Title: The Consequences
Author: In Fair Verona
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Seth and Summer engender a 'rumor' which travels around Newport and learn the consequences of their actions when the unexpected happens.
Shipper: Seth x Summer
Disclaimer: It is all property of FOX, every last bit of it. I don't own anything in this story or related to it.
A/N: -
-
Summer stepped outside into the sunlight, the sun's gentle rays cast a protective shell of warmth over her cold body. It seemed like she'd sat in that freezing dining room for hours contemplating the situation she had found herself in. The situation with Seth Cohen. She had eventually come to a conclusion, well two conclusions. 1.) It was really good sex, and 2.) It did mean isomething/i more. Summer knew more than her reputation was at stake here. This hadn't been just any other drunken shag. Wringing her hands together, she spotted Marissa with the two boys on the tennis court. Ryan and Marissa were going head to head and not showing each other any mercy while Seth sat along the side reading a book. As Summer approached them, she caught Marissa's eye. Her friend offered her a quick smile and resumed her game. Summer marched over towards Seth.
"What's that?" She asked, clasping her hands behind her back and staring at the book in his hands.
"Lady Windermere's Fan." Seth replied bluntly, closing the book in his lap.
"Ah, Shakespeare." Summer forced a smile and sat down beside him.
"Actually it's Wilde." Seth corrected her. "You know, Oscar. Oscar Wilde." He added for empathasis.
"Right. The Scottish guy." The brunette muttered. Seth threw her a confused look. Summer paused and contemplated for a moment. "Irish. I meant Irish." Seth couldn't help but smile goofily, but quickly tried to retain a straight face.
"So... is there something her majesty bids her fan-club to do... or are you just humoring me?" He asked, a trace of bitterness evident in his voice.
"Seth..." Summer began, pushing her dark hair behind her ears. "I wouldn't do anything just to amuse you. There's got to be something in it for me." She laughed. Seth didn't. "Look, can we talk?"
"Talk." Seth directed, feigning interest in the back cover of his book.
"Like, ialone/i?" Summer asked with emphasis, directing her gaze towards Marissa and Ryan.
"Do you honestly think they will turn away from each other for just one second to even notice us?" Seth asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Okay, so you've got a good point there." Summer shrugged. "Whatever, just listen. This morning, that was meant to insult Holly so don't get all weepy on me here, okay? I mean, talk about being a drama queen." She crossed her arms over her chest defiantly. Seth blinked.
"I guess... I shouldn't expect you to understand what emotions feel like, ice princess." Seth replied coldly, standing up. He shoved his book into his back pocket and began to walk away from her. Summer narrowed her eyes at his retreating form and pushed herself up, following him.
"Don't even start with me about what emotions feel like, Cohen." Summer said bitterly. "You've lived the perfect life, with your perfect family, perfect mother and father and the perfect house."
"So, tell me why I don't fit in with the 'perfect' crowd." Seth said, tilting his head to the side curiously.
"Because you're a freak who doesn't take advantage of anything!" Summer replied, placing her hands on her hips.
"Right. Summer, I really don't feel like arguing. I'm going to go... do something." He stated, turning away from her.
"Don't walk away from me! I'm trying to make peace here!" Summer proclaimed. Seth stopped and turned around, a hearty laugh erupting from his throat.
"Trying to make peace? Is that what you call ridiculing and criticizing my life and how I live it? Now that I ponder it, you do seem to pay a lot of attention to my life..."
"Shut up, Cohen. I meant to make peace about what was said earlier, and hope that you'd just... forget all about it!"
"Forget about it?" Seth repeated, his eyes opening wide. "That was my first time, Summer. It was my first time with the girl I've adored for centuries, there's no way in hell that I am forgetting about it." He stated. Summer rolled her eyes.
"Seth, this is the 21st century, you'll probably shack up with some loser chick by the end of the week." Summer replied dully. Bitterly.
"No, I won't. Because I'm not like that." Seth replied, matching her gaze with his. "I'm above that. And to everyone but you, that's a good thing."
