A/N: Thank you for your reviews – the more, the merrier! I know that at this point in the story some of you are pissed b/c there is some not-so-good Seth & Summer drama, but trust me, there is a happy ending. The story is finished and 14 chapters long and I just started a second S/S story. So… please continue reviewing and I'll continue posting. At this rate it's been a chapter a day so it will all be posted by New Year's and then I'll start posting the new story.
So, in sum, stick with it and you'll be happy… and keep reviewing!
Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Seth Cohen. Or anyone else.
"Take a break? What does that mean, Summer?" Seth asked, anticipating pain.
"I don't know."
"You don't know? It's your suggestion! Oh God. This is going to be like on Friends. Are you hooking up with the girl from the copy shop?"
"Huh?"
"Season two. Ross and Rachel take a break and then Ross… God, Summer, why?" He grabbed his boxers and put them on, pacing around the room while collecting his clothing.
Summer did not expect this sort of reaction out of Seth. She hadn't thought about how he might act but this was definitely not what she thought. Although, come to think about it, he had freaked out about more trivial factors.
"You said that you would do whatever would make me happy," Summer reasoned, coolly. "This is what would make me happy."
"You mean, having a reason to hook up with other guys?" Seth felt a hand on his face.
"Yeah, like I'm going to cheat on you."
"It's not cheating if we're "on a break."" Seth replied.
"Look, Seth, that's not what I mean by it. At all."
"Then what do you mean? You haven't explained this foreign concept to me."
"Okay. So, basically, when you're in Providence and I'm here we are not together. Which doesn't mean that we hook up with others, it just means that I'm not worrying about what you're up to and you're not pining for me."
"Summer, I'm always pining for you," Seth admitted.
"Well, I won't be devastated when you don't call, or forget our anniversary, or don't come back here…"
"Summer, I will never forget our anniversary. Again. And besides, next anniversary we will both be in Providence."
"I know, Seth. And when we're both there, or when we're both here – over the summer, whenever – we will be together. And when you come and visit we can…" she pointed to the bed.
"Act like a bed?"
"No, dummy, have mind-blowing, no strings attached sex."
"How about talking?"
"Huh?"
"You don't want me to call you?"
"I do, I just won't expect it anymore."
"Summer, is this what you really want?"
"It's what we have to do. For now," Summer said, as she got up from the bed and gathered her clothing, haphazardly redressing herself.
"I don't know what to say," Seth said, fighting the tears coming to his eyes. "I love you so much. And I'm sorry that I disappointed you." Summer put a finger to his lips.
"I love you too. We'll be stronger this way."
"If that's what you say. I want you to be happy. But if you want to talk to me, you'll have to call," Seth said.
"What? So the onus is on me?" Summer was angered.
"Yes. I don't want this and I can't just call you not knowing where your heart is. So let me know when you want to talk – you have my number." He stood up. "I'm going to go see Ryan – you know the way out." He left the room to go to the poolhouse, leaving Summer alone on his bed.
"Captain Oats, what have I done?" She asked herself.
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"Seth Cohen, born again non-virgin," Max said, looking up from his coursepack, upon Seth's arrival.
"I take it that you had a good break?" Seth asked.
"Yep. Went back to the city, saw a few shows, met up with some old buddies, and ladies, if you know what I mean," he gave Seth a knowing glance.
"Mr. Monogamy, what?" Seth feigned surprise. "What happened to Elle?"
"Nothing. She just wasn't in New York."
"Dirty, man, dirty." Seth didn't like Max's stance on women. He would never cheat on Summer, especially not during a week-long vacation. Did Elle know that Max was hooking up with other girls? Would she care? Was she doing the same? Seth was so used to just having a stable, solid relationship. Not that his had been stable nor solid, what with Anna, Alex, Zach, Big Korea or whomever he was… but at no point did Seth and Summer ever truly doubt their love for one another. Even when they were with other people, they never did more than kiss and even that lacked emotion.
"So, how was your lady friend?" Max asked.
"It's complicated."
"So you didn't get any?"
"No, I did."
"Then what's complicated."
"It's complicated."
"Yes, you've said that. But a relationship isn't just "complicated.""
"It is! That's even a category on Facebook. So let's just leave it at that," Seth said. Max shrugged and got back to reading.
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Summer stared at the computer. She hadn't had enough time to let the whole "on a break" thing sink in. She couldn't tell whether it would strengthen their relationship or tear them apart. Only time will tell, she thought. How cliché. Carrie walked in and put her hand on Summer's desk, letting it linger for a while. After she didn't move, Summer looked up.
"Yes?"
