"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 Twenty-One: Decisions and Tears
Seth and Summer rose early the next morning and packed up their things. After calling Ryan and Marissa to see if they would watch their animals, they drove to the pier and prepared the boat for their trip. While Seth made sure that everything was good to go on the Summer Dream, Summer went to the small market and bought snacks and drinks for their trip.
The two finally started their journey at around 11 am. They decided to take it pretty slow, so that they could take a lot of breaks in the ocean and just enjoy each other's company.
Once Seth had gotten everything situated, and they sailed for about a half an hour, he stopped the boat and joined Summer on the top deck, where she lay, bikini clad and slathered in tanning oil.
"Cohen! You're totally blocking my sun!" Summer whined as Seth hovered over her to get her attention.
"You can take the girl out of Orange County, but you can't take the Orange County out of the girl," he muttered sarcastically, taking a seat out of Summer's 'sun.'
"I heard that," she said back, rage blackout threatening in her tone.
"I meant you to," Seth quipped back. The two sat for awhile in a comfortable silence. "Summer, you should really sit up, look around. It's so beautiful out here," he said, trying to take in all of his surroundings.
"Cohen, did you remember to put on sunscreen?" She asked, completely ignoring his previous comment.
"Uh, no."
"That's what I thought! Come here," she demanded, reaching in her beach bag for some SPF 30. "You're skin is not made for this," she said, slathering his back and chest in the lotion.
"Summer, I'm Jewish. My people, they're from the desert," he said matter-of-factly. Summer just rolled her eyes and continued the task of sunscreening Seth.
When she was finished, she stood in front of him with her hands on her hips, nodding in approval at her work. Unable to resist, Seth reached out and grabbed her legs, sending her crashing down on top of him. "Cohen! You're going to render that sunscreen completely useless if you don't let it set."
Seth ignored her comment and began softly placing kisses along her exposed neck and collarbone. Summer was resistant at first, but quickly gave in, letting some desirable moans escape her lips. "Cohen. What are you doing?" she breathed between moans.
As he rolled on top of her and continued kissing her, he paused, an amused smile on his face. "Blocking your sun," he said he untied her bikini top and threw it on the lower deck.
After spending several hours at sea hanging out, eating, and well, having sex, Seth and Summer arrived in a Catalina harbor at around 7 p.m. Once they had docked the boat and gotten all of their luggage off, they checked into their hotel.
Seth had rented a beach front room at Hotel Metropole the night before, complete with huge picture windows, an in-room hot tub, and a king size bed. They took a moment to inspect the room, and after Summer gave her approval, she told Seth it was time to prepare for dinner.
Since Summer's shower would undoubtedly take longer than Seth's, she went first, while Seth napped on the king-size bed. Summer came out of the bathroom in only her towel and she went to where Seth lay, giving him a small kiss on the neck.
"Seth, Seth," she whispered softly at first. When several minutes passed with no response, Summer finally grew impatient. "Seth Ezekiel Cohen! WAKE UP!"
Seth shot up from bed and looked all around, completely disoriented. He finally caught a glimpse of Summer out of the corner of his eyes and turned to meet her gaze, not missing the peeved look she wore. "How long did it take this time?" he asked.
"10 minutes! Sometimes it is seriously unbelievable," she said, lightening the expression on her face and giving a genuine smile.
Seth rose from the bed and stood in front of Summer wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in for a kiss. Unfortunately for him, she wasn't haven't any of it. "Cohen, no way. Don't even start. You told me we were going out for a nice dinner tonight, and I just took a shower while your dirty ass laid in bed. You are just gonna have to wait," she said, attitude evident in her voice and posture.
Seth looked into her eyes, gave her a wounded puppy dog face, and walked towards the bathroom. "Not gonna work, Cohen," Summer said, trying her hardest to keep the hard-ass tone in her voice. As soon as the bathroom door shut Summer just smiled, let out a deep sigh and shook her head.
Just as she was about to turn around to do her makeup, Seth peeped out his head and caught her smiling. "I knew you couldn't resist me," he said, running out, pecking her on the lips and racing back into the bathroom before she could react.
"Cohen!" she yelled, only to be answered with laughter on the other side of the door.