"Please, Cohen!" Summer cried, and suddenly she found herself clinging to his arm desperately. Seth looked down at her with wide eyes, surprised at her sudden display of... desperation. "Just deny it, say that it never happened! They'll believe you! My reputation is at stake here!" She moaned, her grip tightening on his arm. "The only people I fit in with are turning their backs on me... all because of you." She added softly. Seth was taken aback. Had he just seen her eyes watering up? He had thought Summer didn't care about Holly and her friends... and it disappointed him greatly to know that she did. But there was no way he could torture the girl he loved. He was not like that.
"Allright." Seth said softly, his voice barely a whisper. He took a deep breath and repeated himself. "Allright." It crushed him, it really did. The most important night of his young teenage life and Summer just wanted to pretend that it didn't even happen. Just like the kiss a week before. Nobody knew the embarrassing anguish he was going through right now. Summer glanced up at him, gratitude apparent in her brown eyes. She threw her arms around him and pecked him on the cheek.
"You won't regret it, Cohen." She said, her mood changing into that of a lighter and more perky one. "Enjoy the Shakespeare!" She added before hastily leaving. Seth stood there, slightly dumbstruck, and touched his cheek. Would that be the last contact he would ever have with Summer? How far did she want him to take this act?
"I'm already regretting it." He muttered to himself, watching her walk away. Seth slid back down onto the bench he was sitting at, placing his head in his hands and trying to swallow the emotions choking him. A shadow loomed over his face, but he didn't glance up until a familiar voice was spoken.
"There you are! And back in that same position as when I first met you..."
Seth kept his word to Summer. If she didn't want anybody to find out about what had happened, then nobody would. Seth had the memories, though he knew Summer wanted him to get rid of those too. Within a few days, school started up again. Ryan and Marissa weren't necessarily as friendly with each other as before, but at least they talked. Contrary to Seth and Summer. Summer completely ignored him. He was hoping for those clandestine smiles he had once received... the ones that made him feel like there was a secret shared between them, but there weren't any. She acted like he didn't exist... there wasn't even any ridicule, any insults... there was nothing. Nothing between them. It made Seth feel empty inside, deprived of the usual light that entered his life. Eventually though, he found somebody to occupy him... to make him feel important again. But nothing could compare to Summer, that night, her touch, they would stick with him for the rest of his life. It was like she had branded him- he was her's, and that couldn't be changed no matter how much Summer willed it. After the first two weeks of school passed, after denying so many rumors spread about the two of them which had finally died down, one day he was granted the chance to talk to her again.
"Ryan. Marissa at 1 o' clock." Seth said, stuffing a french fry into his mouth. Ryan looked up from his milk-shake at the girl crossing the cafeteria. Two other girls caught up to her. Summer and Holly. The three of them passed Ryan's table and Marissa shot him a quick smile. "Talk to her... She's done with Luke."
"I don't want to move too fast." Ryan shrugged, scratching his blonde hair. "The break-up between them was pretty harsh..."
"So she'll be needing some comfort." Seth finished, stirring his fry in some ketchup. Ryan eyed the ketchup and glanced back at Marissa.
"... Will you come get some mustard with me?" Ryan asked.
"Good cover-story." Seth said, standing up and walking with Ryan over to the condiments counter. Seth pushed Ryan slightly, trying to get him closer to Marissa. Instead, he made Ryan spill mustard onto Holly's shirt.
"Like, gross! Good job, Chino!" Holly glared, looking at her shirt. "This is like, a Hollister shirt, you freak!" She added, storming off. Marissa watched her friend retreat before turning back to Ryan. Summer didn't seem to notice the situation, she was too busy picking out sauces.
"I didn't mean to do that..." Ryan trailed off, he was completely abashed. Marissa's mouth curved into an understanding smile.
"I know you didn't. She'll just get a new one. A better one." There was a long pause before Marissa continued. "So, how have you been?" As she and Ryan resumed themselves in a conversation of catching up, Seth watched Summer out of the corner of his eye. She did something that sparked his interest and he walked over, peering over her shoulder.
"I thought you hated picante." He muttered, causing Summer to jump slightly and look over her shoulder in surprise.
"Eww, creepy." She commented, pouring herself more sauce. "I had a craving. Can't a girl just eat whatever she wants when she wants?"
"And throw it out in the trash when she's done?" Seth finished. Summer noticed the double meaning and rolled her eyes. "So, how's the social life?"
