Chapter Eight
"How much do you think he heard?" Seth asked intuitively, as he shuddered with the idea of his English teacher knowing what Seth really thinks about him. Because Seth graciously listens to rumours, and 75 of the time believes them, it was right about now that he regretted it all.
"I guess he heard it all." Ryan said almost in dismay, seeing that he could never again be partnered up with Seth considering Mr. Gomahon would hold a grudge longer then the world existed. Ryan simply smiled, and shrugged as the podgy Mr. Gomahon stalked off, leaving his personal stench behind.
"What am I going to do? Is it too late to transfer? Do you think he hates me? More then he does already?" Seth was speaking far too fast for human nature. Words were slapping Ryan in the face with no regret. Ryan rolled his eyes, and started to speak in a slow, soothing voice- however nothing worked to calm the psycho Seth.
"Seth Cohen," Ryan paused as he put his hands firmly on Seth's shoulders, ready to shake all the lunacy out of him if necessary. "Stop freaking out! What's the worst that can happen?"
The next day, Seth couldn't help but melt in his seat, "See? This is what happens!" Seth whispered dryly to Ryan, after Mr. Gomahon asked Seth to sing a portion of the poetry they were reading. When Seth collapsed into his chair, the colour in his cheeks finally started to cool down, returning to their normal pale colour, after being so rosy. However, Seth constantly felt dizzy, humiliated… This would definitely not look good on his overall school status: A singing comic book geek. How attractive!
"Mr. Cohen, I see you're talking again. Would you like to sing us chapter 5 of our textbooks? I'll bet it'll be yet another spectacle!" Mr. Gomahon grinned at Seth, and the class seemed to roar in laughter- at least in the narrow mind of Seth. The class' triumphant, mocking laughter made Seth twitch in his seat, and the cackling noise beat rhythmically in his ears.
"I'm sorry for calling you a homosexual!" Seth called out desperately, and the class went utterly silent. Seth grasped his head when he realised the shocked look on Mr. Gomahon's face- not only was it furious, but freakishly distorted in humiliation as well.
"Mr. Seth Cohen," The teacher stopped for a few eternal seconds, "If you think that is why you had to sing for us, you are sadly mistaken." Mr. Gomahon said severely, as his eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. "I appreciate your apology, but once again- your mischief was rewarded with the consequences, definitely not because of personal grudges I have, and will have against you."
"Why doesn't sorry get ya anywhere, anymore? What's the use?" Seth stood up, and slammed his fist (lightly) against his desk, to present his idea of justice? "Why is freedom of speech so neglected? What happened to forgive and forget?" All Seth Cohen needed was the national anthem humming in the background- a flag drifting through the air. But his moment was ruined.
"Sit down, Cohen." Mr. Gomahon ordered almost silently, but grimly all the same. Seth sighed, as if he was deprived of something he had to do. He glared at Mr. Gomahon who was intent on continuing his lesson. Seth started to kick one of the desk's legs, making an irritating, repetitive banging noise.
"Seth." Mr. Gomahon rarely called people 'improperly' without using their last name- Seth imagined that it was out of urgency to make him stop. Seth put his foot down obediently, and folded his hands neatly on his desk- in addition, he smiled as if he were attentive. "Thank you, sir." Mr. Gomahon said seeing Seth, the annoying little vegetable finally co-operating. "Now Seth- can you answer the question?" Mr. Gomahon's voice softened in satisfaction.
Seth pondered for a little bit and then answered, "Mr. Gomahon, are you married?" The class jerked with silent laughter, not wanting to giggle too hard for the fright that Mr. Gomahon's top would skyrocket.
"Yes. 24 beautiful years. With a woman." Mr. Gomahon accented the last portion of his sentence, "Does that mean anything to you?"
"Yes," Seth said for a moment, and he nodded to himself as if he were to approve what he was to say next, "Your wife must be blind, deaf and deprived of all other sensations seeing that she married you." Seth straightened up in his chair, although Mr. Gomahon's glare made him shiver. He wouldn't step down off his role now, though.
