Dining on Tension
[I do not own Little Women, The Notebook, or The OC. I hope you enjoy, thanks for the reviews.
"Mmm Coop, where's Kaitlin," Summer asked as she continued hitting her punching bag. The two of them were in the Roberts home gym trying to de-stress before the big family dinner. Summer's answer to this was to punch the hell out of her punching bag, while Marissa's way of dealing was to do yoga at the other end of the room. Summer has to pause TKO which was blaring on her ipod so she could here Marissa's response.
"Uh...dunno, lemme go see..." Marissa trailed off. She unfolded herself from one of her yoga positions and glided out of the room tranquilly. She was about to call out to Kaitlin when she saw that she was opening the door. Marissa could see everything clearly from the top of the stairs.
"Oh hey, it's Cohen..." Kaitlin muttered.
"Nice to see you too," Seth smirked as he made his way toward the stairs.
"Jackass!" Kaitlin exclaimed for no apparent reason as she hit him over the head firmly. Could she be flirting...Marissa wondered to herself. Marissa watched as Kaitlin batted her eyelashes at an unknowing Seth.
"Oh. My. GOD!" Marissa whisper screamed to herself as she rushed back to the gym.
"Hey Coop, where was she?" Summer inquired, her attention still focused on the punching bag.
"Hitting Seth," Marissa answered nervously.
"WHAT?! She was hitting on SETH?! As in my Seth?" Summer cried in confusion.
"No...no...um, she was hitting him, not hitting on him..." Marissa said, which calmed Summer down a bit. "I hope..." she muttered under her breath.
"Good, because if she did hit on him..." Summer trailed off as she punched the punching bag ferociously.
"Right..." Marissa mumbled as Seth and Kaitlin entered the room.
"Hey Cohen!" Summer exclaimed happily as her boyfriend wrapped his arms around her and kissed her firmly. Marissa smiled, because it looked like Summer was saved the trouble of marking her territory.
"Hey guys," Ryan said as he entered the room. Marissa bolted from her seat on a treadmill and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend. "You been working out?" Ryan joked, because he knew Marissa never exercised.
"Shut up Ryan, not everyone can have guns like yours," Marissa said defensively between laughs.
"So true," Summer said as she poked Seth's arm.
"There's nothing wrong with not being built," Kaitlin said, defending Seth, who was oblivious still. Marissa and Ryan took note and shared knowingly glances, while Summer giggled.
"It's true, it can actually be pretty...sexy..." Summer laughed, and so did Ryan and Marissa. Even Seth had to join in, but Kaitlin just shrugged.
"We should play a game," Kaitlin suggested.
"Not truth or dare, please not truth or dare," Ryan muttered.
"Ha ha, last time we played, Ryan had to reveal that he lost his virginity to Theresa's nanny," Summer said, cracking up.
"So funny Summer, but I seem to recall that you had to admit you lost your virginity to Seth!" Ryan retorted, and Summer and Seth's eyes met the floor as their cheeks burned up.
"Oh my god, please not strip poker," Seth begged.
"Why not?" Kaitlin asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm still recovering from last time...seeing Marissa without a top on is like...seeing my mom or a sister without a top on..." Seth said, sounding disgusted.
"Seth! Do not insult me, ok, I am the one who was scarred for life when you took off your sock!" Marissa exclaimed, as she and Summer burst into hysterics.
"Ha ha hilarious!" Seth exclaimed sarcastically.
"So...about that game..." Kaitlin interjected. Everyone stopped laughing abruptly. "Let's play...'Truth or Truth,'" she said.
"Oohh! We haven't played that since...forever!" Marissa gushed.
"Mini Coop, you should go first because you know the least about everyone," Summer suggested.
"Great idea Sum," Kaitlin said with a big grin. "Alright...so...Seth, who would you rather date, me or Marissa?"
"Well, you I guess, because Ryan is kinda in love with Marissa, which would make dating her...a bit problematic." Seth explained. "Plus...she smells funny," Seth teased.
"Shut up!" Marissa exclaimed, smacking Seth's arm lightly.
"You call that an arm smack?" Seth demanded.
"Yes I do, Seth, what would you call it?"
"I would call it...LAME!"
"You two, break it up," Summer said forcefully.
"I'm glad there isn't a budding romance between you two, I was so concerned for a minute there," Ryan said, feigning relief.
"Don't you worry Ryan, there's nothing attractive about chicken arms here, he's like my brother. Him dating me would be like...Summer dating you or Kaitlin dating Cohen," Marissa said lightly, hoping her sister would take the hint.
