Chapter 14

Summer emerged from Seth's bedroom and smoothed down her hair. She was startled by the shrill ring of the doorbell. Summer quickly checked her watch, it was only 6:00. She called to Seth that she was getting the door, and heard a muffled response. Summer answered the door to find Marissa standing outside awkwardly.

"Coop!" Summer exclaimed excitedly, "You're early!"

Marissa nodded, "Well, Caleb thought we should bond, so I'm going to go with the whole 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' approach."

Summer smiled and ushered Marissa in, "Well Seth is getting dressed and Ryan is in the shower, other people are coming in a little bit."

The girls walked to the television room and sat on the couch. "So, how's everything going with you and Alex?" asked Summer, keeping her voice low.

"Um, good actually. It still seems a little weird to be talking to you about it, but I'm having fun with her."

"Good!" Summer put her arm around Marissa's shoulder, "You know I just want you to be happy right?"

Marissa nodded, but changed the subject, "So what are we doing tonight?"

"Well, Cohen's got a bunch of movies, but they're all pretty lame, so we'll have to make our own fun."

Seth came out of his room, pulling a sweater-vest over his polo. "Hey Marissa!" He greeted cheerfully, "You're early."

"Would you believe that I didn't want to have to wait any longer for your witty repartee?"

Seth smiled and squinted, "Unfortunately, no."

Marissa smiled, "Good. So I hear your movies are lame."

Seth looked hard at Marissa, "and who might I ask told you this."

Marissa looked at Summer, who turned to Seth, "I'm sorry Cohen, but all of those movies are rated PG."

"Oh oh! I have to take slack from the girl who liked Gigli?"

Summer threw up her hands, "I just think that the press was too hard on it! It's not like it was cinematic gold, but it was definitely underrated."

Marissa giggled and Ryan walked into the room. "Hey what's so funny?"

Marissa shrugged her shoulders, "I'm sorry, how long have these two been married?" She asked referring to Seth and Summer.

Ryan smiled and approached Marissa. "It's been a while since I've seen you." Ryan said, awkwardly pausing, but then hugging Marissa. While they were hugging Marissa shot Seth a curios glance, wondering if Ryan knew. Seth shook his head, and Marissa was extremely relieved.

"Ok, so until everybody gets here, what shall it be? Pirates or Ninjas?"

Summer groaned, "Cohen, seriously? Video games on our night all together?"

Seth nodded and handed Marissa and Summer controllers. "Why don't the ladies battle it out to see who moves on to the finals."

"This is so lame" Summer said, as she took the controller from Seth, "Hey! Cohen, you gave Marissa the one with the vibrating pack!"

Marissa smirked at Summer, and they duked it out. While the girls were playing, the doorbell rang again. Seth got up, "I got it." Seth moved to the door to find Zach standing outside. "Zach! Buddy! Come on in!"

Zach came into the room to hear Summer shouting, "Coop! Why did you do that! You totally just blew my head off my body! You're never going to make it to the final stage without me!"

Marissa laughed, "We'll see."

"Who's ahead?" Zach asked sitting down on the couch.

"Hey Zach!" Summer greeted, looking away from the screen. "Want to play? I'm getting a little too Cohen for my own good."

Zach smiled and took the controller from Summer.

"Marissa, I don't mean to be rude," Seth started, "But if you don't mind, Zach and I have a score to settle."

Marissa rolled her eyes and gladly gave up the controller to Seth.

Zach and Seth played for a little while until the video game declared Zach the winner. "Unbelievable." Seth said softly, "It's like you out Jewed me in my own temple."

Zach smiled, "Yeah, it's exactly like that Seth." He said sarcastically.

The doorbell rang and Seth stood up, "Allow me, I need to get away from all the mocking." He said, referring to Summer's endless taunts about how the video lord had fallen. Seth opened the door to find Alex standing impatiently, holding a large bottle of Tequila.

"Oh hey. Perfect. Alcohol." Seth said glancing at the bottle.

"Well Seth, I know you said that this wasn't going to be weird, but we'll see." Alex said thrusting the bottle into Seth's hands, "Plus, you provided the house, I thought the least I could do was provide the cocktails."

