Disclaimer: Fox and Josh Schwartz own The O.C. not me. Just read the story and please don't steal my made-up characters...or write this story in German ( yeah I don't really know either)
Summer grabbed Seth's hand and pulled him in Bloomingdales as the paparazzi snapped shots outside.
"I still don't understand why everybody would want your picture, Sum. I've got like a million of them and I don't really want them."
Summer glared at him again, "Then why don't you just sell them on eBay."
"Hey now there's an idea. I bet some pre-pubescent little boy would love to have some of the interesting pictures I have of you. You're bathing suit, you're underwear, you coming out of my shower in just a towel," Seth grinned.
"Cohen!"
"I bet I could make a fortune with some of those."
"I swear if you even think about selling my pictures on the internet I will personally make sure that you never have children," Summer threatened.
"Well I guess you're not looking forward to kids in your future then are you," Seth smirked.
"I'll just have them with someone else. Someone like…like…Justin Timberlake," Summer replied.
"He's married." (AN: I'm assuming that someone as freaking gorgeous as Justin Timberlake will be married in a few years. I mean come on! He's like Justin Timberlake! Who wouldn't want to marry him?)
"I'm sure I can find someone else then!"
"But you don't want someone else, Sum. You want little half-Jewish kids with my curly hair and your eyes," Seth grinned wrapping his arms around her waste.
"Cohen," Summer hissed through clenched teeth as she nodded her head in the direction of two clerks standing a mere five feet away from them.
Seth pulled away from her blushing.
"You wish," Summer said loud enough for the clerks to hear. "I wouldn't have your kids. I'm having some rich, famous, good-looking actor's kids," Summer teased.
"I am hurt. Here all this time, I assumed you were madly in love with me for years," Seth grinned.
"I'm an actress, Cohen. I acted like I was in love with you for years," Summer laughed.
"Excuse me, but do you need any help, Miss Roberts?" one of the clerks asked, approaching timidly.
"Actually I was wondering if you had this in another size," Summer replied.
"Let me check the back," with that the clerk left.
"We don't bite," Seth said to the other clerk, who was a young girl of probably nineteen or twenty.
The clerk smiled a little and nodded.
"Seriously, you don't have to just stand there and watch her shop. That's my job. You can like talk or something," Seth continued.
Summer looked over at the girl. She noticed the clerk's slight discomfort and smiled to herself because turning to the clerk.
"Do you think this looks ok for me?" Summer asked.
The clerk nodded with wide eyes.
"Really? It's not too…too Hilary Duff?" Summer asked.
The girl laughed before shaking her head.
"So um what's your name?" Seth asked.
"Bethany."
"Bethany? That's a pretty name," Summer commented before turning back to the rack in front of her.
"Thank you. I think- I think your name is really pretty too," the clerk mumbled nervously.
"You don't have to be nervous around Summer. She's friendly…most of the time," Seth smirked.
"I'm friendly all the time…just not to you," Summer said not looking up from the rack.
The clerk laughed at Seth and Summer's exchange.
"So I'm guessing you two go way back," the clerk said still laughing slightly.
"Oh yeah. We go way back," Seth grinned.
"We went to school together," Summer added.
"Yep. Elementary school, high school, and even college," Seth laughed.
Summer nodded.
"Wow so is he- well I mean- I saw you on Letterman," the clerk said flustered.
"We're going to the premiere together," Summer laughed. "Relax. I don't mind answering personal questions…as long as their off the record and not going to end up in the next tabloid."
"Yeah you're not going to run and tell like People or something, are you?" Seth teased.
"Well that was the plan," Bethany laughed.
"Bethany, don't bother Miss Roberts and her friend," the other clerk said coming back. "I'm terribly sorry Miss Roberts."
Summer looked at her in almost shock, "It's ok really. She wasn't bothering me at all."
"Yes, well they don't pay us to attempt to socialize with celebrities. I'm sorry for any inconvenience."
"Really, it's fine. No inconvenience. In fact, I didn't mind have another girl's opinion instead of his," Summer laughed.
The older clerk turned and hissed through clenched teeth to Bethany, "Your opinion's don't matter. As your superior I should warn that you need keep your mouth shut if you want to keep your job."
Summer heard this even though the clerk was trying to be quiet.
"Actually I asked for her opinion. I'm not trying to cost anyone their job. I just wanted a second opinion," Summer butted in. "Sorry, Bethany."
