Disclaimer: Not mine…

A/N: I really should be studying for my Spanish midterm or at least updating my other fic…but such is life! Many thanks to Spykid18, SVOC Luva, Co, Dogsbody, Kursk, and jhhhhjfjk89 for the reviews. Happy reading!

Chapter 5 - Fashion Island

After the boys had left, Lee had spent the rest of the morning reading by the water. Using the 'lunch money' Kirsten and Sandy had given her she ordered a half sandwich at little café. As she ate, she spotted Seth's beloved Summer and Marissa, the neighbor eating in a booth a few feet away.

Lee watched them have an animated conversation, wondering what exactly made these girls tick. The entire Newport scene seemed so fake, and she was amazed that anyone could keep the entire act up that long. Summer stood up suddenly and hugged Marissa before leaving the restaurant. With her friend gone, Marissa spotted Lee watching her. 'Damn' Lee thought, but gave the other girl a smile and a wave.

"Hi," Marissa walked over with a smile. When they met at Casino Night, they really didn't hit it off, but since the Atwood's were going to be a permanent part of the Newport scene, she figured she could give Lee another chance, "Can I join you?"

"Sure," Lee hid a grimace, trying to give this girl another chance, "Um, I wanted to apologize about when we first met. I was a bit of bitch. Sorry."

"No problem, you had a lot going on."

"That's an understatement," she muttered and Marissa smiled.

"So, you and Ryan are both staying at the Cohen's?"

"Yeah, so I guess we're neighbors."

"Yeah," they lapsed into a silence, "Where are the guys?"

"Shopping."

"Shopping?"

"That's what I said."

"Sorry," Marissa smiled in amusement, "It's just I can't picture Ryan at Fashion Island."

"Wait, Fashion Island?"

"It's the name of Newport's Mall."

"Figures."

"What?"

"Just the name," Lee rolled her eyes, "It's so…Newport."

"What you call malls in Chino?"

"We don't have malls in Chino," she deadpanned.

"You're kidding."

"No," she laughed, "Of course we have malls in Chino, but we just call them malls."

"Cute."

"Thanks."

"So why are the boys shopping?"

"Kirsten decided that Ryan and I need to expand our wardrobe," she shrugged, "Apparently wife-beaters aren't very Newport."

"Well, not exactly," Marissa smiled, "So why aren't you shopping with them?"

"I'm guessing you don't have any brothers, right?"

"Nah, just a little sister."

"I figured, because if you did, you'd know that shopping with big brother is never fun."

"You're probably right."

"I am," she smiled, "But Kirsten's taking me shopping this afternoon."

"That should be fun."

"Seth made it sound like it would be torture."

"That is because Seth is a guy."

"Well, he may have a point," Lee admitted, "Shopping for me has always consisted of hitting a couple thrift shops. I don't know if I'm ready for the Newport Shopping Experience."

"We'll just have to practice," she stood up, "Come on."

"Come where?" she stood up slowly.

"There's some cute boutiques a block from here," Marissa explained, "We can window shop."

"Sure," she agreed, "It's not like I have anything better to do."

"Thanks," she teased.

"Congratulations man," Seth slapped Ryan on the shoulder as they loaded the last of his bags into the Range Rover, "You just survived your first 'Fantasy Island' shopping experience.

"Thanks," Ryan slammed the trunk closed, "I can't believe we bought that much."

"Believe it, because in the O.C. we are all about excess," he got into the car, "But you've been to the parties, so you know that."

"Yeah."

"I'm vibrating. It's probably your sister," Seth announced, grabbing the cell phone from his pocket, "Hello, Marissa?" he answered in surprise and Ryan suddenly looked interested, "Yeah, no, that's cool. We'll see you there," he closed the phone and looked at Ryan, "That was Marissa Cooper."

"I figured," he said dryly, "What did she want?"

"She is with your sister," he started backing the car from the space.

