Chapter Seven:
"Small world, isn't it?" Kate glanced briefly at Ryan as she dropped into the vacant seat beside him.
"Miniscule," she replied dryly. She put her canvas tote bag on the table and huffed out a sigh.
"Last place you want to be right now?" she turned her head and looked at him.
"Definitely," she agreed. But she did feel a little better that there was someone here that she knew, even if it was marginally.
"Hey, Mr. Stevenson said your name was Carpenter-Cole…you related to Marshall Cole?" Ryan watched Kate twist in her seat to look at Seth.
"And you are?" Seth's eyes rounded at the abrupt enquiry and he glanced briefly at Ryan before looking back at her.
"Se…Seth… Cohen…" he semi-stuttered. Ryan had to bite back a smile. Strong minded women always reduced Seth to a gibbering wreck and it looked as though Kate could and would be yet another example.
"Well Seth Cohen, for your information, I am Kate Carpenter, No Katherine and definitely not Cole, like he wishes" the two exchanged a look. Then Kate smiled.
"Nice to meet you by the way" and the look of fear in Seth's eyes began to recede. Kate looked at Ryan again and then grinned.
A day of trying to fit in passed. Well, it wasn't as though she was actively trying to fit in, she was just sick and tired of being stared at time after time. Tomorrow it would be a little better; at least then she wouldn't be a brand new face. Ryan had taken on the role as her guide, helping her out with her schedule, sharing notes in their classes, making sure that she had everything that she needed and as far as she could see, he didn't have an ulterior motive. He was quiet, of very few words, protective too. She'd seen that side of him at the Bait Shop on Saturday night, the way that he'd dealt with her unwanted admirer. Wise beyond his years some might say. Some guys took in her light blonde hair, her blue eyes and automatically assumed that she was fair game for whatever they had in mind but Ryan seemed to be different.
She couldn't believe that he had persuaded her into attending tonight. Nerves leaped in her stomach and more than once she'd been tempted to pick up the phone, call his office and cancel. But he'd persuaded, cajoled even which wasn't like him in the slightest and eventually she'd acquiesced. The Cohen's were having a get together. Nothing fancy, Ryan had assured her, but Seth and Summer were home for a vacation and his parents wanted to celebrate their arrival. Again Kate swallowed at the thought of seeing those people again. Sandy was doing his infamous cook out by the pool, there would be drinks, and music and Ryan assured her that she would have a good time. Why had she agreed? Just the memory of Ryan kissing her in the Bait Shop made her pulse race, her skin heat and there she had her answer. She'd agreed because of Ryan.
The driveway in front of the huge house was filled with cars. Kate got out of the cab and for a second she just stood there. She could hear music playing, hear laughter and once more the nerves in her stomach began to flutter. She may have gone to the same school as these people but she'd never felt as though she'd fitted in. This kind of life was a million miles away from her reality, even though she had enough money than most of them put together. Her fingers tightened on her purse. It was now or never.
She rang the doorbell and waited. It felt like an age before the door finally opened. Kirsten Cohen stood there, tall, blonde and still extremely graceful. For a moment Kate felt seventeen again. She smiled.
"Mrs Cohen," she greeted. Kirsten rolled her eyes and smiled at the same time.
"Please, it's Kirsten. Come on in," and at her invitation Kate stepped inside into the huge lobby. Her eyes took in the high ceilings and the marble floors.
"I'm glad that you could make it," Kirsten continued and Kate smiled still, despite her overpowering nerves.
"Thank you for inviting me," she replied and followed her through the house to the kitchen, through the patio doors and out into the pool area. Automatically Kate's eyes sought Ryan out and her heart lifted when she saw him by the pool house talking to Seth. He was casually attired in faded blue jeans and a darker blue t-shirt. With his blond colouring, the combination looked good on him. She took a deep breath, clutching her purse even tighter. Most of Newport Beach seemed to be here, some faces she recognised from the past, others she didn't. But she knew that they all knew her, or at least they knew her now. She looked away as heads turned and regarded her with a mixture of curiosity and interest. She sneaked a peek down at the Levi's that she wore. Coupled with the vintage rock t-shirt she'd thrown on, she felt distinctly under dressed. She watched as Ryan sensed the shift in atmosphere and looked over. When he saw her, he smiled and walked towards her.
"Hey, I'm glad that you came," and in front of everyone he pressed a kiss on her cheek. She looked at him and smiled nervously. She felt his arm slip across her back, just below her shoulders.
"I almost didn't," she murmured back. His hold tightened slightly.
"But you did and that's what's important,"
"Seth, Summer…you remember Kate Carpenter, right?" It was later, dusk, the shades of the sky deepening with each passing moment. Ryan had been the ultimate host, never leaving her side, introducing her to people, re-newing acquaintances with those she'd only vaguely known the first time around. Julie Cooper's frigid stare still made her feel nervous even after all of this time.
"Who forgets Kate Carpenter…it's nice to see you again," Seth greeted and pressed a kiss against her cheek. Kate looked at Summer and knew very well that she remembered her. Kate also remembered her unswerving loyalty to Marissa.
"It's nice to see you both again. It seems as though life in Los Angeles agrees with you"
"How do you know that we live in LA?" Summer enquired, her tone slightly sharp.