"Mr. Cohen, please step outside, with me." Seth almost gasped out loud, but the class seemed to fill up his intentions completely. Seth quivered when he got up, and when he was well outside; the honourable hands of Mr. Gomahon slammed the classroom door. The glass couldn't exactly hear what Mr. Gomahon, other then a few extremely loud outbursts. The saw a large amount of waving of the hands, and Mr. Gomahon's angry face. When Seth walked in, his shoulders were slouched and he was pale as a single, white dove.
"What happened?" Ryan whispered quietly to Seth when he sat down.
"I think I'm going to throw up." Seth admitted, when his face started to change colours from white to a light, pale shade of green.
The following days seemed to pass by uneventfully. Whenever Ryan passed Marissa, his head seemed to naturally fall toward the ground, and he ignored her completely. One day, like in a fairy tale, Ryan saw Summer Roberts leaning against her locker laughing to a group of friends- one of which stood Marissa. He looked at her intrigued, until Seth came and tapped him on the back.
"What are you? In to her?" Seth asked worriedly, but Ryan merely laughed.
"No, idiot. I'm just thinking how perfect she is," Ryan said as he stopped suspensefully, "For you." Ryan nodded and he continued to organize his already messy locker.
"As if. It's like matching a toad with a tiger. Except worse." Seth commented, but Ryan could see how infatuated he was with this girl. As if on cue, Summer looked toward them, still smiling, as she engaged in girl-talk. She nodded to her friends, and she turned around. She started to walk the 'supermodel on the runway' walk, in her pink high heels, and light pink outfit- her hair perfect as usual. Summer pressed her lips together, smudging the newly applied lip gloss against her lips. When she stopped directly in front of Ryan and Seth, Ryan could almost see Seth's heart dance toward the sky. Seth's face was enlightened, but nevertheless shy.
"Ryan Atwood," Summer said in an almost deceptive voice, "Right?" She raised an eyebrow, as if she had no right to wait for a reply. She felt so superior to them two.
"Yeah. And who are you?" Ryan asked almost playing around with her.
"I'll assume you're new here, and you didn't have time to look at the school's most popular b itches." Summer smiled, "Walk with me. Talk with me." She started to say in a more un-snobby tone.
Ryan sighed, and kept his tough guy persona, "Come on Seth." By saying this, Ryan fulfilled Seth's ultimate dream.
"Well you know, umm, I gotta," Seth tried to make himself look less desperate, but judging by the look Summer gave him, she nor Ryan didn't buy it.
"Seth, come on." Ryan said almost ordering him. Ryan walked by Summer, and Seth was on the other extremity. They walked for a little bit in silence, until Summer's voice finally showed up.
"Ryan, you're playing with my friend's heart. Do you have feelings for her, or do you not?" Summer asked very directly, wanting yes or no answers only- no explanations- Ryan knew that. "Ryan, I want honesty. I'm not taking your, or anybody else's bull. God, even my boyfriend doesn't know that yet." Summer complained very circuitously. "But that's no the point. Yes or no answers are fine. Whatever else I want to know, I'll ask." She added.
"Honestly? 'You'," Ryan said almost making 'you' sound like a completely different nation of people, "Want honesty?"
"Is that so hard to believe? I may be popular but damn, I'm not some whore. Dunno what you've been hearing…" Summer gave Ryan an almost disgusted look. "Listen, you're breaking Marissa's heart, and I can't stand if she's so bummed over a guy."
"A guy you don't know, and can't judge." Seth added in the midst. Summer was putting Ryan down, and Seth wouldn't tolerate it even if she was his princess.
"Seth, I don't need to hear it. Thanks." Summer nodded and continued to stare at Ryan, waiting for a reply. "Ryan, I need to know. Or are you not ready for such a commitment? One or the other?"
"I just don't think I'm ready to love someone I find a complete stranger." Ryan replied getting entangled with annoyance when Summer questioned him so rudely.