"Lee and Marissa?"

"Apparently they're window shopping," he glanced over at Ryan, "Why are you so shocked?"

"Have you not met my sister?"

"Yeah man, she's living with us."

"She and Marissa have nothing in common."

"Except for you," Seth grinned and Ryan groaned, "Interesting."

"Seth said they'll pick you up here," Marissa put away her cell phone, "Come on; let's grab some iced coffees while we wait."

"You can get yourself something, I'm not thirsty."

"Yeah right," she laughed, "It's sweltering out here."

"I'm good," Lee lied. In truth, she was out of money. She had spent what Kirsten had given her on lunch, her magazine, and the chunky beaded necklace she found with Marissa.

"My treat," she led her inside, "Besides, my friend Summer is meeting me here."

"Summer Roberts?"

"You know her?" Marissa asked in surprise as they got in line.

"Not really," she said quickly, not wanting to mention Seth's infatuation, "I just saw her in passing at Casino Night."

"Oh okay," she turned to order, "Could I get a small iced mocha and…"

"Another small iced mocha," Lee finished, "Thanks Marissa."

"No problem," she smiled as she paid, "You'll like Summer."

"Sure."

"Trust me," Marissa laughed as they got their drinks, "She's a nice person."

"Sure," Lee repeated, taking a sip.

"Look…"

"Coop!" a pretty brunette interrupted them.

"Hey, Sum," Marissa smiled, "We were just talking about you."

"You were?" Summer glanced at Lee, quickly assessing her appearance.

"Yeah we were," she shot her friend a 'be nice' look, "This is Lee Atwood, Ryan's sister. She's staying with the Cohen's too."

"Nice to meet you," Lee offered her hand with a big fake smile.

"Same here," Summer noticed Lee's purse, "I like that purse."

"Really, this?" she held up her small canvas tote that had a handprint and the word 'hand bag' printed on it.

"Yeah, it's kitschy," Summer gave a genuine smile and Marissa gave her a surprised look, "What? I like kitsch."

"So, you want to sit outside?" Marissa asked, noticing that Summer already had her drink.

"Fine by me," Summer looked at Lee again, "You go thrifting, right?"

"Uh, yeah," Lee tried not get upset by the callous assumption that because she was from Chino she could not afford to shop in 'real' stores.

"Cool. I've always wanted to go, but I would have no idea where to go. I mean, I know of some, but they just seem so sketch, and I don't want to go somewhere sketch," she rambled, "We should go sometimes."

"Um, sure," she looked up and was grateful to see the Cohen's Land Rover, "Well that's my ride," she stood up and grabbed her purse, "Thanks for coffee, Marissa."

"Anytime," she smiled, "Bye."

"Bye," Summer added with a wave.

"Bye," Lee practically jumped into the Land Rover, "Drive."

"What?" Seth asked waving at Marissa and Summer, "Don't you want to…"

"Seth. Drive. Now!" she ordered.

"Never do that again," he shuddered as put the car in drive.

"What?" she asked relaxing into the seat, happy to be free of Marissa and Summer. Lee had actually enjoyed herself a bit with Marissa, but it just was so weird.

"One word sentences," he explained, "You sound like my mom. It's creepy."

"I'll work on it," Lee glanced at the bags that filled the back of the car and threw her brother an evil smile, "How was shopping?"

"Fine," Ryan shrugged.

"Good," she grinned.

"How was girl time?" he shot back.

"Fine," she shrugged.

"Good," he replied and they fell into silence.

"Well, aren't you two interesting," Seth rolled his eyes and adjusted the radio, "But that's okay, because we've got Death Cab."

"You changed," Seth looked up from the video game he was playing with Ryan when Lee sat down on one of the side chairs.

"Yeah, so?" she crossed her legs and propped them up on the arm of the chair, careful not to give the boys a show. She still wore her white tank top, but had switched from cut-offs to a brown skirt. With her new necklace around her neck, Lee felt like she could almost pass for someone living in Newport or at least someone living in the numbered streets on a shopping spree.