"Um, I'm gonna go smoke before the big dinner, take the edge off," Kaitlin said brusquely as she got up and left.
"Smoke?!" Marissa asked sounding alarmed.
"We'll be right back," Ryan said, but Marissa grabbed his arm.
"I can handle this," She muttered into his ear.
"I don't think I asked either of you to come," Kaitlin snapped saucily.
"Um, ok Kaity, but we'll talk later?" Marissa inquired.
"Yeah, sure Marissa," Kaitlin said, sounding a little calmer.
"Sum, let's go get dressed, there isn't much time before the party," Marissa said.
"Sure. Oh and Atwood, loose the tie. Cohen's clothes do not work on you," Summer said as she got up and left, pausing briefly to kiss Seth's cheek.
"No problem," Ryan replied as he took of the tie.
"But leave your shirt buttoned," Marissa said in a warning tone. She didn't even have to turn around to know that Ryan was unbuttoning the top 3 buttons on his shirt.
"Alright, alright, I get it," Ryan grumbled as he re-buttoned his shirt.
"So...what's up?" Seth asked Ryan once the girls left.
"Nothing much...what do you think of Kaitlin?" Ryan inquired.
"Um...I think she's Marissa's sister...and she's a little bitchy..." Seth replied, not really sure where he was going with it.
"Bitchy...in a hot way?" Ryan went on.
"Bitchy in a hot way...um, no, not really...I don't really think of anyone that way anymore...except Summer..." Seth trailed off.
"Right, good, good." Ryan said.
"Wait man...do you think Kaitlin's hot?" Seth asked, wide eyed.
"No, no..." Ryan protested.
"Wait, you do, don't you? I mean...you don't have one of those sisters fantasies do you? Woah..." Seth rambled.
"No, I swear, I don't. I swear on my...grey hoodie and my favorite leather wrist cuff," Ryan said.
"Oh, ok, well that changes everything. Now I know you're not lying," Seth grinned.
"Yeah, I know..." Ryan muttered.
"Now, I'm gonna go watch Summer change. So...I guess you could just sit and lift weights or..." Seth trailed off.
"Right, yes. Let's go," Ryan said quickly.
"Neil, hello..." Jimmy said nervously.
"Nice to see you, why don't you help Julie with the vegetables, she always has problems with the broccoli." Neil said as he walked by.
"Oh, right...good idea," Jimmy murmured.
"Ma-riss-ah!" Julie screeched. Julie was dressed in a dark blue dress now.
Marissa was busy finishing straitening her hair, while Ryan was combing out his. "Meh..." they collectively groaned.
"Better go get Summer and Seth," Marissa mumbled.
"No, no I think we'd better not. We should just yell through the door, maybe," Ryan said.
"Oh come on Ry," Marissa said as she walked out of the room, and through the adjoining bathroom.
"Sum! Are you guys decent?" Marissa inquired.
"Give us a minute, or five," Seth called back, and Summer started giggling.
"Gross!" Marissa cried.
"See, I told you," Ryan replied.
"You're always right, Ry. How can I repay you for all the years of emotional scarring you just saved me from?" Marissa inquired innocently.
"Oh I can think of a few ways..." Ryan murmured in her ear seductively.
"Woah! Ok..." Seth said, while Summer covered both of their eyes.
"You guys need to knock!" Marissa whined.
"Sorry to interrupt," Seth smirked. Marissa stuck her tongue out at Seth as she straitened out her long black skirt.
"Ma-riss-ah! Sum-mer! Get your asses down here this in-stant!" Julie yelled again.
Marissa jumped onto her bed and screamed into the pillow at the top of her lungs. "You sound like a beached whale!" Seth exclaimed.
"Way to ruin an angsty moment!" Summer grinned.
"Thanks Seth, it's good to have you around to make things less...depressing." Marissa said, smiling appreciatively at her best friend, besides Summer.
"Ma-riss-ah! Sum-mer! I'm coming up there!" Julie exclaimed.
"Nooo!" Seth wailed.
"Hide!" Ryan cried.
"Duck!" Summer added.
The four of them rolled underneath Marissa's bed. "Helllooo, where are you guys?" Julie asked as she entered the room. "Ouch!" she screeched as she tripped over her dress's long train. Summer laughed into Seth's jew-fro, Seth into Summer's stomach, Ryan into Marissa's hair, and Marissa into Ryan's chest. A "Damn it!" was uttered before Julie stumbled out of the room. She was pulled into a bathroom. And then the bathroom was locked.
