The Emancipation Proclamation?
[AN: Thanks everyone for the reviews! Sorry it's taken so long to update, I went out of town last weekend and school has been horrid, tons of finals. Anyway, please enjoy!
Summer, Seth, Ryan and Marissa were hanging out in the pool house. Seth was trying to teach Summer how to play some random ninja game while Marissa and Ryan were making out on the bed. Things were pretty much normal.
"Summer, you have to hit the X button to chop off that guy's head," Seth explained to Summer in exasperation.
"Won't my player like, break a nail or something," Summer whined, and Seth groaned. Summer giggled as Seth brought his hands to his face in annoyance. "Just kidding Cohen! I just totally kicked your ass!" Summer exclaimed, laughing as Seth looked up, dumb-founded. "That's right jackass, while your were groaning about how I wasn't paying attention, I won!" Summer cried gleefully. At that, Marissa and Ryan started to laugh, and ceased their make-out session.
"Um...what's so funny. So, Summer beat me when I wasn't paying attention," Seth muttered. Everyone kept laughing, and he narrowed his eyes. "What is it?" Seth asked nervously.
"Remember last night when you said 'If Summer ever beats me at video games, I'll go down to the pier and tell everyone in the diner that I've always wanted to be a water polo player, and then I'll flirtaciously wink any water polo player in the vicinity,'" Marissa inquired, starting to tear up from laughing to hard.
"I did not!" Seth retorted indignantly. Ryan shot him a look that said 'Dude, that is so not gonna get you out of it.'
"Oh, Cohen, I had a feeling that you'd say that, and not just because you were in a drunken daze," Summer giggled, and went on, "Which is why I recorded it!" Summer cried as she whipped out her phone and let the recording play. Seth's face fell.
"Well, I guess there's nothing I can do about it now," Seth sighed, burying his face into Summer's neck. He look up and forlornly gazed out the window, and Ryan rolled his eyes at Seth's dramatic display. Marissa looked sad now, like she really regretted bringing up Seth's promise. So Ryan did his part and wrapped a consoling arm around Marissa's waist. Summer bit her lip apprehensively as Seth gazed at her with puppy dog eyes.
"I'm sure we could work something out," Summer caved. Seth smiled weakly.
"Oh, thanks so much Summer, what would I do without you," Seth smiled.
"This is our cue to go get some more Doritos and coke," Marissa said, shooting a you're-not-fooling-me-with-your-acting-jack-ass-and-you're-so-not-getting-out-of-this look at Seth. He shrugged and winked at Marissa, and stuck his tongue out at her for good measure. Ryan couldn't help but think about how girly Seth's tactics were, but he didn't say anything because he was emasculated enough by Summer and Marissa.
"Aw, Cohen, I'm sorry we were being so mean to you," Summer said, taking his hand.
"It's not a big deal Sum," Seth replied with a wave of his hand. For a while after that they just stared at each-other intensely.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Ryan and Marissa were gathering food when they heard Sandy walk through the door. Marissa wanted to thank him for the billionth time for allowing herself and Summer to stay at his home, so she dragged Ryan out of the kitchen so she could say hi. He was on the phone, though, so Ryan raised a hand to his mouth so Marissa wouldn't say anything.
"I understand, we have to be realistic, but are you sure we don't have a case," Sandy asked whomever was on the other line. The reply obviously wasn't what he'd wanted to hear, seeing as he sighed shortly thereafter. "Alright, thanks for trying." Sandy finished as he flipped his phone shut. Ryan and Marissa snuck out of the kitchen quickly.
"What do you think that was about," Marissa asked Ryan.
"Um...probably you know, the case, you and Summer, getting emancipated," Ryan murmured as he and Marissa walked hurriedly. Ryan glanced back every ten seconds to make sure Sandy wasn't following them/hadn't seen them.
"Right," Marissa muttered back as the two of them entered the pool-house. When they entered, Seth and Summer were laying on the floor, Summer in Seth's arms.
"Mmm...Cohen, you smell like cinnamon," Summer purred into Seth's ear. Marissa thought they looked really sweet. Ryan thought they shouldn't intrude on their 'moment,' because he knew how he'd react to Seth watching him be all 'sweet' with Marissa. Not well.
"You smell like...strawberries," Seth decided as he nuzzled his nose into Summer's neck. Summer laughed. "What," Seth asked Summer innocently. Ryan coughed softly, and Marissa jabbed him in the stomach.
"Wah?" Summer murmured. "Oh my god, how long've you been standing there, Coop?" Summer demanded as she got up and jabbed her elbow into Seth's side in the process. Seth glared at Marissa, who shrugged in return.
"Karma's a bitch," Marissa grinned.
"That's apparent," Seth replied as he got up to face her.
"Enough you two," Ryan said, in a rare moment of taking the lead.
"I like your style Atwood," said Summer to Ryan, appreciating his new found leadership skill.
"Why thank-you," Ryan replied as he flopped onto the bed, along with Marissa.
"Anyway, we heard Mr. Cohen on the phone with someone, presumably talking about the case." Marissa told the group.
