Shopping Carts

[So, I do not own the OC people, just in case you forgot. So, I wrote this after an inspiring trip to Home Depot. Just to let you know, this was the inspiration for this installment. I am finally getting the plot rolling, and just so you know, the next chapter will be very important, so I think. Enjoy, enjoy. And all I can say pertaining to the story's direction is...you won't see it coming. If you think you do, though, let me know, you shall be rewarded if you guess correctly, and please give suggestions. READ AND REVIEW PEOPLE :D

Later that afternoon, Seth, Summer, Ryan and Marissa were at Kaitlin's boarding school. The four of them were squinting and their eyes and looking around for her. Marissa immediately recognized Kaitlin, who was hopping down the stairs with confidence and flair. She looked way different, older and more mature, so Seth and Ryan didn't know who she was at first. Their jaws dropped.

"Woah...it's like mini-Rissa," Seth whispered to Ryan, who nodded as he gaped, but he snapped out of it pretty fast.

"Kaitlin!" Marissa smiled at her sister.

"Mini Coop!" Summer squealed as she hugged her soon-to-be-step-sister.

"Sum, Riss!" Kaitlin cried as she enveloped Summer and Marissa in tight hugs.

"Don't I get any love?" Seth whined. Summer smacked his shoulder, and he shut up.

"Honey, it's so great to see you!" Marissa said as she took Kaitlin's hand. The sisters' similar blue-green eyes sparkled with happiness so contagious that everyone's mood was similarly brightened.

"It's so great to see you too, Riss, I have one request, though. Before you drop me off at home, let's go to Home Depot so I can pick out a prezzie for Mr. and Mrs. Hulk," Kaitlin asked sweetly.

"Sure!" Marissa exclaimed.

"Oh my god, did Mini Coop just make a comic book reference?" Seth asked Summer in a scandalized tone.

"Did she?" Summer asked disinterestedly.

"I believe so," Seth grinned. The five teenagers walked to the car laughing and smiling.

"Oh wait, there's not enough room, someone has to double buckle," Ryan said as he climbed in front.

"Shot gun!" Marissa said happily.

"We'll double buckle," Seth said, pulling Summer close and kissing her hair.

"You guys are like...so 'cute.' Ew!" Kaitlin cried in disgust.

"That's a nice sentimental streak you've got going there, sis," Marissa joked.

"Those words sound eerily familiar..." Seth muttered. "Marissa and I are more alike than I could've imagined," Seth said in a creeped out tone.

"Don't flatter yourself, Cohen, Coop's like a million times cooler than you," Summer smirked. Seth gasped, Ryan laughed, and Marissa grinned. Kaitlin looked confused.

"Thanks so much for clearing that up for Seth," Marissa teased.

"Yeah, otherwise I might've thought Seth was turning into Marissa again..." Ryan trailed off, and Summer and Marissa cracked up accordingly. Seth looked annoyed.

"Now, if this is about the Chick Flick Incident of 04..." Seth began, but Summer cut him off.

"It could also be about the Care Bear Incident of 04."

"Fine, whatever, it could also be a reference to that, but be that as it may, I think the facts speak for themselves. Summer did loose..." Seth tried to continue, but Summer smacked him hard over his head.

"Shut up Cohen," Summer snapped, obviously in the middle of a rage blackout. She fell out of the blackout quickly and apologized profusely to Seth.

"It's ok, it's ok," Seth said comfortingly. Kaitlin looked like she was going to start dry heaving, even more so when Ryan and Marissa started giggle-flirting.

"This is like...so weird. When I left, Seth and Ryan were like the complete outsiders. And I come back...and you two are dating them," Kaitlin said in disbelief.

"Ah...yeah...well..." Summer muttered.

"Oh...um..." Marissa said, trying to find a way to explain her relationship with Ryan. There was no logical way to explain it, just like there wasn't really a good way to explain Summer's with Seth.

"And then I find out that the four of you run away and you've become an 'Inseparable, twisted family unit,' at least according to mom," Kaitlin went on.

"Oooh! We've coined our own term!" Seth declared excitedly, rubbing his hands together gleefully. Marissa looked kind of uncomfortable that her sister didn't understand their group bond, so Ryan felt obliged to explain and thereby make Marissa feel better.

"We all started hanging out a year ago...starting in TJ, and we just...clicked," Ryan explained.

"Yup," Summer said, smiling widely.

"So whatcha gonna buy?" Marissa asked her sister.

"Oh...um...haven't given it much thought..." Kaitlin said nervously. Then she seemed to come up with something. "Ohh! Maybe I can buy a pipe and knock them out...or maybe...," Kaitlin cried joyously, sounding like Seth on Chrismukkah morning. Everyone looked shocked and scared, so Kaitlin added quickly, "Um, kidding you guys, chillax!"

"It's alright, we're not exactly the #1 fans of the parents either," Seth said kindly, hoping to make Kaitlin feel a little less tense, because she clearly was, underneath her gutsy exterior.

