"The Most Eligible Bachelor"
Summary: Summer and Seth are leading separate lives now, but what happens when Summer's story for a leading magazine forces them together?
Disclaimer: I'd like to stake a claim on Adam Brody's dimples, but really, I don't own any of the O.C. characters or story lines.
Chapter Eleven: Dirty Politics
Seth groaned as he felt his internal clock telling him it was time to wake up. His eyes slowly opened, and he found himself unaware of his surroundings. He quickly shut them again and remembered that he had fallen asleep on the floor next to the couch the night before. When he finally reopened his eyes, he was greeted by Summer standing over him with a smile on her face.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," she said, offering him a small grin and cup of coffee.
Seth reached up and took the coffee from her hand. "I don't know how it could be a bad morning when you wake me up looking like that," he said, blatant desire in his tone. "I wish you would have worn that when you interviewed me."
He rose and stood across from Summer, taking in her appearance more fully. She was dressed in a cream colored blazer with thin purple pin stripes and a matching skirt with a slit that revealed part of her leg, which Seth could only describe as 'to die for.' Underneath her suit she wore a silk and lace camisole. To top the outfit off, she wore gold chain necklaces and a pair of purple pumps. Seth thought she looked incredibly sexy.
"Why DIDN'T you wear that when you came to interview me?" he joked, waggling his eyebrows at her.
"Actually, the Wonder Woman costume didn't quite fit under this outfit, so I had to choose the other one," Summer teased back.
Seth looked off into the distance, eyes glazing over at the thought of Summer in the Wonder Woman costume. "Do you still have that costume?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," Summer said mysteriously, throwing a sexy smile over her shoulder as she walked into the kitchen.
Seth was finally shaken from his memory of that sweet, sweet Christmukkah gift when the smell of pancakes and bacon suddenly filled his nose. "Summer, did you cook!" he said, almost in shock, because of the answer he already knew.
A noise of confirmation came from the kitchen as she walked towards the table with plates of food in her hands. "I thought it would be nice to return the favor from yesterday," she explained, smiling sweetly.
"Wow!" Seth said, a little hot at the thought of Summer as chef. "I'm quite impressed. The Summer Roberts I knew never laid a finger on anything in the kitchen," he said, mischief in his eyes.
Summer looked up from where she stood near the table and crossed to Seth in 5 long strides. She got right up in his face until he could feel her breath on his neck. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Seth," she whispered, huskily. His face turned a hot shade of red, and he tried his best to keep his breathing even as Summer's fragrance filled the air.
Summer suddenly stepped away from him. "So, you ready for breakfast, Cohen?" she said, slapping him on the back and walking towards the dining room.
Seth simply nodded and followed Summer towards the table, muttering "evil, evil woman" all the way there.
After a nice breakfast with Cohen, Summer called Maury, and he picked her up promptly at 9:30 for her 10 o'clock meeting with Zach at a coffee shop in downtown LA.
She now sat, draining her second cup of coffee, still waiting for the infamous Senator Stevens to arrive. Summer wasn't sure how to feel about the meeting. The last time Summer had really talked to him was the night that he left her at prom for the meeting with George Lucas. It wasn't really because she hated him or intentionally avoided him, it was just that after the "contest" of Junior Year was finally over with Zach on the losing end, he tended to avoid the "Fantastic Four," as Seth had fondly dubbed them.
Well, that, and he and his family had moved to LA, so that his dad could run for office in a new district.
While checking her watch for the tenth time in an hour, Summer noticed a figure approaching her from the right. When she looked up, she was met with a pair of eyes that she hadn't seen in nearly 8 years.
"Zach!" she said, standing up and smoothing her shirt before reaching out a hand for him to shake.
"Oh, Summer, don't be silly," he replied, and leaned in to give her a hug. A little taken a back, she stiffened up, and gave him an awkward one-armed hug back.
"So," she said, pulling away and taking a seat, "how have things been for you?"
"Is this a friend question, or a professional question?" he said, giving her a cheesy grin and brushing his still floppy hair out of his eyes. Summer simply gave him a look, so he decided to answer the question on a friend basis. "Oh, you know, it's been good. My career is one of the most successful ones in the history of California government, and I'm only 25, but the personal life, it lacks spice." Summer raised her eyebrow at that, and he continued. "I just haven't really seen anyone since my college girlfriend and I broke up after graduation. I'm in the middle of a three year dry spell."
Summer gave him an understanding smile at that. "I can relate. Cohen and I broke up the second semester of our freshman year, and I haven't really seen anyone since then," Summer said.
"So, you're not seeing anyone?" Zach said, eyes lighting up with curiosity.
She let out a heavy sigh before answering. "Officially, no. But Seth and have been spending a lot of time with each other since of been back. I really have missed him."
"Well, that's…great," he replied, trying to sound convincing behind an extremely fake smile.
