(Author's note; Yes, guys; this is the only way I can really communicate with you all… communicate, thank you for your reviews and all that. So again, thanks for the kind reviews. Keep them UPPPP :) pleasseee. I'll only continue writing, if I get at least a few per chapter. Thanks again! S2)

Chapter Nineteen

"You forgot?" Summer hissed, "How convenient, no?" Her voice seemed paralyzed with a certain indescribable anger. Seth couldn't help but smiled ; she looked so cute when she was pissed off. She glared at him coldly, "Okay, I honestly don't want to know what you're thinking now." Her voice chimed almost melodically. Seth was gazing at her intrigued, and it was honestly, creeping Summer out, "Cohen!" Finally Seth awoke, from the sudden yelp, his eyes wide and alert, "Stop staring at me, Cohen…" She whimpered in a whiny voice, as she turned around to face her computer, signing on to her instant messenger.

"So, what am I supposed to do?" Seth asked, as he stared at the back of Summer's glistening hair. Summer rolled her eyes, but Seth couldn't see it.

"Isn't being in my room just enough of a pleasure?" She giggled to herself, and Seth realized it was the truth. Summer looked at him deviously, "Amuse yourself- pants on." She muttered in a way, that made Seth melt in his seat. She really thought he was perverted in his own way. Seth stared at her, his face blank and shocked. Summer raised an eyebrow, "Kidding." She nodded, "If you're going to follow me around, you might as well note when I kid around." She mumbled. Seth was shocked by this as well,

"Whaaat?" He asked, utterly confused, "I follow you around? So what that's the point of my hanging out with you and Marissa? So you can humiliate me further, and tell people I follow you around?" Seth glared at her seamlessly, as he shook his head, "All this time, I thought you had a pretty attractive personality… but really, you're quite the bitch to begin with." Seth started, "Please note, if you're going to invite me to hang out with you, just don't." Seth got up, from her bed, as he went to the door and walked out as awkwardly as he came in.

Summer revered the silence, but inside she felt empty. She ignored the thought, as she continued to instant message a few of her friends, ignoring many on the list. Once Summer was through with the computer, she turned away and flicked on the television screen, but nothing seemed to soothe her boredom. She had an inexplicable feeling in the pit of her stomach, that wasn't there when Seth sat so preciously on her bed. She gulped down, as she shooed the though away as quickly as it came.

Marissa sat cuddled in Ryan's shoulder, as she concentrated on the movie that was flickering out of the television screen. Actually, she wasn't concentrating much on the movie, rather on how right it felt being settled with Ryan. She turned to face him, with a smile, "Kiss me." She muttered.

"Now?" He asked, surprised in the entirety.

"Yes now, you fool, kiss me." She said, and then added, "I'm bored…" She giggled, and soon Ryan's lips were on hers. She cherished the immaculate feeling, but soon it was gone, when he pulled away. Marissa pouted, and Ryan only grinned,

"There." He said, his eyes showing obvious fulfillment. Marissa rolled her eyes,

"You know Ryan, for a guy that has kept me waiting for so long; you kiss me like I'm your sister." Marissa complained, as she smiled to herself. Ryan shrugged, realizing Marissa expected another kiss.

"Well then tell me, what are we?" Ryan said, and he noticed that it made no sense whatsoever, "I mean, are we exclusive? Are we boyfriend and girlfriend, or just seeing each other?" Ryan asked.

"Whatever you're ready for." Marissa said in a softer, but more serious tone. Her yearning for his kiss was there no longer, as she wondered why he would ask such a silly question, "We're here- together- are we not? Doesn't that kind of make us together- or are things in Chino different?" Ryan bit his lip, not knowing if he should continue with what his mind was begging him to say, "I know you're thinking something, Ryan- so spill." She demanded firmly.

"We don't do things different in Chino," Ryan started, and Marissa pressed him further, "You guys do it different here. Remember the first time we met- when you expected me to…" Ryan paused.

"That again?" Marissa groaned disbelievingly, "You're impossible Ryan! Are you ever going to let that go? I thought that was what you wanted." She said on her defense, and Ryan quickly cut in.

"It wasn't what I wanted, the first time we saw each other." Ryan said quickly, and Marissa pulled away from their close, and comfortable position. She stared at him, thinking the situation was absurd.