"Hmm, where do you think she went?" Marissa asked the others as they ambled down the stairs.
"Dunno..." Summer trailed off. The kids hear moaning coming from one of the bathrooms.
"Oh. My. God. That's...my mom...and your dad." Marissa said, covering her face because she was kind of embarrassed.
"EWWWWW!" Summer wailed disgusted. The four of them ran down the remaining steps at top speeds.
"Ok, as soon as we eat, we get the hell out of here, deal?" Marissa asked her friends.
"Yes, please, god." Summer said.
"Bait Shop?" Ryan question-suggested.
"Excellent idea," Seth put in.
"There you guys are!" Julie said in a hoarse voice.
"Here we are...walking into the dining room," Summer mumbled.
"What was that?" Julie asked sharply.
"There's some lettuce...in your teeth, that's what she said," Seth grinned charmingly.
"AHH! Oh my god!" Julie screeched.
"Take that, biatch," Seth muttered under his breath, and all of them cracked up.
"Ugh, this is sooo stupid, why are even here?" Marissa grumbled.
"What do you mean you want Marissa to move out with you?!" Julie screamed at Jimmy in disbelief.
"I'm moving to Arizona, and I think it'd be best she went with me there!" Jimmy yelled back. The two of them were upstairs.
"Um...will someone come help me find a lighter...I can't find another one, and mine isn't working!" Kaitlin whined as she waved around her bag of pot.
"Crap..." Seth muttered as he and Ryan picked Kaitlin up and carried her to her room, past her screaming parents.
"Thanks..." she murmured.
"What's going on out here?" Sandy inquired as he and Kirsten walked out of the kitchen and into the foyer.
"Jimmy's moving to Arizona and Kaitlin is smoking pot," Summer said as she looked on as her dad joined in with Julie and Jimmy's fight.
"I'm sorry honey, you can stay at our house tonight if things are too hectic," Kirsten told Summer, rubbing her shoulder comfortingly.
"Yeah well...I think the four of us are gonna get out of here," Marissa said.
"Well, tell Seth and Ryan they have to be home by 11, and you guys are welcome to come by too." Sandy told the girls. "We're gonna stick around and do some damage control."
"Thanks so much!" Marissa cried, beaming. She hugged Sandy and Kirsten joyously. The sweet moment was ruined by the arguing of three adults.
Ryan and Seth appeared moments later. Kirsten couldn't help thinking about how cute her boys were with their girlfriends.
"See ya guys later, we're gonna go to the beach or the Bait Shop..." Seth explained as the four friends walked out the door and into the 5 o'clock air. The sun hadn't yet set, but the sky was painted shades of orange and red. It was simply...
"Spectacular. The sky is gorgeous." Marissa stated simply as the four of them climbed into Summer's car.
"I feel so...inspired, I really want to draw, or something...maybe paint..." Seth said, rubbing his hands together.
"I love you, Cohen. Look at you, being all sweet and romantic," Summer whispered into his ear. Her long blue dress, which was made out of a flowing material, contrasted beautifully to the sky.
"And I love you, Summer. You look so...picturesque and plain...magnificent...next to the sky," Seth went on.
"Ah...Cohen, you're too cute for your own good," Summer said to Seth happily.
"Ryan...what are we gonna do about Kaity? She's smoking pot...and she's crushing on Seth," Marissa whispered.
"Talk to her. I think you'll have to do it on your own because...Seth isn't someone Summer can think about rationally," Ryan said as he looked in the rear-view mirror at Summer and Seth lovingly laughing.
"Yeah...she said she'd kick her ass if she liked him that way," Marissa muttered.
"I know...Oh also, about Arizona..." Ryan went on.
"Don't worry about it...I won't leave...even if I can't see my dad. You guys...are way too important too me," Marissa said.
The four of them got to the beach about 10 minutes later. The sun was setting as they settled into the warm sand. "How I wish I weren't wearing a dress right now," Summer grumbled.
"I think that can be arranged," Seth grinned cheekily.
"Shutup ass hat!" Summer snapped.
"This is sooo comfy," Marissa smiled into Ryan's dress-shirt.
"Isn't it?" Ryan smiled as he pulled Marissa close.
"Cohen, I am soo tired," Summer whined.
"Let's go to sleep...til ten or whatever, and then we can head home," Seth suggested.
"I'll set an alarm," Ryan said as he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and set it for 10.
