A/N: You guys rock with your comments. Now, I have a feeling that you won't love this chapter, but I promise promise promise (SPOILER ALERT) that chapters 12-14 will have all that you've been wishing for. So hopefully you'll enjoy this chapter anyways and review so that I can post the next one(s). And I have 8 chapters of my next story ready to go… you've all been keeping me busy!
Disclaimer: Although I saw Mischa Barton at LaGuardia Airport and Rachel Bilson at the TO Film Fest, I do not own either of them, nor any actual characters from the OC.
Seth sat on the king-sized bed in his hotel room watching the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy marathon. The comic book convention was fun, he met several of the hottest new writers and illustrators and was really bonding with Dr. Stine. On Wednesday, Dr. Stine had told him that he would take him on as an independent study project in the upcoming fall term. In his spare time, Seth bought a Metrocard and explored the city. He was staying at the Marriot Marquis, right in the heart of Times Square, and the convention was being held at the Jacob Javitts Center on the far west side of the city. Although his walks to and from the convention required him to go through all of the tourist hoopla, he found solace in exploring Hell's Kitchen to the north of him, Williamsburg and other parts of Brooklyn, and the Village. He had sampled the cheeses and fruit at the Union Square Greenmarket, viewed indie films at the Angelica and the Pioneer, and had a shake and fries at Tom's Restaurant, the Seinfeld diner. Of course, that had been a let down, given that the interior resembled looked nothing like the actual set but instead contained a plethora of Seinfeld memorabilia, and true, the Seinfeld "gang" was replaced by drunk Columbia students, but overall Seth was happy that he was being kept busy over the week. It gave him less time to think about why Summer hadn't called him over the past five days.
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Summer looked down at her watch. 5:30pm. The meeting was planned to end at 5. She sighed. Seth had been on her mind all day. She wanted to call him – she really had – but there was never a good time. Between the meetings during the day, the happy hours and dinners, Summer's schedule was jam-packed. She wanted to have a long conversation, not one penciled in between a lecture on conservation grants and drinks at Moustache.
"Summer, are you coming with us?" Alex asked. Alex was a program development assistant at the Battery Conservation Society. He had graduated from Penn the year prior and moved back to his hometown of New York.
"Sorry, where to?" She bit her lip, realizing that she had tuned out.
"Drinks and dinner at Blue Fin. It's kind of upscale, we were all going to go change and meet there."
"Sure, okay," Summer said, grabbing her purse. "I'll see you in a bit."
She really needed to find the time to call Cohen.
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"That's a wonderful dress," Alex said as Summer entered the posh restaurant. There were floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the street and the décor was both minimalist and stylish.
"Thank you," Summer said, realizing that the last person to compliment her in this outfit had been Tim. She shruddered.
"You okay?" Alex asked.
"Yes, should we go sit down?" He took her by the arm and walked with her to the back of the restaurant, where their table was.
Summer and Alex had hit it off. They were the two youngest people at the conference, by about twenty years. Alex was smart and funny, and as their wine glasses kept on getting refilled, they were chattier and chattier. The night was still young, but turning out well.
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"Hey Seth, it's Jenny, um, Max and Elle's friend. So, you're probably wondering why I'm calling you. Max told me that you're in New York and I'm back home now so I thought maybe you'd like a local to meet up with you, you know, show you the ropes. Anyways, I'm meeting some friends at Rodeo Bar on 27th and Third, and wanted to see if you wanted to meet me. We'll be there at eleven. Hope you can make it. You can give me a call if you want, 212-837-2937. Later." Seth replayed the message three times before hitting the send button on his phone.
"Jenny? Yeah, I'll see you then." Seth got up and threw a fitted concert tee over his button down shirt. They had shown it on Queer Eye and Seth thought it looked cool, not that he would admit that he was watching the show, alone, in his hotel room while taking style notes. He put on his Converse and headed to the door. Who knew what the night would have in store for him.
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"What do you drink, Summer?" Alex asked.
"You can get me a beer… whatever you're drinking," Summer said. She swore off girly drinks after what she liked to call the "Tim incident."
