Chapter 4

By the time Marissa and Seth set off home from the Crab Shack, it had started getting cold. Afraid she would say something stupid, Marissa opted not to talk. They had been walking for five minutes when the silence was finally broken by Seth.
"It's gotten pretty cold, hasn't it?"
"Yep."
"Do you want my coat? You're shivering." Seth offered.
"No, thank you. I never been a someone that feels the cold, you know? I think I get it from my mom, she's a cold person." Both Marissa and Seth laughed at the significance of her last statement.
"I didn't mean it that way!" Marissa defended. "I just meant... nevermind"
Seth started to take off his coat. "Marissa, please take my coat. Looking at you shivering is making me shiver too."
"But then what will you have?" She asked.
"My manly muscular physic"
Marissa laughed as she took his coat. "Thank you."
Always the gentleman, Seth helped Marissa get his coat on. Marissa felt awkward at the closeness She and Seth shared at that moment. She also felt a strange wanting towards him.
"Why are you so nice to everyone?" She inquired. "People are never that nice back to you and yet you continue to be so nice. I mean, I used to be a complete hoe towards you before Ryan came along."
"Well, I kinda believe in karma. If I continue to be nice then hopefully nothing bad will happen to me. I don't really care what happens to the other people though." Seth replied.
"Me included?" Marissa asked.
"No. You are the exception."
Silence fell upon the two again as they smiled at each other. Thay were almost at Julie's house when they broke their gaze from one another.
"Oh my god. Have we really got this far?" Marissa chuckled.
"I know. Where did that time go?" Seth answered.
Marissa felt a strange sadness at leaving Seth already and let out a sigh of disappointment.
"What?" Seth inquized.
"I have had fun tonight, Seth. I kinda don't want to go home yet."
"Me too. It's been strange too coz tonight I didn't really care that Summer was at the Crab Shack with us. She's rejected me so many times and the one time she comes along, i wasn't bothered."
Marissa just stared at him in amazement. "What do you mean?"
"They whole night all I've done is talked to you. I kinda liked it, you know, that we've gotten along. I mean, with you going out with my best friend."
"I've liked it a lot too. And not because of our connection to Ryan. I really like you."
"Oh my god" Marissa thought. "What am I saying? I can't tell Seth that. What will he think?"
Seth looked at Marissa. "In what way? In a friend way?"
"Of course."
"Oh. I thought you meant... nevermind."
Seth stopped short at the end of his sentance. He had a look of disappointment on his face. "OK. Goodnight" he said.
"Bye"
As Seth turned to walk up his driveway, Marissa called out.
"Seth"
Seth turned round slowly. "Yeah?"
Marissa made her way up towards him. She had to say something to him but nothing came to mind. As she met face to face with him, she realised what she had to say. Nothing. She felt in her head that she shouldn't because this was Seth, her next door neighbor and her boyfriend's best friend, but her heart was wanting something else. They stood for a few seconds just looking at each other when Marissa, against her best judgement did something she wanted to do. She leant forward and kissed him. He pulled back for a moment to look at her, shocked. "What are you doing?" he asked her.
"Something I want to do. Something that feels right. Wrong but very right." she replied.
"Good."
With that Seth leant forward and recipricated the kiss. The kiss grow more passionate with every passing moment. Minutes passed until it was finally broken by the sound of a car pulling up to the driveway.
Confused, they didn't say anything. Marissa felt her feet moving towards her own house, her hand joined with Seth. His grip was tight but he let go as the car drew closer.
As she reached the bottom of her driveway, she called back to him.
"Call me on my cell. We need to talk."
"Ok"
With that, they both disappeared into their homes in a state of confusion and desire.