Hey guys thanks for the reviews! I wanted to update quickly and I was on a roll so I wrote this last night. Oh and sorry to all the people who got confused… it hurt my head trying to change it properly lol!

A/N This isn't going to be like the first intro chapters its not as similar to season 1 except for the carnival bit, and after this the story is gonna be completely different to 1st season.

Disclaimer: I do not own the O.C.

Chapter 3: Operation Summereth

"Marissa, do we seriously have to go?" Summer complained.

"Yes." Replied Marissa bluntly.

"Who's gonna be there?"

"It's just me, you, Ryan and Seth, hanging out at the beach." Summer was being difficult. This was the first set-up that Ryan and Marissa had secretly organised, and Summer didn't want to go. Marissa saw the face she had made when Seth's name was mentioned. Her eyes had lit up but she kept her expression stony.

"Why does Cohen have to be there?"

"Because we're all friends."

Summer rolled her eyes. It was the weekend after the four had got back from Tijuana, and her plans of avoiding Seth Cohen had been going well until Marissa decided that they should all go to the beach. The only reason she was avoiding him was because she didn't want to slip up and tell him that she liked him. Summer sighed. She knew she was not going to win against Marissa – the girl could be persuasive.

"Fine, I'll go. I'm going to go change."

Marissa watched the sulky Summer walk out of the house and into the pool house. She whipped out her phone and dialled Ryan's number.

"It's all set," she said when he answered, "We'll be at the beach in half an hour."

Half an hour later, Marissa and Summer lay on towels, tanning and waiting for the boys.

"Hello Summer, Marissa." Said Seth as he approached the two girls. 'Wow, Summer looks hot in her bikini,' Seth thought.

"Hey Seth, hey Ryan," replied Marissa.

"Ryan. Cohen." Summer acknowledged them.

Seth set his towel down next to Summer and sat down.

"Hey Marissa, I'm kinda hungry, do you wanna go get a Balboa Bar?" asked Ryan, raising his eyebrow at her, saying 'let's-leave-these-two-alone.'

"Ah… sure," Marissa said, getting up. "See ya guys later."

"Don't you think they would be so cute together?" Summer asked Seth.

Seth nodded, only half listening. He was too busy staring at Summer.

"Do you think it's working?" Marissa asked as she and Ryan walked along the beach.

"I dunno. It's a bit hard to tell."

Marissa sighed. "I wish they would get together. It might make her happier."

"Why what's wrong with Summer?"

"She hasn't said anything, but, it's gotta be hard for her. I mean, she was abandoned by her family, she pretty much raised herself. Summer's had a fairly hard life."

Ryan nodded. He kinda knew what Summer had been through. He and his brother Trey were left to pretty much raise themselves. His mother was always travelling for work and his dad was a prescription-drug addict and was always off spending his mom's money.

"I hope they hurry up though." Marissa said.

Ryan looked at Marissa. 'I don't know how I never noticed her before. She's beautiful.' Ryan was standing close to Marissa. Their hands touched and Ryan felt electricity run through his body. When they had kissed in Tijuana, even if it was a drunken kiss, was one of the most lust-filled kisses he had experienced. She wasn't just a random Newport slut hoping to get laid in TJ. It was different with her.

Marissa felt Ryan's hand touch hers and noticed that he was standing extremely close to her. Close enough for her to smell his cologne.

"Hey Marissa…"

"Mm?"

"Um… you know what happened in Tijuana,"

Marissa stomach dropped. He regretted it. She knew he would.

"I just wanted to say that even though it was kinda spur of the moment, it still meant something. I wouldn't have done it if I didn't feel anything and I just wanted to know if you felt the same."

Marissa felt her heart skip a beat. Ryan Atwood liked her. Marissa stopped and grabbed Ryan's face with her hands, pulling him towards her until their lips met in a soft kiss, which Ryan quickly deepened with Marissa's permission.