"Okay," Alex said after placing the order with the bartender. After dinner Alex and Summer decided to peel off from the old people's contingent and explore the nightlife of New York. Now they were at Rodeo Bar, where the bartenders wore cowboy hats and the drinkers rode a mechanical bull. Alex handed her a bottle of Sam Adams, and she took a swig.
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Seth felt a tap on his back upon entering the bar.
"Boo," Jenny said. She was wearing a tight tank top and vintage jeans and had styled her hair so that her bangs were brushed over to the side. "I'm glad you could make it, Seth."
"Yeah, well, I had some free time tonight."
"So how has the Com Con been?"
"Great. There's going to be some AMAZING releases this month."
"Cool. Let me introduce you to my friends." She pulled him over to a group in the corner of the crowded bar.
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Seth and Alex had talked the night away, sitting at the bar. It was crowded, not insanely so for a Friday night but busier than Summer had been used to.
"What time is it?" Summer asked Alex, yawning.
"One a.m. At least we have the day off tomorrow."
"Yep," Summer said. She meant to call Seth tonight, but now it was probably too late. "You know, I'm getting kind of tired, I think I'm going to head back to the hotel."
"Sure thing. Where are you staying?"
"The Marquis."
"Nice. I live on 47th and 9th, let me at least take you back – it's on the way."
"If you say so," Summer answered. Alex wrapped his arm around her waist and led her towards the door.
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"Hey Seth," Jenny said, nursing a Guinness.
"What's up?"
"Doesn't that girl by the door look a bit like Little Miss Vixen?" Jenny pointed to the exit where Summer was leaving, with Alex guiding her out the door. His hand was firmly placed on her waist and she was giggling as she and Alex made eye contact. Seth's heart dropped. Summer had moved on and hadn't even told him.
"Um, I don't see her. But, you know, Little Miss has quite a generic look."
"I suppose."
"You know, I think I've had enough time at the bar," Seth said. "And we never finished Spiderman. Want to come and watch it in my room?" Jenny hesitated for a moment, wondering what Seth meant by it. Had he ended things with Summer or was this hanging out with friends? She'd have to find out herself.
"Sure." The two walked out the door and breathed in the night air.
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After Alex had dropped Summer off at her room and the two said their goodbyes, Summer got on her pajamas and set her alarm for ten in the morning. This would give her enough time to get ready and give Seth a call. They could do weekend brunch, she figured. Catch up with each other, talk thing through, and if all went well they would even go back to her hotel room… baby steps, she repeated to herself. She went to the bathroom to wash off her makeup before going to sleep.
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"Spiderman's even more exciting when you're buzzed," Seth exclaimed as the end credits rolled.
"Yep! Do you have any other action movies to watch? X-Men? Batman?"
"Actually, it's getting kind of late," Seth said motioning to the clock, which read 3:06 a.m.
"You're right, I should head out," Jenny said, sitting up from the couch in his room.
"Sure, I guess I'll see you in a couple of days," Seth said, getting up from the couch.
"Seth?"
"Yeah?"
"I don't mean to be, um, too blunt, but… what happened with you and Summer?"
"It's over," Seth stated with no emotion in his voice.
"Really?"
"Yeah, she wanted to move on."
"I'm sorry," Jenny said. She looked up at Seth and they locked eyes. She stood up to meet him at eye level before kissing him square on the lips.
Seth was startled by the sudden attack on his face. Maybe it was the hurt, maybe the alcohol, or the fatigue, but Seth kissed back. The kiss deepened and as Seth held Jenny's waist she removed her bra from under her shirt, sliding it through her sleeve. Seth cupped her breasts through her shirt, massaging them lightly. They were full, not as full as Summer's. Summer. Seth backed away, coming to his senses.
"What?" Jenny said.
"It's still too soon," Seth said. "I'm sorry, I keep putting you in these compromising situations."
"Don't worry. I should stop trying to get blood from a rock," she said as she headed for the door.
As soon as the door closed behind her Seth collapsed on his bed, and let the tears escape his eyes.
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What will happen with Summer and Seth? Will they ever talk? Is it over as in over over? Review and the next chapter will magically appear!