"Who hasn't heard of the mighty Seth Cohen and his comic book empire?" Kate answered calmly and Summer looked faintly embarrassed. Kate regarded her, Summer might be married to Seth, but some of that self-absorption still existed on some level. Seth ducked his head in embarrassment and Kate couldn't help but smile. He'd had such huge dreams in his late teen years and she recognised the expression in his eyes, that he'd actually achieved something and was still in awe of it. She remembered that feeling well though nowadays it was hardly seen anymore.
"So, what are you doing back in Newport Beach anyway? Being a world renowned rock star too boring for you these days?" Summer enquired.
"I thought you read just about every magazine in circulation Summer? I seem to remember you did back in High School," Kate replied at the little barb. Once was okay, two was pushing it.
"Kate bought the Bait Shop. We're going to renovate it, refurbish it and reopen it" Ryan replied. Kate looked at him, a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach at the "we" part. She looked back at Seth to see him smile.
"You are? That's so cool," he breathed and Kate smiled softly.
"The place has special memories for me, for everyone I think and I thought it would be a shame to let it be forgotten,"
"So you've hired my mom and Ryan's company to do the renovation?" Kate glanced at Ryan again and she nodded.
"I'm hoping work will start soon".
Chapter Eight:
"I really thought that Marissa would be here," Kate commented. It was full dark now and she was content to sit beside the pool with just Ryan for company. The crowd had thinned out considerably. A mild breeze washed against her skin and played idly with her hair. Ryan could only look at her. At the mention of his old love, he smiled in a slow, absent kind of way.
"She doesn't live around here anymore, that's why she isn't here," he told her and she looked at him more fully.
"She doesn't?" he slowly shook his head.
"She prefers to keep to herself. She lives just outside of Los Angeles, just her and her daughter." Kate's eyes widened even further.
"She has a child now? I am so out of the loop"
"Yeah believe it or not. Mia is six or seven now. Marissa's happy, she's a good mom," Kate tried to envisage Marissa Cooper as a mother and really couldn't. She'd heard the stories about her, her brush with alcoholism, the disgrace of her father's criminal activities, the Tijuana scandal, her relationship with her mother, she had been the Holy Grail of all things scandalous to the more shallow members of Newport Beach society.
"She was very troubled I seem to remember," she said softly. Ryan looked at her.
"Yeah, she was. But she's put all that behind her now. She's happy," Kate stared back at him.
"I'm glad," she murmured. She watched Ryan lean forwards and he kissed her gently. The embrace was soft, almost teasing but it left her wanting more.
"And for the record, I'm not Mia's father," he murmured for her ears only. Kate frowned slightly.
"Why would I think that?" Ryan moved an inch away from her, a movement that she noticed and remembered.
"Because of our history. And people still like to talk," Kate leaned over and lay her hand against his face and he looked at her sharply.
"The thought never crossed my mind Ryan. If Mia had been your daughter, you'd have said so," she told him. His expression changed.
"You know, even now there are people here that want to believe the worst of me, even after all this time," she could hear the frustration colouring his voice.
"I know. They're not worth worrying over. Those who know you best of all don't judge you on your past. Those who cling to it aren't worth having as friends," she told him. She lowered her hand to his shoulder. He smiled, faintly embarrassed.
"How did you get to become so…"
"Grown up? Philosophical?" she smiled at his soft laugh and her hand slipped down to cover his hand. She shrugged.
"I don't know. I guess it must've crept up on me over the years,"
They were all alone now. Kate watched him glance at his watch and his eyes widened.
"Hey, it's gone two a.m" he exclaimed and her eyes widened. She sat bolt upright from the lounger she'd been reclining on.
"It is? We must be the last ones here. I hope Sandy and Kirsten aren't waiting up for us to leave?" she began to get to her feet and then turned to the house. All the lights were off; there was no sign of life. She looked back at Ryan who now stood beside her.
"I guess it's too late to call for a cab?" he looked at her.
"Not really, But there's the pool house" she turned her head to look at the small building. It had been where Ryan had 'lived' during his teens. She looked at him.
"I could still call you a cab if you want me to but the pool house has a big bed and there would be absolutely no strings…I promise," he explained.
"Would the Cohen's mind?" Ryan took her hand and they slowly walked around the edge of the pool.
"They won't. Want to try it?" she looked at him and took a deep breath, ignoring the butterflies dancing in her stomach. She nodded.
He unlocked the door and opened it. He stood back as Kate went inside. It looked just the same, just redecorated but she remembered spending time here with Ryan, talking, studying and laughing, playing the occasional video game. She also took the opportunity to hide here when home life got too much for her. He always welcomed her in, no questions asked. He didn't ask her why or what had happened and they never talked about it, it was as though on some unspoken level he just knew and understood. A shiver ran up and down her spine at the memory. She wasn't a teen any more. She turned and saw the bed, it was as huge as she remembered, could easily accommodate four people. She glanced at him as he followed her inside and closed the door behind him.
"You could drive a truck through that bed and still have room to sleep," she quipped. The tension in the air came alive the second he closed the door. She stood and watched him close the ceiling to floor blinds and switch on a couple of lamps, bathing the room in a soft glow. He straightened and looked at her. The air had a tingle to it and an absurd though had Kate thinking that it had nothing to do with static electricity.