Summary: Seth and Marissa enter the world of Comic-Con, the first day of their grand trip.

Story Notes: Follows the next day.

Title of the act comes from… An inside refrence from my husband.

Disclaimer: The O.C. season three premiere tomorrow at 8 p.m. eastern in Canada on CTV and the US on Fox. Watch it, if you physically can. This free advertising is just that free. It's my service for borrowing the characters of The O.C. So no lawyers, ok?

Feedback Notes: Thanks for all the feedback. Also a special thank you to all those who have beta read for me at one time or another. There have been a few of you.

-----

"What is this?"

"It's registration, I think."

Seth circled around the crowed entry searching for signs of where to go.

"Yeah guys, right over there," a guy quickly passing by said to them.

They moved their way through a crowd of hundreds. Marissa shuffled trying her best not to bump into any one person. But of course she did. It was inevitable. One person after another would grunt and huff as she unintentionally turned into them. Then they'd peer down with their beady eyes and give her a discomforting look. She'd shutter on the inside knowing they thought of her as an outcast. But she tried to stay strong and make the best of the situation.

She was here first and foremost to be with Seth. To embark on what could be called their first stop on the pancake trip of North America. Hanging around egocentric geeks who would constantly look down on her was just a small price to pay. For what though, fun times and friendship or the awkwardness of post kisses?

"Hey, we're here for registration," Seth replied to a registration worker.

The attendant was short and with squared out glasses. He eyed Seth's hot companion. Seth watched him cautiously as he looked Marissa up and down. Then, the employee nodded back to Seth and showed a pleased half smile. It was as though he was giving him the ok for having such a hot partner.

Seth took the looks in stride trying not to get jealous. He never wanted to draw attention to the fact that other men looking at Marissa kind of bothered him.

The worker soon noticed how uncomfortable and out of place she would be here and then smirked directly at Marissa. She just blinked her eyes and then turned away trying to focus on her settings. She wanted to familiarize herself with the surroundings of the convention's halls. It was the least she could do.

"Convention passes, names, and registration survey," the attendant replied in a monotone voice.

Seth was distracted as he watched Marissa follow the sights and sounds around her as though she was a wide-eyed infant. She was displaced and he knew it. But it was better to be here with her than alone. He knew this too.

"Gggunt, Convention passes, names, and registration survey," the attendant replied again in a slightly sterner tone.

Seth was taken out of his trance and nodded to the attendant. He then realized what he needed to do. He put down their passes and registration survey and finally spoke.

"Cohen, Seth. Cooper, Marissa," Seth said.

"Thanks, but the names, they're already on your passes and survey."

"Right," Seth said trying to retain some cool.

"Hey, Seth, what are those hot guys over there doing?" "It looks like they are giving the peace sign or something," Marissa said in her usual monotone perk of a voice.

The attendant looked over, sighed, and then went back to his dealings.

Seth instantly looked over and saw three guys posing for a picture, their middle fingers widespread.

"Uh, ahh, the peace sign. That's funny."

"Ok, so what are they doing? Is it like the secret codes of geeks everywhere?"

"Live, long and prosper? Star Trek," Seth said as though he was trying hard to seep the concept into her head.

It wasn't though she was playing dumb, this was just a topic out of her reach. Inferior Sci-Fi series, The Valley, topics of this nature always went above her head.

"No, I haven't heard. But I do know that Mulder guy from The X-Files was really good-looking and addicted to porn. You think he saw my mom's movie?"

Seth couldn't help but grin and laugh. Marissa smiled back. The both of them were genuinely happy.

The attendant quietly laughed and let out a light grunt. Marissa turned to him and wondered why he was smirking. She just shrugged it off.

Seth could tell how annoyed the worker was becoming with Marissa and her lack of geek knowledge. Seth turned into Marissa and gently took her by the shoulders. He slowly guided her a few steps away from the registration table.

"Sweetheart," Seth directed to Marissa.

Marissa cocked up her head and started to smile. She sensed it would be impossible for him resist the romantic implications of being here just the two of them. Seth brought his head down and started to fluster over what he just said and implied. He waggled his head and reworded himself.

"Marissa, listen, please. If you start presenting yourself as the dumb Newport socialite or go so far as to say Spiderman Two was better than Spiderman One you're not going to be looked upon as too cool around here."

"Oh, ok. Well I'll try a little harder."

Seth rushed to his watch and called out the time.

"Heeey, look at that. It's almost one-thirty. Didn't you have that thing booked."

"Well yeah, my hair waxing appointment at La Crux Spa."

"Yeaaah. Well you can't be late for that," Seth said with a bit too much eagerness in his voice.

"Ok…. Wait, are you trying to get rid of me?"

"Nooo, me? I would never."

"Seth, I can take a hint. I'll meet you back at the hotel and we can figure out dinner. Four O'clock sound ok?"

"Yeah, cool." "Enjoy you're waxing," Seth said with a genuine smile as he brought his hand up for a wave goodbye.

The attendant looked up at Seth and gave a look of repulsion. Seth turned to him acting non-the-wiser.

"Here are your wristbands, ok?" "Man, that woman of yours. She's sexy as hell but she's a bit of a dumb bulb."

"Do you get paid to add your own personal commentary," Seth asked. "And she's not dumb. She's just…, out of her element. Plus, she's not my girl. We're just friends…. I mean, we are, we were, friends, that's all."

"Bummer. Anyway, take your wristbands. No band, no entry love."

"Uh, thanks," Seth said in a hesitant tone.

With an extra gleeful smile he became one with his surroundings. Any thought of how awkward it would be sharing a hotel room with Marissa or the aftermath implications of their kiss weren't even in his head at the moment. He was completely focused on the convention and all the joys it would bring him. He then turned away and headed back into the masses of comic loving geeks.