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: Well, here it is. The resumption of 'The Consequences' in the long-awaited prom chapter. I don't know what else to say, except thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy. The writing has certainly evolved since my last update.
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Prom. That notorious four letter word. Prom queen, an even more threatening attachment, the election with a higher turnout than that of the presidency.
"I don't want to go." Summer Roberts squeaked, placing her hand over her enlarged stomach as she looked at her profile in the mirror's reflection. From its empire waist, vivid red chiffon fabric draped over her stomach in various layers, extending down until they hit the floor. To thin red straps held the dress up, visible due to Summer's hair being pulled up into an elegant bun adorned with a red rose. For what she had to work with, Summer had to admit that she looked good, however... that wasn't enough. "Though, you guys really are miracle workers." She glanced back over her shoulder where Haley Nichol was curling Marissa's hair. Marissa looked demure and sophisticated in a slinky white silk dress, and Summer felt the ugly green monster rearing its head. Even if Marissa ever did get pregnant, she'd probably look like Summer did on a regular day.
"You have to go, Sum." Marissa pointed out, looking at her friendly expectantly. "You're a prom queen nominee, and you already look fantastic. It'll be a waste not to go at this point."
"It's not like I'm going to win. Nobody wants a pregnant chick for their prom queen." Summer replied, scrunching up her nose, "Plus, I'll totally bring your image down when you win. I think just hanging out here and watching The Valley will be equally entertaining but a whole lot less embarassing."
"Sum-" Marissa began, only to be interrupted by the bedroom door being creaked ajar.
"Not to be impatient, but are you ladies anywhere close to finished? Ryan looks like he might either strangle me, or worse, eat me because he's just that bored." Seth remarked, poking his head through the opening before stepping fully inside the room and closing the door behind him.
"Don't call my boyfriend a cannibal." Marissa said promptly, though her expression quickly changed when she got a full glimpse of Seth, "Wow, very nice, Seth." Marissa commented, raising her eyebrows.
Though they had all seen Seth Cohen in a tuxedo on several occassions including weddings, funerals, and birthday parties, they had never really seen him work a tuxedo like he did tonight. As if he was actually trying to look good. Maybe he had grown not only in maturity but also physically as well, he didn't look as lanky as usual but rather filled the suit nicely, and even went through the trouble for combing his hair, though that didn't do much to tame his wayward curls. Basically, the boy looked nice.
"Uh, yeah, what are we waiting for? Let's get this show on the road." Summer replied enthusiastically, grinning madly at Seth as she walked past Marissa, completely ignoring the shocked face her best friend bore in response to Summer's adrupt change of heart. Marissa followed the pair down the stairs after thanking Haley profusely and then offered her hand to Ryan, who slipped on a matching corsage. The four teenagers posed for several photographs which the parents waiting downstairs - Jimmy, Kirsten, and Robert all eagerly took and then promptly walked outside, greeted by their limosuine.
"So, here's to... you." Ryan Atwood said, pulling out a bottle of champagne and popping the cork. He poured himself and Marissa a glass, clinking them together.
"Aren't you forgetting somebody?" Summer prompted, holding her glass out expectantly. Seth did the same and Ryan obliging poured them all a glass. The four teens sat in the back of the limo, looking at one another expectantly.
"Here's to us." Marissa said, always the great speaker, breaking the silence.
"To us." Seth agreed and the four clinked their glasses together before taking a sip, except Summer who just clinked and then stared at her glass for a moment, deep in thought until she raised her glass again.
"Here's to prom." Summer said with a smile and the other three all agreed, followed by, "Here's to Summer; here's to babies; here's to Seth in a tuxedo; here's to Ryan actually speaking; here's to California; here's to being filthy rich or once having been; here's to Wonder Woman; here's to hot drunken sex; here's to frenemies; here's to Ryrissa (the couple, not the dog, actually, yes, the dog too);" and finally "here's to family." The four teens clinked their glasses a final time as the limo rolled to a stop and Seth accidently splashed champagne on the bottom of Marissa's white gown. But she didn't care, in fact none of them and it was merely laughed off as they all stepped out of the vehicle and linked arms in pairs - and odd group consisting of the pregnant chick, the nerd, the delinquent, and the girl who OD'd in TJ. They strode into the hotel ballroom looking more like the court jesters than prom royalty, but in this one moment, not one of them, not even Summer, particularly cared.
"Slowdancing is more difficult than I imagined." Summer giggled softly, her hands rested on his shoulders but she wasn't physically able to loop them around his neck like she used to, like she loved to. However, despite the physical distance Seth felt closer to her now than in any of the previous dances they had ever shared.
"That's because it takes two to tango, but we can work with three." Seth replied, keeping his hand firmly pressed against the small of her back. Summer smiled in response, never having been more grateful for Seth's cheesy sense of humor. What was it with tonight, tonight? She didn't have it in her to make a sarcastic quip or snippy comment. There was this eerie feeling of total contentment which made it impossible for her to tarnish with her satiracle remarks. What sort of awful person would willingly ruin such a dream come true, anyway?
