~Lies-3~
The doorbell was ringing before Seth was even dressed. He muttered "Half an hour my ass" as he tried to put on his jeans while walking down the stairs. Somehow managing not to kill himself or break any extremities, he stopped at the bottom of the stairs to zip them up and started with his shirt. The doorbell rang again. Patience had certainly never been one of Summer's virtues. He rolled his eyes and jogged to the door, opening it with only one arm and half of his head in the polo shirt.
Summer looked up and took a step back, surprised but obviously taking notice of his bare chest and stomach. She glanced away quickly as he finally managed to finish dressing. There was an awkward silence. She caught his gaze. "So Cohen. You always did have trouble with your shirts." She smiled hesitantly, just a little.
He had seen a few of those rare, soft smiles of hers he had always liked to think were reserved just for him. Of course they all occurred in that short period of time after she confessed her real feelings for him right up until he had crushed said feelings. He missed them. Seth had a flashback of their time in Ryan's bed on Thanksgiving. "I believe it was you that generally had problems with my clothing." She had given up in frustration yet again, demanding he remove his own shirt and be quick about it when they were on their date. "Come in, Roberts. What is SO important that you would lower yourself to talk to a jerk like me?"
Summer seemed uncertain. "Maybe we should go for a ride. No one can hear this conversation. And I mean NO one."
He left her standing in front of the open door and walked toward the kitchen. "My parents are out of town and I need to eat. Quit standing out there and shut the door behind you."
She followed him into the kitchen and sat at the island. "Look Seth. This doesn't change anything. Between us I mean. I have a major problem and I don't know what to do and you - you're the only one I can think of to talk to right now."
"I'm making breakfast. Do you want some? And does that mean you didn't really want to talk to Ryan?" Seth grabbed bacon and eggs out of the refrigerator and got them going on the stove.
"I - well, kind of. But it's better if I talk to you first, I think. I'll take an egg, thanks." She watched nervously as he flipped the bacon and eggs.
"What about Marissa? Isn't she your -?"
"Damn it Cohen! I can't talk to her! This is serious and I don't know what to do!" She was on the verge of tears and hated admitting that she needed his help.
Seth turned to look at her, worried by her emotional outburst. "Are you ok? Did someone hurt you, Summer?" He quickly put the food on plates and sat down next to her. "What's going on?"
She took a deep breath. "It's not about me. Look, I went to a party last night at Neelander's. I was talking to him and he told me he'd seen something. Something bad. I don't know whether it's just gossip or true but I can't imagine why he'd make it up and I keep going three different directions on how to deal with it." Her words were running together as her voice got louder.
Seth put his hand on her shoulder. "Ok. Take it down a notch. Everything's all right." He got up and poured her a glass of orange juice. "Here. Take a drink and breathe. You're gonna pass out or something equally night-time drama-ish."
She drank and took a couple of deep breaths.
He watched her, concerned. "Better?"
She nodded.
"Ok. Tell me what Neelander said. No wait. First. Does he by chance live in a tan house right on the beach and have someone in his crew that likes Britney?"
Summer rolled her eyes. "That would be his girlfriend. She's a freshman, and was like so upset when her CD accidentally met a tragic end. And how do you know that, anyway?"
"I was there last night too. What did he tell you?" Seth replied quietly.
Summer's eyes widened in surprise. "You were there?" She took another long breath. "He said - God Seth - He said he saw Jake and Marissa come out of a bedroom together holding hands and sneak out of the house the back way. She was - uh - a mess. He said it was obvious they'd been - they'd been - Oh God! I can't believe this. He's just making it up, right? She and Ryan are like, in love and all that sappy stuff! Right?" She looked up, begging him with her eyes to say something that would make it all a joke. He was so good at that. He could go on one of his rants about anything and make it hilarious. She'd laugh and realize how silly she'd been, and they'd eat their breakfast and go on with the day. But nothing funny was coming out of his mouth.
Seth rubbed his forehead for a moment and got up from the stool. He grabbed her elbow and gently guided her into the den. She sat down and he folded one long leg under himself and faced her on the couch. "It's true, Summer. I saw them."
Her eyes widened. "Oh my God, was Ryan with you? Did he see-?"
He shook his head quickly. "No. I went by myself."
"What were you doing there by yourself? Isn't that kind of like, asking for a fight?"
Seth knew what she doing. She didn't want to process the situation so she was sidetracking. Typical Summer. "Believe it or not, my small amount of time being with you has raised my social worthiness out of the toilet. People pretty much leave me alone instead of the normal instant harassment." He looked at the floor. "And I was there looking for you. But we need to talk about Marissa. I was up all night trying to figure out what to do."
"So was I! It kept going around and around in my head until I felt like screaming. Tell Ryan? Tell Marissa? -"
Seth finished it with her. "- or keep your mouth shut. I know. All night long. I can't figure out what the best thing is to do, and I don't want to screw everything up with the wrong choice." He stretched his legs out in front of him and fell back into the couch.
"You really saw them?" Summer's voice was small and quiet.
