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, now will I ever own, anything.
Pairing: Seth/Marissa.
Feedback: Thanks to all reviewers! I seriously appreciate it SO much:)
moon,gates,slaying- Sorry to leave ya hanging all the time. As you've probably realized, I am terrible at updating- it takes me forever! But thanks for always reading and reviewing, anyway! I really appreciate it:)
TutorGurlTigger- Sorry for leaving ya with that cliffhanger, lol. I'm glad you like my writing, and I'm really glad you like the story! I was kind of reluctant about writing a Seth/Marissa story. I was honestly expecting more negative than positive input. But I'm glad you like them together, because their my favorite pairing! ;)
perla- Yay! Another Seth/Marissa fan! Glad ya like it, please keep reading:)
Laugh-a-Lot Bear- Thanks for reading, reviewing, and enjoying the story! I love all the positive input! Thanks again! ;)
LivingintheOCsucks- Glad ya liked it, thanks for reading:) (Oh, and please keep reading! I'm really nervous that I may have lost some readers on account of delayed updates)
anailuj- Rage blackouts from Summer are always fun.. maybe sometime in the future? Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! Happy belated Chrismukkah! lol. ;)
CutieCay22- Aww.. thanks! I'm happy that my story was an exception! ;)
goingtoazbaby1804- Yep, Ryan and Summer are back, we'll probably be seeing more of them in upcoming chapters. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing:)
jvogel54321- I'm hoping to start updating at least once a week. That's my goal, but I've been known to procrastinate, so I wouldn't hold me to that! lol. I'll try! Thanks for reading, I'm glad you're enjoying it:)
A/N: I'm kinda burnt from all the feedback notes, so I guess I don't really have much to say. I tried to make it as long as I could, so I hope it's good enough! Enjoy:)
-------
"I thought that Ryan wasn't due until next week.." Marissa said, noticing the change of color on Seth's right eye.
"He showed up early, lucky me." Seth replied, his voice a mixture of bitterness and sarcasm. "You might as well just try on your wedding dress for me, because I don't think it's possible for two people to have any more bad luck."
"Not necessarily..." Marissa replied with a small smile. "I mean, black looks good on you.."
"Funny," Seth forced a smile. "Marissa Cooper cracking jokes- what has happened to the world?"
She playfully shoved him, causing him to slightly lose his balance. He automatically threw his arms out, hoping to stabilize himself. Clearly, he was taking every precaution possible not to fall and make a fool of himself.
She took a moment to stop and laugh at him before withdrawing a small piece of paper from her gucci handbag. It was, in her mother's handwriting, a small list of things still left to do for the wedding.
Stop at caterer's- pick up samples
Stop by flower shop- decide on bouquet arrangement
Pick up cake samples at bakery
Stop in for final dress fitting
"Only one more errand." she said happily. "How would you feel about stopping by the bakery and sampling a bunch of different kinds of cake?"
Seth peered over her shoulder to take a peek at the list. "No, no.. that says pick up cake samples."
"Ryan must've messed with your vision when he punched you in the eye." Marissa decided. "because it says pick out."
"Aaah, I see what you're getting at.." he replied with a smile. "Honestly, I didn't know you had it in ya."
"Well, it wouldn't be a complete disaster if our guests were actually chowing down on something normal, now would it?"
"Marissa Cooper, you rebel. I guess it is true what they say- you learn something new everyday."
"Shut up, Cohen." Marissa replied jokingly. "Or you'll find yourself eating trifle instead."
-------
Marissa emerged from the bakery with Seth in tow, having had already picked out and ordered the wedding cake. Why was it that every time she was granted the opportunity to make new memories with Seth, old ones of Ryan alway haunted her? Shoveling the cake into her and Seth's mouths had triggered a flashback of a time when she was doing the same exact thing with Ryan.. right before they all found out that Theresa was pregnant.
She hated herself for it, but she frequently wondered what life would be like if Theresa never would've called. She certainly wouldn't of followed her example and gotten herself knocked up.. soon to be a teen mom.
She sighed and glanced back at Seth, who thankfully had no awareness of the thoughts that were running through her head. "I s'pose you're not quite ready to go home?" she assumed, taking his current relationship with Ryan into consideration.
