Seth walked out of the restaurant humming to himself. He wondered over to the bench at the end of the pier and sat down looking at the ocean. He was feeling conflicting emotions about the lunch. And when Seth felt conflicted he liked to talk, a lot. Sighing he picked up his cell phone and punched in Summer's number.

"Hello," came a static voice on the other end of the line.

"Hey Summer. Its Seth."

"Hi! What do you want Cohen?" she asked cheerfully "But can you make it quick, Marissa is over right now.

"You won't guess who I ran into today?" Seth asked smiling.

"Oliver?"

"God no!"

"Hmmm… Anna?"

"Certainly not."

"Who then?" Summer asked.

"Do you remember Caroline from elementary school?"

"The girl you leapt on?" Summer asked.

"Yeah."

"Well how is she?"

"Good. I guess. She said something weird though."

"What?"

"Well… she thought I was gay."

"What?" Summer said laughing.

"And she thought Ryan was like my boyfriend or something," upon saying it all he could hear was Summer's insane cackling laughter.

"Thanks Cohen! I needed a good laugh, but I have to go… Marissa stealing my magazines."

Seth put the phone back, and sadly looked at the ocean. He wondered if he should call Anna. She was wise after all.

Ryan and Theresa walked through the park, each of them licking an ice cream cone.

"So… what did you want to talk about?" asked Ryan as he licked his cone.

"Nothing really. I was here in Newport for the weekend so I figured I would stop by and we could hang out… but something is clearly on your mind," Theresa said while giving him a look that clearly meant she was not going to let the subject drop.

"Well… lately. Things are weird," Ryan said vaguely.

"Since you moved to Newport everything has been ridiculously weird in your life. How is this any different."

"Well lately, I get the feeling Seth… likes me." Ryan stuttered.

"You are his best friend. Of course he likes you," Theresa said looking quizzical.

"I mean he seems like he likes me likes me."

"What do you mean 'likes you likes you?'"

"As in he likes me… likes me."

"Ohh like he likes… okay we have got to stop with the 'likes,' he is interested in you. Like romantically or sexually or something?"

"Yeah. I think," Ryan stated shoving his free hand into his pocket.

"Why?"

"Well it occasionally feels like he is checking me out or something. One time he got all… jealous of me and another guy who I was hanging out with. I don't know. And then this girl thought we were dating today."

"And you don't like it?" asked Theresa.

"Yeah."

"Or is it that you might be interested in him?" Theresa said knowingly.

"What? No!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! Why?"

"Well I could be like Seth and say 'you were into musical theater Snoopy,' but the real reason is that the two of you… just seem like you are dating. I get a vibe."

"What?"

"Well… okay. It is kind of like your Kirsten to his Sandy."

"I'm the woman?" asked a shocked Ryan.

"Ryan… Besides our little fling you never really dated outside of a train wreck known as Marissa. But you and Seth… just seem like… more than friends."

"Well we are like brothers. Bro-thers. Not lovers."

"Whatever. I love you, you're my best friend. And I just want you to be happy. And Seth clearly makes you happy."

"What?"

"Oh come on Ryan. Remember your friends back in Chino?"

"What about them?"

"Well were they really your friends?"

"Uhh… I don't get where you are going with this." Ryan said feeling awkward.

"Okay, besides me, was there anyone who genuinely liked you, and was not using you? Trey, Arturo, even Eddie."

"Well, okay, we lived a hard life and a lot of us made bad choices. Occasionally I did some people some favors."

"Did some favors?" Theresa asked. "Ryan, all you did was do favors. As much as it might seem like Seth had no friends before you, you had no real friends before Seth. Well except for me."

"Well… I guess you could look at it that way."

"Seth is a good guy. You could do a lot worse, you have done a lot worse."

"I'm not gay." Ryan said with finality. But as he spoke his thoughts flashed back to one of his first nights at the Cohen house. That night he had caught himself gazing at Seth as he slept.