Summary: Following the abandonment of Ryan and Summer, Seth and Marissa seek comfort from whom neither had ever anticipated: each other.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Rating: Clean.
Pairing: Seth/Marissa.
Feedback: Lots of reviews this time:) Thanks all! I'm really sorry, this time I cannot respond to each one of you individually. I'm in a big hurry! Sorry!
A/N: Boring, but necessary. Hope ya like it, and please review! Thanks:)
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Seth pulled his mother's range rover into Marissa's driveway and was surprised to find that her shiny, red convertible was already there. When he made the nearly impossible decision to leave Summer and go find Marissa, he was anticipating an hours-long search. After all, she was an expert hider when she wanted to be.
"Marissa!" he called out to her upon entering the house, with the helpful knowledge that her parents were out.
What left him even more bewildered was when she answered, "I'm upstairs," as if nothing had happened.
Once gaining her approval, he jogged up the staircase, anxious to find out what was going on.
"Hey.." he said reluctantly after reaching the doorway to her bedroom.
"Hi Seth."
She didn't sound angry, nor did she sound frustrated.. Exhaustion was the only noticeable characteristic he could pinpoint from those two words.
"I'm... Sorry?"
"For what?" she replied, not budging from her comfortible position on her queen-sized bed. "I would've probably reacted the same way if Ryan came back."
"So I guess we'll be even then?" he said, walking further into the room and contemplating whether or not she would mind if he joined her on the bed.
"Okay, first of all, no you may not join me on the bed," Over the past few weeks, she had gotten pretty good at reading Seth, and knowing beforehand what he was about to do. It was funny, then, that she didn't see this whole Summer-incident coming. "And second, what are you talking about?"
"He got a couple weeks off of work and will be here just in time for the wedding." Seth explained. "Ironically, he doesn't know anything about it. He hasn't contacted us in over a year, but suddenly decided that now would be the perfect time to pop in for a visit."
"And I'm assuming he'll be your best man?"
"Seeing as I have no other friends.. yes, that's probably what will happen."
Marissa sighed apprehensively. She knew that she couldn't hold any grudges against Seth. If they were going to make this work, they had to stick together. "Okay, fine, you can join me on the bed."
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"Coop and Cohen!" Summer repeated for the hundredth time. "Just because their names go good together does not mean that they do."
"Talking to yourself?"
Summer whirled her head around so fast that she nearly pulled a muscle. "Not anymore, apparently. How's it going, Ryan?"
"Well.." he started. "I was having a pretty good day until I walked in and heard you talking."
Summer's brown eyes widened a bit. "How much did you hear?"
"Enough to know that Seth and Marissa are getting married.."
"Oh.." she replied, rereading the invitation she held in her perfectly manicured hand.
"Well, that part is true.. All that stuff about me not being happy for them and wishing Cohen was marrying me instead of Marissa? That's... not."
Ryan dug his calloused hands into the pockets of his grey hoodie. He worked full-time construction in Atlanta. He had always dreamed of being an architect and designing houses.. now he only builds them. He still had the same dirty, blonde hair and muscular physique, but something about him had changed. Despite the fact that he was only nineteen years old, there was wisdom and life experience detectable in his blue eyes.
"What am I talking about? I'm totally jealous!"
Ryan snapped out of his state of daze once realizing that Summer was still
talking.. and not to herself.
"I'm sure you're not feeling this way, though.." Summer went on. "You and Theresa must've tied the knot ages ago. Am I right?"
"No, um.. We're kinda taking things slow.."
"Huh?" Summer replied, twisting a strand of long, dark hair around her finger.
"You guys have a child together and you're taking things slow?"
Ryan paused for a moment. It took Summer's bluntness for him to finally realize how ridiculous that sounded. "Uh... yeah, I guess so."
"Okaaaaaay.." Summer responded with both eyebrows raised. "Well, I think that I'm gonna go back to Coop's and act like none of this ever happened.."
She got up to leave the room, but Ryan stopped her at the doorway.
"Hey, um, could you do me a favor and not mention to Marissa that I'm here?"
"Believe me, Ryan, I'll be spending so much time in the guest bedroom that she wont even know I'm here."
"Uh.. Thanks?" he replied, unsure of the appropriate response.
"Can I give you a word of advice?" Summer asked him, her hand clutched to the doorknob as she was preparing to leave. "Whatever you do, do not let Cohen talk you into being his best man. Trust me, you are not going to want a front row seat for this."
And so, after spending the last two or three hours in Seth's room, Summer made her long overdue exit.
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A/N: Kinda short and not one of my best chapters.. but I wanted to give ya guys something before the holidays, because I'm goin away for the week. Merry Christmas:)
Coming up (hopefully next chapter): Seth/Marissa fluff :)