"Nothing," Seth shrugged, "I'm just making conversation because lord knows you two won't."

"What are you playing?" Lee ignored his comment.

"Grand Theft Auto," Ryan answered, also wanted to prove Seth wrong.

"Did you choose that one?" she smirked as she watched her brother steal cars through virtual reality.

"I figured I'd be good at it," he joked back.

"I bet Trey would be better," Lee joked back before she realized what she had said. Back home that was the kind of thing the Atwood siblings would all laugh about. It's not that they openly condoned the crime, it was just an unavoidable part of their life, "Sorry, bad joke."

"Hey guys!" Kirsten's voice interrupted the awkwardness, "I'm home."

"We're in the TV room," Seth called and she walked into the room, "How was work?"

"Good," Kirsten looked at the teenagers in the room; this was a first for the Cohen house, since Seth was an only child and had never had friends, "How was your day?"

"Good," Seth answered for all of them since Ryan and Lee only gave a half smile in response.

"Did you complete the list?"

"Yes ma'am," Seth saluted.

"Thank you again, Kirsten," Ryan finally said, "You really didn't have to do this, and I'll be you back."

"Don't be ridiculous Ryan," Kirsten shook her head, "You two aren't just tenants in our here, you're members of the household, which means you're going to have to get used to Sandy and Me giving you things, okay?"

"Yeah," he nodded without giving up on his plans to get a job, "But thanks."

"You're welcome," Kirsten smiled and turned to Lee, "Just let me change out of my clothes and then we'll head out, okay?"

"Yeah," she smiled.

"Give me five minutes," Kirsten left the room.

"T-minus five minutes until the most terrifying shopping experience of your life," Seth warned.

"I heard that!" Kirsten called from the stairs.

"I said terrific!" Seth shouted back and then whispered, "Terrifying!"

"Very cute," Kirsten smiled when Lee stepped out in the dressing room in Neimun Marcus wearing an olive green skirt and simple yet classy peach top.

"Thank you," she smiled, happy that Kirsten approved of the outfit she had selected. Kirsten was supportive of whatever Lee chose herself, but would not hesitate to give her opinion if she thought it did not look good. Some may have been bothered by this, but Lee enjoyed her honesty.

"Now put on the one I picked out," she ordered. This was how they had done things since they arrived at the mall. When they entered a store, Lee would naturally gravitate toward the sale rack and select some clothes. Kirsten had quickly picked up on Lee's style and would select similar clothes from the non-sales part of the store.

"So?" Lee emerged from the dressing room again, this time wearing a black, cobalt, and green skirt with a matching blue top and fitted green blazer.

"I love it!" Kirsten clapped her hands, "Do you like it?"

"Yeah," this was a bit preppier than something she would have chosen in Chino, but it was not over the top; Kirsten had done a good job catering to Lee's preferences.

"Good, it's yours," she smiled, "Now change back into your stuff while I check out, and then we'll grab some dinner."

"Sure," Lee stepped back into the dressing room, passing the clothes to Kirsten. As she changed back into her own clothes, she took a moment to breathe. Seth was right in warning her that the Kirsten Cohen shopping experience was a marathon. They had only been to Macy's and Neimun Marcus and they had tripled Lee's wardrobe. Granted, her wardrobe was small, but that did not take away from the intensity of the experience.

"I figured we could grab some food at Mariposa," Kirsten smiled when Lee came out. She had already bought they closed and sent them to her car with the valet, "Since it's right here in the store."

"Okay."

"All right then," she smiled again, trying her best to prevent the awkwardness, but Lee barely spoke in full sentences so it was difficult, "This way."

Kirsten and Lee sat on the outdoor terrace overlooking the ocean at the Mariposa restaurant. Kirsten ordered the grilled shrimp salad while Lee ordered one with mandarin oranges. With the waiter gone, Kirsten was determined to find out more about the newest member of their family.

