The New Beginning

Chapter Five: The White Knights

The car ride back was rather awkward. Ryan drove, with Marissa in the passenger seat and Seth and Summer in the back. They didn't speak the entire ride to their hotel, making Ryan wonder what, if anything, they had talked about. Neither seemed mad, just like they weren't in the mood to speak to each other.

Ryan and Marissa managed to keep up a steady stream of chatter, however, which Ryan silently realized was the exact opposite of the normal. Generally it was Summer and Seth who couldn't shut up, with Marissa silent and Ryan "brooding", as Seth so eloquently put it. The complete polar shift surprised him.

Upon reaching the hotel, Ryan and Marissa found themselves without words as well. Ryan knew that what was on his mind was invading his girlfriends as well; They expected to see Oliver again. Still on probation, Ryan hoped he wasn't forced to physically harm Oliver. Before, when he'd hit him, the boy had dropped the charges to get another rung up on the ladder with Marissa. Now that he had nothing to gain from it, he would turn Ryan in without hesitation.

Parking the Range Rover, all four got out wordlessly and strolled into the hotel. Still not speaking, they made their way into the lounge. Nobody suggested it, but it seemed that Seth and Summer, in the lead, didn't want to go to their room. If they were having a fight, Ryan couldn't blame them for not wanting to be stuck alone together. The four of them collapsed onto a sofa, Marissa immediately slipping into her boyfriend's arms. Seth and Summer sat with a distinct distance between them.

"The party!" Marissa exclaimed, and Ryan realized he hadn't told either of their friends about it.

"Oh yeah." He said, leaning forward to look past Summer at his foster brother. "We got invited to a party tonight, you guys wanna go?"

Seth merely shrugged nonchalantly, but Summer seemed to be a little more interested. Ryan took that as two forms of saying yes, and turned back to Marissa. He paused, brow furrowing as he considered the party. He wasn't the most comfortable with Marissa drinking. It often got out of hand, and she wasn't aware of her own limitations when it came to alcohol. Even so, he'd be there with her to keep an eye on her, and he didn't plan on having more than a beer or two.

"Can I get your phone?" Ryan asked her, taking it after Marissa retrieved it from her pocket.

He stood up and walked a little ways away from the others. For reasons he couldn't identify, Ryan wasn't comfortable talking on the phone around other people. Perhaps it was a privacy issue, he didn't know. He quickly dialed the number Marco had given him, and waited as a reggaeton call-back tone came on.

"Hello?" Marco answered, the music playing in the background.

"Hey man. It's Ryan, from the zoo."

"Chino! What's going on?"

"Just wondering if I could get those directions, and if it's cool if I bring a couple more."

"Yeah no problem. Bring whoever. Got a pen and paper?"

He knew he didn't, but Ryan patted the pockets of his jeans in a futile search anyway. Turning back to the sofa, intending to ask one of his friends for one, he found Marissa standing behind him. She was smiling and holding out both a pen and a pad of paper taken from the front desk. He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips before taking them.

"Yeah, go ahead."

What Ryan didn't know, however, is that while he was writing down the address to the apartment where the party was at, he was being eavesdropped on. Just around the corner, out of sight but not earshot, Oliver Trask leaned against the wall, his face a stoic mask.

The address was in Chula Vista, a part of San Diego just across the United States and Mexico border. The drive there was a repeat of the transit to the hotel, with Ryan and Marissa talking animatedly and the other couple sullen and silent. This time, however, Seth was driving.

They drove past the front of the apartment complex, and it only took a moment to discern where the party was. It had spilled outside the house, a keg full of beer and a dozen or so party goers gathered in the grass outside of a patio. Driving to the guest parking area, Seth threw the Range Rover into the parking spot and got out, still without speaking.

The four of them walked, wordlessly on Seth and Summer's part, to the apartment. Ryan was good at slipping into a party, and this one seemed right up his alley. Gone were the rich, bikini clad blondes and sports car driving Water Polo enthusiasts. It almost reminded him of a Chino party.