"It's fine." Summer paused for a moment, then hestitantly spoke. "Thanks to you, but you also screwed it up, so..."
"Es Nada." Seth replied, bowing before her. An abashed expression grew across Summer's face and she turned away.
"Eew. Weirdo." She muttered. She was pouring herself more picante when something hit her back with such force that caused her to squirt the sauce all over her red blouse. "Cohen!" She turned on him furiously, surprised not to find him there. Well, not ijust/i him.
"Hey Anna." Seth said with a smile. Anna Stern looped her arms around his neck, giving him a soft kiss on the lips. Summer felt the picante regurgitating, and fast.
"Hey." The spunky blonde replied, kissing him again.
"Eew, I'm about to eat." Summer commented, "And you caused me to spill salsa down the front of my shirt!"
"Oh. Sorry." Anna shrugged, glancing at Summer over her shoulder. She frowned slightly. "Hey, I remember you..."
"Summer's not a person who's easy to forget." Seth said, grabbing a napkin and handing it to Summer, who snatched it from his hands.
"And you're that Pittsburgh girl." Summer finished snarkily, wiping the salsa off of her shirt. Summer glanced back and forth between the two of them and a awkward tension passed through them all. "So, you and Cohen, huh?"
"Yeah." Anna grinned at Seth, taking his hand in hers. "Everyone thinks we make the perfect couple."
"Yeah, well, comic-geeks are known to in-breed. Okay, I so have to get this stain off." Summer brushed past them both and walked away. Anna, clad in a black 'Elektra' shirt and jeans, took Seth's other hand in hers and looked up at him.
"Somebody's PMS-ing." She commented, rolling her eyes. "Let's go sit down, Seth." She led him away. After they had sat down for a few more minutes, Ryan joined them, but he kept his eyes on Marissa as she left the cafeteria in search of her friends.
Marissa pushed open the door to the girls bathroom, finding two very tempermental girls inside. The flourescent lighting nearly blinded her eyes as she stepped into view of Summer and Holly, both with dark splotches on the front of their shirts.
"Are you both okay?" She asked. It seemed silly to ask that... they were just shirts after all.
"Like, I'm so going shopping after school." Holly muttered in response, fixing her hair.
"Do I look okay!?" Summer snapped. Marissa blinked twice. Those responses should've definetly been switched, it wasn't like Summer to be like that over a shirt.
"Summer, look, I know it's that time of the month-"
"It is NOT that time of the month, Marissa." Summer corrected, rolling her eyes.
"It... isn't?" Marissa paused, biting her lip. "Sorry, it's just that we always get it at the same time."
"Well maybe we haven't been hanging out with each other as often." Summer shrugged. Marissa furrowed her brow. She knew that wasn't true. For the sake of her reputation Summer had clung to Marissa for dear life, yet while avoiding Cohen at all costs for the first week of school. "I think I'm going to be sick..."
"Are you okay? Are you heating up?" Marissa asked with concern, stepping over to her friend and placing a hand gently on her back as Summer grasped the edge of the marble sink.
"It must've been all that picante... Gross..." She murmured, turning on the water and splashing it onto her hot cheeks.
"Summer, you hate picante." Marissa said, pulling back Summer's hair so that it did not get wet. "Then again, you also ate pickles with ice-cream yesterday, and orange chicken with ranch dressing the day before." Marissa commented thoughtfully.
"Like, gross." Holly said, wrinkling up her nose in disgust. "Summer, you're like... totally acting like a pregnant woman or something." She said, laughing haughtily. The room fell silent, save Holly's shrill laughter. Summer turned off the water slowly and stood up to her full height. Marissa dropped her friend's hair and the two exchanged sober looks, pondering the last words that were said. Holly's shrill screech died down quickly and she stared back at them, clearly uncomfortable. Marissa glanced at Summer, who's gaze was now fixated on the rose and white colored pattern of the restroom's tile floor. Suddenly, Summer dropped down to her knees, her head in her hands. Marissa quickly fell to her side and wrapped her arms around her best friend holding her close. Fears began to plague both their minds, and both of them mentally prayed that this was all just a strange coincidence... that Summer's period was a little late, that she was just having strange food cravings because she wanted to try something different. Then again... hadn't sleeping with Seth been trying something different too?
