A/N: Okay don't kill me I know its been months but I lost site of the story and simply was at a standing point no longer knowing where to go with the story. But now I'm back after having a writer's boost I felt it necessary to update this story first since it has been the longest story that hasn't been update in awhile. I know I told some of you reviewers that the party was going to give them trouble but here's a hint the trouble isn't actually referring to the party perse... lol... Read on to find out. And if your still around please Review so I know whether or not to quickly end this or keep it going. Thanks everybody!!!
Happy Birthday...Happy Birthday
True to his word Seth had met Summer so that they could go shopping at South coast for Marissa's party. They had been there for several hours already and his patience was beginning to run a little thin.
Seth wasn't at all a pro shopper and just watching Summer picking out item after item was beginning to be exhausting. "So what do you think?" Summer asked. Seth looked up with a sigh it was probably the billionth time she had asked that question today.
"Summer it's a sweater I'm sure that Marissa will love it just fine. I mean it's blue who wouldn't love it" Seth said sarcastically. Summer looked at him weirdly. "Okay first of all Marissa's favorite color would be black.
And second this sweater isn't for Marissa it's for me" She said. He looked up at her. "But I thought we were looking for the perfect present for Marissa?" He added.
"I already got her present hello Cohen I picked it out in the last store we were in remember the charm bracelet we seen. I had it put on hold. I have to pick it up tomorrow morning" She said.
"Wait a minute you did that without me even noticing that's actually rather inspiring" Seth said. "Well they don't call me a swifty shopper for nothing Cohen. So now can you tell me the truth about this sweater so I can help you pick out a present for Marissa" She said.
Seth Shrugged. "It's not really that appealing" He said not sure if he should be telling her the truth. She shrugged. "Well blue isn't my color anyways so lets go" Summer said.
Seth smiled and walked behind her out of the store. "So where do you want to go to pick out your present for Marissa?" Summer asked. "I don't know where does one go to buy a sixteenth birthday present?" He said sarcastically.
She laughed. "Come on Seth don't tell me you haven't done this before you've probably been to a bunch of sixteenth birthday parties before" Summer said forgetting who she was talking to.
Seth just looked at her. "Okay a bunch of birthday parties" She added. Seth shook his head. "Cohen are you telling me you've never been to a birthday party before?"
She asked. "Well other then one that requires you to wear bowling shoes then no I haven't been to one actually. If you kind of remember I'm not all that popular" He added.
Summer smiled. "Well I don't know why I mean you would be the perfect person to ask about arranging the music who wouldn't want to invite you" She said sweetly.
"Thanks Summer but I'm not sure that the rest of the Harbor kids would feel the same way" he said. "So screw them who needs them anyways." She said shrugging her shoulders. He sighed. "Now come on I'm sure we can find something that's perfect for Marissa from you. Maybe the music store has something?" She said dragging him by the hand.
Seth sighed today was going to be a long day but somehow just knowing he was spending time with Summer made him content.
In fact he would go shopping any day if he just knew what was going on between them? It was still a mystery but he thought it was better not to push they would probably figure it out soon enough.
The same day Joey had just gotten home from work and her cell rang. She dropped her purse on the table and opened her cell phone. "Hello" she said. "Hey" He said with a smile evident in his voice.
"You know I was wondering when you were going to call" Joey told him. "Yeah I know I'm sorry things kind of got hectic here and there was just a lot of things to handle. So I thought I'd try you now figuring you just got home from work" he said. She smiled.
"How's it going Pace?" She said. "Well we met with the lawyers" he said. "And how'd it go?" she said. "The will was pretty concise most of the savings and the house goes to mom. My parents didn't really have much savings" he said.
"Pace your not talking to some New Port Snob your talking too Joey here if your parents barely had savings we were just plain poor" she said. He laughed.
"I'm sorry I just feel like I haven't talked to someone normal in days. I forgot what that feels like" He said. "How's your mom doing?" she asked. "She's I don't know really trying to handle things as they come I guess" he said. Joey nodded.
"She wants to keep the house though but I talked to Gretchen and we all talked it over. She's decided to move back home there's more then enough room and you know this way someone can be with my mom" he explained.
"So how long until you get home?" she said. "Well I can't exactly leave just yet. And I feel completely horrible about that especially with it being Marissa's birthday tomorrow" he said.