"So, anyway, it's always nice to chat, but I am here for a reason," Summer said, shifting the conversation away from their personal lives while taking out her tape recorder and turning it on.
"Right," Zach said, looking visibly dejected. "So, shoot, Summer."
"So, how did you get started in politics?"
"Summer, I think you know the answer to that," he said, reaching across the table and brushing her hand.
"Yes, Zach, I know, but I need to hear it from you, so I can give it to the readers," she said, raising her tape recorder up between them to occupy her hands.
Zach rolled his eyes. "It started when I was about 6 months old, and my father ran for the California House of Representatives. He served in the California House until I was about 10, at which point he was elected as a representative for the state in the US Congress. I guess I've been bred to be a politician." Zach paused, being a true politician. He took the time to formulate the perfect answer in his head before continuing. "My dad taught me at a young age to be proud of the morals and values that America stands for and to never be afraid to fight for the freedoms we enjoy in this great democracy. He also taught me to always fight for America's people, the best citizens of the world."
When Zach stepped down off his soap box, Summer was visibly disturbed at the man in front of her. "Great answer," she muttered, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Ok, next question: do you think that your political career has interfered at all with your love life?"
Zach grinned smugly. "Is that another personal question, or is it for the magazine?" Summer just glared. "Right, ok, well. I would never say that my duties interfere with my love life. I have remained single, because I want to do my best to serve this country and to fight for its people. I feel that at this time in my life, the best way I can do that is to be by myself."
Summer rolled her eyes at Zach before asking her next question. "Well, if you weren't so 'dedicated to your country,' what WOULD you look for in a woman?"
"I've always been very attractive to brunettes," he said, winking at Summer, "But that's not necessarily part of the criteria. I'd really like to find a woman who is a true patriot, just like I am. I want someone who is informed and aware of the world around her. I want someone who's passionate and willing to fight for a cause, whatever that cause may be and-" Zach was cut off by a hysterical Summer. "What?"
"You just seriously have to be kidding me!" she exclaimed, clicking off her recorder and placing it in her bag. "I'm going to go. I have all the information I need. Good luck, Zach, with whatever you do." Zach rose before Summer turned to leave.
"Don't I even get a hug, Summer?" he asked, looking completely desperate and pathetic.
"Zach, no, just, ew!" And with that she turned on her heel and walked out of the coffee shop, laughing her way to the car When she spotted Maury, she quickly whispered some instructions to him and hopped into the passenger seat.
On the way to her next destination, Summer reached into her bag and pulled out her cell phone to call Seth. After waiting on hold for about five minutes, Summer was relieved to hear his voice come onto the line. "Seth Cohen," he greeted, sounded a bit stressed.
"Um, hi, Mr. Cohen, is it? I was just wondering if you were available tonight," she said, throwing her voice into a silly high pitch in an attempt to make Seth smile.
"This wouldn't be the tease that made me breakfast this morning, would it?" he threw back at Summer, mischief evident in his tone.
"Cohen! I am most definitely NOT a tease," she replied, her voice indicating the brink of a rage blackout.
"Whoa, whoa, Summer. Before you start your rage blackout, could you please take into consideration the shit day that I've been having?" Seth pleaded.
"I'm sorry, Cohen," she said sweetly. "What's been the problem?
"Oh, nothing. Now that we have the issue off to the publishers, I need to work on finding a replacement VP, and I don't know where to begin."
"Well, why don't you take a lunch break with me?" she asked, still trying to brighten Seth up.
He let out a long sigh before finally responding. "I want to Summer, I really do. I just have SO much work to do, it's unreal."
"Well, a guy's gotta eat, right?" Summer said as she walked into his office with take out in her hands, shoving her cellphone back into her bag.
The worry wrinkles that had formed on Seth's face throughout the day visibly softened at the sight of Summer. He offered her a small smile. "What are you doing here?" he said, rising to greet her.
Summer shrugged. "What can I say? I was in the neighborhood and thought you might want some company for lunch." She paused, a huge grin forming on her face. "I also thought you might like to hear about my, well, interesting interview with Mr. Floppy-haired Politician."
"He STILL has floppy hair?" Seth asked with exaggerated disbelief, as he joined Summer by the couch and coffee table where she was spreading out take out cartons. The two sat and laughed for the next hour or so, as Summer animatedly reenacted her morning. Seth lost it when she brought out the interview tape.
When it was time to leave, Summer and Seth agreed that they would spend the evening at Ryan and Marissa's, as Marissa had invited Summer over earlier that morning.
"Well, I guess I'll let you get back to your work, Cohen," Summer said, leaning over afterwards and kissing Seth on his cheek. "I'll see you tonight when you pick me up."
"Can't wait," Seth said, knowing the rest of his afternoon would involve anything but work.
A/N I know this chapter probably wasn't too exciting, but it was kind of fun to write. For those of you asking for a little Ryrissa action, I decided to give you a present, so look forward to the next chapter. Review, please.