A/N: First off, thank you for the first few who reviewed my story. I have been reading OC fanfics for a few weeks but haven't written a fanfic in about 5 years when I used to write Friends ones (although I can't remember my username from back then). Anyways, here's the deal re: updates. I would like to know that people are reading these silly little chapters and will make a deal with you so that you get satiated with all of the Sethummer angst & romance you'd like and I get past any "writer's block" excuses or the like. For every 10 reviews that I get, each one from a unique user, I will post a new chapter. So if I have 10 readers who will post a review every time I put up a new chapter, that's fine. If I get 20 reviews in a day, perhaps I'll put up 2 new chapters. Right now I have written up through Chapter 7 and so now you're up for the challenge! Keep me a busy writer – please. And, just so you don't feel that you're getting jipped: a) I will take all of your reviews into consideration, especially if it is more than "I liked it" or "I didn't like it." Tell me what you want. I can't please all but I've already changed some of my chapters to reflect the feedback that I received. b) In my world, a chapter is equal to 1000-2000 words. I hate those FFs where it's like a 400 word update, and I want to keep you satisfied. Additionally, I'm hoping to make at least 20 chapters in this fic, maybe more depending on what happens in the trials & tribulations of Seth and Summer. So read on and PLEASE REVIEW!!
Disclaimer: I don't own these good folks.
"Seth… you're here!"
"Yep, and all thanks to you," he replied, grabbing his shawarma and taking a bite into it.
"You never told me…"
"You're right. I'm an idiot. So much happened after prom, though, and I was just trying to…"
"No need to apologize. What's important is that you're here."
"Yep. Just got here a week ago, actually."
"Summer must be so happy!"
"Well, she's back in Newport." Anna looked at him confused. "Long story. Anyways, we need to catch up. Why don't you call me sometime this week."
"Definitely. See ya," he walked off and back towards his dorm.
The benefit went off without a hitch. Summer smiled as she saw all of the Newpsies lingering, cocktails in hand.
"Your work really helped, Summer," Carrie said as she walked over to her. "I'm impressed. Less than two weeks on the job and already you've made an impact."
"Well, me and parties…" Two men in their early twenties walked over to Carrie.
"Hello, gentlemen," Carrie said.
"It really went off well, sweetie," the taller man said, giving her a peck on the lips.
"Yes. Let me introduce you to Summer. Summer, this is my boyfriend James," James nodded to Summer. "And this is his colleague, Tim." Tim extended his hand. He wasn't short, but rather average in height and extremely fit. He fit the role of handsome well. Sandy hair, muscular build, and a well-defined jaw line. Summer placed her hand in his.
"Nice to meet you, Tim."
"Tim graduated last year from Stanford Law. He's now working for Legal Aid," Carrie explained.
"That's awesome," Summer said.
"It's been rewarding," Tim replied.
"Well, great! Why don't I get us all another round of drinks," Carrie said. "James, can you help?" The couple walked off.
"So, how about you?" Tim asked.
"I'm at Brown now doing my undergrad. Well, I took the semester off and am working with the Coastwatchers. I'm hoping to go into environmental policy, I think…" her mouth tilted.
"Excellent. Coastwatchers is definitely a great place to start, but if you ever want to speak to some other people just let me know. Several of my friends are working in the field and they're extremely bright. Here's my number," he pulled out a business card and smiled an innocent grin.
"Thanks, Tim," Summer said as Carrie returned with four martinis.
It had been a week since Seth had seen Anna. And five days since he last spoke to Summer. The studios were taking up all of his time; although his classes were over by two in the afternoon, at the latest, he found himself walking back from the studio as late as four in the morning. Nonetheless, he knew that this was only temporary. Once he got the hang of the design fundamentals necessary for the courses his workload would ease up.
Seth sat on his bed, reading his course packet for Comic Book storytelling. He really enjoyed the course, and his professor had brought in a copy of Atomic County into class – to talk about the character arc – not even realizing that the author was sitting in the classroom. After confessing to his professor, Dr. Stein, that he was, indeed, the real-life ironist, the two hit it off. He would often visit Dr. Stein in his office hours, and was given permission to write follow-up issues of Atomic County as his final project. If all went well, Dr. Stein said that he could advise an independent study so that Seth could gain course credit for continuing to work on the graphic novel. Seth glanced over at the clock on his desk. It was just after nine. Summer would be home. He went to his phone and gave her a call. He got her voicemail, left a message, and hung up the phone. After staring for a moment, he knew what he had to do next.
"I didn't think you were going to call me back," Anna said as she slid into the booth at Dave & Busters. Seth had avoided the overpriced eatery since arriving in Providence, but the two figured that the arcade games made it work the dent in their wallets.
"Sorry, the studios have been consuming my life. But hey! I've been working on some more Atomic County issues. I'll have to show you sometime."
"Sure. So, how do you like RISD now?"
"It's okay," Seth said as the waitress approached. "I'll have a coke and a cheeseburger with fries."
"Make that two," said Anna.
"It's kind of weird not having Summer around," Seth admitted as soon as the waitress left. "Especially considering I have the opportunity to wake up to live porn on a regular basis."
"Roommate?"
"Yes. I'm pretty sure that if he wasn't so smitten with his current girl that he'd be a man-slut, and Elle is nice, but I mean… awkward."
"The joys of a dorm room double. Although it's usually the ones who never got any in high school that are the most… um… public about their private life."
