Author's Note- Thanks to everyone who read this so far and who's reviewed here is the next chapter.

Cohen House

Ryan woke up and looked around his surrounding unfamiliar then he remembered what had happened, Mr. and Mrs. Cohen had let him stay in the pool house the night before. He sighed and stood up then walked outside of the pool house, there was a great view of the valley and there was a huge pool in front of him. He walked into the main house and saw a boy about his age sitting in front of the TV in his pajama's playing video games. They both looked at each other. He's got black curly hair, an alert expression and his mannerisms that are kind of jerky. He's a little bit of geeky by in an endearing rather than repulsive way and tends to talk rather quickly.

"Hey I'm Seth."

"Ryan."

"Cool, wanna play?" Seth asked

"Sure." Ryan said and walked towards Seth and sat down on the floor next to him.

Some time later both guys were sitting on the floor. They looked like they've made themselves comfortable and were eating breakfast at the same time as playing video games.

"Oh, looks like someone's trying to be a hero but you got a little cocky. X O, X O it's an unbeatable combination. Oh, oh ..." Seth said excitedly nearly shouting. "OH! What happened to your head, dude? Where did it go? I'm sorry did someone die? Oh, hey, do you want to play Grand Theft Auto? It's pretty cool, you can like, steal cars ... he tarts then realizes what he's said, "Not that that's cool. Or uncool, I don't know, um- I'm going to be quiet now." He was luckily saved from the awkward silence since Sandy came in carrying groceries.

"I see you two have met. Seth, what are you doing inside on this beautiful day? Why don't you show Ryan around?" Sandy said stopping to stand in front of them.

"Okay, cause it's so great around here. There's so much to do, Dad. "Seth said sarcastically, even though he kept his tone even when he said those things, kind of a deadpan.

"I don't know, unless you want to, what do you want to do?" Seth asked Ryan

"I don't know what do you guys do around here?"

Beach

On the beach the boat that the boys had taken out and hung out for a while was now pulled up on the sand and Seth rolls up the sails. Sandy walks down the beach to them. "Hey, guys. I thought we'd head over to the fashion show at about 7." Sandy said to them.

"Yeah, have fun." Seth said

"Come on. It's a whole new school year, Seth."

"It's also the same kids, Dad. Why do they even need a fashion show? Everyday's a fashion show for these people."

"Yeah, well Ryan has to go. Marissa invited him."

"Marissa invited you? I've lived next door to Marissa for like, forever, her Dad almost got married to my Mom even, and, like, she's never even invited me to a birthday party."

"No it wasn't Marissa it was her cousin Rory." Ryan corrected

"Oh Rory, she's nice. She's actually said hi to me when I see her. Anyway I still don't want to go."

"Hey, maybe Summer would be there." Ryan stated remembering their early conversation they had had out in the water that involved Seth wanting to sail to Tahiti with a girl named Summer even though she didn't know about it or that he existed.

"That's interesting. She IS Marissa's best friend and Marissa is hosting it." He says then looks at his dad. "Seven?"

"Seven it is." Sandy said and they all started walking back up the beach towards the house.

Cooper House

At the Cooper home Julie and Kaitlin primp in front of a big mirror. Julie Cooper (Jimmy's wife) is rather flashy, with lots of make up and looks like she just might have had plastic surgery at some point. She's pretty much what you'd expect a stereotypical, rich wife to look like. Kaitlin looks about 8-10 years old and is all dressed up, hair done.

"Oh, Mom, do you like my nails?" Kaitlin asks her mother while holding them up to her.

"Oh, I love them Kaitlin. Do you like my hair this straight or is it look Avril Lavigne?"

Both Marissa and Rory walk down the stairs behind them.

"No, it looks great Aunt Julie" Rory said, "You look pretty to Kaitlin."

"Thanks." Both girls said.

"Rory you look nice." Julie says lightly. Rory was wearing a simple light blue dress and Rory had to restrain herself from rolling her eyes. It wasn't that she didn't like Julie Cooper… ok actually it was but she'd never say it because she was putting a roof over her head.

"Oh Marissa you look ... honey, I thought you were going to wear your hair down. Pulled back like that it's a little harsh on your angles."

Marissa looks disappointed by Julie's reaction. Jimmy comes into the room.

"Okay, let's go".

"Hey Marissa you look great." Rory said patting her cousin on the back. Marissa smiles a little.

