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: For those who wondered, yes, I was mocking the show. But I think you'll all like this chapter. Things return to normal (and is there ever a normal in the o.c.? I think not...) and stuff. I'm warning you guys, Mr. Roberts in this story is not portrayed exactly how he was portrayed in The Shower, when he was in... that 1 scene and said nearly nothing. Mr. Roberts in here is more emotional and talkative - he's like a female Marissa except not as annoying/whiny (I hope). He's also got a little bit of... what's his face... the dad from One Tree Hill in him. Yep.
-
"Mm. This casserole's pretty nice." Mr. Roberts said thoughtfully, just after swallowing a helping of the vegetable dish. He had cleaned his plate of it, an indication that it was probably more than just 'pretty nice'. "What did you put in it, Summer?" He asked curiously. Whether he was just searching for conversation or merely interested was unknown, however Summer hoped for the latter.
"Actually, Seth made the casserole." Summer said with a proud smile. As Summer's grin seemed to expand, Robert's seemed to shrink. It just transmorphed itself into a straight line, as Robert tried not to seem shocked nor surprised.
"Ah, I knew there was something a little fishy. It needs a little something more, although, I can't really put my finger on what." Mr. Roberts said quickly, setting his fork down on the china plate and pushing it away from himself. Seth grinded his teeth together in a tight smile.
"I might have accidently dropped some squid in there." He muttered under his breath, so that just Summer could here. The girl turned to look at him with a sympathetic smile, and then hit him in the side with her arm. It was funny how Summer was a living oxymoron; Bittersweet.
"Did you say something, Seth?" Mr. Roberts inquired, looking at the young man pecilularly. Just because Mr. Roberts had said that he wasn't going to fight it anymore, did not mean he had just decided to even attempt at getting along with Seth. It was just like Caleb vs. Sandy, except Robert wasn't bald, and Seth didn't have the eyebrows. At least, not to the potential of his father's. Not yet.
"Uh... no." Seth responded dully, earning his foot a nice smothering from Summer's stilleto heel from underneath the table. "I think I'm going to take the dishes into the kitchen." Seth said, standing up and freeing his poor aching foot from Summer's heel and stacking up the plates. He wandered off into the kitchen, whistling off-key. After he had left the dining room, Robert turned his daughter with a serious expression, placing his hand gently on her arm.
"Summer," He began, in a parental voice that did not suit him. Perhaps it was because Summer wasn't used to her father talking to her like this. In essence, she just wasn't used to her father being, well, fatherly. He sounded concerned, serious, and not like he was about to chew her head off. "I've been meaning to talk you, concerning something important." That was the final straw, Summer was getting freaked. Her father wasn't the type to cajole people into doing things. He didn't sweet talk, he coerced, pushed, shoved, and forced.
"Who are you and what have you done to my Dad?" Summer asked, pulling her hand away from his touch.
"Summer!" Her father's voice rose slightly, getting tighter. "This is serious!" He whispered harshly. "Can we not have a conversation? I thought we were on good terms-"
"Sorry!" Summer interrupted, a huge grin plastered across her face. That familiar impatient tone that she so often used herself reassured her that the man sitting next to her wasn't an alien. It was definetly Robert Roberts, the one and only. "I'm sorry, just... tell me whatever it is that's so important." Summer said, sounding anything but attentive as she examined her nails distractedly.
"Summer, I was thinking that it would be very nice if you came and stayed at home for the weekend." Her father proposed. This got Summer's attention and she jerked her head around to look up at him in surprise.
"Why?" Summer asked, seeming disinterested in the idea.
"Because, I've missed out on a lot of what's been happening lately. But I'm here now, Summer. Now, we can be a family, like you've always wanted." Her father said earnestly. "We can catch up this weekend, your step-mother misses you as well."
"Yeah, I'm sure she does." Summer rolled her eyes. "That's a total and complete lie. Didn't I already tell you? She didn't even notice that I just up and left." Summer looked at her father and saw right through him. He just wanted to make her think that his wife cared. He just wanted to make them seem like a family. But, he had no idea what a real family was. "Look, Daddy..." Summer sighed. "I have the family I've always wanted. I have Seth, I have a child, I have Kirsten and Sandy, and Ryan and Marissa. What you want is for me to go home, so that we can all pose and have fake smiles and act like we're a family for one weekend. Then, what happens next weekend? The weekend after that? You'll go away, again." Summer told him, her voice softening as it always did in the times when she felt sad, depressed, and hopeless.
"I won't!" Her father said firmly, taking her hand in his. "Summer, this time I'm not leaving. Not yet. I... I was supposed to go back two weeks from today, but I've post-poned it. I've delayed going back, until you've had this baby. Because I want to be there, for that. This weekend isn't for anything fake, it's for you and me. If you don't want your step-mother there, she won't be there. Just you and me, kiddo." Her father said with a sentimental smile.
"Dad, I'm not six. Don't call me that." Summer reprimanded. "And stop acting so creepy and paternal. It really doesn't suit you." Summer pushed herself out of her seat and walked away from the dining room, ascending the stair steps as fast as a 7 1/2 month pregnant woman could go and then slamming the door to the bedroom shut behind her. After she had left, Seth cautiously made his way out of the kitchen and over to Mr. Roberts.
"Flan?" He offered with a plastered smile.
-
"Hey, Summer..." Seth warily stepped into their bedroom, finding Summer with her back turned to him, examining her nails. "Are you allright? Do you need me to get you anything? Pickles and ice-cream? An enchilada? A midol?" Summer just briefly glanced at him over her shoulder and then turned away. Seth looked at her with scrutiny, leaning against the door-frame. He had never known Summer not to have some snappy retort to something like that. "Summer?" Seth slowly approached her, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I don't get it." Summer said, turning around to face Seth. "I don't understand why he makes everything so hard. He's never satisfied, he's selfish, and he doesn't even think about how I feel."
"Uh... huh." Seth nodded, trying hard not to smirk.
