-1The Escape Artists

At the end of the night, Ryan drives them all home. Marissa rolls her window down so the wind rushes in and everyone wonders if it's a passive-aggressive way of drowning out Seth. He doesn't seem to notice, only turns the radio and chatters louder about how great everything is going.

Ryan risks quick glances at Summer in the rearview mirror, catching glimpses of her temple, the arch of her brows, sometimes her gaze as she slides her eyes away from the window she's staring out. The streetlights that shine into the car make her skin gleam like pale marble and he doesn't like how far away she is.

Still, he's selfish, and he takes the back roads home, adding minutes to the trip just so he can continue to watch her reflection. At one point, she tucks a chunk of hair behind her ears and sighs - just a tiny exhale, barely noticeable - and he's overcome with the urge to feel her breath on his skin again.

"Ryan, man, I feel like I'm the star of Driving Miss Daisy," Seth complains, breaking off from his cheerful recap of the sunshine-and-roses version of the night they've all just shared. "I know you're a BAMF and all, but Summer here has curfew. Wanna put the pedal to the medal, buddy?"

"Sorry, sorry," Ryan mumbles, pressing down on the accelerator. Summer catches his eye in the mirror again, deliberately this time, and offers up an apologetic half-smile. He rolls his eyes in return and she fakes a yawn to cover up her giggle.

When they reach the end of her driveway, Seth holds the car door open for her and she doesn't hesitate to grab the hand he offers as she hops out. Ryan looks away from the casual, couple-y move, focusing instead on the path his headlights cut in the darkness. He hears a few low murmurs, the chaste smack of a tongue-free goodnight kiss, and a little of the tension in his shoulders seeps out.

"You've been quiet tonight," Marissa observes. It's not exactly an accusation, but there's trembling at the edge of her tone, a questioning lilt. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's ..." Unwittingly, his mind flashes back to his conversation with Summer earlier in the night. Why is everything so strange lately? "Everything's fine."

She doesn't look at him, but her fingers find his gripping the gearshift and she squeezes gently. "Are you sure? You seem kind of out of it."

"I'm sure." He turns his palm over to return the pressure and it feels like a betrayal, although he's not sure of who. "I'm just tired. Don't worry. Everything's great."

Seth and Summer finish their good-byes and Seth jumps back in the car, saving Ryan from any more of an interrogation. His lie hangs in the air between him and Marissa, more tangible than anything else they've exchanged lately, and he pushes down on the gas the entire way home.

XXX

"Dude, you know what I think we need?" Seth wanders into Ryan's room the next night, a comic book in one hand and a bowl of cereal in the other. "A guy's night. What do you say? We took the ball and chains out last night, how's about we stay in and celebrate our manliness? Some video games, some takeout ... you in?"

Ryan grits his teeth at the closet full of button-downs he's considering. Seth Cohen has many admirable qualities, but his timing isn't among them. Of course he would choose today of all days - or rather, tonight of all nights - to ask for some bonding time. Ryan is preparing to meet his girlfriend behind his back, and he wants to order a pizza together.

Like he doesn't feel guilty enough as it is. He can hardly believe that he is showering, shaving, brushing his teeth - all in preparation of impressing someone else's girlfriend. All day, he's felt a mixture of anticipation and anxiety swirling in his stomach, and he can't shake the notion that he is being selfish.

"Ryan" Seth whistles, waves a hand back and forth in front of his face. "Earth to Ryan. Are you brooding?"

"No, I'm just ... just thinking," he says, pushing Seth's hand away. "Sorry, man, but I have to take a rain check on the guy's night. I've got ... plans."

"Oh." Seth nods his understanding. "It's date night, I get it."

Ryan's own head snaps up so fast he thinks he hears a crack. "What?"

"You and Marissa are doing the couple thing." Seth gestures by waggling his fingers, as if the "couple thing" concept is just beyond him. "That's cool. Summer always wants me to take her out, but I can usually talk her into settling for a movie night. Who would've thought, of the two of them, that Marissa would be more high maintenance, huh?"