As Ryan debated on where to start at, he saw Marco out of the corner of his eye. The older teen motioned for him, calling out from near the keg.

"Chino! Over here!"

Ryan nodded toward him, and all four of them made their way to the group of people outside. Ryan walked straight up to Marco and shook his hand, nodding to a couple of Hispanic guys that were eyeing him, red party cups full of beer in hand.

"I want to introduce you to the party girl herself." He said, putting an arm over Ryan and aiming him at a girl with a tiara on her head. "Say Happy Birthday to Brandy."

The girl who owned the apartment smiled slyly at Ryan. She was already drunk by the looks of her, but coherent enough to understand what was going on around her. Ryan shook her hand more gently than he had Marco's, as introductions were made.

"This is Ryan, and this is Marissa."

"Happy Birthday." Marissa said with a smile.

"Afraid I ain't got your friends names, Chino."

"Seth." A little half wave followed Seth's declaration of identity.

"And who is this fine little piece of ass?"

One of the two guys standing near the keg cut in, his eyes traveling up and down Summer before she could introduce herself. Summer scoffed a reply, shooting a look at Seth as though he should be speaking up for her, before rolling her eyes and walking away without a word. The guy who had made a weak pass at her bit his lip, and both of them watched as she walked inside.

Ryan nodded to Marco, who had gone back to talking with The Birthday Girl, before guiding Marissa inside, Seth right behind him.

They had been at the party for almost an hour, and Ryan was only halfway through his second beer. He and Marissa had spent most of the night in the kitchen of the apartment, talking with each other and anyone who came over for a shot over the sink. Ryan couldn't help but feel a little at home.

He'd seen Seth and Summer a few times throughout the night, though never together. Summer spent most of her time talking to a few girls she had deemed "cool", and putting away drinks. She was on the fast track to getting hammered. Seth had taken to "brooding" himself, and had spent most of the night watching Summer from afar. Just like the old days. He had gotten into a drinking game at the table near Ryan and Marissa though, which seemed to take his mind off of her for awhile. Or maybe the girl with her top off had.

Ryan didn't notice Seth approach until he was right there. He and Marissa had just settled down onto a couch just outside the kitchen, nursing their drinks and talking as quietly as they could under the backdrop of party sounds and music from the recently rigged up speakers hooked to a laptop.

"Hey, Marissa, I was wondering…"

"No problem." Marissa said before he finished, leaning over to kiss Ryan. "I need to check up on Summ anyway."

She got up and walked away, smiling back at her boyfriend as she walked toward the sliding glass door where Summer was now standing alone.

"What's going on?" Ryan inquired as Seth settled down next to him.

"Is it a bad place for some Seth/Ryan time?" He asked.

"No it's cool. What's up?"

"It's Summer." He said, as though Ryan hadn't known that. "I just don't know what her deal is."

"Did you get into a fight?"

"I don't know!" Seth exclaimed, throwing his hands up. "At the zoo she told me one of her Newport friends told her she had changed, and she made a big deal about it. She ditched me, and hasn't spoken two words to me since. I don't know what to do."

"Well, you're not going to like this…"

"Hit me Atwood, I can take it."

"You need to confront her about it."

"You're right." Seth replied. "I don't like it."

"That's the only way you're going to get to her."

Seth paused for a long moment, glancing out at the patio toward Summer and Marissa. He looked back to Ryan, who merely raised his eyebrows and shrugged.

"Yeah. This is either going to go exceptionally well, or Coophen Factor bad."

"Good luck buddy."

Seth stood up and finished his beer in one fell swoop, before striding as confidently as he could across the living room and toward the sliding glass doors. For Seth, anything other than a shuffle was a feat. Ryan sat back on the sofa, taking a sip of his beer.

"Hey, Chino!" Marco said, walking over to clasp hands with him.

"What's up Chula?"

"Chula? I like that." Marco replied, laughing as Ryan stood.

"It just came to me."

"How's the party?" He asked, motioning to the several empty bottles of liquor by the sink.

"Reminds me of home."

"I been to a Chino party once. Cops showed up twice."