Author: In Fair Verona
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Seth and Summer engender a 'rumor' which travels around Newport and learn the consequences of their actions when the unexpected happens.
Shipper: Seth x Summer
Disclaimer: It is all property of FOX, every last bit of it. I don't own anything in this story or related to it.
A/N: -
-
Summer stepped outside into the sunlight, the sun's gentle rays cast a protective shell of warmth over her cold body. It seemed like she'd sat in that freezing dining room for hours contemplating the situation she had found herself in. The situation with Seth Cohen. She had eventually come to a conclusion, well two conclusions. 1.) It was really good sex, and 2.) It did mean isomething/i more. Summer knew more than her reputation was at stake here. This hadn't been just any other drunken shag. Wringing her hands together, she spotted Marissa with the two boys on the tennis court. Ryan and Marissa were going head to head and not showing each other any mercy while Seth sat along the side reading a book. As Summer approached them, she caught Marissa's eye. Her friend offered her a quick smile and resumed her game. Summer marched over towards Seth.
"What's that?" She asked, clasping her hands behind her back and staring at the book in his hands.
"Lady Windermere's Fan." Seth replied bluntly, closing the book in his lap.
"Ah, Shakespeare." Summer forced a smile and sat down beside him.
"Actually it's Wilde." Seth corrected her. "You know, Oscar. Oscar Wilde." He added for empathasis.
"Right. The Scottish guy." The brunette muttered. Seth threw her a confused look. Summer paused and contemplated for a moment. "Irish. I meant Irish." Seth couldn't help but smile goofily, but quickly tried to retain a straight face.
"So... is there something her majesty bids her fan-club to do... or are you just humoring me?" He asked, a trace of bitterness evident in his voice.
"Seth..." Summer began, pushing her dark hair behind her ears. "I wouldn't do anything just to amuse you. There's got to be something in it for me." She laughed. Seth didn't. "Look, can we talk?"
"Talk." Seth directed, feigning interest in the back cover of his book.
"Like, ialone/i?" Summer asked with emphasis, directing her gaze towards Marissa and Ryan.
"Do you honestly think they will turn away from each other for just one second to even notice us?" Seth asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Okay, so you've got a good point there." Summer shrugged. "Whatever, just listen. This morning, that was meant to insult Holly so don't get all weepy on me here, okay? I mean, talk about being a drama queen." She crossed her arms over her chest defiantly. Seth blinked.
"I guess... I shouldn't expect you to understand what emotions feel like, ice princess." Seth replied coldly, standing up. He shoved his book into his back pocket and began to walk away from her. Summer narrowed her eyes at his retreating form and pushed herself up, following him.
"Don't even start with me about what emotions feel like, Cohen." Summer said bitterly. "You've lived the perfect life, with your perfect family, perfect mother and father and the perfect house."
"So, tell me why I don't fit in with the 'perfect' crowd." Seth said, tilting his head to the side curiously.
"Because you're a freak who doesn't take advantage of anything!" Summer replied, placing her hands on her hips.
"Right. Summer, I really don't feel like arguing. I'm going to go... do something." He stated, turning away from her.
"Don't walk away from me! I'm trying to make peace here!" Summer proclaimed. Seth stopped and turned around, a hearty laugh erupting from his throat.
"Trying to make peace? Is that what you call ridiculing and criticizing my life and how I live it? Now that I ponder it, you do seem to pay a lot of attention to my life..."
"Shut up, Cohen. I meant to make peace about what was said earlier, and hope that you'd just... forget all about it!"
"Forget about it?" Seth repeated, his eyes opening wide. "That was my first time, Summer. It was my first time with the girl I've adored for centuries, there's no way in hell that I am forgetting about it." He stated. Summer rolled her eyes.
"Seth, this is the 21st century, you'll probably shack up with some loser chick by the end of the week." Summer replied dully. Bitterly.
"No, I won't. Because I'm not like that." Seth replied, matching her gaze with his. "I'm above that. And to everyone but you, that's a good thing."
