Summary: Seth metaphorical gets lost in the department store Chrismukkah shopping. A surprise visit from Summer and an impromptu appearance from Taylor barely changes his moods. And while he may be longing for a certain someone else her appearance doesn't allow for current patterns to change.

Story Notes: Taylor makes a special appearance. Being she was a fixed character of Newport High this season and there was no indication that she just came to the school this year I have to presume she had been there all along. That's why I added her in. You don't have to know much back-story except that she is on the social committee.

The title of this act comes from "Different Names For The Same Thing" by Death Cab for Cutie.

Disclaimer: My Seth and Marissa decoder ring arrived to me safely and just in time for Christmas. Oddly though, when I watched episodes my decoder ring reaffirmed what I already knew. Underneath the sarcasm, split seconds glances, and brief chatter, was a hot burning passion for one another. Unfortunately I don't own the blinded passion or Seth and Marissa. That's just the breaks in the business of Fan Fiction writing.

Feedback: Feedback is love. And I do enjoy it so. Please leave your words of encouragement or simply how I can improve.

-- ---- --- -----

"What's going on guys," Summer asked as she turned around the accessory rack to catch a glimpse of Seth mulling over some winter gloves.

Seth responded as only he could these days, with little wit and a stark physical expression.

"Wait a minute, where's Ryan? And please tell me you are not buying those gloves for your mother. God you'd think they know we live in the O.C. No cold, no glove."

"I think it's no glove, no love and…"

"Whatever. Where's Chino?"

"Chino in Chino."

"Right. You look so lost without your better half," Summer said as she frowned her lower lip.

Seth's face casually dropped to the ground. He did his best to ignore her words. Normally he would have been missing the companion of his best friend. Had this been another month, maybe last year, he would have been devastated to endure the task of Chrismukkah shopping without Ryan. But now was different. Suddenly he was barely missing Ryan at all. As he drifted in a sea of winter gloves no one in Newport would ever wear he realized the interjection and advice of the female kind would have been his saving grace. It could have been his saving grace had it been Marissa.

Seth wasn't given a moment to verbally respond to Summer. A distant voice carried over to them. It kept him comfortable silenced.

"Well hello boy, girl," the rather cheery voice said, her mood only changing when she said the last word. "Are you two Christmas shopping for the blessed family or the heathens of Newport?"

The chipper voice resonated over the moods of the moment for Seth and Summer. Summer could clearly pick up on the speedy talk. She knew it was the worst of all her enemies, Taylor Townsend. Seth shuddered at the word Christmas and scoffed.

"Well I wasn't planning on putting you on Chrismukkah list this year," Summer sharply said back.

"Right, Chris-mu-kkah. The wonderful festival of lights and a baby named Jesus. That'll put my sprits, just to remember the true meaning of Chrismukkah," Seth added.

"Which is what again," Summer asked.

Seth stood flabbergasted. He knew little to say and rather acted speechless. When he heard the slight sounds of Taylor's voice chiming in he used it to divert his attentions.

"Oooh, like, like Christmas and Hanukkah! That is just too cute," Taylor said with a wide smile thrown towards Seth's direction.

Summer was obviously annoyed that Taylor was willingly ignoring her and easily submitting to Seth's charm.

"So is there a reason for your presence or are you just here to suck the life out of our day," Summer asked.

"Well, I just had to remind you all about the child-parent host Christmas party. I have so many brilliant ideas don't you think?"

Both Seth and Summer found themselves struggling for words. Taylor perked her head to the side and smile as though she was figuratively patting herself on her back.

"Sure, if you want to see my step-mom on her extra happy pills," Summer finally said.

"Well, what about your real mom. Steps are so passé anyway."

Seth stood unflinching and un-amused by Taylor's stupidity.

"My mom passed away, last summer."

"Oh, well, step-mom on happy pills it is. Anyway, it will be fun. Couldn't give you anything but."

"You could give me a rash which is why I think I'll just be walking this way," Summer said as she turned to face Taylor.

"Hey guys, no need to run. Festive times are here. I was just going to tell Taylor all about the story of Chrismu…," Seth frantically said not wanting to be alone and without the guidance of a female.

When it appeared Taylor might not budge and stay for his telling tell he started to rethink his need for companionship.

"Well then I'll leave you to it then. If you see Coop come around would you tell her I'm in the cosmetic department."

"Marissa? She's, she's…"

"Yeah Coop's suppose to be meeting me. Don't know why she's so late. Anyhoo, see you Cohen."

