A/N; Thanks so much to all of you who reviewed, I'm so glad you're all enjoying it!

"Ryan, does this shirt scream 'Park Ranger' to you?" Seth was standing in the door way to the pool house wearing a decidedly forest green shirt.

Ryan turned as Seth questioned him looking a little puzzled "What? I uh…"

But Seth made his decision before Ryan could even finish "No, that's what I thought" he called as he made his way out of the pool house unbuttoning his shirt as he went "I don't want all of Newport's wildlife following me around all night"

"Newport has Wildlife?" Ryan shook his head, even after living with Seth for well over a year he still had the power to leave him completely baffled.

Five minutes later Seth reappeared "This better buddy?" He was now wearing a pale blue shirt and cream tie and eyeing himself critically in the mirror

"Perfect" Ryan muttered without looking up from the cufflinks he was grappling with.

"Wow. Yes thank you for that well thought out insight" Seth dead-panned finally moving away from the mirror.

Ryan shot him a look "You ready?"

"Absolutely man. I'm ready…ready for anything…and everything. Well yes I'm ready" Seth's foot was tapping manically and his eyes darted around nervously.

"You ok?" Ryan enquired glancing at Seth with a mixture of amusement and alarm. "You seem a little…on edge. Not nervous are you?"

"Nervous? Nervous? Me…Nervous? Why, why why would I be nervous? I mean it's just a dance, it's just Summer. We're…friends, just friends and that…well that is great. This night is…going to be great." Seth's head was nodding up and down distractedly and his eyes were wide with fear.

"Well good man. So long as you're ok" Ryan patted him on the shoulder and walked out of the Pool House.

Seth stared after him, shocked at his apparent lack of concern, before following him into the main house.

Sandy was standing in the kitchen, pre-occupied, as usual, with a bagel, but he looked up as Seth and Ryan walked in. "Hey Men. Looking Good"

"Thanks" said Ryan grabbing the car keys off the side. Seth just stood in the corner still looking a little distracted.

"So…" Sandy began, smirking at his Son "You and Summer eh?"

"Friends Dad. We're going as friends, that's all" Seth snapped.

"Well, that's lovely. She's lucky to have such good friends, willing to make such selfless gestures like escorting her to dances with no ulterior motives. Especially…" said Sandy approaching his Son and ruffling his hair "when you scrub up so well!"

Ryan laughed softly to himself as he watched Seth squirm and Sandy shoot him smug looks.

"Can we just go please?" Seth addressed Ryan as he walked as far away from Sandy as he could and began to walk out the door.

"Sure thing. See you later Sandy"

"See you Boys. Don't be too friendly!"

Sandy's laughter followed them out of the house as Ryan and Seth made their way to the car.

"So we'll swing by Marissa's first then pick up Summer ok?" Ryan asked glancing towards Seth who was sat in the passenger seat of the Range Rover.

"Yeah, you know I still think it would have been better for us to take 2 cars."

"Why we're both going to the same place?"

"True" Nodded Seth "But what if I screw it up or it just generally goes wrong and I have to run away. Then you'll be stranded"

"Seth you're not going to run away because you're not going to screw it up. Like you said, you're happy being friends." Ryan looked across with amusement as Seth's doubtful face. "Besides, I'm going to keep hold of the Car keys"

Seth glared at his brother "Well thanks for the support buddy"

Ryan laughed and pulled into Marissa's driveway "Hold on I'll be back in a sec." he said getting out of the car.

Seth was left alone for several minutes and used the time to try and calm himself down. This was his one opportunity to prove to Summer that they could cope with just being friends and he knew that he could not afford to mess it up.

"Hey Seth" Marissa's voice broke into his thoughts "You excited about tonight?"

Seth turned and noticed Ryan and Marissa exchanging amused looks so he just glared at then and they drove to Summer's house in silence except for Ryan's 'Journey' CD blasting out of the stereo.

Seth's heart beat a little faster as they swung into Summer's driveway "Ok I'll be right back" he said as he opened the door and jogged up the steps to her front door.

Seth was let in by Summer's step-mom and made his way up to his bedroom door. The door was slightly ajar so he just knocked lightly and pushed it open "Hello?"

"Oh hey Cohen. Sorry I just need to find my other earring…" Summer had her back to him as she rooted through a box on her Vanity Unit "… Ah I've got it." A second later she straightened up and spun around to face him.

Seth's jaw dropped "Uh Wow. You look… amazing"

Summer was wearing a satin dress in deep turquoise that hugged her figure all the way down to her hips where the skirt flowed out at the back slightly and down to just below her knees. Her hair was styled exactly how Seth loved it best; in natural waves that framed her stunning face.

Summer gave a slightly self conscious smile "Thanks Cohen. Not looking too shabby yourself! Ah new shoes I see..." she commented looking down at his feet "…clearly the work of somebody with excellent taste"

"Yeah well…that was all me" Seth began shrugging his shoulders with mock-modesty "I've been keeping up with the latest trends in Cosmo…you know how it is. Loafers are making a comeback"

Summer laughed "So I've heard"

Seth glanced at her and held out his arm a little tentatively "Shall we?"

Summer smiled at his old fashioned gesture but took hold of his arm "And here I thought Chivalry was dead"

Seth chuckled at the memories that Summer's comment brought back and held the door open for her as she passed through.

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