Disclaimer: Fox and Josh Schwartz own The O.C. not me...and hey this chapter's extra long to make up for the long time of no updates...but first I had tests to study for and then I ended up getting the flu...so my writing was delayed...but hopefully this makes up for it!
"Their plane lands in exactly forty minutes which means we need to leave in ten minutes. So I'm leaving my house now and I'll be at your place in like five minutes and then we can drop off Jerry and then," Seth rambled.
"Cohen! Just calm down, hang up the phone, and come get me," Summer ordered.
"Right. I'll see you in a few. Bye."
"Goodbye."
Summer hung up the phone.
"I swear he gets weirder and weirder every day," Summer laughed.
"So what's the plan?" Jerry asked.
"He's coming here to pick me up and we'll drop you off on our way to the airport to get Ryan and Marissa."
"Thanks I really appreciate the ride."
"Not a problem. Besides, it's not like we're going out of our way to drop you off at your house. She lives like right near the airport," Summer smiled.
"True."
Outside a car beeped.
"That's probably Cohen."
Jerry nodded and followed Summer outside.
"Hey so like I told Summer, thanks for the ride," Jerry said sliding into the back seat.
"No problem," Seth replied.
"And um congratulations," Jerry said smiling a little uneasily.
"Thanks….let's go, Sum. We don't have all day."
"I was trying to fix my shoe," Summer said before climbing into the car. "And chill out, Cohen. It's just Coop and Chino."
"Yeah and they're married now," Seth pointed out.
"So it's not like that makes them two totally different people."
"Yeah but we're engaged now."
"Yeah and it's not like that makes us two totally different people. Just relax," Summer said shaking her head.
"Relax. Right."
-
"Oh my God, I have to see this ring!" Marissa exclaimed before throwing her arms around her best friends neck. "Congratulations," Marissa whispered in Summer's ear.
"Thank you," Summer grinned before pulling away just enough to flash her gorgeous diamond ring.
"That is absolutely beautiful," Marissa gasped.
"Isn't it," Summer gushed.
"Women," Ryan muttered shaking his head before looking to Seth with a huge grin. "Congratulations, man."
Seth and Ryan hugged, a "manly" hug not some excited girly huge that Summer and Marissa had shared.
"Thanks."
"So you're engaged?" Ryan smirked.
"So you're married?" Seth countered.
They both laughed.
"How was the honeymoon? I want to hear all about it, the resort, the room, the beach, the food, and everything," Summer questioned on their way out of the airport after Ryan and Marissa grabbed their bags.
"Oh my God, Sum, it was amazing," Marissa began.
"Got any plans for the next five hours?" Ryan asked Seth.
"Probably just sitting around listening to my fiancé and your wife go on and on about your honeymoon," Seth answered with a shrug.
"Yeah we could do that….or…"
"There's an or?"
"Or we could let them go on and on about the honeymoon while we play some Grand Theft," Ryan suggested.
"I like the way you think, Atwood," Seth nodded. "But do you think they'll notice that we're not paying attention?"
"As long as you don't scream and throw your controller across the room when you lose, I doubt they'll notice," Ryan laughed.
"Hey, who says I'm going to lose?"
"Come on, Seth. Get real. Who's the master of Grand Theft Auto?"
"Well not all of us grew up stealing cars," Seth retorted.
Ryan just laughed and shook his head.
-
Later that week, Jerry, Summer, Seth, Ryan, Marissa, David, Jennifer (David's girlfriend), and Billy were all having dinner at Summer's apartment. (AN: It's now just Summer's apartment since Marissa moved in with Ryan.)
"I know that this may seem kind of sudden and even though some people don't exactly approve with the premiere coming and everything," Summer said shooting Jerry a look, "I have an announcement to make."
"What's going on, Summer?" David asked.
"Technically we have an announcement to make," Seth grinned.
Marissa and Ryan exchanged knowing glances and smiled at their friends.
"Seth and I are engaged," Summer announced.
"You're what?" Billy asked in shock.
"Congratulations," David gushed.
"Um yes, congratulations," Billy said swallowing hard.
"Thank you," Seth said.
"Thanks a lot you guys. This is better than the outright you can't," Summer laughed, messing with Jerry.
"Hey now, I was just looking out for the best interests of my client," Jerry smiled taking it lightheartedly.
"I'm just going to- if you'll excuse me for a moment- I'm going to go out for a smoke," Billy mumbled.
"Is he ok?" Marissa asked.
"Who? Bill? Yeah. I'm sure he's fine," David said uneasily.
"What's going on?" Summer asked.
"Nothing. Nothing's going on," David replied.
Summer just stared at him.
"Look, our little William…over time he….well he may have developed a thing….for…you," Jerry explained nervously.
"I'm just going to poke my head out there and- ya know- make sure everything's cool," Summer said softly.
They all nodded.
-
"Did she really not see that one coming?" David asked.