"Sounds about right." Ryan said, shifting his gaze to check on Seth's progress.

What he saw caused him to drown out Marco as he spoke, and set his beer down on the counter next to him. Seth had made it to the large patio, but he wasn't alone by any means. Marissa stood near the door, glancing back at Ryan worriedly. Summer was in the corner of the patio, arguing with the guy that had hit on her earlier. Seth merely stood near Marissa, looking torn as to what to do.

"Shit, I gotta go." Ryan said to Marco, not bothering to look at his new friend as he strode quickly toward the patio.

As he approached, Seth moved over next to Summer, and was now saying something to the guy too. He was brushed off, and stepped back, defeated. Ryan was close enough now to make out some of what the Hispanic guy was saying, even over the din of the party.

"What, you too good for me?" He asked Summer, who was glaring at him defiantly.

"Hmm, yeah, pretty much."

The guys friend laughed, leaning against the concrete barrier separating the patio from the front lawn, where more people were partying. The creep didn't like Summer's answer at all, and he stepped forward forcefully. Summer unconsciously took a step back, fear trickling into her eyes. She had grown up without being physically harmed, as far as Ryan knew, and didn't know how to react to violence. Her immediate reaction was to look over at Seth for support.

Ryan pushed a few people out of his way as he got to the glass door, preparing to step across the threshold and resolve it by any means necessary. There was no way in hell he was going to let some creep hit a girl, especially not a friend.

"Well, maybe I should take what I want then?" The guy said harshly, accenting the height difference between himself and Summer.

As Ryan slipped out onto the patio, preparing to grab the guys shoulder and yank him back, Seth did something nobody saw coming.

He hit the guy, right in the face.

It was obvious that Seth had never punched somebody before. For though he closed his fist tight enough, he had pulled the blow a little at the last moment; A natural tendency that was hard to overcome. The punch landed on his chin, causing the guy to reel back and stumble. He hadn't been expecting it, that much was plain. However he recovered quickly, and took a handful of Seth's shirt before Summer's comic loving savior could react.

"Cohen!" Summer shouted, wincing in expectation of his pain.

The factor she hadn't counted on was Ryan. He stepped past Marissa, half pushing her back into the apartment. She obliged, slipping inside and out of the line of fire, though she was sick with worry for all three of her friends. Ryan cocked his arm back, and just as Seth was about to end up with a well placed bruise for his Grandfather's wedding, jammed his fist into the guy's kidneys.

He doubled over in pain, mouth opening wide as he struggled for breath. As soon as Ryan had hit him, he felt a pair of hands grabbing his shoulder roughly from behind. He had almost forgotten about the other guy that had been out there with them. Reacting by instinct instead of intelligence, Ryan spun, and slammed his elbow into the other guy's face. The grip on his shirt instantly loosed, and the Hispanic teenager was knocked back against what appeared to be a storage closet door of some kind.

Ryan could tell by the way he fell that he had been knocked out cold, and turned his attention back to the guy who had been harassing Summer. A blow to kidneys would hurt, but it wouldn't keep him from fighting back. Ryan turned just in time to see Seth, a mask of anger covering a normally laughing face, as he shoved the guy. The force from the push knocked the still recovering creep backwards, into the waist high patio wall. He toppled over it in a heap, into the bushes just outside.

Ryan was next to Seth then, watching as the guy stumbled up from the brush, clutching his jaw and side. He saw that his friend had been knocked unconscious, and decided that he was better off not ending up in the same state.

"You're dead man." He said, eyes locked onto Ryan more than Seth.

He turned and walked away, shoving some of the people that had gathered to watch the fight aside as he left.

"That hurt my hand a lot more than I thought it would." Seth said calmly, looking down and flexing his hand.

Marissa had come back onto the patio, and took Ryan's arm. She looked worried, though at the same time relieved. Nobody, on their end at least, had been hurt. It wasn't a bad end to the situation.

"Hey, Chino." Marco said quietly, stepping out onto the patio too.

Marco nodded behind him, and Ryan's gaze traveled to Brandy The Birthday Girl, as she spoke quickly into her cell phone. Ryan had no doubts about who she was talking to. The police would be along any minute.