Ryan totally hadn't expected this. One moment they're talking about Seth and Summer, the next they're making out in the middle of the beach. And Ryan didn't even care who saw that he was kissing the school nerd.

"God, I'm getting all crispy," Summer complained, grabbing the bottle of suntan lotion. "Cohen, do my back," she demanded.

"Ah… okay." Seth grabbed the bottle and squeezed a small amount into his palm. He touched Summer's skin and smoothed the lotion all over her.

Summer almost shivered under Seth Cohen's touch. She couldn't believe that he was doing this to her. She had been with heaps of guys in Chino, but it was never very personal. The guy would usually take her out for a cheap dinner or something lame like that and then back to his place to have sex. Some guys wouldn't even bother going back to their house and they would just climb into the back seat. But she had never felt like this when any other guy touched her. Those relationships were purely sexual; no feelings involved. Summer never felt for them what she felt for Seth Cohen right now.

"Finished," Seth announced, after he had taken his time making completely sure that every little bit of lotion was rubbed in to her tanned skin.

"Thanks Cohen." Summer said, lying on her stomach.

"Hey Summer, do you think we could…"

"Hey guys, what's up?" Ryan interrupted as he walked up to the pair, hand in hand with Marissa.

"Oh my God, you guys!" Summer exclaimed pointing at their entwined hands.

Marissa smiled widely, matching the expression on Ryan's face.

Seth however, was not so excited. They had just interrupted him when he was about to ask Summer out. The moment was over now and there was just awkwardness.

"Oh, yeah that's great you guys." Seth said unenthusiastically. He pretended to look at his watch. "Hey, look at the time; we have to go do the thing. Come on Ryan."

"What thing?" asked Ryan.

"You know the comic book thing." Seth said quickly.

Ryan sighed getting the hint that Seth wanted to leave. "Okay." He kissed Marissa. Seth rolled his eyes and Summer giggled girlishly at him.

"Hey, are you guys coming to the Kick-Off Carnival next week?" asked Seth.

Marissa pulled away from Ryan for a second.

"Yeah, we'll be there." She answered. "Plan B" she whispered, so only Ryan could hear.

Ryan nodded in agreement and kissed Marissa again.

"Bye. Bye Summer."

"See ya Ryan. Cohen."

"Summer. Marissa."

The boys walked away and Marissa sat back down next to Summer, who started an in-depth ranting session about Seth and everything she hated about him.

"…his hair, I mean it's called a brush, he has an infinity pool so I know he can afford one…"

Marissa smiled. Summer was so into him it wasn't funny. Hopefully, 'Plan B' would work at the Kick-Off Carnival. Marissa lay back, blocking out Summer's voice and thinking about Ryan Atwood instead.

"Seth, you ready for the Carnival?" Ryan called out.

"Do we really have to go?" Seth complained, walking into his kitchen, where Ryan was standing.

"Yes. With Marissa and Summer."

Seth paused for a moment, in deep thought. "Okay, dude I have a problem and I can't believe I've kept it in this long, I mean it's me I don't keep things bottled up especially not from my best friend but I like Summer and not in the normal crush way I mean I really like her a lot but I don't want to mess anything up with her by telling her that I like her."

Ryan smiled at Seth's ramblings and confession of his crush on Summer.

"Ryan, hello did you hear me? I like Summer and now I don't know what to do about it."

"Well than do something about it tonight at the carnival. Tell her how you feel."

"But what if…"

Seth was interrupted by the doorbell.

"That will be the girls," Ryan said, walking around to the front door.

"But Ryan we haven't figured out my problem, you know me when something's wrong I like to talk about it incessantly."

Ryan gave Seth a look and opened the door, revealing Marissa and Summer.

"Hey guys," said Marissa, stepping inside and giving Ryan a kiss on the cheek, "Are you ready to go?"

Seth looked at Ryan, then at Summer. "Yeah sure let's go," he sighed, walking towards the car.