"Now that you've stated the obvious.." he replied. "What do you want to do?"
She took a deep breath, determined to fight off all thoughts and feelings for Ryan. She was with Seth now, and the more time they spend together, the easier it will become. "I know a place where we can get really good cheese fries down by the pier."
"Then by all means.." Seth replied, holding out his hand for her to lead.
She eagerly accepted it, not only for the fried food, but for the chance to spend more time with him. She never would admit this to him, but he was right. You do learn something new everyday. Seth was full of surprises. She was always aquiring new and exciting information about him. This was, quite possibly, the only thing that she was looking forward to about marriage.. other than the fact that she wouldn't be completely alone when it came to raising a child. She just prayed that she wouldn't have as much trouble with him as Summer did. As a couple, they were just like she and Ryan- on and off. No matter what the circumstances, something or someone was always able to drive a wedge between them.
The recent return of their former beus had already managed to make both Seth and Marissa question.. Was their relationship strong enough to withhold the influence of their first loves? Was Marissa's growing stomach the only thing holding them together at this point? Is Julie Cooper's stubborness the only reason for this wedding?
"Let's go." Marissa smiled bravely, ready and willing to put all of these questions to the test. Sure, what she had with Ryan was great, but how will she ever know what else is out there if she doesn't even look? And besides, she'll end up marrying Seth Cohen no matter what, her mother would see to that, she might as well fall in love with the guy.
-------
Unsure of Ryan's current state, Sandy knocked on the poolhouse door with extra caution. "Ryan?" he said slowly. "You in there?"
Relieved to have heard Sandy's voice rather than Seth's, Ryan invited him in.
"Kid, you've been in here all day.. haven't eaten.. haven't talked to anyone.."
"Under the circumstances, I think I should be excused from family dinners." Ryan stared up at the ceiling, his hands placed underneath his head, and his body flat. The one thing that hadn't changed about Newport, it seemed, was the privacy of the poolhouse, and his ability to feel right at home when lying on his bed- no matter what the situation.
Sandy sat down at the end of the bed and proceeded with his lecture, despite the fact that Ryan refused to make eye contact with him.
"I know that what Seth did could be considered.. unforgiveable, but you gotta try to put yourself in his shoes- see things from his perspective."
Ryan sat up on his bed, realizing that he wouldn't be able to brood in peace until he battled Sandy and his words of wisdom head on. "I work twelve hours a day at a construction site. The trailor park I go home to everyday is very welcoming. The place is just like Chino. I have the life everyone always thought I would have.. the life everyone always thought I deserved. From where I stand, Seth's shoes are looking pretty good."
"Have you ever thought about why he did it- hooked up with Marissa?" Sandy questioned. "Maybe after you left, he wanted to connect with the closest thing to you- the one person who had seen the side of Ryan Atwood that he had never been exposed to."
"Or maybe he did it to get back at me for leaving. Whatever his reasons may be, he's getting the life I've always wanted.. and I get to stand there at the front of the alter and watch as it happens."
"So you decided to take on the role of best man? You're a good man, Ryan. Seth's lucky to have you as a brother."
Ryan looked down guiltily. "You may not feel the same way.. once you've seen what I've done to him."
"You hit him?" Sandy assumed, knowing Ryan all too well. After receiving a regretful expression in response, he went on, "Well, someone ought to have knocked some sense into him.. and I'm glad it was you. Just tell me, are we going to have to order soft touch wedding pictures?" receiving the same response as before, Sandy made a face. "Oof! Not a good day to be Seth!" Finally, Sandy stood up and patted Ryan on the shoulder. "Well, I guess I'll give you some privacy.. but if you ever want to talk, or.. eat.. we'll be waiting."
As Ryan watched him leave, he realized that nobody would ever care about him as much as that man- Sandy Cohen. Putting all of his feelings about Seth and Marissa aside, he came back for a reason: to spend time with his family. He was not going to allow one minor setback prevent him from doing so. Slowly, he climbed off of his bed, hoping that he could find a sesame seed bagel in the bowl, and Sandy and Kirsten sitting in the kitchen.
-------
Review, please! ;)