"No. It's cool," Bethany said looking to the floor a little embarrassed.
"You didn't happen to have that other size in the back, did you?" Summer asked the other woman.
"Oh...I'm terribly sorry but we don't," the clerk replied quietly, feeling ashamed for yelling at Bethany in front of a celebrity.
"That's fine. I'll just keep looking," Summer said and started walking away to the next rack. "Bethany, you want to come with? I could probably use your opinions," Summer smiled, shooting the other woman a look.
Bethany couldn't help but smirk triumphantly as she followed Summer to another part of the store. Seth shrugged and followed behind them both.
"So is that your boss?" Summer asked once they were out of hearing range.
"Yep. The one and only fabulous Deloris," Bethany snorted.
"She seems…yeah."
"Exactly," Bethany laughed.
"I'm not like going to get you fired or anything, am I?" Summer asked concerned.
"I doubt it. She'll probably just chew me out or something. But I doubt she'll fire me…especially since you said you asked for my opinion."
"Well I did."
"Yeah but Deloris plays strictly buy the book. The SMILE rules," Bethany scoffed.
"The smile rules?"
"Be silent, mute, and invisible, but also lend help and exhibit good manners when spoken to. It's really the weirdest acronym I've ever heard. I mean I understand silent, mute, and invisible, but is it really necessary for the lend help and exhibit good manners when spoken to. They're kind of lengthy," Bethany explained.
"So Silent, Mute, Invisible, Lend help, Exhibit good manners when spoken to, like S M I L E?" Seth asked.
"I swear she had to have made it up herself. It's just stupid," Bethany laughed.
Summer and Seth chuckled and nodded.
"I've never met any clerks who were silent. They're always saying 'can I help you with that' or 'is there anything in particular you're looking for today'," Summer said still giggling.
"I know! I thought it was like my job to try to sell you stuff. Not stand in the background trying to be invisible."
"I guess that's the difference between Walmart and Bloomingdales," Seth quipped.
"I guess so. Maybe I should go back to working at Subway," Bethany grinned.
"I tend to think they do have good service," Seth replied, smiling at her.
"Well that was my old motto. You know, good service goes a long way. But now invisibility does," Bethany continued smiling at Seth.
"It's like your superpower. Invisibility comes in handy I suppose…I mean where would Wonder Woman be without her invisible jet? But I really don't see how it could be useful in retail," Seth laughed.
"Tell that to Deloris," Bethany giggled.
Summer stood with her hands on her hips watching Seth and Bethany laughing at each and making stupid jokes. Finally she cleared her throat. They both snapped their attention to her. Seth noticed her hands on her hips and her expression. This was what he liked to call the pre-rage blackout. She was clearly trying not to come off as pissed or jealous.
"I think I'd like to try these on," Summer said holding up a few items.
"Sure. No problem," Bethany replied. "The dressing rooms are over here."
"Thanks."
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Bethany unlocked one of the dressing room doors for Summer and held it open for her. Summer started to walk in the dressing room but stopped as a thought entered her head. Did she really want Seth flirting with Bethany while she tried on clothes?
"Cohen, aren't you coming?" Summer asked.
"Um what?" Seth asked swallowing hard.
"Not in my dressing room, dumbass. Just sit in that chair and I can come out and see what you think of my outfits," Summer explained rolling her eyes.
Bethany giggled a little.
"Uh, yeah. Sure. Sounds….thrilling," Seth said sarcastically.
Summer shot him a glare before replying, "If you didn't want to shop with me then why did you come?"
"Because you made me."
Bethany giggled again.
"I did not make you come. I simply," Summer started.
"Begged and pleaded with big beautiful brown puppy-dog eyes until I had no choice," Seth cut in.
Summer fought back a grin trying to stay mad at him.
"Isn't that true, Summer?" Seth smirked.
"You are such a jerk," Summer replied still fighting her grin.
Seth grinned as she shut the dressing room door.
"She made me come," Seth said to Bethany.
"Just because I shut the door doesn't mean I can't hear you," Summer's voice rang out.
Bethany laughed loudly.
Summer came out a few minutes later with a simple short black dress on.
"Do you think this is too plain?" she asked.
"Too plain for what? I'm not Hollywood. I don't know these things," Seth replied.
Summer rolled her eyes, "Just answer the question Cohen."