"How thoughtful of you." Seth said as he put the bottle on the counter.

Alex walked into the room to find Marissa and Ryan battling each other in the Ninja game.

"Ryan! You always used to let me win!" Marissa complained throwing down her controller.

"Well apparently, I'm not a rebel anymore, according to Seth, so I've got to get my aggression out somehow."

Marissa smiled, "Well if you ever want to rumble, just say when and where." Marissa playfully slapped Ryan on the cheek.

"Oh is that so?" Ryan asked smiling, grabbing Marissa's wrists and pulling them down by her sides. He held her hands by his waist for a second and pulled her hair gently with the other hand.

"Hey!" Marissa squealed, "Never, ever, pull a girl's hair! As soon as you pull hair, it becomes a bitch fight Ryan! Maybe Seth was right about you!"

Ryan shook his head slowly, "What have I become?"

"Don't worry, maybe I can call up Luke and you guys can pretend it's the good old days again."

Ryan smiled.

Alex cleared her throat in the background and Marissa and Ryan both looked over.

"Hey Alex." Ryan greeted.

Marissa smiled, "Hey." She said softly.

"Hey guys." Alex said equally as soft.

Summer got up off the couch, where she was sitting with Zach, amused at watching Ryan and Marissa fight. She walked over to Seth in the kitchen and noticed the bottle of Tequila. "What's this?" she asked.

"Well Alex thought it might liven up the party."

"oh." Summer paused, "How um…thoughtful of her."

Seth smiled, "I said the same thing." Seth entered the living room, "hey guys, anybody want a drink? You can have rum in coke, except instead of Rum, Tequila. I don't know what that's called."

Ryan rolled his eyes, "That's alright."

"No thanks man." Zach answered.

"Marissa?" Seth asked, preparing to pour.

"Actually, I'm ok, maybe later."

Alex looked at Marissa oddly, and then answered, "I guess I don't need any either."

"Ok then." Seth put the bottle back on the counter.

Alex walked over to the couch and sat next to Zach. "So, not awkward at all huh?"

Zach smiled, "What could be more normal than hanging out with my ex-girlfriend and her current boyfriend?"

"Or my ex-boyfriend and his current girlfriend." Alex added. Alex watched Marissa and Ryan bicker curiously.

"Ok, Cohen!" Summer hissed, "This is starting to lag!"

"I know!" Seth agreed. "Where's Lindsay?"

"I don't know, but I do know that Ryan and Marissa are being like they were a year ago!"

Seth nodded, "But what about Zach and Alex? We need to do something that can include all of us!" Summer looked at the bottle on the counter. She grabbed it up and gave Seth a smile.

Seth shook his head, "Summer no way!"

Summer pouted, "Well what else are we supposed to do? I don't want to drink it, but we've got a bottle…there is only one game that you're allowed to play with a group of people if you have a bottle!"

Seth rolled his eyes, "Summer, do you know how much sexual tension there is in this room?"

"Fine." Summer said grabbing the bottle away from Seth, "Let's just see what everybody else says." Summer cleared her throat to get everybody's attention. "Ok, so guys, this party needs a little life, so what do you think about a round of spin the bottle?"

Marissa looked at Summer skeptically, "Sum, were not eleven."

Summer pouted, "Fine. You don't have to play." She said, glaring dramatically at Marissa, "But somebody's got to!"

"I'll play." Alex said.

Marissa looked over at her.

"I mean, what the hell right? It'll be entertaining."

Summer smiled, "Thank you! At least somebody will play!"

"I guess I'll play," Zach said reluctantly.

"Wait just a minute Zach," Seth interrupted, "Now, if nobody else will play besides Summer and Alex, than that means that they can obviously only kiss each other…now, I'm no expert in the field of mathematics, but something tells me, I like those odds."

Summer shot Seth a glare, "Zach, you're playing." She announced.

Seth rolled his eyes, "Fine, whatever, I'm in."

The four of them sat in a circle, leaving Marissa and Ryan standing. Marissa looked reluctantly at Ryan, who finally sighed. "Make the circle bigger guys."

Summer squealed, "Yay! This is going to be so much fun you guys!"

"We'll see…" Ryan said skeptically.