Fix You
Author's Note: Thank you everyone for your kind words and encouragement. Sorry that the updates have taken a little long, but since I started school up things have been so hectic that I haven't found too much time to be able to sit down on the computer and write everything. Thank you to all the Roadie fans at Fanbolt again, you guys never cease to inspire me.
Chapter 12: Saturday
You can take a picture of something you see
In the future where will I be?
Newly turned six year old, Allison Bean Cohen, lurched around the room with exuberance and utter delight at it being her birthday. Slowly, Allie's guests were slowly beginning to arrive, the list of people included Seth and Marissa's oldest friends, who Allie had become a surrogate niece too, family, and some of Allie's young friends, the future of Newport's drama.
Seth Cohen sat back and watched his daughter boss everyone who was helping out with the party. Telling them what they should be doing and basically running the whole event. His daughter had a whole lot of Marissa and her grandmothers in her; there was no doubt in Seth's mind about that.
"Daddy," the birthday girl stood in front of him now, arms crossed over her small chest, "Superheroes can't take breaks if this is gonna be the bestest party!"
Sometimes, Seth couldn't believe how much Newport she had in her.
"Sure thing, boss," Seth got up slowly, grinning at his daughter, "I'll get right on my duty of being the big superhero greeter at the doors with your mom."
"Good!" Allie nodded her head, blonde hair swaying with the motion before she bounced off to do something else. She was a busy bee all right.
Looking over to where Marissa stood near the entrance, greeting her mother with an awkward, forced smile Seth started to make his way over to her. In the past couple of days since their confrontation after Summer and Ryan finally left the house, they'd barely said anymore to each other. Tonight, Seth knew Marissa needed him to stand by her side and make like everything was picture perfect.
At least so Julie Cooper wouldn't start on her case once more.
"Mrs. Cooper," Seth greeted carefully, walking up behind Marissa and putting his arm around her.
"Seth," Julie nodded her semi-cold hello. Seth knew that she didn't hate him, she though that Seth was good for Marissa, but still. Julie Cooper could never really be friendly. Especially when she knew how much Seth disliked her. How much her daughter did as well.
"Glad you could join us in our humble abode," he put in, "Unfortunately, Luke's fiancé is here with so no reunion there."
Marissa gave Seth a look that almost matched the one Julie gave him, except less severe.
"Right, sore subject," he mumbled, "Sorry."
"Well, I'm going to go get a drink," his step grandmother-slash-mother-in-law informed them, "Is Kirsten here yet."
"Nope, mom and dad are picking up Hailey at the airport with Jimmy," he mentioned, "She had to stay behind an extra day to work."
"Right," Julie pursed her lips, "Well, a drink then."
With that, she walked off and Marissa turned her head slightly to look up at Seth. He gave her a small smile and rested his hand reassuringly on the small of her back. No matter what problems they were having right now, he was going to be right there by her side tonight. He would never leave her alone to face the craziness of Newport events, no matter if he really wanted to.
"Ryan's coming," Marissa said quietly, "With Summer. Allie wanted to invite them."
"Oh," Seth paused, looking into Marissa's clear blue eyes, "We'll be fine Marissa. I promise."
"I hope so," she added, "Seth, can we talk?"
Before Seth could reply to her, Anna burst into the room with Zach trailing slightly behind her. Alex Kelly was there as well, hair tied up, blue streak long gone. Marissa quickly turned to them, hugging Alex hello.
"Finally, some sort of action between you to!" Seth couldn't help but exclaim, having their friends around seemed to lighten the mood.
"Watch it Seth," Alex warned, "I can still beat you up."
"It's been a long time Alex," he gave her a hug, "Next time you go to Europe for five years, send us a memo."
"Sure Cohen," the blonde laughed and then looked around the house, "Nice place."
"Where's Beanie?" Anna asked, leaning into Zach, who had his arm around her waist now, "Got her present here for her."
"She should be around to assign you your job any second now," Seth assured her, "She's got Luke working in the Care Bear castle with a pretty crown on. Think she's got a nice little skirt for Zach too."
Zach paled, "A skirt?"
"I'm sure there's another crown," Seth snickered. This was his form of revenge of both the former
Water Polo players. In fact, he had implanted this idea into Allie's head with the specific plan to take plenty of pictures of fellow jocks Zach and Luke all princessed up.
As the three of them wandered away to find the girl of the hour, Seth turned back to Marissa waiting for her to talk to him again, or at least lead them someplace to talk. She just looked away and wandered into the party. He had no idea what had come over her.
Until he saw his parents, Hailey, Jimmy, Ryan and Summer all pull in front of the house and get out of their cars. Suddenly, Seth wondered whether any of this was a good idea, if they were really going to be all right, especially when he didn't know whether or not Marissa still had feelings for Ryan or not. Whether she still loved him.
He knew Ryan loved her though, and that's what worried him most.
You can climb a ladder up to the sun
Or write a song nobody has sung
Marissa hid in the kitchen.
She'd said her hellos to Kirsten and Sandy, her dad and Hailey. Talked quickly with Luke's fiancé Sheryl about the wedding plans and Allie being the flower girl, Marissa a bridesmaid along with Anna and Sheyl's best friend Samantha, and caught up with her ex-girlfriend Alex about what she'd been up to over the past five years.
The stuff that hadn't been in the many post cards to her and Seth that came in the mail like clockwork the third of every month almost.
Now, she was in the kitchen hoping that she wouldn't have to talk to Seth right away, not after the stirring in her stomach she'd felt when Ryan had pulled up into the house. Which came to her second reason for hiding: Ryan. There was no way she wanted to run into him again either. Not when he knew that Marissa was married to Seth now. Not when she was completely sober.
"Hey," unfortunately, it seemed that her plan had failed. Ryan stood in the doorway, leaning against the wall with a cigarette tucked behind his ear. He looked more dressed up than he had the last time she'd run into him, better than when he'd been at her house the other day.
"Hey," she returned, putting down her bottle of water on the counter.
"Trying to find a place to smoke," he explained, "Sandy said…"
"You can go in the backyard," Marissa cut him off, then turned to open a cupboard and hand him a ashtray, "Here."
"Thanks," he slipped his cigarette into his mouth as he headed out the backdoor with not another word to her.
After a moment, Marissa followed him. She stood outside the doorway; the music and laughs of the birthday party going on right inside were slightly muffled now. A cold breeze washed over her and Marissa wrapped her arms around herself, "Where's your daughter?"
"Cass?" Ryan shrugged, "Didn't want to come. Not her thing."
"Theresa?" she implored.
"She's pissed off," Ryan took a puff of his newly lit cigarette, turning his head to look at her, "Kicked me out of the house. Staying at the Cohen's for the week. Until Summer goes back to LA or Theresa tell me to come home."
"Oh."
"Do you love him?" Ryan wondered.
"Who? Seth?" Marissa shivered, he hated that Ryan was asking her this question. Just like she hated when Seth had asked her the other day.
"Yeah. Do you love him?" Ryan turned around completely to face her.
"I do," Marissa nodded.
"Do you still love me?" It seemed like such a non-Ryan thing to say, but he had said it anyway. Marissa froze, staring into his mysterious, old blue eyes.
Her words came out slightly choked and strained, "I don't know."
Suddenly, Ryan's lips were on her own and she didn't know who had initiated the kiss first, but either way they were both kissing each other much like hey used to when they were seventeen and in love.
Neither one of them heard the creak of the floor, neither one of them saw Seth walk off out of the kitchen after seeing the two of them.
They were just too caught up in whatever had just happened.