"I don't know the answer. For a backyard barbeque? I'd say it's a little too fancy. Dinner? I'd say it's more than perfect. Dinner at McDonald's probably a little much. The premiere? Probably too plain," Seth rambled.
"But it's ok for dinner? Say tonight?" Summer asked with a small smile.
"First I have to take you shopping. Now I have to take you to dinner? Man, I'm not so sure I want to agree to going to a premiere with you ever again."
"Very funny."
"I thought so," Seth smirked.
Summer stuck her tongue out at him before shutting the door again.
"She is so mature sometimes. That's why I just love her so much," Seth laughed.
Bethany smiled.
"Once again I remind you that I can still hear you Seth Cohen," Summer's voice rang out again.
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Eventually Summer came out in her final outfit selection. It was a long, spaghetti-strapped red dress that hugged her every curve. It cut semi-low in the front, enough to reveal some of her cleavage but still look classy. The back was open. It showed off her figure perfectly.
"Well?" Summer asked, before biting her lip nervously as Seth's eyes traced over her figure.
He felt his mouth go dry. He looked at her with wide eyes and simply nodded.
"A nod? All I get is it nod? What do you think of it? It's not too slutty, is it?" Summer asked.
"N-no. Not at all," Seth managed to find his voice.
"Do you like it?"
"I-uh-um-I," Seth stammered.
"That's a yes," Bethany grinned.
"Really? It's not too…I don't know….it doesn't scream hooker?" Summer asked glancing in the mirror at her back.
"If you were a hooker in that dress, I'd be at your corner every night," Seth confessed, his eyes starting at her feet and tracing up every inch of her.
Summer blushed under his gaze, "Stop checking me out, Cohen. I get it. I'll buy the dress."
"I'm sorry. I just-I- wow."
Summer grinned before replying almost shyly, "Thanks."
"So you're getting that dress?" Seth asked, swallowing hard.
Summer nodded.
"Good," Seth grinned.
Summer blushed as she met his gaze this time.
"Should I go ring up these items for you?" Bethany asked, breaking their stare.
"Oh yeah. Sure," Summer replied. "I'm just going to change…and…I'll bring this one up front."
Bethany nodded and took the rest of Summer's outfits that she was buying out to the cash register.
"Sum," Seth said knocking lightly on her dressing room door once Bethany was out of sight.
Summer opened the door a little and peaked out.
"I just um-well," Seth stuttered.
Summer sighed and pulled him to her so she could kiss him. She grinned as they pulled apart.
"I have been wanting to do that all day," Summer said with a gleam in her eyes.
Seth raised his eyebrows and smiled, "You have?"
Summer nodded and started to shut the dressing room door again as Seth stepped back a little.
"Oh and Cohen," Summer said peaking out again.
Seth looked at her questioningly.
Summer bit her lip before holding up her left hand. Seth beamed noticing that she hadn't taken off her engagement ring even though they were in public. He didn't know how he hadn't noticed it before but he was glad that she was wearing it.
Summer shut the door and proceeded to change as Seth walked back out front. Summer made her way to the cash register with the last dress and let Bethany ring it up along with the others.
"Thank you. Please come again and have a nice day," Bethany said handing over Summer's bags.
"Thank you and I certainly will," Summer replied grabbing a bag while Seth grabbed the other.
They walked to the front door both carrying a bag and holding hands.
"You ready for more paparazzi madness?" Summer asked.
"I guess I'll have to get used to it eventually," Seth replied as they opened the doors to flashes of cameras.
Summer made sure that the ring on her left hand was covered by the handle of her bag.
"Was she wearing an," Deloris started to ask Bethany.
"Don't ask. You never can tell with these celebrities," Bethany said with a small smile, knowing very well that Summer was wearing an engagement ring.
(AN: So yep 2 new chapters! I think I'm doing better. Hope you enjoyed them. And I'll try to update again as soon as I can...hopefully this weekend...or maybe tomorrow after The O.C...who knows maybe I'll be inspired to write! If you could see me right now you'd know I'm grinning. Anyway, just keep reading, just keep reading, reading, reading, reading...that was a little Finding Nemo action for ya Dori's just keep swimming song...yeah whatever...um I don't own Bloomingdales...and I don't own Justin Timberlake or Hilary Duff. So don't sue me for that. See, I swear I'm all about the celebrity references now. It's like a pop culture thing or something. Maybe if I get a nice lawsuit against me then I'll be famous due to the association with Justin Timberlake suing me. What a way to start my acting career! lol)
