Summary: It's there first night alone and in the same hotel room. The Comic-Con adventure continues.
Story Notes: Story title taken from the poem"Love" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Disclaimer: Not only does this story continue, but so does The O.C. Watch it every Thursday night on CTV or Fox. I have no connection with the cast, the cast's people, crew, or the Kraft service guy. I am merely borrowing these characters for my story.
Feedback Notes: So I'd like to thank God, Josh Schwartz, some guy named McG (what the heck kind of name is that anyway?), and all those special people who have been reading my story and providing me with feedback. And of course the little people. Sorry,... tall people too.
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"What are you doing," Marissa asked Seth.
His face was grinning ear to ear as he laid upright on the bed. In his hands he held a lone picture. He's eyes were fixed on it.
"Defiantly hotter than Summer," Seth muttered under his breath.
Marissa gave Seth an off look and shifted her eyes upward.
"Do I need to give you some alone time or something?"
"Uhn, oh no. I'm cool. We're cool. See?"
Seth turned the photo so it would face Marissa's view point. Marissa squinted as she tried to give it a look.
"God, now that's a woman," Seth said as his whole face lit up.
"Excuse me? All it looks like to me is some Wonder Woman shaking your hand."
"Woo, hold up, some Wonder Woman? Marissa, the Wonder Woman. The only Wonder Woman. No further Wonder Woman movie or TV series need be made."
"Ok."
"She shook my hand! She shook my hand Marissa. I'm never washing this hand again."
Seth was a little eager for the normal person. But he was a comic-loving geek. And he did get to shake the hand of Lynda Carter, the original Wonder Woman. This was a day he would forever remember. And he was happy he got to share it with Marissa.
They were in a quaint little room, just big enough for the two of them. Already their bags and items were strewn all over the dim lit hotel room.
This was, however, their first night alone together in one room. Separate beds offered only so much comfort and ease. But the evening wasn't as awkward as they might of thought it would have been. They had a pleasant evening, an enjoyable evening. They were starting to settle back into the friendship mode they perfected so long ago. Well, at least it seemed so long ago.
"Ok." "Listen, I'm going to change into my pajamas and give you some time to cool. You change out here while I'm in the bathroom."
"Let me just snag…"
"You're bedtime floss?"
Marissa grabbed the floss from the bathroom counter and threw it towards Seth.
"Thanks."
"You better not be doing things when I get out."
"Things? Like flossing things? What's wrong with keeping up with personal dental hygiene?"
Seth paused and then processed what Marissa meant.
"God Marissa, what a dirty mind you have."
Marissa smirked but never said a word as she headed into the bathroom and then shut the door behind her.
"Sherman Oaks is on NTV," Marissa shouted from the bathroom.
Seth already had the TV on.
"I think I've seen this one. It's where Susie has her Gucci birthday party and later maks on her best-friends boyfriend. Hostile cat-fight ensued," Seth said with a bit of glee.
Seth jumped out of bed and headed to his suitcase to pick out some pajamas. With his eyes fixed on the TV, his hands rummaged through his suite case and pulled out a pair of casual, superhero, pajamas. Slowly he started to dress himself. But before he could get the whole assemble on Marissa appeared from the bathroom.
Marissa stopped in her tracks, and stood frozen, as she looked Seth up and down. Much of his chest was still exposed. All she could do was laugh. If this had been days earlier she might not of laughed. She likely might have helped him keep the shirt off. But that fateful day they kissed the breaks were slammed and nothing progressed past a few skin grazes.
Marissa's mind paused briefly as she watched his half naked body. Her mind, after taking in the sheer humor of the moment, turned to thoughts of their kiss and when they made it into bed. But her reflections were clear. She was, at the time, deeply connected with the moment. She knew it was more than mere sexual attraction. Tossed shirts and naked bodies be dammed. All she ever wanted was to feel his body next to her and his warm kisses on her lips. Of course, that wasn't about to happen now.
"Don't you knock or something. I mean call out decent like normal girls do," Seth said as he quickly brought the shirt over his head."
"Awwwn. Batman and Robin pajamas. You know I was totally gonna bring my smurfs but it was too hot."
As Seth's shirt fell over his shoulders, and he pushed it down over his chest, his vision became clear. He could now visible see what Marissa was wearing, a short, golden-pink, nightgown.
"Well, you must be keeping rather cool in that? Do you always wear hooker lingerie to bed?"
"It's Victoria Secret's and I didn't want to overheat."
Marissa walked over to her bed and picked up a pillow. She quickly turned in and whacked Seth with it before moving herself to the edge of the bed.
"OWW!…. Geez, we do have air conditioning you know," Seth responded as he rubbed against the bruised and battered area of his body.
Marissa shrugged her shoulders as she sat on the edge of the bed.
It was starting to seem like old times for Seth and Marissa. Seth was back to making catty remarks. Marissa was back to smiling and laughing at his boyish charms without further implication of wanting to kiss his neck or just hold his hand. For some reason she didn't really notice his sensitive or sensual side tonight.
Seth proceeded towards his bedside table and picked up the remote. Before either of them said a word back to each other he hit the power button. The TV shut off and silence filled the room until Marissa decided to break it.
"Why did you just turn off the TV?"
"I need my beauty rest," Seth said without a smile.
"Ok."
Marissa turned off from the bed and went to its other side. She knelt down and then bent over to pick up Shear Bear who had fallen to the floor.
Seth, while nestling under his covers, caught a glimpse of Marissa from the corner of his eye. Her long, but small frame, curved as she bent to the floor. It was obvious Seth's attentions were now diverted. Marissa may have played the platonic card rather easily. But Seth was still Seth and he couldn't will himself to ignore her beauty and unintentional sexual advances.
A lump of saliva slowly pushed down his throat as he turned his head in motion to watch her every move. As she started to come back up Seth quickly shifted his head and turned in to face the mirror. When he processed the view was the same in the mirror, only reversed, he scrabbled. To cover up his wandering eyes he coughed.
"You need some water?"
"Nope, ok. Really," Seth said as he chocked on his cough.
"Well night Seth."
"Night Marissa."
Each of them turned over in their beds and brought the covers over them.
"You awake?"
"I am now," Seth prudently responded back.
"Sorry."
"No, it's cool. What's up?"
"I had a bad feeling about this weekend."
"What do you mean?"
"It's just, I don't know. Like we're changing to a fix point and there's no turning back."
"Ah, well I could snuggle in bed with you and keep your thoughts adrift from whatever is that's got you down. And by snuggle I mean grope and fondle," Seth said trying to be more humorous than literal.
Marissa sighed and then turned her body over to face Seth. Her face slowly started to change and she began to smile. Seth casually smiled back.
"I knew you wouldn't be able to resist me," Marissa said matter-of-factly.
"I was merely teasing. Snuggling's not my bag anyway."
"Yeah but I bet groping and fondling is. Just don't get any ideas."
"The only dirty thoughts here are coming from Shear Bear. I see the way she's eying Captain Oats." "Anyway, it's not like I planned for us to be in the same room. They were all booked."
"It's ok Seth. It's cool. It's not like I'm going to jump you in the middle of the night or anything. I can't make any promises about Shear Bear though. She's her own woman. She's got a mind of her own."
Seth's eyes wandered towards Marissa and paused. He thought for a brief moment how fun that could actually be, but then flushed the thought out of his head.
"We're two civil, ad… Ok, teenagers. But we're civil right?"
Seth said nothing and then turned to his other side.
"Yeah, sure. And tired."
"Right. Sorry." "Night."
Marissa turned over and hit the light on her bedside table. She started to fall asleep and let the night come to a close. Seth did the same except with one eye open.