Chapter 16
"Ryan, seriously," Summer repeats, "we don't have to make a big deal about my birthday. It's not a big deal, dinner and a movie would be fine."
"We're not making a huge deal out of your birthday," Ryan promises.
"We?" Summer arches an eyebrow, "who's this we?"
Ryan and Summer enter the Cohen's living room to reveal Lei Mei, Jason, Fai and Lisa sitting on the couch, "that's us." Lei Mei grins.
"Oh my God, you're back," Summer grins, "I thought you were on your honeymoon?" Summer quickly hugs the newly married couple individually.
"We lied," Jason grins, "we got back a couple days ago but Lei Mei wanted to surprise you for your birthday."
"That's so sweet!" Summer grins, "so how was China?"
"It was beautiful. Plus getting back in touch with my history to start my future," Lei Mei nods, "we're going back as soon as we can."
Fai rolls his eyes at his sister, "Lei Mei can see symbolism in anything."
"I'm so glad you're back, I missed you," Summer hugs Lei Mei again. "Hanging out with your brother and Ryan is just way to much guy-ness for me. If Lisa hadn't been on vacation..."
Lisa grins and shrugs, "sorry."
Summer laughs, suddenly hit with what a different group she'd been hanging out with this summer. "So," Ryan interrupts Summer's thoughts, "we just thought we'd hang out for the night. Watch movies and eat, Lei Mei made a great cake."
Summer smiles brightly, "sounds like the perfect birthday plans."
"Can we do presents first?" Lei Mei asks.
"No disagreement on my part," Summer giggles, settling herself onto a chair.
"Okay," Lei Mei hands Summer a brightly wrapped gift, "ours is directly from China."
Summer tears into the box and opens it and quickly pulls out a silk dress, "it's beautiful," Summer whispers standing up and holding the dress to herself. It's a white silk Chinese style dress with light pink flowers stitched into it, falling ankle length with two knee length slits.
"You like it?" Lei Mei asks.
Summer nods quickly, "I can't wait to get the opportunity to wear it."
"Mine next, I guess," Ryan is uncomfortable as he hands Summer a box. Summer accepts the gift quickly and opening it up she stares at the bracelet inside as Ryan explains, "all the charms represent something about this summer."
Summer gently runs her fingers over the six small charms on the bracelet, tears shimmering in her eyes, "it's...wow...Ryan thanks." Summer wraps her arms tightly around Ryan's neck and he holds her close for a moment.
"Okay, enough of this mushy crap," Fai interrupts, "time for my present. Everyone get yourself settled in, because this is the best movie you'll ever see."
"What is it?" Summer asks suspiciously when Lei Mei giggles.
"You'll see," Fai responds settling onto the couch next to Lisa and presses play.
"Ryan Atwood I'm going to kill you." Summer's screech is heard before the picture of Summer struggling to untangle herself in a sleeping bag.
The scene changes to one that is surrounded by trees and Mr. Brown narrating in the background.
"The kids have been off doing their own thing for awhile now, so we're checking up on them...to find out what they're up to and then use the video tape to blackmail them." The camera moves around a bit until it's focuses on Summer and Lei Mei in the water.
"You guys are such babies!" Summer calls out from the water. "It's not that bad, really."
"Feel free to die of hypothermia," Fai responds, "but I'd prefer to not have any of my body parts frozen off thanks."
"Well I think," suddenly Summer doubles over in pain, "ow. Ow. Seriously ow."
"What's wrong?" Ryan asks.
"Cramps," Summer mumbles through pain, "help me out, please?"
Ryan nods and kneeling by the river he extends his hand out for Summer to use, but he underestimates her strength and it only takes one quick pull from Summer to land him the water. Within 10 seconds Ryan's head pops above the water, "I can't believe you did that."
Summer laughs, "payback's a bitch." The words aren't out of Summer's mouth more then three seconds before Ryan pushes her under the water and a water war erupts.
"I can't believe you actually have that on tape," Summer laughs.
"On DVD," Fai states, "it'll last longer." Fai's voice takes on an infomercial quality as he says, "but wait! There's more!"