"Hey!" Summer exclaimed, seeing the face he was making. She hit him in the arm. "I'm not like that anymore!"
"I know, I know!" Seth agreed quickly, pulling her into a hug. "You're not. But now I guess we know where you got it from."
"Yeah." Summer sighed. "I thought he was allright with it, and that he wouldn't pressure me anymore. I thought he wouldn't bother me, and that he was going to try to a grandfather, and..."
"He is. That's why he's doing this. He wants you to spend time with them, get to know him again." Seth explained. "Your idea of him being a grandfather might be for him to leave us alone, but for him it's to actually do something. This is a good thing, Summer."
"It's not good, it's awkward. I... I haven't talked to my step-mother in months! My father wants to act like nothing ever happened to us, I don't want to pretend to be living a perfect life anymore."
"Your father just wants to fix things. Summer, I know you miss him. You love your father, you told me. He loves you too, and he's just trying to make everything perfect. You don't have to pretend, but you can try to make things as good as they can get." Seth told her, massaging her shoulders gently. "Summer, you've been really stressed out lately. You should do this, it won't be as bad as you think."
"How would you know?" Summer asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"Well, if you go there you'll be spoiled rotten and pampered. How does that sound?" Seth asked.
"Hmm... Not all that bad, actually." Summer said, staring at Seth thoughtfully. "But what about you? You'll be all alone."
"Summer, I survived 17 years of being alone. I think I'll be allright." Seth told her, planting a kiss on her forehead. "You should go pack."
"I don't know... It'll be weird..."
"Pack. Now." Seth said, steering her towards their walk-in closest. He led her into the closest and then quickly ran out, shutting the door behind him and leaning against it.
-
"Welcome home, sweetheart." Robert Roberts embraced his daughter in an awkward hug, as her protruding stomache disrupted any usual exchange of affection. He pulled away hastily and draped an arm around her shoulders, in a very Seth-like manner, which made Summer suspicious, within 5 seconds of arriving at her old home.
"Thanks." Summer said, glancing around the spacious living room. Was it strange that it felt less empty here now, after she had left? Summer quickly decided it was probably because she felt like she never quite belonged in this house, with her step-mother. Speaking of which... "So, where's..."
"Your step-mother?" Mr. Roberts finished his daughter's sentence, bending down to pick up her suitcases. As usual, there was an ample amount of 5. Their maid, Bernita (no relation to Rosa), bustled in the room to help Robert pick up the bags and take them to Summer's bedroom. "She's staying at a resort for a week." He explained briskly.
"She was actualy able to lift her feet and go somewhere?" Summer asked with half interest.
"Well... it's a rehabilitation resort." Robert added. "Let's go up to your room." He suggested. Summer turned around and followed her father with a half-smile up the stairs. After dropping the suitcases up at the top of the steps, he stepped down a few steps to help Summer climb the stairs. Although she was able to manage it on her own, a flight of stairs usually left her quite out of breath, and gasping for either a bottle of Fiji water or Seth. Bernita opened the door to Summer's bedroom, the familiar purple princess bedroom, and set down her suitcases before leaving the father and daughter alone.
"It looks like I never left." Summer said, looking around the bedroom. A purple object caught her eye and she let out a desperate gasp, walking towards her night-stand. Summer picked up a plastic horse. "This is where you've been!" She exclaimed to the horse, hugging it to her chest. Robert watched in amusement. "Dad, I thought I lost her. I wanted to move her in to the new house, and I couldn't find her in my stuff... I must've just forgotten to pack her." Summer stroked the plastic pony and set it back down, walking around to where her t.v. was. "And my The Valley box-set. I need to bring this back with me too." Summer murmured, picking it up.
"So, princess, what do you want to do while you're here. See a movie? Take a sojourn to L.A.? Shopping?" Her father suggested.
"Daddy, did you just actually suggest shopping?" Summer asked, glancing at him peculiarly.
"What? You don't do that anymore?"
"Please." Summer rolled her eyes. "It's just... not that fun anymore." She said a little softly, glancing down at her stomache. "I don't exactly fit a size 2."
"Either do I. Now you know how I feel." Robert said, with an added chuckle. Summer turned around and raised an eyebrow. Now her father was making jokes? How highly uncharacteristic. If Summer didn't know better, she'd say that Seth posessed her father. But that led to bad thoughts, so Summer quickly erased it from her mind.
"Who are you and what have you done with my dad?" Summer asked, setting down the box-set.
"What? You'd rather have me go down to my office and work? Because I've got appointments to schedule..."
"No! No, I didn't return here so that you could work. This will be a break for both of us." Summer told him. "It's just... weird. You're acting like Mr. Cooper."
"You don't like Hanging with Mr. Cooper?" Robert inquired, furrowing his brow.
"Dad. The lame jokes stop now."
"Yeah, that was pretty... bad." Robert admitted.
"Anyway. Mr. Coop is nice, but he is kind of a criminal."
"Hmm. True." Robert murmured. "Well, we don't have all day. What do you want to do?"
"I think you put me back in the mood to shop."
"It must be the smell of my credit card in my pocket."
"Well, I doused it with my Ralph Lauren Romance perfume, so I would always know when you had it on you."
"That's my girl."
-
"So, Seth, sails?" Mr. Roberts inquired, toting several shopping bags and following his daughter. Summer was currently on a shopping spree for all the new clothes that she would be able to wear after she gave birth to the baby. But she didn't go without a few new maternity pieces either.
"Yes. His boat is named after me." Summer said, in a somewhat gloatful tone. As if her father should be envious that Seth did not name his boat 'Robert Breeze'. Which would make absolutely no sense.
"You don't find that a bit... strange?" Robert asked, raising an eyebrow. "Normal people don't name their boats after people."
"Normal people don't sail either." Summer put in, her father nodded in agreement. "But Seth just isn't normal. He likes comic books and emo music and sailing. Those things are just apart of him. Like how silicone and Justin are a part of Britney." Summer explained.
"I have an appointment with her in a few weeks." Robert said, then lowering his voice, "she wants them done... again."