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"Julie, I want the girls to live with me!" Jimmy said angrily. "Obviously this environment is not good for them!" he added.
"Be my guest, see if you can tear Marissa away from her friends. I haven't been able to yet!" Julie spat back venomously.
"Do you guys even know where Marissa and Summer are?" Neil asked.
"Ma-riss-ah!" Julie screeched, and everyone covered their ears.
"She's not here. I saw her leave with Ryan. They're probably off canoodling on dad's boat again," Kaitlin said as she walked on past.
"Where are you going young lady?" Julie demanded.
"I'm going to go spark up a j at the pier. Wanna come with?" Kaitlin called as she walked down the stairs in her new leather boots.
"Get back here!" Julie yelled, and Kaitlin promptly ran out the door.
"See, this is exactly what I'm talking about!" Jimmy cried.
"She'll run away again, James, thanks to you, for the second time," Julie retorted.
"That was your fault! Remember, you tried to pay Trey off!" Jimmy returned. Julie was about to scream something back when Neil subued her.
"Hi, guys, um, the boys and Summer and Marissa are going to come back to our house at around 11 o'clock, in case you guys wanted to know," Kirsten said as she and Sandy walked up the stairs, stopping half way.
"You aren't their parents, you know," Julie glared.
"Summer and Marissa need parents, and right now...this is what you're preoccupied with. So when you're ready to be parents...give us a call," Sandy said as he and Kirsten left.
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"Let's go home," Seth mumbled when his alarm went off.
"I'm home...home...home..." Summer sing-songed into her boyfriends ear.
"I like it here...let's move here..." Marissa murmured into Ryan's chest.
"I wish, honey, but we gotta go home," Ryan said.
"Can we sleep over?" Marissa asked sleepily.
"Sure baby," Ryan said.
"Pick me up," Marissa requested.
"You pick me up too, Cohen," Summer ordered.
"No problem," Ryan said, scooping up Marissa with ease.
"I will put in a valiant effort Sum, but I make no promises," Seth said as he struggled but eventually achieved the objective of carrying Summer.
"Good work Cohen," Summer mumbled.
"I want something to drink," Marissa murmured.
"Like...soda or...something of the magic flask variety," Seth asked.
"The second one?" Marissa wondered.
"Mmm...sure," Ryan said. Seth raised his eyebrows at his best friend, and Ryan raised his back.
"Let's watch The Notebook," Summer suggested.
"Oh! Good idea Sum! Or, Little Women!" Marissa said excitedly.
"Yes, or, we could watch Lord of the Rings," Seth said.
"Or Top Gun," Ryan put in.
"Don't worry...we can just go to bed early," Marissa said sweetly.
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20 minutes later, the kids were at the Cohen home. The girls were wrapped up in cashmere blankets and the guys were getting them their requested ice-creams.
"Cherry Garcia!" Marissa exclaimed.
"Cookies n' Cream!" Summer added.
"Summer, your taste in ice cream is...impeccable," Seth called. "But I can't really say the same for Marissa's taste, but I guess all that matters is what Ryan here thinks, cuz he's gonna be the one who has to, you know, taste it and all," Seth added as an after thought.
"Cohen! Shut your pie hole!" Summer snapped.
"I love you too, honey," Seth grinned.
"Omigod, look what I found!" Marissa cried, holding up a bag of pink marshmallows.
"Eww, those things are sick Coop!" Summer wailed.
"Which is why I have the normal marshmallows, right here," Seth said waving a bag in one hand as he sat the tubs of ice cream down on the table.
"Excellent Cohen!" Summer said happily.
"I am putting in...Little Women," Ryan shared, grudgingly.
"Excellent Ry!' Marissa said happily. Seth stuck a marshmallow in his mouth.
"Eat it Summer." Seth commanded, though his mouth was full, so it sounded more like, "Eht Smur."
"What?" Summer inquired, confused. Seth kissed her, mouth full of marshmallow.
"Ryan...Ryan...they are so gross," Marissa whined, snuggling into his shoulder.
"I know, I know, but it will all be over soon," Ryan smiled. "Entertain yourself with Jo's drama," Ryan suggested.
"Ohh, so you have seen this before. I knew you had some feminine interests as soon as I heard about the musicals in your past," Marissa smirked.
"Well, Seth is my brother, so I am gonna have some feminine interests." Ryan shrugged.
"I love you," Marissa whispered at she nodded off. Summer was the next to go, and then Ryan and Seth, pretty much at the same time. At that moment, their lives were about as drama free as they would be for a long time. And that was saying something.