"Thank you, Seth." Summer whispered, looking up at him with a look that conveyed total earnesty. No teasing, no games, no sarcasm. A 'thank you' that was there for what it was. "I really needed this." She added. He had done more than keep his promise regarding prom, he had exceeding it. Like everytime she had doubted him, he managed to somehow totally surprise and amaze her. "You're going to make somebody a great husband." And then it hit her, a totally selfish but perfectly reasonable thought. Summer didn't want Seth to be anybody else's husband. Summer couldn't imagine Seth being with anybody else, or taking care of anybody else, or making dreams come true for anybody else and she certainly didn't want him to.
Though they had decided that they were dating, and that they would raise a family together, the rest of the future was still vague and unplanned. Their entire focus had been on getting through the first obstacle - childbirth, but Summer wondered what would happen after that? During the majority of their pregnancy, Seth had been the one yearning for some sort of confirmation on their status, and yet now at the very end of it all, it was Summer who wanted a concrete answer. What was going to happen to them? Where was this all going? In the most basic of terms, the frightening question was...
Were she and Seth ever going to get married?
And then, is that what she wanted? Because in this moment it sure seemed like what she wanted, but then she thought about young she was to be thinking about marriage - sixteen! She hadn't even thought about college yet, let alone marriage. Then again, she had never expected to think about childbirth at sixteen either. But marriage? That was planning the rest of her life, right now, without having even really lived it. But, in truth, would she really mind spending everyday with Seth Cohen? She had gotten so used to it. She liked him.
She loved him.
"Earth to Summer, everything allright?" Seth asked, waving his hand infront of her face. Summer snapped back to reality, looking at him with a brief expression of confusion before it reverted to a genuine smile and she nodded her head.
"I was just thinking."
"That's a first."
"Cohen, why did you have to go ruin it by making one of your witty little retorts?" Summer inquired, slightly annoyed. She looked up at him dully. "I was actually refraining from making fun of you, I mean, I had plenty of chances. I mean, here's to Ryrissa, who came up with a name like that?"
"You did."
"Whatever, it's the sort of joke that loses its quality when repeated twice." Summer explained. "We were doing so good, with the happy and the kindness, I was almost starting to like the kindness."
"But that's not us." Seth countered, swaying gently to the music, "That's not me and you. We tease and we jest and we make fun of each other constantly, but that's what keeps things interesting." Seth pointed out. "And that's just how we naturally work, I guess." He added, leaning in closely and pressing his forehead up against hers.
Summer thought about that. He was right, everyday was better when things were exciting and interesting, when things never got dull. Especially if you were going to spend the rest of your life with somebody.
Oh no, there she was, thinking about marriage again.
"Excuse me, may I have everybody's attention?" A stout old woman in a burgundy dress was standing on top of the stage, with a microphone and two envelopes in her hand. There was no further explanation needed, as everybody was aware of exactly what was about to take place. Nonetheless, out of tradition, the woman spoke needlessly on.
"It is now time to announce the Harbor High Prom king and queen. First, I shall read off a list of all of the nominees." The frumpy woman pulled a folded list out of her pocket and unraveled it, cleared her throat, and began to recite. "Our prom king nominees are... Luke Ward, Zachary Stevens, and Ryan Atwood." The crowd clapped and cheered widely for the three men, well, more so for Luke and Zach for Ryan, who merely scratched his head and shifted on his feet uncomfortably. "And our prom queen nominees are... Marissa Cooper, Taylor Townsend, and Summer Roberts." Because the prom queen was more closely followed race, the applause following the announcement of the three names was not only louder, but the cheers also associated with an equal cheer of jeers for each of the ladies. Summer, however, merely shrugged them off. She was used to such treatment from her peers by this point.
After the crowd that finally quieted themselves down the stout woman continued, "And now... the prom king of the graduating class of two thousand six... Luke Ward!" The woman announced, clapping enthusiastically in turn with most of the senior class. With good looks and all-star athletic ability, nobody had doubted that Luke would win the honor of prom king. In fact, it had probably been written in the stars since he was born.
"Well, now all the incentive for wanting to be prom queen has gone down the drain." Summer mumbled under breath. Seth grinned, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and drawing up against him.
"I knew I loved you for a reason." Seth replied.
"Luke's our friend." Marissa reminded them, though personally, she ihad/i hoped Ryan would win. It probably would have been a long shot for the boy who burned down a house to become Prom King.
"Well, as long as you don't mind, since you'll be standing beside him." Summer said, leaning against Seth though she looked at Marissa, who returned her gaze with an innocent 'you never know...' look.
"And now, your prom queen for the class of two thousand six is..."