"Send me a picture from your camera phone, 'kay, Dad? Those are so the new autographs." Summer didn't finish her sentence for long when she stopped in her tracks, with her nose raised in the air. "Do you smell that?"
"Smell what?" Mr. Roberts asked, glancing at his watch.
"That thing, it smells like... preztels." Summer said, furrowing her brow. "Pretzels, and hot dogs, and relish."
"Well, we are near the food court." Mr. Roberts mumbled with disinterest. "Do you want to stop and buy some food?"
"They also have orange chicken!" Summer exclaimed, cutting her dad off. "This is amazing! I have a craving for orange chicken with sour cream."
"Summer?" Robert looked at her daughter and arched an eyebrow. "Are you allright? I don't smell anything. Nothing that distinct, at least."
"Being pregnant heightens your sense of smell. Sorry, Daddy, guess you'll never know." Summer said, turning to the right. "Hey, I'm going to go get some orange chicken, but I'll be right back because I still really want to shop and Betty Johnson is right there." Summer said, nodding towards a store. Her father stared at her for a moment, not knowing quite what to think, and reached in his pocket and pulled out his platinum card, handing it to her. "I'll be looking at the watches." He told her, walking towards a nearby jewelry store.
Mr. Roberts stepped inside the store with his hands tucked inside of the jacket pockets of his expensive jacket. Every inch of him looked polished and like the perfect customer. It was no surprise that when he entered the store, many of their sales-people flocked towards him. Mr. Roberts decided to allow a young man with thick glasses to talk to him, and turned his shoulder towards the rest of the employees.
"Hello, sir, may I help you with anything? What are you interested in looking at today?" He asked, in that tone of voice that all employees have. That rehearsed tone, as if they were just going through the motions. Which they were.
"Watches." Mr. Roberts replied. He already knew where the display case was and led the younger man towards it.
"Watches, that's great. We have Rolex, Armani, Shiseido, see anything you like?" The employee asked, leaning across the glass display, which he probably shouldn't be doing.
"Yes, I want to see that," He pointed at a Rolex in the back, glowing with all its silvery luster. Mr. Roberts glanced at it through the display when something in the reflection of the glass display caught his eye. "That guy." He murmured, scratching his chin.
"Pardon?" The employee asked with a confused expression.
"Nevermind." Mr. Roberts shook his head and his hand. "Actually, I think I'm more interested in something else right now." Robert told the sales-man, turning away from the watches. He walked over to another display, peering through the glass and inspecting it's content. "Would you show me some of these?" He asked, pointing into the case. The employee nodded briskly, taking out a set of keys and un-locking the sliding glass door to the case. He pulled out Mr. Robert's choice items of interest, displaying them to him and explaining the qualities of each in detail.
"Hmm." After several minutes of debating each item, and inspecting each meticulously, Mr. Roberts arrived upon a decision. "I want this one. Ring it up, quickly, please." He pulled out his wallet, searching for another credit card since Summer had taken his. He handed it to the sales-man, who seemed giddy at the thought of the commissions he'd make, and rang up the item. A few seconds later, Mr. Roberts walked out of the jewelry store with a small bag.
Luckily for him, the young man he had spotted in the reflection of the watch display case was still standing where he had last seen him. Mr. Roberts now realized that the man was still there because he was currently standing in the arcade, deeply involved in a game of classic Donkey Kong. Mr. Roberts stepped inside the arcade, walking up next to the young man, who was really just a boy deep inside. Mr. Roberts planned to change that.
"Hello Seth." He said in an unemotional voice. Seth, in surprise, jumped away from the arcade game, letting go of the controllers. Donkey Kong fell and died.
"M-mister R-roberts! Hey!" Seth said, genuinely scared and shocked.
"Please, just Robert." Robert said, moving infront of Seth and grabbing the controls of the arcade game. He turned to Seth. "Are you going to put 50 cents in there or not? Being Caleb Nichol's grand-son, I hope you do have at least that much." He said. Seth stood there for a moment, before the sarcasm hit him, and he reached in his pocket and dropped in two quarters into the slot. Mr. Roberts nodded and began to madly tap away at the controls, so madly that Seth feared that Donkey Kong might die of over-exertion rather than falling down. While the most unlikely of men was playing a video game, Seth watched with his mouth agape and his feet glued to the ground. A few minutes later Robert Roberts got bored and turned away from the game, allowing the large ape to fall to his inevitable doom. "That was refreshing." He replied, crossing his arms over his chest.
"That was amazing. I didn't know you played." Seth said, staring at Robert with wide eyes.
"I don't anymore. Either will you." He added, with a some-what evil smile.
"Uh..." Seth furrowed his brow in confusion.
"You're about to be a father, and you're still playing video games?" Mr. Roberts asked Seth in a challenging tone, taking a step towards the boy. Seth took a step backwards. "What's your favourite game?"
"I don't, uh, I don't really have a favourite. I'm a fan of all genres. I like the Zelda series, and you can't go wrong with the Final Fantasy series. Everquest, Halo, everybody loves Halo, uh-"
"Thrown them all away."
"Excuse me, Mr. Roberts, wha-what?" Seth began to speak, but Robert cut him off yet again.
"I told you to refer to me as Robert. Just Robert." He said in a strict tone. "And I also told you to get rid of all those games, which you will. If you won't, I will myself. When you become a father, you will not have time for foolish games. I don't even know what you're doing now, probably taking advantage of the fact that I am taking care of Summer for the weekend so that you can revert to your childish self."
"What? No! Mist- Robert, it's not like that. I mean... if you're taking care of her, then where is she?" Seth asked. Robert paused for a moment. "She is getting something to eat. She's got to eat." He said defensively. "Are you arguing with my methods of parenthood? Because I raised Summer all myself, and I hope you appreciate what I've done."
"I do, I do!" Seth nodded enthusiastically.
"Why are you agreeing with everything I say? Don't you have some backbone?" Robert asked accusingly, circling around Seth like a vulture eagerly eyeing its prey.
