THE ABC OF GROWING UP
a fic by hollywoodromance
rating for swearing, violence, and mention of adult situations
disclaimer: the only thing i own is this story and my original characters. everything else is not mine.

PROLOGUE: THE OC

"Vasser, Etienne Marie?"

From the corner of Mr. Cromwell's first period English classroom, Chad Folley let out a loud cough. Mr. Cromwell ignored it. Throughout his years of teaching at Harbor, he learned that it was usually in his best interest to ignore when his students coughed, laughed, snickered, grimaced, chortled, chuckled, sneered, or- sometimes- growled.

"Vasser, Etienne Marie?"

Mr. Cromwell looked up from his clipboard and scanned the classroom. Once again, Chad coughed, and once again, Mr. Cromwell ignored it. He ticked off the square which said absent next to her name, and scanned the class list one last time.

"So," he called, as he always did, "Atwood, Celeste Dawn... Cooper, Addison... and Vasser, Etienne Marie. Absent, absent, and absent."

Mr. Cromwell hopped off of his desk and handed the class list to one of his students. "Bring that to the office for me. Now," he added, "class, today, we will be continuing with Oscar Wilde. I hope you've all read The Picture of Dorian Gray..."

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Celeste, Addison and Etienne clinked their champagne glasses together, and each took a very polite and modest sip.

The three girls were laying on beach chairs, soaking up the sun and the scenery. They each wore over-sized glasses; Celeste had Chanel, Addison had Burberry, and Etienne had to settle for DKNY because they were the only pair at Neiman which had remotely suited her long, thin face.

"This was such a great idea, Addi. I mean, who would of thought tanning in the backyard would of been just as great as the beach?"

Addison shrugged.

"Honestly bitches, the idea just came to me! I was like, mom, is Emilio done in the backyard? And she was like, no, and I was like, ohmiGOD, he is so hot, and then Heath-" at the mention of Heath, Etienne let out a sigh, which Celeste and Addison pretended not to notice- "told me that he's gay, and I was like, he's so not! And so, like, it came to me- the lifeguards are on strike, but not the pool boys!"

Of course, the Cohen's backyard wasn't like mine or yours. Their backyard was amazing. It was huge, to begin with, with a pointlessly large infinity pool and a tiny jacuzzi pushed off to the side (for when Seth and Summer were feeling frisky, as Noah pointed out to Addison one day.) There was a gazebo and a pool house, which wasn't anything to brag about- the size of a small shack with not much more than a bedroom area and a tiny bathroom. Grass and a few randomly planted flowers surrounded the entire yard. Suspended over everything was a modestly sized patio with exquisite furniture, usually reserved for family get-togethers.

Or this.

Etienne grinned and sipped her champagne. Celeste flipped her sunglasses over, staring as Emilio- the over-payed poolboy with the muscles of a Greek God- bent over to reach for something. Dayum.

"This is the life, girls," she mumbled.

"Mmm," Addison agreed.

"Oh, that reminds me. My mother wanted me to tell you... tell your mom that the dress is ready, or some shit like that."

"Hmm? Mine or hers?"

Etienne shrugged. "How the fuck am I supposed to know?"

Celeste shrugged back. Etienne's mother owned a dress shop- the finest in Newport, she often bragged, and Marissa had dragged Celeste to a fitting months ago. They'd tried on about a million gowns before choosing one. Her mother had claimed that there was nothing more important to a girl than her debutante ball, and her gown was a huge part of that. Celeste just rolled her eyes. It wasn't that she disagreed with her mother. It was just that her mother probably didn't know the first thing about what was important to Celeste.

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"Diane? Diane, Diane! Listen to me! I ordered silk, not taffeta- why the hell would I stick my daughter in something as tacky as taffeta? Well, no, you tell me! Diane? Hello? Ugh!"

Ryan Atwood crept into his kitchen, careful not to set off his wife. It wasn't that he was scared of her, it was just that she got a little...

"Can you believe this? I mean, taffeta. And who was she to get snippy with me?"

Ryan screwed his eyes shut. How did she hear him? Her back was turned, for God's sake!

"Hey there, honey."

Marissa ignored him. "Does she not understand how important this day is to Celeste? I swear to God, she's got a two inch stick up her -"

"My day? Oh, my day was fine, thanks for asking,"

With a sigh, Marissa turned around. She looked down and crossed her arms, leaning against the counter. She knew she was being this whole... Julie Cooper monster, but she couldn't help it. She didn't want Celeste's debutante ball to be a royal disaster, just like hers. Marissa shrugged.

"Sorry, Ryan, it's just-"

"I know," he said, setting his briefcase on the kitchen table.

Marissa looked up, and their eyes met. That was why she loved him so much; she didn't have to say anything, but he got her. He just got her. They smiled at the same time, before the phone rang and Marissa picked it up, silently praying that it was Diane to apologize.

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A/N: So, this is my first fic ever and I really want to know what you think. Good, not good? Give me your opinions!