"You should get out of here." Marco said, stepping out of the way to let him pass.

"Thanks man." He said, hitting Marco's fist with his own.

"No problem. I know not to get into a fight in Chino now."

Ryan smirked and took Marissa's hand, vaulting the concrete patio wall and the bushes next to it, waiting for the rest of them to follow. Seth and Summer were right behind him, and all four of them took off toward the Range Rover.

Sitting in darkness in his black Lexus, Oliver watched as the four teens ran from the house party to their SUV. From where he had parked he had seen everything, and he remained parked there until the police arrived. He then got out of the car, and walked to the apartment with a purpose.

"Seth starting a fight. Now I've seen everything."

"I gotta say." Seth was driving again, with Summer up front and Marissa next to Ryan in the back. "I feel liberated."

"I think it was sweet. Don't you Summ?"

"Yeah."

Summer only said a word, but she stared intently at Seth as he concentrated on driving. She bit her lower lip hard, before reaching over and taking his hand, the one he had used to defend her honor, in her own. She brought it to her lips and kissed it, smiling inside at the flush of color that touched Seth's cheeks.

"Ryan Atwood and Seth Cohen." Seth said, letting go of the wheel to present his fist to Ryan. "White Knights."

Ryan punched his fist as Marissa slid up next to him, taking his free hand in her own. She leaned over and began to plant small kisses on his neck to show her appreciation for his defense of her best friend.

"So," Ryan began. "Who do you want to beat up now?"

"I think I've had my fill for tonight. I'm just going to ice my broken knuckles and watch some manly sport or another. Though maybe we could invite Oliver over. I think I've got a few left for him."

Summer kissed his hand again, before stroking it in her lap. Ryan smirked, wrapping his arm around Marissa as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Now we just gotta keep you from walking in on my boyfriend without clothes on." Marissa said lightly.

"And no more crying at chick flicks." Ryan commented.

"I told you, it was allergies."

"Sure thing buddy."

Summer remained quiet, as she had most of the night. She simply stared over at Seth, absently playing with his hand.

"I'm glad I convinced Captain Oats to come along." Seth said. "Have I got a story for him."

"Sometimes." Marissa said, laughing. "I wonder about you."

"I wonder daily." Ryan replied, smirking over at her.

Seth closed the door separating Ryan's room and his, having said goodnight to his friends. He shuffled over to the bed, dropping to sit on it and kick off his shoes. He was still shocked at his own actions. He'd never come out and hit somebody before, and before now he didn't know he had it in him.

Then again it wasn't for him, he realized, it was for Summer. Summer, who was currently doing whatever it was that girls do in the bathroom. Summer, who had ignored him all afternoon. Summer, who he had loved for as long as he could remember. It was only her that could change him so.

That realization, coupled with the conversation he had with her at the zoo, rocked him. He had changed as much as she had, and though he wasn't ashamed of the change, he could see now why it would scare her. She felt like she wasn't herself anymore. He understood that.

Summer stepped out of the bathroom wearing the silk slip that she had brought, white and falling to her thighs. Seth couldn't help but stare, even though he'd seen her with less on before. For some reason, seeing Summer a little covered up affected him more than if she were naked. Summer hesitated a few feet from him, biting her lip.

"Look Summer, I know what you were saying-" Seth began, only to be cut off.

She was on him in an instant, her lips stealing the next word of his sentence as she kissed him more forcefully than she ever had. The surprising nature of her actions knocked Seth to his back, and Summer straddled his waist, kissing him over and over again. Part of him wanted to stop her, and another part wanted to take her.

Finally, as Seth's lips began to get sore, Summer broke contact. She let her head fall onto his chest, both arms slipping under his. Seth didn't know how to react at first. He hadn't expected his girlfriend to maul him, so soon after not speaking to him. He wasn't prepared for that kind of change.

"Summer, um, what's going on?"

"Shut up Cohen." She said, her voice tender despite the order.

"Fair enough."