Summer and Marissa exchanged nervous glances, both half hoping the other would win and yet half hoping to nab the crown for themselves. That was usually the way best friendships worked and both of them knew it. However, no matter the outcome it wasn't large enough to effect them and after having gone through so much together, they would be still be supportive of the winner, whoever it was. The two girls held their breath, never tearing their eyes off one another until,
"Marissa Cooper!" A mammoth wave of cheers flooded out all negative noise in the room and Marissa turned to Summer, wrapping her arms around the smaller girl in a tight hug before running up towards the stage in her heels. Summer smiled estactically and joined her peers in applause. The choice was obvious, if the boy who burned a house down didn't have a chance, then really what kind did the pregnant girl have?
"We really can't escape the harsh reality, can we?" Ryan asked Summer as he stood clapping beside her. "I guess the underdog only wins in the movies."
"Look who's talking, he who hailed from chino and now lives in his own poolhouse." Seth replied sarcastically, giving his friend a pat on the back. "At least you guys were inominated/i." He reminded them, before taking Summer's hand. "Come on, let's get out of here." He told her with a smile. Summer nodded, yearning for the fresh air herself and followed him outside.
Behind the ballroom building was the ornate gazebo where the photographer had been taking photographs against a dark blue backdrop until abandoning it to movie inside and capture the glorious crowning moment of Newport's teenage royalty. Seth helped Summer up the few steps of the gazebo and they walked over to the edge, looking in the direction of the lighted pier in the distance. Seth removed his tuxedo jacket, slipping it over Summer's shoulders to keep her warm before wrapping his own arms around and kissing her forehead.
"I can't believe it." Summer mumbled, leaning her head against him. "This year went by so fast, it's almost like it really didn't happen. There were so many other things on my mind. There still are." She admitted, though she wasn't about to reveal specifically that she was thinking about marriage. Though, knowing Seth, he may very well be delighted. It just didn't seem right to think about it so early though, but given the circumstances... No, the real question on Summer's mind was whether or not she would consider marrying Seth Cohen if she wasn't carrying his child. Marriage was about love, and all that other excessive mushy crap... not convenience.
"We're going to be seniors next year..." Seth trailed off, "But I feel like we're even older than that." He said with a humored look. "Hey, are you allright, Sum-"
"Cohen, I need to ask you a question." Summer interrupted, turning around to face him suddenly. She leaned against the railing of the gazebo, holding Seth's hand in her own. "Do you remember when Anna asked you if you and her would still be together if I hadn't gotten pregnant?" Summer asked with an inquisitive gaze.
Seth bit his lip, and nodded, "Yeah I do. I wish I'd never answered though." Seth replied, entwining their fingers.
"Well, I have a question of my own." Summer told him, to which Seth responded with a worried look which could be summed up in a word; crap. "Do you think that you and I would have ever gotten together if I hadn't been pregnant?" Summer asked him. Seth looked at her thoughtfully, then stared at their hands.
"I think that's more of a question you should ask yourself, Summer." Seth replied. "Because you know that no matter what the circumstance, I would always say yes to you. Always." Seth told her sincerely. "In none of this ever happened, all I'd have is hope that someday you'd notice me."
"If none of this ever happened, I hope I'd wise up." Summer said with a soft smile, "And realize what a..."
"Irristably charming gentleman I am?" Seth offered.
"No, what a complete nerd you are... and that I'm kind of into that." Summer added quietly, stepping on her tiptoes and leaning in (as much as was possible in her current state) to brush her lips softly against his. Seth's hands settled themselves around her waist and he bent his head down to capture her lips again with his, this time with more passion. They kissed as if the past eight and a half months had never happened, with the same amount of intensity as that fateful night in Holly's poolhouse, as if this would be how they kissed had they come together on their own accord.
"Oh, I am so thirsty." Summer mumbled as she pulled away, looking up at him apologetically. Seth offered to go retrieve her drink, but Summer simply shook her head, "As nice as it is to be waited on all the time, I think I can manage to get some water." Because, for obvious reasons such as the obligatory prom punch spiking, punch was out of the question. "I'll be right back." Summer said quickly, pecking him on the cheek and then walking away from the gazebo carefully.
Upon entering the inside of the ornately decorated ballroom, Summer was welcomed by a headrush. She felt a pulsating pain and quickly steadied herself against a nearby table. Ryan stood idly by, watching Marissa dance the traditional dance with Luke, until he realized it was Summer who stood merely five feet away from him, with a worried expression on her face. Ryan gave her a curious look and walked over.
"Summer, are you allright? Where's Seth?" Ryan asked, reaching his arms out instinctively when Summer nearly fell over herself. She shook slightly before looking up at him and pushing the hair out of her face.
"Ryan... my water broke." Summer whispered meekly. She then grabbed onto his hand, squeezing it tightly before shrilly crying, "MY WATER BROKE!"