So I want to thank Christine for giving me some positive feedback about this story. At least I know that someone is reading and enjoying it.

I haven't really mapped out this story, so if you review it, I may be able to incorporate your ideas into the story.

Disclaimer: I still don't own The OC or Your Ex-Lover is Dead, but I can certainly use them to help my imagination, right?

Chapter 2: Caught in the Rain

Seth's walk towards Marissa felt like an eternity to him. He was so tired of being around all of these fake people saying how sorry they were that Ryan was dead, and all he wanted was an escape.

"So, you look excited to be here," Seth said quietly as he stood behind Marissa, who was nursing a large glass of vodka with no ice.

"I could say the same for you," she responded. She remembered how Seth hated these parties, and didn't need to see his face to understand how badly he wanted to leave.

"Yeah, that's an understatement. I've been hoping to leave since before I left the cemetery."

"Well, I know you don't want to be here, and I certainly can't stand this place anymore, so why don't we leave?"

"Decorum dictates that I should stay, but Ryan wouldn't want me here, so I guess it's cool to leave." As Seth said Ryan's name Marissa took a very large gulp of her drink. She was trying to forget that he was the reason she was back in this hell, and the vodka had been the only thing, until Seth, that kept her sane during this party.

"Well then, let's get the hell out of here. I feel like every Newpsie is looking at me."

"The large glass of vodka probably didn't help Marissa." As he said that, Marissa shot him an evil look. "Alright…that was better left unsaid, got it."

"Since I know that you've been so good at this, how do we leave without drawing attention to ourselves?"

"We have to be stealth. I'm at home, so it's perfectly normal for me to go my room. We'll go out the window."

Marissa looked at Seth for a minute with a strange look on her face. "You expect me to climb down from your window in this Chanel dress?"

"Umm…well I've never done this with a girl before. You can change into something I've got if that helps."

"It's going to have to; I needed to leave this place five minutes ago."

After that, Seth and Marissa stood away from the bar and managed their way towards the front of house and up the stairs.

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As Marissa ended Seth's room she noticed that not much had changed since Seth had gone away to Columbia. The room was still covered with posters of various bands and there were a few posters of sail boats. She remembered what a goofy guy Seth had been at Harbor. He seemed different, but somehow still unable to escape his life in Newport.

"What's the best thing for me to wear?" she asked as she wondered past the Rooney poster. She was reminded of the time when they along with Anna, Luke, Oliver, Ryan and Summer had seen them. Anytime she remembered Ryan she craved more vodka, but she was hoping for a better distraction in Seth.

"I've got plenty of tees over here, and I guess a pair of my jeans will have to do," Seth commented back.

As Seth wondered over to get a clean pair of 501s, Marissa was struck by how small his frame was compared to most of her male friends. She'd never really looked at him once it was acceptable for her to talk to him, but now that she was standing in his room about to get into a pair of his jeans, she couldn't help it.

He handed her a pair of jeans and his "Have you Hugged My T-shirt" shirt. Seth's awkwardness returned as he didn't know where to stand while Marissa pull up the jeans and put on his t-shirt. Seth's experiences with Summer were never as tender as watching Marissa change in his room. He hadn't had too much luck at Columbia, either.

Marissa was shocked at how much of Seth's reaction made an impression on her. No other boy had been so modest when it came to her body; Luke had been rather violent, and Ryan, well, she wanted to forget right now. Taking Seth's reaction to heart, she looked down at herself; she fit remarkably well into Seth's clothes. The jeans were big, but she didn't really notice. She mentally noted what Seth had done before she made her next move.

"So where are we going to go and how are we going to get there?" she asked.

Seth hadn't thought about where to go after the left the party. In his head, he was still thinking about how he was about to spend time with Marissa. He was surprised by her eagerness to leave, though he understood it. More to the point, he hated so much of Newport that he wasn't sure what to do; the Pier held too many memories of Ryan, as did the beach.

"I hadn't really thought of that, actually," he said frankly.

"Well, unlike you, I've been planning my escape all afternoon," she responded. "Since your cars are in the garage, and I came with Julie, we're going to need a cab. Why don't we head up to SC? I can show you around campus?"

"Sure; anything has to be better than my house right now."

After Seth had agreed to her plan, he went to call a cab for them. No one would notice if a cab showed up, which was exactly what Seth wanted. His mind was wondering as he thought of all the things that could happen with Marissa. He never noticed that the sky was getting darker.

He finally had a call from the cab saying that it was downstairs.

"Cab's here," he said.

"Ok. How should we get down?"

"Well, I usually just find a way down, but that's not going to work."

"Really, I never would have guessed that," she said wryly.

"Fine. Point taken. I'll get down and then help you by telling you where to go."

"What to take charge; Summer always said you were horrible at stuff like that."

Hurt by what Marissa had said, "Well, some things have changed since high school."

Seth, determined to live up to his newfound assertiveness, made his way down from the second story. He waited at the front of the house as he told Marissa the best way to get down.

Just as she touched the drive way, she felt something wet hit her cheek. She looked up and noticed that the sky had grown dark on this February day.

Seth noticed the drop hit Marissa. "If this is going to keep up, we should make our way to the cab sooner rather than later," he said.

"You're right. Let's go!"

She made her way down to the cab, and as she did, Seth couldn't help but notice how well his clothes fit her. The shirt was big, sure, but his jeans hung loosely on her hips. He stood for another second, and at that moment, it started to rain. In a minute, the rain has moved from steady to a downpour.

In that instant it started to pour

Captured a taxi despite all the rain…

So here ends another chapter. I hope you liked it, of course, but if you didn't please let me know what isn't working for you. Seeing as I have a vague idea where this is going, I'd love to have some suggestions about anything to keep you reading.

As a teaser: what will the rain bring?