"Thanks Seth," Kaitlin said, beaming.

Meanwhile, Kirsten showed up at the Julie Cooper Nichol soon-to-be-Roberts/Neil Roberts casa hoping to find her boys. She rang the door bell, and Julie came racing to the door in a red silk robe.

"Hey Kiki!" Julie cried, wrapping her arms around her friend.

"Uh, hello Julie," Kirsten said, a touch cooly.

"So, come on in, how can I help?" Julie asked kindly as she shuffled Kirsten inside.

"I was looking for Seth...and Ryan," Kirsten said. Julie bristled noticeably at Ryan's name, and Kirsten took note, and decided it would be best to say something. "Look, Julie, you have to realize that it's not Ryan's fault and..."

"I understand that hedidn't mean to do harm, but I'd rather not discuss it right now," Julie said brusquely. "I hope we can make this better, though," Julie offered hopefully.

"I want to try," Kirsten returned awkwardly standing in the foyer.

"Um, the boys aren't here," Jimmy said as he walked into the room.

"Jimmy!" Kirsten cried in shock.

"I have to go check on the pecan pie...brb," Julie giggled nervously as she ran out of the room.

"Couldn't help but overhear you were looking for Seth and Ryan," Jimmy said casually. Kirsten gave him a friendly hug.

"I've missed you Jimmy, it's like we barely talk anymore," Kirsten said sincerely.

"Oh, you know, all the tours take it out of me," Jimmy replied evasively.

"Not that I'm not glad to see you, but why are you here?" Kirsten asked.

"Julie said that she thought Marissa would appreciate it if I came over tonight for dinner, so here I am," Jimmy said, grinning.

"Well, maybe since you're here, I can get Sandy to agree to come," Kirsten smiled.

"Sounds great. Anyway, I've gotta get washed up for dinner, so I'll see you later?" Jimmy asked.

"Hopefully," Kirsten called as she walked out the door.

"That was...awkward," Julie said as she re-entered the room.

"Yeah, I really hope you two work it out." Jimmy replied. Julie cocked an eyebrow. "What?" He asked defensively.

"So, we'll meet outside in 30 minutes?" Marissa inquired of Kaitlin as the five of them walked to the Home Depot reference.

"Mmkay," Kaitlin said as she walked into the store, and quickly doubled back outside once Summer, Marissa, Ryan and Seth were out of sight.

"So, Mini Coop is acting a little too good to be true, don't you think?" Summer inquired of her best friend worriedly.

"Yeah, I agree, but for now, we can't think about that. You know what I mean?" Marissa asked.

"Yeah, I guess you're right..." Summer murmured. The two girls became very absorbed in their conversation, so much so that they didn't notice the mischievous glint in their boyfriend's eyes.

"Ok man, on the count of three," Seth mumbled.

"1-2-3," Ryan whispered as he scooped Marissa into his arms, and Seth lifted Summer into his. The boys tossed their squealing girlfriends into shopping carts and the boys raced around the store. 10 minutes later, they got kicked out of the store for "disorderly conduct."

"Heheheh," Seth laughed as he linked two fingers with Ryan.

"That was...that was pretty fun..." Ryan said, smiling one of his rare smiles.

"Ryan Atwood, Smiler, I didn't think of that one..." Seth trailed off. Ryan shot him a glare, but its effect was marred by the smile still on his face.

"If you guys weren't such morons, we could've stayed, but you had to go crashing into the carpet displays..." Summer said, and she burst out laughing at the memory.

"That was not the objective," Ryan protested.

"Eventually you achieved your objective of crashing into that really fat, chesty manager," Marissa teased playfully.

"Seth pushed me into her!" Ryan cried indignantly.

"No way, Summer did!" Seth countered.

"Did not!" Summer snapped back.

"Did too!" Seth stuck his tongue out at Summer.

"Did you just stick your tongue out at me?" Summer asked angrily.

"I think I did," Seth smirked. They continued to argue until Marissa raised a palm.

"I'm coming clean," Marissa said seriously, and every sobered up and adopted looks of confusion. "I admit that...I pushed Ryan into the fat lady!" Marissa cried, and a whole new round of laugh attacks broke out.

"Um, helloooo, let's get out of here before you guys further embarrass me," Kaitlin said, snapping the others out of their reverie-like state.

"Sandy, please come..." Kirsten begged.

"Aw, Kirsten, you're groveling, you know I can't resist a good old fashioned grovel," Sandy said.

"There will be free food, and the boys have to go. What if things get out of control? We need to be there to supervise! I mean, it's Julie Cooper we're talking about here Sandy!" Kirsten cried melodramatically, pulling out all the stops.

"Well, I guess when you put it that way, free food and all...hmm. Will their be crab cakes?" Sandy asked, his air of finality showing that the crab cakes would be the deal-breaker.

"But of course," Kirsten smiled.

"Count me in!" Sandy declared.