"Well, since I'm a homosapien and thus not an invertebrae, technically, I do, but..." Seth met Robert's eye and found his voice fading. "I'll shut up now."
"Another thing I feel inclined to comment on... what is the matter with your hair. Don't you ever feel inclined to run a brush through it? Make yourself look presentable so that you do not humiliate my daughter."
"Well, you see, Robert, with curly hair there's really not much you can do. You can runa brush through it, douse it with gel or any other chemical product, but... it pretty much just stays that way." Seth briefly glanced at Robert, daring to meet his gaze. "Please don't kill me." He added quickly. There was a pause and then Robert advanced towards Seth with a threatening gaze, reaching out and throwing his arm around Seth's shoulder and... embracing him? "Robert?"
"I was right." Robert said, with an air of superiority.
"About?" Seth asked curiously.
"You. You're a just a child, but if I push you in the right directions, I think you are actually able to defend yourself. With rhetoric instead of punches, that's a good thing." Mr. Roberts pointed out. "I am going to whip you into shape. Turn you into a real dad. You know why?"
"Uh... why?"
"Because my daughter deserves the best." Mr. Roberts slid his hand inside Seth's jacket pocket, then fished it back out, letting go of him and instead giving him a push into a wall. Seth instantly hit it and rebounded back slightly. "Why are you such a wimp? Why don't you just resist it?" Robert asked, walking up to Seth and giving him a shove in the shoulders. Seth slammed up against the wall.
"Hey! This, this is child abuse!"
"It's not just child abuse, it's verbal abuse too." Robert pointed out. "What are you going to do about it? Are you going to alert the police? Tell them that Robert Roberts was bullying you? Are you? You're too scared. But I dare you to." Robert fished in his pocket for his cell phone, pulling it out and dangling it infront of Seth's face.
"I would, but that would put me on your bad side." Seth mumbled, rubbing his shoulder. "And I care about Summer too much to do that."
"So if I keep bullying you, that means..."
"I'm trapped, and I'll just have to grin and bear it." Seth finished.
"You've been doing that all your life, haven't you?" Robert asked. Seth nodded. "You look like the type. The type I used to beat up in high school, that is."
"Reassuring." Seth muttered.
"You don't have to worry about me. I'm not going to hurt you." Robert said. Seth glanced at Robert's hand, which still had a death-grip on his right shoulder. Robert slowly removed his hand. "From now on." He added quickly. "I was just testing you."
"Did I pass?"
"Ha." Robert let out a shallow chuckle. "What do you think? No. You have a lot of growing up to do before I think you're good enough for Summer. Speaking of which, my daughter is probably looking for me now. I'm sure I'll talk to you later, though, Seth." Mr. Roberts stepped away from him and gave Seth and surprisingly amiable wave and walking off, leaving Seth to wonder if Robert was bi-polar and unaware. As Robert walked away from the arcade and passed by a trash bin in the middle of the mall, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an empty jewelry store bag, tossing it away.
-
Summer sat at a little table for two inside the food court. Infront of her was a plate of half-eaten orange chicken and on the side were sour cream, chutney, and one of those little cups of melted cheese from Taco Bell.
"Sho good." Summer mumbled, taking a swig of her soda to wash it all down. She was probably going to have major heartburn later today. Being pregnant tended to over-dramatize every little thing, from eating to walking up a flight up stairs. It all seemed like a grand and epic battle, each of those little tasks. However, on the bright side, her sense of smell and taste had gotten more extreme, which made eating even more fun. Not to mention, she had the excuse that she was eating for two. As Summer set down her drink, she heard a familiar giggle from behind her and turned around. Ugh. Malibu Barbie. "Holly." Summer smiled through gritted teeth.
"Summer!" Holly exclaimed, rushing up to her as if she never did try to ruin Summer's relationship with Seth. Holly wrapped her arms around Summer's shoulder, and her Bora Bora perfume hit Summer like a torpedo. It was so strong and so horrible. "Aw! You look so... good." Holly lied, giving her a false smile. "Has it moved yet? Kicked?" Holly asked, "I want to feel it!", she reached her arm towards Summer, but Summer slapped it away. Holly withdrew her hand in surprise.
"Sometimes... at night, I feel it. I don't get any sleep." Summer admitted, running a hand hastily through her hair. She took in a deep breath.
"Honestly, Summer, I get that being pregnant makes you pissy, but you don't have to be so aggressive." Holly said, holding her hand.
"Being pregnant... does not make you pissy!" Summer retorted. "It's people like you, bothering me about being pissy, that makes me pissy!" Summer inhaled another deep breath, and found her hands clutching her side.
"Summer...?" Now Holly's tone had softened and she seemed genuinely worried, or freaked out.
"Dammit." Summer moaned, placing one hand to support herself against the edge of the table. She reached for her purse, pulling out her cell phone and tossing it to Holly. "Call Seth." She told Holly, looking at her pleadingly. Holly just stood there in shock, glancing at the phone in her hand. "CALL SETH!" Summer yelled, pushing herself out of her seat. She sank to the floor, wrapping her arms around her stomache and squeezing her eyes shut. There was a pain. A horrible pain, that seared through her side like an venomous arrow intent upon torture. It made everything hurt. Her head, her stomache, her legs. Everything was aching and she needed Seth. She opened her eyes slightly to see a blurry image of Holly holding the cell phone up to her ear, she could hear her frantically talking into the phone. She could see the moving shadows and crowds of people surrounded her, talking, gasping. Some just stood there, and she hated them for it. A few were running off to get help. She didn't see when the help arrived, her pain was blinding and everything was just a hot white for a long time. She felt herself being lifted, and she felt the soft material of a bed beneath her. It wasn't a bed though, because she could hear it rolling and clicking against the tiles of the mall floor. She was elevated. It was a stretcher. She felt two seperates hands holding each of her own and she knew both of those hands by heart. When two voices accompanied those hands, Summer knew that she was going to be allright.