The camera fades out and then fades back and there's not a lot of noise that can be heard over the sound of the skating rink but the camera is focused on Ryan pulling Summer down onto the ice. The words, "payback's a bitch" can be heard softly over the noise.
Summer slips her hand into Ryan's and snuggles closer as the rest of the scene pans out. Within seconds the camera catches Ryan and Summer's first kiss, and Ryan and Summer can't help but face each other and kiss gently.
Once the camera fades out and then fades back so that it opens on Fai, "so we just finished making ice cream, in little tin coffee cans. Kind of feel like we're in grade school again, but we had nothing better to do." Fai focuses the camera on Summer who is alone in the Brown kitchen, "hey Summer where is everybody?"
"Ryan ran to the car," Summer shrugs, "don't know where everyone else went."
"So how's your ice cream?"
"Let's find out," Summer replies grabbing a spoon and opening her container. Once she tastes her ice cream she makes a face and putting her finger to her lips she says, "shh." Quickly she tastes Ryan's and then quickly switches the lid with her name on it for the lid with Ryan's name on it she steps away from both of them as Ryan and Lisa come into the room laughing about someone.
Fai's laugh can only be heard on the camera, "do you have to video tape us trying our ice cream?" Lisa questions.
"Yes," Fai retorts, "it's for a project."
"Mine great!" Summer chirps but then turns attention to Ryan, "how's yours."
Ryan makes a face much like Summer's earlier"it tastes like salt."
"Oh, poor baby," Summer's sympathy sounds read, "you can share with me."
"You switched out ice creams?" Ryan asks incredulously.
Summer grins and shrugs gently, "maybe." Then quickly she turns to Fai, laughing, "I can't believe you have that on tape."
Fai shrugs, "hey you made the choice to do it all on video tape."
Summer grabs a pillow and swings it in Fai's direction, "I am never trusting you with a video camera. And how did you get the video tape from our ice skating adventure."
"I am above theft," Fai promises holding his head up, pillow in hand which is throws hard at his sister. "Apparently Lei Mei's not though."
"I took it out of your video camera last month," Lei Mei grins mischievously, "and then replaced it a week and a half later, you had no idea."
"Oh my God," Summer laughs.
Fai pulls out the video camera from the side of the couch, "so that's all I have right now. But I thought I would get some footage from your party and we can add it on later." Before the words are even out of his mouth Fai has his video camera focused on Summer, "look it's the birthday girl. Happy birthday Summer, you may want to get some anti-aging cream...you're starting to show your age a bit around your eyes."
"Shut up," Summer snaps but then laughs.
"It's okay Summer, don't worry about it, your dad's like plastic surgeon right?" Fai asks, "just a little tuck here and you'll be looking better then..." At the expression on Summer's face Fai stops, "what, did I go to far?"
Fai turns around quickly, the camera still in his hands as it focuses on a curly headed teenager, "so, what Mom and Dad decided that to replace me they'd adopt a bunch more kids?"
"Seth..." Summer's words are hardly a whisper.
"That's our cue to leave," Lei Mei states.
Summer quickly grabs her hand, "no, stay, please." Summer glances at the immobile Ryan and stands, "you're...back..."
"Yeah," Seth looks uncomfortable, "for your birthday. Looks like there's a party going on here."
"Yeah, these are, uh, some friends from school." Summer wishes that Ryan would move or say something, but he doesn't.
"From Harbor?"
Summer shakes her head, "from our Chinese school."
"Chinese school? Guess I have a lot to get caught up on." Seth's eyes finally fall on his brother, "Ry, you're back."
Ryan finally moves, standing he nods, "yeah, I've actually been back for most of the summer."
"You guys have a lot to catch up on," Summer states, "we should go. Besides Kirsten and Sandy need to be called so that they know you're home. I'll catch up with Ry...you guys later."
"But I just got back, I wanted to see you on your birthday."
"I know..but...I've got to go, I'm sorry..." Summer's gaze lingers on Ryan for a minute before she rushes out of the Cohen's house.
A.N. Eeep...cliffhanger...but hang on because there's only one chapter left and it's practically written in my head! So the next chapter will hopefully be out by Monday because I go to the beach then for a week and won't have a computer...maybe it'll be done by tonight...or not...we'll see...but please review! I'd love to know how you guys think it'll end!