"So what are we?" Marissa asked defensively, as she stared at Ryan coldly. Ryan didn't know what to say, so the silence killed them both, as it started to eat away at them, "You don't know…" Marissa asked, seeming entirely hurt, but Ryan still didn't answer. Instead, he looked away, which stung Marissa in a way she could not describe, "I think I should go." She lowered her eyes, as she started to get up, "I thought things were going to be okay now, I thought this was going to be it – us, boyfriend and girlfriend." She said gently, "Guess not. Guess I have to be the one hurting in the end- I always am." Marissa sighed, as she touched the doorknob of the door. It sent chills down her spine, "I just can't believe you would, well, lead me on to believe that you wanted this, and that you didn't just want some make out buddy."

"I didn't lead you on." Ryan said, as he got up, and walked over to her, "What I mean by 'What are we' is that I just wanted to know if it was official… I wanted to know if I could brag to my friends yet, or if I should keep it quiet for a bit longer." Ryan blushed, and Marissa tried to hide her enlightenment.

"Shut up." Marissa pouted, as she said ever so quietly. Ryan looked straight into her eyes, and he noticed a smile lurking on her lips.

"Why?"

"Cause… I really like you, and I intended to leave here mad at you, and now you're just making things all better." Marissa frowned, "It's not supposed to work that way." She smiled a tiny smile, and Ryan simply shook his head, as he kissed her. Marissa closed her eyes the second their lips touched. Marissa's arms floated to his neck, as Ryan pulled her closer. Marissa finally pulled away from the kiss, "Damn you…" She muttered, before she kissed him again. Ryan chuckled, as he stationed his hands firmly on Marissa's waist.

Once the two finally had enough, they pulled away, almost at the same time. Marissa smiled, "Now that felt like I was your girlfriend. What do you say?" Marissa asked excitedly, her eyes flaring calmly.

"I say, fine- if I have to." Ryan joked, as he laughed at Marissa's shocked face. Marissa then glared at him, realizing it was a joke, as she tapped his shoulder in a punching-like motion. Ryan pecked her lips, and then muttered, "I'll have something to brag about, Marissa Cooper." He grinned.

"I guess I'll have something to brag about as well." Marissa repeated, "But I gotta go, boyfriend- I really do" She added, in case Ryan didn't believe her, "Even though we're neighbours, my mom kills me each time I'm late… plus, she'll think I'm hanging out with Cohen, which she knows is not possible." Marissa giggled, "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" She said, as she pulled away from Ryan's grip, "Bye." She whispered, as she turned to leave.

"Wait," Ryan touched her shoulder, "I'll walk you home." Marissa looked shocked, and then she smiled,

"I live next door, Ryan. I don't think I'll get raped or anything on the way there." Marissa rolled her eyes, giggling.

"It's not that it's just that's what boyfriends do with their girlfriends… and if we're 'together' we might as well start doing the cool stuff, with the goodnight kiss." Ryan grinned.

"Is that all you're in it for? The goodnight kiss?" Marissa asked, her mouth curled in a wide smiled.

"Well, duh- now that I have a hot chick to kiss, I might as well take advantage of it." Ryan smiled, and Marissa took his hand in hers, intertwining their fingers together.

"When you put it that way, come on." Marissa laughed softly.

Seth trudged outside of Summer's house, walking down the sidewalk with his hands in his pockets. Everything that night seemed so perfect until he realized the true Summer beneath. He couldn't comprehend whether or not she was like that all the time, or just because he was Seth Cohen. He kicked a stone underneath his foot violently- everything that happened to him, was because he was Seth Cohen- the comic book geek. It had been like that for ages. He generally had little or no friends, because he was Seth Cohen. God forbid he had a girlfriend, cause yet again- Seth Cohen. Everything added up tremendously, and it all depressed Seth more. There was nothing he understood- nothing.

Why was being a rich, curly-haired, comic book guy such a bad thing at Harbour? Rich- everyone at Harbour was rich. Seth grasped the thought that if he were poor, than he would be even more disliked. Curly-haired ; right, curly hair isn't 'in' if it's not longer then what guy's hair usually should be. As for comic books? Seth should have put down the first comic book he had ever touched, with the thought that it would get him nowhere in life.

Seth felt miserable, as he carried his feet one after the other, slowly and gradually. He figured he's eventually be able to get home, without getting mobbed, beat up, or jumped. He frowned, unable to understand why to Summer Roberts, he would always be just Seth Cohen.