"Summer's always been sort of in her own little world," Seth laughed.
"God love her," Marissa added giggling.
"Truthfully, I didn't see it coming," Ryan jumped in.
"Me either...at first," Jerry replied.
"Same here," Seth said. "Well that's a lie. I knew from day one. It's like a radar. It's my sixth sense."
"You detect others like yourself? Other hopeless cases of Summer loving" David laughed.
"Something like that. But I swear if you break out into that Grease tune, I might have to hurt you," Seth smirked.
"How do you know about Grease?" Ryan asked.
"What? I don't."
"Just like you never knew about the care bear stare?" Marissa asked with a grin.
"Will you guys ever let that one go?" Seth asked throwing up his hands.
-
"Hey," Summer said softly.
Billy nodded to her while taking a drag off his cigarette.
"I didn't know you smoked," Summer commented.
"Not usually."
"You wanna tell me what's going on?"
"No particularly," Billy replied sitting down on the front steps.
"You sure?" Summer asked sitting beside him.
"Look, I just needed a break from all of that…and some nicotine," Billy said shortly.
"I know it's sudden," Summer said ignoring his remark.
"Yeah," Billy snorted.
"But you know better than anyone how much I love Seth."
"Yeah I do. I know. I get it. Congratulations. Alright."
"What is wrong with you?" Summer sighed in frustration.
"I. Like. You." Billy stated.
"And I like you too."
"No. You're not getting it. I like you. I have developed some….feelings, if you will. Feelings for you," Billy explained looking everywhere except at Summer.
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"Billy," Summer started.
"Calm down, Love. It's not like I'm in love with you. I just find you to be quite…amazing…and intriguing, and you're fun to be around, not to mention very beautiful. All I'm saying is Seth's a lucky man," Billy said sincerely.
Summer smiled at him.
"I'm not upset that you're engaged. Granted I do think it's sudden…but not unexpected. I just hope he realizes how lucky he is," Billy continued.
"Thank you," Summer whispered.
"If he ever hurts you again, I'll kill him," Billy smirked.
"Thank you," Summer repeated with a grin this time.
"Congratulations, Love. You really deserve to have the one you want. I know he's crazy about you. Congratulations."
"I don't think I have to say thank you again," Summer laughed.
Billy laughed a little.
Then they both sat in comfortable silence.
"So now you have to help me find me a girl," Billy grinned.
"Really? I get to play matchmaker?" Summer asked, rubbing her hands together mischievously.
"Sure. Why not."
"This is so exciting for me!"
"Great," Billy said sarcastically.
"So you done with that thing?" Summer asked, gesturing to his cigarette.
Billy nodded and put it out.
"You wanna head back in now?"
"Yeah. You think your fiancé will want to kill me for having a crush on his girl?" Billy chuckled.
"You know Cohen's not really much of a fighter," Summer laughed.
"Good."
"So you're ok?" Summer asked as they stood up.
"You act like you're the hardest person in the world to get over or something. I told you, Roberts, it's a crush. I'm not in love with you or anything. In fact, I'm already planning ways to ask Nicole Katt to the premiere," Billy said brushing off his pants after he stood up.
"Nicole Katt? Isn't she like supposed to be Hollywood's A-list of the up-and-coming?"
"That's the one."
"You really don't mess around, do you?"
"Are you kidding me? I'm a flirt. There's no point flirting with just anyone though," Billy smirked.
"So you're taking her to the premiere?"
"I'm thinking about it. She's cute. She's very sweet. I need a date so seems like a good option to me."
"Seems good to me too," Summer laughed.
"You taking Seth?"
Summer nodded, "I'm going to try to slowly ease him into the public eye….and then eventually come clean about our engagement."
"That's probably your best route."
"Jerry's thoughts exactly."
"And David will of course be bringing his lovely Jennifer," Billy said.
"Of course."
"Then that settles it. I'm bringing Nicole Katt….if she'll come."
"I'm sure she'd love to. She'd be stupid not to come," Summer smiled.
Billy smiled back at her and nodded before they went back inside.
-
"Everything cool?" Seth asked.
"Just peachy, love muffin," Billy teased.
Seth laughed and nodded.
"So who's doing the dishes?" Summer asked.
"It's your apartment, Sum," Marissa giggled.
"So what! I made dinner."
"You ordered out," Seth cut in.
"You're supposed to back me up here, Cohen. Just for that, you get to do the dishes," Summer ordered.
Seth opened his mouth to complain.
"Don't say it. Just do it," Summer instructed.
Seth sighed and began gathering the plates.
"He's so whipped," Ryan laughed.
Marissa cleared her throat and shot Ryan a glance.
"Which isn't a bad thing," Ryan added. "Or so I'm told," he finished under his breath.
Marissa glared at him before cracking a smile.
Ryan smiled back.
"You know, Ryan, you'll be doing the dishes for the rest of eternity," Seth commented as he continued to gather dishes.
"So will you," Summer said playfully.