He didn't look at her. "Yeah. I couldn't find you so I was basically hiding in the bathroom. It went quiet when I came out into the hall and I heard her talking. She was in a room without the door shut all the way so I thought she was just in there talking with a friend or maybe Ryan. Then I heard a guy and looked in and it was - bad."
"Are you sure it was her? Maybe they were just talking or something." Summer still had hope.
"I don't think grinding on top of someone with your hand up her shirt is considered talking in most of the free world. And then she - she, she sat up to take her shirt off and her face was clearly visible. It was definitely Marissa."
Summer sat back, stunned. Then she began to cry.
Seth averted his eyes, not knowing the proper action to take with one's crying ex-girlfriend that hated you. Somebody needed to write a book with the rules. Should he - do something? It was killing him to see her cry. Would it make her mad if he - ? He couldn't stand it any longer and reached for her, pulling her into him and holding her tightly. She automatically shifted her legs around to lay on the couch and buried her face in his shoulder. "I thought - this is so wrong. Seth, Ryan's so GOOD to her! I thought she was doing better seeing the shrink and all she talks about is how sweet Ryan is and how much he cares and takes care of her and how much she loves him! Why would she do this? And she's grounded! How did she do this?"
He silently shook his head. Summer cried for a while, then finally fell silent. " Do you feel like eating now?" She shook her head against his chest. "Me either."
"I'm so tired, Seth. Can I just - stay here for a while?"
He looked down at her and stroked her hair. Her face was pale and she seemed exhausted after sobbing out her tension and confusion. If her night was anything like his, she'd spent most of it feeling like she'd grabbed onto a live wire. "Of course you can. Here, stretch out and get comfortable." He reached behind them and grabbed a throw from the top of the couch. He was spreading it over her when she said no. "You don't want a cover?"
"No. Yes. I mean .You too. You were up all night too."
Seth hesitated, wondering how good of an idea that was. It would be twice as rough later when she hated him again.
"Please, Seth?"
After the crying there was no way he could resist a plea like that. She was tired and upset and just wanted some comfort. Don't let yourself think it means anything. Take what you can while you can, Cohen, and deal with later when it happens. They shifted around until they were both lying covered with the throw, wrapped around each other. Seth settled in and relaxed, aching inside at how familiar and good it felt to have her warm body against his and her arms around him once again. He stroked her hair and yet again mentally kicked himself for screwing things up so badly. It could have always been like this. He felt infinitely better having someone to share this horrible secret with, anyway. They could figure out what to do later. He felt extremely warm and content and sleepy. Without thinking he brushed kisses across her forehead like he used to do. She murmured something he couldn't quite hear and he fell asleep determined to beg her for another chance when they woke up.
****
The doorbell was ringing before Seth was even dressed. He muttered "Half an hour my ass" as he tried to put on his jeans while walking down the stairs. Somehow managing not to kill himself or break any extremities, he stopped at the bottom of the stairs to zip them up and started with his shirt. The doorbell rang again. Patience had certainly never been one of Summer's virtues. He rolled his eyes and jogged to the door, opening it with only one arm and half of his head in the polo shirt.
Summer looked up and took a step back, surprised but obviously taking notice of his bare chest and stomach. She glanced away quickly as he finally managed to finish dressing. There was an awkward silence. She caught his gaze. "So Cohen. You always did have trouble with your shirts." She smiled hesitantly, just a little.
He had seen a few of those rare, soft smiles of hers he had always liked to think were reserved just for him. Of course they all occurred in that short period of time after she confessed her real feelings for him right up until he had crushed said feelings. He missed them. Seth had a flashback of their time in Ryan's bed on Thanksgiving. "I believe it was you that generally had problems with my clothing." She had given up in frustration yet again, demanding he remove his own shirt and be quick about it when they were on their date. "Come in, Roberts. What is SO important that you would lower yourself to talk to a jerk like me?"
Summer seemed uncertain. "Maybe we should go for a ride. No one can hear this conversation. And I mean NO one."
He left her standing in front of the open door and walked toward the kitchen. "My parents are out of town and I need to eat. Quit standing out there and shut the door behind you."
She followed him into the kitchen and sat at the island. "Look Seth. This doesn't change anything. Between us I mean. I have a major problem and I don't know what to do and you - you're the only one I can think of to talk to right now."
"I'm making breakfast. Do you want some? And does that mean you didn't really want to talk to Ryan?" Seth grabbed bacon and eggs out of the refrigerator and got them going on the stove.
"I - well, kind of. But it's better if I talk to you first, I think. I'll take an egg, thanks." She watched nervously as he flipped the bacon and eggs.
"What about Marissa? Isn't she your -?"
"Damn it Cohen! I can't talk to her! This is serious and I don't know what to do!" She was on the verge of tears and hated admitting that she needed his help.
Seth turned to look at her, worried by her emotional outburst. "Are you ok? Did someone hurt you, Summer?" He quickly put the food on plates and sat down next to her. "What's going on?"
She took a deep breath. "It's not about me. Look, I went to a party last night at Neelander's. I was talking to him and he told me he'd seen something. Something bad. I don't know whether it's just gossip or true but I can't imagine why he'd make it up and I keep going three different directions on how to deal with it." Her words were running together as her voice got louder.