"It's going to be so amazing tonight. Are you going to wear the Donna Karen, Marissa? I thought it was very forgiving."

Jimmy looks at his wife and then at Marissa. "You look beautiful, kiddo. So do you Rory."

"Thanks Uncle Jimmy."

"Alright let's go." Julie said and they all left the house and headed towards the country club where the fashion show would be held.

Fashion Show Fund-Raiser

Ryan, Seth, Sandy and Kirsten arrived to the fund raiser and Kristen and Sandy left the boys to be on their own for awhile. A waiter offers hors d'oeuvres to Ryan.

"Mushroom leek crescent? Crab and Brie phyllo?" The waiter asks Ryan just looks at the guy and then at the try and doesn't touch anything the waiter takes the hint and walks away. Seth then leans in close to Ryan and whispers. "Welcome to the dark side."

They both walk in more to the building looking around when Seth spots Rory who was leaning against the wall towards the back of the room, "Hey there's Rory why don't we go and talk to her."

Ryan shrugs and follows Seth who is walking towards Rory.

"Rory hey I don't know if you remember me because most people don't or they do but choose to ignore me. Anyway I'm Seth Cohen your next door neighbor…" Seth started.

"Yea Seth I know who you are." Rory said hoping to stop him from continuing to rant.

"Oh that's cool anyway you remember my cousin Ryan I think you met last night." Seth said.

"Hey." Rory said looking at Ryan he looked back at her and nodded slightly, "Hey."

"Wow you both seem to talk a lot anyway…"Seth started when they where interrupted by Summer Roberts.

"Hey uh Ruby…" she said ignoring both Seth and Ryan standing right in front of them.

"It's Rory."

"Whatever we've been looking for you, you have to get ready for the fashion show and Marissa is freaking out because we haven't found you but know we did so hopefully she'll clam down a little." Summer said looking at Rory and then at Ryan for the first time.

"Hello salty goodness. I'm Summer I don't believe we've met before." She said eyeing Ryan like a piece of meat.

"Ryan." Was all that he said.

"Hmm, anyway we got to go." Summer said while still checking him out.

"Come on Summer, let's get this over with." Rory said sighing and moving away from the wall.

"You know you are one of the strangest people I've ever met. I mean most girls would kill to be in this fashion show."

Yea well I'm not one of them I 'd rather be anywhere other than here at the moment." Rory said walking away trailing behind Summer.

"See you guys later." Rory said to Seth and Ryan and then walked away again. Ryan watching her walk away.

After that Ryan was continually asked from multiply people as to where he was from. Some thought Boston others thought Seattle and a few even from Canada he said yes to all of them just wanting this night to end already.

A little while later everyone started to get seated and Seth walked up to a table with Ryan in tow. "Hello, Chester. Are these seats taken?"

Ryan wonders why they are sitting at the kids table because they all seem to be 5 or 6 years younger than both Seth and Ryan, the kids don't answer Seth.

So Seth takes a seat as does Ryan reluctantly."Okay."

Ryan looks around then takes a seat. He looks at one of the kids at the table and the kid looks back at him.

"So, Chester, are you looking forward to your next sailing lesson? You're making some really good strides." The kid named Chester just nodded his head. "Okay, I'm glad we had this little chance to catch up." The kid still said nothing and Seth kind of gives him a weird look.

Marissa walked out onto the runway and the spotlight on her people clapped and she spoke into the microphone, "Thank you, thank you. Thank you all so much for coming. Every year we put on a fashion show to raise money for the battered woman's shelter. It's such a good cause, you guys and we couldn't do any of it without your support and the support of Fashion Island and all their great stores. All right, enjoy the show!"

Everyone applauds as the first model comes out. It's Summer Roberts, Seth crush.

"She has Tahiti written all over her." Seth whispers to Ryan who laughs lightly and nods.

Marissa walked down the runway. Luke clapping for her and she smiles at him but then looks at Ryan quickly. Then Rory came out onto the runway smiling acting as if she was the happiest girl in the world just like the rest of the girls there she looked at Ryan the whole time and when he looked back at her that's when fake smile turned into a real one. Luke, Marissa's boyfriend noticed both girls look at the new kid and turned to someone sitting beside and says something to them looking angry, he had started to look at Rory as like a sister or something.

Author's Note – What do you think? Next chapter is Holly's party and let's say it's going to be interesting hope you liked it.