Seth lost the smirk from his face he had when talking to Ryan.
They all laughed at his reaction.
"We've trained them well," Marissa said to Summer.
"We really have," Summer replied, grinning triumphantly.
"Is it like this with you and Jennifer?" Ryan asked David.
David nodded looking rather ashamed.
"It's time like these that I am glad to be a proud, single bachelor," Billy beamed.
"Right there with ya," Jerry added.
"I'm sure you'd do Nighttime Natalie's dishes," Summer teased.
"Well I- well- that's beyond the point."
They all laughed.
-
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Seth asked.
"Trust me. He'd take it a lot better without you there," Summer replied.
"You talked to his secretary? You're sure he'll be there?"
"That's what she said. She said he was on vacation for two days. Doctor's orders. His high blood pressure and all doesn't deal well with stress. So he's homebound," Summer answered.
Seth nodded.
"Trust me, this will be much better if he hears it from me," Summer assured.
"He's not going to be happy."
"Probably not. But I've lived for the past two years without much father-daughter interaction, so I don't really care about his happiness. I care about mine. I care about ours."
Seth nodded again.
-
"She's what? She can't be! Not to him!" the man said into the phone. "No! They have to have my approval and I say no!"
Just then the door bell rang.
"Hold on. Someone's at the door," the man said before answering the door.
"Hi Daddy," Summer said uneasily.
"Can I call you back?" Neil said into the phone.
"Do you mind if I come in?" Summer asked.
Neil didn't reply but moved back to allow her inside.
"How've you been?"
"Enough with the small talk Summer. Why are you here?" Neil asked.
"Wow- um- I- see the thing is," Summer stuttered.
"You're engaged to that Cohen boy," Neil said shortly.
"How did you- yes…I am."
"He didn't ask me for you hand. He hasn't even been around. The boy's been in New York and now you're engaged? Don't you think its possible that he's just using you?"
"Daddy," Summer started to protest.
"Summer, he left you. You were heartbroken and now you're a big celebrity and he wants to get married. Think about it," Neil spat.
"I love him Daddy!"
"I'm sure you think you do. But the facts remain the same. You have to think about the consequences of your actions."
"I don't even know why I bothered coming here. I should have known you wouldn't understand."
"You're damn right I don't understand and I certainly don't approve either!"
"Thank you, Neil. Your blessing means the world to us," Summer said and turned to leave.
"Summer, don't you dare walk out of this house!"
"Or what? You won't walk me down the aisle?" Summer asked with tears in her eyes. Then she laughed, "I really wasn't expecting anyway."
Neil softened a little, "Sweetheart," he started.
"Save it. I don't care. I'm in love with Seth and we're going to get married."
"What about your career?" Neil asked calmly.
"What about it? Not all of us revolve our lives around our careers."
Neil stiffened.
"Besides, Seth isn't going to stop me from acting. He's just going to support me through it all and he said he'll go wherever I go," Summer continued.
"And what about a-a family?" Neil asked almost grimacing.
"When we're ready to have a family then I'll take a break. It's not like Seth's poor."
Neil shook his head, "I still don't approve of this."
"I still don't care," Summer snapped back.
"Then why did you come here?" Neil asked angrily.
"Because I thought that maybe my father would want to know that his daughter is engaged. And because naively I thought that maybe, just maybe, you'd care enough to at least want to be a part of it. Regardless of whether or not you were happy about it, I still thought that maybe you'd want to be a part of my life," Summer answered.
"Well I'm not happy about it. And if you honestly think that," Neil started.
"I don't honestly think anything when it comes to you, Daddy, not anymore," Summer replied and left before her tears started falling down her cheeks.
-
"How'd it go?" Seth asked from the couch as Summer walked in the front door.
He turned and looked at her.
"Aw, Sum, come here," Seth said standing up and crossing the room to take her in his arms.
"I should have known better. I just thought that for some reason he'd care," Summer cried into Seth's shirt.
"I'm so sorry. I should have went with you. Then I could have punched him or something," Seth said into her hair.
"Yeah and broken your fist," Summer muttered.
"That's my girl. Sarcastic and cruel to me. I love it," Seth teased.
"Shut up, Cohen. Now is not the time for your so-called comedy."
"Sorry."
"Seth, do you think," Summer started to ask but stopped.
Seth pulled away from her slightly to look at her, "Do I think what?"
"Never mind."
"Come on, Sum."
"It's just- do you think your dad would walk me down the aisle at our wedding?" Summer asked, her eyes shinning up at him.
Seth was taken back by how innocent and vulnerable she looked at that moment. He just stood there looking at her before he realized that she was still waiting for answer.
"I'm sure he'd love to," Seth replied.
"Good. Because even if my dad wanted to…well especially after this- I think I'd rather have your dad."
(AN: I tried to balance fluff and drama together in this chapter a little better than the last two chapters which were basically all fluff. lol...Keep Reading!)