"Yeah, who would've thought?" Ryan repeats absently, then shakes himself out of it. If Seth wants to assume he has plans with Marissa (not exactly a crazy conclusion to jump to), he'll let him. "Sorry, buddy, I've got to get going. Tomorrow, though, we'll hang out."

"It's cool," Seth calls out, his voice trailing him as he makes his getaway. "Hoes before bros, I see how it is. I'll just ... hang out with my other friends tonight. I'll just go call 'em up. See how they're doing."

Ryan squares his shoulders against the guilt that is nipping at his back and quickens his pace.

XXX

"What do you think?" Summer holds up two different shirts, one a deep red v-neck, the other an emerald top with bell sleeves. "Sophisticated student or boho chic?"

Marissa tilts her head, considering both. "What are you getting ready for again?"

Summer shrugs. "Just ... going out with Cohen," she lies, turning her attention to perusing more clothing options. "Nothing fancy, I just ... want to look nice."

"Aw." Marissa smiles and taps the boho chic option. "You guys are so cute."

Summer hesitates, then gathers her resolve. "Coop, do you think ... do you think you love Ryan?"

Marissa is oddly quiet. After a minute, Summer turns around to make sure her friend is still there. She is, sitting on the edge of her bed with her hands clasped in her lap, studying the carpet pattern intently. "Coop?" Summer prompts, taking a step towards her. "Earth to Coop ...?"

"Sorry." The blonde shakes her head, her hair fluffing out and falling back into place perfectly. "I was just thinking. I don't ... I'm not sure, really, about Ryan."

"Whoa." Relief swamps Summer's small body, followed closely by an intense wave of guilt for the self-centered reaction. "Coop, that's kind of a big development. Why is it the first I've heard about it?"

"I don't know." She looks a little bit helpless, but Summer doesn't move any closer. She's afraid of giving herself away with the enthusiasm that would be in her hug. "I really don't. I mean, we've just never been able to keep it together, you know? And we're trying now, but it feels ... different. Everything feels different since ... you know ... Trey."

Summer nods. "I know what you mean. Sometimes, I think the same thing about me and Seth."

"Summer." Marissa looks aghast. "He worships you."

"I know, I know." It's strange, to be searching for the perfect outfit and gossiping about boys with her best friend again. There is still so much between them that is going unsaid. "But it gets so ... smothering, you know? I feel like I have to be this perfect girlfriend all the time and that's so not me. I want to be able to ... to have a bad hair day and snort when I laugh and not be worried that I'm ruining my boyfriend's perception of me."

She can be like that with Ryan, Summer adds silently, wishing she had the guts to say it aloud. He has no expectations of her, no decade of longing under his belt. That's why his desire to be with her is so powerful - he wants her for who she is right now, at this instant, and Seth wants the little girl who wrote a poem in third grade.

"Well." Marissa shrugs, then glances at the clock and starts to gather her belongings. "I don't know, I think I'd rather be smothered than held at arm's length. Ryan acts like I'm broken glass now. It's just ..."

"Not the same," Summer finishes. "Trust me. I understand."

Marissa leans in to hug her. "I know you do. Thank God we have each other, right? I've gotta get going, let you primp in peace. But call me later, okay? And have fun on your date."

It's your date, Summer wants to tell her. It's your boyfriend and all the feelings you want him to have. And I'm taking that from you.

But, of course, she doesn't say that. She just bids Marissa good-bye, promises to call, then waits anxiously at the window for another car to pull into the drive. Ten minutes later, at nine o'clock on the dot, headlights appear in the darkness and her face lights up in response.

Rushing down the stairs (how will she explain to her dad that Ryan is picking her up on a Saturday night and Seth is nowhere to be found?), Summer swings the door opens just before his finger hits the bell and they both freeze.

She can't believe how excited she is to see someone she saw just yesterday, can't remember the last time butterflies fluttered in her stomach like this. Ryan, for his part, can't form words. She's flushed from her dash, eyes sparkling like something magic, and he has the brief thought of How did I get so lucky? before he remembers that she is not actually his to lay claim to.

"Hi," Summer says breathlessly, smiling up at him.

That's all it takes, and he is grinning back at her, slow and sure. "Hi."