The four walked around the brightly lit carnival, Marissa and Ryan in front, hand in hand, and Summer and Seth walking awkwardly behind in silence.

Marissa looked back at Seth and Summer. "She actually kinda admitted it today, that she does like Seth. She didn't really come out and say it, but it slipped out in conversation."

"Seth wants Summer. He was asking for advice on what he should do before you showed up."

"So they like each other, but they don't know that the other likes them?"

Ryan slowly nodded.

Seth looked over at Summer and caught her looking at the ground as she walked.

"So, do you want to play a game? You know, leave these two alone," he said, gesturing to Ryan and Marissa.

Summer smiled. "Sure. Which one?"

Seth walked over to a game involving throwing balls into holes. Summer started, and got the first ball in.

"Yes!" she exclaimed and Seth laughed at her.

"What?" she said, hand on her hip.

"Nothing, you're just cute when you win," Seth said, and he meant it. Summer looked gorgeous, especially when she blushed at Seth's comment, which he didn't fail to notice.

Seth and Summer each played a game each, laughing and having fun together.

"I'll be right back," he said, leaving Summer to play her game.

Ryan saw Seth walk away and decided to put his part of 'Plan B' into action. He walked over to Summer, who was still playing the game.

"Hey Summer," he said.

"Hi Ryan."

"So, you like Seth don't you?" Ryan asked, getting straight to the point.

Summer missed the next hole by a mile.

"Wh…What? Why would you think that? I mean like, ew, what would give you that idea?"

Ryan looked at Summer and she gave up pretending.

"Is it obvious?"

Ryan smiled. "Only to me and Marissa. And you're in luck because he likes you too."

Ryan let this piece of information settle in and walked away, where he could see Marissa was back from talking to Seth.

"So?" she asked.

"I told her Seth likes her."

"And I told Seth Summer likes him. Plan B almost complete, it's in their hands now." Marissa said, giving Ryan a kiss on the lips.

"Do you wanna get out of here? Go down to the beach?" asked Ryan.

Marissa nodded and took Ryan's hand, leading him away from the bright lights.

Seth returned to the game where Summer was standing, staring into space. He felt more nervous now that Marissa had said that she liked him.

"Hey Summer," he said, making her jump.

"Jeez Cohen, you scared me out of my skin."

Seth smiled at her. "Here I got you this. It was all I could get with my tickets," he said shyly, handing her a little toy monkey.

Summer took the stuffed animal from him and her heart melted. It was so cute, and it was even better because it was from Seth. She looked up at him. "Thanks," she whispered.

"What do you want to do next? I could go for a ride on the Ferris Wheel." Seth suggested.

"Sure," Summer said, even though she wasn't the biggest fan of heights.

The man running the ride opened up the door and Seth and Summer climbed in. The Ferris Wheel started and Summer gripped the metal bar in front of her tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"Scared?" asked Seth.

Summer nodded. "Don't really like heights."

Seth put his arm around her shoulders.

"Just don't look down."

Summer looked Seth in the eyes instead. Seth stared back at Summer. She had turned a bit pale but still looked gorgeous. Before he knew what he was doing, Seth began to lean towards her.

"Seth…"

Seth pulled back. Didn't she want to kiss him? Marissa had said she liked him, maybe she was wrong. Now he felt embarrassed.

"Oh, um… I'm sorry about that," Seth said, awkwardly.

"No, no don't be. It's just that…" Summer took a deep breath. "I don't want this to just be like, some random thing that seems to keep happening between us. I want it to be something and I don't know if you feel the same way, but I like you."

"Did you think that if I didn't like you I would have tried to kiss you?" Seth smiled widely before pressing his lips against hers. Summer responded immediately, opening her mouth and deepening the kiss. The two were interrupted by a cough and saw the operator looking at them from the bottom of the ride.

"One more time," Summer said, before kissing Seth again.

Like it? Should I bring Summer's sister into the story? What do you guys think? Update soon.