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: For those who wondered, yes, I was mocking the show. But I think you'll all like this chapter. Things return to normal (and is there ever a normal in the o.c.? I think not...) and stuff. I'm warning you guys, Mr. Roberts in this story is not portrayed exactly how he was portrayed in The Shower, when he was in... that 1 scene and said nearly nothing. Mr. Roberts in here is more emotional and talkative - he's like a female Marissa except not as annoying/whiny (I hope). He's also got a little bit of... what's his face... the dad from One Tree Hill in him. Yep.
-
"Mm. This casserole's pretty nice." Mr. Roberts said thoughtfully, just after swallowing a helping of the vegetable dish. He had cleaned his plate of it, an indication that it was probably more than just 'pretty nice'. "What did you put in it, Summer?" He asked curiously. Whether he was just searching for conversation or merely interested was unknown, however Summer hoped for the latter.
"Actually, Seth made the casserole." Summer said with a proud smile. As Summer's grin seemed to expand, Robert's seemed to shrink. It just transmorphed itself into a straight line, as Robert tried not to seem shocked nor surprised.
"Ah, I knew there was something a little fishy. It needs a little something more, although, I can't really put my finger on what." Mr. Roberts said quickly, setting his fork down on the china plate and pushing it away from himself. Seth grinded his teeth together in a tight smile.
"I might have accidently dropped some squid in there." He muttered under his breath, so that just Summer could here. The girl turned to look at him with a sympathetic smile, and then hit him in the side with her arm. It was funny how Summer was a living oxymoron; Bittersweet.
"Did you say something, Seth?" Mr. Roberts inquired, looking at the young man pecilularly. Just because Mr. Roberts had said that he wasn't going to fight it anymore, did not mean he had just decided to even attempt at getting along with Seth. It was just like Caleb vs. Sandy, except Robert wasn't bald, and Seth didn't have the eyebrows. At least, not to the potential of his father's. Not yet.
"Uh... no." Seth responded dully, earning his foot a nice smothering from Summer's stilleto heel from underneath the table. "I think I'm going to take the dishes into the kitchen." Seth said, standing up and freeing his poor aching foot from Summer's heel and stacking up the plates. He wandered off into the kitchen, whistling off-key. After he had left the dining room, Robert turned his daughter with a serious expression, placing his hand gently on her arm.
"Summer," He began, in a parental voice that did not suit him. Perhaps it was because Summer wasn't used to her father talking to her like this. In essence, she just wasn't used to her father being, well, fatherly. He sounded concerned, serious, and not like he was about to chew her head off. "I've been meaning to talk you, concerning something important." That was the final straw, Summer was getting freaked. Her father wasn't the type to cajole people into doing things. He didn't sweet talk, he coerced, pushed, shoved, and forced.
"Who are you and what have you done to my Dad?" Summer asked, pulling her hand away from his touch.
"Summer!" Her father's voice rose slightly, getting tighter. "This is serious!" He whispered harshly. "Can we not have a conversation? I thought we were on good terms-"
"Sorry!" Summer interrupted, a huge grin plastered across her face. That familiar impatient tone that she so often used herself reassured her that the man sitting next to her wasn't an alien. It was definetly Robert Roberts, the one and only. "I'm sorry, just... tell me whatever it is that's so important." Summer said, sounding anything but attentive as she examined her nails distractedly.
"Summer, I was thinking that it would be very nice if you came and stayed at home for the weekend." Her father proposed. This got Summer's attention and she jerked her head around to look up at him in surprise.
"Why?" Summer asked, seeming disinterested in the idea.
"Because, I've missed out on a lot of what's been happening lately. But I'm here now, Summer. Now, we can be a family, like you've always wanted." Her father said earnestly. "We can catch up this weekend, your step-mother misses you as well."
"Yeah, I'm sure she does." Summer rolled her eyes. "That's a total and complete lie. Didn't I already tell you? She didn't even notice that I just up and left." Summer looked at her father and saw right through him. He just wanted to make her think that his wife cared. He just wanted to make them seem like a family. But, he had no idea what a real family was. "Look, Daddy..." Summer sighed. "I have the family I've always wanted. I have Seth, I have a child, I have Kirsten and Sandy, and Ryan and Marissa. What you want is for me to go home, so that we can all pose and have fake smiles and act like we're a family for one weekend. Then, what happens next weekend? The weekend after that? You'll go away, again." Summer told him, her voice softening as it always did in the times when she felt sad, depressed, and hopeless.
"I won't!" Her father said firmly, taking her hand in his. "Summer, this time I'm not leaving. Not yet. I... I was supposed to go back two weeks from today, but I've post-poned it. I've delayed going back, until you've had this baby. Because I want to be there, for that. This weekend isn't for anything fake, it's for you and me. If you don't want your step-mother there, she won't be there. Just you and me, kiddo." Her father said with a sentimental smile.
"Dad, I'm not six. Don't call me that." Summer reprimanded. "And stop acting so creepy and paternal. It really doesn't suit you." Summer pushed herself out of her seat and walked away from the dining room, ascending the stair steps as fast as a 7 1/2 month pregnant woman could go and then slamming the door to the bedroom shut behind her. After she had left, Seth cautiously made his way out of the kitchen and over to Mr. Roberts.
"Flan?" He offered with a plastered smile.
-
"Hey, Summer..." Seth warily stepped into their bedroom, finding Summer with her back turned to him, examining her nails. "Are you allright? Do you need me to get you anything? Pickles and ice-cream? An enchilada? A midol?" Summer just briefly glanced at him over her shoulder and then turned away. Seth looked at her with scrutiny, leaning against the door-frame. He had never known Summer not to have some snappy retort to something like that. "Summer?" Seth slowly approached her, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I don't get it." Summer said, turning around to face Seth. "I don't understand why he makes everything so hard. He's never satisfied, he's selfish, and he doesn't even think about how I feel."
"Uh... huh." Seth nodded, trying hard not to smirk.