"Please, Cohen!" Summer cried, and suddenly she found herself clinging to his arm desperately. Seth looked down at her with wide eyes, surprised at her sudden display of... desperation. "Just deny it, say that it never happened! They'll believe you! My reputation is at stake here!" She moaned, her grip tightening on his arm. "The only people I fit in with are turning their backs on me... all because of you." She added softly. Seth was taken aback. Had he just seen her eyes watering up? He had thought Summer didn't care about Holly and her friends... and it disappointed him greatly to know that she did. But there was no way he could torture the girl he loved. He was not like that.
"Allright." Seth said softly, his voice barely a whisper. He took a deep breath and repeated himself. "Allright." It crushed him, it really did. The most important night of his young teenage life and Summer just wanted to pretend that it didn't even happen. Just like the kiss a week before. Nobody knew the embarrassing anguish he was going through right now. Summer glanced up at him, gratitude apparent in her brown eyes. She threw her arms around him and pecked him on the cheek.
"You won't regret it, Cohen." She said, her mood changing into that of a lighter and more perky one. "Enjoy the Shakespeare!" She added before hastily leaving. Seth stood there, slightly dumbstruck, and touched his cheek. Would that be the last contact he would ever have with Summer? How far did she want him to take this act?
"I'm already regretting it." He muttered to himself, watching her walk away. Seth slid back down onto the bench he was sitting at, placing his head in his hands and trying to swallow the emotions choking him. A shadow loomed over his face, but he didn't glance up until a familiar voice was spoken.
"There you are! And back in that same position as when I first met you..."
Seth kept his word to Summer. If she didn't want anybody to find out about what had happened, then nobody would. Seth had the memories, though he knew Summer wanted him to get rid of those too. Within a few days, school started up again. Ryan and Marissa weren't necessarily as friendly with each other as before, but at least they talked. Contrary to Seth and Summer. Summer completely ignored him. He was hoping for those clandestine smiles he had once received... the ones that made him feel like there was a secret shared between them, but there weren't any. She acted like he didn't exist... there wasn't even any ridicule, any insults... there was nothing. Nothing between them. It made Seth feel empty inside, deprived of the usual light that entered his life. Eventually though, he found somebody to occupy him... to make him feel important again. But nothing could compare to Summer, that night, her touch, they would stick with him for the rest of his life. It was like she had branded him- he was her's, and that couldn't be changed no matter how much Summer willed it. After the first two weeks of school passed, after denying so many rumors spread about the two of them which had finally died down, one day he was granted the chance to talk to her again.
"Ryan. Marissa at 1 o' clock." Seth said, stuffing a french fry into his mouth. Ryan looked up from his milk-shake at the girl crossing the cafeteria. Two other girls caught up to her. Summer and Holly. The three of them passed Ryan's table and Marissa shot him a quick smile. "Talk to her... She's done with Luke."
"I don't want to move too fast." Ryan shrugged, scratching his blonde hair. "The break-up between them was pretty harsh..."
"So she'll be needing some comfort." Seth finished, stirring his fry in some ketchup. Ryan eyed the ketchup and glanced back at Marissa.
"... Will you come get some mustard with me?" Ryan asked.
"Good cover-story." Seth said, standing up and walking with Ryan over to the condiments counter. Seth pushed Ryan slightly, trying to get him closer to Marissa. Instead, he made Ryan spill mustard onto Holly's shirt.
"Like, gross! Good job, Chino!" Holly glared, looking at her shirt. "This is like, a Hollister shirt, you freak!" She added, storming off. Marissa watched her friend retreat before turning back to Ryan. Summer didn't seem to notice the situation, she was too busy picking out sauces.
"I didn't mean to do that..." Ryan trailed off, he was completely abashed. Marissa's mouth curved into an understanding smile.
"I know you didn't. She'll just get a new one. A better one." There was a long pause before Marissa continued. "So, how have you been?" As she and Ryan resumed themselves in a conversation of catching up, Seth watched Summer out of the corner of his eye. She did something that sparked his interest and he walked over, peering over her shoulder.
"I thought you hated picante." He muttered, causing Summer to jump slightly and look over her shoulder in surprise.
"Eww, creepy." She commented, pouring herself more sauce. "I had a craving. Can't a girl just eat whatever she wants when she wants?"
"And throw it out in the trash when she's done?" Seth finished. Summer noticed the double meaning and rolled her eyes. "So, how's the social life?"
