A/N: Who just watched the newest episode of The OC (Earth Girls Are Easy)? Enjoy it?… I sure was happy that Seth & Summer got some more screen time. Anyways, thank you so much for your feedback. I know this chapter may go kinda slow but the next one will have everything that you're looking for… I hope. Keep on reviewing – your feedback has been making my week!
Disclaimer: I do not own them.
"Ya gotta stop worrying, there's other chicks in the coop," Max said as the roommates lay on separate beds.
"That is the worst analogy I have ever heard," Seth replied. Max shrugged his shoulders. "You just don't get it, do you."
"Get what?"
"That it's not about other girls. It's about Summer. I love her. Not girls. Not sex. Summer."
"What about Autumn?"
"Real funny. My dad's right, gentiles have the worst sense of humor."
"So you don't like girls? Or sex?"
"You know, you may have been better when you didn't talk to me," Seth responded. Max laughed, silently.
"You're just way too caught up in this girl," Max said. "I mean, does she have super powers? She just sounds like some other hot chick."
"No, you see, that's where you're wrong. I love her for who she is. She's stylish and caliente, yeah, but she's also nice, and funny, and smart, and caring, and did I say funny?'
"Yes, about three adjectives ago."
"Once you meet her you'll understand, although I don't know if I should introduce her to a womaneater herself."
"Ouch," Max feigned hurt. "And have you seen that I am a man of monogamy?"
"Yes but if Elle didn't have you wrapped around your finger. Enough about you, we're trying to solve my problem. What do I do?"
"Move on?" Max asked.
"You're really no help," Seth said, getting up from his bed. "And besides, I have to go meet with Anna right now.
"So you're taking my advice."
"Oh no. Anna is nothing more than my friend."
"Who you used to date."
"Yes, she is my friend. And yes, we dated – but nothing past first base."
"We're in college, Seth, there are no bases."
"Anna is helping me get Summer back."
"Okay, man."
"She is!" Seth whined. "Now, if you excuse me, I have a date. I mean, not a date, a strategy session. And, by the way, please put a tie on the door if you-know-who stops by for a visit." Seth gave Max a knowing look before leaving the room.
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Thursday was even slower than Wednesday, Summer thought to herself. She was mad at herself for how she reacted to Cohen, knowing full well that he was sorry. But she was just so sick of excuses and apologies. When was he going to grow up and change? Maybe Tim – and every other critic of the long-distance relationship – was right. Perhaps they needed a so-called cooling down period. Summer went back to her spreadsheet, inputting names of grants that the Coastwatchers could apply for.
"Summer?" Carrie said as she walked past Summer's desk.
"Yes?"
"Could you do me a favor? I need you to take all of these business cards and put them into my contact list in Outlook. Thanks," she said, handing Carrie a stack of business cards.
Jeffrey Parker, YMCA of Orange County. Allison Glazer, Toronto Waterfront Redevelopment Coalition. Amy Bennett, Marine Animal Watchdogs. Summer keyed in all of Carries newest acquaintances. Carrie had stepped out of the office and gone to a meeting for the afternoon, and Summer had nothing to do. It wasn't like the Coastwatchers got much phone traffic. She looked through the contacts. Tim Haggerty, Legal Aid Society of Southern California. After hesitating for a moment, she dialed his number.
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"So I have a three-phase strategy," Anna announced as they settled into their corner. It was kind of funny, having a "spot" at Starbucks, yet no one seemed to realize this little nook in the corner of the coffee store.
"Anna, is this going to be like the prom three-phase strategy? Because I'm not going to fall for that again," Seth said, reluctantly.
"No. Because the first two phases have the possibility of working here."
"Uh huh. So, Miss Stern, what are the phases?"
"It's Ms. Stern to you," Anna remarked. "So, the first stage is to go to her house and try to talk to her."
"Don't think that one will work, Anna."
"Just try. She may just want to see you in person."
"Second stage?"
"Ignore her. Don't go over to her house. Don't try calling her or texting her. She'll know that you're in Newport, and want to see you. And eventually, she'll cave."
"And if that doesn't work?"
"Then you go back, and just talk to her. Even if it's through a door. Confess your wrongs, beg for her back, flowers, maybe? Trust me, it will work. Phone conversations are not conducive to resolving conflicts."
"Anna, Anna, Anna, what did I ever do without you? Hey, remember when we first met? And you tried helping me get together with Summer in the first place," Seth reminisced. "But of course, you were just using Summer as an excuse to try and get in my pants."
"Sure, Cohen. Remember it that way," Anna giggled.
"Do you ever wonder what would have happened if you didn't dump me? By the way, you may want to know that you were the first girl to dump me. In my entire life."