"Hey!" Summer exclaimed, seeing the face he was making. She hit him in the arm. "I'm not like that anymore!"
"I know, I know!" Seth agreed quickly, pulling her into a hug. "You're not. But now I guess we know where you got it from."
"Yeah." Summer sighed. "I thought he was allright with it, and that he wouldn't pressure me anymore. I thought he wouldn't bother me, and that he was going to try to a grandfather, and..."
"He is. That's why he's doing this. He wants you to spend time with them, get to know him again." Seth explained. "Your idea of him being a grandfather might be for him to leave us alone, but for him it's to actually do something. This is a good thing, Summer."
"It's not good, it's awkward. I... I haven't talked to my step-mother in months! My father wants to act like nothing ever happened to us, I don't want to pretend to be living a perfect life anymore."
"Your father just wants to fix things. Summer, I know you miss him. You love your father, you told me. He loves you too, and he's just trying to make everything perfect. You don't have to pretend, but you can try to make things as good as they can get." Seth told her, massaging her shoulders gently. "Summer, you've been really stressed out lately. You should do this, it won't be as bad as you think."
"How would you know?" Summer asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"Well, if you go there you'll be spoiled rotten and pampered. How does that sound?" Seth asked.
"Hmm... Not all that bad, actually." Summer said, staring at Seth thoughtfully. "But what about you? You'll be all alone."
"Summer, I survived 17 years of being alone. I think I'll be allright." Seth told her, planting a kiss on her forehead. "You should go pack."
"I don't know... It'll be weird..."
"Pack. Now." Seth said, steering her towards their walk-in closest. He led her into the closest and then quickly ran out, shutting the door behind him and leaning against it.
-
"Welcome home, sweetheart." Robert Roberts embraced his daughter in an awkward hug, as her protruding stomache disrupted any usual exchange of affection. He pulled away hastily and draped an arm around her shoulders, in a very Seth-like manner, which made Summer suspicious, within 5 seconds of arriving at her old home.
"Thanks." Summer said, glancing around the spacious living room. Was it strange that it felt less empty here now, after she had left? Summer quickly decided it was probably because she felt like she never quite belonged in this house, with her step-mother. Speaking of which... "So, where's..."
"Your step-mother?" Mr. Roberts finished his daughter's sentence, bending down to pick up her suitcases. As usual, there was an ample amount of 5. Their maid, Bernita (no relation to Rosa), bustled in the room to help Robert pick up the bags and take them to Summer's bedroom. "She's staying at a resort for a week." He explained briskly.
"She was actualy able to lift her feet and go somewhere?" Summer asked with half interest.
"Well... it's a rehabilitation resort." Robert added. "Let's go up to your room." He suggested. Summer turned around and followed her father with a half-smile up the stairs. After dropping the suitcases up at the top of the steps, he stepped down a few steps to help Summer climb the stairs. Although she was able to manage it on her own, a flight of stairs usually left her quite out of breath, and gasping for either a bottle of Fiji water or Seth. Bernita opened the door to Summer's bedroom, the familiar purple princess bedroom, and set down her suitcases before leaving the father and daughter alone.
"It looks like I never left." Summer said, looking around the bedroom. A purple object caught her eye and she let out a desperate gasp, walking towards her night-stand. Summer picked up a plastic horse. "This is where you've been!" She exclaimed to the horse, hugging it to her chest. Robert watched in amusement. "Dad, I thought I lost her. I wanted to move her in to the new house, and I couldn't find her in my stuff... I must've just forgotten to pack her." Summer stroked the plastic pony and set it back down, walking around to where her t.v. was. "And my The Valley box-set. I need to bring this back with me too." Summer murmured, picking it up.
"So, princess, what do you want to do while you're here. See a movie? Take a sojourn to L.A.? Shopping?" Her father suggested.
"Daddy, did you just actually suggest shopping?" Summer asked, glancing at him peculiarly.
"What? You don't do that anymore?"
"Please." Summer rolled her eyes. "It's just... not that fun anymore." She said a little softly, glancing down at her stomache. "I don't exactly fit a size 2."
"Either do I. Now you know how I feel." Robert said, with an added chuckle. Summer turned around and raised an eyebrow. Now her father was making jokes? How highly uncharacteristic. If Summer didn't know better, she'd say that Seth posessed her father. But that led to bad thoughts, so Summer quickly erased it from her mind.
"Who are you and what have you done with my dad?" Summer asked, setting down the box-set.
"What? You'd rather have me go down to my office and work? Because I've got appointments to schedule..."
"No! No, I didn't return here so that you could work. This will be a break for both of us." Summer told him. "It's just... weird. You're acting like Mr. Cooper."
"You don't like Hanging with Mr. Cooper?" Robert inquired, furrowing his brow.
"Dad. The lame jokes stop now."
"Yeah, that was pretty... bad." Robert admitted.
"Anyway. Mr. Coop is nice, but he is kind of a criminal."
"Hmm. True." Robert murmured. "Well, we don't have all day. What do you want to do?"
"I think you put me back in the mood to shop."
"It must be the smell of my credit card in my pocket."
"Well, I doused it with my Ralph Lauren Romance perfume, so I would always know when you had it on you."
"That's my girl."
-
"So, Seth, sails?" Mr. Roberts inquired, toting several shopping bags and following his daughter. Summer was currently on a shopping spree for all the new clothes that she would be able to wear after she gave birth to the baby. But she didn't go without a few new maternity pieces either.
"Yes. His boat is named after me." Summer said, in a somewhat gloatful tone. As if her father should be envious that Seth did not name his boat 'Robert Breeze'. Which would make absolutely no sense.
"You don't find that a bit... strange?" Robert asked, raising an eyebrow. "Normal people don't name their boats after people."
"Normal people don't sail either." Summer put in, her father nodded in agreement. "But Seth just isn't normal. He likes comic books and emo music and sailing. Those things are just apart of him. Like how silicone and Justin are a part of Britney." Summer explained.
"I have an appointment with her in a few weeks." Robert said, then lowering his voice, "she wants them done... again."