While Seth sang Death Cab songs in the shower, Summer began blow drying her hair and putting on her makeup. She rifled through her suitcase until she found a fitting outfit for that evening.
It was a bohemian-style sundress that she wore with a thick brown belt. She matched it with some flat brown leather sandals that closed around her ankles and accessorized with antiqued gold jewelry. She wore her hair extra wavy by spraying it with some sea salt spray, and pulled half of it back, securing it with a gold barrette that matched her jewelry.
When Seth walked out of the bathroom, he was once again amazed at how one person could always look SO gorgeous. He especially loved the more laid back way that she dressed on this particular evening. She looked so tiny without her usual super tall shoes, but she also looked comfortable. The dress she wore looked amazing with her freshly tanned skin and showed just enough of it.
Seth was shaken out of his daydream as Summer spoke in an amused tone. "If you're not careful, that towel's going to fall off, Cohen."
Taking a moment to process what she meant, it suddenly dawned on Seth as he looked down, cheeks blushing immediately. "Sorry, Summer. It's just, you, uh, you look, it's just, um," breath, "You look really beautiful tonight," he finished, meeting her eyes.
Summer just gave him a soft smile and a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Cohen." The two stood awkwardly for a moment. "I'm just going to go," Summer pointed to the balcony.
"Right," Seth said. "I'll let you know when I'm ready to go."
After the dressing debacle, Seth and Summer spent a really romantic evening at a French restaurant on the pier. Summer wanted more than ever before to drop the magazine and come live with Seth, and Seth wanted to do whatever it took to keep Summer in his life.
Dinner over, the two walked along the beach, holding hands, and looking off into the distance. Seth stopped when they were about a mile down from their hotel and sat down. Summer positioned herself between Seth's legs, and he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
They stayed this way for a long time, holding each other in silence, looking out at the ocean. Seth thought about the ring he had hidden back at the hotel. He had bought it after the fantastic four had returned from their weekend in Newport. He figured that no matter what Summer decided, she at least deserved an upgrade, but deep down, he wanted it to mean a lot more than that.
Summer thought about the decision that she inevitably had to make. She knew that her heart was wherever Seth was, but her life was in New York. She had worked so hard to get where she was, and she was in a career that she was truly passionate about and really loved. Not to say, by any means, that she loved her career more than Seth, but it was the thing that she held onto more than anything when they had been apart.
"What are you thinking about?" Seth whispered quietly into her ear, breaking her thoughts and causing the hairs on her neck to raise.
"Nothing," she lied, shaking her head and shooting a forced smile over her shoulder. Seth just looked at her, until she finally shrugged. "I don't want to leave where we are. Right now," she admitted.
"I don't want to either," he said softly, turning her around to face him and taking her face in his hands. He leaned in and left an almost desperate kiss on her lips, as if he was begging for her to stay without words.
Emotions flooded Summer's eyes, and she laid her cheek on Seth's chest, grabbing on to him as if he would disappear at any second. "I think I have to go back, Cohen," she whimpered, burying her face into his neck.
"I know," he said sadly, rubbing her back.
The two figures sat with the ocean behind them for a long time, holding each other and crying, not wanting to let go, but knowing they would have to eventually. After about an hour, Seth composed himself, and pushed Summer back to arm's length so that he could look into her eyes.
"I have a proposition for you," he said, letting a soft smile grace his face. "Let's just enjoy this vacation, and when it's over, and it's time for you to go take your amazing job, we'll figure something out." Summer sat for a moment thinking about this.
"Ok, Cohen. I'll take that. But I want you to know something," she paused. "Just because I'm going back to New York, doesn't mean that I ever want you out of my life again." She kissed him firmly to reiterate what she said. "I love you," she whispered softly against his lips.
"I love you, too," he said, trying his hardest to be strong, but dying on the inside. They rose from the sand, hand-in-hand and returned to the hotel.
Once they had changed and said goodnight, they quickly fell asleep, holding each other, exhausted from the emotional night and thoughts of what their future might hold.
A/N So I guess Summer made her decision now. This was a pretty rough chapter, but I had to get something out for you guys. I wanted you to know that Summer knows what she has to do, but is struggling, and Seth is going to try to come up with some kind of solution. I hope you liked it. Review, watch the O.C. tomorrow. I'll try to have something up soon, but school is a monster. ;) Peace.