"First of all, don't call me Mr. Cohen," Sandy commented as he entered the pool house. "Second of all, I knew I heard someone in the kitchen," Sandy calmly added.
"Why hello there father," Seth said agreeably.
"So, about the case. I spoke to the DA, and he said he can't do anything about Neil. I'm sorry Summer, there just isn't much of a case, even though you shouldn't have to live with him." Sandy intoned melancholily.
"Oh...well, it'll be fine. We just need to get Marissa away from her mom," Summer replied bravely. Seth shot her a sideways glance and just went ahead and hugged her tight, forgetting that he ought to be embarrassed to in front of his dad. Ryan put a hand on Summer's shoulder in a brotherly gesture, and Marissa sighed, knowing what was coming next.
"The good news is, we can get Marissa out of there, we have a pretty good case considering the fact that she tried to frame Ryan." Sandy told the kids. Marissa shook her head.
"But why is it that that's not enough to get Summer out of there?" Marissa demanded angrily. She didn't seem like she was directing her fury at Sandy, though.
"Because, Ryan isn't Summer's boyfriend." Sandy said.
"So what? Ryan's Summer's best friend, besides me. That should be more than enough!" Marissa cried indignantly.
"I know Marissa, but the judge we've been assigned wouldn't see it that way," Sandy explained. He looked genuinely distressed over the situation. "The DA said we could probably get another judge appointed in seven months," Sandy added.
"But that's ridiculous, Summer'll be 18 by then," Seth grumbled.
"Well, Summer's dad has done a lot of work for a lot of people. It was probably pretty easy for him to call in a favor," said Sandy.
"Well, I'm not letting you stay alone in that house. No one deserves that, especially not you," Marissa said to Summer.
"No, Coop, you don't have to, really." Summer told her friend emphatically.
"It's final. When do you think we have to go back," Marissa asked Sandy serenely.
"Oh, um...well, your mom wants you to come back tonight." Sandy told Marissa.
"Alright, well, we'd better get packing, huh Sum..." Marissa murmured as she began gathering her belongings, which were scattered along the pool-house floor.
"Are you sure about this Riss," Ryan asked her quietly as the two of them picked up their things. Sandy retreated, and Summer and Seth soon followed so they could go up to his room.
"It's not forever, just until we can figure out a plan." Marissa said. Ryan nodded. "I'll come over so much that you won't even know I'm gone," Marissa whispered into his ear playfully.
"Oh, really. Is that what you have in mind," he inquired of her. She nodded quickly in reply. "Well, you'll have to call me first so I can make sure that my calendar is clear," Ryan admonished.
"I'm pretty sure I'll be able to persuade you to clear it," Marissa said sweetly.
"Oh, are you," Ryan asked.
"Oh yeah, definitely," Marissa replied as she pulled him onto the bed and kissed him roughly.
"I think you might be right," Ryan murmured between kisses.
Up in Seth's room, Summer was picking up her things, which were scattered all over the place.
"Don't take it all," Seth told her coyly as he tugged on his hair nervously.
"Ah...why?" Summer inquired confusedly.
"Because...then it'll be like you were never here...when you're gone," Seth answered.
"Aw...Cohen...but I'm only going like a mile away," Summer said, obviously touched by his sweet sentiment.
"But I...I like having you here every night. You're warm...and you're soft..." Seth mumbled embarrassedly. At that Summer stopped packing and sat down next to him on his bed. She kissed him soft and slow and passionate.
"Mmm...Cohen. I am gonna miss you so much. You're...the best full body pillow ever. And not just because your hair is so much fun to play with," Summer giggled, and Seth grinned. "And then there's that killer smile of yours," Summer added. "But don't get cocky, Cohen," Summer warned.
"Don't worry Summer," said Seth with an eye roll. "But I have a few conditions. And if they are not complied with, I have to the right to march right over to your house and take you away, so you'd better listen. Number 1: I am going to call you every night, so you better pick up," Seth started.
"Not if I call you first," Summer retorted defiantly.
"Hmm...that's ok, I suppose. Number 2: You can't ban sex anymore," Seth continued.
"I'll do whatever I damn well please," Summer replied serenely.
"Fine, I was just hoping to get lucky..." Seth trailed off.
"Hmm, well then, I'll see what I can do," Summer replied, faking a pensive attitude.
"Number 3: You are required to sleep-over here at least...almost every day," Seth added.
"I think I can make that happen." Summer replied.
"Ok, that's all," Seth said simply. They continued packing until Ryan and Marissa came in the room with Marissa's bags.
"You ready to go Sum?" Marissa asked her best friend.
"No," She whined in return. The four of them fell backwards onto Seth's bed.
"This. Sucks. Like. Hell." Summer groaned. Marissa nodded listlessly in agreement.
"Let's make that bitch's life hell," Marissa said, an odd grin appearing on her face.
"Done." Summer replied, her eye brows creasing as she began to formulate a plan.
"Julie Cooper Nichol-soon to be Roberts is not gonna know what hit her," Ryan murmured.
"Hurricane Summarissa," Seth mumbled in agreement.