"Don't forget to put out your musical Menorah I got you last year. Nothing says Chrismukkah like the festive lights and jingle of "Grandma got Run Over by a Reindeer"

Summer gave a sardonic smile. Soon after she genuinely laughed knowing Cohen was simply being Cohen. Seth's weird Chrismukkah contraptions and traditions didn't faze Taylor. She had something else on her mind, something she couldn't shake once she heard the name called.

"Oh my God you're going to bring Marissa as your date right? I mean everyone knows you two totally have some weird sexual-love tension thing."

Summer eased her pace as her steps furthered away from Seth. She listened in on their voices in the background.

"They do!" Seth said obviously alarmed.

His eyes fretfully paced to Summer who had now turned back to catch their conversation visually. Not wanting to put any aversions in Summer's head he quickly covered his tracks.

"That's just crazy. Of all the scandalous things to be spoken at Harbor, in Newport."

"So you two are not…"

"Crazy. Crazy!… Absolutely not. And you tell all your little minions… That's just crazy talk."

"Well, sorry then," Taylor said, taken aback by Seth's fanatical behavior.

"As you should be!"

Seth quickly turned away and grabbed the nearest glove.

"Now I'm just gonna return to my, my, my glove shopping."

"Gloves are definitely the way to go," a forth voice chimed in just after Summer disappeared into the distance.

The voice silenced Seth. Before he could muster a word Marissa's hand was easing over his to reach for the matching glove.

Taylor's eyes followed Marissa's delicate movements and how they worked on Seth. Taylor devilishly smiled.

"Well I think I have some tastefully old grandparents to shop for. I… just leave you two… well I'll just leave you two."

These were Taylor's final words before turning away and walking off into the distance. Seth barely heard her speak them. His vision and use of hearing was fixed on one person, Marissa.

"I think you'll want the pair," Marissa said as she handed him the second glove.

Seth's body tensely started to freeze. But his eyes, his head, they slowly shifted towards Marissa's hand coming over his to meet with the other glove in his hand. Gradually his eye contact lifted towards her face. He swallowed back a bit of salvia while his heartbeat raced. When their eyes finally locked he instantly jerked back and dropped the pair of gloves.

"Thanks. I didn't think, well gloves and all," Seth said has he apprehensively picked up the gloves from off the floor.

"My dad's somewhere in the snow and mountains with Hailey, so I thought I'd get him some skiing gloves."

"Right well I was just… for my mom. But I really don't think gloves are her thing anyway I'll just go into the kitchen department and…"

Marissa crocked her eyes. She knew it was strange that he would even consider buying his mom something connected to her coming anywhere near uncooked food.

"Wine glasses? Plastic take-out savers?"

"Uhn, hey, those are clever ideas. So, I'll just be on my way and you have a great Chrismukkah," Seth said as he anxiously held his hand on the glove rack.

"Do you want some help," Marissa casually asked Seth while trying to question his behaviors in her head.

"Cool, it's cool. And you?"

"I'm a complete mess. I can't stand how lovey my mom and Luke are. It's so sickening to think they could actually be in…"

She was about to say the word love when Seth abruptly intervened.

"Right that must suck."

Marissa's mood started to change slightly. She thought for a moment that Seth was actually willing to listen and lend support. But she was proved wrong when he quickly interjected before she could say her more telling words. And then of course they were the physical signs. Slowly, Seth started to pace backwards and continually looked back as though he was looking out for the easiest exit. She knew she now had to set herself up to be let down.

"Summer! She told me to tell you she's in the cosmetic department. So I better let you go find her."

"Ok," Marissa said in a confused tone.

Patterns were on a constant repeat. Seth awkwardly walked away from the rack of gloves and away from Marissa. It's not that he wanted to. Deep down he wished he could have stayed with her, even did some Chrismukkah shopping with her and Summer. But he knew from the moments he spent with her over Thanksgiving, briefly alone in her bedroom, that further time spent with her would only make him long for her more. And he surely didn't want to give off any signs to Summer that Marissa and he were that connected to each other. It was starting to become too apparent. And he already knew Summer must have been contemplating the notion after he had been the one to be with Marissa after the discovered and startling news that Julie and Luke were dating.

So Marissa was left sighing and wondering what had gone wrong yet again. But she didn't spend much time in thought. She was beginning to train herself in to handling moments like this. And handling meant returning back to her normal routines without wasting too much time fretting over Seth's avoidance of her.