what, man. Why don't you go on out and start the van and we'll send her out as soon as she gets done peeing?"

Kendrick nodded and stood, digging his van keys out of his pocket. "Thanks, man. I appreciate it." He searched the ring in his hand for the key he needed and then threw a few bills onto the table. "Man, I wish my "ex" was half as understanding as you are. I mean, if she knew I was cuttin' out of a party early to go bang another chick, she'd go crazy." He laughed and shook his head as he left.

Ryan's arm shot sideways of its own accord, holding Seth in his seat, while Krista just choked on another drink of the juice before her. Patting her chest and clearing her throat, she gave Kendrick a sheepish parting glance and then turned back to Seth, slapping his thigh under the table. "Cohen, you know I think you're the shit, right?" Seth nodded. "And I would jeopardize our friendship in a heartbeat to jump on that train?" Her eyes flitted to his lap and then back to his face as a small smile began to twitch in the corners of her mouth. "But you are the most pansy-assed coward I have ever met in my life."

Seth leaned back in his seat and shook his head. "It's a really good thing I don't care what you think," he shot.

Ryan just watched as the two bantered. He knew, in his heart, that Seth wanted Summer. But every time he saw Seth and Krista, he had a nagging suspicion that there was more to their relationship than either of them let on. "I'm gonna go get another drink," he said, leaving them alone. He doubted they even noticed his absence.

Moving even closer to him, Krista leaned her elbow on the table and rested her cheek against her hand. "Cohen, do you want her back?" she asked, sincerity emanating from her eyes.

"Doesn't matter," he said sadly, concentrating on his folded hands. "There's eight hours distance between us now. And there's two completely different life paths," he chuckled slightly. "And there's Kendrick." He looked into Krista's green eyes and nodded again. "And we can't forget the pact."

"We can totally forget the pact," Krista assured. "The pact is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, Cohen. Nobody makes a pact to never get back together with their ex, especially since nobody you didn't beat, or cheat on, each other," she pointed out. "There is no way for you to know that it is, or isn't, going to work out."

Seth's shoulders sagged. "We're not the same people we were," he argued.

Sometimes Krista wanted to slap the "whiney" right out of him. "And yet, you still manage to be in love with each other," she pointed out. Standing, she ran her hands over her jeans and smiled at Ryan, who was on his way back to the table. "I'm gonna go let Summer know her ride is waiting."

When she was gone, Seth acknowledged Ryan's look with a shake of his head. "She's not going to let Summer know her ride is waiting," he clarified. "She's either going to tell her that the pact is stupid and that we belong together, me and Summer," he sighed and flopped his forehead against his crossed arms on the table top. "Or she's going to kick Summer's ass."