"Look down, Summer." Summer looked down at Carrie's hand, where a platinum band sat with a diamond perched in the center.
"Omigod," Summer said.
"Yep. After seven years, James finally proposed. And I was beginning to think that it would never happen.
"Wow. Was it, um, romantic?"
"Of course. We went back to LA, to the first restaurant that we went on a date to. Then he orders the same exact food that we ordered, and placed my ring in the tiramisu."
"That's so cute!" She really enjoyed Carrie's company. It seemed like she and James had the picture perfect relationship. Best friends turned college sweethearts. Activists with big hearts. James would stop by the office at least once a week to meet Carrie for lunch, always with a bit of a goofy smile on his face as he asked Summer if Carrie was in. She and Cohen had some qualities they had, but it was just too hard for them to work things out at this point.
"Anyways, we're going to have an engagement party on Friday night at the Hyde Lounge. I'd like you to come…"
"Me?"
"Yes, now I know that you've only been working here about a month, but you'll have to deal with me when I go into wedding planning hysteria, so the least I can do is get you a few rounds of drinks. Trust me, you'll need it."
"Oh, well, um, sure."
"Great!" Summer went back to her computer and typed in a memo to herself. At least she had something to look forward to now.
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"So what happened?" Anna asked, taking a sip of her latte.
"These coffee breaks are starting to break my wallet."
"Well, maybe we should have some Seth-Anna time in our dorms instead," Anna suggested.
"I don't think my room is such a great idea." The last thing he wanted was for Max to get an idea in his head, or for Anna to see Max's nether regions.
"Emily studies at the library, so why don't you stop by my place next time."
"Okay. But you still haven't told me what happened. Did the plan work?" Seth gave her a glare. "I'm guessing it didn't." Anna sunk back in her seat.
"Actually, phase two worked. But then phase three became a "we should take a break.""
"Why did you tell her that?" Anna was confused.
"Oh, I didn't. No, rather, I'm spooning her in bed, telling her I love her, and then she decides that we need some space, or something. I don't even know what it means. It's not "we're over" it's more of a "we're over when we're not in the same city, but when you come to visit we'll fuck.""
"Gosh."
"Yeah. I just… I told her to call me when she wants to talk. I just. God, why did she have to do that!"
"She loves you, Seth. It's just, well, hard on her," Anna conceded. "Give her some space and your relationship will get stronger. Think of all of the little fights you've had on the phone with her this past month. If you're friends when you're on opposite sides of the country, then there won't me as much tension when you do talk."
"Ah, the wise woman's words."
"I should start charging you for them," Anna giggled.
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Summer zipped up her dress. It was short, without being too skanky, and drew attention to her chest. She parted her hair to the side and put a clip in her hair, before donning some hoop earrings and grabbing a matching bag.
"Summer, wow," Taylor said as she entered her room. "You look… stunning."
"Thanks. Is there a car waiting for me downstairs?"
"Yes, that's what I was about to tell you. Where are you going?"
"Hyde Lounge. It's in LA, I think. My boss is having her engagement party."
"Ah, well, I have a feeling that you're going to have a lot of men staring at you. Now, even though you're on a break, I don't know if you should be flaunting your Summer Roberts charm around. Seth is still waiting for you in Providence."
"Sure," Summer said, unsure of herself.
"Trust me, he is. Ryan said that Seth was rambling on and on about it over the phone this week."
"That's what Cohen does, he rambles. Don't worry about me, Taylor. I'll see you later," Summer answered as she left the house.
She entered the limo, which was already filled with a good half-dozen people: Carrie, James, and other people whom she didn't recognize. The limo pulled away from her house and continued down the road.
"Last stop," Carrie announced as they pulled up to a condo complex a few minutes away from Summer's house. The car door opened and Tim slid into the limo.
"Hi Summer," he said.
"Hi," she muttered back, knowing full well that he was checking her out. The car drove away and Summer ignored Tim and the other guests as she stared out the window, looking at the bright lights as they entered Los Angeles.
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"Seth, why don't you come with us." Elle suggested. Seth was laying on his bed, wallowing about in self pity.
"No. No. I hate my life. I hate my life."
"Which is why you're coming with us. You've been moping all week long, Seth. It's just a party. Please?"
"I'm not in the mood."
"Seth, you haven't left this room other than to do studio work and go to class."
"So what's new?"
"Seth, you're coming," she grabbed him by his arm and nearly dragged him out of his room.
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"Someone's not talking much," Tim said as he approached Summer, handing her a drink.
"What's this?"
"Your favorite. Sex on the beach."