"It's fine." Summer paused for a moment, then hestitantly spoke. "Thanks to you, but you also screwed it up, so..."
"Es Nada." Seth replied, bowing before her. An abashed expression grew across Summer's face and she turned away.
"Eew. Weirdo." She muttered. She was pouring herself more picante when something hit her back with such force that caused her to squirt the sauce all over her red blouse. "Cohen!" She turned on him furiously, surprised not to find him there. Well, not ijust/i him.
"Hey Anna." Seth said with a smile. Anna Stern looped her arms around his neck, giving him a soft kiss on the lips. Summer felt the picante regurgitating, and fast.
"Hey." The spunky blonde replied, kissing him again.
"Eew, I'm about to eat." Summer commented, "And you caused me to spill salsa down the front of my shirt!"
"Oh. Sorry." Anna shrugged, glancing at Summer over her shoulder. She frowned slightly. "Hey, I remember you..."
"Summer's not a person who's easy to forget." Seth said, grabbing a napkin and handing it to Summer, who snatched it from his hands.
"And you're that Pittsburgh girl." Summer finished snarkily, wiping the salsa off of her shirt. Summer glanced back and forth between the two of them and a awkward tension passed through them all. "So, you and Cohen, huh?"
"Yeah." Anna grinned at Seth, taking his hand in hers. "Everyone thinks we make the perfect couple."
"Yeah, well, comic-geeks are known to in-breed. Okay, I so have to get this stain off." Summer brushed past them both and walked away. Anna, clad in a black 'Elektra' shirt and jeans, took Seth's other hand in hers and looked up at him.
"Somebody's PMS-ing." She commented, rolling her eyes. "Let's go sit down, Seth." She led him away. After they had sat down for a few more minutes, Ryan joined them, but he kept his eyes on Marissa as she left the cafeteria in search of her friends.
Marissa pushed open the door to the girls bathroom, finding two very tempermental girls inside. The flourescent lighting nearly blinded her eyes as she stepped into view of Summer and Holly, both with dark splotches on the front of their shirts.
"Are you both okay?" She asked. It seemed silly to ask that... they were just shirts after all.
"Like, I'm so going shopping after school." Holly muttered in response, fixing her hair.
"Do I look okay!?" Summer snapped. Marissa blinked twice. Those responses should've definetly been switched, it wasn't like Summer to be like that over a shirt.
"Summer, look, I know it's that time of the month-"
"It is NOT that time of the month, Marissa." Summer corrected, rolling her eyes.
"It... isn't?" Marissa paused, biting her lip. "Sorry, it's just that we always get it at the same time."
"Well maybe we haven't been hanging out with each other as often." Summer shrugged. Marissa furrowed her brow. She knew that wasn't true. For the sake of her reputation Summer had clung to Marissa for dear life, yet while avoiding Cohen at all costs for the first week of school. "I think I'm going to be sick..."
"Are you okay? Are you heating up?" Marissa asked with concern, stepping over to her friend and placing a hand gently on her back as Summer grasped the edge of the marble sink.
"It must've been all that picante... Gross..." She murmured, turning on the water and splashing it onto her hot cheeks.
"Summer, you hate picante." Marissa said, pulling back Summer's hair so that it did not get wet. "Then again, you also ate pickles with ice-cream yesterday, and orange chicken with ranch dressing the day before." Marissa commented thoughtfully.
"Like, gross." Holly said, wrinkling up her nose in disgust. "Summer, you're like... totally acting like a pregnant woman or something." She said, laughing haughtily. The room fell silent, save Holly's shrill laughter. Summer turned off the water slowly and stood up to her full height. Marissa dropped her friend's hair and the two exchanged sober looks, pondering the last words that were said. Holly's shrill screech died down quickly and she stared back at them, clearly uncomfortable. Marissa glanced at Summer, who's gaze was now fixated on the rose and white colored pattern of the restroom's tile floor. Suddenly, Summer dropped down to her knees, her head in her hands. Marissa quickly fell to her side and wrapped her arms around her best friend holding her close. Fears began to plague both their minds, and both of them mentally prayed that this was all just a strange coincidence... that Summer's period was a little late, that she was just having strange food cravings because she wanted to try something different. Then again... hadn't sleeping with Seth been trying something different too?