"Send me a picture from your camera phone, 'kay, Dad? Those are so the new autographs." Summer didn't finish her sentence for long when she stopped in her tracks, with her nose raised in the air. "Do you smell that?"
"Smell what?" Mr. Roberts asked, glancing at his watch.
"That thing, it smells like... preztels." Summer said, furrowing her brow. "Pretzels, and hot dogs, and relish."
"Well, we are near the food court." Mr. Roberts mumbled with disinterest. "Do you want to stop and buy some food?"
"They also have orange chicken!" Summer exclaimed, cutting her dad off. "This is amazing! I have a craving for orange chicken with sour cream."
"Summer?" Robert looked at her daughter and arched an eyebrow. "Are you allright? I don't smell anything. Nothing that distinct, at least."
"Being pregnant heightens your sense of smell. Sorry, Daddy, guess you'll never know." Summer said, turning to the right. "Hey, I'm going to go get some orange chicken, but I'll be right back because I still really want to shop and Betty Johnson is right there." Summer said, nodding towards a store. Her father stared at her for a moment, not knowing quite what to think, and reached in his pocket and pulled out his platinum card, handing it to her. "I'll be looking at the watches." He told her, walking towards a nearby jewelry store.
Mr. Roberts stepped inside the store with his hands tucked inside of the jacket pockets of his expensive jacket. Every inch of him looked polished and like the perfect customer. It was no surprise that when he entered the store, many of their sales-people flocked towards him. Mr. Roberts decided to allow a young man with thick glasses to talk to him, and turned his shoulder towards the rest of the employees.
"Hello, sir, may I help you with anything? What are you interested in looking at today?" He asked, in that tone of voice that all employees have. That rehearsed tone, as if they were just going through the motions. Which they were.
"Watches." Mr. Roberts replied. He already knew where the display case was and led the younger man towards it.
"Watches, that's great. We have Rolex, Armani, Shiseido, see anything you like?" The employee asked, leaning across the glass display, which he probably shouldn't be doing.
"Yes, I want to see that," He pointed at a Rolex in the back, glowing with all its silvery luster. Mr. Roberts glanced at it through the display when something in the reflection of the glass display caught his eye. "That guy." He murmured, scratching his chin.
"Pardon?" The employee asked with a confused expression.
"Nevermind." Mr. Roberts shook his head and his hand. "Actually, I think I'm more interested in something else right now." Robert told the sales-man, turning away from the watches. He walked over to another display, peering through the glass and inspecting it's content. "Would you show me some of these?" He asked, pointing into the case. The employee nodded briskly, taking out a set of keys and un-locking the sliding glass door to the case. He pulled out Mr. Robert's choice items of interest, displaying them to him and explaining the qualities of each in detail.
"Hmm." After several minutes of debating each item, and inspecting each meticulously, Mr. Roberts arrived upon a decision. "I want this one. Ring it up, quickly, please." He pulled out his wallet, searching for another credit card since Summer had taken his. He handed it to the sales-man, who seemed giddy at the thought of the commissions he'd make, and rang up the item. A few seconds later, Mr. Roberts walked out of the jewelry store with a small bag.
Luckily for him, the young man he had spotted in the reflection of the watch display case was still standing where he had last seen him. Mr. Roberts now realized that the man was still there because he was currently standing in the arcade, deeply involved in a game of classic Donkey Kong. Mr. Roberts stepped inside the arcade, walking up next to the young man, who was really just a boy deep inside. Mr. Roberts planned to change that.
"Hello Seth." He said in an unemotional voice. Seth, in surprise, jumped away from the arcade game, letting go of the controllers. Donkey Kong fell and died.
"M-mister R-roberts! Hey!" Seth said, genuinely scared and shocked.
"Please, just Robert." Robert said, moving infront of Seth and grabbing the controls of the arcade game. He turned to Seth. "Are you going to put 50 cents in there or not? Being Caleb Nichol's grand-son, I hope you do have at least that much." He said. Seth stood there for a moment, before the sarcasm hit him, and he reached in his pocket and dropped in two quarters into the slot. Mr. Roberts nodded and began to madly tap away at the controls, so madly that Seth feared that Donkey Kong might die of over-exertion rather than falling down. While the most unlikely of men was playing a video game, Seth watched with his mouth agape and his feet glued to the ground. A few minutes later Robert Roberts got bored and turned away from the game, allowing the large ape to fall to his inevitable doom. "That was refreshing." He replied, crossing his arms over his chest.
"That was amazing. I didn't know you played." Seth said, staring at Robert with wide eyes.
"I don't anymore. Either will you." He added, with a some-what evil smile.
"Uh..." Seth furrowed his brow in confusion.
"You're about to be a father, and you're still playing video games?" Mr. Roberts asked Seth in a challenging tone, taking a step towards the boy. Seth took a step backwards. "What's your favourite game?"
"I don't, uh, I don't really have a favourite. I'm a fan of all genres. I like the Zelda series, and you can't go wrong with the Final Fantasy series. Everquest, Halo, everybody loves Halo, uh-"
"Thrown them all away."
"Excuse me, Mr. Roberts, wha-what?" Seth began to speak, but Robert cut him off yet again.
"I told you to refer to me as Robert. Just Robert." He said in a strict tone. "And I also told you to get rid of all those games, which you will. If you won't, I will myself. When you become a father, you will not have time for foolish games. I don't even know what you're doing now, probably taking advantage of the fact that I am taking care of Summer for the weekend so that you can revert to your childish self."
"What? No! Mist- Robert, it's not like that. I mean... if you're taking care of her, then where is she?" Seth asked. Robert paused for a moment. "She is getting something to eat. She's got to eat." He said defensively. "Are you arguing with my methods of parenthood? Because I raised Summer all myself, and I hope you appreciate what I've done."
"I do, I do!" Seth nodded enthusiastically.
"Why are you agreeing with everything I say? Don't you have some backbone?" Robert asked accusingly, circling around Seth like a vulture eagerly eyeing its prey.
