Fix You

Author's Note: All right, this is an interlude between the beginning and the rest of the story. This chapter is unique because it's the only chapter that will deal with the past head on. Anything you want to learn about some important moments in Seth and Marissa's life will be learnt here. There might be another one of these later down the road. Once again, thanks for the reviews everyone. Also, this chapter contains lyrics from Coldplay's 'Square One'.

Chapter 10: Start (Interlude)

You're in control, is there anywhere you wanna go?
You're in control, is there anything you wanna know?

"Pack your bags!" Seth commanded, walking into Marissa's bedroom without even knocking. After spending most of senior year with Marissa in her room, he'd grown accustomed to just entering without worrying about knocking.

"What?" Marissa sat up on her bed suddenly, regarding Seth with a look of utter confusion.

"Pack your bags," Seth repeated, "We're getting out of this hell hole the masses like to call Newport Beach."

"Seth, what are you talking about?" she shook her head, "We can't just skip town. Our parents will be looking for us, and we know my mom will threaten to call the police and my doctors if we just disappear."

"I've already dealt with Julie Cooper," Seth told her, "Apparently she agrees with me that you should get out of Newport."

"What?"

"I know, Julie Cooper agrees with me, the world is coming to an end," Seth paused, "Actually I think it ended when actually talked to her, but whatever. Pack."

Marissa stared at him in utter disbelief once more. Were they actually going to do this? Was she actually going to leave Newport for the summer with Seth Cohen? It seemed like such a crazy idea, and a year ago she never would've thought that the two of them would end up spending so much time alone together.

A year ago, she'd also thought she'd still be with Ryan.

Refusing to put a damper on the sudden excitement that had just over come her, she turned to Seth and asked, "Where are we going?"

"The pancake tour of America, Marissa," Seth grinned, "We're going on the road the two of us and leaving all the drama of Newport behind us." He looked childish then, "And this time, I'm not getting stuck in Portland and spending the summer with Luke and his big gay dad."

The future's for discovering
The space in which we're travelling

Seth was frustrated, hot and irritated with everything in the world. The road looked long in front of him, and it seemed like they'd never reach their destination. After a week of travelling, he was starting to think that this had been a very, very bad idea. Beside him, he felt Marissa shift uncomfortably in her seat. Neither of them said a word though. They hardly ever did.

He should've spent the summer in Portland with Luke.

Marissa heaved a sigh, and reached over into her purse, pulling out a bottle of water. As soon as she opened it though and took a sip, accidentally spilling some as Seth slowed jerked the car to avoid hitting a stray animal, he realized it spelt suspiciously of alcohol.

Frowning, he sent a look her way, "Okay, hold off on the alcoholic tendencies until we reach a restaurant."

"God Seth, you're starting to sound like Ryan," Marissa muttered, closing the bottle.

"Well, maybe he was onto something," Seth shot back at her, he knew that it was a cheap shot, but she had brought Ryan up to begin with.

Marissa said nothing at first, just stared at him for a moment or two, "At least I wasn't in love with someone who didn't know I existed for most of my life."

"Yeah, well, at least I didn't have to date Luke," Seth retorted, "He shaves his chest."

It went silent again. Seth reached over and turned up the music. Marissa opened her bottle of "water" again and took another swig.

This was their first fight, however minor it might be, but t was the first of many that would come.

From the start in your own way
You just want somebody listening to what you say

"Seth? Marissa?"

They sat in a restaurant, two minutes away from the White House, in none other than Washington DC. Both Marissa and Seth were astounded that they'd made it this far on their trip. That they hadn't just given up and gone back to Newport where they would just go their separate ways and forget all about this trip.

Now, Anna Stern was standing in front of them with chin length blonde hair and an expression of bewilderment and happiness.

"Anna, hey!" Marissa was the first one to get up and greet their old friend, awkwardly leaning in to give the other girl a hug.

"Hey," Anna smiled and hugged her back before tuning to Seth, "What, no hello from you Seth?"

"Hi," Seth greeted finally, standing up as well to give his old friend and ex-girlfriend a hug.

"So, what are you two doing all the way in DC?" Anna asked, sliding into a seat next to Seth.

"Well, we could ask you the same thing," Seth put in, as the three of them got along to finding out what had been going on in each other's lives since they had last seen each other.

I need a compass, draw me a map
I'm on the top, I can't get back

Seth had dragged the three of them onto the Ferris Wheel at Disneyland.

They had all gone done to visit the Nana, and somehow he had convinced Anna and Marissa to go down with him to Disneyland and unleash their inner child. Zach had refused saying he needed to pack for his flight that night, Luke was apparently "sleeping" and everyone else they'd gone to Florida with was already gone.

Then, after supper Seth had convinced them to go on the large, four person Ferris wheel to digest.

He could tell now that right now, Marissa regretted it. A sad look had glazed over her eyes as the Ferris wheel screeched to a halt to let some people off. He looked around at Anna, trying to figure out how to make her feel better.

"Anna, you should kiss Marissa."

"Seth!" both girls shot him a look, Anna, who was seated next to him, even promptly offered him a smack.

"What? Marissa needs a new Ferris wheel kissing experience to remember," Seth explained, "So, I say you kiss her."

"Why don't you kiss her?" Anna raised a brow and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Because I don't want you to feel left out," he told her, "Besides, I never got to see some girl on girl action with her and Alex! Come on, she kissed one of my exes already, she can kiss you. Besides, this way, it's an enjoyable experience for everyone!"

Marissa laughed, her nostalgia forgotten as the Ferris wheel slowly started again.

Seth gave her a wink. Marissa gave him a small smile of thanks.

They really did know each other well.

You wonder if your chance will ever come
Or if you're stuck in square one

"Seth, what are you doing here?" Marissa looked over at her best friend. He'd told her that there was no way in hell he was going to come to the latest Newport even, no matter how much she tried to beg him to go. He'd had his fill of Newport events for the week.

He'd said that they were twenty –two, legal, and needed to go out and have fun. Not be at some stuffy, black tie event.

Yet, here he was standing in front of her, all dressed up. His hair was even less messy than usual.

"There was nothing on satellite," he shrugged, "And I never really liked the club scene. Rubbing against other people's sweat is not my idea of a good time. Besides, it's not very hygienic either."

Marissa smiled at him. She should've known he'd show up for her. It's just what he did. He knew that she hated these events just as much as she did, they had too many memories, and he was always there by her side for support because Julie would never let her miss one.

"Um…" Seth suddenly seemed nervous; he rubbed the back of his neck and glanced outside.

"What?" Marissa urged him with a small laugh, giving him a light shove, "Come on, spill it Cohen."

"Do you want to…go outside?" Seth wondered quietly, "Just for a walk."

She paused, wondering what he had to say to her that couldn't be said in front of all their friends, family, and the rich and beautiful of Newport. Was it something that might be gossip worthy to the masses. Her stomach did flips, wondering if maybe Seth was about to do what she'd been dreaming he would do.

Nodding slowly, she followed him outside.

When they were clear out of the sight of anyone who might be watching, Seth grabbed her hand and pulled her behind the nearest tree, cupping her cheeks in his hand and kissing her deeply.

Right away, she knew this was the beginning of something else. Maybe even the beginning of the rest of her life.