"I knew that, Seth. And no, I don't wonder about that. I dumped you because you loved Summer. I knew it, even if I did want to be with you. We wouldn't have worked, because you need to have mutual attraction. And you know what? I really like Summer a lot, and it's too bad that I was so caught up in trying to make "us" work because it ruined whatever friendship I had with Summer," Anna conceded.
"You are wise beyond your years, Anna Stern. And you know what, when Summer comes back maybe we can all be friends together."
"So you'll want me to be your third wheel?"
"No. We'll be a tricycle… or something. We can hang out here."
"This table is rather small."
"As is Summer. We can squeeze in a third chair. And it will be good. I'll even let you guys coerce me into watching the Golden Girls boxed set," Seth joked.
"Then it's a deal. But in the meantime, you gotta pack."
"Done."
"Okay, well, do you want me to come with you to the airport? You know, I am pretty good at ordering taxi drivers around," she said.
"Sure thing. Just meet me at my dorm room in an hour," Seth responded, getting up.
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"I just don't get it," Summer said as she walked along the pier with Tim, Balboa Bar in hand.
"What do you want me to say, it sucks," Tim responded. "I'm sure Seth still cares, though. Right?"
"I don't know. I guess so. Ugh"
"I know, Summer, I know."
"Maybe you were right," Summer said. "Maybe long-distance relationships are impossible."
"I never said they were impossible. Just hard."
"Any advice about how to fix them?"
"Take a break."
"A break?"
"Yeah. If you two love each other, you'll get right back together when you both are living in the same zip code. And in the meantime, you don't have to worry about what may possibly be the hidden meaning in a text message, or read too much into the tone of an e-mail or wonder if Seth is shacking up with other girls."
"Seth is not doing anything with anyone," Summer firmly stated.
"Okay. I'm not implying that. I'm just stating that for some couples it's easier to ease off the relationship when the two of you can't see each other. And then when you do, you can have all of the blissful, no strings attached sex that you want and not sob all weekend when the other one leaves."
"I do not sob all weekend."
"Then what's up with your eyes?" Tim asked.
"Nothing. Nothing is wrong with anything. So this break thing…"
"Yes, and then you will get back together once you go back to Brown."
"And you're sure it will work?"
"No. But it may be what you need. You'll have to think about that yourself," Tim said, as he put his hand against the small of her back. "Why don't I walk you home." The two walked along the pier until they vanished into the horizon.
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"Five minutes until landing. Please place your seats in an upright position and put on your seatbelt," the flight attendant said.
"Have a little too much caffeine?" asked the man sitting next to Seth.
"No, just jitters." The two went back to minding their own business as the plane descended.
"Ryan!" Seth yelled as he saw a familiar face by the baggage claim.
"Seth," he said, pulling Seth into a hug.
"So, how's it going? Is anyone else here?'
"It's going well. Why don't we head out to the curb. Taylor's waiting in the car for us."
"Ah, if it isn't the lovely Miss Townsend," Seth said as he climbed into Taylor's SUV. "How has living the gay Parisian life a la Orange County been?"
"Seth, cut the crap," Taylor said. "Now, if I wasn't so nosy, I wouldn't tell you this, but Summer is really upset."
"Old news, Taylor."
"You screwed up big time, Seth," Taylor said, driving away from John Wayne Airport and towards the Cohen's house.
"I know. I know. Actually, can we make a stop off at Summer's?"
"Do you think that's such a good idea?" Ryan interjected.
"I don't know. But Anna laid out a plan and that's my first step. So like it or not, we're going to Maison Roberts."
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"Break. Break. Taking a break," Summer said as she held Princess Sparkle.
"Summer, open up!" Taylor said.
"Why should I?"
"Because…"
"Because what?" Summer got up from her bed and headed towards the door.
"Because you have a visitor."
"If that scrawny dude with no butt and a jewfro is here tell him that I don't want to speak to him."
"I don't have a jewfro anymore!" Summer heard from the other side of the door.
"Seth, just leave her alone," Summer could hear Taylor saying.
"No! It's part of the plan!" Summer felt the doorknob turn as Taylor and Seth stumbled in.
"Summer!" Seth exclaimed.
"Seth," tears started welling up in her eyes. "Just go home. Now."
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Will Anna's plan work? Or will they "take a break?" And what does that even mean? Review and you shall find out!
So in this fic, Anna is not evil, and no, they will not get together (yay!) I actually think that Anna's a great character on the show and a good person – even though I'm totally a S/S fan. I know that everyone villainizes her on FF, so maybe she will be the hero here.