"Don't worry about her I'm sure she's going to be fine" Joey told him. "Yeah I know Summer called me today and told me that the kids were throwing her a party so she would be alright" Pacey said.
"With any luck I should be home by weeks end though so here's hoping" He said. "Well then that's something to look forward too" She said smiling.
"Yeah it is. I never thought I'd say this but I actually miss California" he admitted. Joey laughed. "Well it misses you too" she said. He laughed. "Well I better go" he said.
"Yeah sure" She said. "Jo I miss you" he said. "I miss you too just come home soon Witter and call me if you need anything" Joey said. "Right back at ya" he said. "Bye Pace" she said. "Talk to you later Potter" he said hanging up. She smiled closing the phone.
Ryan had just dropped Marissa home when his cell rang. "Hello" he said picking up. "So it's a no go with Mr. Witter" He heard a voice say. "Who is this?" Ryan said confused.
"Who the hell do you think this is Chino some lost long cousin calling to see how you're living it up in New Port" She said thinking about her outburst Seth sure was helping her bring out her sarcastic side. "It's Summer" She added.
"Oh I'm sorry I didn't recognize the number" he added. "It's okay I get it from Seth. I just wanted you to know that I talked to him and he said he wouldn't be able to make it back for the party" Summer said. Ryan sighed.
"You know what that means don't you?" he asked her. "Yeah that we have to step up our game and make sure that Marissa has a good enough time to deflect attention away from his absence. I mean its kind of hard its not like she has any other family around or family she would even consider inviting" Summer added.
"Yeah Jimmy is definitely not getting an invitation" Ryan said. "Yeah and I don't quite think she's ready to deal with her mom so that just leaves us and a group full of people from Harbor" Summer said.
"This is going to work right?" He asked her. "Sure you'll see she'll be having fun in no time. Don't worry Atwood I got a few ideas and this is one party Marissa is never going to forget" She said.
"Alright well I'm gonna go" he said. "Sure I'll call you tomorrow to set up the details for tomorrow night" Summer told him. "Sure thing and Summer Thank you" Ryan said.
"Please like I said before Coop's my best friend that means I'd do anything for her so no thanks needed. Talk to ya later Atwood" She said. "See ya" he said hanging up.
The next afternoon Seth walked into The Pool house. "So Summer called she's done running the errands and she needs help setting up. It seems she managed to dodge Marissa earlier on" Seth told Ryan. He looked at him.
"How'd she manage to do that?" He asked. "Marissa said something about pulling a shift at the restaurant before going out tonight" Seth added.
"Typical Marissa" He added. "So I volunteered my services I figured you could go and maybe cheer up Marissa for awhile and then get back in time to get ready and to help us with the finishing touches" Seth said. Ryan smiled.
"Thanks Seth I appreciate that and tell Summer I'll be back soon. I'm just gonna run over to the restaurant make sure she's alright and then I'll be back to help you guys out" Ryan said.
"No hurry We got the presents wrapped and music set all that's left is the decorations, waiting for the caterers you know minor stuff" Seth said. "Right well on that note I'm gonna go have fun with Summer" Ryan added. "Thanks buddy" Seth said watching him go.
Ryan made it to the restaurant parked in the lot and crossed over towards the front door. Walking in he noticed her by the patio bar serving a couple who obviously stopped in for lunch.
He smiled walking over to her she was completely oblivious to the fact that Ryan had came in. Her back was turned as she was putting glasses behind the bar.
"Hey" Ryan said trying to get her attention. She turned around and smiled when she saw Ryan standing there with a cupcake with a candle light on top of it. "What is this?" Marissa said with a little laugh. "Well it is your birthday so make a wish" Ryan said with a smile.
The thought sounded tempting so Marissa blow out the candle and leaned over the counter to kiss Ryan hello. "Happy Birthday" He said giving her a smile.
She smiled. "Thank you" she said. "So this place is kind of dead for a Saturday afternoon huh?" Ryan said noticing there wasn't much of crowd there today.
"No I think everyone's probably out enjoying this fine weather that we seem to be having this past week" Marissa said. "Which means?" He added. "That my tips aren't that great" She added. "So you're in desperate need of tips huh?" Ryan said a smile coming to his face.