"It's not really my…"
"I know, but it was the only drink that I've seen you consume before, and hey, the bartender got a laugh out of seeing me order it," Tim laughed. "So what's new? I haven't seen you since… before your boyfriend came back." Summer sighed. "He did come back, didn't he?"
"Yes, and I told him that we should take a break. It's just, it hasn't made it much easier."
"Have you talked to him since?" Tim asked, taking a swig of his drink.
"No, I just. I need to stay strong. Keep myself composed. And once I do, then we can talk."
"You seem to have a plan, Summer. I'm impressed."
"Yep, but tonight is not about talking about my pathetic love life. It's about celebrating." Summer took a deep breath, before saying, "you wanna dance?" Tim put his arm around her and followed her onto the dance floor.
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"Seth, this is my friend, Jenny. Jenny, Seth," Elle said as a short girl with auburn hair waved hello to Seth. "Now, don't mind me, I have to go find Max." Jenny and Seth stood in awkward silence for a long moment.
"Can I get you a drink, or something?" Seth offered.
"Sure, just a beer. Whatever's around." Seth looked around the common room. There was a bucket full of Natty Light cans over in the corner. He cringed. It may be cheap, but that beer tasted like piss water. He walked over to the corner and grabbed two cans, and passed one over to Jenny.
"Thanks. So, you're Max's roommate, Elle said?" Jenny phrased it as a half-question.
"Yes… well, we've only been living together for a little over a month."
"That's cool. I actually grew up not too far from him. He probably dated half of the girls at Dalton. Good thing he has Elle now, she keeps him grounded," Jenny admitted. Seth thought back to Max's early disclosure of what had gone on over break. It was clear that Ella was oblivious to Max's ways.
"So you're at RISD?"
"No, Brown," she said. I'm actually Elle's roommate. I am how she met Max."
"So then I have you to thank for seeing a bit too much of both of them," Seth kidded.
"Yep. As long as it's not in my room, on my bed, I think it's wonderful. So, what are you studying?"
"Illustration. I want to be a comic book author."
"Cool. I love comic books."
"Really? Few girls do. I mean, when my girlfriend, or whatever she is now, found out that I was working on Atomic County, she nearly…"
"You were involved with Atomic County?" Jenny gasped.
"Yes. Don't you see some resemblance…"
"Omigod. How did I not realize – you're the Ironist."
"Yes, the O.G. original."
"So," Jenny paused. "Where is Little Miss Vixen?"
"She's at Brown, well, not there right now. It's complicated…"
"How so?" Jenny asked, inquisitively.
"We're, um, our relationship is just complicated. We're kind of on a break right now." Jenny looked down towards the floor.
"Sorry about that," Jenny said, sympathetically.
"Don't worry, let's just enjoy the night." After a brief moment of silence, they continued to talk.
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Six Sex on the Beaches later and Summer was drunk. With each drink she danced closer to Tim, who really didn't mind a girl like Summer grinding against him. The music was loud and the beats were pumping.
"You know what, Tim," Summer slurred.
"What Summer."
"You are so un-Coheny. You're handsome. You're mature. You don't ramble." Summer paused a moment thinking of other superlatives. She looked up at Tim just as he drew his face towards hers.
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It was late, and Seth and Jenny were still sitting on the same couch as they had all night, talking about Comic Books. He was telling her the story of when they first pitched Atomic County, the nightmare between him and Zach, meeting George Lucas. Jenny was enthused and let Seth ramble on and on about the comic. She never thought she'd get to actually talk to a graphic novel writer before.
"Hey, Seth, we're uh, heading back," Max said as he passed by Seth and Jenny, holding Elle's hand.
"Oh great, I guess it will be the common room couch tonight," Seth muttered to Jenny.
"Why don't you stay at my place? I mean, it's clear that Elle won't be returning tonight. You can just sleep on her bed," Jenny suggested.
"Um. Okay." There would be two separate beds, nothing would happen, Seth reasoned.
"Why don't we head out, then."
Jenny and Seth continued to talk as they walked across the courtyard and into Archibald Hall. Jenny opened her room and the two walked in, taking off their winter coats and sitting down on Jenny's bed.
"Want to watch a movie?" Jenny suggested. "Spiderman?"
"Sounds good," Seth responded. They turned on the movie and watched. Spiderman was now hanging upside down. It would be just moments until that monumental kiss.
"Seth?" Seth unglued his eyes from the screen and looked at Jenny.
"Yeah?" Jenny put her arms on Seth and drew her lips closer to his.
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Are Seth and Summer going to cheat on each other? Is it cheating if they were "on a break"? Review and you shall see!
Also… five points for reporting the significance of "Hyde Lounge"… that's right, I'm evil.