"Well, since I'm a homosapien and thus not an invertebrae, technically, I do, but..." Seth met Robert's eye and found his voice fading. "I'll shut up now."
"Another thing I feel inclined to comment on... what is the matter with your hair. Don't you ever feel inclined to run a brush through it? Make yourself look presentable so that you do not humiliate my daughter."
"Well, you see, Robert, with curly hair there's really not much you can do. You can runa brush through it, douse it with gel or any other chemical product, but... it pretty much just stays that way." Seth briefly glanced at Robert, daring to meet his gaze. "Please don't kill me." He added quickly. There was a pause and then Robert advanced towards Seth with a threatening gaze, reaching out and throwing his arm around Seth's shoulder and... embracing him? "Robert?"
"I was right." Robert said, with an air of superiority.
"About?" Seth asked curiously.
"You. You're a just a child, but if I push you in the right directions, I think you are actually able to defend yourself. With rhetoric instead of punches, that's a good thing." Mr. Roberts pointed out. "I am going to whip you into shape. Turn you into a real dad. You know why?"
"Uh... why?"
"Because my daughter deserves the best." Mr. Roberts slid his hand inside Seth's jacket pocket, then fished it back out, letting go of him and instead giving him a push into a wall. Seth instantly hit it and rebounded back slightly. "Why are you such a wimp? Why don't you just resist it?" Robert asked, walking up to Seth and giving him a shove in the shoulders. Seth slammed up against the wall.
"Hey! This, this is child abuse!"
"It's not just child abuse, it's verbal abuse too." Robert pointed out. "What are you going to do about it? Are you going to alert the police? Tell them that Robert Roberts was bullying you? Are you? You're too scared. But I dare you to." Robert fished in his pocket for his cell phone, pulling it out and dangling it infront of Seth's face.
"I would, but that would put me on your bad side." Seth mumbled, rubbing his shoulder. "And I care about Summer too much to do that."
"So if I keep bullying you, that means..."
"I'm trapped, and I'll just have to grin and bear it." Seth finished.
"You've been doing that all your life, haven't you?" Robert asked. Seth nodded. "You look like the type. The type I used to beat up in high school, that is."
"Reassuring." Seth muttered.
"You don't have to worry about me. I'm not going to hurt you." Robert said. Seth glanced at Robert's hand, which still had a death-grip on his right shoulder. Robert slowly removed his hand. "From now on." He added quickly. "I was just testing you."
"Did I pass?"
"Ha." Robert let out a shallow chuckle. "What do you think? No. You have a lot of growing up to do before I think you're good enough for Summer. Speaking of which, my daughter is probably looking for me now. I'm sure I'll talk to you later, though, Seth." Mr. Roberts stepped away from him and gave Seth and surprisingly amiable wave and walking off, leaving Seth to wonder if Robert was bi-polar and unaware. As Robert walked away from the arcade and passed by a trash bin in the middle of the mall, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an empty jewelry store bag, tossing it away.
-
Summer sat at a little table for two inside the food court. Infront of her was a plate of half-eaten orange chicken and on the side were sour cream, chutney, and one of those little cups of melted cheese from Taco Bell.
"Sho good." Summer mumbled, taking a swig of her soda to wash it all down. She was probably going to have major heartburn later today. Being pregnant tended to over-dramatize every little thing, from eating to walking up a flight up stairs. It all seemed like a grand and epic battle, each of those little tasks. However, on the bright side, her sense of smell and taste had gotten more extreme, which made eating even more fun. Not to mention, she had the excuse that she was eating for two. As Summer set down her drink, she heard a familiar giggle from behind her and turned around. Ugh. Malibu Barbie. "Holly." Summer smiled through gritted teeth.
"Summer!" Holly exclaimed, rushing up to her as if she never did try to ruin Summer's relationship with Seth. Holly wrapped her arms around Summer's shoulder, and her Bora Bora perfume hit Summer like a torpedo. It was so strong and so horrible. "Aw! You look so... good." Holly lied, giving her a false smile. "Has it moved yet? Kicked?" Holly asked, "I want to feel it!", she reached her arm towards Summer, but Summer slapped it away. Holly withdrew her hand in surprise.
"Sometimes... at night, I feel it. I don't get any sleep." Summer admitted, running a hand hastily through her hair. She took in a deep breath.
"Honestly, Summer, I get that being pregnant makes you pissy, but you don't have to be so aggressive." Holly said, holding her hand.
"Being pregnant... does not make you pissy!" Summer retorted. "It's people like you, bothering me about being pissy, that makes me pissy!" Summer inhaled another deep breath, and found her hands clutching her side.
"Summer...?" Now Holly's tone had softened and she seemed genuinely worried, or freaked out.
"Dammit." Summer moaned, placing one hand to support herself against the edge of the table. She reached for her purse, pulling out her cell phone and tossing it to Holly. "Call Seth." She told Holly, looking at her pleadingly. Holly just stood there in shock, glancing at the phone in her hand. "CALL SETH!" Summer yelled, pushing herself out of her seat. She sank to the floor, wrapping her arms around her stomache and squeezing her eyes shut. There was a pain. A horrible pain, that seared through her side like an venomous arrow intent upon torture. It made everything hurt. Her head, her stomache, her legs. Everything was aching and she needed Seth. She opened her eyes slightly to see a blurry image of Holly holding the cell phone up to her ear, she could hear her frantically talking into the phone. She could see the moving shadows and crowds of people surrounded her, talking, gasping. Some just stood there, and she hated them for it. A few were running off to get help. She didn't see when the help arrived, her pain was blinding and everything was just a hot white for a long time. She felt herself being lifted, and she felt the soft material of a bed beneath her. It wasn't a bed though, because she could hear it rolling and clicking against the tiles of the mall floor. She was elevated. It was a stretcher. She felt two seperates hands holding each of her own and she knew both of those hands by heart. When two voices accompanied those hands, Summer knew that she was going to be allright.