"Which explains why I am such a private, private man."
"Don't compliment yourself too much Cohen," Anna said, pulling a wisp of hair away from her forehead. Her hair was short again and she looked just like she had when Seth first met her. They were even dressed similarly. "So, you haven't explained to me yet why Summer isn't here. Last time I heard from you she was going to Brown, sans toi."
"Yes, and she was here last semester. I'm surprised you didn't run into each other, quite frankly, since you ran into me back in the spring,"
"You're rambling, and Brown is a pretty big school."
"So basically she started here but was still grieving from Marissa's death…"
"Marissa died?!?" Anna said, stunned.
"Yes, another long story. She got into a big car accident just after graduation day. It hit everyone hard."
"Wow. And to think, she seemed so… alive… at prom," Anna looked down.
"Articulate, Anna. Very articulate," Seth said, attempting to raise the mood. "So when she got to Brown she kept herself busy with political activism in order to keep her mind off Marissa. And let's just say that her friend, Che, was a little eccentric, took things to the extreme, and decided that it would be necessary to free a lab full of bunnies. So the two team up, free the rabbits, and get caught. And Che puts the politics into political activism by using Summer as a scapegoat for everything he had done, leading to her being suspended for a term."
"That's… messed up."
"Yes, and what's more messed up is that we're supposed to be here together, now, but she's stuck in Newport while I endure this freezing weather alone. So, Anna, how are you?"
"Good."
"Just good?"
"Well, I don't want to make you feel worse, but I absolutely love it at Brown. Providence is starting to edge on Pittsburgh, even. I'm taking courses that I love, found some awesome people on campus – I even started a comic book club."
"Awesome. If you ever need a guest speaker…"
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Cohen."
"I'm thinking of double-majoring in Philosophy and Film, so one mind-fuck and another mind-fuck, and I have my seasons."
"Yes, the never-ending cold."
"It will be warmer in a few months… my roommate is pretty awesome, and I'm still close enough to get to see my friends in Pittsburgh from time to time. So yes, good fit."
"That's really great, Anna," Seth said, biting into his cheeseburger that just arrived on the table. The two ate and caught up about family, friends, and school. Seth had missed joking around with Anna, hearing her sage wisdom, and being able to discuss comic books in depth. The two moved over to the arcade section, where Anna crushed him in DDR and he got her back with Pacman.
"What time is it?" Anna asked Seth.
"Shit, it's one o'clock. I really need to finish some reading for tomorrow."
"Illustration majors read?" Anna asked.
"Believe it or not, yes. And tonight I have to read about how to add redeeming qualities onto the most evil characters."
"So I'm guessing that Julie Cooper has a soft spot?"
"Yes, Mrs. Cosmogirl will learn to love and even accept Kid Chino into her home."
"Wonderful," Anna said. "Why don't we head out then."
"Sure… I can walk you home, though. Don't want a little lady like you to be going home all by herself so very late at night." Seth was greeted by a light punch in his stomach. "You suffer from rage blackouts too?"
"I think your man-slut roommate is starting to rub off on you. But I will accept your company back."
Seth returned home at two in the morning. Early night, even if he did have a ton of reading to do. Max must have been spending the night in Elle's room, as neither he nor his coat were in the room. He went to the phone and dialed the number he knew best.
"Hello," responded the sleepy girl on the other line.
"Hey, Summer. Did I wake you?"
"Sort of, trying to get on a regular schedule now that I'm a working woman."
"Of course, I can call you back tomorrow… when it's not… 11pm your time."
"No, it's okay. I haven't heard from you in a while," Summer said, sitting up in her bed that she had recently reclaimed from the hands of Taylor Townsend.
"Sorry, I've been busy with the studio. But hey, I'll be back in less than two weeks for a very special Valentine's day."
"I can't wait."
"And my mom is having yet another Singles Gala, and though we're not single I think that we should at least make an appearance…"
"Hey, any excuse to buy a new dress…"
"So long as it's made out of recyclable hemp, Summer, I'm sure it will be great."
"Shut up, Cohen."
"Do I smell a rage blackout coming on? Because you know who else I recently learned suffers from rage blackouts…"
"Who?"
"Well, you'd never believe it, but Anna."
"Anna?!?"
"Yeah, I ran into her… and we chilled tonight. Did some much-needed catching up."
"So you're telling me that you don't have time to call me but you're "chilling" with Anna."
"Rage blackout is imminent. You know there's nothing unkosher about it, Summer. I ran into her a week ago, and didn't get ahold of you earlier tonight so I just figured that we could catch up a bit. She sends her regards, by the way."
"Whoop-de-do."
"You know that nothing will ever go on between us. After all, she was the one who worked to get me here so that I could be with you."
"Yet we're not."
"We will be, Summer, next term. And then we'll have three whole years to live in Providence with one another. It will be great. So don't worry about me. How is work going?"
"Great."
"And how was the benefit."
"Went off without a hitch. And my boss introduced me to a lawyer working for Legal Aid so I might even be able to find more work once I get back to Brown!"
"Easy there, girl. I'm glad to here it's going well, though. Anyways, I have my course reader staring at me and I'm pretty sure that it will start attacking me if I don't attend to it soon… you know how it is, being such an attention-whore."
"Of course, Cohen. Talk to you later."
"G'night Summer. I love you."
"Love you too." Less than two weeks until she would be able to have Seth by her side.