"Well how else am I supposed to pay for my car. I'm not like these trust fund kids who's daddy gives them everything and who's mother couldn't give a damn about how late I stayed out till. Not that there all like that I mean there are a few exceptions for the parents in New Port" She said.
"Yeah like your Uncle" He said. "Kirsten and Sandy" She added. "And of course Dr. Roberts" Ryan said. "There all pretty great people" Marissa said.
"You're pretty great there your self I mean working on your birthday shouldn't be allowed and yet here you are. I can't imagine Pacey would agree to you working today" He said.
She looked at him with a smile. "He doesn't know besides I got to do something to keep myself busy and I don't mind working" Marissa added.
"Okay I'll let you go this time but only because I got to start going home I'm supposed to be helping Kirsten in like twenty minutes" He said lying.
"Kirsten huh?" Marissa said. "Yep" He added. "Did anyone ever tell you that you're a bad liar Ryan Atwood" She said teasing him. "No I don't think I have been told that before" He said with a laugh.
"So I guess I'll be seeing you tonight?" She asked. "It's a promise. I'll be around to pick you up at seven-thirty so be ready" he said kissing her. "I will be" she said. "And don't work so hard" He called out to her. Marissa smiled watching him go.
Meanwhile Seth was setting up the music for the DJ to play. They talked a kid from school into doing the gig. "How's it going over here?" Summer said walking over to them.
"Everything is taken care of and I got a call from Ryan he's on his way over to help" He added. "Okay great" She said hearing the bell rang.
"Well you guys just continue that must be the caterers so I'm just gonna let them in" she said hurrying over to the door.
Seth once finished went off in search of Summer finding her by the front door. "So were all set James is gonna go but he'll be back at Six. So where are the caterers?" Seth said looking around.
"Ummm it wasn't them it was a messenger it's a package for Marissa" Summer said looking at Seth. "From?" He asked. "Her Uncle I guess he just wanted to be apart of the day" She said.
"Well that was nice of him" Seth added. "Yeah I'm just gonna stash this in my room and give it to Coop later" Summer said running upstairs with the gift.
Marissa was just finishing off her shift as she was walking over to her car when her phone went off. "Hello" she said picking.
"Happy birthday. So how is the birthday girl doing?" He said. "She smiled realizing who the caller was. "Thanks I'm okay" Marissa said. "So how does it feel to be sixteen?" Pacey asked her.
"I don't know the same way it felt to be fifteen it's not as if you can vote or anything" She added. "You've been spending time with Joey way too much" He joked.
She laughed. "She misses you." Marissa added. "I know. So how are things at home?" He said. "There just as you left it. Everything's good" Marissa said.
"Well the reason I was calling you was to tell you that I'm not gonna be able to make it back home till probably next weekend" He said. "Which means that you won't be home for my birthday yeah I kind of figured that would happen" She said softly.
"I'm sorry Riss its just with all this work and Gretch not being able to get down here for a few days until she finishes packing her stuff to move in with gram there isn't much else I could do. But I promise I will make it up to you" He said.
"Uncle Pacey don't worry I'll be fine. Truthfully I probably wouldn't be home anyways Ryan's taking me out later and then I'll probably just come home and crash. Really I'm okay" She said trying to convince him.
"Well I'm still making it up to you" He said. "Okay if only if you feel it's necessary" She said kidding. "It is you know I love you" he added. "Yeah I love you too. Don't work to hard" She added.
"Oh one more thing stay away from the restaurant today you shouldn't have been working" He said. She laughed surprised that he knew.
"Okay how did you know that? Did Ryan call you? Or something?" She said.
"No but I do have my ways of finding these things out. So go have fun and I'll think of something we can do together when I get back" He said.
"Okay well I promise I'm actually heading home to get ready Ryan's picking me up at seven" Marissa said.
"Okay have fun tonight" he said. "I will talk to you later" She said. "Bye" he said hanging up. She shook her head and laughed throwing her bag in the car and heading home.
Marissa finished getting ready it was around six-thirty when the door bell rang.
She smiled figuring maybe it was Ryan coming over early running to the door and throwing it open and looking straight into her father's eyes.
"Happy Birthday Sweetie" Jimmy said.