"When my parents split up." Summer began, taking a breath before she could continue. "It crushed me. I mean, I loved my mom, and I loved my dad. Then all of a sudden, they weren't together anymore. I didn't even know what divorce meant back then, only that it was a bad thing."

She leaned back a little, looking up into Seth's downturned face. He was frowning, puzzled at her immediate need to confide in him. As far as he could remember, Summer had never gone into detail about her family life before, except to make a quick comment here or there.

"I had to choose between my mom and dad, which was almost impossible for me. They both fought to be my favorite, and I didn't know how to cope with that. That's why I attached myself to being a certain way, and with certain people. I figured that if I acted the same and was friends with the same, then things couldn't change for the worse."

So that's what she was getting at. Seth stared down at her, unsure of whether or not to speak. She may have more to say, and he didn't want to interrupt her.

"Thank you." She said, kissing him again. "For tonight."

"I couldn't just stand there."

"I'm glad you didn't."

"Summer, change isn't always bad." Seth said quickly, staring down at her. "Look at the past year. Who would have thought that one of the most popular girls in school would end up dating the biggest misfit?"

Summer laughed lightly against him, kissing his chest lightly.

"You're not the only one who has changed." Seth continued, hoisting her up so they were face to face, Summer's hands planted on the bed. "I look forward to going to those stupid Newport parties now, because I'm with you. Hell, I risked getting my ass kicked by some scary Mexican. For you, Summer."

Summer stared down at him, biting her lip and searching his eyes with her own. He smiled, and she could see the change. It wasn't the shy, self depreciating smile that was the Seth Cohen trademark, but a full smile.

"I love you." She said, unable to stop herself.

Immediately regretting the outburst, Summer found herself blushing furiously. Her eyes went wide, mouth slipping open of it's own accord. She buried her head against Seth's chest, not willing to see the look on his face upon hearing her declaration. For a short moment of time she was terrified. She'd never admitted it to herself, let alone Seth. She'd never let herself think she more than liked him, but deep down, she knew she'd loved him for some time.

"I love you too." Seth said, kissing the top of her head.

Summer leaned back a little, letting the color drain from her cheeks as she gazed into his calm face. The moment seemed to stand still in time, as they simply stared at each other. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Seth went ahead and opened his mouth.

"So Summer," He said, tucking his tongue into his bottom lip. "How about that make-up sex?"

Summer laughed, hitting him lightly on the arm. He winced in a very Seth Cohen way. She leaned down, kissing him tenderly.

"For my White Knight? Anything."

"Some night." Ryan said, collapsing back onto the bed.

He folded both hands behind his head, resting on the pillow as Marissa shrugged out of her jeans. She turned off the lights in the hotel room, pulling back the sheets and crawling into bed to curl up next to her lover. She kissed him on the neck, rubbing her nose against his collarbone.

"Thank you." She said quietly.

"For what?" Ryan asked, looking down at her as his eyes adjusted to the ambient light coming through the closed blinds.

"For tonight. For tomorrow. For everything."

"It was nothing."

"You were ready to take both of them on, by yourself, for Summer's sake."

"I couldn't just let him get away with that. Besides, it was Seth who saved her day."

"And you saved Seth's."

"I'm always saving Seth."

"When you're not too busy saving me, that is."

"Saving you is second nature."

"And that's why I love you."

"I love you too."

Ryan was shocked the words came so easily. After all the hurt after the Oliver fiasco, he wasn't sure if he could ever feel the same about Marissa. Now here he was, admitting that he did to both her and himself. He felt Marissa move, her hand sliding up his black cotton shirt.

"My White Knight…"

Marissa moved up and pressed her lips gently against his, pulling the bottom of his shirt up to his chest. Then there were no more words.

Author's Note: I've had this scene in my head since I got done with Chapter Two. I just thought "Why doesn't Seth save the day for once, he's overdo for it.". So there you have it. Superhero Seth to the rescue. Now we see why Summer was so distant. I really enjoyed writing this, considering that I threw it all together in two hours of manic fingers over keyboard action. Please review, and tell me what you think.