Seth put his hand on her shoulder. "Ok. Take it down a notch. Everything's all right." He got up and poured her a glass of orange juice. "Here. Take a drink and breathe. You're gonna pass out or something equally night-time drama-ish."
She drank and took a couple of deep breaths.
He watched her, concerned. "Better?"
She nodded.
"Ok. Tell me what Neelander said. No wait. First. Does he by chance live in a tan house right on the beach and have someone in his crew that likes Britney?"
Summer rolled her eyes. "That would be his girlfriend. She's a freshman, and was like so upset when her CD accidentally met a tragic end. And how do you know that, anyway?"
"I was there last night too. What did he tell you?" Seth replied quietly.
Summer's eyes widened in surprise. "You were there?" She took another long breath. "He said - God Seth - He said he saw Jake and Marissa come out of a bedroom together holding hands and sneak out of the house the back way. She was - uh - a mess. He said it was obvious they'd been - they'd been - Oh God! I can't believe this. He's just making it up, right? She and Ryan are like, in love and all that sappy stuff! Right?" She looked up, begging him with her eyes to say something that would make it all a joke. He was so good at that. He could go on one of his rants about anything and make it hilarious. She'd laugh and realize how silly she'd been, and they'd eat their breakfast and go on with the day. But nothing funny was coming out of his mouth.
Seth rubbed his forehead for a moment and got up from the stool. He grabbed her elbow and gently guided her into the den. She sat down and he folded one long leg under himself and faced her on the couch. "It's true, Summer. I saw them."
Her eyes widened. "Oh my God, was Ryan with you? Did he see-?"
He shook his head quickly. "No. I went by myself."
"What were you doing there by yourself? Isn't that kind of like, asking for a fight?"
Seth knew what she doing. She didn't want to process the situation so she was sidetracking. Typical Summer. "Believe it or not, my small amount of time being with you has raised my social worthiness out of the toilet. People pretty much leave me alone instead of the normal instant harassment." He looked at the floor. "And I was there looking for you. But we need to talk about Marissa. I was up all night trying to figure out what to do."
"So was I! It kept going around and around in my head until I felt like screaming. Tell Ryan? Tell Marissa? -"
Seth finished it with her. "- or keep your mouth shut. I know. All night long. I can't figure out what the best thing is to do, and I don't want to screw everything up with the wrong choice." He stretched his legs out in front of him and fell back into the couch.
"You really saw them?" Summer's voice was small and quiet.
He didn't look at her. "Yeah. I couldn't find you so I was basically hiding in the bathroom. It went quiet when I came out into the hall and I heard her talking. She was in a room without the door shut all the way so I thought she was just in there talking with a friend or maybe Ryan. Then I heard a guy and looked in and it was - bad."
"Are you sure it was her? Maybe they were just talking or something." Summer still had hope.
"I don't think grinding on top of someone with your hand up her shirt is considered talking in most of the free world. And then she - she, she sat up to take her shirt off and her face was clearly visible. It was definitely Marissa."
Summer sat back, stunned. Then she began to cry.
Seth averted his eyes, not knowing the proper action to take with one's crying ex-girlfriend that hated you. Somebody needed to write a book with the rules. Should he - do something? It was killing him to see her cry. Would it make her mad if he - ? He couldn't stand it any longer and reached for her, pulling her into him and holding her tightly. She automatically shifted her legs around to lay on the couch and buried her face in his shoulder. "I thought - this is so wrong. Seth, Ryan's so GOOD to her! I thought she was doing better seeing the shrink and all she talks about is how sweet Ryan is and how much he cares and takes care of her and how much she loves him! Why would she do this? And she's grounded! How did she do this?"
He silently shook his head. Summer cried for a while, then finally fell silent. " Do you feel like eating now?" She shook her head against his chest. "Me either."
"I'm so tired, Seth. Can I just - stay here for a while?"
He looked down at her and stroked her hair. Her face was pale and she seemed exhausted after sobbing out her tension and confusion. If her night was anything like his, she'd spent most of it feeling like she'd grabbed onto a live wire. "Of course you can. Here, stretch out and get comfortable." He reached behind them and grabbed a throw from the top of the couch. He was spreading it over her when she said no. "You don't want a cover?"
"No. Yes. I mean .You too. You were up all night too."
Seth hesitated, wondering how good of an idea that was. It would be twice as rough later when she hated him again.
"Please, Seth?"
After the crying there was no way he could resist a plea like that. She was tired and upset and just wanted some comfort. Don't let yourself think it means anything. Take what you can while you can, Cohen, and deal with later when it happens. They shifted around until they were both lying covered with the throw, wrapped around each other. Seth settled in and relaxed, aching inside at how familiar and good it felt to have her warm body against his and her arms around him once again. He stroked her hair and yet again mentally kicked himself for screwing things up so badly. It could have always been like this. He felt infinitely better having someone to share this horrible secret with, anyway. They could figure out what to do later. He felt extremely warm and content and sleepy. Without thinking he brushed kisses across her forehead like he used to do. She murmured something he couldn't quite hear and he fell asleep determined to beg her for another chance when they woke up.
****