"After we're done eating there are just a couple more shops we need to visit," she began.

"More?" Lee asked incredulously.

"Yes," she laughed, "All we have so far are the basics. You need more dress clothes."

"You bought me three dresses."

"Those were cocktail dresses suitable for evening events," Kirsten explained, "I figured we could hit Anthropologie to find some that are casual for daytime events. And then we need to get you something formal for Cotillion."

"Cotillion?" she raised an eyebrow, "As in debutantes in white dresses?"

"Yes, it's next weekend," she took a sip of her water, "And next year you can be a deb, if you'd like."

"We'll see."

"Okay," she decided to change the subject so as not to freak out Lee, "And we'll also have to stop at Victoria's Secret to get you some things."

"Look, I've got that covered," she said quickly.

"You're starting high school, you're older, more mature, so you deserve some nice things," Kirsten said and Lee hid a laugh, "What?"

"Nothing."

"Lee."

"I can't believe you just offered to by me sexy lingerie."

"I did not offer to do that!" she said indignantly, "I offered to get you underwear. There was nothing said about it being sexy."

"Whatever," she shook her head.

"Because there is no need for someone your age to need sexy lingerie," Kirsten said seriously.

"Of course not," she thought how freaked Kirsten would be if she heard about Lee's youthful indiscretions; there weren't a lot, but there were a few.

"I mean it."

"Got it," Lee paused, "And I don't worry, I know all about STD's and protection, but there's no need for me to actually use it."

"Good," she looked relieved to be free of that discussion.

"Good," she smirked at Kirsten's discomfort as the waiter set down their salads, "Don't worry, I'm not pregnant."

"I should hope not," she laughed, "Is there a man in your life?"

"Not really."

"And that means?" Kirsten asked, sounding more like a teenaged girl than a real estate mogul.

"Well, there's Luis and we'd…um…hang out," it was Lee's turn to feel awkward, "But Ryan didn't really approve. Luis is a few months older than Ryan, and tended to hang out with Trey's crowd."

"Ah," she nodded, "I've noticed that Ryan's very protective of you."

"Yeah, it's weird," Lee took a bite of her salad, "He's like fourteen months older than me and acts like he's my dad, but I guess someone had to."

"What's the story with your dad?" she asked and added quickly, "If you don't mind me asking."

"Someone my mom was dating, he split when he found out she was pregnant," she stared at her salad, "My mom refused to talk about it, but Trey told me his name was Joe."

"No last name?" Kirsten looked surprised and Lee just shook her head slightly, "Uh, where was Ryan's father."

"Rick was serving 2-3 for something, I don't know," she shrugged, "I was eighteen months when he came back and I guess he was okay with things. When I was seven Rick was arrested for the armed robbery, and that's when we moved to Chino."

"You were in Fresno before that, right?"

"Yeah," Lee could tell they were about to lapse into silence, "Um, have you always lived in Newport?"

"Pretty much," she answered, "I went to college at Berkley, and Sandy and I lived in San Francisco until Seth was six. At one point we were living in the back of a mail truck."

"A mail truck?" that was the last thing Lee expected to hear.

"Yeah," Kirsten remembered fondly, "My Dad never wanted me to go to Berkeley and he really didn't want me to marry Sandy. I wanted to be independent, so we supported ourselves."

"What brought you back to all this?" she gestured at the lavish restaurant.

"My mom was sick, cancer."

"I'm sorry."

"Thanks," Kirsten smiled sadly, "After that, I started working for my Dad at Newport Group and Sandy got a job with the public defender's office here."

"And now you're having lunch with the sister of one of his clients," Lee smirked, "Bet you never thought that would happen."

"Honestly?" she laughed, "Never would have dreamt it."

"Neither had I."

A/N: Please review…you know you want to!